Off to Europe - Travelling for Business

I will be in Europe by the time you read this.  Specifically in Switzerland.  Although it's exciting, I miss my son and husband terribly.  The whole week leading up to my flight I was a rather emotional whenever I dwelled too much upon not seeing E for 5 days, I mean, 5 days?!  That's really a long time in his world.  I just know that I'm going to miss it, the first time that he crawls...he's sooo close.

Either way, I just wanted to put it out there that I will be quiet here for a week or so.  I will have my Photo Friday post and if I get some time, for both knitting and photographing, then I will also have something for WiP Wednesday, but no promises there.

Here is a cute picture for your perusal.

Take care and see you when I get back !

PS.  I'm moving the weekend that I get home, so it might be a few more days....

Photo Friday

No words, just a photo.

(Amaryllis)

WiP Wednesday - Serriform Shawlette

I treated myself to the Mad About Tosh Club from Twisted.  I very much love the colorways of madelinetosh yarns and I when I saw this club, I just couldn't resist.  

I've gotten my first shipment and now that February is almost over, I figure I can share it here.  They send along a pattern written for a specific colorway and the required yarn.

I've received madelintosh Tosh Merino Light (my absolute favorite yarn über alles) in colorway "Burnished". It's a very lovely blue-brown.

The pattern is Serriform Shawlette or Scarf; I've chosen to make the Shawlette.

Here is my Ravelry Project Page.

Knit Edge Issue 2 Is Up

I have a received a copy of the Knit Edge magazine, Issue 2.  I've been slowly perusing its articles.  For the other two issues, I didn't love the patterns, but again with the articles.  They certainly seem to be selected with care and I really appreciate this.

Although I love craft magazines for their patterns, I absolutely enjoy reading good, well written articles about the craft world that I wouldn't otherwise learn.

For example, there is an article all about Guernseys (sweaters).  Never would I have thought this would even be interesting, but the article is really well written and the history of those sweaters is pretty cool.

There is one pattern in there that I really really like, and it's worth buying the issue just for it.  It's called Watershed (rav link) and I'm definitely adding it to my queue.  I like how it's substantial and and the pattern really appeals to my love of geometric design.

Here is a link to their website, where you can become a subscriber or if you click the Ravelry link above you can also purchase through them.

Photo Friday

No words, just a photo.

(Painted Church)

WiP Wednesday - Granny Stripe Blanket

I've written about this behemoth already, but I dug her out and added a few inches since the last photo and I figured I would share that here.  I'm not sure yet where this blanket will end up.  On my bed or the guest room bed, but we shall see.

Anyway, here she is, in all her gigantic and HEAVY glory.

There are 30 different colors of yarn and they are in an established "pattern", but as they run out, then I just skip that color.  This picture does not really show how big this blanket is, but when I do the final reveal post (no clue when that will happen) hopefully, I can capture how big she is.

What I like most about this pattern is how mindless it is, I can churn out row after row and watch it grow.  Something else that I appreciate about this pattern is how it calls back to the granny square without actually being a wonky, misshapen granny (I seriously dislike the standard granny square, unless it's small).

My Ravelry Project Page
Original Pattern by Attic24's Lucy

Being Healthy While Knitting and Crocheting

Honestly, I did not plan to write a post about this.  But, a recent post from a blog that I follow "knit and tonic", did a post about taking care of your body while preforming our much loved crafting activity.  While reading the post, I realized that I have some medium pain issues and they are partially due to or maybe just aggravated by, my knitting and crocheting frenzies.

I won't go into too much detail here, as the blog post by knit and tonic is quite comprehensive.  She also has links to her friend Lyndsay Hass, who is a physical therapist and a knitter....so, she gets our pain.  Here is a link to a specific article, written by Lyndsay where she details some activities to help heal up your body for even MORE crafty goodness.

One last thing, take some time to read the comments on the knit and tonic post, as people have some really interesting ideas.  Also check back in with knit and tonic later, as she plans to address some specific concerns expressed by commenters.

I hope this helps you (it has helped me).

Now if only I could stretch like my kitties, then I'd be all good...

Good Morning Nemo

Well, we live in Southeast Central NJ and we probably got about 5" of snow...hard to tell with the drifts all around.  We did not lose power (yay) and it looks like it will be sunny, so it will likely melt....High winds predicted though.....

6:30 AM

9:00 AM:  Time for some sun (still sooo cold)

Photo Friday

No words, just a picture.

(Giant Aloe Plant)

Social Networking - Join Me

So, I belong to many social networks.  I just want to quickly list them out here with links to my various internet endeavours, in case anyone is interested in following me.

