Pineapples

The Pineapple shawl is finished. Well except to be blocked. I love it. It is so soft, of course alpaca always is. I also love the pineapples and fans, but especially the pineapples. So after it is blocked I will be able to see just how large it is. More pix then.

Shawl and Flowers

The amaryllis is blooming like crazy. The first bud has four flowers and they are huge. The second is starting to bud out. I had no idea these would be this big but they are doing wonderful.

The pineapple shawl is also coming along. I don't work on it constantly because of a couple of other projects I am also working on. I do like it and it is an easy pattern.

 

You cannot really see the beginning of the pineapples or the fan between each one but they are starting to show up.

 

Next time I post hopefully it will be finished. I am really enjoying the alpaca yarn. I might need some more in the future.

Teacup

Almost 20 years ago I had a subscription to Victoria Magazine. Such a lovely magazine. I am not a foo foo person. I don't like a lot of frills and stuff but in that magazine I saw Old Country Roses China by Royal Doulton and fell completely in love. Now I am not a china person and Old Country Roses is soooooooooo expensive. I still love it. I have many pieces I like posted on Pinterest. I have saved pictures of it. I ooh and ahh over it if I happen to see in in a department store. One time I almost weakened and bought the teapot but sanity grabbed me and I didn't. All this is to lead up to a wonderful present I received this year.

Old Country Roses teacup and saucer. My sweet daughter Allison gave it to me. I was overwhelmed and totally and completely surprised. I mean I never really ever mention about this china. Over the years yes I have commented I loved it but never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would own one single piece of it. So now I can have tea and coffee in it, very carefully. When I am not using it, it sits on the corner of the bar where I can see it. Yes it would look lovely on my buffet but I can't see it as well there. I am enjoying it and thank Allison a million times over for it. I love it.

Amaryllis

After Christmas I found an Amaryllis bulb marked down half price. This is the only way I would buy one as I have a tendency to "lose" plants. All I had to do was add water to the vase and wait. This is what is happening this morning.

I took this picture from the top down so the opening flower could be seen better. On the right is a second bud. These things are so tall. I have seen some that are potted in soil but this one was just in a vase in water with rocks. Can't wait to see the full flower.

Pineapple Shawl

My SIL Jane brought me some wonderful alpaca yarn from Maine last year. It has been sitting thinking what it would like to be. I came across I Promise You Pineapples shawl pattern from Justyna Kacprzak on her website www.cuteandkaboodle.com . My grandparents crocheted a lot of "pineapple" things. When I saw this little shawl I decided I would crochet it to honor all the crochet work my grandparents did together. The yarn I am using is Blue Star's Elegant Alpaca Yarn. They are based out of Jackson, Maine. My SIL brought me four skeins in True Black. This is very nice soft yarn in  double knit weight. I have been pleased with the feel of it. It doesn't have the fuzziness some alpaca yarn has. Also here and there in the yarn are little pieces of grass/straw. I mean how much more homespun can you get. You can also find this pattern on Ravelry. I am about halfway through the pattern of which I am crocheting exactly, no changes here. If I like the way this shawl comes out I might make another depending on if I want a longer shawl. I am also using a size J/6mm hook.

Wow!

Saw this link by Dana Stabenow on Facebook this morning. You really should check Aslan out. I am not even posting a pre-look picture.  www.laughingsquid.com/aslan-a-massive-lion-sculpture Amazing!

New Book

Just bought this new book for my Nook yesterday after waiting patiently. Already finished Chapter 1.

Pictures

There are none. First I caught a stomach virus and before I got over that I came down with a cold. I have gone nowhere, done nothing and neither knitted or crocheted for more than 2 minutes at a time. What a way to start the new year.

Books

This chart was posted on Facebook by Lene at The Seated View.

Being a book lover I cannot imagine not having or reading books. Now I do take into consideration e-readers of which I do have a Nook, but those are still books, just in a different format. Nothing takes the place of a printed book and the feel of it in your hand but since I received my Nook (thank you Joseph) I can have more books. I can get them more cheaply and read several at a time depending on my mood. The plus here is that they are all in one spot. So my point is read no matter how you do it. There are so many choices so Just Do It.

Happy Crazy New Year