It's Over. It's Over. Thank God it's Over (now we must begin again)

As promised:
Ol' Mothy is lookin' pretty chipper after her bedtime soak last night.






By morning, she looked like this.

pattern: Anne Hanson's Wing O' the Moth
yarn: Handmaiden seasilk in Woodland. Two 100g. skeins

I really enjoyed this pattern. Just about the time I would think if I had to do one more pattern repeat I was gonna' hurl, it would be time to move on. The pattern was charted and written out so you could take your pick. I wound up working back and forth between the two, using mainly the chart, but consulting the written directions if I need clarification on anything.

There's a reason this pattern is so popular folks. That Anne: she's a friggin' genius!

Here are a few outdoor shots on the deck, which emphasize the openess of the lace.









A close up of the border.









And the requisite modeled shots.

Ready for takeoff!








The camera adds ten pounds, right? Right? RIGHT?!? ( Wanna go for twenty? I'll go for twenty; hell, why not thirty?)






I don't think I'm ready for America's Next Top Model.
Another dream crushed to bits.
So much for my back up plan. Better hope the book sells...

So what am I working on now? Something quick and easy, down and dirty.

Yep, it's back to the monkey cage for me.

As you can see, I've turned the heel and am getting ready to work the gusset decreases. This sock has some interesting pooling issues, but I'm not worrying about them. I like the cheery color after so many days spent in the woodlands with Mothy (Y'know, I might have to start addressing her by her proper name, now that she is an FO, and a beautiful FO, at that.)

At any rate, Mothy is no longer interested in paying her share of the surveilance fees, so Monkey Investigations is out of business. Poor unemployed sock has nothing to do all day. If I don't show him how important he still is, he might wind up like this:


Yep, that's monkey lyin' around without his instep on, drinkin' beer, and watchin' the Home Shopping Network. Sad, isn't it?





And now, a little mystery for you all. Anne posted this gorgeous shot yesterday as her contribution to eye candy Friday. Can this woman grow flowers, or can this woman grow flowers?!?

So the question is: What do you think this flower wants to be when it grows up? (Anne and Karen can't play, because they already know the answer.)






"What? Monkey isn't using it anymore!"

There IS Eye Candy (but this ain't it!)

This is my view when I am knitting.

Hard to tell from this picture, but that's eight pounds of furry lap blanket.
Warm, furry lap blanket.
Hot, furry lap blanket.
Hot, furry lap blanket with attitude.


Did I mention the temperature outside today? Ninety degrees - in the shade. That makes the temperature inside my studio eighty degrees give or take. While the windows and skylights let in scads of wonderful natural light, they also let in scads of greenhouse heating. And I am not a hothouse flower.

Did I mention that the furry lap blanket was hot?











Of course, the blanket's view isn't much better.

(OK, I don't ever want to hear from any of you people about any lack of courage on my part. I may be a pacifist, but anyone who puts this unflattering a picture of themselves into internet circulation is no wimp! I look better than that - Honestly! would I lie to you?)

I know we have limited control over our environment, but I swear, when I was little and people asked me, "What do you want to be when you grow up, little girl?" kitty barcalounger was not on the list.

OK, time for some eye candy. After all, it IS Friday.

This is the color wheel, according to Debbie. I've been hoarding clearing out my obsession stash and I realized I had Debbie Bliss yarn in almost the entire spectrum. From top center clockwise, that's: Cathay in Teal, Cotton Cashmere in Mist (more lavendar than it appears in photo,) Pure Silk in Coral, Pure Cotton in Terra Cotta, Pure Silk in Primrose, Cathay in Lime, Pure Silk in Mint, and Pure Cotton in Duck Egg.
Pretty, no?

Speaking of pretty no, this is Ol' Mothy ( as I've taken to calling her, but always said in an affectionate tone of voice. It's an endearment, not name-calling.)

She is three rows from completion. So what am I doing here with you folks? Why aren't I finishing what I started? Because I feel an obligation to you, gentle readers (all seven of you.) I promised to write daily - I write daily. Except for Sunday, because that's the day of rest. Hey! If it's good enough for God, it's good enough for me.

