Month: July 2013

Knitting
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THAT GIANT SUCKING SOUND

is time going down the drain as I’ve been wrestling with widgets.  No joke, I started trying to get some new media buttons up and running on this blog on Saturday, though I really can’t swear to it, since it’s all sort of run together as far as time is concerned.  Since I’m technochallenged, it may take me hours to figure out how do one thing.  When the support tutorials start talking about plugins, downloads and zip files, they lose me because I don’t have any kind of grasp on computerese, I just don’t know what they’re talking about and am totally intimidated.  No matter, today,  I finally got things just the way I want them and  can start obsessing over something else.  I’d love to have some feedback, let me know what you think.

POTTING

Monday is pottery class day, with much anticipation during the week.  I enjoy everyone – including Teach (as Leslie refers to her), we laugh A LOT and talk A LOT, all while working with clay, stretching it, extruding it, rolling it and yes, sometimes beating it into submission.  I’m going to raku the pot below, firebug that I am.  Can’t wait!

Same pot, other side.

WTH?

Me and about a million other people are having Flickr issues.  Can’t upload, queue frozen on iPhone.  See above paragraph.

I’m linking up with Frontier Dreams KCCO today.

Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.  The important thing is to not stop questioning.  Albert Einstein

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Knitting

What Happened to My Mojo?

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29 AND COUNTING

I can’t believe that my baby boy, Babydaddy, is 29 years old today. I can’t believe I’m old enough for my youngest to be 29. But I am and he is and life is good. Happy birthday, son, I love you!

BY THE BOOK

I spent the afternoon getting reacquainted with some old friends. I listened to S.E. Hinton‘s book, The Outsiders.  I loved it in high school and discovered I still love it.  It’s a little dated, with rumbles, the Greasers and the Soshes, but heck, it was dated back when I read it the first time, (ahem), back around 1974 or 1975.  Could I also be just a tiny bit dated?

FRUSTRATION IS NOT SOMETHING I DO WELL

Spent way too much time this morning trying to add some widgets to my blog.  I’m estimating it was at least an hour and a half of doing exactly the same thing over and over, with absolutely the same result over and over.  How hard could this be?  I followed directions and then some.  I just don’t get it.   I finally gave it up as a bad job and moved onto something else, something with a low potential for computer dropkicking.  Sewing.

After the abovementioned tearing of hair, I spent hours trying to get four pattern pieces to resemble something at least close to a pair of pants.  I ripped them out at least three times, but you know what?  I learned something every time.  Today, the legs, tomorrow the waistband.

After putting the sewing away, I returned to the continuing battle of entrelac knitting.  Again, I don’t know what I’m doing wrong, I’ve done entrelac patterns before without a problem, but not this time.  This project is in time out, maybe forever, maybe just until later this evening, but in time out all the same.

So, there you go.  Three projects, three fails; what happened to “third time’s a charm”?  Guess it didn’t get the memo.  Tomorrow is another day.

The Coveted Buttons

I have not failed, I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.  Thomas A. Edison

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Knitting

WIPW 7/24/13

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ON THE NEEDLES

A couple of things at the moment.  First up is Hermione’s Everyday Socks for me.  Still really liking the Premier Yarns Wool Free yarn.  This colorway is called Vegas Lights.  Just a few more rows and it will be heel turn time.

Next, the promised entrelac has been started.  This yarn is Lion Brand Fisherman Wool, the original color was sort an oatmeal heather.  It’s been dyed with Kool-aid, a combination of Ice Blue Raspberry Lemonade and Cherry.

   The color did something interesting.  The oatmeal/beigey color is a grayish, light taupe now.  Much, much better.  Really, it reminds me of the Shibui Poodle Skirt yarn I used for a pair of socks a couple of months ago.

IHEARTPOTTERY

After a few hiccups with glazing, this plate finally came out of the kiln and was better than I had hoped.  The glaze is Rhodes Turquoise for the bottom 2/3 and Green Gloss for the top 1/3.  I’m really happy with the combination of glazes in the middle.  I’ve had a hard time with the glazing, it’s really not my favorite thing and I tend to rush through without much thought and consequently, the glaze really isn’t as uniform as I’d like it to be.  There are missed spots and drips.  A little more attention to detail would go a long way in the difference between a good glaze and a great one.  My mantra from here on out is, “take your time, where’s the fire?”

Windchime experiment also went well, aside from glazing hiccups.  They chime better than I thought they would but it’s definitely different from a glass, metal or wood chime.  The  spur of the moment ivy stamp makes me very happy.  I love the rustic look of this!

