Now I am off to organize the lists (that Ken makes for me) for Thanksgiving Dinner.  As much as I like to tease Ken, calling him my own personal Border Collie, I am thankful that he helps to keep me on the right course. 😉

Pattern:  Ivy Vines
Yarn:  Fibre Isle Cashmere/Bison
Needles:  3.25m and 2.75m

So today I met up with Ashley to help her choose colors for a quilt that I am going to make her and Brian as their Christmas present this year.  Ashley is really starting to get interested in home decorating so I thought a quilt would make a nice gift this year, especially if she had a hand in choosing the fabrics.

Unbeknownst to Ashley, she was also going to be the model for my latest FO, Ivy Vines.  Originally I was going to knit this in a new camel/silk blend that I have, but when I saw this version on Anne in Rhinebeck I KNEW I had to make one just like it….

As I was clicking way at the camera, Ash started to get a case of the giggles as you can see here in this picture.

The mind that turns ever outward
Will have no end to craving.
Only the mind turned inward
Will find a still-point of peace.
Deng Ming Dao

With the vibrant colors of Autumn now past, we move into that in between period of November.  When I was younger this along with March were the 2 months that I loathed.  Usually cold and dreary months with not much to offer, but as I have aged, I have have actually come to enjoy November……….and it's soft subtle colors.

Come take a short walk with me and see the colors of my November…………

The beautiful silvery taupe remnants in the fields of Baby breath and other flowers that surround our yard……

 

The grass that was once tall and green, now a beautiful shade of champagne beige is settling in for a long winter's nap.

and the soft tender chestnut brown leaves that will keep that grass covered while it sleeps…

 

Even Aestlight was tempted to nestle in amongst the warm soft gentle shades of November on her first outing…..

Taking a cue from my surroundings it is no wonder that these lovely fabrics from the Rouenneries line of The French General are what appeal to me right now….

 

…along with this soft taupe Bison/Cashmere yarn from Fibre~Isle.  See….there are lots of things to love about November if you look in the right places…..

Pattern: Aestlight
Yarn:  Woolen Rabbit Kashmir
Colorway:  "Rib Bit"
Needles:  US size size 6

Pattern:  Carole/Claudia Picot Sock
Yarn:  Woolen Rabbit Kashmir ~ Cape Cod Blues
Needles:  Knit picks size 2.0mm

As I was knitting the last few rows of a second sock I started to think about the journey of a work in process……….that process that my dear friend Margene likes to talk about now and then.

When I started this particular process, I chose this pattern as I was heading to Rhinebeck and wanted to have a knit project that would be pretty mindless…..good knitting for chatting. :)  As I have mentioned before, I really love stockinette stitch..so it was all good.

As I cast on the first sock, the anticipation of a new project propels me.  The feel of the luxurious cashmere blended with merino and nylon.  The thrill of a new pair of socks soon to be realized…..I whip through that first sock.

Knowing what a procrastinator I can be, I immediately cast on for the second sock…………but………..then the honeymoon stage is over and the lull sets in.  The boredom…you know what I mean.

The project that was once exciting has now become a chore…..that is until you hit the toe decreases.  Yes……you know exactly what I mean.  The finish line is in sight and you smile as you knit those decreases, as you know that these socks will soon be on your feet.  Then all at once…yay….they are finished!

I do love this process even though I really have to push myself during that boring lull, but when it's all said and done, I really do love the process.  It's what keeps me going. 🙂

As a foot note it is good to be connected again.  One thing I have taken away from all of my computer-less days is that I probably was spending waaaaaaaaaaaay too much time on the computer. As much of a drag as it has been not to be able to connect with my peeps, I am grateful for the time away.  It has helped to bring some important balance back into my life. 🙂

Be kind and tender to the Frog,
And do not call him names,
As "Slimy skin," or "Polly-wog,"
Or likewise "Ugly James,"
Or "Gap-a-grin," or "Toad-gone-wrong,"
Or "Bill Bandy-knees":
The Frog is justly sensitive
To epithets like these.
Hillarie Belleck

The last week has been so enjoyable for me.  It’s one of the few weeks that I get to play in the dyepots with new colors.  Some that work and some that do not…..but it’s all fun.

 

This particular colorway was actually an accident.  I was aiming for something blue and managed to get one of my favorite greens.  I am using the Aestlight Shawl pattern to test knit my Kashmir yarn that is pictured above.  I should be able to knit the shawl with just one skein of yarn……so far I am really enjoying both the yarn and the pattern.

Back to the frog…..
As I was taking pictures of some of the new yarns, I was racking my brain trying to think of a name for this colorway.  It’s a very complex colorway, so I was thinking of “lofty” names to match, when I noticed just at that moment the yarn was actually the same color as the little frogs who frequently appear in my pictures.  Hmmmmm…….I think I will call it “Ribbit” in his honor.  It really is a silly name for such a pretty color, but I think it fits. 😉

Here is a peek at some of the new colors that will be appearing in the shop next month.  Some are old colors that have been reworked a little and some are new and some are still brewing…

                           Forever In Blue Jeans

                                 Cape Cod Blues

                                Pumpkin Patch

                                  Lady Slipper

                                Silvery Blue Moon

Now that I have added a few “blues” to the line up I am off to work on some greens and plums…….

Have a great weekend!!

“Measure twice, cut once,” said the old craftsman.
Only careful planning and patient skill make a dovetail.
Deng Ming~Dao

Well today’s post is not about making a dovetail joint, but it is about patient skill, which has never been my strong suit…..the patient part that is.

Remember back in this post where I thought I would give machine quilting a try….and failed?  Well where I lack patience I tend to overcompensate with tenacity.  (some Ken might call it stubbornness)

I ordered the Christmas Topper kit designed by Rachel Griffith that was on the Moda Bakeshop page awhile back.

I liked it enough to order 2 kits.  One in this Fig Tree fabric line because I love Joanna’s fabrics so and one in the more Christmassy fabric, Crazy Eights that Moda featured.

So merrily I start piecing these fabulous little charm squares.  Back in the day when I used to hand piece, the thing I hated most was cutting out all of those little pieces, so I am very excited to try patterns with pre-cut fabrics.

Ok….so back to the piecing.  First block and my points are off again…arrrgghhh.  This machine sewing is not as easy as it looks.  You have a lot less control than you do when you are hand piecing.

Out comes my trusty quilting bible.  I read the section on machine piecing and try again this time really being careful about pinning my seams.

Much better!!  Look at those points….they are a thing of beauty I tell you!  Scary how these little things excite me isn’t it?

 
After the nine patch squares are complete they are cut in half and then cut in half again, so that it ends up like this…..

which is called a disappearing nine patch.  Isn’t it pretty?

Six of the eight blocks are finished and so far I don't feel like chucking it…..yay! This is how I spent my weekend in between harvesting the garden which I will tell you about soon….it’s all good~ ~