Another Baby Boom

It seems like every year, I'm smack dab in the middle of a baby boom. And this year is no different. There are at least 7 babies I need to knit for this year. Pattern: Autumn Leaves Yarn: Sublime Organic Cotton DK in Clay, 2 skeins Needles: KP Options Size 6 Date Started: 3/11/12 Date Finished: 5/6/12- The knitting was done about a month ago. In typical fashion, it took me forever to sew the buttons on. Mods: None. I really knit this as a trial run but I think it's good enough to give as a gift. I love the pink buttons. It makes it sweet but not too girly. I'm thinking this one is a hit.

Nice to See You

Long time, no blog. Between Facebook and Pinterest, my computer time has been sucked up. But I had a couple of things I wanted to show off.

I've had a needlepoint notebook kit for years. Last Sunday, it called to me from the craft closet. I happily stitched away while watching a DVR marathon of Smash and House of Lies.



The kit came with everything you need to make a gussied up notebook. Thank goodness it came with instructions. I haven't done needlepoint in quite a while.

After about 3 hours I had this piece.



Which you then insert into the notebook's window...



And you get a finished project.



A fun and easy lazy Sunday project. But now it's almost too nice to use. Isn't that always the way.

You might remember that we had a dining room table custom made to fit our space perfectly. It's beautiful. However, we had it made too tall for normal dining room tables. But it's a little too short for counter height chairs. Kinda silly, right? So we've been using cheap folding chairs that were really too short for a couple of years now. They were so short we had to put Grandma on a phone book for Thanksgiving! Yesterday, Brian brought home our new "real" chairs. They are about an inch too tall. So eventually we'll have to cut the legs down. But they look 1,000 times better than the cheap folding chairs did.



It's very masculine. The rest of the room will have to be a little softer so that it balances out.



I should have cleared the table off before I took pictures.



Here's a single chair. The leather is actually really dark brown. And somehow the wood matches our table perfectly. Now we just have to have a dinner party to show them off!

Beat the Rush

I don't know about you but I really am not a "shopping in the mall" kind of person. Not that there's anything wrong with that. But I can't deal with crowds and I'm spectacularly impatient. (I'm flawed.) But knowing oneself leads to incredible other ways to get that Holiday gift giving completed. Here are a couple of cool websites I'd recommend to complete some of those holiday shopping requirements.

Turtle Girl and my friend Tiffany turned me on to Scentsy. It's a cool wax warmer that fills your house with delicious scents. She's having an online party here. Just click the link at the bottom to join her party. There are lots of cool warmers and wonderful holiday scents to get your home in the holiday spirit.

Another friend of mine has become an independent consultant for Stella and Dot jewelry. Super cute! I may have spent a little money here lately. Check it out here! My favorite are the initial and birth stone charms. Plus there are lots of really shiny things for holiday parties.

Kara Weaves towels, napkins, and aprons are so lovely. Handmade in India. Beautiful for daily use.

Finally, you can't go wrong with anything from my little sister's former employer, Zingerman's in Ann Arbor, Michigan. My sister learned to love food and cooking while working at this deli. And let me tell you, the bread is to die for!

Hope this helps a little. Good luck at the mall!

My Annual Yarn Binge

Ever since I've been a part of the Blue Moon Fiber Arts Rockin' Sock Club, I place an annual order using my discount coupon. While I realize I'm not saving a huge amount, I really don't care. This one order satisfies my STR craving for the rest of the year. So without further adieu, I give you the 2001 STR Haul.



If the slide show isn't working for you, check out the link here.

Close Enough

The fourth socks from Toe Up Socks for Every Body are done. I think these might be my favorite so far.



Pattern: Crocus Socks from Toe Up Socks for Every Body
Needles: KP US size 1.5
Yarn: Malabrigo Sock in Lettuce
Date Started: March 26, 2011
Date Finished: September 26, 2011
Mods: None- But I did knit these two at a time on a magic loop. That's not why it took me 6 months between sock pairs. (You might remember a certain wedding shawl that took up a lot of time.) I might knit everything 2 at a time from now on. No more remembering how many repeats or how many cuff rows. And definitely no second sock syndrome!



The color in this photo is more true to life. Unfortunately, I didn't have anything closer in color to the Louet Goldenrod shown in the book. (Look here.) But it's OK, I really wanted to use up stash yarn.



Plus, this Malabrigo yarn practically glows. The color is incredible.




Makes me think I need a new camera. Hmmmmm....

Lily of the Valley and a Wedding

About 6 months ago, my sister asked me to knit her a shawl for her wedding. Even though I quickly agreed, fear gripped me. I'd never knit something so intricate, so fine. And it had to be perfect. I mean, it would be on her arm for her wedding. That's a lot of pressure. And I really only knit socks. A flurry of emails went between us. I would ask, "what style do you like?" "Surprise me!" she replied. "Would you like ivory or a color?" "Whatever you think." "Thanks for the input," I would think to myself. I settled on the Lily of the Valley Shawl from Lace Style. It's really beautiful and the pattern looked straightforward. On June 16, I finally got underway. As of August 23, it was blocked and drying on my guest bed. On August 27, my little sister was married while carrying it on her arm.



Isn't she gorgeous? That's our father, not her husband. (for the record!)



That's her new husband. But you came for the knitting, didn't you?



Pattern: Lily of the Valley Shawl (Ravelry Link)
Yarn: Alpaca with a Twist Fino in Champagne- 1 skein
Needles: KP Options size US 6
Date Started: June 16, 2011
Date Finished: August 23, 2011
Mods: Are you kidding? I was just trying not to screw it up!



Edging details. That's the only time I felt like it would go haywire. I had to pick up eleventy million stitches!!!



Nupps! Don't be afraid! You only need loose knitting and sharp needles.



The alpaca has amazing drape. I couldn't be happier with how this came out. I may even knit more lace... someday. But for now, I'm back to my socks.

Dries Turns 2

Today is my nephew Dries's (rhymes with Peace) birthday party. He turns 2 tomorrow but Memorial Day is a better day to have the party than the day after Memorial Day.

Anyway...

A few weeks ago, Dries saw my phone that had a picture of a robot on it and started wanting the robot. He said, "Aunt Nell robot!" over and over. We taught him to dance the robot but I was thinking how he really should have his own robot.



Wouldn't you knit almost anything for this kid?



Pattern: Robbie the Radiant Robot (my Rav Page)
Yarn: KP Wool of the Andes in Calypso Heather, Caution, and White
Needles: KP Zephyr Needles in US size 6
Date Started: May 8, 2011
Date Finished: May 27, 2011
Mods: I sewed the antennae onto his head. The pattern says you only need to attach it with a pipe cleaner but it didn't feel 2-year-old-proof to me.
Comments: I really love the way his eyes slant toward each other. It was unintentional but makes him look mad.



Toy knitting is notoriously fiddly. There are too many parts and too much sewing. This project has the same issues but I really love the results. I might knit one for myself. Mostly, I hope Dries likes him as much as I do.

Happy Birthday, Dries!