Making and Russian Ho-to's

On Saturday I was able to pick up the bowl I painted at the Mud Hut, and I have to say I was pretty pleased with the results. I love how the lace effect turned out, and overall I'm pretty pleased with my brush work. Now I want to go paint something else!

In honor of Pi Day, I tried out a 1940's pineapple pie recipe. It had a meringue topping which I don't think I realized, but I was pretty pleased with how it turned out. It was pretty sweet, but I rather liked the different pie filling.

I have to admit I've been really caught up in the latest season of The Great British Baking Show, so when there was the chance to make soda bread and a trifle for St. Patrick's day, I jumped on it! I made much better soda bread than I used to when I was a teenager, and thought I was a bit worried that the lime jello and the pistachio pudding would clash, they made for a very satisfactory, very green dessert. I'm coming for my sister's title as the trifle queen!

In knitting news I finished up the Alzheimer mat circle project, had a lovely lunch with the friend who commissioned them, and was relieved that she loved what I had made. Now I know a lot more than I used to about both bobbles and yarn crafting in circles. Plus, I got rid of several little bits of yarn--bonus!

I'm trying to get my (admittedly) self-imposed hand towel knitting finished, so I finally decided on some buttons and had a sewing on 'party' on the six or so finished towels, and am trying to get the rest of my seasonal ones finished up so I can move on to something else. I wasn't super impressed with my home town's button offerings, but decided I could live with the cheap Wal-Mart ones. Boy do I hope the nice ones I saved from my old towels turn up back on this side of the ocean eventually...

And lastly, I've been trying to get my Fancy Mee scarf/shawl finished up. I decided it was too small after finishing the last section,

and while I totally plan to add an edging, I wanted to use up more of my yarn and have it be just a bit bigger. I don't have a proper stitch dictionary anymore, and after looking through what I had and what my mom has, I turned to the internet and found this-

I liked the individual elements of the stitch and the look of the loops, but the problem was it was in Russian. Some more Googling had me a conversion for the Russian chart symbols, but there were still some parts I couldn't figure out. I noodled around with a swatch, but then found a forum on Ravelry where you could get help with Russian pattern translation. I ended up watching the suggested Russian how-to video, which ended up with me realizing there was a mistake in the chart and how to achieve the desired look. I was afraid it wasn't going to work as it looked a terrible mess until I worked a row or two past the loops, but I think it's going to block out even better than it eventually settled. On to the edging!

I'm trying to get a few things cleared out so I can get back to work on my Ink cardigan; I was reminded that Stash Dash is coming up! This year I'll be able to spin as well, so I might stretch myself and go for the 5K...we'll have to see how busy I am!

Parting shot: Silver Grizzly coffee, good company (sister and brother-in-law), and knitting are always a good idea on a Monday morning!

Circles and Towels mostly

Well, there is still rather a lot of 'spit' in my life, including a stubborn chihuahua I'm dog sitting, the ragged edges of bronchitis, and the fact that I am well and truly unemployed now. On the plus side, the dog comes with a house which I'm also watching, so I've had a bit of space and a chance to work on some projects. Such as a commission from a family friend for circles to use as a part of some Alzheimer's mats she's making. I did some noodling around and have found a knit and a crochet version that I think will be both sturdy enough and survive washing well. I've got two more on the go, but here are the finished ones:

In addition to going through a circle phase, I've also been working on lots of dishtowels. Both fully knit ones,

and toppers for commercial towels.

Some progress has been made on another trade item,

and I finished my DVD Christmas movie socks shortly after going to see Captain Marvel. I got my Nomadic Yarns order, so I'll be getting some new movie socks set up!

And in another type of making, I went with my mom to The Mud Hut and painted a bowl last weekend, which I can't wait to see how it turns out. Here it is right after I finished the lace bit:

So, I'm enjoying the Great British Baking Show and Marie Kondo, thankful that the stupid dog is at least silent as it cowers under the bed all the time I'm in the house, and glad that I can almost function normally as I get my lungs back. I am so ready to be employed and independent again...