I know Mothy looks like a crumpled mess right now, but she'll look a lot better after her bath and some therapeutic stretching. Will try to get pics up tomorrow, Monday at the latest.

Pippin finally gave me belly, sort of. (Cat porn has been all over the net. Don't ask me why.) And I didn't even have to drug him mellow him out with catnip for the money shot. Of course, it's not good enough for Kitty Hustler (lacks that languid quality and those bedroom eyes.) Guess I'll just have to keep trying.


Uh oh! I think he's insulted. He's giving me the cold shoulder butt.

Hell hath no fury like a cat scorned.

Everything Wants Its Day in the Sun

Look what I found when I came down this morning:

My half-finished Painted Desert Shawl, basking in the sun.






Here's a closer look. (Yes, that's my toe. No, it's not there for scale.)

I guess this was her way of telling me, "I know your head is full of erotic fantasies about all the great times you're going to have with your new love, the Cherry Country Shawl (that hussy - a scarlet woman shawl if I ever saw one!) But remember me? Last summer you swore you would love me forever!"

"I know, but that was last summer. The thrill is gone. I just don't feel that same passion I once had for you."

"But, but - you complete me!(apologies to the producers of Jerry McGuire)"

Fickleness: thy name is knitter.

OK, so where was my current relationship project? Not in my chair, where I left it. Not in the knitting basket, where it lives. Not in the house anywhere. Was she pouting? Had the Desert shawl been trash talking her and scared her off? The Desert shawl feigned innocence.

Clearly I needed to look further afield.
Yes, that's right folks, this is the proverbial garden path, and ol' Moth Wing was leading me right down it

And then I saw her She had reverted to her native habitat - the woodlands behind our house Being of the race of woodlands colored stoles, she had sought comfort with her own kind.






See how she is embracing the butterfly bush? Rebound.

I tried to talk her around. I begged her, "Please come back Mothy! I'm not ready to give you up yet. We still have a beautiful future. I promise to take care of you!"

She sighed (OK maybe it was the breeze) and shook her double fern border from side to side.

(You'll have to take my word for it, since I haven't figured out UTube yet. Sounds way too technical for a thermostatically challenged muggle like me.)


Finally I sweet talked her inside, where I apologized profusely to both shawls, and reassured them they would always have a place in my heart (and my knitting basket/closet.)

I'm not sure they believe me.

What's that lurking on the top of the work lamp?













I think they hired the monkey sock to investigate me for signs of infidelity.


Jeesh! Knitting can be so temperamental sometimes!

Promises and Progress Reports

Look what I found today!
A sunflower wreath for the front door! We need to add a little curb appeal before we list the house, and I was tickled yellow to find this little item in the Williams Sonoma catalog. (I love that store!) Perfect, no? It wasn't available in the store so I had to order on-line.




Have finished the fir cone section of wing o' the moth. Onward and upward (or should I say outward!) At any rate it will be good to move along to the border. This is actually the first shawl I have ever knit that has a border. Could get v-e-r-r-y i-n-t-e-r-e-s-t-i-n-g!










Monkey socks have surrendered their spot as comfort knitting in favor of this:

Yup! Everybody knows Chevron. She gets around. Rumor has it she is (how can I put this delicately?) keeping company with over 100 knitters nationwide (not even counting Canada!) Lord only knows what she is doing worldwide! Like I said, she gets around.

This picture reminds me of the time I went to the Zoo and the animal keeper in the reptile house (I have two brothers. They always wanted to see the snakes and spiders. UGH!) gave the snake a live mouse to eat. You could see the bulge move down. EEWW!

NO! NO! DON'T LEAVE! NO MORE GROSSNESS! I PROMISE! JUST MORE KNITTING!

