Schnecken = Snail Mittens!

Some people despise snails in their gardens, but I just love the little guys! It turns out that a having a pretty shell is all it takes to improve one's PR.

I give you Schnecken -- mittens with snails on:These mittens feature six of my favourite gastropods snailin’ it up in the garden. Perfect for those winter days when the garden is just a fond memory and the snails are snuggled down under their leaf-litter duvets, waiting for spring. Grab the pattern here, on Ravelry.
Now I find I'm feeling a distinct sense of freedom, which couldn't be further from the truth (at least as far as my knitting is concerned.) I have some gnomes to see to...and a few other tricks as well.

A better view...

...of the snails, that is.As tinyowlknits would put it, "these snails are just crawlin' along."

Regardless, watch for the new mitten pattern soon.

Snails on my mittens

Oh, things are afoot here at Pittsworth Manor. Just look at what happened (and will continue to happen) today:More mittens -- this time with snails on. Schnecke clearly approves.

As for me, I'm just in love with the colours..and the yarn. Again I'm using Sunday Knits' yarns -- the blue is 3-ply Eden in Aqua, the grey is 3-ply Brigadoon in Stone and the brown is 3-ply Angelic in Nut.

And then I started thinking...where have I seen these colours before? As in, lately? At which point it occurred to me that once again I'm being unconsciously influenced by my surroundings. Observe:These two Pewabic Pottery mugs are among some of my recent acquisitions, and we are inseparable. They are the epitome of Arts and Crafts -- both beautiful and functional -- and also (for me) wonderfully local. I can't wait to inflict my new quince green tea upon them -- I'm sure they'll understand.

Surprise!

I was at home this morning, happily spending some quality time with no less than three new socks/mittens (left to right, that's the Gnome socks, the Flamittens and Clerkenwell,)when a mail carrier knocked on my door and handed me an oversized parcel from Knit Picks. I assumed that this must be the book and needles that I had recently ordered from them, but...well, isn't this box a little too large for just one book? Hmmm...

It turns out I was right to doubt the contents of the package, because I was hardly expecting to open it to find this:Samples of each new Fall 2010 colourway of Knit Picks Palette to play with! Let me tell you, the new colours are gorgeous!

I hardly knew what to make of it! Neither did Bubo...and Schnecke (have you met Schnecke yet?) was overwhelmed, to say the least!It is all so lovely and the fact that it was a surprise makes it doubly so. Thank you so, so much, Kelley and Stacey! I will definitely put the yarn to good use.