I had fun with my Friday RoundUp last week, so I'm doing it again. . .
On the NeedlesNot much knitting news this week. I'm plugging away on my Psychic Heart Mittens. One is done. One is not. Blocking is sorely needed.
I really don't like the yellow. It looks like it will play so nicely with the other colors. . . just sitting there in the skein. Once it gets out in the open, though. Yikes! So bright! It screams at the other colors! I also discovered that I'm not really liking the "Latvian" shape of the the top of the mitten (which you can't see in this photo) -- but it comes to a point. I much prefer a rounded shape on my mittens. These mittens will be. . . fine. . . when they're finished. They need a good blocking, and they do look better on my hand than just laying there. All in all, it's been good to get back into color work -- and I've learned some important color lessons.
Because these mittens are futzy (although the pattern is easy to memorize), I have a simple project going for tv-watching and phone-talking.
Yet another Noro-stripe-scarf (without the Noro). Apparently, I will never tire of watching the colors change and blend together.
I also took some time to sit back with a cup of tea and some new knitting magazines yesterday. Knitting magazines seem to be totally hit or miss with me. Either I hate every design, or I like a bunch of them. I don't know why that is. . . but I rarely just like one design! Yesterday, I was completely charmed by these---
The top sweater is in knitsimple (Winter 09/10), and the bottom one is in Verena Knitting (Winter 2010). This one, though, (also from Verena) is the one that's really calling to me ---
The collar, though??? What is it doing? I really can't tell from the photo or the schematic in the directions. I would need to see the collar before ever committing to making this!
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In the EarsHere's what I'm listening to right now.
I love Louise Erdrich's work. I'm not sure how I missed reading this one when it first came out, but I did. I'm listening now, though. I'm listening while I do my household chores. . . while I walk the dog. . . while I knit. . .while Brian tries to talk to me. How did I manage before my favorite-of-all-combinations -- iPod and Audible -- came to be?
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My Favorite ThingsWhen I was a little girl, I loved The Sound of Music. I knew every song by heart. Although it wasn't my favorite song from the movie, I always liked the concept behind "My Favorite Things." Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens. . . bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens. . . brown paper packages tied up with string. . . What I always liked about the song was that the "favorite things" were such minor, little things. I think, as an 8-year-old, I was totally taken with the notion that things didn't need to be "fancy" or "big" to be "favorite." I've always found that comforting.
And, I'm always discovering my own "favorite things." Simple little things that make me smile. Things like . . .my new teapot!
It's just the most perfect little teapot! It's bright and cheerful, AND it brews two cups of tea -- with a little infuser insert (so it's really simple to use loose leaf tea).
Definitely one of my new "favorite things!"
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Make it Work!I used to be a big Project Runway fan. It was a perfect show for me --- I like fashion; I like to sew. I was always impressed by the things the designers could produce from odd and limited materials over such a short, pressure-filled time period. I thought it was completely fun. Until last season, that is, which was a total snooze-fest.
Well. So glad I decided to give it one more try and watch the new season. Last night, the designers had to make their models "look good in a potato sack!" They went from this. . .
To this. . .
So far, WAY more entertaining!
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And, Some Mind Candy
Have a great weekend -- full of ice cream or any other treats you may desire!