A Long and Winding Road

I finished a scarf for a friend's birthday. Lace Ribbon Scarf is a fun, fun, fun knit.  I used Fleece Artist yarn in plum.

Look at those waves, the blocking really opened them up.

My girls have been busy making the young guy some disguises and toys.

A viking helmet and beard, an Ooood mask (not sure of the spelling) and a mini Gandolf.  Young guy likes to point out items on Ravelry that he would like.  It makes the girl's gift giving easy.

Now that the temperature is cooling down, we have been craving things like chili, and stew, and fresh bread.

 This is our favorite Honey Oat Sandwich Bread from King Arthur Baker's Companion.  A version of this recipe is also found in their Whole Grain cookbook.  It is very versatile, I have made it with sourdough starter instead of yeast, used mixed grains like buckwheat or rye, and it never fails to please.

Last year we adopted two rescue dogs, a Yorkie-Poo and a Yorkie-Chihuahua-Dachshund (we think)mix.  We have had a lot of work with the Yorkie-Poo/Murphy.  He didn't like our existing dog, Milky a Pointer-Dane mix.  He didn't like my husband.  He bonded to me quickly and became my shadow and defender.  He had dominance/marking issues with Milky.  We celebrated each little moment of his relaxing and acclimating to being with us and having a steady home this past year and finally the other night something amazing happened.

Murphy sat next to Milky on Milky's bed.  His normal behavior is to have to be with me in the chair or under the chair and certainly never near Milky.  It was amazing.  Milky just sat there sleeping and allowing Murphy to share his bed.  It soon became a photo frenzy and still Murphy sat there.  Did I mention that he hates cameras?

Tangled

I have been having fun trying out zen tangles lately.

These are initials that were tangled for a card swap I participated in. Loads of fun.

Can't You Read the Sign?

I just recently finished a custom sign for a friend of mine.  I love it so much I didn't want to give it up!

French Knots, Satin Stitch, Outline Stitch, Irish Roses, Felt Applique, Paint, and Sparkly buttons. I used the Frixion Pen in Blue to trace the text and when I was finished with the embroidery I ironed it from the back side and the ink disappeared on the front. I wasn't sure if it would work, but I didn't want to iron over the metallic thread. 

It was super fun and I learned a few things for future projects.

Nifty Thrifty Shopping

I have found some fun things lately while second-hand shopping.  Vintage needlework is so much fun to find and dream up uses for. I scored several crocheted and knit border pieces that I can't wait to add to cards and clothing or maybe a canvas!

Lately I have been obsessed with making lace collars.  I have only made one so far but then I found these vintage collars and cannot wait to start some more.  I want to add beads, and there is  a beautiful linen yarn in my stash that needs to become a Christmas present.  The recipient will love a lacey beaded collar!










Who can resist a potholder?  Well, maybe those people exist, but I don't know them.  These vintage thread ones I like to use like coasters or if bigger, under a plant pot to protect from spills.

I had been on the hunt for some black and white toile and the fabric stores were more cream and black. Goodwill saved the day! Two valances, which happened to be just the amount I needed for the bathroom.  One valance above the shower the other for the window.


I also found a great sweater that I was pretty sure was 100% wool and handknit to boot!  Well, I did a burn test on some of the pills under the arm to test my theory and they didn't burn to ash, so I figured I could wash it.  WRONG!!! It is wool and it is now small enough to fit my 7yo son!! Thankfully he loves it and it is getting some good wear.

Silently Stitching

Since it has been awhile (again), I will just post some pictures of what has been going on around here.

a little crochet

a little knitting

a little cooking

                                                          a little field tripping

The holiday season was fun and full of knit/crochet goodies, cooking, and games.  We always play Axis and Allies over Thanksgiving and Christmas. 

This semester started off slow but the kids picked up speed quickly.  The older two girls have to stick to their school schedule  in order to get all their schoolwork done and leave time for crafting of monsters for sale at the local coffee shop.  My younger daughter is working on her doll and bear patterns and working the kinks out of her designs.  Our living room is usually full of doll/bear/monster carcasses, stuffing, snippets of thread, dogs, and a little boy waiting in ambush with a rubberband gun!

He usually has warpaint on and sometimes camo gear. 

The first of the babies due by friends and family has arrived.  Booties, blankets, hats, and sweaters are flying off the needles and hooks and getting packaged up to send, along with some sewn items like dresses,toys, and pillowcases. I love making themed pillowcases for little ones.  My children use them for sleepovers.  It makes it easier not to forget, or to identify who it belongs to if they forget.     

                                                

Wow

Wow, that's how I feel about it being November!!!  I love the Autumn weather and cooler temperatures and the anticipation of the upcoming Holidays.  Even the sound quality outside is different with the leaves fallen and storm windows fastened down.

So to kick off  November, I had the girls all sign up for NaNoWriMo.  It will be a great writing experience for them.  If I will join them is yet to be decided.  I have a billion projects to complete and the thought of writing seems like too much to expect, but it could be a motivator or a catalyst for lots of productivity.

Another thing we are trying to accomplish this month is baking and packaging 24 different cookies, to give to homebound friends for Advent.  Cookies, biscotti, mini breads, and candy are on the list so far. We may even put in some little savory treats like hand pies, or mini lasagnas.

Happy November

I have been absent from this blog for far too long.  Our summer was so busy and full of fun and then school started and......I forgot about this poor blog.  Until, that is, today when I was cruising on Pinterest and came across some freeform crochet and I started thinking about why it always sets me on edge.


http://kase-faz.tumblr.com/post/4190379092/goodmemory-laniegannon-cinoh-batixa


I finally figured out that it reminds me of an overly decorated home with too many knick-knacks.  I like order and clean lines, not as sterile and angular as ultra-modern design, but even and balanced design. I have always been attracted to modern design, but have found in my own personal living space I cannot live with bare walls or white walls.  When I have had to live in such enviroments, I become messy.

What I love about crochet is it's order, and predictable outcome.  By varying where your increases are and when you place them, you can get a flat circle or a sphere.  Or by starting with just a chain and again adding stitches, again controlling where the increases are, you can make a ruffled, parabolic, 3-D structure.

With freeform crochet, the artist's usually vary the fibers and motifs and it can end up bulky and messy.  There are just too many details to take in at once.

http://www.flickriver.com/photos/prudencemapstone/2937061955/

An exception I do take is freeform lace made usually with Irish crochet.


http://olgemini.blogspot.com/


This type of freeform feeds my need for visual order and in it I can find beauty.