Goodies!

I didn't quite finish Bonsai. I still have one side to finish sewing up. Hopefully, I'll finish today and get some pictures. Meanwhile, I have goodies to show.

Margene's blog was one of the first that I began reading on a regular basis. I've always enjoyed her nature pictures (especially the gorgeous mountains) as well as all her knitting and lately spinning. I'm very happy to have won her 27,000th commenter contest and I got my goodies Saturday.

There's a skein of laceweight that doesn't have a name, but should really be called "Sherbet". It truly reminds me of the rainbow sherbet I used to get as a kid. I'm thinking it needs a simple triangular shawl to show off. The fiber is two ounces of "Geisha" merino from Wooly Wonka Fibers. There are also mints, hand salve, and some wonderful chocolate that only remained intact long enough for the photo. That lavender chocolate is really good. I haven't tried the others yet. And the fabric that it's all lying on is actually a little bag just perfect for fiber and spindles. I'm so happy with everything! Thank you so much, Margene!

WIP Wednesday - Bonsai Edition

The back of the Bonsai Tunic is just about finished:

I'm to the armholes. It's been a rough week, so I haven't gotten too much done on it, but things are looking better much now. I've been drawn to Norah Gaughan's designs ever since I took knitting back up a couple of years ago because she always does something unusual or unexpected. The first sweater I ever made was her Ballet Wrap from IK because it had such an interesting construction. I have the Hex Coat from Knitting Nature in the works (but probably on hold until end of summer/fall). This particular design has a reverse stockinette back as well as just looking different on the front. She's just definitely one of my favorite clothing designers.

Another good thing: I was Margene's 27,000th commenter on Monday. (That's a lot of comments!) She's going to be sending me a package next week to celebrate and I'm looking forward to it! I really did time it perfectly because I had gone to her site, looked up something else, and borrowed her meme before finally going back to leave my comment, fully expecting that she would have already had the magic number. A few minutes later, I got an email telling me that it was me. Happy, happy!

Foxy Lady Socks and Goodies

My new socks:

The yarn: Cherry Tree Hill in Foxy Lady colorway from The Loopy Ewe (Just tell Sheri I sent you ;-)
The Needles: Size 0 DPNs
The pattern: My own really. I cast on 80 and used a 3X1 rib and since I didn't want to mess up the lovely striping pattern, I decided to use a forethought heel from Sensational Knitted Socks instead of my usual heel flap. I prefer the heel flap, it just fits my heel better, but I think if I just remember next time to put a few extra rows on the cuff whenever I do a different heel, I'll like it a little better.

I'm about to try toe-up socks for the first time. Don't know what pattern I'll be using, but the yarn will have blue in it for Project Spectrum.

My new goodies from Birdsong and the Hidcote KAL:

Yes, that's a bar of Ghirardelli Dark which is my absolute favorite chocolate in the whole world. (I don't eat many sweets anymore, but don't ever ask me to give up my chocolate!) The little pink pillow is a flax seed and lavender-filled eye pillow which will probably find it's way into my wool baskets when it's not in use. A few hard candies (really good) and of course, a magnetic chart keeper from Knit Picks. I was so upset with myself when I placed my last KP order because I forgot to order one of these. I now have one and it will be put to good use with the Forest Path Stole.

The snow/ice is melting a little, on the roads at least, and I might even be able to actually get out of the house tomorrow. Plus, new socks and new goodies. Life is good.

Ten

Ten degrees. That's what it is this morning. That's pretty darn chilly, even for February. I know I was wondering where the cold weather was a few weeks ago, but man, ten? With a probable high of 29. I'm really glad I had a sock making kick last spring because I have enough wool socks. Well, you can never really have enough handknit wool socks, can you?

Well, this week has started off better than last week (well except for the lovely cold sore on my lip. If you've never had them, let me just tell you how unattractive they are. But even the cold sore is sort of left over from last week when I had some sort of wicked stomach bug or food poisoning. Compromised immune system and all that.) Anyway, I did have a point, didn't I? Oh, yeah. I won the Laceuary Survival Kit from the Hidcote KAL. Basically, if you posted before the end of January, you were entered, and the random number generator spat my number out. Cool, huh? I'll definitely show you the goodies when they arrive.

And I'll have more goodies to show soon. I sort of placed another order with The Loopy Ewe. But it's my Valentine's present, so it doesn't really count. Hey, I'm not a member of a stash-along, so I won't feel guilty! (But seriously, I'm going to finish a few pair of socks before any more sock yarn!)

I'll have a WIP to show tomorrow and no, it's not the Forest Path Stole, but I will pick that back up very soon.