I finished the Diamond Fantasy Shawl for my mother for Christmas 2006. I love it - and I love the colors. Yes, it's Koigu. I'm a fan, I can't help it. I upped the needle size by 1 to account for the heavier weight yarn. When I was finished, I wasn't sure it would be big enough. As it came off the needles, it looked really short and wide, but blocking transformed it, and it's actually quite large - larger than my Charlotte 35, I think. The pattern is fabulous to work. Really, it's wonderful, and the fact that you are working the little edge points as you go along is fascinating and amazing and perfect and a true joy to do. The "diamonds" don't really show up in the photo all that well. But, I love the set, still. The pose is similar to the one I captured when taking photos of the Charlotte's Web I made for her two Christmases ago. She's not really comfortable in front of the camera this way. But I think they're beautiful shots.
By the way, thanks to Sharlene (AKA Mommio) for the heads up that parts of the new layout were not rendering properly in Safari (and, as I discovered, Firefox). Hopefully things are shaping up now, but if you run into problems using the browser you use, please do let me know. And, check out Mommio's rockin' newly completed Socks that Rock socks. I have to get me some of that!
Your mom's shawl is gorgeous! I may have to try it when I get enough yarn. Definitely check out STR--it's practically my favorite sock yarn to knit with and it's yummy to wear!
What a beautiful mom you have! The shawl is lovely on her!