Year of Projects Wrap-up and Start-up/Update for Month 1

 

Another Year of Projects has started and been running for a month so I am woefully behind.  I accomplished a lot last year - three more ganseys, and I did learn 3D crochet which is my new passion. 

some of these were done in July, but I just learned how to make a collage so I added them too.

I knit a lot of socks last year, and gnomes.  Looking at my to-do list I did very well and the things I didn't get too turned out to be things I thought I wanted to make but in the end other projects got my attention. 

I finished the year with a few WIPS - mostly FoxPaws (which is now done)

FoxPaws

and my son's gansey which is done up to the definition ridge so once this heat wave is over I can start the patterning.

You can have a look at my list of completions here, and my list for the coming year here

I cast on my Vroda, a few days ago and I am up to row 10, but with 347 stitches it just looks like this:

I took part in Tour de Fleece this year and I am happy that despite not spinning everyday I did manage to comb and spin these lovely bfl locks

and I spun right off the 292gm fleece these three skeins:

over 500 meters of sport weight yumminess

This is my 7th year joing the YOP gang althought it is the 12th year this group on Ravelry has been going.  I have links on the side of my blog to other intrepid yoppers.  I may not post every week as I have in the past - perhaps more monthly progress.

first pair of Yop 12 - Woven Mosaic 

Last pair of YOP 11 - Flames of Peace

Quick sock knit started June 30 but finished July 5.  Stretchy Travel sock made with Cascade fixation.  

 

I can finally share the test knit socks 

Patches

I do hope to do more painting this year - the banner at the top is my latest.  And there is still that novel to edit, and war letters to transcribe, but life has a way of getting in my way so I will continue to do the best I can. 

That is all that can be asked of any of us.

I will leave you with a picture I took last night (our 45th wedding anniversary) while we were waiting for the fireworks display to start.  The city kindly seems to like to celebrate our anniversaries too.  

love that Crescent Moon

oops.  My July gnomes wanted in on the action...

Yopping Update #38 - Lots to see here

  Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Happy First Day of Spring!  And not a moment too soon in my books. 

I have had a very productive week finishing projects, starting projects and getting caught up on projects. 

First my finish. 

Archie the Squirrel

Having a little chit-chat with Maisie the Pig

I spent a whole day and evening sewing Archie together and told my sister if I ever talk about making another stuffy to talk me out of it.  I dislike the sewing together part of the program and I vowed to only make little outfits for Maisie in the near future.  Archie will head home with my son tomorrow.  It did seem appropriate that Archie had on green shoes and a green vest as he greeted my son on Saint Patrick's Day. 

Once Archie was completed I set to getting caught up on Wolhobby's Lento Cowl KAL.  I signed up for this Lenten KAL since I enjoyed the Advent scarf so much.  Every day of Lent she sends out five more rows. I started last Sunday and as of last night I was caught up.  She doesn't release any rows on Sundays so I have a day to catch my breath.  I have been knitting this using my knitting belt and long double point needles.  I am really getting the hang of the belt, and by the time this is finished I will be ready to start my son's gansey using that method. 

Colour A(variegated) and Colour B (solid)

Loving how these colours are working up

I had some spinning that was in process and I had been ignoring, and then I looked up my spinning challenge and realized I was suppose to finish it by today.  So Thursday and Friday I spent combing and dizzing and spinning and plying.  I learned a lot about combing locks and was very happy with the first result. 

blonde locks (breed unknown)

I then tackled some Romney crossbreed fleece I had that was from the stash of our best man's mother.  The Fibre was about fifty years old and FILLED with vegetable matter.  Combing was very difficult (and frustrating) and the fleece was FULL of lanolin.  I did the best I could and spun what was left over after combing.  There was still a lot of grass that I tried to pick out while spinning.  I andean plied what I had and the result is a very rustic looking yarn.  I probably will use it for a very rustic gnome one day. 

I then turned to the 8gms of alpaca locks I had.  Combing it was relatively easy but oh my did it every create a LOT of static electricity.  I had to spritz it with water in order to spin it, but it spun up quickly and beautifully.  

I Andean plied the Romney and the Alpace because I had so little of each and all on one bobbin.  I had forgotten how to make an Andean bracelet and from memory I hadn't done it 'correctly' but it worked.  By the third try I finally looked it up on the internet - I was surprised to find my wonky versions had worked anyways. I do like Andean plying because it always works out evenly as when I try to ply off of two bobbins it seems the amount on each bobbin, even if they weigh the same, is less accurate and I end up either Andean plying (2ply) or Navaho plying (3 ply) the remainder anyways. 

So last night I settled to watch netflix and what?  Nothing on my needles.  Shocking I know.  So I whipped up my March Advent gnomes.  My sister sent me a parcel and included were some little balls of remnants she donated to the gnome project. 

Treasures!

. 

the green one's beard kinda took over 

They still need there numbers embroidered on their backs but that will be for later today. 

My son is here for another two days.  He has been busy with two shows, and filming a video the last two days but now we can just hang out until he flys home tomorrow evening. Yay!  I took him to see the little hummingbird in her nest and he has taken some pictures with his good camera.  When he develops them and sends some to me I will share them on this blog.

