Month: December 2014

Knitting

Whatcha Workin’ On? Wednesday 12/31/14

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ON MY NEEDLES

Red Bird Knits Tulips, after some cat vs. sock in progress drama, but, it’s coming right along.

BOOKLOVE

The Alienist, by Caleb Carr, a library book that I’m enjoying enough to renew.  There hasn’t been much reading going on the last week or so. Hopefully this will change for the better this week.  I miss reading, but I do have to sleep sometimes!  📚💤

MORE MIXED MEDIA

I started this yesterday.

So far, acrylic paint, stencils, stamps and hand drawn and colored flower.

I’m linking with Yarn Along, Frontier Dreams and Gracey’s Goodies today.

Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart.  Kahlil Gibran


Happy New Year!

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Knitting

Mixed Media, Whew, Precious Ones

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WHEW!!!!

I’m a tiny bit late posting for Mixed Media Monday, the Iknead family has been on the go since a few days before the Christmas holiday until today, such a blessed, busy time.  We had a wonderful Christmas; but with the grands and the kids, I’m not sure it could have been anything else!  Santa was extra nice, apparently we’ve all been very good this year and I have the pictures to prove it!

 

My son in law is the only person I’ve ever known to ask for cheese for Christmas.  Really.  If you’re wondering, it’s a Stilton he’s so excited about.

 

 

 

Happy Elf!

Sorry Babydiva!  No pics because you have your back turned on them all.  Every. Single. One.

MY OWN MIXED MEDIA

 

Book paper, fabric, stains, card stock, die cuts, wood heart doodad

 Ooh, ooh, ooh!  I scored a Big Shot die cutter at half price at Michael’s yesterday!!

He who knows that enough is enough will always have enough.  Lao Tzu


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Knitting

Whatcha Workin’ On? Wednesday 12/24/14

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ON MY NEEDLES

After a bit of drama last night, finding that Big Mac had discovered the Tulip Socks and the ball of yarn that was birthing them, after he apparently went zooming around the den with the yarn trailing behind and getting wound around table legs and chairs, I salvaged what I could and frogged what was left of the socks and started over.  I wasn’t really pleased with the toe and the heel also left something to be desired anyway.  Actually, this was right on the heels of another wip incident regarding the Mini Mania Cowl I started on Friday.  Overcome with the excitement of getting a treat, Josie leaped off the couch and tore into the kitchen with the cowl yarn looped around one of her back feet and the rest, as they say, is history. The needles were pulled nearly all the way out and I decided it would be more efficient time-wise to just finish what she started and cast on again.  Oh, and for the record, the cowl called for a cast on of 555 stitches….sigh.

Tulip Sock 2.0

 

This is Big Mac.  He’s not a bit sorry.

BOOKLOVE 12/24/14

I’m still reading Jodi Piccoult’s The Storyteller; I’ve not had a lot of reading time this past week, but I hoping for an hour or two of uninterrupted quiet the next few days, mostly while the grands are napping, or at least pretending to nap. 💤

At Christmas play and make good cheer,/ For Christmas comes but once a year.  Thomas Tusser, A Hundred Good Points


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Knitting

Mixed Media Monday 12/22/14

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MOMM*

I’ve been busy the past few days working on the cover for my 2015 Documented Life art journal and looking forward to using an actual journal made just for that.  I’ve been using the smaller version and loving it.  Sooooo much better than the spiral bound notebook I’ve been using!  Here is a journal post using the smaller one and a look at what I’ve done so far on the larger journal’s cover.  I can’t wait to see what 2015 brings!

*My own mixed media

Stamps, purchased and handmade, hand drawn and colored flowers, inks, die-cuts, stencils

Acrylic paint, inks, stencils, stamps, an ATC and a cut-out

I’m thinking of a more restrained approach for the larger journal cover.

THE DOCUMENTED LIFE PROJECT 2014

This week’s prompt, week 52, is holiday traditions.  The first tradition that came to mind was our tree, so that’s where I started.

Inks, copic marker, found hand drawn star and punched red and green cardstock circles

I like it so far.

I don’t know where that white circle came from.

CHRISTMAS GRANDS

It wouldn’t be Christmas without sharing these:

The Papoose and Sprout

 

Babydiva and Babymama decorating cookies.

