Monday, December 31, 2007

It's all a mystery


So my friends, another year comes to an end.

It's been a year for healing and changes, both good and bad....but a new tomorrow is on the horizon and I'm excited!

For every new beginning something must end and I thought this beautiful picture I took tonight was a fitting last sky of 2007.....It's the last few minutes of tonight's sundown, a glorious last hurrah....symbolism, anyone? :)


Now I'd like to invite you to an exciting new beginning - I've been really enjoying participating in the monthly Sockdown over at the Sock Knitters Anonymous Group over on Ravelry.

Every month we have a different sock "challenge" to help us learn new skills and expand our sock knitting horizons. We now number over 2600 members (!!) and every month we all knit a variation on two different themes. It's been really amazing to see how differently each knitter interprets the challenge yet makes customizations to make the finished sock their own.

We have 2 months to complete each challenge and all that do are entered into a drawing for some really juicy prizes!

January's Sockdown challenge is a "Mystery Sock- Intarsia" or any pattern by Cookie A, brilliant designer of Monkey Sock fame!

Well, yours truly was asked to test knit the Mystery sock! Never having attempted intarsia, I accepted with much trepidation (and the caveat that if it looked like ass, I was cutting and running! LOL) But I wanted a challenge when I signed on so I plunged in.....and I'm really glad I did!!

Now I can't give away the mystery but I can give you a tiny peek in the guise of showing off my latest mani and some spiffy new knails! Have a peek......

Just look at those pretty stitches knails!

Here's another view

This is OPI Brights, "Bright Lights, Big Color" - it's a really pretty, bright coral with a subtle golden shimmer. It's so bright and happy, just right for those grey winter days!

Now about the sock, it's a wonderful design by our SKA administrator Sara, aka Fyberduck. It has a February 14 theme but it's not really a "holiday" sock ie: it can be worn at any time and not look odd or out of place. As you can see there is a bit of beautiful lace and a very clever (and very small!) intarsia design that I actually executed without invoking Armageddon! It's also a design that would look very cool in a plethora of colors......black and red for you gothy types or juicy brights like hot pink with lime or tangerine and turquoise come to mind.

So why not make 2008 the year you accept the challenge and join us over at Ravelry?

This is not a new pic but it's one of my favorites of my Best Boy, my P-Man....

He kinda looks like he's peepin' out in excitement wondering what new experiences 2008 will bring....more chicken and organic salmon perhaps? :)

No matter what 2008 brings here at Chez Blog de Fluffy we hope it brings you, all my wonderful readers along with it! Y'all have given Pumpkin and I so very much and we are very grateful!

The P-Man and I wish you a happy, healthy New Year with lots of love! See ya in 2008!!



38 comments:

Sandy said...

Thank you for the suggestion. I have joined and it looks perfect as i have a lot of new sock yarn to knit up this year after a Thanksgiving to Christmas binge.

Actually catching it tonight i think i will join in on the December cuff down challenge too as well as doing the mystery sock.

Thanks for showing off your terrific manicure.

Leslie said...

Great mani, great P-man, great knails and great FKD! Thanks for a super year of blogging and the concern and advice when I so needed it.

Perry P and I send you, P-man and all your friends our wishes for a Happy 2008 - may it be one of the best years yet for us all!

savannahchik said...

happy new year to you and the p-man!

Kris B said...

I'm kind of a lurker on your site and wanted to let you know I really enjoy your blog.

The sock down sounds like a lot of fun and a good reason for me to buy more sock yarn.

Happy New Year.

Unknown said...

Love the sundown picture. Here's to new beginnings, new experiences, and lots of new handknit socks in the new year!

Carole Knits said...

Thanks for the info on the challenge, it does sound like fun and it fits into my knitting goals for 2008. I love your new mani, too! Happy New Year to you and Pumpkin.

Norma said...

SWEET mani!

Boy, I am really a Ravelry underachiever (we have a GROUP! heh). There is a lot going on over there that I have absolutely NO IDEA about.

Looking forward to seeing the unveiling of the full sock.

La Cabeza Grande said...

Amazing job, kiddo! I'm proud of you because I know how you feel about intarsia. I don't foresee any need to disavow any knowledge of said Mystery Sock. Besides, you rock it on matching mani alone.

