Happy Birthday Mom

Today is the Birthday of an awesome woman that taught me everything.  She is and has always been my Best Friend and my Biggest Cheerleader!

 

Georgie is beautiful and had a real taste for style right from the start. Here is a picture of her at 6 years old (which she gave me a long time ago).  Mom says a guy would come to your house, take your picture and days later appear with the finished product framed and ready to hang.  She remembers sitting on The piano bench in the parlor dolled up in a dressy little silky blue dress with a huge blue ribbon in her hair and lots of long curls!

 

Told you she is Beautiful! 

 

 

Mom is a great teacher not just to me, but to The Twin, many cousins and more students in the public school system for 38 years than could be counted. She is a strong, independent, nourishing woman that has set the bar high for us graced with her presence these many years.

 

Mom has always been my expert and "Go To" Person! From her I learned to sew (even pleated drapery and suits), crochet, bake pies, whip up potato salad and make mac & cheese from scratch! 

 

While feeding me spiritually and emotionally she continues to give my heart peace - like no other.

 

Happy Birthday Mom!  

Love You. Mean It.  

 

Shrimp in Roasted Pepper Sauce and some Knitting Action

Last week I promised to give you my Shrimp in Roasted Pepper Sauce recipe, so here you go....

Shrimp in Roasted Pepper Sauce

Drain 12 oz Roasted Peppers
8 oz cream cheese
2 cloves chopped
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/2 teas red pepper flakes
1/4 cup fresh basil chopped

Process all of above then heat in skillet till very warm.

Add 2 pounds shrimp to above hot sauce and cook until no longer transparent.

Serve over pasta of your choice.

(I actually used 3/4 cup chicken broth)

We loved this dish and already look forward to whipping and eating it up again soon!

Now for some knitting news!  Someone (that would be me) has a finished project Blocking! This wrap, Marigold, is designed by Susanna IC and is yet another project knit with Blue Heron-Egyptian Mercerized Cotton.  I'm telling you I just can't get enough of this fiber; so much so, I have a skein of red and two skeins of grey in my yarn bar. 

More details on the wrap later, but for now......DRY Marigold DRY!! 

 

Believe this or not, my bestie and I have wandered away from wraps/shawls and started sweaters.  Bestie is knitting up COCO, a lovely lacey cardigan in this beautiful book and I elected to knit a textured pullover found in this special Knitscene issue.

 

Meet my Longboard Pullover designed by Amanda Bell.  What a fun and simple 4 row repeat pattern and the Rowan Panama (linen blend) fiber is fabulous in this Dot Stitch.

Well, I think that's it for today.  But, tomorrow is a Very Special Day so check in if you get a chance.

                       Hugs & Purls
                       Dawn

What I really want to tell you.............

After 28 years working behind an office desk 8 to 5 - 5 days a week, I officially retired on April 30th!  The last 3 1/2 months I have been taking time to relax, recreate, reconnect with family, friends, my home, my kitchen, and enjoying knitting time more than ever!

With work obsessions responsibilities left behind, I find myself infatuated with new avenues like, The Pottery Barn, home organization ( I have purchased enough baskets and bins to stock a small shop- but OH how fabulous my cabinets, closets and drawers look), Pinterest, thrift shopping, cooking and canning.....yes lots and lots of green beans and tomatoes-I am so fortunate to have such a wonderful teacher-My Mom! 

 

Looking forward, you may even see a few of my favorite recipes posted soon.  Actually I whipped up a Delightful  Red Pepper Shrimp dish this week that The Gardener and MIL ranted and raved about (thanks go to  my cousin, Sharon). This is wonderful when served over your favorite pasta!

   (Look for the recipe posting soon)

 

Lastly pictures of one of my latest finished knit, The Vaudeville Shawl.  What a Fun & Funky piece that I Love, Adore and Worship!   

 

 

 

This was knit using #5 needles with 2 skeins of Rowan Kidsilk Haze, color Wicked; 2 skeins of Rowan Kidsilk Haze, color Blushes; 2 skeins of Rowan Pure Wool 4 ply, color Shale and 2 skeins Rowan Pure Wool 4 ply, color Black.

 

Vaudeville was a rather pricey project, but my opinion...well worth it!  With quite a bit of yarn left over there may be an accompanying hat coming soon.

 

Hugs & Purls!

Dawn

 

 

 

a few of my cast ons

Looks like we have a bit of catching up to do...so let's get right to it!

This Winter knitting scarves/shawls and hat sets seem to be "my thing"! Unfortunately we had another extremely warm winter and I didn't get to wear the pieces as much as I would have liked.  First up is the Multi stripe Kidsilk Haze suite.  If you haven't experienced this wonderful fiber yet, you should do so.  The new Rowan Stripe, my colorway selection of #00202, is beautiful and was a fun knit.  The shawl is a take on the scarf pattern on the ball band. I simply cast on 120 stitches for the width and knit 2.5 balls in stockinette ( I had great plans for the remaining .5 ball). This project was my constant buddy to knit anywhere:anytime!  I found I wear this shawl more as a scarf  'cause it is so fluid and airy and simply lovely wrapped around the neck, so why not??