 

The Elf

Make the best use of what is in your power, and take the rest as it happens.  Epictetus

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Knitting

Whatcha Workin’ On? Wednesday #4, Booklove, Zero to 120

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ON MY NEEDLES

Just in case you missed it yesterday, here it is again: Christmas knitting is complete and with the new crazy beautiful yarn Ms. Postalcarrier delivered Monday, I’m loaded for bear.   I briefly flirted with the idea of starting three new pairs of socks since I was having a hard time choosing which to knit first, but had a moment of clarity, shuffled the yarn, closed my eyes and grabbed.  OK, ok, part of this is a fib… the reason I only started one pair is because I only had one circular needle that met the size and length the pattern called for.  I know!!!!  It’s hard to believe that   there isn’t at least one more sock needle stashed in the drawers and assorted project bags in (and it’s always in caps) The Yarn Room.  Well, that particularly nasty situation will be remedied by the end of today, I can promise you that.  Anyway, here’s what I’m working on now.

Tulips

Red Bird Knits

Candyskein Yummy Series, Acai Berry

BOOKLOVE

The Night Circus – if you haven’t read it yet and you like a little mystery/suspense/fantasy on your pages, you’ll love it, I bet.  It’s a little twisted (like me) and I had a hard time putting it down.

 

ZERO TO WARP SPEED

Life with a two year old – The Elf and Babydiva

9:00 a.m.

 

9:02 a.m.

I’m linking with Ginny’s Yarn Along and Frontier Dreams today.  Visit and prepare to be inspired!

Man invented language to satisy his deep need to complain.  Lily Tomlin


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I, for one, love to see other projects!  Share the love and post your link, then link back to Whatcha Workin’ On.  I also love comments, so feel free to leave one if you want.

 

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Knitting

In Living Color

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COLOR MY WORLD

I have color!!! 😄🌈🌸🎇🎨🍭. You heard right!  Christmas knitting has officially been completed and I’m now busy stalking sock patterns to go with the new yarn that Ms. Postalcarrier brought yesterday.  Which will it be???

Acai Berry

Candy Skein Yummy Series

Glacier Mist

Fiesta Baby Boom

 

Fliederduft

Crazy Zauerball

Would I be nuts to start three pairs of socks today just because I can’t choose?

 An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.  Benjamin Franklin


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Knitting

Monochromatic Mixed Media Monday

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M x 4

Monochromatic Mixed Media Monday – I think all those M sounds are called alliteration.  See Mrs. Smith!  I’ve not forgotten ALL of what you taught me in high school English.  I think it sounds pretty neat.  OK, moving on.  This is what I’ve been working on these past few days –

 Fabric scraps, hand drawn flowers, feather, stencil, vintage blueprint, diecuts, playing card, handcarved stamps, purchased stamp, black acrylic paint, spray ink and assorted doodads

I like the vintagey, grungy look of this one – how ’bout you?

An optimist sees an opportunity in every calamity.  A pessimist sees a calamity in every opportunity.  Winston Churchill

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Knitting

Perhaps Today, Fishies, Very Interesting

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MAYBE TODAY

I don’t have anything finished to post knitterlywise, but have high hopes that by the time the clock shows 12 midnight tonight, I will.  I made a crucial mistake this morning.  I stalked did some research on Zauerball Sock Yarn online and, well, we all know how this movie ends, don’t we?  I’ve been knitting gray for way too long. I NEED COLOR!!!!!  Thus the push for gray to be over and done with.

SOMETHING IS FISHY

I’ve been seeing fish everywhere these last few days, maybe due in part to the trip to PetSmart last week with Bigmommy, the Papoose and the Sprout to purchase some fishy stuff for their new aquarium, after winning a goldfish at the Stuttgart Carnival, which promptly went belly up.  All this leads up to this new mixed media project –

Acrylic background, handcarved stamps, ink, gel pen, painters tape and bookpaper

I had absolutely no plan when I started this one, other than “I wonder what mixing a bit of black and blue iridescent paint and pouncing it on would look like?”

I love the way it turned out!

As an aside, I’ve been told that I have an “intuitive style”.  Having no clue what that means, I googled it and this is what I learned:

 Intuitive painting is a creative practice that releases impulses usually corralled by the logical part of the brain to make a work of art. People who use this technique employ their intuition to paint automatically without stopping to plan for the outcome of the piece. Some practitioners like Chris Zydel, who leads workshops on intuitive painting, believe it is a spiritual experience that can help free the mind and heal the soul.

Interesting.  I’ve always called it flying by the seat of my pants. 🚀✈️🚁😋

We are all of us imaginative in some form or other, for images are the brood of desire.  George Elliot


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Knitting

Whatcha Workin’ On? Wednesday #3, Booklove 12/10/14, Two Weeks left

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ON MY NEEDLES

Christmas knitting continues, but slowly.  Next year, I’m starting holiday knitting in January! My  rule of one knitted gift per year will stand, I’m just trying to minimize the stress of “down to the wire” knitting.  We’ll see how it goes.  Once again, my WIP is this:

 

BOOKLOVE

I’m immersed in Ann Hood’s An Italian Wife, which I’m enjoying very much and have The Night Circus at the head of the queue when Wife is finished.  After that, who knows???

