Starry Starry Sky

I finally finished my Celestarium this past week.  It has been in and out of my focus for a while now.  Cast on months ago, it puttered out for a while due to its ever increasing size.  Until I bought a dress to wear to my cousin's wedding and decided this shawl would be perfect to wear with it.  And then it was too cold to wear that dress to the wedding.  So it sat again, part way through the bind off.

Then the owner of Done Roving heard about the shawl, mentioned her Starry Starry Night colorway and discovered I was knitting mine in that very yarn.  And she wanted to display it at her TNNA booth.  Back to binding off I went.

Finally bound off, this large baby needed an extra special blocking.  Except the weather was bad.  Or I didn't have time on a gorgeous day.  Or I was just too lazy to do it.  And then it was forgotten, burried under other project bags.  Until this past weekend.  When I realized I had to have it done by Tuesday to head to TNNA with the bosses.

I frantically started setting up my blocking boards outside while the shawl soaked.  And just as I was draining it out, the drizzling started.  I dragged my foam blocks inside and set about pinning.

Not gonna lie, it looked pretty shitty.  So out came the blocking wires.  Into every one of the 500+ stitches they were threaded and pinned.  Did I mention over 500 stitches?

Before I even started the shawl, I decided I did not like the applied garter edging.  It was just too blah for my taste.  After sampling a couple stitch patterns, a ruffled edge was suggested.  And I did it, adding beads in the bind offs.  That made 1700+ stitches.  Yes, I understand I'm a little crazy.

And now this beauty is out in Columbus, waiting to be displayed for everyone to see.  If you see her there, tweet/instagram me a pictures with her!  I hope she has fun and comes back with plenty of new friends.

Up Close and Personal

More sheep fun for your day :o)

Sheep Talk

This month's SSGLI meeting was all about SHEEP!  While we often focus on wool and fleeces today there were actual live sheep at the barn :o)

Mama Lisa leashing them up to come play with us.  Yes, sheep on leashes.

Needless to say, I was in heaven.  These little guys were so damn friendly!  They're like dogs- only better because you get to spin them.  Someday, someday, I will take them all home with me.

As you can see, everyone enjoyed feeling these 3 month old boys.  Lisa of Bay Haven Short Tails brought 2 of her 4 little men to visit with us.  These 2 were the ones she had to bottle feed.  The other two stayed home with their mommy (Hazel, Lisa's son's sheep that he WON at MS&W last year, and Hercules, the ram she brought home to, well, make more sheep with).

These boys just love attention.  Granted, they did get a little distracted by things they could chew on.  But really they loooooved being petted.  And we willingly obliged them!

This is Malin, my new boyfriend.  I can't say no to a sheep who WANTS to lay his head on my lap.  He nibbled my fingers too.

Julia got some kisses from Oliver too :o)

Here's what I learned tonight about raising sheep:

1. They're cheaper to buy than a dog.
2. You don't need allll that much room for them.
3. They're the friendliest little guys ever and make awesome pets.

Even better- they talk to you: