This is what we accomplished today.  Mine is on top,  Julia’s is the second photo.

I am exhausted.

With a title like that you might be expecting some deep and philosophical discussion to follow.  Not so much.  I have turned the heel on my Valentine’s socks!  I’m in the home stretch now. 

My other turning point is related to electronics and
traveling.  I used to be a must-have-laptop traveler but with the iPhone and Android phones, I can do all my “stuff” on the phone and go laptop free on a four or five day trip.  This woukd normally be one of those trips but I have a Motorola Xoom tablet that I am going to bring.  The dilemma was to Kindle or not to Kindle.  My shoulder bag was getting heavy and it seemed excessive to have the Xoom and Kindle.  So I’ve left the Kindle at home (gasp) and am going to try and read books on my Xoom.  My concerns are the weight of the tablet (I have a stand) and the screen glare.  We will see.  I think this is the perfect opportunity to try it out.  (I do have an emergency paperback in my checked luggage in case I really don’t like it).

Reading.  Knitting.  Music.  Movies.  Yup, I’m ready for my trip.

I’ve been doing quite a bit of knitting these days.  I’ve finished three projects and 24 skeins of yarn!  Schnikes!  I wish I could knit up that many skeins every month, but I just don’t think it’s possible.

My first finished project was the Illusionist Shawl (rav link here). It’s made with mohair and silk and Gracie loved this project.  She pulled it out of my knitting basket three times and played with my yarn cakes.  She put a couple of knots in my yarn so I was only able to do 4 panels instead of 5.  That was a mixed blessing because, while I would have liked the extra width, the project was muy boring.  But I love the finished project.  It’s super light, yet still warm.  I can wear it like a scarf, but it’s also wide enough to be a shawl.  But did I mention it was boring to knit up?

Nextly, I moved onto my basketweave afghan which I believe I started in November of 2007.  Then, in December 2007 I set it aside and didn’t touch it until this month.  It went very quickly because the yarn is held double.  That’s 14 skeins of organic cotton goodness.  It is one heavy blanket.  When it’s spread out on top of you, you don’t notice.  If it’s folded and you go to pick it up, you notice.  I’m really happy with how this turned out.  It’s nice and warm and squishy.  The pattern was interested and complicated, but not so complicated that I couldn’t knit and watch tv.  This blanket is Gracie tested, Gracie approved.

Lastly, I finished my Cinder scarf (rav link here), just in time for my trip to Minnesota.  I think I will need it.  It’s made with the softest yarn, Classic Elite Ariosa.  It’s a little sheddy at the moment, we will see how it is after its bath.  It’s a beautiful pattern and was also fun to knit.  I love that it’s reversible so you don’t have to worry about a “right” side.

Right now, I have two pairs of socks on the needles and that’s it! If I could finish those projects I would be <gasp> caught up <gasp>!  Who am I kidding, I’m already looking for something new to cast on.  But I am doing a much better job of not having 7 projects going at once.  I do think 2 or 3 projects at a time is healthy.  Oops, I just remembered some granny squares I started that I have to put in ravelry.    Maybe 3 or 4 is the healthy amount.  <smile>

I have cut enough fabric to last me awhile.  My first priority was cutting the fabric for my mystery quilt weekend which is coming up.  I’m excited and nervous!  I took my time cutting but was able to finish it in two afternoons and one marathon afternoon and evening session.  It wasn’t as tedious as I thought it would be and it went quickly.  What surprised me was how much fun I had playing with the fabrics.  It was fun to see them all spread out and then see them in little pieces.  Some of the fabrics are so beautiful. That’s an Amy Butler Soul Blossoms fabric above and I just love it!  I love it so much it will be in my quilt three times in three different colorways.

I’ve never done a mystery quilt.  The instructions have you cut each piece of fabric into a certain sizes.  All my different cuts are organized in ziploc bags.  I’m so curious to see how this comes together.

I’m ready for my quilting weekend!  I packed up everything right away so that I wouldn’t lose track of anything.

And then, because I hadn’t spent enough time cutting fabric, I cut fabric for another quilt.  I’m going to make the Fenced In quilt from The Practical Guide to Patchwork.  It’s going to be for our guest bedroom and I’m using the entire collection of Anna Maria Horner’s Innocent Crush Line.  I made throw pillows out of one of Ms. Horner’s other lines of fabric (Good Folks)and I was thinking I would have to remake all those pillows (and I really like them so this was not a happy thought).  Thank goodness for Bill who helped me realize the pillows would work with the new quilt I’m making.  The existing fabrics compliment the ones I’m going to use. That was a huge relief.  He’s pretty handy to keep around and helps me when I want to make more work for myself. Anyhoo, back to the quilt.  I’m deviating from the instructions a bit because I’m using 22 different prints instead of the 9 suggested in the books, but I’ve got a plan.  And have I mentioned this is going to be a *King* size quilt?!?

I also cut fabric for a new top which is on my to do list for the month.  Now that all this fabric is cut, I better spend some quality time in front of my machine.  I think it will be a miracle if I finish both these quilt this year though, based on how long Amy’s quilt took.  Thankfully, I believe in miracles.

Here is my final finished “creation” for February.  I thought I was done with it last night when it looked like this.  It felt kinda blah to me.  But now, I’m super happy with it.  I filled in the “white” space and now it looks finished.

It was a fun project.  And now here’s what I hope to accomplish this March:

1.  Make new pillows for the living room.

2.  Finish my basketweave afghan.

3.  Finish mohair scarf (so that the cat stops pulling it out of my knitting basket during the night).

4.  Cut Innocent Crush Fabric for a new quilt.

5.  Make a top.

6.  Knit a sweater.

7.  Keep my schedule at the gym.

8.  Read 3 books.

9.  Finish Valentine socks.

10.  Make some tablet pouches.

We’ll see how I do.  I’ve got other things that I have to do, like cut fabric for my mystery quilt weekend.  And I will be out of town for a few days.  But the point of this exercise isn’t meant for me to accomplish everything, it’s to keep me focused.  So I’ll be like a laser beam this month.  Happy March!