Here are some other UFOs that haven't had their moment in the sun yet:

Clapotis in Handmaiden's Silk Maiden. Love the pattern but doesn't it seem like it just goes on FOREVER?!?
Oh - color is Rose Garden. (From my pink phase in April. Although it has some nice streaks of green and brown. I think this will be lovely with my brown pants.) The yarn is heaven to work with - single ply silk and wool - weight is reminiscent of Fiesta's La Luz.




And this is the front of the Heartbeat Sweater, also in silk maiden, color Nova Scotia. (Can you tell I love this yarn?)

I love the way the colors radiate in this one. Also a very quick knit. I did this in a day while watching Planet Earth (Fabulous!!! See it!!! Now!!!) The back is the same and then you add on two tiny cap sleeves. Should be great for the dog days of Summer.







This neglected lovely is Nicole from Chic Knits.

It's knitting up nicely in Nashua's Ecologie Cotton. The yarn is a little splitty, but I love the subtle variations in color. Almost looks tea dyed. Perfect for a vintage looking piece like this. Would also be great for some of the White Lies designs. It's very soft. Did I mention THE COLOR? Click to get a closer view of a crappy photo. (Hey, I'm still learning here - The first shot had my hulking shadow in the frame!)

And one finished object - YAY!!! Also (what else?) silk maiden, this time in Peridot.

(It really is too yummy! You've gotta get some. If you think seasilk is great, wait till you see this. It's like crack in a skein!)
This is the cover sweater from the current Rowan Spring Summer collection. I love how the colors fade into each other and I also love the little ruffled edge.



See?


Ooh, pretty!






And check out these cuties! The yarn is gorgeous too. I mean, we're talkin' serious pron here. Be still my heart!

I'll leave you with the promised picture of Baby boy the night he was born. Sorry for the flash reflection - unavoidable unless I remove said picture from its frame (and I'm way too lazy for that!)

Baby boy a.k.a. Nicholas at thirty seconds (if that) of age.







And here is Nick today, at twenty.

Hasn't he aged nicely? Well- rounded with a spicy finish. Pair him with a nice chunk of cheddar (not that he's cheesy or anything) and there you go...





Baby boy has a big day ahead of him tomorrow. Can't reveal any details, but please keep him in your prayers.

Thanks!

For everything!

Film at eleven (okay, 2:12)

Wrap your eyes around this:










And this:










And this:











Yes, that's right folks. We have knitting content! WOOHOO!!!

All hail the great husband (and thermostat manager.) Take a bow, honey:











He looks skeptical doesn't he? Perhaps he thinks I am no better at blogging than I am at indoor environment management?

At any rate, thanks for the camera. I feel like I have arrived! (You should have seen the look on the face of the Fry's Electronics salesman - and I use the word "man" loosely, more like salesteen - when I told him I needed a camera to take pictures of knitting.)

Note to Fry's management team: One shouldn't have to stand in front of a $3000 flat screen LCD television and say, "COOL!!!!" to get your attention. Those left waiting for a half hour in the digital camera aisle may not bring you much of a commission on this purchase, but if you treat them right, they'll come back when they are in the market for a $3000 flat screen LCD television.

Meet Kiri:




















She's coming along nicely for being only a week old.
Pattern: Kiri
Yarn: Posh laceweight cashmere in Bronze

And this little beauty.










Wait a minute. What's that down in the corner? could it be my ill-behaved monkey? Wait your turn!

And a close up











See the ferns? They're waving in the woods.
Pattern : Wing o' the Moth by genius Anne of KnitSpot fame (I am not worthy...)
Yarn: Handmaiden Seasilk in Woodland.

I'm having a lot of fuzzys form on this project as I'm working on it, especially on the points formed on the backside before blocking. Anybody else experience this problem?

The monkey is now jumping around, demanding attention, getting himself into the picture any way he can.










Now look what you've done - gone and gotten yourself all tangled up!(Told you he was ill behaved.)










See what I mean about the vertical pooling? On the cuff, we have thin stripes; on the leg, not so much. Interesting how a pattern changes the way the color is perceived.

Monkey see. Monkey do. that's all!