My New Favorite Shawl Pattern

Went on a bit of a shawl kick last year - mostly in November (thanks, Uniquities retreat!). So, a shawl.

First up: Caroline Hockenberry's "Filigree Lace Scarf". I've done three of these (so far), with another few on the way. I think this is my favorite pattern for something to show off the luxe yarns out there - or even simple yarns. Anyway...


This one is made from S. Charles Collezione Crystal and Luna. It's the first one I finished, and it's soft and fluffy and I think I blocked it incorrectly because it still curls a bit - so it's a throw-around=your-neck for pretty rather than a shawlette. (It could be the artifical fiber I used that was mixed in with the soft fluffy natural stuff. Yeah, it was probably that. I blocked it fine, it just didn't want to cooperate.)


I turned it in for Chamber of the Keys last term; it does look rather like wings, I think!

First Bead-Weaving (the Peacock Theme continues)

I knit a lot of things last year. Not as much as some years, but I spent most of the last month stitching, knitting, crocheting, and starting to bead. The beading thing, as a shiny new hobby (liteally!), has worked out well. I decided that I really like beadweaving by stitches (rather than on a loom), and this is my first project:




Really, as first things go, this went really well!!

And now, a Peacock.

So, Peacocks. There is a "Peacock Stitching" group on FaceBook... and therein I both found my people and my doom. Because I love stitching peacocks enough that It Will Cause Problems Eventually. But, as soon as I joined, I had to start something, right? Found this lovely pattern - I believe it's a Joan Elliott, from one of the books I have. And one of the other women was stitching it, too, and hers was really pretty, so I started. Here it is about three days in:


And about 5 days in, when I decided Beads Would Happen:


And here it is done!

Owls & Peacocks - Starting with Owls.

To start off the year, I seem to have two themes: Owls and Peacocks (I have a board for each on Pinterest).

My vote for "cutest owl I'm eventually going to have to break down and see if I can get" is scratchcraft's needle felted Knitting Owl ornament. It's just adorable; there are several to view if you follow the link to etsy, but my favorite (sold already, of course!) is this one:


There are also crocheting owls, and (at this time) and a cute little Magical Owl. As needle felting is so far NOT one of my crafts, might as well get one from the expert!

And so, a New Year begins...

Stephanie Pearl McPhee, the Yarn Harlot, has a set of end-of-the-year rituals that I have enjoyed hearing about for, well, years. I adore the idea that, at the end of the year, the house is clean, with everything in its place, all chores finished up. The notion that all the bills are paid delights me, as well as that every wallet and purse holds some money, and things that should leave the house have all left.. The dust of the old year is swept out the back door, silver coins are left so the light of both the old year and the new can shine upon them. After midnight, nothing is washed until the morning after next, and the first person in the door should be a dark-haired man bearing salt. This is how I remember it, and all of these are things I'd like to arrange one year - starting out a new year clean and fresh and tidy, with good omens and portents of my own making.

As I mop up the bizarre concoction that managed to acrobatically leap out of a bowl twixt sink and dishwasher, I once again have to admit that this is *not* that year.

Happy New Year anyway, and may you have a healthy, happy, and prosperous 2014!