The holidays are totally creeping up on me. I can't believe it's already Thanksgiving Eve. I thought I was in good shape with holiday knitting, but now I'm not so sure. And I keep wanting to add projects.
The good news is, Thanksgiving is a quiet time for us...just Mom, Dad, Anna, Me and Ed. Ed and I may go to the movies...we may not. I haven't decided yet.
Friday is for serious cleaning, knitting, and de-stressing (this whole going to look for a wedding dress thing on Saturday has me seriously eek-ed out. i think it's a size issue.)

My house smells like gingerbread and pecan pie right now. It is glorious!

Well, a bit...aside from ignoring the blog.
Ed made bread.
Billy had a birthday.
I finished Chelsea's Sweater.
I had a birthday (25...don't feel it...can't really believe it. I'm pretty sure I'm still 18.)
I finished a scarf.
I'm working on Xmas present #1. Making good progress...check it out on ravelry (I'm Mary for those who don't know...yup...just Mary)

I went to a Bridal Expo (no picture...but Shelley and I did make an appearance on CBS News 3)

So, yes. Ella's Sweater for Chelsea is done. I totally love Valley Yarns Sugarloaf. It's a bit splitty, but it's SO nice to work with. I love that it's machine washable and you can put it in the dryer...which I did. It just didn't want to dry in the cold house! See it on Ravelry. It only took about two weeks. Super speedy, just the way I like it!

Nothing spectacular on my birthday, though Ed got me tickets to see Wicked at the Bushnell, so that's where we'll be Tuesday after work. I haven't finished listening to the book yet, though I hear they are different.

I finished the crochet scarf at Dena's party on Friday. The party was great! Great drinks, great food, and wonderful company! It was so relaxing too! It's a super simple pattern. 2DC, ch2, 1SC all in the ch2 space. I think it was called Princess stitch in the stitch bible I was using. It's the Brooks Farms Riata that Kathy got me a couple Stitches ago. I LOVE it! Not only does it go well with my newish brown winter jacket, it's got almost wedding colors in it. Brown and purple, with pink (and orange) thrown in. :)

Xmas Present #1 is moving along quite well. As I said, no pictures because you never know who will stumble upon you're blog, but details and pictures are on Ravelry for those interested who are members. (And chances are...if it's for you...you aren't a member :))

Bridal Expo was somewhat productive (though it did stress me out a smidge...I'm just going to ignore it for a day or two though). Anyone know any spectacular JPs?

The Ella Sweater for Chelsea is moving right along. The back and front are done. I'm on the sleeves. I wanted to finish them tonight, but oh, how life gets in the way.
Hopefully I'll be done with it this weekend.
I still have several holiday projects to complete. Many of them will be referred to as numbers and have very little information revealed, as you never know who is going to stumble upon the blog.
All pictures will be revealed after Christmas...probably on Christmas day.

Other than knitting, not much has been going on. I have excellent plans tomorrow night, followed by some fun the rest of the weekend as Monday is my birthday. I'm going to be 25, but I don't feel like I'm going to be 25...I think I turned 18 and everything else just kinda flew by when I wasn't paying attention.

So, the past three years, I have spent my birthday weekend in Disney World at Super Soap Weekend. As I am writing this from chilly Easthampton, clearly, I am not in Florida, and I'm not happy about it. Ed and I decided not to go in November this year because we were planning on going in January, but I don't think that's going to happen now. Not that it's a big deal that I'm not at Super Soap...I haven't watched in ages, though the one last person I wanted to meet is supposed to be there. November is definitely my favorite time at Disney though. After the middle of the month, all the holiday stuff starts, and the holiday stuff makes me even happier. Ah well...so, all I have are my beautiful dreams of riding the boat from Port Orleans French Quarter (our resort of choice...beautiful, peaceful and mostly affordable) to Downtown Disney. The warm Florida breeze...the smell of Disney World (it does smell different you know), the Osbourne Family Festival of Lights, Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, the Epcot Food and Wine Festival, and knowledge that we're probably going there on our honeymoon...since it is my happy place and all (though I secretly hope we DO get there before then...I don't know if I can go that long without a Disney fix).
Now, I've gone and depressed myself again. Time to go knit and PRETEND I'm in my happy place.