Facebook : Life In Hollybroke  & My Personal Page
Twitter : Rvnfrost
Ravelry : Profile
Pinterest : Boards
Google + : Profile
Google Page : Life In Hollybroke
Polyvore : Profile
Etsy : Store & Profile

And a picture of the Delaware Water Gap (maybe 20 miles out), just because

WiP Wednesday - Seashells Scarf

I started this scarf, last week.  So far, so good.  It's really easy to churn out.  I think I will list it in my Etsy store once it's completed.  It's called the Seashell Scarf and it was written by Vicki Mikulak.   I'm using Noro Silk Garden Sock.  I really like how the colors wind along the scallops of the pattern and I think that it will be really beautiful when it's completed.

Here's my Ravelry Project page.

If you click on the designer's name, it will take you directly to her blog.  I haven't had the chance to peruse its contents yet, but that is definitely in my plans.  Likely, I will link her into my RSS reader and check it out for a few weeks.  She has some other really great patterns, that I think I will have to investigate further.  Here is a link to her Ravelry Designer Page.

My Sock Yarn Blanket has only a few more squares completed.  I will take another pic when I have a respectable pile of squares to show off.  For now...it's pitiful, really.

Top Ten - Online Yarn Shops

My Top Ten Favorite Online Yarn Stores - this is not to say that I do not have others, but these are my usual haunts when I'm in the market for yarn.  I did not rank them; they are listed below as randomly as I could muster.

1.  Little Knits - they have both common name brand yarns and some others that are more obscure; but their quality is always great; please note that they have a $25 minimum purchase to place an order

2.  Twisted - this website has great yarns and even better clubs; if you join their monthly clubs, they give you a discount on the yarn that you need to complete the project (this is fabulous)

3.  Loopy Ewe - keep an eye on their blog because they have some really great sales on really great brands

4.  Colourmart - this store is based in the UK and updates their deals every week.  They have fast shipping at a reasonable cost

5.  The Dizzy Sheep - this site is a "deal a day".  I really like checking in with them daily to see what goodies they have on sale, and shipping is always $1

6.  Webs - great sale prices of brand name yarns (also good shipping prices)

7. Elann - I haven't ordered from them too many times, but every time I do, I'm always so happy with the quality of their yarns

8.  Knit Picks - although they don't really have sales, the quality and breath of their yarns (including color, weight, and fiber) is awesome; if you do catch some of their colorways on sale....you know that you're getting good value

9.  NuMei Yarns - this website has both the coolest and weirdest yarns, they also have some great wholesale discounts and sales

10.  Loop Yarn - I love this store for a few reasons, firstly they have a LYS in Philly, which is where I was living (and this means FAST shipping), but also they have great yarns...oh and I forgot to mention, they have a loyalty club that is always helpful (or detrimental, depending on your feelings about yarn addiction)

Yarn Review - Mini Mochi - Crystal Palace Yarns

 

 Normally, I avoid yarns that do not necessarily have a "ply" per se.  My reasoning for this is, when I weave in my ends, I like to separate the plies and knot them together.  But, for this yarn, I can make the exception.  I would always read about bloggers using this yarn in their various projects, and I did not get the hype.  Well, that was until I saw this particular colorway at the store and decided to splurge a little.

I have already made one small project with this yarn and since I have a whole ball left (took a lot less yarn than I thought), I will probably just make the same thing again.

I made a Honey cowl (featured here on my blog).

So here it is, Mini Mochi by Crystal Palace Yarns.  I picked it up at Knit-a-Bit, here in NJ.  I paid about $10.95/skein (which for me is a splurge and includes tax).  I'm sure you can get a better deal online, but sometimes it's worth it to spend the extra money to support a local business, besides you get to see all the yarns in person and squish them to your heart's content.

Details

Weight: 50g

Yardage: 195 yds

Fiber: 80% Merino, 20% Nylon

Ravelry Page

Notes

I really enjoyed working with this yarn.  The colorway was vibrant and kept me guessing throughout the project   I loved waiting to see how the next color that I could see in the ball would work into the cowl.  It has a soft and springy hand and opens up very well.

The colorway that I used is "Jungle (110)" and although it wasn't overly junglified to me, they were beautiful, and looked so beautiful worked up.  I know that I already used the word vibrant to describe the colors, but they really really were so bright and deep; very lovely indeed.

Monthly Menagerie - January 2013

So, this is my first monthly summary post.  I think that I will stick mostly with photos for this type of post, but we'll see how it evolves.  There aren't so many this month, but I will try to take more pictures as I go along...

Without further ado.....

JANUARY 2013