Lovely Angora Bunny Rabbit Yarn

Carolina Fiber Fest 2012

I had the best time exploring my first ever fiber festival located at the NC State Fairgrounds in Raleigh this May.  I made two purchases: A yarn bowl by Sue Henshaw (www.Suehenshawpottery.com) and a ball of bulky weight angora yarn by Marlene Cicalese (www.marlenesangora@yahoo.com).  No more tangled covered in dog hair yarn for me :-)




So Many Projects, So Little Time

Since last time I posted, I finished my Fairy Leaves Shrug.  I made it out of a silk blend yarn I purchased from KnitPicks.com based on a pattern by Nicky Epstein.  It looks complicated, but really it is just constructed by sewing together many blocks.  To finish it, you have to pick up stitches and add a border... intimidating, but much easier than I would have thought.  









During the Easter season, I knitted Bunny Nuggets.  You can find the free pattern on Rebecca Danger's website, http://www.rebeccadanger.typepad.com/.  I also completed another project by Rebecca Danger called Gabby, the Garden Monster.  It is so fun to knit these monsters.  They are quick and easy projects that really brighten my mood :-)









I knitted my mom The Ericka Scarf for mother's day and knitted a cowl with the leftover yarn ...

You can find the pattern for the rainbow scarf in Sock Yarn One-Skein Wonders by Judith Durant.

I love my new cashmere bag.  I knitted it based on a pattern, Linen Bag from Luxury Yarn One-Skein Wonders also by Judith Durant.  Instead of using linen yarn I used a cashmere blend that I purchased from KnitPicks.com.  Also, I doubled the width of one half of the bag to make it a little roomier.







Book Recommendation
I highly recommend Night Road by Kristin Hannah.  Once you start reading this book, you will not be able to stop.  It is a wonderful story.
 

Spring is finally here :)

What's Happening?

     I'm so sorry it's been so long since I have posted.  I started a new job and moved to a new house.  So, life became a little too busy.  But, I've missed my blog, so I'm back just in time for spring.

     Since I last posted I lost 20#.  How?  Weight Watchers Points Plus Online, Zumba class once a week, and beginner's ballet.

What's off my sticks?

 The photo above is a pic of the socks that I knitted for my sister's Christmas present ...

Here's a blanket I knitted for the den.  I think that my Shih-Tzu, Daisy likes it the best.

Here's a monster family I knitted for a friend of mine.  She just added a second set of twin boys to her family!

Knitting News

     I found a new knitting book I love written by Nancy Epstein.  She gives you tons of patterns for knitting blocks and explains how to take the blocks to make bigger projects such as blankets, scarves, wraps, bags, etc.

What am I reading?

      I've been reading lots since I last posted ...

On Audible.com,  I've read ...  

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen (*****),

The Christmas Pearl by Dorothea Benton Frank (***),

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand (****),

The Next Always by Nora Robers (***), and

Seriously ... I'm Kidding by Ellen DeGeneres (****).

I just started The Next Thing on My List by Jill Smolinski.

On my Kindle Fire, I've read ...

A Life in Stitches by Rachael Herron (***),

The Beach Street Knitting Society and Yarn Club by Gil McNeil (***),

The Paris Wife by Paula McLain (***** AWESOME BOOK!),

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (***** Seeing the movie tonight), and

Then Again by Diane Keaton (****).

I just started Catching Fire the second book in The Hunger Games.