Ravellenics + Fiber = 17 Days of Fun

Well, everyone, it's finally here - The Olympics! I'm a big fan of the games - and yes, despite the USOC, I'll be watching swimming and gymnastics and track and field and, and ...

Of course, I'll also be working on projects for Ravelry's companion event - the Ravellenic Games. With well over 500 teams and more than 10,000 people either participating or "watching" the fibery action in the dedicated Ravelry group, it plans to be an outstanding Ravelry community-building event. We love that. Here's a run-down of the particulars of my participation:






1. Team Cooperative Press Gearheads







I am co-captaining this modestly-sized team, and I couldn't be more excited. I've got fiber for my projects all ready (well, I do need to do some ball-winding today). At the moment, it looks something like this:

A combination of stash yarn + lovely Wonder Why Gal

handspun for my The-I-Can't-Think-of-a-Snappy-Name

Cowl, a Sarah Wilson design from Knit Edge Magazine

+

Another combination of stash yarn + the ginornous

hank 'o wool I won from Vivian over at Bits and Pieces. This

is going to become my version of Dawn Ellerd's Colour Revolt

crochet shawl from What Would Madame DeFarge Knit? 

+

a swatching project to be discussed later

2. Team 12 shawls in 2012

I'm one of over 100 participants on this team - we're going to be making a lotta shawls! My project for this team:

Absolutely gorgeous merino silk from a swap that is
destined to become Lily Go's Remember Me.



3. Team Hopelessly Overcommitted

While I am officially this team's mascot, it probably best describes my current state, so I'm going to attempt to complete a somewhat longstanding project that's languished since the end of February:

This is supposed to already be a
version of my La Poetique Cowl for me;
let's hope I can make it happen during
this uber-crazy Ravellenics challenge.



So what will you be doing during the Olympics? Do you watch, couldn't care less, somewhere in between? Do let me know here, as well as over at Andrea's blog. And whatever you do, have fun!

VK Crochet: 2nd Installment

Happy new week, everyone! In this second installment of my look at finished interperetations of crochet patterns from the recent Vogue Knitting crochet special edition, let's take a look at one of the most amazing interpretations I've seen yet.




Design: #7 Long Dress by Kristin Omdahl

Kristin Omdahl is known for her intricate lace crochet pieces, and this stunning dress doesn't disappoint. Ankle length, it's drama comes in equal parts from the length as well as the amazing lace stitch sections that are pieced together to make the skirt.

And now for the amazing interpretation:

Peggy has absolutely rocked this dress! She took her engineering background and re-engineered the entire pattern to fit both her figure as well as the yarn she used (green variegated Araucania Lonco Multi). She then created a simple green sheath to go underneath the dress, added some great chunky jewelry, et voila - she is so ready for sunset cocktails on the boat.

Who says you have to be runway-thin to be chic? Maybe we need to reimagine who's on the runway.

My sincere thanks to Peggy for kind use of her photo.

Look for another installment of real-life FOs from the VK crochet special edition next week.

A Fee-Fi(ber)-F.O. Friday ... With Actual FOs

Oh ladies and gentlemen, I have all kinds of goodies to share with you this Fiber Arts Friday. Excitement definitely abounds here at chez Voie de Vie.

Initially, remember I mentioned my friend Nicole over at The Knitty Gritty of Hooking Around, and that she's just had her second child? Well, what I didn't mention is the fact that because she also helps moderate my small Ravelry group, I sent out the crafty word, assembled a group of gifts from group members, made a few myself for her petit enfant, and sent a large package winging its way to her last week. And, snap, she's received it! I am so excited about this you'd think it was my gift, for crying out loud. While we're waiting for her hubby to take photos of the entire package contents, I can share with you what I made for little Angelo.

First up, the cutest wee crocheted booties ever. This pattern, Criss Cross Baby Shoes, is one whipped up by another Ravelry crafty friend, so I just had to make them. The buttons were part of a lovely swap gift, and they highlight the colors of the Premier Serenity Garden sport weight yarn I used to perfection. I should also say this may be the closest I ever get to making socks.

Next up, this great little cardi! It's the inca dinkadoo cardigan from one of my personal library books, Luxury Yarn One-Skein Wonders: 101 Small Indulgences. While the original was made in organic cotton, I used an alpaca acrylic blend which will be warm for Angelo, yet easy care for mom. Since it was a breeze for me to make, I think this is an all-around winner. It's sized for o-3 months, so let's hope it will fit him.

And finally on the baby Angelo front, I whipped up this great little baby blanket. It's a Lion Brand design that originally had a hood attached at one corner. I started to make it, but just wasn't thrilled with it, so I ditched the hood and kept the oh-so-squishy rest of the blanket. I also stash busted on this project, making it in cotton (the main color) and a combo of Drops cotton/acrylic and Debbie Bliss Cashmerino for the gray stripes. Again, easy care for mom, yet great for the little one. I do love cotton blankets. Yes, yes I do.

And now for some great news of my own - I am extremely please to let you know that two patterns of mine have finally been published! Eep, the excitement is almost too much. Remember this plate of red Berroco Lustra goodness?  It's turned into my La Symphonie Jacket Wrap, to be published at the end of the month in the fall issue of Crochet! Magazine:

Photo used with kind permission
of Annie's Publishing

You'll need to go to the Ravelry database here to see the front, but let me tell you, they did a superlative job styling and photographing this cardi. Doing a serious happy dance am I.

And, for the piece de la resistance, I know some of you will remember this other lovely plate of yarny goodness:

It has turned into the La Tunisie messenger bag!

I absol- utely love the stitch pattern as well as the great fabric lining and oversized dimensions. I may need to make one for myself, so I can alternate it this fall with someone else's most excellent gifted felt messenger bag.

Needless to say, I'm over the creative moon with happiness this Fiber Arts Friday. Definitely check back in with Andrea's blog to see what is making everyone else do a happy dance today.

And, if you haven't already done so yet, you should subscribe to the Artfully Voie de Vie newsletter. I've just sent the first one out with content not found on the blog, including additional photos. Don't worry, I definitely won't clutter your inbox (heck, it's supposed to be quarterly and I just sent out my first one!). Do also watch for a fun little give-away in the next month or so.

When it rains, it pours - for good, this time!