Where does the time go? (A post in 3 parts)

I can't believe how fast the time goes. Things have just been moving so fast I feel like I am just barely keeping up. Well, here is a nice, big post to let you in on what's been going on.

Part One: 2 FO's!

Hello Skull Sweater! Can I say I am absolutely thrilled with how it turned out. It fits my Fella so well and he can't even wait for the weather to cool down so that he can wear it. The yarn was a dream to work with, so was the pattern and my Fella was very, very, very patient with all of my demands to stay still, turn this way and that, and numerous questions on fit and preference. I love the look of the sweater so much. I really didn't think I could do that much stockinette stitch without going crazy but I loved every minute of this sweater.

~Specs~

Pattern:
Cambridge Jacket from the Summer 2006 of Interweave Knits, with a modified version of the skulls from the Skully pattern in Stitch n' Bitch.

Yarn:

Cascade Yarns: Cascade 220 (100% Peruvian Highland Wool)
5 balls in Lime
1 ball in Yellow

Needles:
5.5mm metal circular and straight needles.

Pros:
Wonderful yarn. Awesome pattern. Love the finished product, and the guy who'll be wearing it.

Cons:
Had to do some minor adjustments to the length of the sleeves and collar to suit the wearer and I had a bit of trouble with the tension with the skulls, but I fixed that!

Now I don't consider myself a purple-y pink kinda girl, but I love, love this yarn from Mama E. I wanted to do something a bit different than socks and I just happened to be flipping through a crochet book and found a cute little shell pattern. So I whipped it up into a pretty little scarf on the bus ride to and from Powell River. (see Part 3: A Weekend Getaway)

~Specs~

Pattern:
Scarf in a random shell crochet pattern

Yarn:
[C*EYE*BER FIBER SOCKS ] by Mama-E's (80% Superwash Wool/20% Nylon)
400yds in Beauregard.

Needles:
2.5mm metal crochet hook



Part Two: A Weekend Getaway

Last weekend my Fella and I took a mini vacation up to his parents' place in Powell River to get away from the city life. We were lucky enough to have a day with enough wind to go out on his dad's sailboat. In the picture above that's me steering the boat! It was the first time I'd ever even been on a sailboat! It was so much fun.

We also picked blueberries in the backyard and went a great big hike near the water. I hope we can make time to go back and visit. I absolutely love it up there.

Part 3: Spinning up a Storm

I have been entrusted with a certain precious piece of crafty, wood machinery that takes fiber and turns it into yarn. Anglea from Food and Yarn is in the middle of a move and her spinning wheel is staying at my place until it is safe again. The top right picture is the top left stuff Navajo plied. The stuff on the bottom left was me just having a little fun plying some slubby white wool with self-dyed teal.

So that is what I have been up to lately. That and Scrabble. I'd never even played a game of Scrabble until last week, and I can't get enough. What can I say? I'm geeking hardcore.

In dire need of some good FO's

There is no end in sight. I love new things, I love beginnings. I love starting fresh new projects with newly purchased yarn. I love choosing needles, checking the gauge, casting on until I get it all just right. I love getting over the hump of a brand new project into a good and steady rhythm, working at a brisk and constant pace until!!!! It all comes to a halt, I get bored and I look for a new project to 'mix things up a bit'. These are just a few that I have lying around, unloved and they'd be collecting dust if they weren't always in separate plastic bags and the such.

In the blue alpaca is the start of a friend's glove mitt. The tangle of variegated sock yarn are baby socks that have fallen victim to Second Sock Syndrome. The pile of blue and white is the interlac blanket from the last post and the beige wonder is a shrug that still needs to be finished off. Where do I find the inspiration? Bleh. At least my fella's sweater is coming along! I just have to sew in the ends, block, stitch together and knit on the collar.

A little too little, a little too late.

*Sigh* I missed Project Spectrum June all together. I was saving this picture and now it's July! Doh. So that is the sewing machine that my Fella got for me (he's so sweet!) , lovely yarn from Mama E and a blanket I am working on for 'someone'.

Anyway, nevermind that. Today we went out and did it up! Today was the first skimboarding of the year. It really feels like summer now. The weather was great and the beach was packed but there was plenty of space on the water. I'm starting to get a better handle on it compared to last year. Ian's sister came out with us, we took turns (because there is only one board between the three of us, that might have to change!) and there was no diving face first into the water like last year. Good times!