So I finally got my very own cuddly sheep from Maine Warmers. They are running a special this month and I’ve always wanted one. My arm gets a little sore every now and again and it’s perfect. Also a perfect foot warmer for bed.
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The weather was beautiful today and spring fever is starting to hit. We had 60-degress today and some sun. Yeah! I thought since it’s cat’s on Wednesday – it would be a good day to get a new picture of Faygo since his fur has grown back.
Also lookie what I got today -
My Valentines day present has arrived. DH picked out another one, unfortunately they couldn’t get that one anymore. After we changed the order to this lovely one and some new inks, I found the original one an Fountain Pen Network and it’s winging it’s way here now.
I inked it with Sailor Irori Ink.
Also I may have put in another ink order from Jet Pens, but we won’t talk about that until Friday. Kinda interesting this week. I’m currently working in the marketing department. Some of the folks went to a class about how to build your email business. One of the things the instructor suggested was that if you have writers block use a pen and paper instead of the computer. The computer is a linear thinking tool, where the pen lets you think in a non-linear manner. I’m all for using more pens an ink. I have been craving Mac ‘n Cheese. Just the yummy comfort food of wintertime.
I tried out a new recipe and I think it was a hit. I left off the topping, but other than that stuck close to Alton Brown’s Baked Mac and Cheese. Sorry for the long time no blog post. I think I’ve had a case of the wintertime blahs. They always seem to strike right about the end of February.
To end these doldrums some retail therapy was in order. As you can see lots of bright pinks and green and spring time colors.
A new Avi Wasserman out of Olive Wood from Israel.
The underside which is the most interesting.
I thought Sweet Pea had cracked it when she knocked it off my make shift light box (she such a diva…she loves to jump on the light box whenever I get it out), but it was just a wood knot that I didn’t see until I got in the bright light. Whew… it’s fine. I’ll tend to spindle over carpet to avoid any breakage.
For some reason I got a crazy idea and joined the Ravelympics. I’m in the Fleece to FO Track. I’d been wanting to spin for another pair of socks and (a) it was a good time to motivate me to do this and (b) I thought this would be fun for my Silly Sock Swap. The Silly Sock Swap is due April 1, so I figured if these didn’t work out I would have enough time to knit another pair.
After a marathon spinning session – I got 360 yarns of 3-ply fingering weight yarn from about 4.5 ounces. This is made from a Corriedale/Mohair blend. I sent in the mohair and Spinderellas added the Corriedale. I believe the Corriedale was top so it was it was fluffed up and so easy to spin.
I think 3-ply is my favorite yarn to knit with – it does take longer to spin, but I think it’s worth it to have the smooth roundness. I started knitting as soon as the twist was set and look here…isn’t it gorgeous. This is a free pattern – Saxony by Lisa Lloyd and maybe my best hand spun project yet. I’m thinking hand spun cabled sweater now.
I’m making progress with Max’s Yoda Sweater… he’s going to look so cute in this one. The top -
The bottom -
So far I’ve knit 27 out of 57 diamonds and half-diamonds. I have pink envy. I wish I looked this good in this pretty pink.
Coco’s second sweater is done and she is getting good use out it.
Love how such a pretty yarn made a simple pattern just gorgeous. I went from small to larger size and that is why I think I got the collar, but it’s super cute and just rolled right back. This was a fun and easy knit. Next up the Yoda Sweater. I’m about 1/2 done.
So I bought way to many comp books during the back to school sale… I can’t resist a good sale. Some were my favorite – the Staples Eco-Friendly brand (fountain pen friendly) – with the brown spine and some where the regular ones with the black spin. I love the size and portability of these books. Also I love how the pages are sewn in… it reminds me not to rip out. However, the covers are well… blah…some are so-so and some are downright ugly.
So after a little trial and error I got some covers I liked – super simple process too. So I used just some double sided tape and taped the cover. When I ran out – I used a little glue stick. I then took the scrap book paper and laid it on top matching up one end to the bottom or top and along the spine. Then after it was good and stuck down I flipped it open and used a utility knife and cut slowly along the edge.
I used pretty scrap book paper on the top and then just card stock because it was a little heavier on the bottom. Plus with the two I can easily pull it out of my bag and know which end is up. When I got a smudge on the 3rd one I made and knew I was finally going to get success – the first two are RIP – I decide to bust out the stamps and now it’s got sheep. Oh and the black ones you can use a corner nipper to get a nice rounded corner – but on the Staples ones you can just cut an angle because the cover is thicker and really the edge isn’t rounded. So once I got the hang of it – 5 books took about 1 hour – including the stamping and picking out the paper. I know…these titles. Sometimes I’m at a complete loss for a decent title. I meant to post these this week, but I have two work projects now and a bunch of things going on like my Fundamentals in Fiction class, which is going really well and I got some awesome feedback from my instructor this week about two characters. Yeah!
So one of my goals for the month was to get two spinning projects that have been on the wheel for a long time. The white is done and is for Tasha shawl. I have to dye it – I don’t know what color yet. I still have two more bumps with the gray to do… phooey and it’s the 31st. Well that will have to be the goal for February.
I also did some sampling of some Cormo silk blend that Julie and I had made last spring. I started off fine, then a little less fine, and then fingering weight.
Here’s the samples knitted – I think I like this a little heavier. I may have to try for a sport or worsted weight to see if I like that one next.
Poor Sweet Pea… last night DH was feeding the cats their dinner when there was no sign of Sweet Pea. Now we have the plates all prepared for them, so we know when someone doesn’t come to dinner. I set off in search of her checking the bedroom, bathroom, and basement. All to no avail…when suddenly I remembered hearing DH go in and out of the unfinished portion of the basement. Well Sweet Pea is lightening fast. She smaller and more agile than Jasmine and I know she’s become an excellent jumper when it comes to getting by me to the spinning room. Just a few days ago I found them both in my spinning room curled up on the chair sleeping together. They both got by me when I got a wheel out. I knew one did, but never saw the other. As you can now imagine by now they work in a team. I can hear them now, “you distract her… I’ll race by and she won’t see. We’ll be able to play in here all day long.” Yes, I imagine conversations for all my pets. Sweet Pea is on the left and Jasmine is on the right.
Anyway, I found her crouched in the dark, unfinished portion. Poor thing. She was brought up for her meal and when she decided it was unsatisfactory, tuna was dolloped on her plate by the same man who now felt very guilty for locking her in a dark, unfinished area of the basement. I should mention she wasn’t down there for more than five minutes at the most. She will tell you it was the most traumatic five minutes of her life. I suspect Sweet Pea has him wrapped around her little paw now. I have gotten a reward of lots of snuggles and lap time, as I fussed a lot over her when she was found.
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