Do you believe in magic....

"Do you believe in magic in a young girl's heart
How the music can free her, whenever it starts
And it's magic, if the music is groovy
It makes you feel happy like an old-time movie
I'll tell you about the magic, and it'll free your soul
But it's like trying to tell a stranger 'bout rock and roll"

Or as E put - "Block and roll!!"

I am in love with blocking!!! I blocked my Mystery Stole last week and it was pure joy. I was worried that it wouldn't be long enough.... boy was I wrong!

I let is soak (in Soak) for half an hour and then used my new Knit Picks blocking wires to pin it out. The only way I could fit it on the queen sized guest bed was diagonally!




It just kept growing and growing! It really bloomed like crazy. I love the Jaggerspun Zephyr Wool Silk so much. Thanks Cheryl!








Proper photos and stats as soon as I can get someone to take pictures for me! (hint hint!)

Since I loved blocking my shawl so much - I looked around for something else to block and look what I dug up! My long hibernating friend - the Central park hoodie!



I started this last winter and I put it down when it started to get too hot to take the HUGE amount of wool on my lap. But now that the weather is getting cool again - I can indulge in some more cable love and maybe finally finish my hoodie!



I worked on it all weekend - and I'm proud to say - the body is seamed. the hood is 90% done and I think I may have to add another inch or two to the sleeves before I can attach them! I can't wait to show this baby off!

Oh yeah - my boys wanted to say hi too....

Bailey needs a haircut something awful! You can't even see his eyes right now!



And Hurley, as always, just looks cute and wants to play....

Eye Candy Friday!

My old roommate Oumou had a baby last weekend - she is beautiful and perfect and adorable in every way.

I took a bunch of pictures and thought I'd share one of my favorites.

Don't you just love baby toes!



Have a great weekend!

Next week - photos of my completed Mystery Stole!! Yes! I actually finished it!! Yippee!

John's Quilt

The day after we found out John had cancer, I decided to make him a quilt to use during his treatment and stay at the hospital.

I had big plans to give it to him on his first day of chemo and radiation.... well... it ended up taking me a little longer than I thought to complete it. John is now on his 4th week of radiation - but it's finally done!

I started by stitching together about 40 squares and mailing them off around the country to his family and friends. I had everything planned... except I didn't plan on how long it would take to get them all back!

I finally had to give up on some people and I ended up with 32 squares. 32 squares of personal messages, prayers, drawings and signatures for John keep near him and to help him through his cancer treatment. I gave it to him for his birthday on Friday.

When he opened the package - his first words were, "It's a blanket. Thanks."
I had folded it wrong side up - so he couldn't immediately see that it was a quilt. So I said, "why don't you open the blanket."

When he finally gets the clue... he opens it and finds the quilt.




I was so nervous! I wasn't sure if he would like it... he doesn't really like quilts - but he loved it!



He was so touched by everything his friends and family wrote. It is such a wonderful expression of love.

Here's the entire piece:



(A little head kept getting in my way while I was trying to take this photo!)




Here's the square I made:




and a few of my favorites:




I tied the quilt instead of hand or machine sewing (deadlines!) and I used a technique where the ties are on the back of the quilt and the front looks like x's. I really like the way it came out. Here's the back - showing all the little ties.



Thanks to everyone who contributed to this and special thanks to Jolene and my mother in law for helping me finish the sewing! It's definitely going to be well used and well loved.

Pretty in pink....

Go check out these awesome new patterns by Jolene Mosley. The pictures are pretty awesome too (if I do say so myself)

Here's a sneak peak:




They are available for sale at the Sweet Sheep.

Jolene is a very talented designer - you should definitely check out her work! I did the photography and some of the test knitting for these patterns so I can personally vouch for how awesome they are!

Go shop!!

We lit the night!

Saturday was an awesome day. My friend Sarah came to town for a visit!!


AND..

We got to celebrate with our friend Jolene at her daughter's "Off Chemo" party! It was a perfect day - the sun was shining and the kids were running around having fun. I am very honored to be a part of their lives.

After the party - we all headed over to the lake for the Light the Night walk. It's a walk that benefits people with Leukemia & Lymphoma. My friend's daughter had leukemia and my dad had lymphoma - so I was walking for both of them.



Seeing the balloons all lit up was just amazing.

It was a great day!