P.S. I HATE Windows Vista! It is why I do not use my desktop anymore. It is a useless piece of crap. I have had to restart the pc three times today....well force a restart on it cause the damn os can't decide what it's supposed to do when you tell it to do something. It messed up my iTunes royally too. Not to mention it takes FOREVER to start...and it's not like I have a sissy little desktop. The thing is designed to edit video.
I think it's going this weekend. I just can't trust it. NOTHING that I use works right on it, which is why I haven't used the darn thing and have only used the mac. Honestly, I can't wait until I can say I've had the desktop long enough and dump it for a mac desktop.
If you have a pc and haven't installed Vista...DON'T!! It's a BAD idea!! I'm so making Ed put XP back on it this weekend. I know it's going to take forever and be a pain, but too bad!

So, I've straightened out my Tilted Duster issues. Everything looks much better when you don't have a migraine! I undid my sleeve seam. Fixed it.

I had crocheted the edge, but was VERY displeased with it, so, I undid that (not fun with Peruvia) and undid the bind off, continued with four rows on the stockinette stitch and knit the ribbing as ribbing.
Overall I'm pretty please with the way it came out. A bit smaller than I was expecting, but I'm still crossing my fingers that I'll lose more. Even if I don't, it's a pretty nice piece.
Yes, my head is chopped off, but I swear it was the best picture! :)

I've been working on Ella's Sweater (by my pal Dena) for Chelsea. It's quite speedy! I've already finished the back and started the front.
I started it during the Pats game...so I didn't get much done. WE WON!!! We eeked it out at the end...it was a happy evening at my house (a little stressful though!)Saturday was Ed's birthday, so on Friday night, the two of us went to Tavern on the Hill. It was quite tasty, especially the creme brulee that we shared...mmm :)

Oh, and I completely missed Halloween didn't I? Well here we go!
Jasmine (Maddie), Tigger (Drew), Mikey (Eeyore), Peter Pan (Lance)
Thomas the Tank (Billy), Alice (Chelsea)

It was a Very Disney Halloween.

I'm having issues with my stupid Tilted Duster.
I hate it. I think it came out too small even though I'm pretty sure it came out close to the schematics, if not spot on (head hurts too much to go look for the magazine right now).
Nevermind the fact that I absolutely STINK at putting sleeves in. All my "I rock" feelings from yesterdays Fearless Finishing class have swiftly exited and now I've convinced myself that I can't knit for crap.

I'll probably never wear the darned thing...since it will never be finished. And it's curling even though I crocheted the darn edges.
Not to mention that I've had a headache for over a week now and today is the worst it has felt. And no one seems to understand that I just want to be left alone in a dark, quiet place right now to morn my ugly sweater and prevent my head from exploding all over the ugly knitting.

