End of an Era

I just got back from Peoria. After 22 years, Mom closed her clothing store this weekend. I'm so happy for her. I'm torn though...I will be getting more visits from her, but I will desperately miss shopping at her store. My husband will miss me shopping at her store too! :)

I am almost finished with the "surprise" baby gift. I was hoping to have it finished when I went home, but knitting on small, metal needles slowed my hands down a little bit.

The other projects I put on needles recently are the "Lucy Purse" from Two Old Bags. It has been a nice break from the "surprise". I did knit a Felted Carpet Bag from Noni Patterns. It's on display at CY, so I'll have to get a picture and post it. It turned out really cute. I'm really behind on my picture taking. Not sure I'll be getting to that soon. DH and I are going to see Cowboy Mouth on Friday night! Yippy! Unfortuanetly, we won't be having Paul and John over this time, because we will be leaving bright and early Sat morning for vacation. We are going to a spa in Mexico. Of course, I'll be taking some knitting for the flight there and back. I'm going to try and refrain from taking too many projects, knowing I'll be worshiping the sun most of the time (with sunscreen!)

I did take a quick picture of what I did with the leftovers from "Mitten Mania". I made Elizabeth Zimmerman's Baby Surprise Jacket, something I've been wanting to do since The Opinonated Knitter came out. I also made computer cover from Alterknits and still have yarn left!

Snowless Day

I was so excited to see a few flurries. When I say few, I really mean it-barely enough to call flurries. Not exactly the snow I have been wishing for. I need to move North!

As for knitting, I'm working on a shower gift for Traci. So no previews of this project...It has to be a surprise!!! But I will tell you I have had many compliments and it's only half done. The only thing I wish I would have done different was start the project on a bamboo needle. I only had the proper size in metal and couldn't wait to get started. The shower is March 11th and we only found out early in Feb. So besides my usual urge to get started on a new project, I'm in a time crunch.

I also started a project for the store. I'm knitting the Hurricane sweater from Yarn Cocktails with Classic Elite Star. If anyone has experience knitting with this yarn, please help! I've never knitted with lycra yarn and it is stretchy. My question is do you knit it trying not to stretch it or do you try and stretch it a little?????? If I don't stretch it, it seems like I'm going to run out of yarn too soon.