The accompanying hat is the Jared Flood pattern, RoseBud.  Don't you adore Jared and his patterns? My RoseBud was knit with 1 skein of Malabrigo Sock Yarn, #853-Abril, and about .5 skein of the remaining Stripe Kidsilk Haze.  All I can say about this Slouchy Hat when knit in the Malabrigo/Kidsilk Haze combination is W.O.W!

 The sock yarn was held doubled with one strand of the Kidsilk Haze that resulted in a gradual color change that eliminated any harsh stripes and a hat that is just scrumptious! Don't take my word for it, be your own judge....

 A Sweet & Easy Set Treat!

Next up is the Horseshoe Scarf by Kat Buckspan (a free pattern..don't you just luv that) and the Picot Edge Hat that...I.COULD.JUST.EAT.!

The Horseshoe Scarf was knit on #5 needles with Queensland Collection-Kathmandu-Aran in colorway #164 and Rowan Purelife in colorway, Alder Buckhorn.  The gold and black combination is totally out of the box for me, but a nice change! This is an easy 4 row repeat lace pattern that is great for a scarf and hat set.  What an awesome pattern for gift giving.

Now about that Picot Edge Hat (that I.COULD.JUST.EAT).  This hat could have numerous looks (check out Rav) and seems every one's is most unique.  I knew I wanted my hat a bit fuller than the original pattern.  The brim was cast on with 17 stitches and knit to 18 1/2" long or 84 garter ridges.  For the hat I picked up 84 stitches, knit the first row then increased the following row to 126 stitches.  It was knit working the custer pattern till it measured  7 1/2" from tip of picot.
                                        (this pic is a tad yellow but I liked the close up shot)

The flower is also a free pattern I found on line called "Sweet and Simple Rosette" by Eileen Vito.  The flower is adorned with a vintage earring from my Grandmother's collection.

Gift it or Wear it and listen to the Rants and Raves!

Hugs & Purls!

working the stash and more

After soooo many shawls it's time for a Sweater!

  My sweater selection was selected from my stash and has been in waiting for a couple of years.

 Now is CIA's time. 

 Cia is a Louet pattern knit with Kidlin, a sweet fiber of 49% linen/35% kid mohair/16% nylon. 

 

 And let me say, "Loving. Cranberry. Colorway!!!

 

Enough about the new, time now to entertain you with my Rockefeller!  This is another Stephen West pattern that provide lots of twists and turns for quite the eventful knit. 

 

The project was most interesting, then came those wings you see in the front.  I sort of made up the wing color combination to ensure I had enough of the colors used to complete a second wing. Just an after thought, I think I would have liked wider stripes, but all is OK and I still think it is a lovely piece.

 

The burnt rust colorway is quite "outside the box" for me...but I do find it quite pleasing and happy with the color combination!

 

 My Rockefeller was knit with 5 different colorways of Simply Shetland - Silk & Lambswool (discontinued) and 1 skein of Madelinetosh tosh merino light in the colorway, Moss. #3 needles was used on this project.

Till next time, be well, be happy and try something out of the normal for yourself real soon!

 

Hugs & Purls!

 

first prize

My Garden Party

by designers:  Two Old Bags

Pattern  purchased at SAFF in 2008!

This pattern was in a protective sleeve and placed in my shawl notebook along with my very long list of "to be knitted someday".  It was when I saw a co-knitters's (Patrice) version of this design that it caught my attention again! Patrice's gift of color is fabulous and all you Rav knitters out there should check her out...what a treat!

 It  was much to my surprise when I reviewed the start and finish date of this project and realized it was knit in 10 days!  That was pretty fast for such a slow knitter as myself. Perhaps it was all the color change and simplicity of the pattern that kept it speeding along.  In any case, I ADORE IT and I LOVE IT!

 The piece was knit using all Koigu KPPPM on #6 needles. Here are the main colors used: P6l6, P854, P511,P848 and P3275.  I added occasional rows of stash Koigu here and there just for fun and a little punch.

I did follow a couple of my own rules: 1). I knit the eyelet row, the row before and after the eyelet row in yellow  and 2). whatever colorway used Before starting the eyelet setup row was picked up again at the end of the eyelet rows.  I think these steps allowed a little formality in the piece and eliminated the possibility of a hodge-podge result.   

At times I find myself feeling a bit guilty when I look at all those patterns and books (and let's not even think about the stash fiber), but, Ohhhh The Satisfaction when that pattern that had been forgotten or overlooked for so long is once again renewed and exciting!   It's like winning First Prize or something and in this case my First Prize was Garden Party.

going to the dogs

The Gardener with our Italian Greyhounds!

It's hard to believe our IGs are 12 and 11 years old. 

They may be looking older, but still jump, run like a Standard Greyhound at a race track in West Virginia and pranch around the house in great  pony fashion.