Enjoy ringing in the New Year and be sure to give Mr. Pumpkin a few skritches for me.

Anonymous said...

I have beeen waiting for this day for 1 year and a half. I'm so happy 2008 is at our doorstep!

Hopefully it'll be a wonderful year!

Kristi aka Fiber Fool said...

Great knails for ringing in the new year! I hope 2008 is a wonderful year for you and yours, Deb!

Dorothy said...

Oh, you do tempt me! But with my last semester of school looming, I'd best marshal my resources and and not jump into anything new at this time. Can we join anytime, or does it have to be at the first of the year? Happy New Year to you and Pumpkin. May God bring a whole boatload of blessings your way this year!

Beth said...

You're such a tease. :) Happy end of '07!

Krystal said...

Love the knails! Happy new year! Give the p-man some love for me. :)

Agnes said...

What a perfect colour to start a new year. I wish you and P-Man have a wonderful wonderful 2008 to come too. :)

Kris said...

What a great post.

I've been thinking of knitting alont with everyone on SKA but just not entering the drawings. It just seems like so much fun and I love reading everyone's entries.

Great mani...and you've got me curious about the sock.

Kris said...

OK.... that was supposed to say "knitting along". Apparently I haven't had enough diet coke today!

Anonymous said...

Happy New Year to both of you.

Carrie said...

Oooh, I've been on the fence about the mystery sock, but your photo is so tantelizing that I might have to take the plunge. Plus, I think that I have some substitution yarns in my stash already, if I can't find the Shibui yarn fast.

Opal said...

Love the knails! Thanks to you, I'm now the proud owner of Seche Vite and 3 (count'em) OPI colors. I love them, but they still have a tendency to chip within 3 days. What am I doing wrong?

Barbara-Kay said...

Happy New Year to you and Pumpkin. I look forward to reading you each morning, and wish you knitting successes (that's more than one FO!)in 2008.

Madge said...

Happy New Year! Hope it's full of rockin' knittin' for you and bonita flakes for P-Man.

Congrats on test knitting the latest SKA sock pattern. Very cool. And thank the gods you held Armageddon back. Whew.

See you in 2008!

WandaWoman said...

Beautiful manicure. I like the color.

Congrats on test knitting the sock. I can't wait to see the reveal.

I may consider joining the "Sockdown Challenge". Happy New Year to you and the PMan.

Terri said...

Beautiful nails and stitches alike. I can't wait to see the whole sock. Here's wishing you and the P-man the happiest in all things in 2008.

Meg said...

I have every intention of knitting some Cookie A socks in 2008 but I don't think I should join the challenge... that usually sends the project running the other way!
Happy New Year to you and my favourite cat.

alt.ayu said...

HAPPY NEW YEAR to you and dear p-man! Here's to a great 2008, may there be more beautiful knails, knitting and belly rubs (for p-man of course) :D

Batty said...

Happy New Year!

That's a great manicure. I love bright red nails!

Carol said...

A very happy new year to you guys! I can't wait to see the rest of this sock! I'm intrigued! btw, Every email I sent in the last few days keeps getting returned! Seems all the Comcast folks' emails are returned.?

Chris Reynolds said...

Happy New Year to you and Pumpkeesh! :D

Jessica said...

I love your attitude toward the New Year. I'm going to try and have a matching one. And I may just take a look at that Ravelry group. Happy New Year to you and the P-Man! :)

Nana Sadie said...

What gorgeous Knails!!! The sock is interesting, too...
(((((hugs)))))
And happy New Year to you and P-Man!

Lorette said...

Happy New Year to you and the P-man!
My sock challenge this year will be to knit just ONE pair of socks that is not a plain vanilla pair. I don't think I'm ready for the whole sockdown thing! :-)

Anonymous said...

I'm checking it out, the socks you are hiding intrigue me. And as usual, great nails.

jessie said...

I'll just be happy to finish a few pairs of socks this year. I joined a sock-a-month KAL and that's the best I can do right now.

Happy New Year!

fleegle said...

Your beautiful nails match your most-likely-beautiful socks!

Knittinreed said...

Fabulous sky shot! P-man has the most expressive face I have ever seen on an animal (he is partly human, isn't he?)

Happy New Year to you too.

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