Linking up with the usual bunch for WIPW – Tami, Frontier Dreams KCCO and Ginny’s Yarn Along.  Inspiration central!

Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.  Thomas A. Edison

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Knitting

Sort of Bluesy

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BLUE ROVING, BLUE ROVING

I know it’s red rover, but I have blue roving and am excited to share it.  It’s from Three Waters Farm, who I found on Etsy.  The colorway is Rainy Day and it’s 100%   Blueface Leicester, a joy just to touch and even more to spin.  I see now what all the excitement is about.  I’m afraid that after this, anything less than BFL is going to be totally unacceptable.   Look how beautiful it is –

I’ve been dropping broad hints for a couple of weeks that my life would be perfect (not that it’s not pretty darn close already) if I just had a spinning wheel.  I’m not sure if Mr. Iknead has picked up on them or not, knitting, spinning and their accessories are not exactly what floats his boat, but since most of what makes me happy makes him happy, getting one is not completely out of the question.  Anyone have one they’d like to donate???  Here’s a little bit on the niddy-noddy – I’m getting better with the spindle, the thickness is getting more consistent, but I have no idea about plying-can that even be done on a drop spindle?  I’m calling what I spin artisanal yarn, which makes all its flaws sound really expensive and something I worked on  for hours getting just right.  😉

MORE BLUE

Mr. Iknead found this little guy yesterday while he was working in the yard.  I’ve never seen a blue tailed skink this small, I think it looks like a piece of jewelry and I’d wear it for sure!

Growth itself contains the germ of happiness.  Pearl Buck

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More links to Three Waters Farm

www.etsy.com/shop/threewatersfarm

www.ravelry.com/people/threewatersfarm

www.facebook.com/threewatersfarm

Knitting

Update, Ta-Dah and You Be The Judge

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JOSIE UPDATE

Much improved this morning, still limping, not putting much weight on that right back leg, but her appetite is back (no surprise there) and she is much perkier.  Still on doggy bedrest and I think she’s loving every minute.  We’re just happy she’s feeling better.

THE REVEAL

My first ever sewing project working from a real, live pattern, McCall’s 4400.

Working from a real pattern was very intimidating.  It seemed to be written in a different language, with symbols, arrows, lines, dotted lines and I almost got scared off, but I reminded myself how knitting was the same way at first and how comfortable I am with it now.  I’m very proud of my first sewing FO.

OFF THE NEEDLES

Mr. Iknead’s Wise Hilda Basic Ribbed Socks, which he was kind enough to model for a photo.

Fashion Forward or Fashion Victim? – You Be The Judge

ON THE NEEDLES

Hermione’s Everyday Socks, for yours truly

This is more of Premier Yarns Wool Free Sock, the color is Vegas Lights.  People are going to see me from a long way away with these.  I love the colors – sort of like a party on my needles!  Just between friends, I was getting really tired of blue/gray/black.  No offense Wise Hilda’s socks, I just needed a change.

I’m linking up with Frontier Dreams KCCO today.  Check it out.

You never achieve success unless you like what you are doing.  Dale Carnegie

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Knitting

Oh No and Oh No #2

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OH NO!

Backstory:  Babymama called last night in a near panic, she, Babydaddy and Babydiva were to leave this morning for a week at Orange Beach, AL and their dogsitter arrangements fell through.  Did I mention that this was about 12 hours before their scheduled leaving?   No, I didn’t think so.  So, Mr. Iknead and I said sure, we’d dogsit Bela, our granddog, no problem, glad to do it and we were.  Did I mention that our granddog, Bela, is a standard poodle?  No, I didn’t think so.  She’s an awesome dog, very smart and very active.  Think of having a gazelle in your living room.   Our pug, Josie, is just about as opposite Bela as you can get and still be considered a canine.   If Bela is a gazelle, Josie is a cross between a rhino and a sloth.  All was going pretty well, everyone was settling down and Mr. Iknead noticed that Josie was limping on her right back leg.  OK, we think, she’s had more exercise in the past hour than she has in probably six months, she’s tired.  She’ll be better in the morning.  She wasn’t better this morning, was not putting any weight on that leg so, of course, a visit to the vet was in order.  Because of this, we had to backtrack, had to hand Bela back off to Babydaddy and Babymama this morning and wait until the vet’s office opened before we called and got the ball rolling.   Thankfully, they were able to make alternate plans for Bela and it all worked out, but I felt AWFUL about the whole thing.  Awful because we had to renege on dogsitting and awful because Josie was limping around and maybe hurt and not just sore.

Poor Josie!

