I could just knit some more and have faith that one day (hopefully soon) I'll be at the heel turn, or, 
I could cast on for another project! It's my clapotis! Still in the beginning stages, but unlike the sock, I do feel like progress is being made! The sock will get another opportunity to grow as I head for some sunny weather (80 degree's here I come!) in Phoenix for a long weekend! Here's hoping I come back with a heel turn and a slight tan. Ok, at least a heel turn.
It's been a very busy couple of weeks around here. Too busy (and too tired) for blogging and sadly knitting too. But yesterday I got a much needed recharge for my battery! While the hubby hit the slopes on his snowboard, Mara and I hit the trails for a little snowshoeing at Snoqualmie Resort. It was an unusually sunny and beautiful day, although we got a little snow at the top of the mountain, which was a great way to start off the trek. We took the ski lift to the top of the mountain, then enjoyed the views on trails. It was a great workout, a great treat and there was even time for knitting in the lodge afterwards!
Lounging in the living room.
The afternoon was free time! Good thing I travel to Tacoma with my Tacoma Fun Fact Friend Mara! We took a great walk along the waterfront, saw the house where Frank Sinatra was born and checked out Stadium H.S. where 10 Things I Hate About You was filmed in honor of Heath Ledger.
This morning I only had one class Knitting in All Directions with Margaret Radcliff. It was very interesting to learn about different techniques to cast on, pick up, use waste yarn for design elements. I think this will be some practical and handy stuff to know!
Now of course I can't leave out the market place! One of the highlights of the convention! I did go a little crazy, but I really don't think I was alone there! I bought a bunch of sock yarn! I bought several skeins from Tactile - a company that uses naturally dyed yarns and writes the names of the sheep that the yarn came from on their lables! I also bought a skein of Socks That Rock in Farmhouse. Then I bought Nancy Bush's Knitting on the Road so I could knit up all of this new sock yarn! 
I also picked out the yarn for my clapotis! I'm using medium weight sock yarn from Socks That Rock in Faulty Dryer. I've already printed out the pattern and I'm ready to get to work!
Some of Jessica's Harry Potter quilt blocks (below) and some of Amanda's quilt blocks & more of Jessica's quilt blocks (above).
Matt's socks are finally finshed! They are my first pair of socks and I'm ready for my second pair - one for me!
I'm leaning towards a cardigan as I'm always cold. I'm also planning on going through all of my knitting books to find a pattern I might already own - novel idea I know! If you have any sugesstions, let me know!
These are ribbon tea towels. Just a simple project that involves hemming linen fabric and adding a ribbon trim. It was a good learning experience. I learned that I need to improve sewing corners, sewing in a straight line and perhaps not wearing a black fleece pullover while working with white linen fabric and white thread. It's the little things like that they don't teach in sewing classes.
It's official - we're never eating on the dining room table again!
On Saturday night we took in the the Excalibur show - Tournament of Knights. Amy thought it would entertain Nathan. According to him, it was a hit! He laughed, cheered clapped, worried about the knights when they fell off their horses....it was fun watching him enjoy the show. As for the adults, it was mildly entertaining and pretty cheesy. The men all had the medieval hair style of long hair and some walked about in their leather pants and nothing else. Amy and I wondering if this show was a stepping stone to the other Excalibur show - The Thunder from Down Under.
The meal they served was similar to the food back then (if they had tomato soup that tasted exactly like Campbell's) but they didn't have silverware. Apparently that's part of the experience. While that thrilled all of the children in the audience, I have issues with that. The meal was soup that you drank from your bowl, a roll, potato wedges and thing of steamed broccoli and a little roasted baby chicken. Now I have to say I have serious issue with an entire being of former animal on my plate. Hence the reason I don't eat crab (or most seafood). They set it down in front of me with a thud and I just looked at it. Matt leaned over, half chuckling to himself and said, "Uh, are you going to eat that?" I figured what the hell and decided to be a good sport. It was all right but could only make it through about less than a quarter of the chicken. The roll was very tasty.
I also bought the winter/spring issue of knitscene. I'm pretty sure it's geared toward the "younger 20 something" knitters, but I don't care. It has some really cute and simple sweater patterns like this one.
While I played with my sewing machine, my friend June played with my new camera.
It's a birthday gift for my Great Aunt Milly. She just turned 96. She still lives on her own. She still sends me a birthday card each year with $5. She sends us Harry and David Christmas gift boxes. If anyone is worth breaking my resolution, it's her. It's a simple scarf pattern out of the purse stitch in Blue Heron Yarns Beaded Wool Metallic Violet.
The first finished project of '08 (though started in late '07) is my Foliage hat. In all of my years of knitting, this is the first hat I've ever made myself.