Bleak Week

I've been off my game this week. It typically happens about this time of year, but despite the regularity of these "funks," they still catch me off guard. Winter needs to stop with crazy cold temps. I'd even take the snow back in exchange for a 40-degree day or two. With that said, I was searching for something to post today that captured how I felt...or better yet, what my soul needs. I started with a "sunshine" search on Flickr, but that was all a little over the top. So I headed over to Etsy and typed in the same thing. I found a piece of artwork in Citrus Tree's shop that sums it up perfectly.


Next week is a new week.

Beret for Shelley!

(get it...like Hooray for Shelley...somehow it's less funny when I have to explain my humor)

I'm still working on my blackberry sweater (the body is done...yay!), which means I have nothing crafty to share at this moment. Plus, I seem to be the only known human to get an allergy attack in single-digit weather, so I haven't been feeling all that great. So I interrupt MY regularly scheduled crafting to bring you a new project from my pal Shelley. She just finished knitting a beret using the same pattern I used on Lisa's beret. Didn't it turn out simply lovely? Nice job, Shelley!

What's My Bag?

Actually...don't answer that question. I know what my bag is: freezing cold temperatures day in and day out, no humidity in my apartment making my skin brittle, crazy sinuses caused by the two previous items listed, stomach issues that still are not completely under control, dishes, laundry....oy. OK. I'll stop now. This post wasn't actually supposed to be all "woe is me." It's instead about something much more fun...the coolest bag ever that I totally and completely covet!


"But Carrie, it just looks like a pretty purse. Surely, you're not another girly girl." Well, kids, you'd be right. I actually hate carrying a purse. There, I said it. I always think I'll like it, buy one, and then end up trying to fit as many things in my pockets (or Shane's pockets) so that the purse can stay at home. But this purse is different! It's actually a knitting bag in disguise.

Yeah...really! No joke.

The front pocket is accordian style...perfect for those circular needles and row counters AND the cell phone and keys. For someone who is all about organization (as am I), this is like a dream that I'd need to pinch myself during to see if I was really and truly awake.

Then it opens all wide and Carrie-like (i.e. big mouth). And what wonderfulness is hiding inside? Oh nothing but two snap closed compartments for yarn! No more yarn getting tangled up with my wallet and having my project yanked off my needles causing me to wonder what I did in a past life to deserve such heinous treatment. I'm in love.

The Namaste Zuma (that's my future child's name) comes in so many beautiful colors, and I've decided on Peacock.

But not back to the regularly scheduled woeing. It's $70. Ouch. I know, some people spend triple (or more) than that on purses, but as someone who isn't overtly girly, that's a lot of moo-lah. So for now that means my dear sweet Zuma will have to remain just a wish that comes when blowing out birthday candles or seeing a shooting star. And in the great words of Lord Byron, "Fare thee well! and if for ever, Still for ever, fare thee well."

Unless of course each of my regular 30 readers (yeah, you know who you are--I don't, but Google Analytics say you're out there) want to each send in $2.50 to one committed blogger (or blogger who should be committed) to make her a very happy woman.

KIDDING!!! (kind of)

A Cardi for Carrie

I have an insane amount of stuff that needs to be knitted for other people and organizations (yes, a new KFO service project has been defined...more later). But at the same time, I had been planning on doing a sweater for myself. I don't usually like to do multiple projects all at once. I'm more of a start and finish one and then move onto the next kind of gal. So, with that said, the cardigan I picked out to knit is going to have to get done at lightening speed. So far, it's going pretty fast. The pattern is called Forecast and you can get it over at knitty.com. I'm using Knit Picks Comfy yarn, which is super soft, in Blackberry.

But before we get to the knitting, let's start with the fuel that'll keep my energy up: cocoa! I made this treat on Saturday night after hours and hours of knitting. It was too pretty to not take a picture of (but not too pretty not to consume).

Yum!

Forecast front (there are still button bands that have to be added to each side later)

Forecast back (the bobbles are there, but just hard to see)

Comfy yarn arrives...all 10 skeins!

A Black Beret for Me

I'd been knitting so many hats for other people, that I decided it was time to reward myself with one of my own (well, actually, this was the second one, but I don't have pictures taken of the first one yet). I used the same pattern that I did for Jenn's hat, but because I used a self-striping yarn on Jenn's, you couldn't see the pattern very well. So I decided to go with a solid color for mine.

The pattern for this hat is called Rose Red. I just love this pattern. It's a tad tricky...actually, it just requires my attention instead of watching TV, but it turns out looking so intricate.

To get the shape right, I blocked this hat around a dinner plate...

...and on top of a small bucket.

The Princess and the Pea

I was doing some research on children's books (for a craft project idea that's floating around in my brain), when I came across this image from The Princess and the Pea. I just love this illustration. The colors are amazing and the drawing style is gorgeous. It was done by Edmund Dulac, who I had never heard of before. His other illustrations are beautiful too, but they didn't strike me in the same way as this one did. I'd like this as a print for my home.

Happy Birthday, Mommy Rose!

Who is Mommy Rose? She is my wonderful mother-in-law (and I don't mean that in any sort of sarcastic way!). I started calling her Mommy Rose after Shane and I got married. I felt weird going from calling her "Rose" for eight plus years (Shane and I were together a very long time before we got married) to calling her "mom," so I started calling her "Mommy Rose." When she asked what I wanted her to call me, I replied instantly with "Baby Girl." So that's who we are "Mommy Rose" and "Baby Girl." We rock.

Anyway, Mommy Rose's birthday is today, and of course I went the handmade route for her gift, right down to the card we gave her.

Below the big quote, there is a little strip that says "count your blessings." Mommy Rose has dealt with a lot of obstacles in the past few years, which is why the card I made took more of an inspirational direction. I know she'll appreciate it.

Here's the gift as a whole. It's what I'm calling the "Think Spring" winter wear set. I used Cascade Venezia worsted yarn in Granny Smith. This yarn is super soft because it's a mix of wool and silk...yum!

Included in the set is a beret made using the Baroness Beret pattern.

Using the chevron lace established in the beret pattern, I knitted a button-up scarflette.

And since you can't have a hat and a scarf without any mittens, along came this matching pair.