Tag Archives: opal

Back from the fair

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After a week of camping at the fair, livestock shows, working various stands, and a very long, hot auction day, I am still feeling a bit hungover.  We had a fun week but it is exhausting.  The kids all did well on their projects and their shows, and had a great time hanging out with their 4-H friends.  I’m still catching up on laundry and cleaning the camper out for relatives that are coming in on Saturday (I’m sure they would appreciate clean linens and such), but it’s nice to be home and getting back into the regular routine.

I have checked in so many new things since my last post…. let’s see… there is Classy (new colors), Mauch Chunky (new colors), Kaleidoscope, and Cotton 2010, both from Opal (that took a little longer than planned, but it’s finally available for purchase), and  we now have some striping Soxx Appeal.  I think the Freedom Hat Kit from Heritage Fiber Publications is very cool.  Available in three color combinations, the pattern offers three sizes and the kit comes with enough Shepherd’s Wool to make one hat of any size.  Click here to see all the new items for July.

Diva Bundles

Just in case you were afraid that I would leave you with no pretty pictures check out the box of loveliness that was waiting for me when I got back to work.  These are the Diva Bundles that Lea-Ann unveiled when Lorna was here.  A few lucky gals even won a bundle as a door prize.  I keep taking little breaks to paw through the box.  No two bundles are exactly alike; there are similar color combinations but the there is something different in each bundle.  Some have sparklies, some have frillies, some have sparkly frillies.  Others have a touch of ribbon yarn.  If I had to use one word to describe these little beauties it would be “FUN”.  Okay, I just thought of another one.  “UNIQUE”.  Oh!  How about “YUMMY”?  I’m going to sign off now because I could go on like this for hours.  Those of you who know me know that I am not joking about this.

Have a great day of knitting!

Opal out of the box!

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The new Opal is checked in and ready for the needles! Click here to see the Masken Ball; click here to see the Best of Rainforest.

I cast on a pair of footies using Happy Feet color 25 Spring Blossom for my daughter this weekend- a nice quick project for when the rain hits us. She is loving the bright colors and cannot wait for them to be done. I have to admit that the colors are looking quite cool. I’m thinking that there might even be enough for a pair of footies for me, as well. I have a hard time getting projects done in the spring because after a long winter indoors I just cannot wait to be out in my garden and flower beds. I spent two days this weekend cleaning up the flower bed and splitting all the bulbs that are choking out my perrenials and I thoroughly enjoyed each minute. Not so much the aching in my back and booty but I guess you can’t have one without the other. I got just over half way done (it’s a very big flower bed) and hope to get another hour or two in this afternoon. Hubbie tilled the garden for me and I picked up my seeds this weekend. So… not a whole lot got done on the footies- not quite to the heel on the first one but if we get the rain they are forecasting I should be able to knock off a pair before I can get back outside. When I get the footies done I’ll post a pic of them on her little tootsies.

While I was away

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This is what happens when I’m gone for a week ….

New Opal

This is the new Opal sock yarn that came in while I was on vacation.  Notice anything odd about it?  Like that it has already been opened and very obviously ooohed and aaahed over? :)   Seems that when I miss UFO night everyone goes crazy!  Honestly, I can’t really blame them.  Who doesn’t like to check out the freshly arrived new stuff  just begging to be cast on?  For those of you who weren’t lucky enough to be here when Lea-Ann opened the box, I will have it online and ready for purchase as quickly as I can. 

Here’s a bonus sneak peek for you…

Serendipity Tweed and Wildfoote

 

Also arriving at my desk while I was sunning my toes was Serendipity Tweed and Wildfoote from Brown Sheep.    I really like the looks of the Serendipity Tweed- sort of a heathery look more than a tweedy look.  Love the colors, too.  Check back frequently over the next few weeks, as this will also be available online as quickly as humanly possible.
 

A few days before I started packing I decided that I needed a way to protect my Kindle in my suitcase and this is what I came up with:

Felted Kindle Sleeve

Kinle Sleeve open

I used double stranded Noro and eyeballed the size it would need to be before felting (measured my kindle and added 30% for the felting process).  I knit it one night at my daughter’s Math Bowl competition and felted it a few days later.  My favorite thing about it is the funky chunky button I found in my Grandma’s button jar.  I love the texture it adds and the way it pops off the front.  I am happy to say that it worked like a charm and my Kindle sustained no damage at all.

Recycled Silk Shawl

I needed an ultra simple project to knit while traveling that needed no counting or really even looking at as I cannot do anything requiring the slightest concentration or I get car sick (no reading in the car for me).  I dug through my stash and found several skeins of recycled silk that I have had for nearly forever so I threw some of them in a bag and made this shawl.  It was quick, very simple and almost finished when we arrived- which turned out to be a good thing because it was a bit chilly the first day so I threw it across my lap and finished it.  I actually wore it when we went out to eat one evening even though it hasn’t been blocked.  The bad thing is that I took nothing to knit on the way home!  Yeah, I know…. what a doofus.

Stay tuned for a few vacation pics and another sneak peek (maybe the best one yet?) tomorrow. I am so excited!