A Little Underwhelmed

I recently picked up a pet tree house at the beginning of the year - you know, the kind a cat can sleep in and scratch on? Well, George Bailey initially put his nose up in the air after I put him on it.



See the slightly pinned back ears?
Not a happy camper, he.

Then I borrowed some catnip spray from a neighbor. What a difference a little kitty crack makes:

Life with catnip is a beautiful thing.

I'm A Little Late To The Fiber Arts Party This Week

Well, it's the first week of 2013's Fiber Arts Friday and where am I? A little late, but I'm here - really!

The first thing on the Fee-Fi(ber)-F.O. Friday front is my completed Snow-tipped Poinsetta shawl, which I gifted to a family member during the holidays:



My version of Drop's snazzily named 0-859 Shawl for Christmas. 

The original design was created in only one color. I used two different yarns in my version's edging, adding an additional row in a peachy color to break up all that lovely red, and then added beads along the final edging row that look a lot like icicle drops along the edge of a poinsetta flower:

I love using beads, but not in a gratuitous manner. I think they add a lot of pizazz to this shawl, even if I say so myself.

Though the original was done in a cotton viscose, for my version I used not quite a complete skein of Drops Lace for the body of the shawl. It blocked beautifully, and the lace adds a delicate touch. I would recommend this pattern - it's easy, works up quickly, and would look wonderful in a variety of yarn types and weights.

I had also hoped I would be able to show you my completed Skappel sweater, but alas, it has hit the frog pond and sunk to a very icy depth, never to be recovered. I came to the conclusion, after getting the first sleeve done, that 80s dropped shoulders and oversized proportions just weren't going to cut it. Et voila, it did a disappearing act. I am thrilled that I got to practice my three needle bind-off technique (of which I'm rather pleased). Otherwise, that was a boondoggle I hope not to repeat in the new year.

And finally, Melisa from Toad in a Boat has won my give-away copy of Quick & Simple Crochet Scarves - congratulations, Melisa! It will be winging its way to you shortly.

While I'm certain everyone else has checked in, if by some chance you didn't, definitely head on over to the WonderWhyGal's Wisdom Begins in Wonder blog and check out all the other on-time fiberista activity.

It just might be a very busy year, if beginnings are any indication.

Cheers to 2013!

Another amazing year is about to begin, and as I have done in past years, this is a time I lay low, recover from the year-end creative flurry, take inventory of things great and small, and develop the new year's game plan.

I remain amazed, humbled and so thrilled that I continued to design, write and publish patterns in 2012. There have undoubtedly been hiccups (of all varieties) along the way, but somehow the designs just keep spilling forth. I see no end in sight, which makes me smile first thing in 2013 (even if this post is set on a future scheduled publishing time).

As I have the past two years, I'll have more to say about a few new paintings as well as my most recent shawl at the end of the week. As for the book - well, I ended last year with that wonderful surprise (and, if you would like to win a copy, go and leave me a comment ... like ... right now, since I'm going to draw the winner very soon!)

I created the collage above in Picasa, and for those of you who may not have used the software, you can choose the type of collage, but then the program places the photos in some random order, and you can keep shuffling the arrangement until you get a collage you like. I was thrilled with the very first one above - since George Bailey was right in the middle.

I hope the collages keep shaking out so elegantly in 2013.