Thanks to SP10 - goodbye kitchen from hell - Hello startitis!

(insert usual bloggy excuses for lameness of recent blogs, lack of updating and general laziness. Done? Good...let's move on...)

First up...recent acquisitions and mergers!

First of all, there was a serious destashing that involved handing off some really yummy yarn I knew I'd never get around to knitting, or it was really nice stuff but not in a colour that made me feel warm and fuzzy inside. I think that since this is a hobby I should only work with the warm and fuzzy stuff right? Right!

I didn't take a picture of the bag'o'wool that I took over to my buddy's place but let's just say that she recently got re-bitten by the knitting bug, I owed her some $ so we agreed that I would send some yarn her way. I parted with some handspun and no small amount of sock yarn. She's happy and now I have room in my shelves for this stuff -

Delicious package from my SP10 pal (who still hasn't told me who she/he is!) From left to right: RowanTapestry, Artesano hummingbird, Colinette Jitterbug, and Colinette Parisienne. Yummy!

Knit-Wise SoySilk lace weight in yellow-orange. Its 100g with a whopping 1400 yds in it. It feels a bit stiff so I'll be interested to see how it knits up and if it softens up at all. I have no plans for it...yet. Purchased at the Ottawa Knitting Guild Vendor night from Yarn Forward.

Some people got to go to Rhinebeck. Nancy, Leanne and I went to Poor Woman's Rhinebeck (Nancy gets the credit on that one). I found a terrific kit with lace blocking wires (sorryI don't remember the vendor). Here's what else I got:

200 grams of Fleece Artist Silk Merino sliver...isn't it shiny?!

Last of all, I was in Merrickville this weekend for a few hours and was about to leave when I spotted a promising little antique shop. I walked through and then decided to double check the sunporch area which had all the nifty antique farm implements. I looked up and spotted these dangling from the ceiling - so here they are dangling from mine:

Sock blockers! Don't ask me how old they are, I have no idea. But the wood is nicely worn and they look like they were well used and loved.

Next up...new projects! I have NO idea what the hell has happened to my brain but suddenly I want to cast on EVERYTHING I have waiting in the wings...and some other stuff besides. I think its the cooler weather. I love fall - it always feels like the beginning of the year to me and my energy seems to peak. So, I just decided to stop judging myself for so many projects and just do what I want, rather than what I think I should.

Henry - as previously mentioned. Now that I have finished one of the seven repeats, this is going to be a looong knit. For my dad, for Christmas. Maybe.

Charlotte's Web Shawl - but not in Koigu - that's Handmaiden 2 ply silk cashmere that has been hanging out in my stash for 2 years. Probably the most expensive yarn I own. This pattern fits my criteria for this yarn perfectly - pretty and worn against the skin. It will be a small shawl - but perfect for wearing with a coat.

Latvian mittens - specifically the Mittens from the District of Latgale from Lizbeth Upitis' book . I am modifying the pattern because there are 8 rows of that braid you see and knitting it is awful! - Each braid is two rows of alternate colour purling. The yarn tangles, its slow and makes me want to scream! So I am going to add a whole bunch of extra patterning in the wrist portion and skip the damn braiding.

Next up - breaking out the sewing machine. My 1995 wedding dress was looking pretty dated:

Last weekend I began deconstructing it - removing the skirt and all the beading around the neckline, arms and waist. I will be dying the silk a deep blue and I picked up some dupioni silk to dye as well. The plan is to make a quilt for Madeline as a keepsake. I was able to pull hundreds of beads off it too. I would like to use my handspun natural alpaca and make a beaded stole as a gift to Alex should he ever marry - I have some time since he's only 8. I'll post some pictures as soon as the dyeing is done.

Close up of the back detail and embroidery on the silk.

And finally - the money is starting to disappear as I buy the stuff for my new kitchen. The reno is going to be the week of Nov 12th. I get to say goodbye to this:

And maybe more notably this little monstrosity that drips no matter how often we tighten or replace the do-hickey's inside the thingamajig.

If you are still with me...thanks for hanging in there!