Let's Talk About WIPs, Baby....

It's Wednesday and that means it's time for another installment of WIP Wednesday. I'm even going to show you photographs today!

I spent some time on Monday afternoon (while everyone was napping) photographing my WIPs and some other things (which you'll get to see, too).

So, let's visit my current WIP list. On my needles, we have the following lovely items:

1. Mama's Vanilla Socks: started December 6, 2011.

Admittedly, these are not very far along. This is still the first sock and I'm still not very far into the leg portion. But, the self striping is coming out fun (to me)...I fully expect that these socks will be fraternal twins. That is just fine with me. 

2. Little Man's Giraffe: started May 11, 2011

Yes, I'm making a green giraffe for Little Man. Obviously the "big" pieces are finished. I have ears to attach (they're finished), spots, horns, hair, and a face to make...and then he's done. I'm sure this giraffe is a "he"...but maybe that's just because he's intended for Little Man (who is already in love - he hugs him whenever I bring him out). He's currently sitting in a project bag with all the appropriate yarns, needles, and notions, just waiting for me to finish...

3. Icarus Shawl: started March 15, 2010

I've probably not worked on this since the last photo was taken...actually, I don't think I've worked more than a row or two since the last photo was taken. Oh well. I hauled it out and looked at it and still loved it as it was...so I'll probably plug away on it here and there.

4. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit Socks: started January 23, 2012

Okay, this isn't a new photo. It's recent enough that I didn't need to take a new one and nothing has changed since this photo was taken. I'm still at the beginning of the true leg portion of this sock and this is still what the first sock looks like. I'll get there...

5. Pine Forest Baby Blanket: started February 21, 2012

This is almost a true representation of the colors. The green isn't quite as brown as it's coming out and the pink isn't nearly as bright...but it's pretty close to these colors. I'm probably about halfway through the pink section...maybe not quite that far but I'm close to that. So, the blanket is, overall, at about it's halfway point. I should have it done in a couple weeks if I sit and plug away at it.

6. Hermione's Everyday Socks: started March 6, 2012

This is a much closer representation of the color than the first one...but it's still too bright. I blame the natural light and the background. If it helps, the background is actually a chocolate brown color...so everything should be darker, overall. This had no flash...all done with natural light...but it's still too bright. *sigh* Someday, I'll get the color right...

So........there you have it, my WIPs. For more WIP Wednesday love, visit Tami's Blog.

But, that's not all I have to share with you..........

First of all, I wound yarn for another project (which I mentioned awhile ago). One of the items on my Self-Imposed Year of Projects is the Hippo from Itty-Bitty Toys by Susan B. Anderson. I'm making it for Sweet Girl, hopefully before the new baby arrives (the one that's going to get the aforementioned Pine Forest Baby Blanket).

Last summer when Husband, Little Man, and I went to visit my BIL and his family last summer, we wound up in a yarn shop (which is now sadly closed) in Frederick, Maryland called Eleganza Yarns. The people that owned said shop also had an individual line of yarns and they closed the shop in order to focus on said yarn line: Shalimar Yarns. Anyway, Sweet Girl came into the shop and helped pick out the yarn for her Hippo (which she had decided upon the day before)...and she picked out two skeins of Shalimar Yarns. I have a feeling her hippo is going to be pink with purple instead of purple with pink...but we'll see when I get around to starting this project.

But wait, there's more! Sorry, we were watching a CNBC Original about the As Seen on TV company...and that phrase has been stuck in my head since yesterday.

Anyway, a couple of weeks ago the Madison Knitters' Guild had their annual Knit-In. I was extremely well-behaved (for me).

This is most of what I picked up that day. The five red & white skeins are from the same person, the little skein in front was a freebie, and the skein in back was from another place. Let's take a closer look, shall we? No, I'm not waiting for an answer...

This is my new project bag. It's from Blue Tulips, which is extremely local for me. Seriously, she lives about 15 minutes away from me. I love her project bags and have several, actually...but this is the one I bought at Knit-In.

These are four skeins of worsted weight from Sun Valley Fibers. Jeanette, too, is local...she's also a member of the Knitters' Guild. Actually, I'm using her Merino/Cashmere/Nylon to knit the aforementioned Hermione's Everyday Socks.

She was our vendor for one of the Guild meetings a couple months ago (December, I think) and she had asked for requests in her Ravelry group for what kinds of yarn we wanted (colors, fibers, weights, etc.). Several of us requested Badger-themed yarn. Unfortunately, by the time I got there, the Badger yarn was gone..........but she had some at Knit-In. So, four skeins of worsted and....

....a skein of sock yarn, Badger-themed so I always know where home is located :)

I picked up a(nother) skein from Emily at Sophie's Toes Sock Yarns. There was this one and one that was like a darker version and I decided to go a bit outside my box and pick up the lighter of the two (not that you can tell from this photo).

Our freebie at the door. A mini-skein from Miss Babs. I picked up something that I normally wouldn't pick (as far as colors). It's just lovely :)

I also had some paper love in the form of a pattern, a book, a magazine, and some magnets.

I picked up this pattern, The Renaissance Shawl (which sadly is not listed in Ravelry's or Patternfish's databases). I probably have yarn somewhere for it...we'll see if I ever get that far. It looks lovely, doesn't it?

I also picked up this:

I couldn't remember if I had this one or not...luckily, I didn't.....unlike The Knitters' Almanac, which I have two copies of. Oops.

I also found this (in the same booth where I got the book and the pattern). I had read most of the article about Elizabeth Zimmermann in this book while waiting around at the allergy clinic a couple months ago. I had tried to find copies that I could buy but I didn't have any luck...and then I saw this. I didn't even think about it and just purchased it. It was totally worth the purchase.

I also found these. They're magnetic and help you know where you are in patterns (especially complicated ones where you have to pay attention to every line of directions - obviously they can be used on charts, too). They're different from the boards because these are just magnetic strips that fold over the page and sticks to itself. You can use them on single sheets, books, etc. I haven't used mine, yet, but I expect it'll come in handy.

The last thing I purchased was a Nostepinne. What? You have no idea what a Nostepinne is? Really?

Okay, I didn't know either...it's a manual ball winder and it makes center-pull balls. It functions like a ball winder except that the cakes don't come out with the ability to sit very well. They're nice for handspun or when you have a loud ball winder and a sleeping baby...........go ahead, ask me how I know about that one :)

Anyway, that's all I have for right now. I might have a proper FO Friday post, too...but only to show you something that I finished awhile ago that needed some love in order to be shown again. Yes, cryptic. I know. That's the point.

I hope you're having a lovely Wednesday :)