WIP Pics

O.K. So, the pics are not the best, but you will get the idea. First up, the "Am I Crazy?" Shawl.A little closer...Believe it or not the contrast between the colors is more significant than in these pictures!Here's the baby blanket I started. It is a bit stalled due to how many times I messed up the center stitch which I am supposed to restart here. Also, I got a bit distracted by the shawl above!
And last, but not least the cashmere scarf that was so perfect for the pattern it didn't even need to be blocked!


And for good measure...

The Recipe For Gigi

3 parts Love 2 parts Cleverness 1 part Playfulness Splash of Slyness Finish off with an olive

What's the Recipe for Your Personality?

I May Be Crazy

but I cannot help myself!

A while back I fell in love with this:

It is appropriately named "Breathtaking" There are so many colors and gradations! Each color exists in a bright which fades into a softer shade: orange, yellow, pink, purple, blue/grey, and black.

The problem was I had no idea what I would ever do with it. I loved it so much that the image from the web site became the wallpaper on my computer while I decided what to do. I waffled. I hemmed and hawed. Eventually, I gave in. Then I discovered...all the skeins had been sold! WAAH! But, all was not lost; with some help from Gina I got a skein.

I've admired it for many months. And at long last it is on the hook:

Yes, this is the crazy part. This shawl is what I am making with the yarn. (pics to follow) It is a festival of colors. It is bold. I'm not sure I have the courage to wear it! Yet, I am going to persevere as I'll only know if it is a go when it is done and I can play with wearing it. In the mean time I'll enjoy the process and hope.

Yup, definitely crazy.

Contrary to the Evidence

I am still among the living. I'm on public access at the moment and need to vacate shortly so a quick note...

At long, long, long last I have begun the "Pretty in Pink" blanket from Afghans for All Seasons Book 1 which prompted my first Amazon purchase almost a year and a half ago. In fact, I shared the pattern with Caroline and she has made several (I think it was three at last count)! While mine is not pink it is coming from stash yarn and will be put in a holding pattern for the next boy to come along...

Before that I was bitten by a yarn exchange bug made from gorgeous cashmere yarn recycled from a sweater! It was a scarf in less than 24 hours and has seen quite a bit of use since then. (Thanks Chris) I am a cashmere virgin no more! I am delighted to say that the pattern and yarn were a perfect fit and didn't even require blocking.

On another front, the first year of teaching in block scheduling is officially half over as of yesterday. Finals administered, grades entered, and new classes prepped (well, almost... I have some serious work to do today on one of them). That just leaves about 40 progress reports to write and I'm done (Ha, like the work is ever done...I can dream though, right?) This switching to new classes at mid year feels really weird. It is like going back to August and starting over. Course descriptions, introductions, new students to learn about... Sort of surreal. I think after the mad scramble we have all gone through switching over to the second semester that many of us will be prepping for ALL the classes at the beginning of the year then just squirreling away the photocopies and other materials all ready to go!

Hope you are all well out there in blog land and with luck I'll have some pics of progress soon.

Speaking of Snow

After my talk of snow, I just had to share this. Go read the description. It's priceless!

The Boston French Toast Alert System: More details

A Nice Break

A little holiday trip to see family a bit farther south provided a nice break from the snow. Nary a snowflake in sight. No piles on the ground. Not even ice. Soooo wonderful. Of course I had to pay for my respite. I drove home to more of the white stuff falling from the sky... Ah well, that is winter in NE for you.

Everyone is well and the women had many a new knitted project to show off! Lovely shawls and scarves that I had missed being made. Let it be cold and thoughts immediately turn to yarn for warmth it seems. Every time I turned around, my mother was sporting another scarf she had made that I had never seen before. I was tempted to sneak into her closet to see just how many of the things she has made!

As for me, I am still working on those rectangles:

The current count is 14 rectangles because after taking this pic I made two more. Most need ends woven in, but that goes quickly. I think I've got a few more in me before I send them off. They are great for parties and travel as they do not require me to look down all the time. I can feel the next space with my fingers and double crochet away!

Hope you are all enjoying your holidays.

Free!

As of 1:59pm yesterday, I am officially on Winter Break. Twelve glorious days of freedom. I'm so looking forward to having some time on my hands! What will I do with it?

Reclaim my apartment from the pit into which it has descended. Yes, there is much cleaning in my future. Added to that is a desire to get a handle on the craft supplies. The living room has been tackled but there is still that pesky yarn stash that is taking over my walk in closet and the stacks of card making/rubber stamping supplies hiding behind my bedroom door! I'm thinking some serious podcast listening will be just the thing to keep me motivated.
I'll be donning this duo again tomorrow as I go off to work my part-time retail job. Should be wonderfully hectic. I know you are probably thinking I'm crazy, but I love retail during the holidays. You get to spend all day making people happy. They come in looking for stuff, you help them find it, the stress goes away and they smile. Some are just having such a good time they are a joy to be around from beginning to end. Are there some Crankies? Of course. But they are so few and far between! So, Happy Merry to you all. I hope your shopping is done and you are having fun.

Just saw this...had to share the cleverness!

ALIVE!

Contrary to the rumors...I am still among the living. Between health issues and weirdness with my internet connection, it has been a while. Yet, I have not been idle!

I'm still going round and round. Many kippah designs made and scrapped, a finished baby blanket, and progress on the lace shawl!

My latest addiction? Granny Squares.
Don't all gasp at once. If you have been reading this blog for a while you may remember my aversion to squares. Especially grannies. This has been slowly waining. The death knell occurred with the purchase of the latest Crochet Today. It had an article on basic granny construction. I had a small ball of yarn left over from the baby blanket. I had some gray and purple yarn of the same type staring at me from the stash. Viola, granny squares were born. These will be worked into a snuggle for donation to the local animal shelter. (lower right picture)

The granny again struck when I read this in the Daily Chum. How could I resist? Kids, special needs, and Judaism. I was done for before I got to what they wanted. Squares that are 5x7 inches. Of course grannies would be quick, easy, pretty, and use up some more of that stash yarn. (see center square of mosaic) They specifically want washable acrylic. I went stash diving today and found some more small balls that would be beautiful as little rectangular grannies! So, I'm still going round and round - this time for charity!