Good Vibes Day

Today, December 30th, is Good Vibes Day. It is also Annie Schmidt's 22nd birthday. Her last message to the world was, "Fill your life with good vibes". So today let's take a moment to step outside of our comfort zone & make a difference in someone's life. Smile at strangers, give someone an encouraging word, call a friend or relative, take a treat to someone who is housebound, write a letter, say thank-you, help someone carry their groceries, pay for someone's coffee, give genuine compliments, ..the sky is the limit. Just Do. #honoringannieschmidt  #fillyourlifewithgoodvibes #goodvibesday #goodvibes

Slow Stitching

Slow stitching by the tree, coffee in hand, and snow falling softly outside. 

Lately I find when it comes to quilts I have become more of a process quilter then ever before. This is my first whole cloth quilt & I feel like I am breaking out of any quilting rules I ever had. Simply going for it and stitching is a freeing thing. I love this quilt, and I could not part from it to anyone but its intended recipient, my darling Mother. This beautiful piece of stitchery has traveled all over the place with me. I have stitched on it while solving life's problems with friends, hidden away at my own mini quilt retreat in a friend's guestroom for the weekend, watching sappy Christmas movies with my sister-in-law & loving every moment, and in quiet moments by myself. #slowstitching #slowliving #handquilting #handquilted #wholecloth #wholeclothquilt #turquoiseowlssewingjournal

Briochevron Blanket Progress

This is the beginning of my blanket that I have been working towards all summer.  I knew the yarn was not going to make it the whole distance so meanwhile I have still been doing some spinning on the side to add in as I go. I definitely needed some lights to brighten things up. I've paused for awhile as I finish up a couple of skeins. I don't want to completely run out of my first batch of yarn and swap to a completely new batch, so old and new will be intermingled. Most of this yarn was spun in the course of the last year and ranges from DK weight to heavy worsted so the blanket has some slight variations that give it added depth and character. Even though it is just a small lap blanket the amount of yarn it takes is staggering and sometimes I look at it and have a momentary panic of wondering if this is the right project for all of my beautiful handspun skeins or if I have completely lost my mind. But then when I look at each skein individually and the blanket as a whole, I see that there could not be any project for them but this. A handspun briochevron will be amazing, and I look forward to the day that it is finished. Meanwhile, I sit at my desk and bundle up in shawls & sweaters. 

Tour De Fleece 2016

So, let's talk Tour De Fleece! I honestly don't know how many grams or pounds or yards or anything! BUT, I did spin every day of the Tour for at least 15 minutes, if not more, and with the July I had I felt like it was an incredible accomplishment. My poor wrists are a bit tired, and a break is necessary after so much spinning. But it was all worth it. The majority of this was spindle spin and plied, a little was wheel spun previous to the Tour and then plied on my spindles during the Tour. Most will end up in my Briochevron blanket that I'm making for fall & winter warmth at my desk. Stay tuned for more spinning & knitting!

From where I stand: Briochevron Blanket Beginnings

This weekend I've been spinning on this beautiful fiber from Fiber Addiction. It's all softness and sparkle and I'm pretty sure that Emily keeps a herd of Unicorns in her backyard to shear for this gorgeous fiber! I have a weakness for sparkle, and silver angelina is no exception.

The other day I saw the Briochevron Blanket by West Knits and I can not get it out of my head. I've been looking for the perfect blanket to make into a lap blanket for work. At my computer it can be a bit brisk in the winter and a little handspun blanket would not go amiss. I feel like if I go with a woolen fluffy spin it will be warmest, but basically I plan to use whatever pretty handspun strikes my fancy. 

It will probably take me all summer to spin yarn for the blanket, and then knit it up. But it will all be worth it come the bitter winds of November. 

Happy Mail Day

It is always a wonderful mail day when fiber arrives! Added to it, these perfectly printed turquoise owls on flannel showed up as well. 

The fiber was won in a giveaway & I've already split it up and I'm turning it into punis. 

Life is good.

March Happenings.

Today has been a cozy, at-home-day watching British Murder mysteries, eating chocolate, and spinning. There was a scheduling snaffle at work and I ended up having today off which delights me to no end. Where I work I often find myself chilled to the bone while sitting at my desk so I determined that next year I will have a handspun & handknit lap blanket to ward off the chill. I'm thinking a lofty, woolen spun yarn should be ideal for creating a very warm blanket. All my odds and end skeins are destined to be in the run-up for the lap blanket.

Winter has relaxed it grip and we have warmer temperatures with the promise of Spring in the air. The little bit of snow we did have is gone, and small plants are popping out of the ground everywhere. We've also had quite a few rainy days already. The first portion of this year has flown by, so when I am home and it's raining I'm actually thankful. Then I have time to still  hunker down and do some winter-type knitting. Comfortable, by the fire, with tea.

I recently picked up my 2nd pair of Terpander socks that have been languishing on the needles for a good year. I have no excuse other then that I lost my copied out pattern with notes and don't know where I am in the design. Yesterday I looked at the pattern in the actual book and I am torn between completing it per the instructions, or just throwing on a few inches of ribbing to change things up and calling it good. I'd like to wear these before the warmth of summer has arrived. As you can see in the above photo, I had two different dye lots of yarn and never bothered to switch them between rows. So now I have a dual-colored sock going on. I don't mind, it's unique, if a little odd.

A few weeks ago before the snow had melted I stayed the weekend with a friend and we did some sewing. First up, I helped her make a duvet cover for her bed. It was my first time making a duvet cover and I was pleased with how it came out. We ended up closing it off with twill tape ties and all & all it looks great. Between runs to the fabric store for things we forgot (twill tape), I also picked up flannel to make myself a pillowcase, and then these little squares in the Strawberry Field's Revisited line. I'm not sure what they will end up becoming, but they were too darling to pass up.

Our visit included a marathon of Downton Abbey, and some pleasant winter walks. Also too much coffee, breakfast in bed, and lots of toddler giggles. It was a good weekend. 

Happy New Year

I never make New Year's resolutions anymore, but I do try to overview my previous year and think about where I can make changes, and what I can improve, as well as plan for the coming year. Today I've been thinking about what projects I'd like to make. And while I don't have anything definite nailed down yet (except I DO know I must make a Vulpix shawl) I have decided to slowly work through my Ravelry favorites, picking one I love, purchasing the materials, and knitting it up.

My first new project for 2016 is going to be a shawl designed by the lovely Alana Dakos. I've signed up to participate in her first ever MKAL and as its also my first time participating in one I'm pretty excited. Madeleinetosh Tosh Vintage in the Mill Pond colorway is what I've selected as my yarn and its the most vivid shade of green imaginable. (Think rich mossy carpets on a forest floor.)

But that won't be happening until January 8th. For now, feel free to enjoy this collage of my most popular projects in 2015. Let's hope 2016 is as colorful and productive. Happy New Year!