I've been slacking off a bit, and doing things in the wrong order.  I didn't really want to do magnets, so I'm going with January's theme and knitting right now.  I'm doing the Hurry up Spring Armwarmers from SNB Nation and a lacey scarf with pockets. 

I went to a felting "party" at a local fiber shop and for the soapy water, they grated Kiss My Face olive oil bar soap and melted it down in boiling water.  I use this now and have had great luck with it.  It has the right PH and is gentle on your hands and doesn't have a strong scent. 

also, after rolling up my ball of roving, I get a thin tuft of roving to wrap around it and that seems to make the surface more even. 

oh, how exciting I also missed round one do to moving, so i'd love to join round 2!

There's a great little place in the east bay just north of berkeley called Deep Color Studio http://www.deepcolorstudio.com/.  It's on Colusa between Visalia and Ocean view.  I just took a drop spindle class there which was fabulous. 

Ok, so here's a picture of the blanket I made for the blanket month.  I used the bob and weave pattern from knitty and knit it up with chunky wool with blue ribbon woven through.



Unfortunately, I'm behind and totally had to skip July because of moving across the world, but I'll be back on the wagon this month after I get settled into my new apartment. 

Thanks for the great idea Trufflegirl, I knit up the bob and weave in chunky wool for a throw for my cousin as a wedding present.  Everyone is telling me to just keep it because he and his wife won't appreciate it, but I think I'll still give it to them.

here's a pic of it on its knitty contest photo shoot

so here's a picture of the baby sweater with the buttons on the shoulder.  I used rowan tweed instead of the hemp yarn since I couldn't find the hemp at my lys, plus it was pretty yarn.  I found the clay buttons at a christmas festival.  Unfortunately, by the time I finished and sent it off, the baby it was intended for was too big, so now it will wait for an unlikely 3rd child, or naked teddy bear.

ack, this is the longest project ever! but the end is in sight, i'm halfway done with the second sleeve and crossing my fingers that i have enough yarn left, since i'm back in seattle and the yarn is from prague! I can't quite figure out how to wrap it properly, but hopefully once the sleeves are on i can get it right.

The shirt fits perfectly! I even wore it to the Le Tigre show tonight!

I just got back from vacation this morning after a 20 hour train ride, and I'll I could think about was getting to the post office to get my package, when we picked it up, my boyfriend was just as excited as me to see what was in it.  Ilonavg made the most beautiful gifts, a gorgeous hand made journal with colorful fabric and stitching, and a pic of Frida on the front. two charms, one with (forgive my not knowing the titles off the top of my head) the deer with frida head painting, and the other with the bathtub painting. A lovely zipper pouch with frida pic and ribbon stitched on, which will be perfect storage for my knitting accessories. And last but not least a fabulous t-shirt with a transfer of the bathtub painting!!!  I could not have dreamed of a better swap partner. Thanks so much.  I really loved this swap, I've admired Frida since learning about her and Diego in 7th grade spanish class years ago, so this was alot of fun! 

p.s. i'll try to post pics next week.