Not-So-Idle Hands

I've been working on posting some yarns in my Etsy shop this week, along with getting everything together for my classes. Here is a small sampling of the loot:I'm calling this one Rustic Valentine- and I'm having a hard time giving it up! :) It is a combination of two different rovings and should be kind of self striping, but in a subtle way.
This skein is HUGE! It is 375 Yards long! I didn't really believe it when I measured it. It is about a light worsted weight. Nate decided that is should be named Rainbow Spectacular.
This last one is another one of my favorites. It is domestic wool and should self stripe in a very subtle way as well.

In other news, classes are going pretty well this semester so far, but I still know it is going to get a lot busier. Right now I'm trying to figure out what I want my semester 'project' to be for my Eco Art class. I'm thinking of doing a project that centers on crafting in some way. I'm also starting a blog for the Eco Art class so everyone in the class can contribute to the discussions, and post our projects and pictures as the class goes on. I think blogging can be a really useful classroom tool, and I hope to use it for my classes in the future.

Warmth!

I just finished this scarf that I've been working on FOREVER!!!It is made from a discontinued 80% acrylic/20% wool blend yarn that I got at the thrift store.
The scarf pattern is my own, and I hope to eventually make a matching hat pattern.
I am finally starting to feel ready for the next semester. I think it will go a lot smoother than last semester because I won't have to deal with the 'what the hell am I doing' crisis- hahah! Anyone who is an artist will know exactly what I mean by that.
I am also starting to get excited for my classes to start. I'm taking an Eco Art class that should be really interesting, six credits of painting, 20th century Art History, and an Art Pedagogy class. I took a break from painting over winter break to help regain some momentum. I am really looking forward to getting back to painting. I got a set of casein paints and some water soluble oil paints for Christmas, so I'm excited to try those out and see what they can do for my art.
Nate's parents are coming up this weekend for a playoff watching/Nate's birthday extravaganza. I am going to *attempt* to make fried cheese wontons to celebrate the occasion.
Go Packers!

Dye-A-Thon

I am embracing what little is left of my all-too-short winter break with some intense crafting sessions! Last weekend I took full advantage of the fact that I had the house to myself all Saturday while Nate was at work, and I dyed about 2.5 lbs of merino and about 1 lb of bulky recycled wool/angora blend yarn.
This is the merino roving, I dyed 11 different sections, each about 3-4 oz each. This is the recycled yarn that I dyed. It is about 600 yards of bulky weight yarn, and I'm hoping to use it for a sweater. It is 70% Merino/20% Angora/10% Nylon. Right now I'm in the pattern hunting phase :)
So after about 4 hours of dyeing, I was in dire need for some liquid refreshment. Nate got home, and we decided to crack out the ol' drink mixing book. A few minutes later we were enjoying some wonderful chocolate coffee martinis!Note the expression of pure joy on his face. Priceless!
For all of you who would like to make these for yourselves, here you go:

Cassie's "I'm not ready to start the semester yet" Martini's
Ingredients:
-1/2 shot Coffee Liqueur
-1/2 shot Creme de Cacao
-1 shot Vodka (Svedka)
-1/8 cup Milk
-Whipped Cream

Instructions:
Pour the Coffee Liqueur, Creme de Cacao, Vodka, Milk, and a small bit of whipped cream into a martini shaker with some ice. Shake, Shake, Shake!! Pour contents into martini glass (or a wine glass if you are to poor to buy martini glasses) and top with a tiny bit more whipped cream. Sprinkle top with hot cocoa mix, and you are done!

I Survived the Holidays!

We did quite a bit of traveling this holiday season, between Illinois, Milwaukee, our hometown, and Galena. With all that holiday busyness, I still managed to get in some quality knitting time. These are some armwarmers I'm working on a pattern for. They are really easy to make and take advantage of both knitting and crochet. They look super cute over a pair of gloves too. :)
Christmas itself was fairly stress-free this year, save the terrible weather and road conditions we had for every leg of our travels. We went to a total of six Christmas celebrations, and this was the best weather we had:
Car rides that normally took about two hours ended up taking four. We had our kitties with us as well, thankfully they were well behaved and we had no car troubles. On one highway we took, they actually closed down the highway right after we got off of it.
I also got to do some quality yarn shopping . I got these two beauties at La Bella Vita in Mineral Point WI:This one is from Farmhouse Yarns it is their 'Lumpy Bumpy' yarn in Cranberry. It is going to be an earflap hat for my sister.
This one is Malabrigo Aquarella colorway Tranqueras. I'm making it into a beanie for myself. La Bella Vita is a great little shop! They organized their yarns by color, and specialize in unique and beautifully colored yarns. This is my second trip there, and the staff has always been great. I just got done with the earflap hat that I made with yarn I bought the last time I was there. It is the same as the first yarn in the colorway Mardi Gras. It is very soft and very warm. Lastly, this is another earflap hat that I made out of my handspun yarn. It was a little bit too short, so I decided to crochet a trim around it. Now it fits perfectly!