Pretty and not so pretty

What did I do on my Christmas break? Well we had Christmas on Friday the 26th instead of Christmas day so I convinced my husband to start the dining room. . . .not so pretty underneath all that wallpaper though. . . .

This house was built in 1907 and this could very well be some of the original plaster walls for all I know. . .its dry and patched . ..everywhere!

I keep telling myself that it is like a big craft project. . .its fun . . . . really! It can only get better . . . . . .and before that . . . .it has to get worse to get better.

So needless to say . . .this is no weekend project. Joel is going to skim coat this week and hopefully next weekend we can paint.

If the skim coat doesn't work out we can always use the paintable wallpaper.

At least the friggin' flowers are gone!

On another note. . .the Cambridge vest is coming out great. . .I am actually on the front now. .and the yarn is such a treasure to knit with. Feels so nice!


I also finished Twilight this weekend. . .what an amazing book. . .I couldn't put it down. . .I read 300 pages this weekend! Highly recommended. . .if you love Harry Potter. . .you will love this series. Joel and I also went to see Marley and Me. . we both read the book and couldn't wait to see the movie. I am of course a huge Jennifer Aniston fan and wouldn't pass it up for a second. Be prepared to cry though. . but a good cry. . .I use to never cry at movies. . .we both left with puffy eyes and Barley spent the night snuggled in between us. How could you not love that face.

Embossed leaves socks and the cambridge vest. . .

I finally finished the embossed leaves socks from interweave knits last night and got to have photos taken with my new toy. . .yes. . . Santa came early at my house. . he always seems to and brought me a Canon rebel . . .amazing!

I have wanted a new camera for the last six months since mine has been unable to capture those crisp images that I want for my knitting. It really is a great camera and I got a great deal at http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/589048-REG/Canon__EOS_Rebel_XSi_a_k_a_.html#reviews. A very good friend of mine recommended this site and it really is the best!

Now the next plan is to take a photography class. . .now I know I can point and shoot a camera but understanding lighting and shutter speed. . .way above my head but I know I can learn.

Joel loves it. . .he couldn't put it down all evening long and he knows his stuff with photography. . his grandfather was an amazing photographer and Joel is the same way. His composition is just spectacular. Some of his nature shots just amaze me. So this camera will be perfect for him also.

So with the embossed leaves complete. . .now on to the Cambridge Vest in Rowan Baby Alpaca dk that I purchased at webs when I went to visit Julie in CT a few weeks ago. I got an amazing deal of it because they are discontinuing the yarn. Normally 11.95 a skein . . .try 8.00. . .ya. . exactly. It is fabulous. . .it feels so nice on the needles and knitting every stitch is a dream.

Our dining room table will be here in 3 weeks so we will be decorating the dining room next weekend during xmas break. Can you say good bye to this. . . . . .

I am just sooooo not about flowers. . .yuck. We will be painting it a earthy red and pull up the carpet (nice hardwood underneath) and adding a country style table and chairs. . . it is going to get great.

Christmas Cards

Finishing up Christmas cards this weekend. . . 45 cards in all. Whew! It's a lot of work let me tell you. . .first coming up with the design and then actually making them.

I really like how they came out. Took me forever do decide on whether to do something with snowflakes or the new mitten stamp I just got from Stampin Up. I also go to use some gems that I purchased forever ago which have been sitting in my eyelet and brad tackle box.

Now hopefully everyone likes them. . .or at least appreciates how much work goes into them.

Yarn shop in Rutland and home renovations begin. . .

Well it has been a while since I have blogged anything, we moved into our home, unpacked for the most part and have started renovations. . .well just painting but it is a lot of work and time! We started with the biggest room of the house (the living room) which is 13ft by 24ft. The wall paper wasn't bad but we thought we would get the largest room out of the way.

See this isn't really bad wallpaper. . .wait until I show you photos of the dining room . . .ick!

One layer of wallpaper off. . .then steam the second and you have sealed plaster walls. . .(at least they are sealed!). This house was built in 1907 so it still has the original plaster walls.

We chose to paint the walls. . .I really hate wallpaper. . .it just isn't me. We also chose a earthy green tea color that I just love! Joel likes it to!

And even more exciting news! Rutland has a yarn shop! Friends of mine opened Green Mountain Fibers last weekend and it is just fabulous! I am working some Saturdays there and handling their bookkeeping for them. It is an excellent space so check it out!

Before I can post any knitting. . .I need to take some photos. . .I have finished a scarf, a sweater, a hat, and I am almost done with a pair of socks. . . .see I have been really busy!