At home today....

Boo Hoo. It's true. I have the flu. So do two of my daughters. It's not a pretty site at my house. I have been denying the fact that I was getting sick, but I can no longer pretend. So, even though I have tons of stuff to do at work, there was no way I was going to make it through the day, so it's hot tea, bed and my knitting, of course. I've already performed my Wicked Witch impression and threatened to get the kids dressed and drop them off at school if they don't stay in bed and remain calm today. I am sure I'll have an encore performance at least one more time today, but that's okay. I am really good at it. I think they are scared for the time being. We'll see how long it lasts.

So, if I feel better, I am going to try to work on organizing my yarn stash and my knitting retreat. It's really a retreat off of our master bedroom, but I am determined to make it a zen-like cocoon of knitting nirvana. The only problem is that I have to sort of share it with my husband, because our computer is in there, too. Hopefully, in the near future, we are going to convert our garage into what I like to call the "Men Den" and he can have his area where all things that have to do with sports can reside. Then, I can have my space all to myself!!! Here is my knitting chair:


I had this chair made quite awhile ago. It is a nice shade of purple, which is the color scheme of my bedroom and retreat. I love it, but it is BIG. Really, it's too big, but too late. I had it custom made, so there is no going back. It's nice, though. All I really need in order to finish my room is a really good way to store all my knitting stuff. My dream is to have those cubbies that they have in the yarn shops all along one wall. I have pretty high ceilings in there, so I could put them on the wall, all the way to the top. Then....this is the best part....he he.....I want one of those rolling library ladders. I could just roll it along the cubbies and climb to where I need to get to. I am seriously going to look into that. I know it sounds nuts, but HOW COOL WOULD THAT BE????

Sick...........

Yuck. I'm sick. I have a nasty cold. No fun. I want to knit, but I'm falling asleep! I'm trying to focus on finishing up my Karabella Aurora 8 Cabled Cardigan. (Photo above) I'm making this in a terracotta shade. It's a really fun knit, but you have to count and pay attention and that is not something I'm so good at, even when I am in top form. With a head cold, it's just scary. I'm going to give it another go tonight, though. I am not allowing myself to start on any other major projects until I finish this. So, that give me some incentive. I'm anxiously awaiting my Hanne Falkenberg Mermaid kit. I decided on Color #4 (greens) and I am very excited and apprehensive about the whole thing. It looks like it will be challenging, which is a good thing, but I just hope it comes out looking half way decent. I would have to screw up that beautiful pattern. Here is a photo of what it is supposed to look like when I finish:


Isn't it beeeeaaaauuuutiful?? I love the colors, the shape....everything. I am keeping my fingers crossed that I can really do this. I keep telling myself that there are only two basic stitches in knitting, so what's the big deal?? Right? We shall see.

Here is another kit I recently purchased:

It's the Rainbow Jacket by Vivian Hoxbro. I was never really interested in Shadow Knitting, but I went to Stitches West in Santa Clara, CA and saw this in person and loved it. It looks nicer in person. This is another project I am hoping will be fun and not turn into a nightmare. I tend to be very ambitious and then regret it later, but I am determined to challenge my knitting skills, so why not go for it? Since I am in a show and tell mood.....this is usually a little embarassing....my penchant for acquiring more yarn and knitting supplies when I have more than I know what to do with......Here is a little something else I picked up at Stitches West:


It's a kit for Nicky Epstein's Jacobean Bag from her Fabulous Felted Bags book. Nicky was at Stitches West and I was able to meet her and have her sign my book. She is very sweet and personable. I have loved this bag ever since I saw it in a past issue of Interweave Knits. It is a little small (short) for my liking, so I am going to try to lengthen it a bit. I will have to rewrite the intarsia chart...which is something I have never done. To be completely honest, I've never even tried intarsia, but what the heck? It can't be that bad, can it? I have the new Sally Melville Color book and it has a good section on intarsia. I also have a local knitting instructor that can help me, but I am going to try to do learn on my own.

So....as you can see, my knitting dance card is definitely full. I have lots of other stuff I want to do, but these are the biggies that are already in the hopper. I'm off to work on my Karabella Cabled Cardigan. Hopefully, I can keep count before I start snoring.