JUST TWO MORE!

I can hardly believe that the 2014 Documented Life Art Journal has just two more weeks, two more prompts and bang, 2014 shuffles off stage and the brand spanking new 2015 project will take its place.  Know what I’m most proud of?  I stuck with it, even with only the vaguest idea of what an art journal is, and learned more than I ever thought possible.  The most amazing thing I learned?  I’m an artist and I love art!  This is a huge take away for me, who has always had problems with “staying in the lines” and always “marched to the beat of a different drummer”.

I’m linking with Ginny’s Yarn Along and Frontier Dreams today.  Visit  and be inspired!

At the center of your being you have the answer; you know who you are and you know what you want.  Lao Tzu 


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It’s that day again!

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Knitting

Dream Vacation

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IN MY DREAMS

I have a confession to make:

I tried hard to make this week’s Documented Life prompt, week 50 if you’re keeping track, about a dream vacation at the beach, I cut out pictures, made a background and arranged everything just so.  Except……

My dream vacation isn’t the beach – before I go any further, I need to make this clear – I love the beach, I do, but being the hardcore homebody I am, I confess that my dream vacation is being home, with my family, my pets, my bed and my spot on the couch, the spot where the cushions fit me perfectly and the lamp is perfect for knitting or writing or reading or a conversation with Mr. Iknead.  I figured this out when I was putting together a packing list for my dream vacation and noticed that I could put my hand on everything I listed from my spot on the couch — books, knitting, paper, pens and family.

So, that’s my confession.  I’m owning it.  Most days, I’m living my dream vacation.  The only tan I have is the one I get from being outside in my yard, playing with grandchildren or pets, or piddling around my patio and plants.  I don’t have a ton of vacation pictures to share, unless you count the ones I take of knitting projects, funny family, art projects and those odd ones you get when you accidently hit the button on my iPhone, I do have a ton of those.

I know this sounds sickly sweet and too good to be true, but it is.  True, some days are better than others and I’m happy to see some days disappear from my life’s rear view mirror, but I’m a radical optimist and believe every day holds something good.  Sometimes you have to look a little harder to find it, but it’s there, every. single. day.

I am lucky.  I am blessed.  This is my dream vacation.

HEY!!!! Wanna see some vacation pics??????

 The latest photo of my ridiculously precious newest grand, the Elf and her equally precious mommy.

You might as well fall flat on your face as lean over too far backward.  James Thurber


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Knitting

Mixed Media Monday 12/8/14

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MY OWN MIXED MEDIA (MOMM)

I’m so happy and excited to have started my new Dylusions art journal.  After using an spiral notebook with lined, not mixed media or watercolor paper, the mixed media paper is such a treat!  Not having to prep my pages with gesso before starting work is awesome – more spontaneous I suppose.  I love everything about this journal!  Here are the first two projects:

 

Stacked Birds

Book paper, Distress stains mustard seed and crushed olive, blue jean and barn door

 

Doodle–>ribbons–>tree

pitt pen, assorted gel pens

This particular journal is the smallest one, the pages measure 5×8 inches.  I have the larger one also, I plan to get started painting the cover sometime this week.  The first cover was just a warm-up! 🎨😺  Blank pages are sooooooo exciting!

The dream is over…  

I was the Dreamweaver

But now I’m reborn

I was the Walrus

But now I’m John.

             John Ono Lennon

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Knitting

Welcome Mr. M!

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HELLO HANDSOME

Say hi to McPhee, the newest addition to the iknead family.  We adopted him from our local humane society and brought him home yesterday.  He’s fitting right in with us, he’s understandably nervous and cautious, but is getting more and more comfortable all the time.  Look how handsome he is!

 

Happy boy!

I can only describe his reaction to being petted and loved on as ecstatic.  His purr can be heard from across the room, he snuggles as close as possible and starts kneading.  Mr. Iknead and I were awakened early – like 4 a.m. early – by loud purring and head butts.  He was so happy to be petted and loved, we couldn’t fuss at him for waking us up.  He and Josie are still in the assessment stage, with hisses and growls if she gets too close or too nosy, but, this, too is getting to be less intense and more half hearted.  It’s great to have a kitty in the house again!

There is no such thing in anyone’s life as an unimportant day.  Alexander Woollcott

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