Wait! Wait!...

Don't tell me. Let's play a game.

Today's my sister's birthday. There's a "Schubilation" party in her honor tonight in Philly. Unfortunately I can't make it, but I thought it'd be fun to start the day with a little mind teaser ~ it's the limerick game from wait wait don't tell me.

Kris ~ the answer to the limerick is my gift to you. If you guess incorrectly, then you better brush up on your NPR.

You might have heard, Kristin's a looker,
but definitely not a hooker.
When she's not reading books,
she's sharing what she cooks.
For Asian fare she needs a _____ ________!

Happy Birthday!

oh no.

roadtrip.jan08 - 54
Originally uploaded by Pairaschut

I ran out of yarn near the top of knitting some sleeves that are important... or else the sweater would have become a vest with some awesome arm warmers. Luckily I was able to scrounge around the yarn shop and find another in my dye lot!... lucky for the store, I ended up walking out with yarn for a whole other sweater! Christmas has been saved after all.

As I'm getting gifts ready, and planning for the Christmas visiting, I remembered the knitted gifts C's mom gave us last year. A beautiful bunch of felted mobius baskets. Here's the full collection before they were gifted.

Soundtrack Monday

... with a dash of Christmas. These are going out in the mail today to be used on that big tree we captured over Thanksgiving break ~ one for everyone in the house. I forgot to include some perspective in the picture ~ they're about 4 inches long from cuff to toe. Just big enough to be filled with a couple of sweets or a tiny surprise if the elves are being sneaky.

Most of the patterns I made up as I went along, but the Christmas tree and blue zig-zags came from here. I'm particularly happy with the holly and berries ~ I made little knitted bobbles for each of the berries. And finally, the backdrop is an old sweater knit by grandmother, showing the signs of a well-loved sweater: the seams starting to unravel, and it's more felt than knit.

On to the day's music. I listened to this album on repeat yesterday while grading exams. Happy Monday*

Signs of the Season

Christmas magic is definitely in the air... and it kills me that I can't share all of the crafty projects going on over here.
This is what will happen:: I'll stay mum, my fingers will stay busy crafting, and then, I'll forget to share half of these projects and the fun details of their creation once they are gifted. BUT here's to trying {as we clink our glasses of eggnog in good cheer}.

Before the gift frenzy started, I knit up a new Thorpe for the season:: This one is without the garter stitch border, but with a chin strap. It sort of looks like a cross between an old, leather football helmet and a flying cap that Amelia Earhart* would where, right?


Now, assuming I know my audience, the receiver of this next hat won't be the wiser. It's Botanic, a fun and quick knit. This one with a combination of Malabrigo worsted {lovely and soft merino wool} and Kathmandu Aran {a wonderful silk, cashmere, wool blend}. So soft and warm, I want to keep it for myself, but that's not in the spirit of the season, now is it?
And finally, I've been keeping such odd hours lately. As a result most of my foliage viewing is happening under the moon {and street lamps}::

*wouldn't it be more appropriate to spell her last name Airheart?

A Wintry Monday Soundtrack

A study of winter browns and whites::
We did get some snow in Boston, but not this much.
These photos are from our Thanksgiving trip into the mountains.

And some wardrobe browns and whites::

My felicity hat from last year and a new wool coat. Its big collar is almost making me give up my scarf addiction {almost}.

And now, some festive black and white for this week's Monday Soundtrack! enjoy*

itinerary.

Berkeley sunset::

LA night::

Boston morning::