Winter Hibernation

It's very fair to say that I have been hibernating all winter.  This year, it is nice to see spring again and all the new things it brings.  I am excited about the longer hours and new projects to come.

Today is my day off.  I usually spend my days off walking Lexi, knitting, reading and watching Netflix.  I decided that I might start sharing what I have on my needles, my W.I.P.s.  W.I.P.s is knitter-speak for work in progress.

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I am trying to concentrate on finishing this cardigan.  I am great at starting new knitting projects.  I am finished with the body and have started the first sleeve.  The pattern is Ombre by Tanis Lavallee.  This is her website/blog.  I dyed the yarn.  It is lace weight yarn held double.  It is a result of a dyeing experiment.  It has resulted in the knitted fabric to be a bit marled.  I am not following the gradient directions this time around.  ( I would love to do this pattern again)

The box of tricks are some stitch markers that I made and the scissors are a prize from a Christmas cracker from a zillion years ago at my Aunt's house.  It was so long ago but I vaguely remember one of my male cousins winning them and giving them to me.  I use them all the time so they were a great inheritance.

Goodnight Winter Hibernation.  Good Morning Spring.

Thinking of You

I have a cold at the moment.  Had it for a few days now.  Thought I was rid of it and it got a bit worst yesterday and today. I didn't sew yesterday.  There was no weekend sewing.  There was only sock knitting.  It was fine.  I didn't do much walking today.  Lexi has been patient but she is looking to go out for a walk soon.

New cards will be making an appearances in the shop.  Keep checking!  This Thinking Of You card is now available in the Ellie And Ada shop.

I am going to go for a little walk with Lexi.  I am getting some cough syrup and cough drops.  Need to stretch my legs and Lexi needs to stretch her little legs.

I am going to turn a heel on the Vestigial socks when I get back.  I love the look of them.  I normally knit plain socks on 2.5mm needles and cast on 60 stitches.  This pattern is knitting 56 stitches in a rib stitch on 2 mm needles.  I am sure they will fit.  I love mistake rib.  My favourite scarf pattern.

Jumpstart

Sometimes, it seems that there is always so much to do.  I know someone who is near and dear to me and she says when she walks in a room she only sees what needs to be cleaned and tidied.  I will not compare myself to Marie Curie but I always feel that there is a lot that remains to be done.

I am going to start a hand spun, top down raglan sweater with this hand spun yarn, I dyed.  I think the wool is Falkland.  I'll have to check.  I love knitting simple sweaters.  Not smart to start new sweater, when I have so much to finish but I like to have a simple sweater on the go when I want some auto pilot knitting, especially when I am so tired.  I always like having a seamless, top down sweater on the go because when you don't feel like trying things on and figuring out when to stop decreasing for sleeves, it's great to knit these great big seas of stockinette stitch without worry.  I was so wrecked last night, I only managed to get a few lines of a swatch done before falling asleep.  My big feather cushion, that I sewed the cover for, was my accomplice.

I'm going to tidy up a bit then maybe do a little bit of sewing and then I am going to swatch for my new raglan sweater.  I will restart that scarf.  I'll work on the scarf in the mornings instead of socks until I get the scarf finished.  

Enjoy your Sunday.  I think I might need another cup of coffee to jumpstart me.

Love All

I said Shakespeare's time would come.  I feel a little bit more interested in Shakespeare since finding out that my great great grandfather was from Stratford on Avon.  I've known for many years.  I loved English in school but I think if I knew while I had to study Shakespeare's plays, there would be even more enthusiasm. My cousin did some research and found out about our family history.  Our family owned a grocery store across from Shakespeare's birthplace on Henley street around 1860.  I should ask her more.

The photo is of me and Lexi Belle.  I noticed on our walk that we were kind of matching.  She has a purple collar and a blue lead/leash.  The black thing is the camera strap.  A large amount of my clothes are navy blue. 

Better get some work done before lunch.  Haven't touched the scarf but I have decided to rip the whole thing out and start again.

Happy Birthday Lexi

                   She was so tiny.  This is one of the first pictures we took of her when we got her.

                                                         Our first Christmas with Lexi

                                                                        Carrot love

Regal Part Beagle

Happy Birthday Lexi!  She is two today!  I am even going to whisper Happy Birthday to her sister Milo on the other side of our hedge.

I have Lexi 2 years in November and our life has only improved since then.  Her mother was a beagle/basset hound (unfortunately the mother got hit by a car) and her father is a terrier sort from the neighbourhood. 

Lexi was a bit of an escape artist and used to climb through the hedge and come visit our backgarden.  I adored her the first time I saw her.  I used to take her home to the house she was born in and they would laugh she would be back in my backgarden as I would have the key in my door. My lovely neighbours gave Lexi to me.  Lexi sometimes bumps into her sister and they are hilarious together.  Sisterly hurricane or tornado as they play.

I better get a move on and get my sewing done because the birthday girl will most definitely want to go for a good walk.  Also we need to buy some carrots, one of her favourite foods.  I think both of my siblings would cry if I offered them a carrot on their birthday or any other day.  Lexi even got Molly Moo (my parents' dog and my partner in crime) hooked on carrots.  I love the picture of Molly and Lexi.  

The August birthday season has begun.

Flamboyantly

Wrote out and coloured the William James Quote today.  Lexi found herself a pacifier/dummy on a walk.  I laughed when I caught her with it.

Happy May Sale 20% off in Ellie And Ada Shop

Spring Sale! Enter COUPONCODE - HAPPYMAY and get 20% off all your purchases! This is a sale to say thanks and celebrate Spring/Summer 2014. The coupon expires June 1, 2014.  The sale is on from today till June 1, 2014.  The sale is here in my Ellie and Ada Etsy Shop.

I'm working on putting up new prints in the shop.  I am also working on new prints.  Today wasn't as nice, weather-wise in this neck of the woods so I worked inside all day.  Looking forward to relaxing and knitting this evening.  I'm watching Selfridges at the moment on Netflix.  I am going to finish the first sleeve of a cardigan, I have been working on.  V neck cardigan in 4 ply.  It might become part of my new summer uniform.

I treated myself to some Jane Richmond patterns so I can't wait to cast on a few new projects...  Must knit faster!  She has a sale on in Ravelry.  3 for 2 which is a great sale!  Her Linden mittens look great.  I don't have the best circulation so I almost wear mittens/fingerless gloves all the time and a pair of 4 ply weight mittens would be very welcomed addition to my collection of mittens.  Mittens, cowls and hats are great dog/Lexi walking gear.  The best part of having many hand knitted items in Ireland is, once your hat, scarf and mittens get wet in the rain, you can grab dry things for the next excursion.  The joys of being toasty and not wet and soggy.

 This Birds and Little Polka Dots.  It'll be in the Ellie And Ada Shop soon but it is already available on my Ellie And Ada Society6 Page.

Belated White Rabbit, White Rabbit, White Rabbit

Not a peep out of me during November!

These mittens are felted and super warm.  I call them the dog walkers because I wear them whilst walking the dogs.  I need to make more!  I only put them through the machine once.  Might see what 2 times looks like the next time.

Let us live so that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry.

- Mark Twain