Beautiful Bela (before a haircut)

Long story short:  Josie has a right knee ACL tear, probably not complete, only partial and has to be on doggie bedrest for at least two weeks to allow it to heal and avoid a doggy ACL repair.  I decided not to mention to the vet that Josie lives her life on doggy bedrest, sleeping on various pieces of furniture and only moving around to go outside to potty and to get to her bowl when it’s time for to be fed.  OK, maybe I’m exaggerating a little, but in the summer especially, she moves only when it’s absolutely necessary or if someone in the vicinity is eating.  At which point, she gets up to investigate and stare until she’s given a bite.  So, our definition of doggy bedrest is lifting her on and off the furniture and the rest of the time, sleeping on a nice soft cushion that Mr. Iknead made for her out of an old sleeping bag with a broken zipper.  Hopefully, she has just a small tear or even better, just a sprain and will improve every day with anti-inflammatories and pain meds.  Until we know for sure, doggy bedrest it is.

I still feel awful.

OH NO #2

Today, I started a real, live sewing project using a real, live pattern.  Going along, everything running smoothly, patting myself on the back for trying something new and doing a good job to boot.  Then, last thing, ready to sew up and put on the straps and I realize that no matter how I laid the pattern piece on the interfacing (I think that’s what it’s called), I didn’t have enough, which meant another trip to Hobby Lobby to get more, postponing the big finish.  I know, in the grand scheme of things, putting off finishing for 12 hours is small potatoes, but still……

I’ll post it tomorrow, for sure.

What you see depends on what you’re looking for.

B

Knitting

FO Friday 07/19/13

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OFF THE NEEDLES

I FINALLY finished the Papoose’s Olivia Petit sweater this week.  If you will recall, I had intended to knit three (what was I thinking??) of these sweet sweaters, one for each grand, for Easter.  Clearly, I must have been intoxicated from the heady fumes of possibility that this pattern was emitting at that particular point in time.  Be that as it may, here’s the finished product, blocked, with buttons and ends woven in.

Front

Back

Remember this?  My very first handspun and dyed yarn?

It went from this –

To a Cowl

OFF THE MACHINE

Here’s what I made yesterday – I’m getting more confident all the time on the sewing machine.  I think I might make a trip to Jo-Ann today and brainstorm.

Lining

I have to admit I’m more than a little proud of myself.  On Monday, I couldn’t even thread the machine!  Still on a learning curve, but I can see the possibilities that knowing how to sew will open.

OK, enough already.

I’m linking up again with Tami and Frontier Dreams KCCO.  Pay a visit, willya?

Time stays long enough for anyone who will use it.  Leonardo da Vinci

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Knitting

Look What I Made!!!

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NEWEST OBSESSION

My new-to-me sewing machine is finally up and running and LOOK LOOK LOOK what I made!

Some saw a table runner, I saw a purse!

and

I originally had plans for a reversible bag but then remembered that I’m just learning to sew and really, I couldn’t wrap my brain around how to actually make something reversible.  Scaled back my plan and I love it!

Not too shabby for my first ever sewing projects.  I’m liking it.

ADVENTURES IN DYEING, PART 3

The yarn is I Love This Wool from Hobby Lobby, the color is Kool-aid Ice Blue Raspberry Lemonade.

Meh.  It’s OK, I guess.

Another trip through the land of Kool-aid, this time watermelon.

Now that’s what I’m talking about!

I’ll post it again when it’s dry and wound.

WANTS ON THE NEEDLES

Remember this?

It’s about to become something entrelac, not sure what, but entrelac for sure.

Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.  T.S. Elliot

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Knitting

WIP Wednesday 7/17/13, Doing the Herb

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ON THE NEEDLES

Mr. Iknead’s socks continue to grow.  The first of the pair is finished, and the second maybe 2/3 finished.  My goal is to have them done in time for FO Friday.  I’ve said that before and been defeated, but hope springs eternal and all that.

Wise Hilda’s Basic Ribbed Socks for Mr. Iknead

THE HERB

I noticed yesterday that my basil was beginning to flower and that means it needed to be harvested quickly if I’m to have more basil this summer.  I was going to dry it, but learned that because basil has a high water content, it does better when frozen than when dried.  Learn something new every day, I do.

That’s plain basil on the left, lime basil on the right

My kitchen smells HEAVENLY!

BY THE BOOK

I’m nearly through with Joyland and have enjoyed it immensely, wishing sometimes that there were just a couple more hours in the day, like 26 or 27 instead of just 24, just so I could squeeze in a little more of my favorite pastimes.  (I think I just heard a few moms of toddlers groan.)  I also checked out a couple of library books on spinning and knitting; the pictures are lovely, I may never get to the text!

