WIP Wednesday - Moving at the Speed of Snail

As a reminder, there is a giveaway going on so check out my Blogiversary Post for details.  Remember, the answers are in the blog so check out my old posts for the answers to the clues :)

While the rest of my life seems to be flying by my knitting seems to have slowed to a crawl.  Well the speed of a snail actually.   At work things are full speed ahead on various projects, my class this semester is fairly intense and everything else just seems to have some claim to my time lately.  Plus I have plans of plans of plans that I need to accomplish or just get started on.

Does else feel like their good intentions go to waste?  Lately, I feel so rushed.  I want to clean but am too tired or don't have time.  I need to do laundry but am getting home in time to crash for the next day.  Things just keep piling up, perhaps I just don't prioritize them high enough.  As this month winds to a close I hope to  make some positive changes in February.

Let's check out the yarny goodness!

Sun and Stars Trillian

Doesn't that blue just look lovely?

This gal has definitively been growing.  It is so lovely and squishy and is already 90+ stitches across.  I love this pattern as it's so easy and is great when watching or listening to something while working on it.  Plus it's all knit stitch so I can really turn the brain off.

I watched most of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy last night and loved Trillian and Marvin.  I can't believe it took me this long to see it.  Plus does anyone know why Martin Freeman doesn't keep his hair so lovely and fluffy like that.  Ugh I just want to run my hands through it. Sigh, but he is BAMF in Sherlock so what can you do?

Care of Weheartit.com

Ooh Shapely Boyfriend

Orange you glad I didn't say Banana?

So due to some crafty enablers on the Let's Go Pens board I made an impromptu trip to Grove City, PA to Wolf Creek Yarns.  So after some browsing, I bought some Berroco Vintage Chunky in Pumpkin to help finish this sweater.  And ever the child, I wanted to use the skein right then so I got some work done on the cardigan this weekend.  I am pleased with how it's coming though purling on the wrong side is a pain in the ass.  Seriously, it's a lot of stitches.

Well that's it for this week.    For other WIPs check out Tami's Amis and Frontier Dreams

<3 Heather

WIP Wednesday - It's a Hockey Night In Pittsburgh!

As a reminder, there is a giveaway going on so check out my Blogiversary Post for details.  Remember, the answers are in the blog so check out my old posts for the answers to the clues :)

Hello all, what a busy two weeks I have had.  Work is kinda crazy with a project going live and my class is a bit intense, but hockey is back!  I know that I am basically answering one of the questions for my Blogiversary (see big link above!) but I am just so happy to have hockey back on the air.

For those of you who may not know, the NHL was in a lockout due to contract re-negotiations for the collective bargaining agreement (CBA).  As a fan, this stoppage was annoying and frustrating but it's over an the excitement is pretty awesome.    I don't know what it about hockey.  I love the speed and precision of 6 players flying around on the ice a mile a minute.  It's intense and always can turn on you at any moment.

As a result, I love the Penguins.  They are my favorite but I love the sport.  The rivalries are great and the players and owners are amazing and generous.  Let's Go Pens!

Image from Wikipedia

But the best thing about hockey, is hockey knitting.  Seriously, a huge driver of my knitting and crocheting throughout the year is to keep my hands busy while I watch the game. While watching the playoffs in 2008 and the following year 2009 I could feel my blood pressure go up and my anxiety build as the games got more intense.  So when I started to knit, I realized how a bit of distraction kept me from throwing my TV out the window.  As a result, a ton of knitted objects are completed.

So this weekend when the season started, I made sure my knitting was handy and got so much done as a result.  Let's check out the yarny goodness!

Sun and Stars Trillian

I am so pleased with how the colors are coming together!

So this is really starting to get big.  I am about half way to the finished size before I start the final border.  I am in love with this pattern.  Seriously a great knit while watching any sporting event.  You zip across with garter stitch and then a bit of pattern and you zip back.

Really what I love is the yarn.  I had been acquiring skeins of Wollmeise over the summer but hadn't found the guts to crack open the hank and use the yarn.  Really the skeins are beautiful just to look at.  So with this pattern I knew it was time try out the yarn.

