Amazing Things

It is very early... well not as early as I thought... it's 6:00 a.m. but I've been awake since 5:00 a.m. I decided that I won't get a chance to do this later in the morning and since I was lying in bed wide awake I thought I might as well get up and come downstairs and write a blog post. First thing I decided to do is take a picture of the mini bag that I finished last night just before going to bed.

All day yesterday I worked away at the braid that I used for the handle. This was a braid of my own design that was completed a la Kumi Himo braid style on the Maru Dai. (I'll have to explain this more at some later date... I know I keep talking about it.) I'm really happy with the end results. I decided for lighting reasons to take it out on the deck this morning and take a picture which is not something for the faint of heart. We have been having a return to cooler more early-spring-like-temperatures and to be out on the deck taking pictures at 5 a.m., in nothing more than a nighty, would cause even the heartiest skin to pucker up.... Still it was lovely and refreshing to be out in the morning air and all the more powerful as I stepped through the door just in time to hear the loons on the river calling out.... you never hear them unless you are up early in the morning. Anyway... the bag.... Today I have a dentist's appointment in FSJ and it will be the beginning of a spring odyssey. After I finish with the dentist, I will be dropped off at a friend's place so that I can get a ride out to Saskatoon Lake in Alberta as I am off on spinning and weaving adventures again. The PCSW of Threads Along The Peace fame are having their annual spring conference.  There will be a show and tell and I thought to bring along the bag.... so when I got home from knit night last night, I put my bag togther on my old sewing machine and hand stitched the braided handle on and then turned in for the night at 11:00 p.m. I realize that it was, you know, one of my typical bum rushes again but I am happy with the final project. It is even lined with pretty turquoise print fabric. It is all cotton hand spun. I couldn't be more pleased with how it turned out and to be quite honest... I will be sad to have to let it go to the instructors for marking... I would love to use it right away.

Next... I also have been working on knitting those socks of mine.  I don't have much to show you but I will show you what I have so far. 

This is the front of the sock....

This is the back....

And here is the yarn....

So far I am feeling really confident about the whole project. It has taken me 22.5 hours so far. So if I finish the sock in say another 7 or 8 hours one sock will have taken me 30.5 hours. Two socks will take me up to 61 hours which puts me over the 50 hour mark... perfect. Larger than 50 hours but not unreasonably over that. Last year my 150 hour project was 390 hours which was far too much really.

So really a pair of socks and a wee purse are not all that amazing.... so why call this post Amazing Things... well there was that loon which was really amazing.... and I just am feeling a wee bit amazing... maybe because I'm so pleased with myself on my two wee projects.... maybe its just that I'm up early and getting up early on a fine morning always makes me feel amazing.... Anyway I'm off for an amazing cup of tea before I head out on my amazing spinning and weaving jaunts.

I'll be back on Sunday with info on my trip and the summer line up as it is looking at the moment.