Holiday Rush

I actually am not in a rush, but it is getting closer to Christmas, 5 days to be exact, and I am pretty busy. It is nice however to be on top of a lot of Holiday stuff that I sometimes leave till last minuet. All the Christmas shopping is done, the Christmas package to Oz has been sent, Christmas Fudge is made, and presents are wrapped so now Simon and I must pack up the car and head on up to the parents place in Upstate NY.

In the next three days I am working more than usual, staying late and coming in early. I need to pack and try to see some friends that are in town for the holidays. Busy Busy.

On top of that I need to start knitting. I have a deadline that isn't self imposed, which is nice, but a bit stressful, but in a good way. I also have another design floating around in my head. I think The colored pencils are coming with me to Upstate NY maybe the snow will help inspire me to design away!


I must be off to get ready for work today.

Chocolate Truffles

So the caramel came out awesome. Now like the fudge I just need to cut it up and package it. Today though is Chocolate Truffle day. I made chocolate truffles back in middle school for french class. They are pretty easy to make if i remember correctly. Mostly cream and Dark chocolate I found a great Instructable Called Anatomy of a Chocolate Truffle that goes through the basics and even teaches you how to make flavored truffles. I am trying my hand at Cab Sav truffles today and have port truffles and honey whiskey truffles in the works for the rest of the week. I also saw a recipe for rosemary and sea salt ones that I really want to try.

What other interesting truffle flavors should I try?

In the process of designing some boot toppers so I can wear my tights and dresses and keep my legs warm.

The Weather Outside is...Cold

Yep, cold...really cold, so cold that the apartment is cold, even with the heater on.

To battle the cold temp I need:
1. Wool Socks
2. Hot coffee
3. wooly knitting project (maybe wool socks)
4. fleece blanket
5. A&E's Pride and Prejudice

Instead I think I'll just make caramels for Christmas.

South St Set

Completed and Listed! There it is the South St Set, Tam and Mittens knitting pattern. I had such a fun time designing and knitting these. The yarn I think is what really made it enjoyable. You can check out this patterns stats in my esty shop. There are three new listings the South St Set with is both the tam and the mittens or you can just get your favorite. The South St Tam is easy to knit with a simple textured stitch pattern that keeps this pattern interesting, and the South St. Mittens are knit with out a gusset. All the stitches you need for the mitt you cast on at the beginning. Great for that advanced beginner who wants to start knitting in the round.

If you are in the Philly area you should stop in to Nangellini and see them in person and check out all of the "Nancy's Hair" Sock Yarn.

Sneak Peek

Here's a sneak peek of the latest design. Should be up in the shop tomorrow just putting the finishing touches on it now.

Monday Monday

The giveaway with Pink Dandy Chatter has come to an end and I thank everyone who participated and I congratulate the two winners who will soon receive their prizes!

What's going on here in Philly with Us this time of year?

I am finishing up the design for Nangellini (actually I've finished the knitting and now its time to write up the design and take some photos, but that is for tomorrow). I also need to start on a design I have completed, but want to test my pattern and adjust it for a different yarn. I am going to submit it to somewhere, but I haven't decided yet where to.

On top of all this knitting and designing Simon and I are rushing around finishing up our holiday shopping and I will start making fudge, and caramels and maybe even some chocolate truffles, but we'll see how I manage my time.

Today I decided to be a bit lazy and watch the netflix dvd that I've had for almost a week. Simon will be glad that we will be getting something new because he had no interest in watching "CoCo before Channel" with me. First off it was in French (subtitles!) and second it was about Coco Channel two things Simon isn't able to get excited about. If you love Channel or sewing or just a good movie I highly suggest it. I've been wanting to see it since Gertie blogged about it.

I must be off my to do list is calling my name.

Finished!

The mittens and hat are completed! Now I just need to weave in the ends and type up the pattern. I think a photo shoot with Simon is in order on Sunday.

I plan on having the pattern done on Sunday and the mitts and hat to Nancy no later that Tuesday. The only reason I would need to keep the hat and mitts till then would be to block the hat. I will have both patterns posted in my etsy shop as separate patterns as well as a set. The set will also be free from Nangellini with purchase of a hank of Nancy's Hair hand dyed yarn.

To Do List

Again with my to do lists. After working early yesterday and deciding on having a lazy morning today I really need to kick my butt into high gear.

Tomorrow is going to be to do list day, and I am going to start my list and try to get everything that isn't "fun" finished.

