Fabulous Forty

What’s not to love about the fifth decade?  It sure started out great.  A huge birthday banner greeted me by the breakfast table:

This thing is BIG, like 4x6 feet.  Look carefully – it’s covered with balls of yarn!  S1 told the boys to draw pictures of things I liked. 

I also got a copy of Clara Parkes’ new book, The Knitter’s Book of Wool.  It’s dreamy, everything I expected and more.  I’ll post a review soon.

When I got home from work, a book box was waiting for me on the front porch.  S1 said “This is for you, but I don’t recognize the return address.”  I looked at it and said “I do! This must be a signed copy of Kristin Nicholas’s new book that Kristina had sent to me!”  And it was.  Check out the colorful note:The photographs in this book are exciting.  If there’s one thing Kristin knows, it’s color.  I’ve been meaning to make a couple of her patterns for a while now (like the big lilac bag and crochet Christmas ornaments).  I especially like how she embellishes knitted and felted items with colorful embroidery.  This book includes embroidery instruction, color theory, and much more.  I’ll post a full review another day.  I haven’t had time to sink my teeth into this book yet.  I just keep caressing the beautiful cover whenever I walk past it.  What a treat.  Thank you, Kristina!

In knitting news, I finished the pink sparkly socks last week.  I’ll post a full report with photo as soon as I get that photo.  Meggan wants to wear a specific outfit to pose with the socks.  You have to appreciate a handknit recipient who is so into the documentation process that she plans a coordinating outfit.  She also asked about laundry care right away!  (I gave her a Soak sample packet to try.)  This woman knows how to play the situation.  She just might get another pair one day.  Ha!

Happy Day

Birthday yarn goodness
Originally uploaded by JLW in PA

It's my birthday today, and so far it's full of yarn goodness. My kids each gave me a skein of sock yarn. They're hard to see in this photo, but I'm clutching Dream in Color Smooshy in colorways "night watch" and "spring tickle" (I've longed for spring tickle for a while now).

My Rogue sweater is on its maiden voyage today. I finished this sweater last June and it was much too warm to wear it then. This morning the thermometer was at about 40 degrees and it seemed like the perfect day to wear it. (Those begonias from a couple of days ago are withered black now, as are my tomato plants, but the mums sure look good!)

And finally, just another random pair of handknit socks on my feet. I bought this particular yarn at WEBS in Northampton, MA, a few years ago. That is such a neat store. I definitely want to go back there one day!