Ariann Photoshoot

Yes - she's done!

I went out to breakfast this morning to meet up with some friends beacuse Stacey is in town! I had to show off my Ariann of course! Here we are:



Lolly, Stacey, Jolene (and baby Joe), Coleen and I had a grand time catching up and sipping coffee. Some of us even knit! (not me!)

After our coffee and conversation, I had Coleen take a few photos for me. This is taken right outside Panera. Don't you just love the 70's style architecture of these strips malls - ha!



Stats:
Pattern: Ariann from Chick knits
Yarn: Classic Elite Skye Tweed in Upland Green from Webs
Needles: Size 9 Knit Picks Interchangebles
Buttons: Purchased at Cloverhill yarn shop
Alterations: I made this sweater a size larger than the pattern. It actually came out a little big in the end.

I love this pattern - it's so simple, yet has a striking effect. I did have to rip back twice because I'm an idiot and forgot to stop yo'ing at the raglan shaping - oops!

Of course I had to have John take some more when I got home...








I found the most awesome buttons at Cloverhill too...





Yeah for new sweaters - go say congrats to Sarah - she just finished her Central Park Hoodie!!

Long overdue Thanks!!

I have been a bad bad blogger and forgot to thank my lovely friends for some gifts I received for my birthday (back in December!)

I got Birthday presents!

Sarah made me this cute Velma purse from an Amy Butler pattern. I love the fabric she chose too.




Coleen gave me some cool roving from the beach! She also got me a bookmark.



Can you see what's on the bookmark? It's a tiny spinning wheel! How cute is that!



Nicol made me the cutest mittens out of Trekking:

Now they are mittens:



Now they are fingerless mitts:



Isn't that awesome? Convertible mitts!



Not only did she make me these awesome mitts, she included all these little treasures as well...



Look at this awesome fabric stack. It's from Nancy's Quilt shop that I got to visit in Las vegas - it has everything you could ever want in a fabric shop. Actually it was even featured in Quilt Sampler magazine.



She also sent me these awesome earrings that I have worn almost every day since I got them.



Happy Birthday to me - Thanks friends!




In other gifting news, I participated in the Handmade Ornament swap this year. My partner was Marti and she sent the most awesome package!


After a disaster where her dog ate the first package she had prepared, she recreated it and sent it a little after Christmas - but I still love it. The ornaments are too cute - and she even put in some Sea Silk! *Sigh* I'm spoiled :)




I know the knitting content has been sparse lately - but that doens't mean I'm not working on stuff!! Here's some of my WIP's.

Ariann is still eating yarn, but I swear it's almost done!


I started the Koolhaas hat with some Malabrigo - I love this pattern so much!


I'm also working on several pairs of socks. So hopefully some finished objects coming soon!

Good things

OK - so I'm stealing my title from Martha Stewart... but I really do have some good things to show you.

I have gotten some really amazing packages in the mail lately. When I got home from Cancun - I found these pretties waiting:

Socks that Rock in the new Raven Clan colorways! I picked two - Pallas Athena and
Rook-y and I love them!



I can't wait to make something out of them.

I also got my box of goodies a.k.a. - The Sampler! I have tried to get one of these packages several times, and they were always sold out. So I was so glad to finally get one! It has all kinds of handmade things inside. It's basically a place for indie artists to showcase their goods.



The holiday edition is availble now.

And finally - I got this new book - Last Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson. I love this book!



There are so many cool things in here. I've already made a few (but they are gifts - so no pictures yet!) I can't wait to try some of the quilts in here. There's a nice blend of small projects and larger projects inside that will allow even the newest sewer to make some great things. I highly recommend it.


I don't know about where you guys live - but around here the leaves are just amazing right now. They are falling off faster and faster so I wanted to take a few last pics of the gorgeous Autumn leaves and I just happened to finish this handspun that looks so much like the colors of Fall.

Can you see it?



How about now?



I love the colors of this fiber. It's a merino tencel blend by Mama-E from her Cyberfiber line. It's Summer Solstice.




It's gorgeous!

And finally - I'm not sure if it will actually be done by the end of November - but I did start Ariann for NaKnitSweMo (knit a sweater in a month) this month. I'm about halfway done right now - I just bound off the armholes. Time to start the sleeves!



I'm using Classic Elite Skye Tweed:



Wish me luck in finishing! I only have 4 more days in November!!!