Bring on the Happy

First, a FO! Jayda's Helena.

Project specs: Cascade's Cotton Rich DK #2 and #6 Addis. Pattern modifications: I shortened the skirt by one lace repeat and did a picot front edging. I'm not a big fan of self-ties, and I think this will be cute without any fasteners at all. The pattern was very easy and very fast.
 
Now on the needles: Devan for another co-worker's grandson-to-be. I'm using Soxx Appeal, which is very sproingy! But I think this sweater will be slower-going than Helena.

But the happiest moment of the whole weekend? Was realizing my favorite PA beer was 12 minutes away (by ferry).

And it's only taken me 12 years to realize it. *goes away to bang forehead on the wall*

Weekends

For some reason, I'm really enjoying weekends this month. So many times, the weekend blows by and I haven't much to show for it. However, the past 3 weekends have been a perfect melding of housework, rest, knitting, reading, and fun with the CatMan. Last night, after a wonderful light summer dinner of zucchini quiche and apple-bacon-gorgonzola salad, we went for a drive through the Islands. We live here year-round and I'm always amazed how much the summer people change the Island dynamic. There are those summer people who are the stereotypical obnoxious tourists and then there are those whose families have summered here for generations - they are the ones who bring that special 'vacation' feeling I sense when we drive around the Lake's shore.

And now for the knitting! As promised, here are some FOs.

The BYOB from Knitty. Project specs: Aunt Lydia's Baby Denim in Chambray Blue and Butter (the accent color is the orange mercerized cotton left over from the Jacquescloths). Done on #6 (the seed stitch panels) and #8 (the lace panel) circulars. The Baby Denim is not 100% cotton and doesn't seem as splitty as some all-cottons. I had a good portion of the yellow left over and some blue (probably enough to do the orange band yardage on another bag.)

And finally, the Trinity Wrap. Try as I might, I could not get a good picture of the beaded Trinity stitch insets. *sigh* But it's done. and I'm pleased with it's lightweight warmth and touch of girliness.

Project specs: Teal baby alpaca (on a cone so yardage guesstimate? Not so good!) with teal glass #8 beads using #8 Addi Turbo. The wrap is about 72" long and 24" wide.

I started Helena last night and am over halfway done. The baby shower is Wednesday and the betting pool is now open. I'm thinking it will be all done except for the front edging.

All but the knitting

It was a very productive weekend here at the CattyAbode. There was some cleaning (entire upstairs washed down), some purging (desk drawers /office bins), yarn organizing, some eating out and some eating in. We also went grocery shopping and car shopping (just looking at this and this.) There was napping both days and consuming of adult beverages. There was date night at Barnes and Noble and a loverly rainy restful Sunday reading this.

I also found time to block the Trinity Wrap (it's still drying) and I worked 2 pattern repeats on the Cypress Scarf. Maybe some time this week, I'll actually get BYOB and the scarf off the needles. Who knows, next weekend there will be 3 FO pics to post. Or I'll finish contact papering the kitchen cupboards.

It's a wild wild life here at the CattyAbode. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Crisp, clean and refreshing

Behold the newly painted bathroom. Oooh. Ahhh. (sorry, that was leftover from last night's fireworks display). The calm, restful blue is "Open Air" from Sherwin Williams.

Here's a closeup of the switch plate: I used a wallpaper map motif which picked up the blue paint color, the crisp white of the trim, and the dated beige wall switches.

I also did the same for this outlet - and I gave the wall pocket two new coats of white semigloss. Now you can really see the leaf and berries motif.

I started prep on Friday morning and got two coats of the blue and one coat of the trim on the walls. Saturday, I finished the trim, regrouted around the tub, freshened the shelf and wall pocket with white paint and trimmed up the spots I missed. Then I treated myself to a nice long hot shower and a bit of knitting on BYOB.

How was your weekend?