Cool Packages and Awesome Awards!!

They say that big things come in small packages, and boy are they right!!! I received an awesome package filled with lovely goodies from my Secret Pal the other day. I think that she is the best. She sent me this lovely lavender sachet. By the way, how did you know that I liked lavender?

I also got a holder for my circular needles, which I was in desperate need of. Thank you so much.

She sent me this needles sizer. I have been eyeing one of these for a while. I have the regular Susan Bates one, but this is awesome. I can wear it as a necklace and start a new trend. You know these are the latest thing in jewelry, or for sizing my needles. I be using it for both.

I saved the best for last. No one has ever knit for me before. I was in awe looking at your work. Even Mr. D was impressed. First was this scarf made of %0% Alpaca and 50% Peruvian Wool.

Second was this 100% Cashmere beaded hooded cowl.

Secret Pal, you do BEAUTIFUL work. You are an amazing knitter. Thank you so so much. I will cherish everything, and wear it well. I can't wait to find out who you are.


I also want to thank Tanya of Sew Sassy for bestowing on me this lovely award.


I am suppose to nominate 7 other people for this award, so, here it goes.

Amanda
Robin
Lisa
Marissa
Jennifer
Robin
Susan
Stacey

Sheila, you know I'd nominate you, but you were already nominated and I'm not double dipping.


In other news, I'm still in sleeve-ville on burnish tunic, but things are moving along. I started socks for Mr. D at lunch today. I cut out a simple pair of knit pants to sew. I feel like I'm moving at a snail's pace. But I figure somewhere along the line I'll speed up at some point.

Note* This post was written on 1/27, but I was only able to upload the pictures this morning. Since I wrote this I sewed the knit pants together. I now only have to put the elastic in and hem them. I also cut out a pair of lounge pants using the same butterick pattern 4604.

New Beginnings

Today was definitely a date for the history books. It was a day that I never thought I'd see during my lifetime or at least, not this early, but never the less, it was a day of hope, promise and change. Today, I saw an eloquent man, husband, and father take the oath of office, and boy did he shine. These next 4 years are going to be trying for all of us, but after seeing what I saw today, the bonding of strangers, and of family and friends, I think, we're all going to be alright.

Now, enough of my blabbering. I hope all of you are alive, kicking, screaming and crafting large in 2009. Although I've been a little quiet, my hands have been busy. I crochet embroidered on She's Got Legs for my co-worker and added crocheted ties at the top so that they'd stay up with no problem. She loved them.

I finished scarf #1 a personal pattern for my other co-worker Judy. She loved it. She ran around the office all day telling everyone she had an Andrea original. I smiled. It's always so nice to know that something you put a lot of effort into is well received. She been wearing it ever since.

I'm still working on the woodland scarf. I'm on skein #4. I was thinking that I had to do maybe one more skein after this, but I might not have to. I'll see after I finish this one. I'm hoping that I'll be done by this weekend.This past weekend I picked up the burnish tunic that I started before the holidays. I finished the body and am now working on the sleeves.

In keeping with my resolutions, I started a crochet blanket on New Years night. I haven't gotten to far because I haven't worked on it in over a week, but still, it already covers my lap. I started with a granny square, and then built the blanket out from there. I also started spinning again. Sorry, I didn't take a picture. I have 1 1/2 spools done so far, so I'll be plying soon. I saw where Amanda's been dying her roving. That is something I would like to try this year as I purchased some dye and some cormo roving a year and a half ago just for that purpose. But, I'm not ready yet. Plus, I have a ton of roving here that needs to be spun up and knitted.

Back in the fall, I started a new design, but put it down once the holidays came around to get the holiday knitting done. Over the weekend, I pulled it out and reviewed my notes. Hopefully, I'll have something new to show soon. All I can tell you right now, is that I like what I'm seeing so far. I haven't forgotten the pattern for Victoria. I have to have it test knitted. I'm hoping to have the pattern out by this Spring.

As for sewing news, nothing much is going on at the House of Andrea. I'm pretty much just in the planning stages. I picked up the January issue of Burda World of Fashion. I love this issue.

December's issue was really good too. There were a few patterns to relax in for those lazy weekends. I have yet to make a pattern out of one of these magazines, but I'm trying to get up the courage. I'm thinking I might start small first. Like this vest for starters which is in the plaid section of the January issue.I have a bolt of muslin. I figure I can start there first and build from there. What are you all up to?

