Out of the frying pan into the fire

I decided I needed a little break from Lestrange. I only managed to complete three rows on her last night and it made me sad - I think I'll leave her to weekends and nights when I can devote more time

Instead, I turned myself to a project long overdue.

Before the move last year, my bead/jewellry supply collection was in sad need of organization. Unfortunately, there wasn't much time to tackle it before the move, so it all got thrown willy nilly into boxes, and sadly today it looks like this

(and there's three boxes like that!). But, a coworker has commissioned me to make some jewellry for her family members in Ireland - and she flies out in August, so I had to get it in order.

I figured tonight was as good a night as any to start. I've made some decent progress, but it's definitely not going to be done in one night. Especially with helpers like this.

Thanks Rocky. That totally helps....

In other news, I recently ordered some custom fabric labels. As mentioned, I plan on making project bags for the shop, but I wanted to add something to brand them up a little.

They arrived today, so once the beading mess is cleared away, production shall begin!

Bleh

Lestrange has become a slog....

Must...

...keep...
   ...at...
      ...it...

Bleh.

Lazin' about

Yup... even the bunnies were doing it today.

I did manage to get a couple loads of laundry done, but otherwise, it was mostly knitting - I pulled Lestrange out of her timeout and we seem to be getting along now.

But what happened that made me put her there? Well after eight rows of agonizing 1-1 ribbing, I was finally ready to start on the lace pattern. But I just couldn't get the darn thing set! I tinked painfully back four times, but no matter what I did, I was short stitches at the end.

In the end, I could only find two places where I was off, but that should have resulted in only two stitches short. But I was so fed up by then I tossed he in the corner.

Today when I picked her up I was determined not to tink back again, so I just fudged it. And only a really discerning eye will be able to tell.

So things are flowing freely again

...if not quickly. It still takes about 40 minutes a row, but at least it's lace now, not ribbing. Only 30 more rows to go!

Then I still have to do the bottom ruffle.....

There's a hole in my garden, dear Liza....

I can home from work today and looked over at the tree garden and noticed something was amiss

There was a large flowerless hole! Last time I looked, there were a couple of snap dragons, a cosmo or two and one of the hens and chicks I just bought. There's a few pieces of the hens and chicks, but the rest is gone. There were a few shreds of what appears to be a bulb of some sort, so my hypothesis is that Mr. Squirrel came along looking for a bulb he deposited there last winter...

I guess I'm going to have to find something to stick in there now!

Elsewhere, my Lilies have bloomed

Only one plant has sent up any bloom stalks, but as you can see, it chock full of buds. I was pretty worried for a while - Dad's lilies had tonnes of buds and there was no sign from mine. But I came home one day a couple of weeks ago and one had finally pushed up.

And I had to remind myself that it took five years to get any on the ones I planted at the old house. But patience has never been one of my virtues....

Which is why I've just thrown the Lestrange collar into a time-out in the corner... stay tuned for that story later!

July Garden Check-in

One of the Jalapeno plants has flowers - peppers can't be far behind!

Two of the strawberry plants are blooming, and one already has itty bitty berries. (These plants are much more robust than last year's!)

While the pink Rose bush is still sending up blooms, the white one is spent (it did kinda go crazy all at once). But it's sending up new shoots, so I bet some new buds are just around the corner.

One of the two Sweet Peas has died off, but the remaining one has sent up a second vine - and it looks way healthier than anything else seen in the Sweet Pea department so far.

 One of the Pink Creeping Baby's Breath turned out to be white. But I'm fine with that.

Cupid's Dart is a funny little plant and its buds feel like straw - I like it! Apparently these will open into a daisy-like flower - but they sure are taking their time

Of all the perrenials I bought, the Mexican Hat is doing the best. But I need give it some help standing up straight - it keeps falling through the fence. But it's sent up several new blooms.

Elsewhere  - the tomatoes are doing great - I expect a first harvest in a few weeks.

I suspect the unknown plant I bought is another Coreopsis (though dark burgundy instead of yellow) and I think I'm going to have to move it to the lily garden because it seems to be getting too much sun in the bee garden.

There are a few other seedlings surviving, if not quite thriving. I'm pretty sure there's some poppies and columbine trying to gain some traction - at the rate they are going, I may see blooms by September!

It's shawl over but the crying

Seriously... I'm so excited about wearing the Lestrange cardigan... but it's not done yet. I have to knit that darn shawl collar (and a bottom ruffle) I knit aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalll day yesterday.

That's all I have to show for it. It's hard to tell, but right now it's over 500 stitches per row. In a few more rows, I start increase and will shortly be well over 600 stitches.

This is going to take FOREVER.

Then I still have to do the bottom ruffle!!!!

But I do love this yarn!

To hot to do naught but knit

It's Canada Day here in the Great White (and incredibly sweltering) North. Because it's so darn hot, it's been a lazy one. The cats and I have pretty much plunked ourselves on the couch, and Dave has been bravely fighting the zombie apocalypse.

All this lack of movement means Lestrange got lots of love. I sewed the sleeves in, and despite the heat, convinced Dave to take a couple shots of me giving it a test run.

It still needs it's shawl collar (which I've cast on for) but it fits perfectly (even though I look absolutely miserable... blame the heat for that one.)

I love the lace and the length is great - but it will actually end up being a few inches longer, as it still needs it's bottom band.

The sleeves turned out just perfect - nice and slim and an excellent length (though I made a few mods to get them like that)

Now I really can't wait to get it finished - but I think this collar is going to take a while - 600-some-odd stitches per row.... then I still have to do that bottom ruffle!