Rebirth

I love Orchids. It is always joyous when an orchid that I have been faithfully watering, watching and waiting over surprises me with the gift of rebloom. Some never do grant me this gift. Those orchids are like ungrateful children. Others are so gracious; they bloom and rebloom, with nothing but a weekly watering.
This orchid surprised me this week by blooming after 3 years of dormancy. Maybe it was because I kept watering and kept the faith or possibly I finally have the light and heat requirements right. Either way it was a nice Christmas gift.

linen tube clutch

I am knitting on two projects right now, a pair of socks from lace style book and the linen tube clutch from bag style . I 've made the socks before and they are pretty and comfy to wear. The purse is a first for me and proved to be a challenging stitch. I have completed the front but have put the rest of the bag on hold until I have my Christmas shopping done and mailed, and my holiday party is over. Here is the bag front.

Back to decorating for party....

red and black charade socks

I have finished another pair of socks. The yarn was Lorna's Laces sheperd sock superwash wool , color 66 embers. I would like to thank Sandra at http://www.imaybeknittingaranchhouse.com/ for her charade socks pattern. Her herringbone stitch was a fun knit and fast. I love knitting socks because you can take them with you easily, to the airport, on the plane, at the dentist's office, any place where you can get in a few rows.

my first sock

I've been away from knitting for sometime and recently picked up the sticks again . I started back knitting an ambitious Hanne Falkenburg ballerina kit. I also started two other sweaters that still need to be blocked and assembled. I dislike the sewing and finishing part of the process so these items will remain UFO's for awhile.

I decided to try a project that could be finished in weeks instead of months preferably with no seams. Socks seemed the prefect choice. I opted for the traditional dpns to start with. I chose Floral lace anklets from LaceStyle as my first sock project.

Knitting this pattern was not as easy at first as I thought it would be. Some swearing was involved along the way and some tinking of a few rows. At one point my husband's comment was "those socks are really kicking your ass aren't they? " Was it worth it? Yes ! What a feeling of accomplishment and no sewing. I am hooked.