Conference = progress...

 

I'm not a huge fan of conferences, because I don't like being away from home.  I miss my bed, my babies, my food...and I always get behind at work.  But conferences do have one "fun" aspect for me...I can knit!  I'm one of those people that are better focused in a long lecture/meeting when I can knit.  It keeps my hands busy and helps me take in what I'm there for.

So, I took 2 knitting projects with me last week when I went to my conference.  I was able to knit a few more inches on my toe-up Tuscany socks.   (Sorry, the sock is inside out, but you get the jist of it).  I'm happy with it :)

 

I also knit a little more on my cap sleeve cardigan.  (I love Malabrigo!)  The moss stitch is popping out now on the front band.

And the  cap sleeves are adorable.  I like this pattern and that's a good thing, since I have yarn for a pink one too!

Ava was happy I came home, she just isn't showing it.  She is showing her spoiled little girl side :)

I'm so freakishly slow!

I believe I am the slowest knitter known to man!  I'm sooooooooooo slow!  Why??Even Truman thinks I am slow, he told me so.  It takes me forever to knit socks, but I love to knit them. I'm still trucking along on my Tuscany socks....slowly knitting on them.

 I decided to cast on one of the sweater patterns I picked up over the summer and sat down to get started.  (What is one more project?)  Truman gave me the look; the "you know it will take you forever to knit this" look. 

I'm using Malabrigo worsted in Bijou Blue.  I LOVE Malabrigo, but who doesn't????

Here is the pattern.  It is from Knitting Pure & Simple and is the cap sleeve cardigan vest.  Surely to goodness it won't take me months to make this :), fingers crossed.

Truman, quit looking at me that way!

My swap box has arrived!

 

Ta-da, my swapbox from the Ravelry The Swap Stop Have a Cuppa swap arrived yesterday and I was so excited to get into it!  Look how neatly wrapped everything is!  (Makes me so embarrassed that I did not do such a hot job on mine)

I pulled out all of the LOVELY items in my swap package and fawned over them.  My swapper did an awesome job on my box and I love it!

I have this cool LOST (dharma initiative with knitting ball) mug, a bag of Hazelnut coffee, and box of Yorkshire Tea, a pair of HiyaHiya puppy snips (they look like a puppy!), 2 skeins of Noro yarn (so exciting), and a bar of Belgian Milk Chocolate (hiding from DH right now).

Can you believe how beautiful the yarn is?  Can you see the adorable puppy head?

Thank you so much DeathByYarn for making my swap experience so wonderful!

Happy Valentine's Day to you!

Prisoner of Love Sock Monkey

I awoke this morning to this handsome little sock monkey in a coffee mug waiting for me.  My "children" had left me a Valentine's Day present :)  I love sock monkeys!

I'm not a huge fan of Vday, never really have been.  I would rather have all of the goodies on a plain day, a just because day...know what I mean?

Yesterday I was getting a few things at Wal-Mart (okay the essentials = ice cream, diet sun-drop, and dog chewies) and one of the ladies in the produce aisle came up and gave me this rose.  She wished me a Happy Valentine's Day and walked on down the aisle to the next lady.  How sweet was that?????  It made my day.

 

 

I finished the Pacific Beach Beret from Ravelry last night and blocked it on a dinner plate.  I have to weave in my ends and add my button.  I'm pleased with the results and recommend this pattern if you are wanting to make a quick knit beret.

 

 

 

Pacific Beach Beret

Black Purl...

A recent Ravelry destash purchase I made and love. Lorna's Laces Black Purl.  I look at it and think of Captain Jack Sparrow, a man that makes me want to be a pirate, as well as want to take a shower.  He is so dirty.

Do you ever watch movies and think of how dirty the people look and just know they smell????  Yes, I know it is a movie and they are actors, but ick!  How did anyone ever reproduce????  I wouldn't let him near me smelling like that....

Anyway, I love this yarn.  I also love the little hedgehog that is protecting it from the cats.  His name is Bob (seriously, he has a nametag) and was a gift from a wonderful lady, Miss Gigi.

Now, what to make with this gorgeous yarn???????

I

Stitch markers are happening...

I spent some time today working on stitch  markers for a swap I am participating in...a February Stitch Marker Swap in Ravelry.  I love swaps, I'm hooked!  I made a few extras for my other February swap partner too.

Then I made a few keychains to throw in the packages...And then I made a few pins to add just for the fun of it :)

(my picture taking skills are for the birds!!!!)

And I started my Pacific Beret on Friday night, worked a little on it last night, and a dab on it this evening.  I'm pleased with it so far and love my colorway. 

This is a yarn I dyed during a SAFF workshop this year.  Maybe last year, I don't know.  I lose track of what I take each year :)

As I said, my picture quality is VERY lacking.  But the colors are a beautiful variegation of blues, greens, and purples with a little white throughout. 

I highly recommend the dying workshops at SAFF. 

And I want to throw a shout out there to all of you knitters and crocheters....show some love and support to our fiber sister Sillyfru over at SassyPantsKnitter podcast (and Adventures of a Silly, Silly girl blog) and donate a dollar to help her go to CampKIP in April.  Details on her blog.  Thanks for helping her out!!