That was fast part deux

How did I not post since Sunday? Things were going so well posting reasonably regularly. Oh, right. My queue exploded. Well, that and life.

I've set aside my Willamette scarf while I work on two projects for a wedding next week. One is a gift for the bride, gleaned from stalking her Pinterest.

I'm using the same wool that I used for my cousins leggings to make this gift. Can you guess what it is?

This is the same wedding that I'm altering a dress for. I had hoped to have it delivered yesterday. Did I mention that life exploded. I'll share details on that tomorrow. Meanwhile, I will drop it off to them either Saturday or Sunday, along with this finished project and and the rest of the gift.

That was fast.

I think I'm out of control. It sure didn't take long to get my queue overloaded. After posting the pay it forward post on Facebook, I've gotten 5 projects lined up. One is time sensitive, it's also a gift for a wedding. I'll be making this tea cosy. I'd noticed it in the bride's Pinterest boards before Christmas, so it will be perfect for paying it forward.

Today I brought home a dress for this same wedding. The bride's sister's dress needs some alterations. It needs to be done by Wednesday. It's just making the shoulder straps a little longer. Shouldn't take too long.

Next, I just got a text from my son, the same one who requested the Team Zissou hats. He's asked me to make him this Link hat from Zelda for his roommate's birthday, which is 2 days before my son's. Mental note, I need to make something for my son.

Meanwhile, I have yet to start my Granddaughter Project for January and I'm working on my Willamette scarf. I had to frog it a few times. It's taken a long time for me to get the hang of linen stitch. I finally got it.

Linen stitch on the Willamette Scarf

I've got a lot planned and in progress. Let's see how much I can finish this week.

First project done

...well almost. The Easy Peasy legwarmers are nearly finished. I had to crack open a new skein of yarn for the last inch of ribbing. I was also severely distracted by last night's return of NCIS (what we on Twitter call #NCIS day) and then today's corresponding NCIS hangover. I'm staying up tonight to finish. It's only an inch. How long can that take? Meanwhile, this is what they look like:

I was hoping to start the Willamette Scarf tonight. Now, tomorrow doesn't look good either. Besides it being 12th Night, our middle son, his wife, and their daughters are coming over to finally celebrate Christmas--just in time. Since I'm also hoping to do some sewing before we celebrate the youngest's Christmas birthday on Saturday, I suspect that it will be next week before I start that scarf. If I can hold out that long.

More January Craftiness

The links I posted yesterday aren't the only things I'm up to this month. I didn't list the knittery things. You know me. There are always knittery things.

Most notable at this point are these Easy Peasy Legwarmers for my cousin. She lives in the hinterland of Missouri where legwarmers aren't a new trend, but still an old fad. It's also already very cold and her legs get chilled. I know the feeling. I already made a pair of these for me last year--in acrylic. Hers are nice, warm umber-colored natural wool.

The other is the Willamette Scarf from the Stumptown Knits KAL. I'm using some stash sock yarn for this one. I'd run across a good buy for some Serenity by Deborah Norville. The colorway is Tanzanite, and I think it will do this project justice.

Of course, none of this has gotten much done today because I gave the blog a face lift. Hope you like the new look. There will undoubtedly be some tweaking for a few days, but the new fresh look is here to stay. 

I don't do Black Friday

It's not because I'm nobly fighting the urge to acquire more stuff. I don't do Black Friday because I don't do crowds. I once sent the hubs to Walmart for a Nintendo 64 on the darkest day. He came back with said item before I was even out of bed.

I'm spending today getting ready for some guests who are coming in on Tuesday. I may even get some Christmas up before they get here. I'm also doing a little bit of Christmas knitting; I'm on the last of the blasted Team Zissou hats. I will be very happy to have these finished.

Monkeying around

I know. I know. It's not a very original title, but I couldn't resist.

I also couldn't resist making this hat for my friend, Susan, when she posted a version of this on her FB and said she'd wear it.

It's winging its way to Canada as we speak. I guess one could say it's a flying monkey. :-(|)

I've had monkeys on the brain lately. It's not like I don't use the word in one context or another on a daily basis. You did notice the monkey background in the picture above right? That would be my shower curtain. But I'm considering a rework of this blog and moving my craftiness to another blog, solely because I like the name I have in mind. We'll see. We'll see.

WIP Wednesday - Team Zissou edition

Still working on those hats for the college gang. I knit 2, then took a break to knit some owlish fetchings. Wise of me, huh? Now, I'm working on hat number three. The best news is I can knit these hats while watching NCIS or reading.

TARDIS and TeamZissou

I finished knitting my TARDIS socks and now I have a covey of college students clamoring for red beanies ala Steve Zissou and "Life Aquatic." I have lots of knitting to do, and the bright yarn might burn my retinas.

Coming Attractions

I've been AWOL this week and I'll have some things to share, but my youngest son has been home from college and I've been enjoying his company. Even if we weren't related I would want to hang with them. I haven't seen this one since January. Our visit has been long overdue.

Meanwhile, I've been giving some thought to upcoming posts on Occupy Wall Street, education (specifically college education), and the death of Steve Jobs. These three topics have merged in my mind. I'm going to have to share--after my son leaves.

I've also been working on my TARDIS  sock for Socktoberfest. I haven't done much color change work for a while. It's cool watch it happen, but for the first time I'm dreading the second sock. Maybe by the time I turn the heel that will pass. I have planned my second sock pattern for the month: Duckies, which is in my Ravelry queue only because of the NCIS reference in my mind.

WIP Wednesday--On the needles and off

I'm still working on the shawl for The Ladies of Mischief. I've picked up the pace, but it's taking longer than I imagined it would.

I've also agreed to test knit an adorable owl hat. I'll cast it on tonight, but I have to get a couple rows in on the shawl first. Here's the owl. I have the perfect person in mind for it. :-)

WIP Wednesday

It's WIP Wednesday. I'm still working on test knitting a shawl for The Ladies of Mischief's book.  Here's what it looks like at this point.

It's done in fingering yarn, so I have a long way to go. I'm just knitting away at it.

I also finally got a chance to start watching the NCIS Season 8 DVDs that arrived yesterday. I started with, of course, the special feature on the writers. After several months of tweeting with Jesse Stern and Steve Binder, and the chance to see Jesse and Reed Steiner at NCIS FanFest last fall it was fun to see the writers behind the scenes. I also watched the special feature with the fans in costume asking questions. I was there when some of it was filmed. It was great seeing my tweeps again.

Finally, I have been stalking my new coworker, the one I refer to as R2, on Twitter, Facebook, and her blog. In fairness, she found me first on Twitter. The similarities between us are pretty funny. It'll be interesting to see if it's just on the surface.