Pictures!

Well, I will try to post some pictures, as promised. Here are the goodies from Stash...

Everything which includes two balls of the blue sky cotton, the other is behind the tags, one ball of sock wool, Interweave Knits Spring edition, vogue knitting's stitchonary, and knitting on the edge by Nicky Epstien (and some nice simple white rubber stitch markers)

And a close up of the Lorna's Laces Shepard sock wool in desert flower along with the Blue Sky Cotton in a very pretty aqua:) yummy...

And onto today's acheivement...

tada!!!!!!!

Maddie's Ballet wrap in RYC cash cotton color framboise. Pattern from classic bambino from RYC!!!

I am sooo proud - two sweaters FINISHED for my Maddie in one year. I really am getting faster;)

So, onto the content part of this post. I've made a real breakthrough the last few months, having gotten to know the knitting world through blogging. Before, I used to just limp along, figure things out in my own sort of bumbling way, and I saw knitting as my private creative outlet. Then I started reading my friend Anne's blog (hello if you're reading!). And a whole new world opened up to me. All of a sudden I realised there were loads of people like me, with compulsions to buy wool and dream of all the things to make whilst not finishing most of them. I love reading everyone's thoughts as much as I like writing my own, and I get spurred on by seeing all the stuff other people make. It makes me want to knit more!

Now a few months later I almost feel like an 'official' knitter. I have proper tools, markers that work, needles I really love, and know people I can talk to that don't dismiss what I'm doing as wasting time. It's made me so happy especially with two small children to find a real outlet that is constructive as well as creative. For a former art student, it's important. Now I can dream of a studio where I've got a knitting/sewing/quilting area, darkroom, and pottery area. And even bigger is my dream to run some sort of business either selling my pots or selling yarns that I love. Someday.

So back to Earth, today's other achievement aside from Maddie's wonderful sweater is socks. Ling showed me her sock yesterday at Stash, and to my amazement, it was small. Toddler sized (which is why in the photo the person wearing the sock has cute chubby ankles - he's 3). And I thought (after I smacked my forehead and said duh!) how smart! Since I finished the sweater today, I sat there looking round thinking, do I start my twist-T with the posh yarn or socks in desert flower? I spent the morning in the cool darkness of my bedroom with Jamie sleeping beside me and getting over a minor migraine and wound up the half of a skein I'd tangled up. So that is waiting for me. But so is desert flower. Socks on two circulars. Calls me. (because I HATE dpns)

Spurred on by Roo and Ling's socks in the flesh, I boldy cast on my 48 stitches on three metal 2.75 dpns. I couldn't find the two 2.5 circulars I'd bought. But I had to cast on. Then as I was struggling with the f$*@))g metal needles I spotted one of the 2.5 circulars. I put the socks on the one and agressively searched the area and came up with the other. After some fiddling, whe...heeeeey! I have done it. Figured out how to knit with two circulars instead of fiddly dpns. Now all I have to do is make a sock. Hmm. all I've done up til now is ribbing on my other sad effort (which is still lying round forlornly unmade).

Stay tuned for piccies - I vow I will will will figure it out!
Night:)