There are some weeks when time just seems to fly by and I kind of wonder where it went.  Andy and I have been working out in the yard and garden almost every night this week.  We have been debating on what to do with the flower garden that quickly became a jungle last year.  It's nearly impossible for me to work on it in the warmer months when the bee's are out.  I'm extremely allergic to bee stings as well as several other biting and stinging insects which makes gardening a bit tricky.  We have decided to take out most of the flowering plants and just leave a few of our favorites.  One of my personal favorites is our Columbine.  It never fails to produce beautiful flowers and has made a few babies.  We are also keeping all of our herb plants since we both enjoy cooking with them. I'm hoping by the end of next week that the garden looks good enough to take some full pictures of to post here.

I'm so excited to announce that Candy Necklace is now available on Ravelry!  It's a really fun and easy pattern.  If you have wanted to try knitting lace or get started in shawl knitting, this patten is a great way to start.  It's both charted and written and comes with diagrams and a schematic.  A HUGE thank you goes out to Beth, Linda and Debbie for test knitting.

Linda's Candy Necklace in 

Bohemia Fibers Barefoot Bohemian SockWoodlands

 Beth's Candy Necklace
 Sorry, I can't remember the yarn she used.  I think it's a Rowan Cotton.  It was quite lovely when  saw it in   person.








The original Candy Necklace in Cephalopod Bugga Mantis Shrimp



 I've started a page on Facebook for Lara Smoot Designs. I will be posting specials, coupons and other goodies (like free pattern give aways!) on there from time to time.  I hope you will come find me there.  I would love to see what you are making!







PS We went fishing last Sunday.  So far this year I have caught the most fish!  I caught one tiny bass, about the size of my hand.  So small that Andy had to remove the hook so I wouldn't get stuck in the finger.

On Stranger Tides

I have had so much fun designing On Stranger Tides.  Not only was it a blast to knit (I'm casting on for a second pair), but there were so many fun ideas that I had for the pattern layout.  I don't want to give anything away, but it's full of intriguing graphics and definitely ocean themed!  Ive always loved sea creatures and the mysteries of the deep.  When I was a kid and got to go to Disney World one of my favorite rides was 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.  Towards the end of the ride a giant squid would wrap it's tentacles around the submarine we were riding in.  That was my inspiration for the pattern logo.

 Shown in Sanguine Gryphon Bugga Satin Green Forester

The pattern design was inspired by the lacy plants and tentacled creatures that live in the tropical waters of the warm Caribbean.

 Shannon did a fantastic job test knitting and should have her socks up on Ravelry in a few days.  She's on a much needed long weekend with her hubby.  I managed to coerce her into a quick photo shoot after knitting the other day at the library. I think they look great in this lovely blue yarn too.  It's Dream in Color in the Superhero colorway.

Use coupon code: Tentacle on Ravelry for $1.00 off of On Stranger Tides.  The coupon is good through Sunday April 7.  

Ive been very honored to have my Ferry Beach pattern nominated in the Socks that Rawk group for their Q2 KAL.

Saturday update!  Ferry Beach made it to the finals for the Q2 KAL! 

Spring Fever

It's one of those times of year when it's still a little too cold to do a whole lot outside and we have been inside so much that Andy and I both have a bit of cabin fever.  It's better than having Bieber Fever (right Shannon?), but I'm not sure how much better it is.  Andy can't wait to get out on the boat and do some fishing.  The past few weekends we have cruised though a few tackle shops to check out the latest lures and new gear.  I enjoy fishing too, it's really nice going out on the boat on a warm day and spending time together.  It's even better when I catch more fish than Andy, but that doesn't happen very often.  Hopefully we won't have to wait too much longer to get out there.

While Andy keeps tabs on the weather and is getting his fishing gear ready, Ive been counting down the days until Maryland Sheep and Wool (MDSW).  As of today there are 35 days left until we head to Maryland.  A week or so ago I realized that I hadn't had a chance to use all of the yarns that I came home with from last year.  I wound up casting on for several project with reckless abandon!  It's hard for me to go shopping for new yarn when I know there is perfectly good yarn sitting in my stash.  Ok, who is laughing at me now?  I know, I know, yarn in a knitter stash has never stopped her or him from buying more!

 Frost in Bloom in Breathless Love Potion for the Shalimar Yarns Knitters Gone Wild KAL on Ravelry.  This colorway is so much fun!  If you haven't had a chance to check out the KAL, there are some great prizes being given away!  Yes, those are flowers and it does look like spring.  It's really not though.  They were completely covered with snow over the weekend.  It's some kind of early April Fool's joke from Mother Nature.

Kristi had given me the most beautiful yarn, Breathless DK in Copper Pennies for a sweater.  The first one I cast on for was a beautiful pattern and I knitted the sleeves and about 8" of the body before I realized that it just wasn't going to fit my body type not matter what I did.  I wound up using that wonderful ball winder from the last post to help me frog the entire thing.  I do have to say that it was much less painful to do it this way and faster too.  One way to find out how a yarn is going to behave over time is to frog it.  I have to say, Breathless DK held up like a champ.  I cast on for Audrey in Unst and I really think it's going to be a lovely sweater for me. 

Im about 14 rows away from dividing the fronts from the back.  Since it was going so well, I also cast on for Ardelise in Verdant Gryphon Bugga Seaside Dragonlet.

My new Candy Necklace pattern is finished and is being test knitted. Beth is already done with hers, and Debbie and Linda are working on theirs. My fingers are crossed that it's nice enough out this weekend for a photo shoot.  I took a quick picture the other day on the mannequin:

Speaking of test knitters, Tierney has a beautiful picture of her Mirrored Step socks on her blog.

On Stranger Tides is in the final portion of test knitting.  Look for a release in the next week or so.

I also have a secret project on the needles.  I'm so excited about it, I'm just about to burst!  It won't be released until May but I will be dropping little hints here and there. 

Tonight I'll be casting on for Anne Hanson's new Fringetree Shawl pattern from the Bare Naked Knit's club.  I have some lovely baby kid mohair yarn that I spun a few years ago that should work perfectly.