Now That I've Finished Holiday Knitting

Just popping in to quickly show you the result of a custom order a coworker placed with me.  She wanted a very simple cowl and chose her own yarn - an Isaac Mizrahi white acrylic.  Unfortunately, in this photo you can't see the bits of metallic silver thread shot through.

But I liked the cowl so much once she tried it on that I've started another, this one in a fluffy blue/green.  Show you when it's done!

Another Great Gift Idea!

I knitted this scarf in vintage cream acrylic yarn and Vanna's Choice black acrylic yarn for a great disappearing stripe pattern that works for men or women.

The cream yarn I got at an estate sale, in brand new skeins.  The black yarn has a slightly funnier story.  My sister was doing a Winnie the Pooh latch hook rug for my nephew, and they shortchanged her on the black yarn pieces!  She didn't realize I save everything and actually have latch hook yarn from my younger days (remember Nathaniel?  His hair was old leftover latch hook yarn!)  So she went to one of the craft stores and actually bought a whole new skein of soft black yarn.  For three pieces.  Yes, really.  She cut the three pieces... and then was left with all the remaining yarn.  As a non-knitter.

So she gave it to me!  And some of it ended up in this awesome scarf that I actually really love.  It's all stockinette stitch, with ribbed ends to keep them from curling.  And I may just have to make another for myself.

Meanwhile, you can purchase this one here.

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Blogs I Follow: Find Your Fashionista

A resident of Massachusetts and a wonderful, sweet person, Jackie is also a professional woman who knows how to dress.  Chick's got style!

With a fun and easygoing tone, her blog is a great read and always full of nifty photos.  And she's not just telling us to buy Jimmy Choo shoes and this season's latest runway fashions at full price, ignoring the fact that most of us don't get freebies like the models do and don't have the shoe budget of Imelda Marcos.  (Remember her?)

Instead, she shares the best looks for every body type.  She posts about sales and discount websites so we all can dress like the stars without having their paychecks.  She suggests outfits for specific sorts of occasions.  And she tells you what she's wearing too!

Now, I have my own sense of "style," such as it is.  I have my lounge-around-the-house-and-no-one-should-see-me-in-this wear, I have my ultra casual I'm-having-a-comfy-day wear (like today, because I'm sick and feel crappy, and had stuff to get done anyway, I'm in jeans, an old t-shirt, and a corduroy button down shirt thrown on over the t-shirt for warmth), my going out clothes, my plethora of suits, my work casual clothing (which overlaps with my going out clothes, actually), and my dresses and then formal gowns.  I occasionally get compliments on how I look (not today) and there are days when I can look in the mirror and think, "Hey, I look damned good today!"  So I don't think I'm a candidate for "What Not to Wear," by any stretch of the imagination.

But I'm not brave.  I think I used to be braver.  In high school, and keep in mind this was 1984-88, I'd wear painted t-shirts, belted, with leggings and rocker chick boots.  I had ankle-high booties in metallic gold leather (yes, really) with multicolored rhinestones all over them.  I had calf-high boots in pink and aqua fabric.  I had black canvas hightops with silver sequined appliques, silver glitter gel, and clear rhinestones sewn onto them.  I also had at least one friend who refused to walk down the school halls with me when I was wearing those loud things.

I kind of miss them.

And I kind of miss my less in-the-box ways.  Reading Jackie's blog actually shows me the more out-of-the-box possibilities.  And no, she's not steering anyone toward a pink and aqua color combo or painted, rhinestoned, sequined loudness.  Her style is a lot classier and more grown up than that.  But for instance, she talks about pairing a black pin-striped blazer with a plain black t-shirt.  Huh?  As a suit wearer, jackets, in my head, go with button down shirts or "shell" blouses.  But apparently they don't have to!  And I can tell that what she's saying will look good!  Look for yourself.

There's info on accessories, on menswear, and holy crow on what not to do.  Um.... yeah.

And... and... if you ask her fashion questions, she'll write posts to answer them!

Moral of the story?  Check her out!

Oh, and by the way, although I'm focusing on her fashion blog in this post, she's also got a killer cooking blog!