What's not to love about a pigeon?
Winter Ravelympics has begun on Ravelry! I've entered the Skelegurumi event and hope to medal for Team Sennott by crocheting the lovable Alfred the Pigeon. My much more challenging event will be the Mitten Moguls. I'm still in training for that event.
Sometimes it's very satisfying to complete something from start to finish in just a matter of a couple hours. The Habu yarn I used for this simple necklace appears to be a silk paper/ribbon yarn. It's bronze color seemed to be the perfect compliment for some peach seed beads I had left over from a scarf. I played around with several hook sizes before deciding on a 1.75 mm hook for smaller chains. The necklace is long enough that it can be worn in single strands or doubled up around the neck.
This motif reminds me of a passion flower. I'm not sure what this will become. I had just enough of this yarn to make two circle motifs. I may combine it with some linen or wool fabric to make a brooch. Plenty of winter days left to ponder its use.
I also like arranging them like a specimen collection. I don't tire looking at them.
A few small leaves, another sweet design from the Charming Crochet book. 
2. Collage box: I was cleaning my closet recently and found a box of leftover collaged jewerly that I made about 15 years ago. I thought they'd fit nicely in this wooden box I found. This may end up on the wall or I may add a layer of resin to it and use it as a tray.
It's a cliched image but I see these tracks every day, just down the street. This line doesn't go too far - west out to Fitchburg and east to North Station. I never tire of seeing railroad tracks fade into the distance. I've always been partial to the romance and symbolism of the rail. How can you resist travel to a new destination, movin' along, the sounds of a train, the people along the way. As a little kid, "I've been working on the railroad" was a favorite song, and before the area was built up, from the second floor of the house, you could see and hear trains passing in the distance. I still have the book my Dad gave me for my first train trip from Chicago to St. Louis. And how could I forget the "Ride this Train" feature on Johnny Cash's television show? So it's really no surprise "The Darjeeling Limited" was a must see for me last year.
Speaking of Cash, working on the Johnny Cash #2 rug got derailed for quite awhile. I've been trying to work on it again and I'm determined to get it done by the end of the year by working on it a little bit every day. Maybe a listen to "Orange Blossom Special" or "Hey, Porter" will be the ticket. Here's where the rug stands at the moment.
And so, the Ravelympics are over and I finished all my events. I received some really wonderful prizes from my sisters. From Bonnie, I received the the soft and fragrant Summer Blossoms prize. And from Jenny, this Weeping Willow bag, an original weaving design of hers. Isn't it the perfect fit for my camera? Thank you, Jenny and Bonnie!
After a long absence I've returned to blogging.
A recently completed scarf, artfully modeled by my Chicago OrkPoster. My sister said I should name the scarf Waveland. When I lived in Chicago I always felt compelled to wave anytime my path crossed with Waveland Ave. What can I say-it's a happy street name. I think I'm going to have to make a shawl using this stitch pattern. 
My sisters and I are all on Ravelry and competing in Ravelympics while the Olympics are going on. Check out Bonnie's entertaining updates of our Ravelympics progress. I medaled in WIP Wrestling and completed 2 unfinished crochet projects.
I'm competing in one more event, the Sweater Sprint. Despite some setbacks, I'm hoping to make it to the finals, producing a bolero with this fabulous yarn.
Okay, bye, bye!
I was in Dallas for a few days attending a conference for work. While I was there I visited with an aunt and cousin. I gave my aunt this Blue Curacao shawl for a belated ninetieth birthday present. The pattern is from Doris Chan's Amazing Crochet Lace, using Valley Yarns' Goshen, a lovely silk/cotton blend.
During flight times, I crocheted up the beginnings of a table runner, using Berroco's Naturlin yarn.
Next up and also almost completed is a cardigan from the Doris Chan book, whose title I'm blanking on at the moment. I had some leftover Plymouth Encore from a charity project, so I thought I use it up. I love these patterns that don't require seaming.
I had enough yarn leftover from the Staggered Web top to whip up these shell wrist warmers. I found the pattern through Crochet Pattern Central.
And, what the heck, I'll throw in another picture. Because, who knows, it could be awhile before my next post. An all day carry tote from the Lotta Jansdotter book, made using leftover upholstery fabric I've had for ages, and some wool that's too thin for hooking.
