Last weekend, we finally got around to fixing the bookcase issue in our house.  We had a bookcase full of books in the office - and it was overflowing - books were piled on top in huge piles, the back of it had come apart and books were falling out in the back….terrible.  So we bought new bookcases, fixed the ones we had and now we have a bookcase in the office that isn’t life threatening.  Always feels good when things look nice, doesn’t it?  The best part was that I got a new bookcase all to myself…for my knitting book library.

I know - look at those empty shelves!  I’ll have to start collecting books again….I will say that it was so nice to have all of them in one place, and I was sort of surprised when I was going through them - I had forgotten a lot of them, and spent some time going looking at all the things I want to make.  I also found duplicates.  Sigh.  The whole bottom shelf is magazines - IK on the right, everything else on the left.  Someday I will go through and pull out just the patterns I want to make, but for now, I keep them all.  At the top are two bins of leftover yarn from socks and shawls.  Not sure why I keep them, but you never know!  (Actually, I’m using two of the balls to make booties for a friend’s baby).  Anyway, I’m really happy with my bookcase, and I just love looking at it.

So…24 hours from now, I will be on vacation for a week.  I can’t tell you how slow this week has been going, but I’m finally just about there.  And I’m working from home tomorrow, so it is a great way to ease into vacation.  We aren’t going anywhere, but are trying to plan some fun things to do.  Of course knitting will be part of it, and spinning…

As you know, I have a knitting related tattoo - and I’ve been thinking that maybe I should get another one.  How cute is this one?  But I already have a sheep (what about this one?)…but then again, I think that TWO knitting tattoos might mean an unhealthy obsession (not that I’m obsessed with knitting or anything, right?)  At least this time, I’m going to take my time and really think about it (I really want to get a foot tattoo but all the warnings are sort of scaring me). 

I’ve finished the first two charts on Swallowtail, and now I’m at the charts with nupps - I’ll start those tomorrow.  I love how it looks in the silk and think it is going to be amazing.

OK, off to knit - have a great Thursday (and have a great Fourth of July if you are in the US!)

It is officially summer, and I’ve joined Summer of Socks - and I’m pretty terrible at belonging to things like this  - I start off interested and strong - and then just stop paying attention (I am also in Socks from the Stash and I think I stopped doing this in March - didn’t stop making socks, but did stop posting to the group).  Anyway….

Although it is hot out, and I can’t wear these socks for a while, I think they are perfect for summer - aren’t these great summer colors? 

This is Socks that Rock - the colorway is from last year’s sock yarn club - I think it is Flower Power.  (Edited:  OK, it isn’t Flower Power- Weezalana had the right one - it is Firebird!  Thanks!) And as I knit with it, I am really reminded how much I like this yarn.  I’ve knit a couple of other socks with STR, but not for a long time - and I have to say - it is really nice yarn.  This is the first yarn I’ve actually used from last year’s club (which is why I didn’t sign up this year).    The pattern is Hedera - it has been on the queue for some time now, and it just seemed like time to do it.  I like it - I’m sure it looks very different in a solid, but I like how it breaks up the color on this yarn.  These will be the perfect socks next winter when it is dreary out and I need some color.

Mary Catherine tagged me for a meme a while ago, so I thought I’d finally do it…

1.  What was I doing 10 years ago.

Let’s see - 10 years ago - the kids were all pretty young, so I was probably going to baseball games, and arranging day care for the summer.  I was working - but not knitting (what did I do with all my free time!).  We hadn’t adopted Cieara yet, so we were probably just starting to talk about it.  I was working (of course) at a different company, and I think in a completely different field.

2.  What are 5 things on my to-do list for today?

Well, it is 5:00 here, so my day is winding down - so I’m not sure I have a lot on the to-do list at this point.    I’d like to get caught up on my blog reading, talk Larry into Chinese for dinner, talk Andrew into putting together a new bookcase, knit and start cleaning up the office/guest room for my step-son who will be here tomorrow.

3.  Snacks I enjoy.

Anything chocolate.  M&M’s.  Ice cream.  Potato chips.  If it is bad for me - I will probably enjoy it.

4.  Things I would do if I were a billionaire.

I’d quit my job immediately.  No winding down for me - I’d be out of there so fast they would wonder what the blur was.  I would pay off all my debt.  I would put money aside for the kids - not too much to make them slackers but enough so that they can get good educations, buy houses, etc.  I’d travel.  I’d open a yarn shop.  And of course, donate a lot of it.  I would also get my dream bathroom with a huge tub and unending hot water.

5.  Places I have lived.

Akron, Ohio.  Somerville, Dunellen, Bound Brook, Washington - all in New Jersey.  Buffalo, NY

6. Jobs I’ve had.

I was a secretary for a diving company in the middle of New Jersey - 60 miles away from the water.  I worked in a deli, was a babysitter.    I managed a IT helpdesk, and was a webmaster.  Project manager.  Developer.  Contracts manager. 

7.  People I want to know more about.

This one has been going around for a while, so I’ll tag anyone who wants to do it!  I want to know about you all!

OK, I’m off to get my to-do list started.  Have a great weekend! 

