Post Thanksgiving....

A micro-update ;-).

Yup, the Broncos won (26-6)! My mittens received lots of compliments - a little surprising in the sea of Broncos gear. They did their job well though and unlike the poor guy next to me, with all my various warm knitted items I was quite cozy. Of course I didn't sit still very much and that might've helped.

I did not cook the main meal but I was extra lucky - there was a "spare" pumpkin pie in my fridge when I returned home from the game...... Did you know pumpkin pie is excellent for breakfast?

All in all, it was a very good day indeed.....I hope yours was as well.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I realize that our friends around the world do not (generally) celebrate Thanksgiving as we do here in the States, but perhaps you folks would enjoy taking a moment with me here and giving thanks all the same.....I'm thankful for YOU as well :-). Pull up a chair and have a piece of pie and some coffee with me......

I have plenty of updates to share but I shall save the majority for another time.....except to say that it's just more to be thankful for! I am very lucky to have all these fun projects to enjoy and share. I will mention the mittens pictured. They are the epitome of some things to be grateful for. I had the money to buy the yarn, a wonderful habit - er, hobby - that gives me the knowledge and ability (and sometimes even the time!) to knit it into something to keep my hands warm on a day filled with wonderful family, friends and food followed by the great fun of going to the Broncos game (yes, that's why these colors!) to enjoy more! I will do my best to cheer them out of the slump they've been in the last few games......


Now to carry on with the subject of being thankful (well c'mon, it IS Thanksgiving, ya know! - at least in the US).....I found this and while I'm very sorry not to know who authored it to be able to give proper credit (and thanks), it seems appropriate to share.......

If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over head and a place to sleep, you are richer than 70% of this world.

If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace, you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy.

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the one million who will not survive this week.

If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation, you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.

If you can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death, you are more blessed than three billion people in the world.

If your parents are still alive and still married, you are very rare. If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful, you are blessed because although the majority can, most do not.

If you can hold someone's hand, hug them or even touch them on the shoulder, you are blessed because you can offer healing touch.

If you can read this message, you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world who cannot read at all.

I am blessed indeed. The majority of that list applies to me and on top of that.....here are just a few more of a long list of things I am thankful for today:

I am thankful to be blessed with a huge, loving family and many wonderful friends, near and far. I am particularly thankful for the time I’ve had with family recently departed, family who will depart all too soon and the new lives who will be joining our family before the year comes to a close.

My children, the two who have moved away (but not far) and the one who lights my day every day.

The opportunity to get to know all of you, learn from you and share some laughs and love of fiber-y fun in all it’s forms!

My health and the health of my fiber stash in all it’s forms

Laughter - always love the laughs

May you all have a very happy, safe Thanksgiving!

Already?

.....another Pretty Thing. My first one found a new home immediately with my grandmother! This one is another ColourMart yarn (they rock, what can I say?).....sorry about the fuzzy photo!

Modified the pattern for the DK (5 repeats), still on 3.5mm needles
Used ~114 yards/36 grams Colourmart 100% Extra-Fine Merino 15/44 DK (Midnight)

I've finally caved and ordered a little really lovely yarn from Land O Lace to add to the stash........I need socks. That's my story......and we'll ignore that really pretty skein of lace-weight for the moment (except that paired with black......it might weave up into a STUNNING shawl....hmmmmm).......



Just another little preview of what's up here:


Some gorgeous 50/50 merino/silk I'm spinning thanks to a project with Ms. Bad Cat.......

Finish me this......

Recently, I shared some of the WIPs I found. Here now, are some items I've finished that I took forever to share here.

The Get Well Soon scarf is really a free little pattern Ms. BadCat calls Crested Wave and can be found on her blog or as a download from Ravelry. I called it "Get Well Soon" since I made it for Puppy while she had pneumonia! She slept, I knit and she was very happy on all counts, hehehe. Thankfully, she is feeling much better these days. Since she also loved it enough to make it disappear and not allow pictures lately......it seems I only have a pre-blocking shot for you today.

Size 3.5mm (US4) needles
1 full skein Panda Silk Print

I finished my Heartland Lace Shawl in yummy Yak/Merino fingering weight from Colourmart ages ago. It's been washed into a luscious, soft and warm shawl. It's been used, petted and loved. Ironically, what it hasn't been is properly blocked! Nevertheless, a picture for your screen-petting pleasure. I'm sorry you can't feel it in person! One of these days I'll take it out of action for a proper blocking......perhaps I'll post another pic or two with some finished dimensions.




Project Name: Heartland Lace Shawl
Yarn used: Colourmart 3/14 fingering weight 50/50 yak/wool
Amount used: approx 616 yds / 120 gr (4.2 oz)
Needles: 4mm
Pattern name/source: Heartland Lace Shawl, Evelyn Clark Designs/Wild Fibers Magazine Winter 2007
Did 5 repeats total

Coming soon to needles near you?

Ok well first.......Don't you just wish? This is Lump, all flaked out in true worn-out Husky fashion. Don't be fooled, he's a live wire :-).

Just a little preview or two of things in the works.....

We have these lovely swatches as a wee contribution (along with the "calculations") to the amazing Queen Susan shawl project - a recreation of a gorgeous shawl from the Shetland Museum and it will be astounding!



Then there's the teensiest glimpse of the two Dark Star stoles I have in the works as another bit of the Summer Squares projects from the creative mind of Bad Cat Designs :-). As always, her designs are a treat to knit and can't be recommended highly enough! Look for the pattern coming soon for folks who missed the group!



And last (for tonight), I leave you with a preview of the pattern that I've been working on, mainly from the Haapsalu Sall library of Estonian designs and knitting information. I wish I could read the words, not just the charts but all the same it's a gorgeous book!

For the moment at least, I am calling it Red Cedar and you have GOT to check out the yarn! Gossamer Webs Vorpal Bunny Ranch is so soft and so yummy to knit up! We'll see if the name sticks but for now......in Copper - isn't it just a gorgeous color?

Golden Eye - yup, it's FINISHED

Another beautiful design from the talented BadCatDesigns. Look how pretty this is, eh? I think I shall have to make another that stays home sometime soon. This one, however, is going to a new baby and hopefully will be well loved and used lots!

I used Bernat Baby yarn because it's very soft and easy care for a new mom and I could "kill" the acrylic. It delayed completion because I swear it squeaks when you knit it! It's an odd (and disturbing) thing to feel & sort of hear. I'm spoiled, it's true and thank goodness for it! :-)

Project Name: Summer Squares - Golden Eye
Yarn used: Bernat Baby
Amount used: ~1050 yards
Needles: US 4 / 3.5mm
Finished dimensions: ~42" square
Pattern designer: BadCatDesigns