Oh yes, I forgot to share my Knitpicks order arrived!  (Which is why I could start the Lento Cowl).

The other treats in the parcel from my sister where three sets of long dpn's to use with my knitting belt in sizes I didn't yet have - 2mm, 3.5mm, and 3.75 mm.

She also returned my latest novel which I had sent her to read and to give me feedback on.  She included some very helpful notes so I have somewhere to start with the next round of edits. 

I am also still working on transcribing my parents' war letters.  They are certainly giving me an insight into who they were as nineteen and twenty year olds and pictures of their lives during the war. 

Lastly I got this book from the library. 

It is very interesting and I think it will be helpful as I get back into my watercolour painting this spring.  The Net Loft group are studying this book, and they were talking about it a little bit on our last Gansey zoom meeting and luckily I found it at my local library. 

Speaking of the gansey group - they want to interview me about my latest gansey next Thursday.  That is exciting, eh?  I will let you know how it went next week. 

Until then - happy crafting, and don't forget SPRING IS HERE!

.

Yopping Update #9 - Taxi!

Well I told you I was destined for monogamous knitting this week but of course it wasn't on Bonnie's Wish, was it?   Nooooo.

I realized my son would be arriving in two weeks and I had birthday socks to knit......ack!

So here is my progress to date:

That is it on the crafting front.

I spent two days 220 km from home for a new part-time job I have taken for the fall term mentoring a new teacher in her grade one class. 

I did do a painting:

and today I am organizing my mentoring papers (so many papers) with some new stationery items.  Ah, I love the new beginnings of the school year.

I missed the deadline for my August spinning challenge - I decided to let this challenge go for the rest of the year.  It was stressing me out to stay on top of the challenge and that isn't what knitting and spinning is all about for me. 

So, that is my week - a little teaching, a little painting, and a little sock knitting.  There was walking and swimming and for some odd reason quite a lot of sleeping and napping.

September is here.  The leaves are turning and falling.  The nights are much cooler, and the air has that certain nip of Autumn during the day. 

I do love this time of year. 

To follow other yoppers check out their updates here. 

Yopping Update #8 - Bonnie's Wish

This week has been all about one project, and one project only.

Wait.  What?

That's right folks - Bonnie's Wish is full speed ahead.  I finished the wingspan border - and then went right onto chart number two.  I am currently almost half way through chart number three.  I have to stop every four or six rows to colour in the next four or six rows on the chart to keep all the different cables separate and organized in my oh so dyslexic brain. So far I have only had to go back and fix one cable that was stubbornly crossing the wrong direction.

My husband commented last night that he hasn't seen me this focused on a project before.

I am definitely going to be a monogamous knitter on this one until she is finished  (and if you believe that I think I have a bridge to sell you....).

On the painting front I have completed another still life - painting, my almost blooming cactus.

I also got a book out of the library and it has painting exercises  that I am working on as well but they are meant only for me - so no reveals here.

However, I can show you the set of 18 watercolour paints I scored for only $7.99 at Winners!

The concert I went to last Sunday was amazing. My friend and I rocked it from 3:30 until 10pm and I bought this t-shirt which perfectly sums up my attitude these days.

I also was made an honourary slug by one of my brother's bandmates -

Can you see my name written on the slug!  How cool is that!

I am also working hard on learning Croatian.  I have about 3 1/2 months until I go there to meet my grandchild so I am practising with simple books from the library.

So it has been a busy week - adding in a few walks, a couple of Aquafit classes, a swim and some meet-ups with friends.

Go here to follow the other yopping community members.

And now it is time to go snack on an apple from our tree.  I love this time of year.

Yopping Update #6 - Just when you think it is safe to come out of the woods.....

Good Mornings fellow Yoppers and dear Readers. 

On the knitting front this past week I finished the cross-over sweater:

and I LOVE it.

I cast on a zippered sleeper that has knit-in booties and mitts - perfect for keeping a baby warm in winter. :

I just started the first leg last night.

No spinning this week - but I did another painting:

So it was a good week - I got a one month rec pass and swam Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.  On Friday I went for a walk - but it was so hot and I spent the rest of the day drinking water. 

My dh had cataract surgery Thursday morning so I was in caretaker mode (as much as he would let me) Thursday and Friday.

Saturday started off very well - I was at my twelve step group meeting and then just before the break I started to get a stomach ache. 

Within five minutes I knew I had to leave at the break and thankfully it was a short drive home. 
The pain was unbearable for the next three hours and I finally relented and went to Emergency. 
Long story short - once admitted, and within about thirty minutes, the pain was gone.

Wait.  What?

They ran some blood tests (some?  like six vials worth), I had to pee in a cup and they did an ultrasound and ECG but everything came back normal.  So I was discharged within two hours. 

So that was the end of my week that had been going so - swimmingly!

It started to pour rain last night, and my plants and I are very happy.  It is soooo much cooler today and everything outside smells so fresh. 

I will take it very easy today - lots of knitting, and checking out blogs, and, of course, Netflix!

To check out other yoppers you can go here.