spun another ball of yarn!

This took me forever, but I finally finished it.

Was:

WIP:

Is:

Yay!

I'll miss theanticraft's blog

A couple weeks ago, the folks over at theanticraft.com posted on their blog that the blog shall no longer be. Not entirely surprised, considering how rarely it had been updated since facebook, ravelry, and the publication of their book. But I'll still miss it. Their blog was one of the main reasons why I went online. I don't know why, but I always found their blog contributions very entertaining and informative.

Facebook updates are just not quite the same.

But I digress. Such is life, and such is the evolution of the internet. I suppose blogs are becoming less "cool" when you can do instant updates on facebook, twitter and other places.

I've been a bad blogger...

... I've been much too distracted doing pretty much anything else, so, sorry. But, catching up today is better late than never.

DH and I have started the ball rolling with getting the garage done this year. It's falling apart, and it's something we should've done last year. Again, better late than never. It's unfortunately going to cost a small fortune... but one of those necessary evils. Fingers crossed, it'll be up by the end of July at the very latest - but a part of me is hoping it'll be up by the end of June.

Also, my parents are planning on coming over for 3 weeks. They'll be here for the last week of June. There's a wedding happening during Canada Day weekend that we're all invited to, and I'm working on a shawl that I may wind up wearing to it. I'm just finishing up on the edging atm.

More knitting projects... I've been working on a few items for my etsy shop and am starting to refill it, since it's been virtually empty since xmas. I also - believe it or not - have started knitting for xmas 2010. Because I'm that neurotic. I know. Just a couple small gifts for my neice and nephew for now. But I really like getting those out of the way a.s.a.p. ... and pictures to follow once I get those finished.

another pattern published!

Just got my keelhauled scarf published @ theanticraft.com ... :) woo hooo!

two projects done

I've been a bad blogger, I know. Much too much time has passed since my last post. But, it's only because I've been busy knitting.

I've finished two projects lately.

Last night I knit up another owl coffee cup cozie, which I plan to gift my SIL @ xmas. I know that's a long way away, but I wanted to start doing a little care package of knit items for her, which I plan to wrap in a Tim Horton's timbit box, which I was able to snag one for free a while back. A few more items will be going in there. Also note that I've revised the pattern, because I now realize that making this in aran weight yarn is a teeny bit too loose, so I've decreased by a few stitches, which should make this a bit more snug. If using DK or worsted yarn, it should be fine as is.

I also made my mom this cathedral shawl (scroll down a bit for the pdf link to the pattern) which I made out of some Fleece Artist Ottawa yarn. It's hard to tell in the picture but it's actually a very beautiful shade of blue, which I know she'll love. I plan on gifting it to her when she comes here on vacation in July. I'm also working on designing a sweater vest for my dad, so they'll both get something. But for now, this one is what I have done.

~*~ WAY TO WIN GOLD, CANADA! ~*~

The Canadian Team won the gold in hockey! Woo hoo! Congrats, Canada!

the deer are doing WHAT?!?

I love love love this chart, it's too funny. It's a ravelry downloadable pattern, which has the fornicating deer alone or with the forest charted for a hat. I adjusted the pattern slightly, because it also had a star in the pattern above the sheep, but it would've made the hat too tall.


Knit with my favourite yarn - Patons Classic Wool. I think it turned out rather well, if I do say so myself, and can't wait for the opportunity for me to wear it out in public!

sunflower granny square

Granny squares are so fantastic to make, I adore them. They're pretty much the only thing I'm willing to crochet.

This sunflowery one is from the book 99 Granny Squares To Crochet, and it's #97, made from acrylic yarn.

That book has some classic granny squares in it... I think it's a hard book to come across, but if you can find it, get it. There are some great recommendations in it! It's one of my favourite pattern books, when it comes to yarn crafts.

tools, toys, and FO's

For xmas, my wonderful DH gifted me a swift and ball winder... I finally had an opportunity, a couple days ago, to use it. I balled a skein of Fleece Artist Ottawa, which is being knit up into a shawl for my mom. Don't you just adore the colour?!?! Perfect for her, I think.

Also, I've finished a pair of fingerless gloves I made for my husband, to gift to him for Valentine's Day on Sunday. I used this pattern and some dark blue Sweaterknits Merino Alpaca - uber soft and ideal colour for him! Here they are:

my house is shaking!

For the past year or so, my immediate neighborhood has been going through some repairs - the water and sewage pipes are being replaced. My street is the last on the list to get these repairs and updates.

For the last week, there has been tractors and trucks and costruction guys up and down my street, digging things up, filling things in, digging things up again. Every time there's digging, shovelling, drilling, and refilling, my house (as well as other homes, I'm sure) shakes! It's unnerving.

Granted, it's not like it feels like I'm in an earthquake or anything, but my glasses and mugs rattle, I can just hear the house shudder at each move of the machines outside. A part of me sometimes expects my roof to cave in! Ugh.

Today's Friday. I hope that they finish doing the major work today.