Happy Late Birthday, Mama!

Once when my DS was younger, he told me he wanted to be a professional soccer player. Having very practical Irish roots, I explained to him he should have a backup plan for his career. I asked him what his backup career would be. He told me he wanted to think about it and would let me know...

The next day, with an extremely serious face, he told me he thought his backup career would be - International Spy! Struggling to keep a straight face, I then discussed with him the educational plans he should make in order to be -- an International Spy. LOL

Well, I guess the Acorn didn't fall far from the Tree, when while planning my Mama's Surprise 65th Birthday party with my DB Will, I fibbed, lied, and just generally subterfused my way through and TOTALLY surprised her. Here are some pictures of Mama at the party with her school friends Susan and Jerry, a family group picture (my DH is in the hat),

The occasion for this post is that I have FINALLY finished Mama's birthday sweater. I normally have a rather strong, creepy reaction to mannequin posed garments, in particular hats on blank staring mannequin heads. However, I am hoping to avoid that crawly feeling by using an awesome antique dressform that my DH bought for me at an auction. It is really a rather cool dressform with a retro flair.

I am really proud of my 1st Knitted Garment. It is called "Garnet" by Elsebeth Lavold knit in Classic Elite Premier in Lavendar. I had to take out the shaping on the bottom of the sweater, because my Mama (nor myself, nor most of the female population, I would guess) are not 4 inches smaller at the hip that at the bust!! I also used the largest cast on for the sleeve as I did not want it to be too tight. I also lengthened the sleeve by about 1.5 inches. It is beautifully soft and I hope she'll love it.