It's Winter

Well, winter roared in last night in a mess of heavy snow, wind and freezing rain. Things are pretty quiet around here today and I'm sure they'll probably stay that way! I'm trying to upload pictures of my MIL's Montreal Canadiens Socks - they came out beautifully but after two tries no luck. Aha! The picture loaded after try #4!

School buses in York Region were not cancelled - so what else is new? What has to happen before they decide driver and student safety is more important than anything. There was a bus accident this morning in Newmarket - six high schoolers were taken to the hospital with minor injuries, thankfully. I didn't send Emma because there was just no way she was going on a bus in this weather.

We're having a Holiday Open House this Saturday, December 12th - 10-40% off a variety of yarns and lots of door prizes to be won. Hot cider and yummy treats are being served as well! I suppose that means I should decorate the shop - for those that know me, I'm not a decorating kind of person - every year I do it against my will. Lisa's in tomorrow - maybe that will be her job! Well, I'm off to watch Julie and Julia on tv with Emma and do some serious Christmas knitting! 2 gifts down!

You know what - I just noticed - I use ! alot!

Christmas Knitting Update

Here's my mother in law's socks - didn't Deb from Dye Hard Fibre Arts do an amazing job? She's going to be thrilled because she loves these colors.

I also finished Multnomah - a free Ravelry pattern in Dream in Color Knitosophy Super Hero.

I've decided to do the Irish Hiking Scarf by Hello Yarn in Donegal Tweed homespun. He's born and raised in Ireland so this is a good gift for him.

Sweet Georgia arrived last night and is looking truly lovely in here today! And I found the rug hooking stuff - it's in Bradford!!??!! Greg is coming home early to get it for me! Isn't he a good boy?

Tomorrow is the big Christmas party here - 33 people - 11 of which are children under 10 - just kill me now!

Pins and Needles

I'm sitting here on pins and needles waiting for mail and for UPS - mail because Tanis Infinity Kits are coming and Tempo Tape highlighting tape and all my rug hooking stuff - UPS because they have 2 big boxes of Sweet Georgia which I can't stand waiting for. I'm also planning our Christmas Open House which will be Saturday December 12......I'm on the last repeat of Multnomah which I hope to get blocked today and pictures tomorrow. So at the moment....I'm waiting for things to happen which really rubs me the wrong way because I am the least patient person I know.

Christmas Knitting
Sister in law - mitts - check
Brother in law - hat
Mother in law - striped socks in Montreal Canadians color
Husband - hat
Father in law - Donegal Tweed Scarf - he's from Ireland.
Aunt - something- maybe the Sweet Georgia scarf in Cashsilk
Dad - new hat because I hate the one I made last year
I'd really also love to make neck warmers for all the girls but that would be 7 more things and at the rate I am procrastinating on what I have to do, there's not much chance of that.

Tomorrow is a haircut - did I mention I'm not coloring my hair anymore? I've been going gray since I was 29 and seem to have developed an allergy to hair color. I've tried all different kinds with all different hair dressers and nothing seems to work without me getting itchy like I have lice. Charlotte, my hairdresser now, was putting big chunky highlights and lowlights over the gray to cover it. It worked fine but it takes forever so the last time I went I decided to not color it anymore. This next haircut will reveal even more gray so we'll have to see. The gray is pure white which is nice - my grandmother had beautiful gray hair so maybe it will be like that. I did hear, though, just as I made this decision that men are considered distinguished as they gray but women who don't color their hair are thought to not take care of themselves. Hmmmph!

My Take on Fiddleheads

I love the Fiddlehead Mitten Kits from Tanis Fiber Arts! Here's my most recent take on them. Main color is Shadow, contrast is Stormy and for a bit of excitement - Deep Sea for the lining. That's one Christmas gift down and I have no idea how many more to go!

Debbie from Dye Hard Fiber Arts just delivered some amazing superwash merino roving and some gorgeous self striping sock yarn in merino/cashmere/nylon. Yummy!

Debbie attended a Knit Night one evening and was quietly knitting away on a beautiful pair of socks - the yarn was beautiful, the stripes were perfect - when I asked what yarn it was - she said hers and I said I'll take some. This first yarn base is called Serendipitous Sock - because it was a very serendipitous evening for both of us! I might just sleep with a bundle of her fiber - it's so soft and squishy! Makes me want to spin and not do anything else - well, unless it involved knitting with the self striping yarn!

This is just one part of a very big pre Christmas update this week - Sweet Georgia is scheduled to arrive tomorrow - 2 big boxes - 4 kinds of yarn! Tanis is rushing me the Dipped Infinity Scarf Kits which are a collaboration between herself and Laura Chau of Cosmicpluto Knits! And at long last the first of the rug hooking kits is arriving!

Bloggity, blog, blog, blog

It's not that I don't have anything to blog about - it's just taking the time to organize my thoughts and get the photos I need. Let's see....first up is my Fiddlehead mitten in just 2 colors of Tanis - Shadow for the background and Stormy for the contrast - Deep Sea will be the lining. It was while snooping on Ravelry that I got this idea after seeing lots of these mitts in more sedate combos. I'm not sure exactly how much it's going to take - but it looks like 3 skeins - I'll keep you posted on that.

This is the jacket on the cover of Fall Interweave 2009. Linda knit it in Donegal Tweed and I am absolutely in love with it. The yarn is amazingly soft considering how it feels in the skein. It fits me perfectly and I'm sure it will see tons of wear considering the weather we are having.....speaking of which I'm kinda missing the snow, aren't you?

There's lots of the way - a brand new kit from Tanis Fiber Arts, more Fiddlehead Mitten kits, a brand new yarn from Tanis, some mink/cashmere yarn, Sweet Georgia yarns, Pigeon Roof Studios Fibre - it's shaping up to a wonderful season - yarn wise that is! Oh one more thing - rug hooking kits are leaving Nova Scotia today so I should have them by the end of the week.