THE PROOF

Well - I made it thru a difficult week at work but it's FINALLY FRIDAY !  I felt so liberated when I left work -  headed straight for the LYS and knit night with friends.  I thought I was too tired but Jody encouraged me to go and I'm actually glad I did - I finished the back of my Rowan Colorscapes jacket.  The yarn is lovely - the colorways were designed by Kaffe Fassett and it shows - brillant colors - a little out of my comfort zone but unbelievably dramatic.  This would be a fast finish if I just devoted any attention to it but I'm all about what catches my attention at the moment and then poof - I'm off to something else.  So I got the front cast on and I'll try to be a little more attentive to this beauty.

While I'm showing knitting - here is a photo of the yarn I mentioned in my last post - I found the simple capelet pattern and yarn at the yarn shop in St Augustine.  It is easy mindless knitting and enjoyable to watch the color changes - the mohair stranded along with the striping wool gives a lovely halo and it is just the effect I was looking for - so I'm glad that my impulse purchase is turning out so well.  It will always remind me of the bittersweet day I spent in St Augustine and how special my connections are to that place.

Another fun purchase I received in the mail last week is some Spud and Chloe - that is a charming spin off company from Blue Sky Alpaca - one of my fave yarn companies.  They put out this cute pencil bag for accessories and knitting notions with their darling logo on it.  Here are 2 skeins of their "Fine" yarn which is a fingering weight in Clementine and I got a skein of their "sweater" which is a worsted weight cotton/wool blend and also a design by them called Tea Party Cardi - which uses the sweater weight yarn - I wanted to see it in person and swatch it up before I ordered the yarn for the cardi - I don't care for cotton yarn however I love Blue Sky's cotton and this proves to be even nicer with the addition of the wool.

and now to the proof - I do still stitch - I really really do - I just don't get much done - Here is a darling piece I got from the Attic - it is the class piece that the BBD gals did for Jean's retreat in November.  It is an adorable thread pocket with a tiny hornbook charm - on the back you can affix the LHN "schoolgirl lessons" piece which is stitched in one color of Belle Soie.  OK granted - some of my stitching idols (and you all know who you are) could have stitched up this little piece in a week but I just work on it when I feel like it so this is all I have done.  Cute huh?

                                                                                            

Last but certainly not least is an updated progress shot of the SL "Hart" sampler I am doing for my folks anniversary.  I have mostly been working (or not working) on the filling in.  There is tons of fill in work on this sampler and now I am somewhat worried that I don't have enough of the maroon silk for the outer border so I am probably going to continue trying to fill the 4 sides to see if it holds out.  Compared to my last WIP photo of this piece I can see progress so I guess I am pleased enough to show you the progress.

So - no rug hooking updates for this post.  I am however looking so forward to another rug workshop down in Sebring Fl - it is held at a family owned inn on Lake Jackson and is a beautiful place - so lovely so picturesque on the lake - the landscaping is gorgeous.  It is something I look forward to doing with my mom every year.  We have a wonderful teacher with whom we've had great sucess in previous years.  Mom is doing a small Not Forgotten Farm design and I am doing a 24" X 24" design by Bea Brock - the same designer as my Angel Sampler -however this piece is more like an oversized quilt block - I'll show you what I end up with after the workshop.  I did not give my teacher much direction about the color plan so it will be a surprise - I love surprises don't you?

I am so moved by the comments so many people made in regards to the passing of my dear cousin.  I had some new commenters to my blog and I appreciate so much your kindness and I hope you will all come back and visit me.  I read and enjoy all of your messages.  No matter what your chosen handwork - be sure and make time to enjoy it and to stop and smell the roses along the way.