I went to the my LYS (local yarn store) today to take advantage of the second to last day of the July yarn sale, and I picked up a few luxury items. First, I bought another Lantern Moon silk taffeta. Our LYS only carries the red and pink ones and since I already have a pink one (somewhere...) I bought a red one.

The red is SO much more shinny and beautiful than the picture shows--I'll try and take an actual picture for Saturday's post.

I also bought a full bottle of Soak for use when blocking my lace or washing handknit socks. Soak currently comes in four scents and is a nice smelling way to care for delicate hand knits.

The yarn store has little sample sized packets--I want to get some of the newest scent, Evening Garden, to see how I like it. Of the other three, I liked Flora the best (that's the one I got today).

So, if you want to pamper your handwork, drool over the Lantern Moon Bags and Soak Woolwash to take your crafting to a whole new level of enjoyment!

I was searching for something a few months ago, and I came across the song "My Love Was Like the Moon" from the album "Thirteen," clicked the preview out of curiosity, and fell instantly in love. I then spent an evening tracking it down over the internet and listening to some of the other sample tracks on the CD, and ended up buying not only the track that first drew me to Vixi and Tony, but "Mal's Song" as well (yes, it is a Firefly fan song and an AMAZING one at that!).

On Vixy and Tony's Website you can hear at least clips of most of the tracks as well as getting a peak behind the scenes of the songs. I was not familiar with the term "filk" until I started hunting up this album, but I realized that the "musical culture, genre, and community tied to science fiction/fantasy fandom" (according to Wikipedia) was something I already enjoyed through the Bard's songs, and something I wanted to hear more of. I haven't bought the whole album yet, but I was intrigued by the skill of the musicians as well as the the nerdoms represented. At the very least listen to "My Love Was Like the Moon" and see if you can resist the haunting melody. Do any of you listen to/have an suggestions of some good filk?

P.S. Sorry I skipped Saturday--there really wasn't anything to show and I was exhaused since I'd had a busy week. I'll try and make it up this week!

For those of you who don't know, there is a fabulous FREE on-line knitting magazine that comes out quarterly with a great variety of patterns all designed by fellow fiber fanatics. Check out Knitty and see the fun summer knitting ideas they've collected for us.

Bonus link! Here is an excellent source of knitting patterns--Knitting Pattern Central has all the knitting patterns in their indexes as well as about anything you would ever want to knit. Do you crochet? Check out the sister site, Crochet Pattern Central to take care of all your crochet needs.

Well, I've had a rather productive week! That doily is still in progress--I stalled a bit midweek, but I hope to finish it by next Saturday.

First of all, I'm on a hat kick.

I swore I woudln't do any Christmas knitting, but I got into knitting these cute, easy hats, and I saw an opportunity to use up some yarn so I won't have to drag it around the world with me.

This is all bits and bobs of Lion Brand Wool Ease (my favorite wool/acrylic blend) and that patter is here if you're interested. Here's one getting close to being done...

...and one just started. Yay finishitis!


Here is a sneak peak at the large secret project I've been chugging away on the last few days. I can't wait to see it all finished! Plus, its getting rather bulky...


I also finished the "loopy" scarf I've been avoiding ever since the regretable pink hot chocolate incident in February where it not only almost killed my laptop but also spilled into my knitting bag...

I love the fringe, but all those tedius circles are one of the other reasons it has taken me so long to just get it out and FINISH IT. I am now mighty.


I have also decided to make some more of those cool felted hotpads--here is one just started.


I've also been working on an interesting project involving 10 bandana's, but I think I'll save that for next week when I know how it finally turns out! What are y'all knitting this summer?

I'm going to share a blog that a friend of mine started peppering me with recipes from during an IM conversation and which made me a) very hungry and b) want to go cook up a mess of something. I'm especially intrigued by the Blueberry Boy Bait on July 6... Check it out the Smittenkitchen and enjoy the beautiful photography as well as the wonderful recipies!

I've been reading alot of different books this week, but the one I'm going to feature today is:

I first heard about Nancy Leigh DeMoss when I heard part of her excellent study on the book of Esther on the radio while driving. I heard some of the girls at MOP talking about this book and decided to look it up. As you may know, I'm reather wary about any inspiriational book that the mass public likes. I don't want to waste my time reading "feel good" theology and the doctrine of happiness. However, I had been impressed by Nancy's radio program so I went ahead and read it.

This is such a wonderful book--it really opened my eyes to some of the lies I was living in my own life and best of all it points out the lies and counters them with the word of God--not the authors wisdom. This is a book I intend to read periodically as I grow in Christ as a reminder to not let myself get inslaved to sin. Nancy has a wonderful, clear writting style and her love of the Father and her ernest desire to help other draw near to Him come across loud and clear. I heartily recomend this book and hope it helps many more women be drawn back into the Lord's truth and closer to Him.

On My Needles...

This week hasn't been the most productive knitting week because I've been flirting with this-

Yes, that is crochet! I'm getting close to finishing a doily as well--pictures will follow. I'm rather pleased with how I've been able to follow the pattern so far with relitivly little problems. I think I'm going to make a pair of roses and make earrings out of them. Of course I have to finish the doily first...

I also finished the "Hope" sweater last week.

This wasn't made for anyone in particular, but rather just to have on hand in hopes that someday SOMEONE I know will have a baby and need a handknit item.

I love the simplicity and elegance of the design--more of these will surely follow.

In other knitting news, I also made my first ever knitted lace bookmark!

As you might be able to see in this pictures, my homemade startch worked beyond my wildest dreams and I ended up with a bookmark that was quite literally "stiff as a board." I'll have to keep that in mind...

What's on YOUR needles?