Life has been crazy

I'm sorry I haven't posted since September. 

The last few months of 2013 were pretty crazy busy, and a lot of wonderful and not so wonderful things happened. 

My great grandma passed away in the fall. It was a hard time for my family, and she is greatly missed. 

But many good things happened as well. 

Wonderfullest of the wonderfuls: My niece Devlin was born on September 16, 2013

Christmas was wonderful, and everyone enjoyed their handmade presents

And, of course, Milo is adorable as ever (and is now ENORMOUS)

I don't have a lot of time to write details about projects, but you can find out everything on my project pages on Ravelry

Recently Finished Projects

1) Arabella Lace Shawl

2) Broken rib handspun cowl

3) Nature's Lace shawl

4) Not so recent, but here's my final drawing for my art class

5) Tons of Christmas presents (see above)

6) Christmas socks for me

Works in Progress

1) Toe up anklets 

2) Sock head hat

3) Toujours sweater for Molly

4) Singles of Malabrigo Nube

That's all for now, folks. I have to go get ready for class. I'm going to try to post more often, but they may be mostly picture based posts, like today's, since I'm going to be busy with school for a while.

-Nicole

Slaying the knitting and ...err...vanquishing projects?

I'm finally getting some projects completed!

After weeks of slogging away at projects that seem to have no end, I am finally getting some work done. I've been working a lot lately, but in between I've been knitting, crocheting, and sewing up a storm. 

I have been watching the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series over again, and if you can't tell, I'm obsessed. I love this show so much that it's a little ridiculous. I'm just finishing up season 2, and remembering why I love Xander and Willow so much.

Only three more weeks until we go on vacation, and about two months until school starts. I am loving the summer! Now if only it would stop raining. 

Finished Objects

1) GLORY GLORY HALLELUJAH I finally finished the nursing shawl for Celeste. 

It's HUGE! Final dimensions are 80 inches wide 20 inches deep. This was the Color Affection shawl, which I knit with Knit Picks Comfy Fingering in Peony, Whisker, and Sea Foam and size US 6 (4 mm) needles. I ended up using 926.5 yards of yarn. Like I said, HUGE! 

Half-Finished Objects

1) I finally finished the back half of my lace cami

This is the Versailles Shell knit with Queensland Sugar Rush in color 02 on size US 3 (3.25 mm) needles. 

2) I got one sock done for Brandon

These are modified Hermione's Everyday Socks knit with Patons Kroy Socks FX in "camo colors" knit with size US 1.5 (2.5 mm) needles. I am using Erica Lueder's stitch pattern but Wendy D. Johnson's sock pattern. 

Works in Progress

1) This is a non-knitterly project, but I'm almost done sewing a quilt for the new baby.

The top fabric is from Meijer's and the bottom fabric and binding are from Jo-Ann's. So far I have the basting stitches done and I "stitched in the ditch" around the borders of every square. It is going to be so soft and squishy. I am going to do the actual quilting with the free motion foot on my machine. 

2) I've made some progress on Molly's shawl

This is the Dane Shawl knit with some of my hand-spun on size US 7 (4.5 mm) needles. 

3) I started a new afghan

This is sort of a modified version of the Around the World Quilt, crocheted with a size H (5.0 mm) hook and a ton of my stashed acrylic yarn. 

4) I'm almost done spinning that Polwarth! 

Just about one more ounce to go!! I am so excited to be done.

So that's all that's new with me, folks. No new yarn to speak of at the moment, although I did buy some snuggly Rambouillet fiber that I'm excited to do something fun with. 

Now back to watching Buffy kill vampires and rid the world of evil 

Have a fun and safe Fourth of July if you're in the US!

-Nicole