Satisfaction

I've had a very satisfying week in a lot of ways. One main thing for me has been that it seems that everything has been balanced. Work has been very busy due to pending software upgrades that we're currently testing for glitches, but I've had several chances to spend time with friends and unwind. Even my knitting has been focused and intense but balanced by the joy of finishing a project and being able to share it with people who can really appreciate it.

On Tuesday I mentioned that I was unabashedly obsessed with the log cabin blanket. Wednesday night found me racing towards the finish line and on Thursday morning at 12:30am I went to bed exhausted, but with a blanket that was set out to block. At my Thursday night knitting date with Tammy and Kate at Panera I was so very tired but so very pleased with myself.

The log cabin blanket made it's debut on Saturday when I was able to show it off to Sarah and Tammy. And it was good.

Project: Log Cabin Blanket
Yarn: Peace Fleece, 6 skeins
Needles: Size 10.5 US, Denise circs
Date started: February 14, 2007
Date finished: March 15, 2007

I enjoy working with Peace Fleece. The colors are wonderful and though the yarn may be a bit rough to work with, once the wool hits the water it blooms beautifully and softens every time it's washed. Plus, a cloth diapering friend of mine claims that it can be washed in cold water on a gentle cycle and dried on low heat without felting. I haven't tried this out myself but she swears by Peace Fleece and uses it to make all of her daughter's soakers.

Sarah, Tammy and I went on a yarn store road trip on Saturday to the far far away town of Rogersville to go to a new yarn shop that opened up this winter. (Rogersville may only be 30 minutes from Springfield but I haven't traveled in what feels like forever and so a 30 minute drive north is an exotic destination to me!) We piled in Tammy's car with our knitting bags and hopes and dreams to go see this new place.

Sarah instantly found her pot of gold, er, basket of gold?
That, my friends, is a basket overflowing with Tess sock yarn. Both Sarah and Tammy were elbow deep in it right away.
We all found a lot of really wonderful things and walked away with a bag of goodies. The store is so cute and we spent a lot of time wandering around and fingering everything! I will most certainly be going again and taking Mom with me. Sarah has volunteered to make the journey with us, in part to see Mom's reaction to the store. (My Mom is so stinking cute and has a tendency to gush her excitement about everything. I must admit that it is a bit contagious!)

Next time... "What goes around comes around: This time you may be the enabler, but it's bound to come back and bite you on the tush."

One quick post before bed!

It's been a great night!!!!! For full details, see my personal journal. (The button link is to the right. It's called Being Brianne.)

I'm having a difficult time remembering what I've already written, so bear with me!

This morning I went to NobleKnits (my LYS) to find some yarn to make a knitting bag with. After consulting with the yarn goddesses, I decided on Galway and chose beautiful muted teal and oatmeal colors for the bag. I selected my needles and picked up a few I needed for other projects, too. I also saw some Sockatta that was great and picked up a bit to make Bryan some funky socks.

I about died when I got to the cash register and heard my total. YIKES! Yarn goddess #1 showed me that it was basically my needles racking up the bill. Yarn goddess #2 also pointed out that the Sockatta was also a bit more expensive, too.

Yarn Goddess #1 then said something that changed my life forever. "Have you ever seen the Denise Interchangeable Knitting Needles?"

"No. Show me, yarn goddess."

It was so beautiful and amazing that I had to avert my eyes for a moment to avoid looking fully upon it's magnificence and be blinded. After letting my eyes adjust to the glory of Denise I was taken aback by the wonder of it all.

And so, for $47.95, Brianne walked away from NobleKnits with Denise. And it was good.

Oh yeah, and I also purchased the Galway, too!

I told Bryan about the Denise set on the way to the Padres game tonight and told him "thank you for my anniversary present!"

I wasn't sure how I'd feel knitting on plastic, but it's not bad at all. I still definitely want to try bamboo and possibly other types of wood, but the plastic is working out well. I started Knitty's French Market Bag and am almost 1/2 done with the base of it. All in one night! Yay! It's amazing what you can do at a baseball game! *grins*

Pictures soon! I promise!!!

Picture as promised! This is my treat yarn. The single skein that I picked up from Noble Knits on Friday. Isn't it delectable?!

My plan for this yarn... save it. Work for it. Earn it. Basically, I've lost 15 pounds and the bargain is that I can make myself something with this when I've lost another 10. I plan on making a slinky, lacy shawl/wrap type thing with it. Should I knit or crochet it? I'm debating.

I can't remember if I mentioned it, but when I went back in yesterday I purchased 2 skeins of yarn (I can't remember what) for my secret sister at church. She doesn't knit or crochet, but I did make a lucious chocolate brown scarf for her with it. It was like a present for both of us! *grins* It made up really quickly since it was chunky, so I knocked that thing out in about an hour and a half. It was $12 for the yarn (total), as it was 50% off. *grins even more!*

2 bummers:

1. I forgot to take a picture of it before I gave it to her today.

2. I didn't have a chance to see her open it.

I'm working on my last item for the Pine Ridge Reservation project and will hopefully finish the blanket in the next day or two. I'd love to mail that out on Wednesday and get it out of my house and into someone's arms who could actually use it. I went through some of Owen's stuff and included 5 pairs of shoes that he's grown out of, as well as some warm sweaters and shirts. Yay!

I've been to heaven....

and it was spectacular!

After hearing from Jen that there was a yarn store only a 5 minute drive from my house, I quickly decided that it was only necessary for me to visit. So late this morning I put Owen in the car and we made a quick dash over there.

I promised myself before going in that I would only spend $11 (the amount in my wallet). I made Owen promise to hold me to it, and he did. He's a very strict 21 month old when it comes to money. Something about his college fund, or at least that's what I've heard him mutter under his breath. This was a much easier thing to say before having entered the store. Once I actually went inside, I almost swore again, but not the promising kind either... but only because I was having a hard time imagining having to leave any of the beautiful skeins of yarn behind!

Noble Knits, the LYS of which I'm talking, is wonderfully charming. There is one seating area in front and another with a large table to work on that is more toward the middle. When I went in there were 3 people chatting happily and knitting away on projects at the table. Yarn covers every inch of wall, as well as a few displays on the floor. I found the Denise interchangeable knitting needle set, as well as a huge assortment of crochet hooks and knitting needles. Owen found a basket full of button jars and amused himself with shaking the jars and examining the samples glued to the tops. He was not as admiring of the yarn as I was, but I forgave him for that on the condition and mutual understanding that whenever we came to the store that he would be a good boy and not make a mess. It's a deal.

I was able to hold myself true to my word and only spent $10.33. My purchases were a pair of steel yarn needles and a skein of Noro in Spring Garden. I fell in love with the color and texture of the Noro immediately and was so excited to find that it was 25% off! It's like candy. Seriously.

My computer is giving me issues with posting pictures again, but I'll have one up soon I hope!