Brenta Beret

[ raveled. ]

I knitted this hat to wear during my upcoming trip to Italy (T minus 11 days!!!). 'Brenta' is the name of the Metro stop in my sweetheart's neighborhood. As much as I've been hoping for an early spring in Milan, it doesn't look like it's going to happen, so this beret should keep me just warm enough. The pattern is Porom by Jared Flood, and the yarn is Sublime merino cashmere silk dk. This was a really quick, fun, easy thing to knit. The only mod I made was to use size 7 needles for the ribbing instead of size 6, because I don't have a size 6 circular...although actually, I'm really glad I used size 7 because I wouldn't have wanted the band any tighter. Quelle hat hair!

P.S. Yesterday I got the most beautiful surprise at my doorstep...two dozen of the prettiest tulips you've ever seen! I was so happy and surprised, I cried. Nobody's ever sent me flowers! And the card was just brilliant...'I love you every day more.' ♥

The blue ones haven't opened up yet, but I'll post another picture when they do.

He Beat Me!

Last night, my younger brother asked his girlfriend to marry him, beating me to an engagement by about 3 weeks. Well, I'll beat him to marriage because I'm sure their wedding probably won't be until next year, whereas Flavio and I are itching to take our vows, like, yesterday.

Congratulations, Tyler & Jessica!!!

All You Need Is Love

I saw these miniature carnations at the store today, and I thought they'd be a pretty way to wish my mom a happy Valentine's day. Although I usually don't like the red-pink-white color combination, I think this bouquet is pretty perfect. And we love the way carnations smell! So fresh and bright, compared to the heavy scent of roses.

The next week will be so beautiful here, even if we do get some rain. I wish it would last, but I'm crossing my fingers that at least we won't get any more snow. I'm ready for spring!

Ch-ch-ch-changes

I'm working on a new knitting project now. No, I haven't finished my socks. I haven't even finished the instep decreases on the first sock. I don't know how it happened, but I lost my 5th size 1 dpn. One minute, it was in my hand, and the next minute, it was gone. I've looked everywhere, but I can't find it! And right now, I don't really have the money to go buy a new set (mostly because I know I won't make it out of the yarn store with just the needles). So I've started a new project! It's a little lace-edged cardigan for a baby girl. I'm trying to decide which buttons to use...leaning toward the silver ones with engraved hearts.

Yesterday I got about 10 or 11 inches chopped off my hair. I really wanted to look nice with long hair, but I didn't, and it was such a pain in the neck to take care of. Now it's back to the way it was my senior year of college, and although it's a bit shorter than what I really wanted, I love it. I think it'll be the perfect length by the time I'm in Italy (3 weeks!!!).

As for my 'big exciting secret news': I'm getting married! Well, we're not engaged yet, which is why I didn't want to share this news until I got back from Italy. But we've already started planning our wedding, which will be later this year. As I'm sure you can imagine, planning a trans-Atlantic wedding is a logistical nightmare. After abandoning several plans, we decided to have the wedding in Italy. Talk about 'big exciting'! Unfortunately, this plan is in limbo right now due to the terrible state of the economy (and the fact that my dad really doesn't understand how expensive weddings are!). So I'm a bit disappointed about it all, and of course I'm really excited to get married, but I'm not really excited about the wedding anymore.

Little Updates

I'm trudging through these socks. Actually, it's a fun pattern, but it's really taking me forever. They're really pretty, though, so I'm determined to knit the second sock (if I ever finish the first one). Truthfully, I've been so preoccupied with other things lately, I haven't made much time for knitting.

As far as what the 'other things' are, I wish I could say, but it's just too early. It's killing me to not blog about it!

My cousin--whose baby shower was supposed to be yesterday--had her baby in the wee hours of Saturday morning. So the baby shower has been postponed, which means little Boo Boo is still sitting in a pretty gift bag, waiting to be delivered.

I'm trying really hard not to spend any money (despite just ordering 3 paperbacks from Amazon), which means I'm not buying yarn. I'm trying to knit from my stash, but my stash isn't very big (compared to other knitters!) and is mostly limited to sock yarn. I do have yarn to knit a couple lovely Ishbels, and some purple DK that was for a design project but will probably be used to knit some snuggly baby sweater.

After a couple of really beautiful days, the weather has turned bitterly cold (again). I can't wait until my trip...I leave 4 weeks from tomorrow!

Nothing Important Happening Here

I sincerely apologize for having absolutely nothing worthwhile to post for the past week and a half. I've been really lazy! That burst of knitting fever seems to have tapered off a good bit. Since finishing Ollie, I've knitted one little bootee, which turned out too small to fit anything but a doll. Then I started a baby cardigan with some old stash yarn, but it's turning out too big and too scratchy, and the color looks more stodgy old lady than charming heirloom. Also I've got some big plans in the works which are actually consuming my every thought (and even invading my dreams), but I'm not quite ready to blog about them yet.

Tonight I bought my plane ticket for next month's trip to Italy. I still don't think it's really sunk in that I'm going. It's sort of like...didn't I just get back? I'm excited, though. Big, big things are happening!

P.S. My newest obsession? Schnoodles.

Ollie

[ raveled. ]

I finished him around 6 o'clock this morning. I absolutely should not have stayed up so late, but around 5 (when I should have gone to bed, at the latest), all he needed was a face. Which I messed up the first time and had to do again. But now he's done, and I'm so happy with the way he turned out!