I am so happy with it.  The colors are intense and not bleed into my skin or my needles like some other saturated colored yarn I have tried.  but the colors are just popping in their own special way, I particularly love the way the color pooled in the middle there.  I feel like it's a shooting star amid a sea of sun beams and starry night.  I just keep picking it up to see what will happen next.

Hue Shift Afghan

All the pretty hues!

While this has been playing second fiddle to the Trillian Shawl above, I did manage to get two more squares done to finish the pink row.  I think finishing the row is a great driver to keep going and I know I will need to cast on for the second set of squares soon after I get done with this set.  I really love how these five colors look and can't wait to get the blues and greens.

Sweet Azalea Blanket

Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend!

Although the Trillian has been the star of my crafting show lately, this one has been playing a supporting role. I suspect it's more about the character than the looks perhaps?   This blanket is made with the lovely pashmina base from Madelinetosh and it is so soft and luxurious.

But really, when you combine wool, silk and cashmere what wouldn't be soft and luxurious!   So thanks to the amazing yarn, I keep working at this shawl.  I want to finish the first skein soon so I can gauge the size of the finished shawl.

Well that's it for this week.    For other WIPs check out Tami's Amis and Frontier Dreams

And Remember, It's a great day for hockey!!

<3 Heather

WIP Wednesday - Pink and Blue Sky

As a reminder, there is a giveaway going on so check out my Blogiversary Post for details.  Remember, the answers are in the blog so check out my old posts for the answers to the clues :)

So it's time for another WIP Wednesday but first I have a beautiful picture of the sunrise this morning and a small story

So I live in an apartment complex with 7 building in a U shape.  There are 2 small parking lots in the front near the top of the U and a large parking lot behind the set of complexes and down a flight of stairs.  My apartment is on the ground floor near the front parking lots.  However, those lots only hold 9 cars.  Everyday is a new battle for one of those spots.

I aim to park in front because if I have to see the lot, my car should be there right.  And if I have groceries or something to bring in, I want a close spot.  In general, I park in my preferred lot but lately it's been full (curses) and I have to park in the back. I just get annoyed the time to get a spot fluctuates lately, if I am not home by 6 pm I have to park in the back.

How gorgeous is this sky?

Anyway, this has resulted in not taking my suitcase in from my California trip. I finally caved this morning and before I got a shower, went to my car to move it out front to drag my suitcase in.  This picture was from my walk to my car.

So enough whining and onto the yarny goodness.

The socks from last WIP Wednesday have gone back into hibernation because I messed up the pattern.  The debate is on whether to just keep going or to rip back and fix.  I am leaning toward just finishing them though so we will see.

I did get some work done on my Hue Shift Afghan but don't have a picture of the progress.  I should have one next week though.

Sun and Stars Trillian

Wollmeise - 100% Wolle in Maharani 

I did however start a very special project.  My friend Dianne went to Germany with her family and made a trip to the Wollmeise Yarn Store.  She brought me back 1 skein that I gave her money for and 1 skein as a Christmas gift.  Honestly I could not wait to crack into the thing and started the Trillian shawl.

Lovely Little Yarn Cake!

So I wound the yarn and started the shawl.  I thought the yarn looked like sunshine and stars so hense the name "Sun and Stars Trillian".  I am in love with the pattern.  It's super easy but has such a lovely look and the drape is already awesome.

Love the color blend and the pop of yellow,

Honestly, this shawl continues to make make smile as I look at the colors and what more could you ask of your yarn and project.

Well, that's it for this week.  Class started last night and I feel as though this one will be interesting but intense so stay tuned for the updates.

For other WIPs check out Tami's Amis and Frontier Dreams

<3 Heather

Cozy Cone Dreams

As a reminder, there is a giveaway going on so check out my Blogiversary Post for details.  Remember, the answers are in the blog so check out my old posts for the answers to the clues :)

Honestly it has been a busy couple of weeks.  I have had a couple blogs that I wanted to get too but time got away from me.

Sunny California!  - California Adventures!

I had a trip planned between Christmas and New Years to Anaheim California.  I mentioned earlier in December my drama with my flights. Since that point, the flight situation got a bit interesting.

