RIP Rosewood DPNs

Oh no. I broke one of my Rosewood DPNs. Waaaa

Where am I?

Well.... yes, of course, I have been knitting but times like these when we're so close to the Holiday time, we just can't post everything on the blog...... also... NEWS. I have another blog that I've started - you can see it by clicking here. If you check it out, you'll know why (1) I have not had a whole lotta time for knitting and (2) I have not been posting on this blog! But rest assured I'll be back with lots of exciting things!

Baaaaa

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Lamb scarf completed!

New yarn! Ohh, love these colors... wonder what this will be??

Hey watcha doing?

Finished this scarf with the wonderfully soft and delicious baby alpaca!

Remember this? I'm making the lamb scarf for my friend Yvonne. She really liked it when we saw it at the yarn store in Williamsburg. So far, so good. It's a nice small project for the train ride to work and back. Fits nice in my new Lantern Moon bag.

A new centerpiece!

And why shouldn't we use our knitting notions to decorate our homes? They're beautiful! Thanks Mom.

A trip to Kennett Square, PA

So, this weekend we are visiting our friends inKennett Square, PA and I visited the yarn store Wool Gathering. Oh how I wish it was closer! The owner is so nice! I picked up this yarn which is Cascade Yarn - Baby Alpaca Chunky. It's soooo soft. I just had to have it. I think I'm going to knit short scarves with it for Christmas. They had made one that was a knit 2 purl 2 rib and it was so wonderful. More on that as soon as I start. The other pictures, yes... I know... is another bag. I think as I get older, I'm becoming more into bags. Hmmm... I wonder where I get that from (MOM). The bag is from Lantern Moon. It's wonderful. I just couldn't leave it at the store!!

Hey... whatcha doing?

So.... I've started this sweater this week for my little friend Grace. She's only 6 months old. This will be her Christmas present. Since she doesn't read yet, I think it's prettsy safe to post this up on the blog. Below is the back. It looks very big right now but my gauge is correct for the 9-12 month size and since it's my first baby sweater, I will just have to carry on and go with it.

Below is a picture of what the sweater will look like. The colors are very different from what I purchased and as I continue on with the knitting, you will see them. Grace likes ladybugs and that is why I picked this sweater kit. I picked this up at the Maryland Sheep and Wool festival. The company that makes this is Peace Fleece.

Also, below is the progress on the blanket that I have been working on. It's moving right along but since I don't have an intended recipient for it. I don't feel bad putting it to the side to work on Grace's sweater.

I worked on the sweater just a small amount this weekend since we went fishing on Sat and Sunday which kept me from knitting. I did, however, knit in the car on the way there so all in all, it was a good weekend. Sure wish I had just one more day.

Where am I?

Well, I've been working on my blanket and been very busy with work..... rest assured that I'll be back to blogging soon. I can't wait to unveil the beauty that is my next project.

:-)

MY NEW KNITTING BAG!

OMG.... This weekend we are in Charlotte, North Carolina and we went to a street fair in Marshall and I found this. The bag is absolutely beautiful and it's hand made by a knitter! It is the most "knitting functional" bag I've ever seen. See below! I told these 2 ladies that they simply must have a website! They can't keep these a secret for too long!

The bag is just the perfect size. It isn't too deep where you cannot find anything in it! I love the colors and the prints that they have used.

I love the "Knit"... it's embroidered and it looks great.

Here is the inside. It has wonderful side pockets as well as a zipped section for something special.

The bag came with four other items of interest. These beautiful smaller matching bags for your knitting notions! I love them....

And look at this gem! This bag is a wonderful place to put your yarn for the current project you're working on. The top has elastic to keep it closed but not so much so that it allows your yarn to pass through while you knit! Here it is holding my yarn for the blanket!

Oh, progress has been made on the blanket... 6 hour drive to North Carolina will do that.

Blanket progress

I didn't have too much time for knitting in Italy but here's what I've got done so far. It's moving along.

Italian Goodies

Back from Italy with some goodies!

Paul's mother lives in Grottaglie, Italy. They are a big area for ceramics. Some of them are even sold here in the US to places like Pier One. This red vase was made by Andrea Antonazzo. It's beautiful and will sit in my red fireplace room.

This oil container was made by another local artist. I love the look of the olives.


A small tray that we got. It has the "crackled" look. I think we'll use this to serve olives. It has a significant amount of detail and the photo really doesn't do it justice.

Picked this up in Matera, Italy. It is called a Cuccu. In the 1950s the cuccu was the object of desire of all children, a sort of "status symbol" to show off in order to provoke envy in those many others who had never owned one.

However, long before then, the cuccu had other functions.

In ancient times it was viewed as something that could keep away those evil spirits that haunted homes and, as a result, was considered a symbol of good luck and serenity.

Later, this humble but attractive "chicken", with its colourful flowers and little birds, became enriched with the symbology of fertility and custom dictated that it was offered as a gift to newly weds on their wedding day.

Today, this peculiar whistle, which has evolved both in dimension and colour, has become an object suitable to decorate old and modern interiors alike, retaining the mysterious and arcane aura that envelops it, turning it into a unique and irreplaceable item.

