Conan, what is good in life?

Where to start.  Hmm, how about here?

Ah, sweet caffeine, with knitting beyond.  This is good in life.

Wait, let's get a closer look at this

Chocolate coffee???  This is GOOD in life.

What else is good in life?  I'm personally fond of quick projects in alpaca.  Something like this:

Knit by mom, worn and loved by boy.  This is good in life.

Shorty announced that this was the best small scarf ever because he doesn't trip on it.  That boy has a way with words.

Then there's lace projects in bulky red wool that photographs like crap even with a renewed flash.  (flash is another story, and I think I'll pretend it didn't happen so that I won't get a facial tic or toss it down the stairs shrieking "knitter smash!" in response)

Scarlet in real life, this is my bulky project.  It's also the only photo that shows the yarn color for the peacock medallion.

This was once enough yarn for a size 10 sweater.  It was my perfect 10 denial sweater, in that I'll never be a size 10 again.  Heck, I haven't been a size 10 since I was 17, so reality and I were clearly not on speaking terms when I bought it.  On the other hand, it's knitting into a niiiice stole... so I guess it wasn't a bad purchase after all.

Interestingly, the peacock is too dark to be seen, the red is closer to right, and the pattern shows some tentative plans.

Medallion stole thoughts are good in life.  I love things that keep my mind busy.

What else?  Oh yes Fleece Artist blues in a new shawl start are good too!

color is good on this one

Love Fleece Artist.  I might have mentioned it in the past, but it's still true.

This is also good in life, especially now that I'm not knitting on it any more.  This one needed a knitter intervention, and I lost a few days of knitting due to exhaustion in my arms from holding it up.  It's almost 3 lbs and all of that in the pearls.  The antique tinted beads in the main body were not that heavy....

teaser pic, this deserves its own post.  HEAVY

And that's sort of where I'm at.  I was thinking I'd take porch pictures but was disheartened by the snow.  Perhaps tomorrow, when I'm not working I'll grab a few for here.  Snow isn't much fun for building, but it does encourage knitting (and coffee!)

Speaking of which, time for more COFFEE!  MMMMMMM.

Shawl 8, Cashmere and Mink Pine Autumn Glow

Ok, so this one did get a little blog-time.  Not as much as it deserved, perhaps, but it was a terribly quick knit.  This is the Mink/Cashmere DK weight yarn, and it is just luscious.  Yummy even.  I can't help it, I still love this yarn with a deep, and abiding (and possibly unnatural) love.

But, really, what's not to love?

Center detail shot.

The color on this is a deep, forest green that is almost black.

very dark green

On one hand, the color was not as appealing to folks who saw it while I knit as was the original Autumn Glow Shawl with it's variegated rusts, reds, and browns.  On the other hand, while the pattern wasn't lost with the original iteration, it wasn't showcased.  The first was a matching of gorgeous yarn and simple (but elegant in my opinion) pattern which showed the yarn to lovely advantage.  This knit is a pairing of deep and elegant yarn with a pattern that showcases the pattern to advantage.  Again, my opinion.

On the other hand, this is quite nice.

This shawl will sneak up on you.  The pattern is pretty, the leaves are pretty, but the true secret is in the yarn.  There is nothing, absolutely nothing, that compares to mink & cashmere yarn.  Great Northern Yarns has a fabulous product at a crazy price.  Plus, it's a sustainable mink farm.  Luxury, affordability, and sustainability.  It's pretty close to perfect.

And the pattern's not bad either.

Mind you, I love it draped like a cowl too.  Here's a silhouette shot.

mmm, dk

It's a good thing this is in such a dark green, or I'd swipe this for myself.  Without further ado, Shawl 8, the Cashmere and Mink Pine Autumn Glow.