hang my head in defeat.

Welll, I didn't make it. I haven't had time in a week to work on my Flower Basket Shawl for the Knitting Olympics. I feel terrible that I didn't finish my project, but I did learn a lot about myself in the process:

1) I am capable of anything I set my mind to, except for when unexpected things come up.

2) My family is very important to me, much more important to me than spending time knitting.

3) Lace is awesome. I loved getting it started, and will finish.

4) Sometimes just challenging myself makes a difference. The KO did inspire me to start my project, and I actually did get started. I even got a bit into it! I was so hesitant to start the lace, butt am glad that I did. I don't thought I was "experienced" enough to do lace, but I am, and it looks great. Not perfect, but pretty darn good!

moving along

My flower basket shawl has sadly taken a back burner. We have decided to sell our townhouse and buy a single family home, so that has taken over. This weekend we painted our living room white (bye bye purple!), and moved somethings into storage. Another weekend of hard work and we should be able to get the house on the market.

I'm posting a picture of my shawl, or what I have of it so far. I have decided that there is no way I'm going to be able to complete it in the time left, but I will still work on it in my spare time. Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be much of that this week. After about 3 hours of work, this is where I'm at:



I really love how it's turning out. There are definitely some mistakes here and there, but overall I'm very pleased with my progress- considering I started and had to rip out about 30 rows only to start again. I love the color of this Knitpicks Shadow yarn. So soft and beautiful.

Well, I'm not declaring defeat yet, I'm just not sure how much further I'll get on this. As far as I'm concerned, I started it, and am moving along, which is what I was hoping for in the first place.

Prices Reduced!

Since I've only had one order on my etsy store, I've decided to reduce prices a little bit! I've added a few more cards, and I have multiples of most stitch marker sets. Check them out at My Etsy Store!

Have a great long weekend for those of you who have monday off! I'll be spending my time packing. I already packed up my stash- two bins full! I did leave out enough to work on a few projects over the next few months, and I'm hoping it's enough! I need to sort out all of my beads, fabric and other crafty stuff and get things organized. I'm going to have to put a lot of my scrapbook stuff away too. I can keep out as much as will fit in my big CM bag, thankfully it's a lot.

Getting ready to sell a townhouse is so much fun!

Who has the BEST secret pal??!!

I do, I do!! I got home from work to a wonderful surprise! I knew my pal had sent a package but I didn't expect it yet! Inside, was this:




Here are close up's of everything:
First I opened up what was wrapped in tissue paper...labelled "here are some supplies for your new business":



I absolutely love the green and brown beads! So beautiful! I am definitely going to make some great thigns with them. Then there is the yarn charm, which I am definitely keeping for myself! I've been looking for one to use on the bracelet that I use to keep track of points for WW.

Then there were some cute notecards with a sweater, yarn and needles on them. Perfect!



And then, the coolest part: A SPINNING KIT!!! I've been dying to learn how, but haven't gotten a chance to get a drop spindle yet. This is so great, I can't wait to use it. And a fun fact, the sheep who's fleece I'll be spinning, is named Oreo- only my favorite cookie in the world!




So, a huge THANK YOU goes out to my Secret Pal! I am so glad that you are feeling better! You really did your research and definitely picked out some awesome gifts. You made my day!!

back on track

I'm back on track for the Flower Basket Shawl. It may end up being th size that will fit a 2 year old at the pace I'm going, but i'm ok with that! It looks great! I did make a little mistake last night, I must have forgotten to do a yo or something, but that's ok. I found a place that looked like it was lacking, and added in a stitch. We'll see how it turns out, I'm getting excited to see how it looks. I'm finally at the point again where I was when I frogged it. I'll post a picture later tonight if I remember!

knitter down!

Ok, so my olympics progress hasn't been very good over the weekend. Yesterday afternoon, I realized that I made a mistake early on, and that the shawl was horrible. I thankfully hadn't done that much on it, so I frogged what I had done, and have just started over on my lunch break. This time I'm using lifelines, for sure.

Project Spectrum

I saw this:



On Saun's blog, and decided it sounded like a great idea! Always looking for ways to use colors that I don't use every day! It's being organized by Lolly, who is brilliant for coming up with this idea! Thanks so much!!

Fun stuff

I haven't done much knitting in the last week, since I'm trying to give my hands a rest before the Knitting Olympics start up. I have however been very busy making cards, and stitch markers- some of which are on my Etsy store site, and others are waiting to be uploaded sometime this weekend.

And, last night I went to a stamping party for The Angel Company. It was a lot of fun, and we made two cards and a little candy bag with a valentines day label. And I got to close out my book party. I ended up being naughty (but not too naughty) and got some great things for half price, lots of free stamp sets, plus a few that I'm going to use in making cards for my Etsy store. I can't wait for it all to come in now!

Other news, we may move! We're talking about selling our townhouse and upgrading to either a single family home, or a much bigger townhouse. This would be awesome! 4 BR, or 3BR plus a den is a must! I'd actually have an "office/craft room/guest room, plus a room for Celia, and one for once we actually have an other baby. I'm really excited about this, and if there was ever a good time to do it, it would be now! We meet with a realtor on monday night, so keep your fingers crossed for us!

Official Team Status

I've decided on a team to support for the Knitting Olympics. It's going to be:

Even though I don't live in Buffalo anymore, I will always be a Buffalo girl at heart!! Support the home team!!

