Finally, the vest

It's only been several weeks since I finished and gave Bob his gift... the alpaca sweater vest and finally he put it on so I can get a picture of it. I've only asked several times.... but that's a guy for you. He's even wearing it when we go out for dinner tonight.



Now that all the gift-knitting is done, I am diligently working on a sweater and pair of socks for myself. The pattern on the socks is called Dragonfly and it's for a Knit-a-long with a group that is reading (again) the second book of the Outlander series, "Dragonfly in Amber".



Scrapbooking has been put on hold a a little bit, but I am going to a 12 hour crop this weekend and should get a ton done. I did this LO over the weekend when a couple of friends came over to play.

Christmas Greetings

Since I was in college, I've been making my Christmas cards each year. When I started doing this, I was designing and making my own linoleum block prints (wish I still had those blocks). Through the years, my family and friends look forward to getting my handmade cards and the list has grown to almost 100 cards. Making that many cards is a daunting task, but made easier because I create several different designs to mail out each year. Some are religious, some fun, some classy, some vintage... a little bit of a mix and each person on my list gets not only a handmade card, but handpicked especially for them as well. Here are 3 of the 6 designs for 2008.

Knitty on the Tree

My Ravelry knitting group held it's weekly knitting soiree here at the house Monday night. We also did a knit ornament exchange where everyone made a tree ornament in such great patterns of sweaters, stockings, and ball ornaments. I made a little green tree with beads and sequins for added bling plus a little extra something for everyone. Knitting bags with balls of yarn and knitting needles... aren't they the cutest?

....And another one done.

I'm just whipping through these Christmas gifts... yeah right. I must one of the slowest knitters evah.... not really, but it sometimes seems that way. This gift was a pair of tweed socks and I'm real proud of these. Loved the pattern, loved the yarn so much so that I hated to give them away, but I know I can make myself another pair. Don't they look comfy???



The recipient of the socks received the gift in a bag I crafted from a 12x12 sheet of paper.



Now I can back to the big project... an alpaca sweater vest for Bob. It seems it's been on needles forever, but it got put aside to work on other things.

Knit Wit

So okay, I've jumped into knitting this time around with gale force strength.... accumulating a nice stash, collection patterns and attending workshops to help me further this addiction. Last Saturday I drove all the way to Lansing to Threadbear to be one of a number of women in a workshop hosted by designer Jillian Moreno who co-authored the popular knitting/pattern books for plus size women titled, 'Big Girl Knits'. The class was designed to aid women in determining what garment shape was best for their body type and how to alter a pattern according to your 'real time' measurements. Yes, I did get a lot out of the class, even though there was a lot of math and calculators involved... and apparently that side of my brain stayed home that day. After the hour and half long drive home in not to pleasant weather I was tired.... yet eager to start my next sweater project. This is the very informative and funny Jillian.




Another finished Christmas project.. slipper socks for a friend...

Cropping along

I've been to a number of crops lately.... 3 day weekend long crops up north. Very fun and very tiring. I did manage to get a lot done in the Alaska album, didn't finish it, but came real close. The best part was being with friends laughing, talking, drinking, singing, and sharing. I can't wait for the next one in the spring. Here is the bunch of us singing the 'shoop shoop' song using our scrapping stuff as microphones..... and holding up our iPhones and iTouches with a cigarette lighter ala concert style. Yes we are a bunch of nuts..... but a fun loving bunch of nuts.

I've been tagged.... oh goodie.

I've read so many other's and somehow have escaped the tagging.... Coggie of Ravelry and my knitting group tagged me for the 6 quirky yet boring and/or unspectacular details about myself game. Don't get bored now.

1. I can be quite shy and quiet.
2. I don't like being in small spaces that's why I drive a big car.
3. I have a sensitivity to scents and can't walk down the laundry aisle at the supermarket.
4. I'm a coffee fanatic and must grind my own beans each morning.
5. I want to be buried in my jeans and my Birks (don't care about the top).
6. I get regular massages... just because it feels good.

There... are you happy?

I'm tagging... Amy B., Robin, Dawn, Jeanne.