Works in Progress

Sometimes when I think I have too many projects it helps if I take a step back and look at how far I have come in them.

Like my Noro Kirameki scarf,(first blogged about here),which I am about halfway done with now!

I decided to start putting them together as I went rather than wait until the end in a patchwork kind of way. I love how it is turning out :)

I am trying to get a head start on birthday gifts this year, especially given that almost all of mine last year were given out late. No more procrastination for me! So first up is a gift for my mom. I am making her a Vancouver Wrap, using Abstract Fiber Alto yarn.

I love linen stitch! It is pretty mindless and looks beautiful worked up. I learned how to do the tubular cast on because of this and I have to admit that it was super tedious, but looks so great!

The colors I chose were Snapdragon, Sangria, and Burnside Bridge.

Finally I am making myself a Catkin. I am using Tosh Merino Light in the colors Gilded and Lepidoptera. I really tried to not start it but I couldn't resist. I was counting down the days until this pattern was released; I was that excited.
I finished the first section and am onto the second.

Yay for happy projects!

Have a great Memorial Day!

Callie

the magical bean

A Gift

A few weeks ago something marvelous happened.

I won a gift on Etsy from rodica!

She was kind enough to send me a little house all because I was her 1,000 heart on Etsy.

WOW! What a milestone right?

I am smitten with my little house, green being my favorite color, it suits me perfectly.

It came all the way from France to me, and it was such a treat getting it in the mail this week.

It came packaged in this great little felt hand stitched bag, and with a handwritten card. I quite like her handwriting, if only my cursive was that good.

The bottom reads "Thank you".

Really it is rodica I should be thanking though. This is the first time I have ever won something on Etsy, and I didn't even enter into a contest. It totally made me smile. Congratulations rodica on your accomplishment! It is definitely worth celebrating.

Be sure to check out her shop here, her blog here, her flickr here, her twitter here, and her facebook here. It is filled with adorable tiny handmade houses like this one, and more handmade goods here :)

Have a great day!

XOXO, Callie

the magical bean

Little Projects

After finishing a project one of my favorite things to do is to look for little ways to use the supplies left- the scraps!

That is what happened when I had finished making this hat for my sister and had a little bit of left-over yellowish yarn. Around that same time my mom asked me to make her a bee mobile for her mother's day gift, after seeing this photo while I was looking at my favorites on flickr.

So while noticeably different from the inspiration, I quite like how it came out. The wings are made from leftovers of this shawl, the black leftover from an amigurumi I made.
After making the bees, I strung them up with fishing wire from a twig.
Easy-peasy :)

It was so quick and fun!

These bees are quite chunky, but I think endearingly so, don't you?

Hee hee :)

Then after finishing another project, my Snow Drops and Snap Peas shawl, I had a little ball of yarn left.

Oh what to do?

Well, I made a bookmark. It is from the book More Last Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson,called Linen-Stitch bookmark. This is the second pattern I have made from this book and this book does not disappoint. It is so easy to follow, and it really was quick. In fact I have already made four more and given them as gifts.

Yay for quick projects!

They make life great don't you think? Who doesn't need a little instant gratification now and again, I know I do sometimes.

Anyways, my summer is going to be a little busy, I am going to be working not one but two jobs. So don't be surprised if you see a lot more quick and easy projects popping up around here.

Hope your day was great, I spent mine drawing while listening to Lisa Hannigan, Fleet Foxes, Mamma Mia, and Laura Marling. It was heaven!

What did you do?

XOXO, Callie

the magical bean

Snow Drops and Snap Peas Shawl

There are some projects that seem to be all consuming. This was one of them. It was a constant in my hands and thoughts. It was the one thing I looked forward to at my lunch break (besides a much loved phone call).

This project was one of those easy yet ultimately oh so satisfying.

One of my favorite parts about making a shawl is that moment when after you've done all the work, and binding off to see how much it has grown. I always look forward to it, and the moment after I have finished blocking and it looks even bigger, and so much prettier.
And boy did this grow!
When I was showing it to my dad he asked me "Is that a table cloth?".
:)
It is 75" by 35" and has such amazing drape.

I just loved this yarn. The colors, how soft it was, and the drape factor were all there.
It is made in Silky Merino, in the Arco Iris colorway, by Malabrigo. I used the pattern, Snow Drops and Snap Peas by Kirsten Kapur of Through the Loops. The only modification I did was to the ending, with the help of raveler annanann.

Luckily, Kaitlyn, my sister agreed to model it for me. Thanks Kaitlyn!

Doesn't she look so pretty in it? :) I know I said it before after finishing my first shawl, but it is still true with this one. I can recall so many memories of when I was making this. The cinnamon chocolate cake I ate, the new ADELE CD, 21, I was listening to as I bound off, the pride I felt for my brother at his NJ HS ceremony, the relief of coming back to it after a long day at school/work.

It is almost as if the memories are being knitted in; they seem that tangible to me.

Well, while it was fun to do, I am glad to be done. This week is finals so I have been doing so much studying. I am really looking forward to this summer. I want to travel so badly. Not sure where yet. Do you have any plans?

Have a great day!

Callie