This clock comes from Rome (obviously). It's hand made from here. Paul and I were really drawn to it and went back to this shop twice before we got it. It is really beautiful.

Now this is the most wonderful Olive Oil I have ever had. We found this in Martina Franca. Good to know that I can find this in the states. Once I finish this up, I'll be looking for it for sure.

More on the trip in the next couple of days.

In all his glory... I give you...Dragon.

Heee hee.. I'm so cute.

Other news... Leaving today for Italy. Be back in 2 weeks time. Also, last night... I got my invite to Raverly! Yippie.

Why there is no Dragon Scarf picture tonight.

I take mass transit to get to work and back. I left the office at 6:35. I thought I would be slick and take the yellow line from Ft. Totten (plus I heard that there were delays on the Orange line because of the intense heat which always means delays on the blue line). The yellow line only starts at Ft. Totten at 7pm (which is after rush hour - I know, that's dumb). I'd get on the first train, I wouldn't have to deal with the "drama" and crowds at Chinatown and I'd have lots of uninterrupted kitting time all the way from Ft. Totten to King Street. So I get off at Ft. Totten and go down 1st the escalator then down the 2nd escalator and mind you... it's about 98 degress outside and the air is thick. I'm waiting for that wonderful empty yellow line train. The sign comes up 10 minutes for that train. I think.... that's just not efficient I should have just kept going to Chinatown and switched there to yellow... so I go back up the escalator and back up the 2nd escalator and wait again for a red line train. Once I get to Chinatown, I look up at the waiting board and it says the next yellow line train... 20 minutes! Ugh. I hear over the loud speaker delays on the Yellow Line due to a sick customer. Probably from waiting on trains and the intense heat. Okay, back up the escalator and wait 10 minutes for a red train to go one stop to Metro Center where I will catch the next blue line train. Next blue line train 6 minutes. Take that all the way to Van Dorn Street. I get to Van Dorn street at 8:02. Damn... missed my shuttle bus. Have to wait until 8:20. Get the 8:20 shuttle bus and arrive home 8:35.

2 hour commute.

Here is some progress on the blanket.

New Goodies

I received a package today from Knitting Sisters! It had my yarn to make the edging of the blanket I'm working on as well as some Alpaca Bouclay for a cute scarf for my friend Yvonne. I decided last night that I'm only going to take the blanket on my trip to Italy next week. That way I can only work on one project and not be tempted by other things. Plus, you just can't carry all the yarn and notions that you really want to bring! I'll post a picture of the finished dragon later tonight.

Dragon Delight!

Here's my Morehouse Farm Dragon Scarf blocking on my new board! Yippie. Next step... eyes and final touch.... dragon breath.

New gifts to one's self.....

This is my new blocking board! It's from Patternworks and I love it. I'm going to give it a go tonight. It folds up and has a handle. Yippie!!

Williamsburg VA

I went to Williamsburg VA this weekend and of course found my way to a wonderful knitting store called Knitting Sisters. They were so helpful and the store was just so cute. I picked up a Vogue Knitting book on Scarves. My friend Yvonne saw a cute scarf that she liked and it's in this book so I'm going to be making that for her. More on that when I start that project.

I saw this beautiful blanket that was already made that caught my eye so I had to pick up that pattern. It's a pattern by mac & me. I also picked up the yello yarn below to start the blanket. The trim is going to be a wonderful green but they only had one skein and I needed three. The great lady at Knitting Sisters is going to send me what I need as soon as it comes in.

This yarn is Tahki - Cotton Classic. I've used this before and I think it's great to work with. I think it's going to make a great blanket and should wash well too.

In the car on the way to Williamsburg, I worked on some warshrags. Nothing complicated. Oh, last week I finished up the dragon scarf. I need to darn in the ends and block it. I'm going to change up the smoke coming out of his nose so that will have to be a surprise. As soon as I get that done, I'll have some pictures. I think it came out great. More on that later.

Ohhhh socks.

Oh, I stopped by Knithappens today and picked up this sock yarn to make a pair of socks for my husband. I am planning on using the pattern from Nancy Bush's Knitting Vintage Socks called Gentleman's Fancy Sock. It's quite nice and I hope I can do it. It uses size zero dpns. I'm going to use the new needles that my friend Susan got me for my bday back in April. I'm not sure when I'm going to fit this in but let's just say.... soon.

Work has been unbelievably crazy. I'm pending a big promotion and in the meantime, I'm helping out with another job where the previous person quit and left. This is really cutting into my knitting time... it should be temporary so I think I will be back up and running shortly. I keep reminding my boss that I'm leaving to go to Italy on Aug 9th so they will have to find someone to take over before then so that I can train this new person. That's all for now... I'm going to work on my dragon.

Updates!

Here is the new and improved dragon starf. Now this is the right yarn. It's been easier to work with and it looks so much better. I'm glad that I frogged the other one because I'll be much happier when this is done.

Ohhh! Look at the beautiful yarn that my friend Mandy brought me from Seattle. It's beautiful hand crafted Kettle dyed pure wool. The picture certainly doesn't do the colors justice. I just don't know what I'm going to make with it just yet. Tonight I put it on my swift and got it all wound up in a ball ready to go. Hmmmm... It's going to have to be something really good.