I’m linking up today with Tami, Ginny’s Yarn Along and Frontier Dreams KCCO.  Don’t forget to visit these awesome blogs!

Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted.  John Lennon

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Knitting

A Jump, Rule Change, Sad Plate

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GETTING A JUMP

I’ve decided to try to get a jump on Mondays by getting a few things accomplished on Sunday night.   Mondays have metamorphosed into a way crazy day – class from 9 to 12 in the mornings (which you can bet on winding up around 1 instead), laundry, errands that should have been taken care of over the weekend but didn’t and then the miscellaneous stuff that catches you by surprise – like trips to the vet, Hobby Lobby (which technically is a fun trip), phone calls, service calls, etc.  Then you count the time that I spend totally obsessed with whatever I’m obsessing about on that particular day.  Yesterday was the sewing machine.  Got my little pocketbook made, all it needs is a shoulder strap and lining; will post when totally complete.  As an aside – I think I’m going to really like this sewing thing.  I plan to check out some patterns for crafty things on my next HL run.

MEANWHILE

I’m a little embarrassed that it has taken me three days to complete this post.  I’ve made a decision to totally consign Mondays as Get Absolutely, Positively, Nothing Done Day.  With pottery class really from 8:30 to 1:00, there’s just not a whole lot of day left to tackle anything larger than maybe loading and/or unloading the dishwasher or doing a load or two of laundry.  This means I’m letting myself off the hook for things that can wait until another day or maybe even be scrubbed from the to-do list that I always have going.  I think I’m going to reinstitute a rule I had when my kids were growing up, the rule that says unless there’s blood or vomit involved, I don’t want to know about it.  Yes, there are exceptions, but that’s pretty much how it always went down.  And ya know what?  My kids survived and even thrived.

GOING POTTY

I’m calling this poor, sad, not round and not even oval, plate “The Plate Only A Mother Could Love”.

I have just three things to teach: simplicity, patience, compassion.  These three are your greatest treasures.  Lao Tzu

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Knitting

Impulse Buy, Just Grands

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REPURPOSE

I bought this table runner a few days ago at Hobby Lobby for 66% off, mostly because when I saw it, I didn’t see a table runner, I saw a purse.  I love its colors and at $5.00 (give or take a quarter or two), I couldn’t pass it up.  In my head, a seam up each side would make a really cool pocketbook and the flap can be trimmed with the already existing fringe, with enough fabric left over to make a strap.  Super cool, super easy, right?  Pay no attention to the fact that I don’t know how to sew, it’s two seams, how hard could it be?  Right?  Bigmommy is bringing a portable sewing machine when she comes to visit tonight and knowing me, I’ll be up all night, trying to make a purse from a table runner, using up all my best swear words in the process.  Oooh, another trip to HL for purple thread, which I’ll need for the side seams that may be my Waterloo.

THE GRANDS

Mr. Iknead and I had some oh so precious one on one time with the Stuttgart grands last night, when they stayed with us overnight so Bigmommy and Bigdaddy could also have some precious one on one time with each other.  These babies are pure gold, went down for the night without a whimper, slept through and I woke up to sweet snuggles this morning.

Pensive Papoose

Sprout and Pawpaw

Then, when I thought it couldn’t be any sweeter, I had some serious one on one time with the Sprout, while everyone else went to lunch.  These special times seem few and far between, so we made the most of them.  I fed her lunch – bananas and oatmeal if you’re interested – gave her a dry diaper, followed closely with a bottle and then put her down for a nap.  So precious!

Copeland, if this dish looks familiar, it is, I have Aunt Veda’s dishes and use them every day.  We’ve eaten a lot of beans and cornbread off these, haven’t we?

The Sprout

Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.  Carl Jung

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Knitting

FO Friday 07/12/13, Bigmommy’s Birthday

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OFF THE NEEDLES

75% Medano Beach Bag

Besides scaling it down a little, I used an I-cord bind-off, mostly so I could practice it.  I do like the rolled edge it makes, though.

HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY

Happy birthday, Bigmommy!  I love you and am so proud of the beautiful woman you’ve become.  It’s been a pleasure (mostly).  Much love.

BY THE BOOK

I finally was able to get started in Joyland by Stephen King and it’s fabulous enough that I didn’t pick up my needles once yesterday because I couldn’t stop reading.  Now that’s a good book.  I totally plan on finishing it today and am anxiously awaiting Dr. Sleep.  I think it’s due to come out in September.

Linking up with Tami and Frontier Dreams KCCO

Anyone who keeps the abilith to see beauty in every age of life really never grows old.  Franz Kafka