Can We Say OVERWHELMED???

Wow. Got back from vacation and haven't stopped yet. Tons of things to do and the Holidays on top of that! Knitting Christmas gifts like mad right now. Trying to get the house back in order has taken this long, but I am FINALLY getting somewhere with that! Now the studio is a disaster from all the knitting going on.
There's a Donation Day on Friday - so I'm trying to clean stuff out for that. I have 3 big boxes so far and a huge computer monitor (I can't WAIT to get rid of this monster). Plus - and this is the bonus - I am Fall cleaning at the same time.
I am behind on my photos and info in Ravelry - will try to catch up soon. I have knitting class this morning (changed from Thursday to Mondays) and I hope to finish a project this morning. I am very close! Speaking of - gotta go get ready!

"Baby-blanket" Shawl

baby-blanket-shawl-web
Originally uploaded by bren47

Last weeks finished project springing from knitting class is a long rectangle on the bias. At the shop, the pattern was made into a baby blanket - very cute - but not what I envisioned when I saw this color. So.. the muse came out and in 4 days I had a finished shawl.
The yarn: Fandango chunky cotton by Colinette, color way jay 85 I used 4 100g hanks and had some left. I thought perhaps tassels on the corners, but in practical thinking, they would get in my way! So no tassels.

Decisions-decisions For the Trip - part 2

I can never get the blogging software to put my photos where I want them so I have to use flickr to blog from - one pic at a time. Oh well, it gets the job done!

This is the pile of possible projects to take on the trip. Since we are driving from Texas to Tennessee that's a lot of drive time. I am mostly the passenger. (grin) This does not include the painting kit or watercolor pad. There are also some books I've been meaning to read in that red basket along with the old and new trip journals. Oh, and a bag of Hershey kisses! Shhhhhh....

We plan to see Graceland in Memphis on the way to the mountains. I have promised *everyone* to take photos of us in front of at least the Gate.

Noro and Cascade 220 Bag

Today at knitting class I started a bag that I will felt - by machine. This will be a first for me. I tried felting years ago and was not impressed therefore did not do any more. NOW I am fascinated! There are so many beautiful bags all over the internet (especially in Ravelry) that now *I* want to make some too.

I got yarn to make a red version as well. And I have yarn (all Cascade) to make a larger one with blended colors - in the shades of mountains from deep blue to violet to dusty rose. I don't know when I'll get to start the big one since we are leaving Sunday to go to the Smoky Mountains! Our first real vacation in 2 years. I have stuff placed all over the floors so I can see what to pack. What a mess this place is, but it will be worth it when we are packed and out the door!

Remnants of Ike

There was a man in the grocery store today with two carts and a long list taped to the handle of the first cart. He said he was from Houston and buying for some of his friends. They got electricity back sometime yesterday and he was going to head home.

The impact of this encounter didn't hit me until after I had been safely back in my own home for a while. I cannot fathom the reality of what they will face when they return to Houston. No grocery stores doing business. Having to do their shopping in other cities. No gas for their vehicles. The condition of their homes still in question. No telling when the every day business of living will return to normal.

Austin has been hosting evacuees in various places and the roads have been congested (more than usual). This brief encounter with a harsh reality has humbled me and I will not complain about the traffic or long lines for a long time to come.

Seraphina Shawl Greenie in Progress

This is a lovely pattern - yes, it's crocheted and NOT knitted but I am a long-time crocheter, too. This pattern can be found here. If you're on Ravelry, look it up and you'll see all the wonderful shawls that have been and are being made. Just love the 'batwing' shaping.
Yarn: JoAnn's RainbowBoucle - green shades
Hook: N
No mods so far - pattern is very easy to work with. The skein of yarn is huge - no ends to weave in in the middle of work! I have put the yarn in a big clear plastic 'barrel' - like for kitchen storage - it keeps the yarn tangle-free (so far so good) and clean of cat hair and other stuff. The yarn is light and airy - which it puuurrrrrfect for a shawl. KC took a look but it wasn't interesting AND it was in my lap (which means he isn't) so he went to lay down and nap elsewhere.

Copper Liesl finished

I finally got a better photo of this sweater. I tried the mirror - got flash in the pic, tried getting my son to take a shot - well it could be a better pose on my part! This works much better to see the lovely shape. It's been cloudy (no rain but at least I SMELLED rain!)
AND the TRACTOR is GONE! WaaHOOO! We can use the driveway again at last. Next week they bring the jacks and the last of the concrete action - unless of course the weather men are actually on target this time and we do get a downpour. Yeah. Right.

Thought you might like to see what KC has been up to:

PandaSilk Socks, Liesls and New PC

I started these socks today with Panda Silk I bought in North Carolina. 2mm Addis and Magic Loop technique. I am loving how this yarn works up - nice and smooth and very soft! I like it much better than the Maizy which is very splitty and a larger diameter yarn.
The foot shall be just stockinette stitch and then I'll decide on a stitch pattern when I get to the legs. I need something mindless to work on - interruptions are a little too frequent around here just now.
The Blue Jean Sock I started in NC keeps getting frogged every so often because of all the interruptions every time I pick it up to work on it! I'll eventually get the pair done I guess.
The Copper Liesl and the red Liesl are below. Still trying to figure out the easiest way to blog from Flikr. Seems to be easiest to blog each photo (just have to remember to do it in the reverse way I want it to show up here) and then post it. I don't think you can put more than one photo in the blog from there. If anyone knows if there IS - please let me know!
And yes, that darn tractor is still in the driveway. They poured the concrete columns today but said they'll pick up that thing tomorrow. It will be nice to have my driveway back. But the juniper bonsai in the front are dying. Well, so would you be if you got trampled and tools thrown on you!

The Copper Liesl is finished except for buttons (ignore the orange and purple thingys) and tucking in a few tails. I did the picot bind off on this one - sleeves and hem edge. I love the way the sleeves came out - they belled at the bottom just like I wanted! I think this happened because of the picot bind off.
I am going to make a cream Liesl for Mom next.

Here is my red Liesl, almost done. I just have to decide how long I want it. I may stop there. All but one tail is tucked in, too. Oh, and ignore the purple thingy - the button isn't on yet.