Lucca

A while ago I finished my Lucca Shawl but I never shared it on the Yarn Along.  I was hoping to get a few pictures of me wearing it with Treasure & Lily the two alpacas who's fleeces I used to make this pi shawl. But that hasn't happened yet.

This is a Brooklyn Tweed pattern and I really enjoyed every second of knitting it. It knitted up very quickly. I made it using heavier weight yarn than the pattern called for but I wanted to use it as blanket. Since it has been finished it has been living at my spot on our brown leather couch draped over the back. I love getting to see it shown off in our Family Room everyday. I love that the yarn is from of two of my most favorite alpacas! 

I think what helped me knit it so quickly was that I listened to "The Martian" while I was working on it. I really LOVED the book. My husband also listened to the book. I would tell my kids (ages 8 & 6) about things that happened in the book and they loved hearing about it. Finally after we had both finished listening to the book we all watched the movie together as a family and we all really enjoyed it. 

Joining Ginny's Yarn Along

Yarn Along

I am so excited to be back sharing on the Yarn Along!  It has been too long. I have been spinning yarn and knitting so much over the past few months. I had Tiny at the farm with me today and he was a champ at modeling some of Blue's yarn that I have recently spun. I can't wait to knit it up. I have so much more of his fleece to spin, but I thought I would make a small batch and start knitting with that to see how I want to spin the rest of his two fleeces.

I have been very busy working on a new pattern "Treasure Vest". I am so excited to say it is very close to being released!!!  I have made many different samples of it in different sizes. I have knitted, unknitted, knitted and unknitted and then knitted it again and again to get it just how I want it. The pattern is being tested and the pattern is with my graphic designer so I should be releasing the pattern soon!

In the mean time Treasure is being pampered at the farm and kept cool on these HOT days.  She is the inspiration for this pattern. 

For reading I have been listening to the audio book "Written in My Own Heart's Blood". It is the final book in the Outlander series. I am SOOOOO sad that this is the last book, but I am so happy that I have the Starz versions to watch in the future. I have enjoyed these books immensely!

After I release "Treasure Vest" I will be doing a lot of spinning and knitting from my handspun yarn. I am hoping to be back sharing on the Yarn Along regularly now that I won't be working on too many of my own secretive patterns. 

Joining Ginny's Yarn Along

ps- Check out my Fit Along that is starting August 3rd ~ Fit Along

Arctic Treasure

I am the proud 1/3 owner of Heather's Acre Arctic Treasure! Isn't she sweet!!!

L.E. did a thorough fleece inspection upon her arrival to the farm.

I co-own Treasure with my parents and Emelise Alpacas. We purchased her at the Priority Alpaca Auction in Las Vegas last month. I wasn't there in person, but my parents were and they didn't let this beautiful white alpaca get away. She made a long trip all the way back from Vegas and is now making herself at home with the show girls.

For anyone that is interested in knowing a little more about her here is the write up on her from Heather's Acres.

~Heather's Acre Arctic Treasure is a very special, beautiful white female with a soft, highly-advanced, dense fleece and a promising line up of lineage on both top and bottom which has proven to be invaluable to our farm and breeding program. She's also well grown with perfect conformation and balance and like her sire and dam has a very sweet disposition.

Arctic Treasure is the daughter of an elite stud, Accoyo Sirius - 9x banner male including two AOBA Nationals halter and fleece shows and Judges' Choice banners. She is the granddaughter of Accoyo Odyssey and other notables, Accoyo Godfather, Accoyo The Last Don, Mr. President and many well known and treasured females.~

She really does have a sweet personality and is just a pleasure. Here she is practicing her posing for the upcoming Spring alpaca shows with some of the other girls.

I couldn't resist getting some other farm scene pictures since I had my camera out.

Spacy the fawn girl below has taken her time warming up to us human folks (that is normal since she came from a very large farm). On a lead or being handled she is amazingly cooperative. But while I am doing chores in the pen she tends to wander away until I am done. But look at her now front and center and accepting me as part of her little herd :) BTW her official name is Out of This World. Her fleece is AMAZING!!!!! I can't wait to see how she does in the show ring this Spring. She already has a blue ribbon from the one show she was in this past Fall. Which reminds me halter training is about to start back up!

FDA Bisturi's Royal Rose Blush is such a pretty girl. She too has done well in the show ring so far.

L.E. is also a part member of my little herd. I co-own her with my parents and my sisters. L.E. is such a sweet girl and should I also mention has done quite well herself in the show ring.

Since we bought Arctic Treasure a few weeks ago it has been freezing cold and snowy. I told my parents the next alpaca we buy needs to be called Summer Breeze!