Archive for March, 2006

New toys

Monday, March 27th, 2006

My stitch markers are in the mail! I can’t wait until they get here. 28 stitch markers made specifically for my Wedding Ring Shawl project. 27 markers are wedding ring charms and the round marker is a pink quartz heart. **happy dances** Silvergoose does such wonderful work. All my stitch markers have been from her and I was thrilled when she accepted my special commission. I can’t wait until they get here. I’ll even post pictures with my camera phone (since my camera is still on the fritz) I’m that excited.

I’m almost done with Picovoli and I’ve gotten another pattern repeat done for Kiri. I found out that the kiddo I’m making it for is about 5′4″ and slender. I figure making it 60″ tip to tip is about where I want to go. If I go larger than that, it will be more like a blanket than a shawl.

The ark vest got cast on, again, as of last night. **deep breath** let’s do it right this time, eh? **chuckles**

I’m doing a plain, garter stitch shawl for my mom, instead of the pi shawl I thought about doing. I want something fairly mindless, right now, with work kicking my butt. It’s actually working wonderfully with this yarn. It’s EuroFlax Originals (formerly Barcelona) in Mellon Mix. I swear it looks like aged copper with how it’s working up and catching the light. My mom’s gonna fall in love with it as soon as she sees it. Regarless that it’s a simple pattern.

R1: k3,yo,k to three stitches from the end, yo, k3.
R2: knit

Can’t get much simpler than that. Worked on size 8 Denise circulars. I did a cast on kinda like how you start the Kiri shawl. I really like how it’s looking. Three skeins should render me a nicely sized shawl that looks nice, is great for Alabama spring and fall evenings and is in a colour my mother will adore. The garter stitch even looks nice without being blocked. When I did a practice block of it, it looked even nicer. And, I absolutely love how linen feels after it’s been beaten up a bit. After I finish making this, I’ll be tossing it in the wash with a couple of tennis balls and beating the heck out of it before I block it. It makes the linen so soft, and the drape is just wonderful.

The clover socks have been languishing even more pitifully on the corner of my coffee table. I swear they were waving those dpns most threateningly this morning. I think I need to give them a wee bit o’ time this eve.

One small step…

Monday, March 13th, 2006

Well, Kiri progressed a whole 10 rows this weekend. My sock progressed not at all. Instead, laying there forelorn and accusing. Jumping out to trip me up each time I walk by in retaliation for taking up yet another project instead of working more on it. The other project? I’m putzing around with ideas for a pi shawl for my mom.

Otherwise, I’ve been slammed with work and don’t have much else to report.

No, I’ve made no new progress on the Ark. I’m still waiting for that second order of yarn to come in, and I am having to find the desire to pick it up again – which I lost when the yarn snapped while I was frogging. It will come back, soon, I’m sure.

Chicken Florentine:

Friday, March 10th, 2006

INGREDIENTS:

20 ounces fresh, chopped spinach
1/4 cup butter
2 cloves garlic, crushed and minced
Basil (to taste)
Thyme (to taste)
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup and 3/4 cup half-and-half or whipping cream
5 cups cooked chicken, sliced
3/4 cup chicken broth
Pepper (to taste)
Fresh, grated Parmesan cheese
Pasta of choice

(more…)