I am however almost done with the pattern for Nangellini and am hoping to have it typed up and ready to go on Sunday. I need to block the tam and make a few edits to the mitten pattern as well as knit the second mitten. So things are moving along nicely on that front. However my Christmas shopping is suffering. Simon is pretty much done but my brother and my parents aren't even close to being finished.

Saturday is going to be fun project day and Sunday is going to be finish Christmas shopping day.

Friday's to dos:
1. Blog (of course!)
2. Clear table on and around.
3. Clear rocking chair
4. Clear top of fridge
5. Organize Kitchen Shelves
6. Finish shopping and pack Aussie gift package!
7. Cut out dress pattern (If I have time)

Nagellini Project

Here is the swatch and ball of Nancy's Hair (all the color with our the commitment). I've finished the hat and started on the mittens last night and I am whizzing though them. I plan to have the set of patterns knit and finished by the end of the week. If I keep knitting like I have been I should be done with the mitts by Friday.

The swatch in the picture looks a little wired because it is two swatches in one. I started with a US 4 needle and then switch to a US 6 needle for the second half of the swatch. There is a garter stitch ridge in between the two swatches and four yarn overs in one so I know it was knit with the US 4 and six yarn overs in the second half so I know it was worked with a US 6. I tend to swatch like this a lot, because that way I can see how the yarn knits up with different needles or sometimes with different stitches, and I can compare with out rummaging around for a bunch of different square swatches.

Tuesday

Tuesdays always seem to turn out to be my busiest days. I am trying to figure out how to balance a few things in my life right now. A big balancing act is my knitting. There are so many things I want to knit for me while at the same time I am trying to get some designs done. I am currently working on a hat and mitten set for Nangellini. I love the yarn I am using, and it is special, because it is exclusively dyed for that yarn shop. As I get closer to finishing it I will put up pictures. I am almost finished with the hat and will hopefully start the mittens tonight. That is my unofficial time line.

I am also considering submitting another pattern to Knitty. I have a knit cotton top that I made last year all ready to go, I just need to knit a second one and finish typing up the pattern. The deadline for that is January 2nd so I need to get knitting.

Along with all the knitting Simon and I are trying to organize the apartment and start making it look like a home instead of a temporary place to keep us and our stuff. We plan on staying in this apartment for awhile so I believe we should make it our home.

Christmas seems to be sneaking up on us as well. I have maybe half my Christmas shopping done. I still need to make a batch of fudge and start wrapping the presents I do have. (Which as of right now isn't too much.)

Again with the to do list!
1. Sort out top of fridge
2. Finish hat pattern
3. figure out Christmas present for my parents
4. Finish Aussie Christmas package and send out
5. figure out where to put my sewing machine
6. sew wool dress for Christmas
7. sew cotton dress just because
9. sort out office space in living room

A bit long and non descript but stuff that needs to get done.

Gettysburg

Simon and I are back at home for awhile at least in another two and a half weeks we are going back to my parents place for Christmas, but until the we are home for most of the month. We returned home Friday night from a few days in Gettysburg. We hadn't gone on a honeymoon yet so we counted this as a mini one. We had a ton of fun in the town and a great time on our battlefield tour. Below are some pics of our trip.

Hanging with Abe.

We stayed at the Gas Light Inn in town and it was awesome! Its a great B&B we felt right at home and the owners are awesome and Oliver the little terrier is maybe the cutest thing ever. I would highly suggest this place to anyone looking to go to Gettysburg.

Here is our battlefield tour guide Garry explaining the "fish hook" to our tour group. The battlefield tour guides go through a long process to become a guide. They have to sit for a test that consists of multiple choice, true false, and even an essay. If they pass that then they have to give a tour to a guide and a park ranger they get two tries to pass the tour section and if they do they become a official battlefield tour guide.

We loved our guide he was great and seemed to know every detail of the three day battle.

This is the monument to Patrick O'Rorke. A Colonel in the army who grew up in Rochester NY and graduated top of his class at West Point in 1861. (Custer graduated in the same class at the very bottom and also fought at Gettysburg.). O'Rorke commanded the 140th from Rochester. He died in battle on little round top on the second day of battle
This is the oldest building in Gettysburg, the Dobbin house built in 1775 it is now a restaurant and tavern. Simon and I had dinner in the tavern down in the old basement the first night there.

Off On an Adventure

I am off on an adventure with Simon!