She Loves Me ...

She definitely loves me!!
Elise has given me more Fiesta Yarns to work with. I don't want to speculate or anything; I'm sure that she doesn't play favourites with her knitters, but I've got to say that I'm feeling quite spoiled. Sorocco is interesting - quite a bit of twist, shiny & stretchy - and much in contrast to Water Mark. The colourway is Iris.

I finished the shawl and it's gorgeous. The picture really doesn't do it justice!! It's totally spectacular, so fluid and drapey; it uses Fiesta's La Boheme & Gelato. As soon as I have any info on the book you'll be the first one I tell ... honest!! You know that you're my favourite reader. BTW, it's not actually an intarsia piece - just in case you were wondering.

To Dup or Not

As I had mentioned, the stranding didn't work well to integrate the 2nd green on Shedir. So I ripped it out and just went with a straight up colour change. As I worked on it occurred to me that I could duplicate stitch the light green. So I did. I'm just not sure if I really like it or not. It definitely looks better from a bit of a distance. Whaddaya think? I'll drop it off at the office for Deb to try on and get her opinion. Then I'll finish in the ends and either complete the duplicate stitching or take it out.
And I just don't feel right earning money from someone else's misfortune so, I've decided that the money that they're paying me to knit the hat will go to The Relay for Life. Yes, it was so much fun last year that I'm going to do it again!

Sick Days

Monday was a snow day and I got a lot of knitting done, but the pictures were too flash harsh. I really intended to take better pictures yesterday but I have been struck down by a vicious cold. I feel worse today so y'all are going to have to wait till - hopefully - tomorrow. One step forward, two steps back. I will have to make up for all of this laying down just holding my knitting.
I think that shoveling too much snow on Monday is the cause. I may not shovel snow ever again.

Snow Days

What a lovely surprise on a Monday morning- the wind was blowing hard enough to stir up the fallen & falling snow to dangerously low visibility levels. I shoveled the driveway, sidewalks and deck in 3 stage (and I'm sure that I'll be feeling that tomorrow) and in between rested up by knitting up a storm of my own.
The pictures that I took last night were flash harsh & way off colour so I took them again today.

I don't think that I'm giving away any big pattern secrets by showing this stretch of st st made especially lovely by Crystal Palaces' Merino Stripes.

I started a Shedir for a driver who is undergoing chemo treatments. The office staff is paying for the yarn - they wanted it in 3 colours. I've done the ribbing in Onyx, eased into the Kiwi and will work Sour into the crown in a similar manner. Actually I won't. I tried it and it pulls in too much and it doesn't seem to be right. It took quite a bit of manipulation to get the green to appear as bright as it really is. Kiwi is actually more like lime.

Cindy from AppleLaine has sent me a box of yarn with which I will knit her a sample sweater. She must love me because it's a wonderful fun colour (I'm not especially partial to brown/gold colours. I know ... it's not for me, but still ...) I'm really looking forward to knitting this up - doesn't it just look like it'll be a party on the needles? I think that it might be Lady Blues.

We had another snow day on Wednesday but I spent it in bed. I'm finally feeling better today, but Amanda seems to be coming down with it. She's home from school today & I'll try to keep her tucked up and resting for the weekend.
Kyle shoveled on Wednesday and will have to do it again tonight. I'm sure that he would have done it on Monday but I was feeling like a workout & he went off to play hockey & XBox with a friend.

Wild Weekend

I finished my Wild Thing socks - I love them!!! I feel a little like I could up & do just about anything with them on my feet. Like I wasn't impulsive enough! I cast on a pair of Opals, I'm really loving how they're starting out. I got the first 4" of stockinette knit at the Stock party last night. Not that I didn't have a good time, but you know ... What I really don't understand is why everyone was so surprised that I brought my knitting. Ah well, a few more years and maybe they'll be more used to it! I received my 1 year safe driving pin & plaque. I think that I look way too happy - musta been the knitting!!




Friday night I got sweet-talked into taking 5 kids to see Epic Movie. What can I say? I was out-numberered.
Stoopid spoof humour. And I use the word "humour" very loosely. Ah well, I'm sure that it was penance for some really horrible mis-deed. The upside is that I knit about 7" on the Wigwam sweater. I knit almost that much again today at Charlotte's Web - a much better movie!! - and ran out of yarn. Kristi has a skein in the mail so I will finish up the sleeve & neckband when that arrives.
I have several new projects that I'm swatching for right now. I'm very excited about the Blue Sky Alpaca Silk Shrug for Julie; the yarn is downright smooshilicious!
Elise is spoiling me too - I have 2 more projects for her using Fiesta Yarns!!

Amanda & I have started reading Bridge to Terabithia. Amanda likes reading but movies are a great motivational tool.
Amanda also went back to Pine River E.S. last week; she decided that home schooling was "boring". It's hard to be exciting when I'm darting in & out to drive the bus, but we both gave it a good effort and now she knows that she prefers the variety that a teacher brings to the lessons. It was nice having her at home & really seeing her learning but I've got to admit that it's nice having my day back. And Ms. Zupancic was really happy to have Amanda back too!!

And speaking of bridges ... I love Amanda's bridge. She's flexible like rubber! Then she had a blast flipping herself around on the rings.And when you're tired and can't don't want to get off of the mat after your handstand, the coaches are more than happy to help you off ... backwards!! Amanda did it once and it was so much fun that every girl needed help.
Her poor little arms were feeling it today!!