Where have I been?

Jeez Louise, I just realized that it had been more than two weeks since I had posted anything here. What is it that has kept me so busy?

Well, there was the tax return that, no matter how long I waited, would not do itself. That always takes about three times as long as I want it to, and at least twice as long as it would take anyone else to do them.

I did find a little time to do some knitting here and there. I made this hat for Emma's friend Robbie who is busy right now fighting breast cancer:



This was based on the Robin's Egg pattern that I found on Ravelry. I made a few minor adjustments to the pattern because I was using a worsted weight yarn instead of the chunky yarn that the pattern calls for. I used Knitpicks Bare Superwash Merino, which is really much softer than I ever expected and washes up very nicely. I dyed this myself. One of the things I love about handpainting yarn is that I get to come up with my own names for the colorway. Finding the perfect name that accurately describe the colors is such a fun part of the creative process. I am calling this one "Green".

By the way, Emma is having a contest on her blog right now, she needs help redecorating her bathroom, pop over and help her out if you have a minute.

I made this hat, using the same yarn and pattern, for my parent's friend Darcy who had surgery today for an aneurysm:



I am calling this one "Pink".

I don't wear hats and therefore I never knew how much fun they are to knit. I have just become a hat knitting freak lately and I love it.

I am working on another Quant for my daughter's friend, Sparkle. Isn't that a cool name? Who could resist making a handknit gift for someone named Sparkle?

I entered a contest last week on Maglia, I won 700 yards of the most beautiful yarn. It's 60% Sea Cell and 40% Silk from LuLu's Yarns. The colorway is "Fregene" just north of Rome, Fregene, once a simple fishing village, is a quick getaway from Rome and an upscale alternative to the congested beaches of nearby Ostia. Throughout the summer, actors, soccer stars and the Roman gentry go there to feast in waterfront restaurants, to dance until the wee hours and, most of all, to tan themselves on the beaches. Fregene is a beautiful name, but I probably would have called it "Blues, browns and oranges". :) Just kidding, Lu, thank you so much for this amazing yarn:



No post would be complete without a list of thankfuls:
1. I am thankful that it stopped raining for a few days.
2. I am thankful for beautiful free yarn in the mail.
3. I am thankful for crazy young women named Sparkle.