The original plan was for my Dad to take me to the airport, it snowed on the 26th of December.  We got about 6 inches of snow rapidly overnight and Dad is not a fan of driving in the snow.  We were going to maybe use my car since it has all wheel drive, but we panicked half way to the airport and he jumped out to take a bus back to the house.  I continued on and drove myself to the airport.

Image from my Parking Spot at the Airport

Once checked in, and through security the rest of the evening went as planned.  The flight out was uneventful, though I was by the latrine the whole time.  I will leave that experience to your imagination.

Me Trying to Find Some of the Students

Anyway, the conference was good.  I had 4 students from the chapters I support to keep an eye on and they were all great girls.  I think they had a good time and were able to take a ton of information back to their chapter.

Overall, the first 2 days were workshops for the students and alumni the the last 2 days were the legislation meeting.  In between, there was one night that was less regimented and we went to Disney's California Adventures.

California Adventures

We didn't get to ride to much only the Merry Go Round but it was nice to walk around.  We got Cozy Cone Drinks from Carsland too!

Nothing like drinking from a traffic cone.  :)

And we caught the Pixar Parade!

Who doesn't love Roz!

After Disney, the legislation dictated the rest of the time in California.  I knit on the floor to keep myself occupied and got 1.5 Justice League Filler Squares done.  Nice and easy knitting while listening to debate.

I am on the far left, knitting away.  Notice I am not the only one knitting.

So we ended with the banquet and I flew home on December 31st.  I got an Economy Plus seat for the main trip to Chicago which was nice and a half empty flight home with no one else in my row.  All in all a good trip.

Now for a small amount of bad news, while in Anaheim my Grandfather passed away.  He was 86 and just didn't recover from a procedure to remove fluid from his lung due to his congestive heart failure.  He passed away peacefully and we buried him on 1/3/2013.  While I am mourning his loss, I know he is at peace.

Sorry for the sad news but I wanted to catch up and share my adventures in California.  I had originally intended to meet up with Tami from Tami's Amis Blog (where I link up on WIP Wednesday and FO Friday) but she was sick with the flu.  Maybe next time.

<3 Heather

It's My Blogiversary!

Hello all, I didn't mean to have an extended hiatus but this Holidays were a busy 2 weeks.  In the coming days I plan on catching up and finishing out the blog posts I had planned for December.

One year ago today, I took the plunge and started this blog.  I really had no idea what tone it was going to take but I wanted to start something.  I was still reeling from losing my mother and just wanted something positive in my life.

So with all new things, I posted a lot, trying to find my voice and what this blog was going to become.  As time passed, I knew the yarn updates were going to probably drive the blog but was surprised at how much of my life I shared.

As the seasons changed I reflected on life and the world, I reflected on my mother and family and just became thankful for finding myself.

You all were a salvation in that you were interested in me and drove me to keep writing.  To tell stories of my family, my mom and my weekends and everything in between.

So in honor of my 1 year blog anniversary I have a quest for you to complete for a chance to win the giveaway.

But what is in this giveaway?

1 Skein of Madelinetosh Sock Yarn in Magenta

 I would have guessed a berry red but it's purple

5 Stitch markers of your color choice that I make

These are examples

And a pattern of your choice from Ravelry as a gift ($6.00 Max)

So here is the quest, by completing each step you will get an entry for the giveaway.

• one entry for commenting on this post
• one entry if you are a follower of my blog
• one entry if you answer, "Who is the blog named after?" in email or Rav message
• two entries if you can answer, "What did I bake the most of and what type were they?" in email or Rav message
• two entries if you can answer, "What is my favorite sport and team?" in email or Rav message (hint: they just came off of strike)
• finally three entries if you can answer, "What are the names of the dogs in my life?" in email or Rav message

The contest will go through February 6th where I will draw a winner!

Good luck!

<3 Heather

As a reminder, here is my email and Rav ID

Email: amaryllismusings@gmail.com
Rav ID: Junebug2285

2012 - December Recap

Where did this month go?  Really it started out kinda slow and I made good progress then from the 15th on it was wrap speed to the new year.

I had a good holiday and a good trip to Anaheim which I will talk about in coming posts.  But here is a snapshot of my month.

Check out all of the 2012 recaps on the 2012 Page of my blog :)

Baking, Hue Shift and Fun!

<3 Heather