I've got my needles ready, and can't wait to cast on!!

Check this out!!

My friend Lisa started an online store! She's posted some of her beautiful handmade cards, some are perfect for Valentines day!! Bella Rose Creations is the place to go!!

More stitch markers added!

I have added several more Stitch Markers to my Etsy store! Check them out!!

And, I finally got gauge on my Flower Basket shawl. I'm going to have to go up to a US10, but it works. I still can't believe I had to go up so high, I think it recommended size 5. I'll post pics once I get started. I really love the color I chose.

For my mom's socks, I just started the heel flap, so I'm about half done with the second sock! Definitely will be done by the time she comes down for Celia's birthday.

swatches.

Last night, I spent some time organizing my craft area. I un-strung all of the beautiful crystal and glass beads I got yesterday! A co-worker and I went on a little shopping expedition over lunch yesterday to an amazing bead shop! It's confusing in that it's labelled as a candle store, but you look in the window and there are strings upon strings of beads hanging all over the place! They have lots of neat round nubby glass beads in tons of colors, animal glass beads, and hundreds of crystal ones. I was in heaven, and I managed not to spend too much money but got a load for my collection so I can make tons more stitch markers and some bracelets.

After I organized, I decided it was time to do a swatch for my Flower Basket Shawl for the Knitting Olympics. I did my 4 inch square and then measured it. WAY too small. It is supposed to be 20 stitches to 4", and I had maybe 3". So I went up a size and started to re-do my swatch. I noticed pretty quickly that it was again too small. So the pattern calls for size 5 needles with lace weight yarn. I think I'm going to use at least size 7, or maybe up to size 8! This is crazy! Has anyone else had this problem??

Taking the plunge

For a few weeks, I've been making sets of stitch markers in my spare time. I had gone to the local bead store (which has amazing beads!) and picked some beautiful glass beads that I thought would be neat as stitch markers. Since I love to do crafty things, I decided to open up a little online store to sell them. This allows me to make more, instead of having a stock pile of enough for 20 people! And I've also recently started making cards too, so I decided to throw some of those up to see if they take off. I love them! There will be a lot more over the next few weeks, I just wanted to get things rolling.

My store is here: Shelby's Stitch Markers and Cards. I'm offering a special to all participants of SP7! I'm giving a 10% discount and free shipping, plus I'll gift wrap and fill out a gift tag, as well as ship directly to your pal if you'd like. I hope you like them, I had a blast making them!

Stash enhancement

I finally went over to Woolwinders this afternoon to use the gift certificate that my mom got me for Christmas. I think I was there for at least 45 minutes trying to decide what to get! I knew that I wanted some Koigu for socks, and that I wanted to get some Noro to try (I love the colors). I had so much fun looking at everything, coming up with ideas of what to make with things, and here is what I settled on:



I got some Regina sock yarn, Noro Silk Garden for a scarf (I think), two skeins of Wool In the Woods, (I'm not sure what I'll use this for yet), and two different colors of Koigu for socks for me! I made Celia a sweater out of Koigu a while back and it is so soft! I am totally spoiling myself with that. ;) Then the three buttons in the baggie are for this:



Then after I put everything away, I took a picture of my stash. And the funny thing is that I have a plan for just about everything in there! Now I'm DONE buying yarn until S&W. :)

YAY!!!

I'm SO excited! I just got the ticket confirmation that my mom is coming down to go to the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival!!! I'm so excited! Last year when I went I couldn't help but think how much she'd love it, and I'm thrilled that she's going to come down for it! Loads of yarn will be had!

misc

The four team's I'm debating between for the Knitting Olympics. I am sure that caffeine, chocolate and merlot will all be consumed throughout my two weeks! Then there is the national loyalty. So I'm thinking, and will make a decision soon!

SP6!! Thank you!!

I'm finally posting a picture that is LONG due! A while ago I received my last package from my SP6! I already blogged about it, the subscription to Interweave Knits (I got the first issue a few weeks ago and have added several projects to the To Do list), the Vogue knitting accessories book, measuring tape and pendant cutter. Here is the pic of my gifts!




Thanks Angella!!!

3 buttons and a C

I'm almost done with my daughter's alphabet sweater!! It looks fantastic! It is obviously a little longer in the back but it actually isn't too bad. I am so proud of it, and can't wait for her to wear it. I'm definitely posting a pic as soon as I buy and sew on buttons!

Knitting Olympics

I was inspired by Yarn Harlot to join her
Knitting Olympics I'm really excited about it, I'm taking the opportunity to finally do the Flower Basket Shawl that I bought the yarn/pattern for months ago but have been afraid to touch. This should be fun!

It's friday!!

Last night, I made it to SnB for the first time in a long time! I'm hoping to start going every week now that my husband is getting home at 5:15 instead of 7. I had an awesome time, and I even finished the first of my mom's socks. Now just 1 more to go!

Last night after I got back, I picked up the Alphabet sweater, and started picking up the stitches for the collar. I got one row knit up, and ran out of the skein I was using. I put it down since it was late anyways, and went to bed. This morning I went to my stash and looked for the last ball of yarn, and I can't find it anywhere! I am going to have to count tonight, but I think I may have used all of the yarn up. If that's the case, I'm not sure what I'll do because I doubt I'll be able to find the same dye lot, and I only have a bit left to knit, and then I need to sew it togheter. I'm hoping to find the last ball tonight when tearing my stash apart.