I have to start by telling you that the comments about poor Maggie made me laugh - it wasn’t the conference call that made her look that way.  She has two looks - maniac dog and sad dog.  Sad dog usually gets her treats so she does the face all the time (maniac dog means its time for her to go out and run).  So no worries - she’s actually a happy, if not spoiled, dog.

You know it is summer when the first zucchini is picked. 

This one is really little - we seem to get either little ones or giant baseball bat zucchini.  I was really excited to see it, though - it means that soon we’ll have lots of good things to eat out of the garden.   I love having a garden - I actually don’t do anything in it - Larry does, but I get to eat it.  Perfect!

OK, knitting blog….

On Saturday, I cast on for the Shetland Triangle from Wrap Style.  I used the laceweight silk from Sunnyside Ellen that Larry gave me for Mother’s Day.  Love the yarn - amazing color and sheen.  Just didn’t like it in the pattern…

OK, part of it is that the pattern calls for fingering weight and this is laceweight (the whole time I was knitting I was telling myself that it was almost fingering…and I didn’t realize it called for fingering until after I started it).  But it was on size 6 needles and just looked blah.  I couldn’t really see the pattern, and I knew that its days were numbered when I kept on stopping and looking at it and trying to find the pattern.  Rip.

I looked through my Ravelry queue - the skein had 660 yards so most of the laceweight shawls in my queue were out.  But then I found it - Swallowtail Shawl (Ravelry link) - I have plenty of yarn, and it is just so pretty - a much better fit for the yarn…

What do you think?  I think it looks much nicer - smaller needles, smaller pattern.  I can’t remember what repeat I’m on (always a good sign!) but the 6 row repeat is perfect train knitting….I took this on Sunday, but it is probably double the size now….

It is amazing what the right pattern does for yarn, isn’t it?  I’m looking forward to the nupps section!

OK, off to knit - have a great week! 

I know this is a little late, but today was Take Your Dog to Work Day - I couldn’t take the dogs on the train, but Maggie joined Larry at work  -  he works at home, but he took Maggie up to the office and put her to work….

She did a little computer work….

A little filing…

Then Larry had her cover a conference call….

I don’t think she was impressed with the working life.  Larry said that after all that work, Maggie ran downstairs and wouldn’t budge from the couch all afternoon.  Poor dog! 

Thanks for all the nice comments on Icarus.  I wore it to work today - and it was really nice - very squishy and soft and warm - I was very happy to wear it as it was a little chilly.  I haven’t started the next shawl, but the yarn is wound and the pattern is copied and I’ll probably start it this weekend.

I did finish something other than Icarus this week -

Yarn:  Handspun, Crown Mountain Fiber superwash roving, Say a Little Prayer colorway
Weight: no idea - didn’t really do the WPI on this yarn - think it is around a sport weight/DK
Started:  May 30, 2008
Finished:  June 17, 2008
Pattern:  Baby Cable Rib, Sensational Knitted Socks

I actually finished these the same day as Icarus, so I had Cieara model both - her feet are smaller than mine so they are a little baggy, but I love them.  Isn’t it funny how different the two colors are?  One looks like a washed out version of the other - but I do like them, and I’m so happy I finally made something with my handspun.

It was such a long week - I am really ready for the weekend.  Not a lot of plans, but hopefully some down time with Larry.    I got a nice package in the mail today, and started another train project…but I’ll show you that next time.  Now it is time for my Friday night routine….have a great one!

I hope you don’t mind if I gush a little and post just a few pictures…but I’m just so pleased with how it turned out….

I blocked it the other night, and tonight I finally weaved in all the ends.  And it is done. 

Pattern:  Icarus (Ravelry link)
Yarn:  Yarn Chef Buttercream, Meadow Pond colorway
Started:  April 18, 2008
Finished:  June 17, 2008

I didn’t realize it took me two months to make this (no wonder I was getting bored!). 

I am always just blown away by what blocking does to lace.  I thought the shawl was nice unblocked - but seeing it blocked - wow.  What an amazing pattern!  I really did enjoy knitting this (for all my whining and complaining) and I think it would make a good shawl for a beginning lace knitter.    And now that I’m done and see how nice it is - I want to make another one.

What can I say about the yarn?  It is simply beautiful.  I wish you could see this in person because the colors are actually a little deeper.  And you can’t beat the yardage and price - I bought two skeins (each 880 yards) probably have 700 or so yards left of the second skein (totally unscientific guess - but I added in the second skeins around chart 3, so I didn’t use much).  The yarn is so soft and it is just so pretty.  I love Yarn Chef yarn, and would recommend it.

I am so glad to be done with this project, and I love it.  I’m very tempted to start a new lace project - and I just might.  I need train knitting - but I also think I need to finish at least one of the projects that has been hanging around in the basket.    But those are a little big for the train…so maybe a nice silk shawl….what do you think?

Just in case you are tired of all the lace pictures, I thought I’d show you Nipper who has a drinking problem (and yes, I know - its terrible that I let her do this long enough so I could take a picture!).    Just in case you are concerned - it is milk in the cup, not coffee or a drink.

Have a good rest of the week!