Oh the gloriousness! (there will be many pictures)
Ed and I traveled to Rhinebeck, aka New York Sheep and Wool Festival. It had been downright nasty weather-wise when we went to bed, but I was pleased to see that when we woke up, it had dried up and as we traveled, it got sunnier. As a side note, as I was showering I asked myself "Am I really getting up this early for yarn?" I then realized that I get up that time everyday for yarn! (It wasn't bad...6:30).
So we had a pleasant, beautiful drive there and when we arrived, I saw that I didn't need my rain boots I had purchased (my plan had worked!).
I made a beeline for Building A...for Brooks Farm and The Fold (Socks That Rock). Can I just say how STUNNING Brooks Farm everything is? All of their yarns are absolutely gorgeous and I had a very had time only choosing what I did, and not going back and buying it all. So, what did I get?Here we have some beautiful Riata. I'm currently crocheting a scarf out of this yarn in another color and I love it!And a "sale" color of Duet. It's REALLY REALLY pretty. Pale pink, pale purple, pale brown, almost white. Spectacular! (If there had been more of this color, I would have bought it.)
I have to say, I wasn't at all surprised by the line for the Socks That Rock. It was pretty packed in the little cubicle when I arrived. I just inched my way in, looking at them as I got closer, and made my decisions, and got myself back out of there so someone else could take my place.
Here we have Sugarplums
And Atomic 6. I completed these two purchases in probably less than half an hour. I used the same concept I use when going to Super Soap Weekend (not this year...:(...). Ed. I picked out my Socks That Rock, plopped him in line with some money, went over to Brooks Farm, purchased my loot and went back over to stand in line with Ed. It worked out pretty well because I got to look at other things.
Those were the two main things I went for, so anything else would just be icing on the cake. There was icing.
We looked through all of the vendors and there was some really beautiful yarns, several that I passed on for various reasons. Mohair always seems to draw me in with it's beautiful luster, but I generally never buy (except for Brooks Farm). I find it quite itchy (except for Brooks Farm). So, I looked and touched many yarns, but decided not to buy because it would annoy me. I must admit, money was also an issue. I didn't want to spend it all. I didn't bring a ton of money (on purpose) and I wasn't planning on using the card. There was some really beautiful lace weight yarn at Briar Rose, but I just could not justify spending the money on it.
We stopped by one of the Morehouse Farm booth, and I bought a little scarf kit. It was pretty and drew me in.We spent a lot of time hanging around watching people (a favorite pastime) and sampling some tasty food. Ed had a chicken pot pie and really liked it. I didn't want to try it, but I did have a baked potato that was quite yummy. We also had a frozen chocolate drink, apple crisp, and a pretzel. Sampled some dips and such, but didn't buy anything, even though I feel bad doing that. Though we still have dips from the last time I was at a craft fair. They always seem like a good idea, but we don't do any entertaining...
Ed was enthralled by the old-timey (antique) saw and engines and other equipment. He took video of it on my camera and is very excited to show it to his dad (a farmer and lover of the History Channel). Though, it was pretty interesting.
We also watched the Dog Frisbee Demo.Followed by the Dutchess County Sheriff K9 Demo. Very interesting. It's amazing what they can get those dogs to do.
On our way home, we stopped at Morehouse Farm's store, Sheep's Clothing. It is a beautiful store, and I probably could have brought home even more yarn from here than I did. It's unbelievable soft!They had this kit at the festival, but when I saw it knit up, I loved it and had to have it. I don't know what it was, because it's a fairly simple scarf, but in person, it just screamed out to me, and far be it from me to deny yarn that wants to come home with me.

And a 3-in-1 Lace Kit in a pretty pinky burgundy color.
Here's Ed having a great time...
And the crowd. I wonder if I know anyone in this picture...do you recognize yourself?
Oh, did you want to see some sheep and goats?All in all, it was a great day...even Ed had a great time! Now to knit!!!

Okay everyone, you had best all be planning on being at Webs on Sunday for the US Launch of Crochet Me: Designs to Fuel the Crochet Revolution by Kim Werker.
I will be there...sporting my spiffy new armband (that only goes halfway up my pudgy arm)You too can make one with the pattern here. The all new crochetme.com.
It's out of Classic Elite Classic One Fifty. I really like this yarn. It's SO soft! Check it out if you get a chance. It didn't take long to crochet at all. Started it when I got home from work, went to a Pampered Chef party, worked on it for a bit when I got home, went to bed, woke up, did the work and out to dinner thing and finished it tonight!
It's not the most complex project I've ever done, but considering it's the first time I've done colorwork in crochet, I'm happy with it anyway.

So, again, I had best see you at Webs on Sunday at 2!
Oh, and the book...I have seen the book. At first I wasn't sure about it, but the more I look at it, the more I really like it. It's also really awesome that the designers have special features, if you will, discussing them and their inspiration.
A great book to check out if you're a crocheter...or even if you're not. You should be! :)