My Home Spruce and Current Projects

The Finnish mitten kit is finished, well a couple weeks back actually.  They have been mailed and received by my mother who loves them, since they match her new coat for Alaska perfectly.  Although she is too afraid to take them to Alaska because she is afraid she’ll lose one, so she’s taking her old mittens.  Mothers are funny. 

My Home Spruce Mittens

I love these mittens, they are so cute, in fact I’m a bit sad that I didn’t get to keep them, but I know my mother loves them, and they are right up her alley.  Plus they match her coat.  And I have the pattern so I can always make them again, however I love this wool.  Its a bit coarse, but its perfect for mittens. 

The pattern was a hand-drawn graph and a bit rough, but all in all they turned out well. But I wouldn’t recommend the pattern if it you get easily frustrated if the pattern isn’t perfect and can’t kinda figure things out on your own.  I’ll definitely make these again when I spin up some yarn to make myself a pair.

I have two more kits from her, that I’ll make eventually but for now I have a ton of other current projects that need attention.  Here’s my list:

1. Log Cabin Afghan – this project is kinda at a stand still, I haven’t worked on it for quite a while. 
2. Diamond Lace Afghan – I’ve been working on this quite a bit, but its a slow go.
3. Gracie Shawl – haven’t worked on for a while, made from Silky Wool, yummy.  I’m about 3/4 done I think.
4. Diamond Mitre Purse – Kristi’s pattern from Interweave Felt magazine, 2008.  Lovely, using scraps of Cascade 220.  Also haven’t worked on for a month or two.
5. Forest Path Stole – Haven’t worked on for ages, but absolutely love it.  But its a project that needs patience, which I haven’t had a whole lot of lately.
6. Flower Petal Baby Blanket – Just started this one today. Its a gift for my boss who’s expecting his second baby this April.  Pattern by Dawn Brocco, its knit with two strands of worsted weight yarn so it’ll theoretically knit up very quick.

Django and his chew Toy

I hope to update Ravelry and my blog with pictures of these works in progress soon.  I ordered myself with gift certificates from my boss a Canon point and shoot camera, which I hope will encourage me to take more pictures of projects.  I love my digital SLR Canon, but its a bit cumbersome and not as easy to upload picture, etc. 

Isn’t my Django sweet! And look you can see his funky eye in t he picture.  He loves his chew toys, he’ll chew for hours and hours.

Have a great weekend. My folks are coming for a visit this next weekend, so I’ll be busy cleaning.

Toodle Pip.

Am I 17 Again?

I’m going on vacation.  With my mom and dad.  Yep.  No husband.  Just dad, mom, and me.  I’m a little scared, I don’t think I’ve gone on a long vacation with my folks since I was 17.  Well I take that back, when I was 29 (I think) I went with my sister, dad and met up with my mom down in Florida for my grandmother’s funeral, but I don’t think that counts as it was a funeral.  Although it was quite fun bonding with my sister, and driving my mom a tad crazy.  My sister and I, Kat, went to the beach each day and swam, it was a lot of fun.

This time though, I’m going with mom and dad to Alaska.  Yay for mom and dad’s frequent flyer miles.  So in February, yes I said February, I’m headed to Alaska with the folks to see my brother and his family.  We are hoping to see the Northern Lights, thus the reason for going in the middle of winter.  Thankfully I have plenty of wool sweaters, and bought a nice warm coat from Lands End as well as matching boots.  I don’t think I’ve ever had matching coat and boots, I actually feel like a girl.

Talk About Spoiled!

Mom is excited about the norhtern lights, I am too, but I’m more excited about finding my way to a couple of Fairbanks knitting shops, one in particular that boasts on their website a good supply of quivit in both laceweight and heavier.  I’m buying myself some quivit to make a lacy scarf or shawl.  I’m not sure, no doubt though something out of Artic Lace.  I’ll have to take that book with me.

I’ll have to pack wisely for airplane knitting, we’ll be on planes and airports for over 15 hours each way! 

I’m not sure what this spoiled dog will do when I’m gone, who will cover him up?  I guess Nick will have to, I mean what a spoiled baby, covered with a blanket, laying on his personal couhc, with a pillow.  This coach is supposed to be moved into the basement, but he loves it, so we haven’t brought ourselves to putting it in the basement yet.  After all what will the big baby Abner do without it?

Well time for bed.  Have a nice week!