Calorimetry and Wisp

I hope you had a good Thanksgiving and your holiday knitting is sailing along. After purchasing some beads and more yarn, I started another ornament for a gift, but had to frog it last night. Will start over again shortly.

After the ornament class the Saturday before last, I was itching to knit, but my current projects were stalled. So I took out the Takhi Shannon yarn, and within a couple of hours, finally made myself a Calorimetry. It's going to be ideal for covering my ears at spring bike races, and not mashing my hair flat against my head like a regular hat would. We won't mention the static electricity from said regular hats that makes my hair stand on end. Not a good look!

Wisp has also been calling me. I tried to fight it, told myself I needed to concentrate on finding beads for the ornaments, and finishing Fantine and the beret first. But I couldn't stop thinking about it -- maybe it's because I have nothing else pink on the needles right now -- does that happen to you? So, I've cast on for that too. As a stole. With 100 stitches. Of fuzzy, non-froggable yarn-thread. Wish me luck.

Speaking of Fantine, count me in with the other knitters who sing the praises of Ravelry saving their lives, or at least, their projects. As I've been knitting along on this sweater, and looking at the finished ones on Ravelry, it started to become more obvious to me how cropped the sweater is in the pattern. Since I'm long-waisted, I will probably like the sweater more if it's longer in length. So, after calls to some local and national LYS for extra yarn turned up nothing, Ravelry came to the rescue in the person of COKnitter, who had 2 skeins in my dye lot and was willing to sell them to me. *Thank You* COKnitter!!!! Now Fantine can come out of time out.

Continuing on in my McReading fashion of late, the next mystery I've read was the first book in an established series by Emily Brightwell, called The Inspector and Mrs. Jeffries: A Victorian Mystery. Now the curious thing about this book is that other than the subtitle and cover design, there is almost no evidence this books takes place in Victorian times. Normally, an author will include descriptions of clothing, homes, political events, everyday tasks, etc, that will support the story's setting during a particular time period. Other than mentioning a hansom cab, as opposed to a car, there is nothing of the kind. In fact, I don't recall any mention of England either, other than a village name or two. I'm wondering how an editor didn't catch or respond to this?

Despite that, the book is charming. Mrs. Jeffries, the housekeeper, and her staff clearly care for their less-than-competent Inspector Witherspoon. Investigating his murder cases right under his nose, they feed him clues to ward off the suspicions of Inspector Niven, his superior. Keeping Witherspoon employed is a mission of loyalty, a thank you for their employment when they would otherwise be out on the street. As tempting as it is for me to wax thesis-paper-style over employer-employee relationships, whether or not it's right for them to keep him in his job, and for him to take credit, not to mention the whole male-taking-credit-for-female-abilities in that day and age, I'll just say that it's a quick, cozy read and leave it at that. :)

A few posts ago, I showed photos of my newly painted office/creative room. One thing the room really needed was another lamp. It is so dark this time of year! I had my heart set on a style of lamp I kept seeing in Domino magazine, one with a glass ball base. Those who know my taste might wonder why I wanted it, since I normally like formal, girly vintage styles, and this is sort of an art deco modern style. But for some reason, that lamp kept calling to me (yes, I'm hearing a lot of voices lately!), and I finally found one in the local discount store starting with T. It proved to me again that style does not have to be expensive (the crystal glass versions of this lamp are). 

 

What inexpensive luxuries are calling to you lately? Here's hoping you make a little time for yourself this week to enjoy them.

Comments

[Jane]

That's a great lamp. I do love the T store. And my Wisp is at the same stage as yours in the photo - and has been for quite a while. Maybe I'll get to it next month.

[Valerie]

Good luck with Wisp, I don't know that I have this kind of courage! Love the new lamp, I have been seeing it quite a bit in Domino as well, it's in the last one too! Where did you get it from?

[Valerie]

Never mind...

[Chris]

I agree - Calorimetry is a great, hair-friendly hat alternative!

That's a really nice lamp.

[sarah]

The lamp is pretty! Good luck with wisp, I wouldn't have the patience for that one ;)

[Beth]

Great lamp! Lately I've gotten all of my lamps from T, too. And I really like your Calorimetry. It will look nice with pink things! :)

[Karen]

Good luck with Wisp. I love that pattern but haven't been in the mood for lace lately.

I love the new lamp!

[Robin]

Calorimetry looks good! I'm a little scared of that yarn you're using for Wisp, but hey, if you're not intimidated, neither am I.

[Jodi]

Oooh, I love the lamp! I just finished binding off my Wisp -- I hope you enjoy knitting it. The pattern is very easy to remember; I didn't even have to carry the pattern with me.

Let's hear it for warm ears and no hat hair!

[bird]

i'm so excited to see your Calorimetry! when i was at Lululemon at the Natick Mall the Mister bought me a ear/headband for my chilly runs, but now i think i am itching to make this little guy!

...and as for inexpensive luxuries- does an otherwise expensive lilly pulitzer dress marked down to under $100 count? i hope so. it was my birthday present to myself!

[Sheepish Annie]

You are so right! I love stylish lighting, but won't pay billions for it. When you find something you love at a price you can afford, how can you not grab it?

Excellent choice!

[2paw]

What a fabulous find, that lamp is lovely, and fancy finding the wool you needed: Knitters are so nice!!
Oh good luck with Wisp, I hope there is no need to unravel.
I don't suit hats so I sometimes wear my Panta to keep my head warm in Winter when we walk, but this might be good too. I have always read that people have trouble with the pattern, though yours looks fine!!!

[Robin]

Lovely lamp, I have similar ones in my bedroom but I paid rock bottom prices at TJ Maxx n clearance. I love clearance!

And I love the Calorimetry-thingy, very stlish, but a name like a math test!

[Sydney]

I like your Calorimetry. I like things like that when I don't want to wear a hat.

That yarn will look great in Wisp. I know what you mean about thin fuzzy yarn though.

[Dorothy W.]

Your projects sound like so much fun! How funny about the Victorian mystery that hardly seems to be in the Victorian time period -- I do wonder what the author and the editors were thinking! But if it was a fun read, then who cares, right?

[Julie]

What a pretty Calorimetry; I really like the yarn you chose. I know exactly what you mean about hathead and the static
electricity you get get with hats - not a good look :-)

Good luck with Wisp; I'm anxious to see how it looks as a stole; I'm guessing it'll be gorgeous.

p.s. I'm just catching up on blog reading (again) - I love, love, love that ornament you made

[kmckiernan]

I'm so happy to see you knitting wisp -it's such a pretty pattern and it's been calling my name too. Can't wait to see how yours knits up.

[Sonya]

Calorimetry is such a good hat alternative. Your Wisp is going to be lovely; great color. Pretty lamp too! I had 2 lamps that I inherited from my parents. Had them for years and one day said, "Wow. I really hate those ugly lamps." I got new ones at the same T store that you did.

[bird]

TAG!

You're IT!

http://birdandsquirrel.blogspot.com/2008/12/so-im-it-baby.html