2008 FOs & 2009 Goals

A year of creativity, and what a year it was. 1. handbag 2. wedding garter 3. (110 were made) hand sewn ribbon flowers 4. crochet felted clutch 5. (2) shawls/neck wraps 6. manicure socks for knitpicks 7. knit pouches (5 were made) 8. Wedding handbag 9. Lap Blanket and pillow 10. Victoria 11. Minimalist Cardi 12. New Look 6648 13& 14. (2) Half-pi shawls 15. Baby jacket w/moss stitch edging 16. Selbu Modern 17. Puffs Slouchy Hat 18. Socks on 2 Circulars 19. Nepal Vest 20. Butterick 5529 21. Cobblestone 22. She's Got Legs 23. Vogue 8138. 24. Shawl Collar Pullover 25. Bobble Tam

Not pictured are: Flower Basket Shawl, 12 knit flowers, (4) pairs of Butterick 4604 (pants only), crochet shawl, and secret project right now for knit picks (2 of them are done)

Grand total: 160 items


I sat here this morning reviewing my goals for 2008. I wanted to see which ones I actually accomplished. To my surprise, I didn't do too bad.

1. Get hitched on Memorial Day weekend to a wonderful man whom I love and adore.

My biggest FO which was #1 on the list. I have to admit that I'm loving every minute of it!!

2. Knit, Crochet and Sew more.

Of my FOs for 2008, I did 32 knit items, 3 crochet items, 15 sew items and 110 ribbon flowers which I sewed by hand.

3. Hang out more with my Girlfriends and my mother.

I still do this.

4. Find time to read more. (This one's hard as I knit in my spare time.)

Finding time to read more is still hard, but not as hard as it use to be. I'm into audio books now and I love them. It took a little getting use to, but it works well with the crafting.

5. Stay true and in tune to myself and the fi.

One of the things I love most about Mr. D is that he doesn't want to change me, and I don't want to change him either. Communication is a big part of one's relationship. We both try to encourage each other to do things not only together but also apart. Our relationship grows from it, and I learn more and more from him everyday.

6. Continue date night with the fi, even after the wedding.

We still go on date night. Most of the time it's to eat sushi. But sometimes it's just going to the bookstore or sitting down and watching a movie together. It's great.

7. Set up a date night with my mother after the wedding, so she doesn't feel left out of my life.

I see my mother at least once a week, sometime even 2 times.

8. Save more money.

I'm working on it.

9. Blog more.

I'm working on it. 2008 I posted 40 times, in 2007 I posted 33 times.

10. Get more organized and neat.

I'm working on this too.

11. Curse less.

I'm doing a lot better in this department.

12. Try to be less stressed out.

This has been a very big accomplishment, especially since the wedding. Every November since my mother's incident 3 years ago, I've broken out with eczema. This was the first year, my fingers are still crossed that I didn't get it.

13. Workout more.

I've fallen down on this one. I start then stop, then start and stop again. I'm hoping 2009 is better.

14. Have fun.

I have no trouble doing this.

15. Design and publish more patterns

I didn't do as well as I'd hoped on this one but I did do one new pattern.


I'm very curious to see what 2009 has in store, but in the meantime, I'm going to get started on some of the goals I have planned for myself.

1. Organize and catalog my knitting stash.

2. Organize and catalog my sewing stash.

3. Design more with a structured purpose. I want to see if I can come up with a collection and in a timely manner according to the seasons. I want to design something every month or every other month, experiment with yarn more.

4. Sew more. Challenge myself by making a whole wardrobe. Learn new techniques. I don't want to be afraid of trying something new. I want to try a BWOF pattern. I only have like 4 of the magazines.

5. Educate myself more in knitting and sewing. Go on design excursions, maybe take a class in sewing. Visit NY. Read more again.

6. Workout. Drop 1 more dress size.

7. Start spinning again.

8. Cook more. Have fun in the kitchen.

I want to thank all of you so very much for your wonderful support and the awesome feedback that you've given me over this past year. You all make blogging worthwhile.

Happy New Year!!!

Wishing you and yours a healthy and prosperous 2009. May all that you hope and wish for come true and more.