This is the little blanket Jane got me started on to learn crochet. I've been working on it pretty steadily for the past while; it's been my portable project since I finished Rob's socks. But now, with nine squares done and eleven to go, I've run out of yarn and have to wait until I can get some more.

Can you have a nice horrid day? Today feels like it.

We haven't seen the sun all day and I don't think anything outside has been dry since yesterday but everything smells so fresh and earthy. There is no wind and the rain is more like a lazy mist that you run into. It is just cool enough to make you walk briskly and wear a cute hat.

Work was uneventful but the boss left early and the cafe gave us our tea for free at afternoon break.

The house is chilly but that just makes my cocoa taste better.

And I want to play with wool. Almost crave it really. I'm working on a little crochet right now but I'm still learning so it goes slowly. I think I need to start some knitting or maybe some spinning. Something earthy and rhythmic would be just right today. I'm going to go see what's in my stash.

Pattern: Ballerina Felt Slippers from Fiber Trends
Yarn: Patons Classic Wool in Blueberry
Size: Women's Small
Yardage: 1 skein
Needles: 6.00 mm bamboo circular (24")

These are great slippers. In fact there are so sturdy feeling they are more like knitted shoes. It took five trips through our washing machine to get them to fit my feet - we have a front loader and they don't rough things around like a top loading machine. I think a singles yarn would have felted a little faster and given a smoother finished look. The yarn I used is plied and there are little loops in the surface of the fabric.

To make the decorations I cut large and small circles of some very thin felt (left over from making my wedding flowers). I snipped around the edges to make petals and then needle felted the centres onto the slippers. I sewed some beads in a sort of a circle design in the middles to give them a bit of sparkle.

I like wearing these slippers. They are a nice close fit and don't fall off my feet when I'm walking and they are very warm. I'm going to have cozy toes this winter.