Cutie Pie Thursday: The Young Photographer

The wee lad took this picture himself, proud of his precarious pile of dinosaurs, horses, and Toy Story denizens.

He also let us take a photo of the photographer. A gracious lad.

Shakespeare Yarn Club Skein One

For my birthday, I joined Custom Yarn Dyer Amy Lee's Shakespeare Yarn Club for three months--the three months covering the play Much Ado About Nothing, one of my favorites.

Right after my birthday the first skein arrived--Kill Claudio (name of colorway) in luscious Leo MCS (merino/cashmere/silk.) She had a lovely color theory behind the crazy colors--it begins with pink symbolizing Hero's innocence, moves into a darker pink of infatuation, to a purple and blue symbolizing love and fidelity, then green symbolizing Claudio's jealousy, and finally a deep red marking Beatrice's demand of Benedick that he "Kill Claudio."

You can really see the movement of the colors with the skein on my swift. Lovely--I am definitely going to use this when next I teach Shakespeare--students can create a description of the plot/emotion of a play using color!

Some people in the knitting world call yarn with this much variance of color "clown barf." Sometimes it applies, but not with this gorgeous skein--even wound in a ball I loved the colors.

As it had so much gorgeousness (and cashmere!) I decided to make a shawlette instead of socks with this skein. I chose Yvaine, a lovely pattern that uses garter, stockinette, and seed stitch. I love seed stitch, and it worked incredibly well with this pattern. I love this shawlette, and I know I will get tons of wear out of it this winter. Variegated colors go with everything!

I even had enough left to make some fantastic little mitts, that just keep my hands warm. I know I will wear these in the winter when my hands get a bit chilly. I love how the stripes pooled on these mitts.


I can't wait for my second skein--it should be arriving this week!

Cutie Pie Thursday: A Snow Hat

I decided Lincoln needed a quick hat for when it got cold, because his 1/2 birthday hat is a bit more complicated this year. I had two inches of ribbing done, and I asked Lincoln what mama was knitting. "A hat!" he replied, and when he found out it was a hat for when it snowed, he was pretty excited. "A snow hat," he sagely observed, "in red and grey."

However, when I first put it on him, he was a bit suspect.

He did give me some good modeling shots, though.

Strike a pose!

But then he realized it was still pretty warm out (this was a few weeks ago), and he was done. I just hope he keeps it on once it is time for snow hats.

Awkward Photos of Knitting, or Finished Objects Galore

I really should work on getting help with my finished object pictures. Even with my great tripod, I'm not so skilled at taking pictures of myself. I tend to really go all-out crazy eyes.

A great winter headband in Malabrigo Chunky (Dusty Olive colorway)--pattern is Blue Leaf Headband. I really look forward to wearing this, but despite its camo-like appearance, hopefully not in a remake of Platoon, although my eyes might disagree.

This is supposed to be a picture of my gorgeous Candle Flame Cowl knit in ridiculously smooshy Elsa Wool Cormo, but all I can see are my nostrils. You too, huh? That, or the earrings that are too long to wear with this cowl. Nope, mostly the nostrils.

I'm trying to show off my mitts and scarf/shawlette (Sock Yarn Mini Warms and Yvaine, respectively) knit in seductive Leo MCS (Merino/Cashmere/Silk) that are from my first ever Shakespeare Yarn Club, dyed by Amy Lee, but mostly I look like some yarn-clad pirate, or something. My arms are right in a yo-ho-ho move.

This one, oof. My second attempt to photograph my Figurehead Shawl in Spud and Chloe Sweater, and my eyes go so crazy one blinds the camera. And the shawl totally clashes with that shirt.

I hope I can get better at this!

Infinite Variety

Fingerless mitts in fingering weight sock yarn on size 0 needles.

A child's hat in super bulky yarn on size 13 needles.

Both items finished on same day--I love the variety of knitting!

Cutie Pie Thursday: Take More Pictures of My Cars, Mom!

Take more pictures of my cars, mom. My small boss demanded.


Let me find them, he added, gathering them up in his hoarder's arms.

Now! he requested forcefully.

Here's Francesco, Mater the tow truck, Finn his friend, and Lightning McQueen, the famous race car, he said.
At least my boss has simple demands.

A Published Knitter!

Remember when I blogged about designing a hat and having my lovely sister model it?

Well, my hat was one of the chosen designs! I'm going to be a published knitter (and I won some lovely Manos!) I'll have more info on where to find my pattern, Tweedledee and Tweedledum in a bit! Woo-hoo!

Cutie Pie Thursday: Swingin' Toddler Pad

Mr. Cool worked hard this week to be the coolest dad around, as he turned our under-the-stairs storage into a swingin' toddler play/toy closet. Earlier, he had worked on the door, cutting it in two and adding a shelf. The wee lad was already playing with that, unafraid of the power tools around him.

Now he can enjoy a sweet place to play, with nice new carpet, wooden walls, and a bean bag chair (for the ultimate lounging experience.) I would like to add some more posters to brighten up the walls!

I can hang out there too, with my bionic boot, and Lincoln has already moved in quite a stack of books!


And of course, he can always shut us out and have a wonderful time on his own!

Cutie Pie Thursday: On Ode to My Son

Lincoln visited the hospital around 9 times in the last two weeks--visiting Grammie Cool, Sista/Auntie Cool and new cousin Cool--and he was awesome every time. He played very well, he cheered everyone up, he didn't throw fits, or complain. As long as we had Buzz, Woody, and Bull's Eye, he entertained himself quite happily. (Even if this photo doesn't look like it. He may be realizing that Auntie Cool will not be as devoted to him as she once was.) Thank you. You are an amazing son.