They're All the Rage

I recently got a request for infinity scarves, so I thought why not?  I've knitted up these cozy, fluffy scarves in various colors.  Each has a great color variation and great color range.  At $25 each, they're also a great less expensive option for a handmade scarf.  I made them 55" in circumference so they're nice and long to go around twice, but stay close to the neck to keep you warm.

When I was done with those, I decided to try something different too.  I had this soft, fuzzy white yarn and some shiny red yarn that I love, so I knitted them together into a loooooooooong infinity scarf (about 84" long... or around, depending on how you look at it), and came up with this scarf that looks, as Eric pointed out, like a boa.  It's so comfy!  And it's really pretty, too.

Fun, right?  They're all in the accessories section of Fabric of my Mind.  I don't know about you, but these scarves kind of cheer me up in the face of all the snow we've been having... and will apparently keep having.  Now... who wants to help me come shovel?

I've Been Knitting, Too

As I said in my cupcake post, I was cast as the Evil Queen's assistant in Snew White and was therefore on a poison apple kick.  I tend to like to give a little gift as a "break a leg" token with every show, so for this one, poison apples it was!

I did 21 of these little suckers, which measure about 2.5" across the body of the apple, and by then my hands were so sore and tired, I didn't even do one for myself!  Yet.  I'll have one at some point.  They're too cute not to have one for myself.

To give my hands a break after this, I went back and finished a cool green hat I'd started previously.  This one's now listed in Fabric of my Mind here.

Creating and Creating!

I've been really productive lately.  First, I took this alpaca yarn, which I got from this shop. and knitted a scarf for me!  Yes, finally something for me, after all that holiday creating.

The great thing about this shop is that it introduces you to the aplaca from whence your yarn came.  Mine was from the adorable Elvira.

I used the same Saxon braid pattern I used on this Celtic Knot scarf, and I love it!

I really wear it all the time.

Then... well, remember that dinosaur scarf I made for my nephew?  As promised, I did another one!  My Daffy the Dinosaur is a stylish accessory and toy all in one!

He really does love to snuggle

We did have one slight misunderstanding while taking photos, when he thought it was acceptable to try and eat my head, but we soon straightened it out and found that his favorite food is alpaca yarn!

Now that that's taken care of, he's perfectly safe to be around children, and would really, really like to go home with some great kid who will care for him.  You don't have to be too careful, though, as he's 100% washable wool and won't felt if he gets wet.

If you think you'd like him as your household pet, you can find him in my shop right here.

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So I Made a Few More

You know me, once I get going I keep going.  And having just one eyeglass case in the shop was silly.  So I made three more!

People were admiring the one I did for myself in black, white, and grey, so I added a similar one to the shop.

And then I went ahead and did one in greens and khakis.  It's a pretty nifty color scheme, if I do say so myself.  This one's in the shop here.

And then I went really girlie with this one, in a pink, red, and aqua floral print with some polka dots thrown in for god measure.

Like 'em?

Is It the Season Already?

Holiday commercials are on TV, holiday movies, showing on Lifetime.  I've been getting Black Friday emails for a while.  So I guess it's time to talk gifts, especially since Chanukah is early this year.

In addition to all the great gifts we've always had available at Reef Botanicals (and remember, if you want to do a custom gift basket, fish around the shop and see what you like then message me so we can make some plans!), there are some new things at Fabric of my Mind you should see, that I haven't shown you yet.

The most luxurious is this 100% cashmere scarf.

It's in a great Irish hiking cable knit pattern.

This blue one you see is one I made for Eric, but I'm offering it as a custom order (which means if you want it for the holidays, order as soon as possible!) in any one of these six colors.

There's also this fluffy soft acrylic blue/green/grey cable knit scarf for a more affordable option.

Or there's a great fluffy soft ribbed scarf in apple green.

That ones makes a great set with these green mittens knitted from the same yarn!

Plus, there's lots more photos if you're into decor as gifts... or to update your house for having guests over.

Work in Progress Weekend

You haven't seen much from me lately, but that's because I've been busy with a new job that has me really tired, househunting because we need to move, and knitting my biggest project yet... for myself.  I'm doing a sleeveless cotton sweater!

I've got the back done.

And I'm about 6" into the front.  I can't wait to be able to model it for you all!

Meanwhile, tomorrow Reef Botanicals & Fabric of my Mind will be back at the Carlstadt Fresh Air Market.    We'll be there 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., so if you're in the area, come visit!  I'll be the one hanging out behind a plethora of soaps, salts, scrubs, masks, and washcloths.

We'll be vending this weekend!

Reef Botanicals (and some washcloths & photos from Fabric of my Mind) will be at the Carlstadt Fresh Air Market on June 10, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Come visit!

In the park on Broad & 3rd Streets in Carlstadt, NJ.

Some new things in Fabric of my Mind

I needed to pay a little more attention to the newer shop, so I've listed two new photographs.

The first, available here, is a photograph I took at the Rock of Cashel in County Tipperary, Ireland, in the spring of 2009.  It was a beautiful day and a beautiful place.  Hopefully, my memories and feelings show through in the photo.

I remember the day well, as well as the day before.  We'd actually gotten to Cashel the night before, intending to go straight to the Rock, see it, and then head on to the next town.  Well, we got there just a few minutes after they let in the last wave of people.  The ruins aren't artificially lighted, so they're really serious about not allowing latecomers.  I was really disappointed, until Eric reminded me that it was actually a day earlier than I thought it was - I so lose track of time when on vacation.

So that evening, we found a B&B and went to a dinner, probably the only one during our 10 days in Ireland that was at all disappointing.  What came after was awesome, though.  We consoled ourselves by going for a drink at a local pub, where we met some guys who heard our accents, found out we were on our honeymoon, and took us partying, first to another local pub with a band, and then to a club where the father of one of the guys was DJing at a private party we crashed.

While dancing at the club, Eric's foot got stomped by an Irish girl with big wooden-soled shoes, so the next morning when we got up and had breakfast, he was still pretty pained.  We walked the Rock anyway, and the grandeur of it almost made him forget his foot.

The second, available here, is a perfect red rose that was growing in my front yard in 2010 here in NJ.  I was able to find an angle that gave me the sky as background, and it's one of my favorite shots; so much so that it's the background wallpaper of my cell phone and has been for 3 successive phones now.

I've also added a third washcloth to the shop, this one in sprout green cotton bamboo with gardenia yellow racing stripes at both ends.  Soft and absorbent as ever, I really love the color scheme.

So... whatcha think?

A Feast!

OK, so I'm exaggerating.  But totally worth it all the same.

Remember the pea?

We ate it.

I sent Eric out to pick it this past Sunday night, while I waited indoors (in my PJs) and got a plate.  For the lone peapod.

I opened the pod.

There were three peas inside, two smaller, one larger.  I ate the bigger one and let Eric have the small and medium ones.

As expected, it was delicious!

Even better?  There are several more flowers on our pea plants.  More peas are coming!