The end is in sight...

Or should I say ends. Yikes!
I love how all the mitered squares came out, but I have a lot of seaming to do before it's a blanket. Now it's a race to the finish- don't have that baby yet, Mary.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day, everyone!

Under craftstruction

My Lotus Leaf mittens are on hold while I try to finish up baby things before I become an auntie. Still working on the Mitered Squares Blanket that I started back in August. I've got 22 of 48 squares done, and no hope of finishing it before the baby shower next week. So I had to start up another little project, so she'll have something to open at the party. More details to come! Now back to work...

Crafty Opportunities

Today's plan was my annual trek into Boston for the Bazaar Bizarre, but the weather didn't cooperate. My family and friends from Western Mass were planning on driving out to join me, but the snow kept them closer to home. I was still thinking about going solo, but I decided I'd rather not try to stay warm and dry while walking around the city. The snow sure was pretty though, the kind that covers everything like powdered sugar, but not enough accumulation to have to pull out the shovel.

So I didn't get to see the new venue this year and I missed out on all the exciting craziness that is the Bazaar, but did not deny myself a crafty outing. Instead I popped over to Yarns in the Farms for the Twist Collective trunk show. It was inspiring to see all the lovely Twist patterns in the flesh (or fleece, as it were). I got to try on the Sylvi coat, which is even more amazing in person, and the Postwar and Lotus Leaf mittens, and see so many of the gorgeous sweaters, scarves, hats, and mittens from the Fall and Winter issues. I met the lovely Julia from Twist, and Tink and Wink and everyone at the Farms were enthusiastic and helpful as always. I ended up buying the pattern and yarn for the Lotus Leaf mittens.

The turquoise will be the main color of the mittens, with the orange as the lotus and leaf pattern. I'm making them for myself as soon as I finish up the rest of my holiday gift making.

Boyie stuff

Why does is girlie a word, but not boyie?


Here's a girlie thing, my half finished (the back half) Tank Girl from Stitch and Bitch. I aim to get it done in time for below zero temperatures! Luckily the recipient is from Brazil, so she could always fly home to find weather she could wear it in.




Here's some boyie stuff....


A knitted English driving cap.
It came out too big for me, but it fits the BF fine, so hopefully Arizona boy has a big head.







It knitted up pretty quick, definitely a good gift for a certain uncle come the holidays. Only, I'll alter from the pattern to make it a bit smaller.

For the rest of the SO swap I made a freezer paper stencilled t-shirt, polymer clay covered pencils, and developed a new skill - bookmaking! I made a coptic bound notebook using directions in The Crafter Culture Handbook. It came out pretty cool, and of course I forgot to take a picture!

My boyfriend went to Vegas and all I got was this lousy...

Well nothing. Even less than nothing, because he has my camera out there in Sin City. So no pics of my progress on this hat I'm knitting. But maybe he will bring me back something cool. Or win big on the slots.

Tasty technicolor

Went for a stroll today and indulged in some colorful goodness.

Stopped into Seed Stitch and picked up yarn for a cell phone cozy. (It's Queensland Collection's Hyacinth). Next to A&J King Bakers for a loaf of roasted garlic sourdough, and then around the corner to New Civilitea for a iced Lemon Berry Spritzer. Mmm. The drink is also nice and bright pink, but no pictures, drank the whole thing on the walk home. At home I whipped up a colorful lunch.

It's roasted beets, chevre, chives, and fresh lemon juice on the roasted garlic sourdough. Now I just need to get the lovely magenta stains from the beets off my fingers before I start knitting...

Firsts

Autobiography, the account of my life, and how I craft it, as written by me. Whether it be enthralling or dull, I'm going to give it a go. Two days ago I finally got my first cell phone. Today I start a blog. Guess it's just time to try new things.


Another first, my first go at short row knitting.



I'm using the Short Row Rib pattern from MagKnits.
http://www.magknits.com/warm05/patterns/rib.htm
It's my favorite knitted thing I've ever worked on. No lie. I'm really enjoying the knitting and the yarn (Noro Iro http://www.eisakunoro.com/) is just gorgeous. All other projects will languish, forgotten until this baby is off the needles!