My Bloody Valentine

Celtic Consort is a very basic man. He's not into what he calls "made up" holidays. Don't get me wrong, he'll likely come home with a sweet card and maybe some extra dark chocolate for me. And most years, that's the extent of our "romantic" holiday.

So when I saw Honeysuckle in Rowan 45, I knew I wanted it just not in some soft neutral. I wanted COLOR. I wanted BOLD! I wanted Kidsilk Haze in Blood, a rich deep red that looks great on just about everyone include this fair redhead. I scored some at the Bloomin Yarns Black Friday sale. The only Black Friday sale I have ever attended.

I decided rich red would be perfect for Valentines. A way to treat myself like the fabulous woman I am. As I started working on it, I was lured into attending the Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet Festival. Friends would be there as vendors and it'd been a few years. And what better way to show off my fabulous new lace sweater?

I worked feverishly after finishing my mother's gift. Ignoring posts on Ravelry. Knitting whenever possible. I overcame two sick days. I planned when to knit various pieces as beading was added to the border. Beads do not travel well on the trolley. But I did it! I love it!

Many comments and fawning happened at the festival. I felt great! What a wonderful Valentine gift. So here are my thanks to Elder Celting for his help with photos.

Ready... Set....

GO!

Yep, I fell down the rabbit hole called 11 shawls in 2011. I had found the 10 shawls in 2010 group what I thought to be too late in the year last year. Lucky for me, they decided to do it again this year.

You know what's even better? I have a bunch of shawls/wraps/shawlettes already in mind WITH stash yarn. I've been feeling guilty about the stash. And every time I toss it, I remember things I'd forgotten.

If I'd stuck with last year's resolutions, I wouldn't have that problem. But I did an epic fail instead. So now I set up my 11 shawls in my Ravelry queue with a special subset to find them. One I'm even designing for a special yarn gifted to me by SpaceCadet. It's Spice Trade and it inspired. To start though, I'm doing Damson for my Mom in Dream in Color Starry Spanish Star (Dream Club Nov 10)




On the side, I'm also working on finishing up some other projects. Oh and if I'm not crazy enough (and you know I am), I cast on for this beauty:




















Yep Honeysuckle by Sarah Hatton from Rowan 45. I'm doing mine in Kidsilk Haze in Blood. I want it for Valentine's Day. I've even considered that should I reach my goal, I'd go to the Pittsburgh Knit and Crochet Fest to show it off. This is where I am now:





Well I hope I keep this up. See you soon!