Category: Knitting

Works in progress, finished objects, yarn, patterns

Knitting · Mixed Media Art

MIA

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MIA

I’ve been missing in action this week, due mostly to two things – an annoying upper respiratory bug that’s just severe enough that I have next to no energy for anything.  When I don’t feel like a trip to Hobby Lobby or Michael’s, I’m feeling puny for sure.  The other thing is that thanks to Bigmommy, I’ve become addicted to Two Dots, playing this game instead of catching up on blogging, art journaling and the infinite number of other things I’m usually engaged in.  I did get some spinning done this week, not enough to make a dent in my spinning stash, but enough to need to ply and free up a bobbin or two.  So, in case you’re wondering, that’s what I’ve been up to.

GREEN GROWING THINGS

My flowers continue to come on like gangbusters, thanks to our milder summer and Mr. Iknead’s faithful watering. I took some time last evening to take some random photos – I needed some fresh air after being inside all week nursing my cold – so I’ll share some of my favorites.

The colors on this begonia are stunning and as beautiful on the underside as on the upper, which I’d show, except Flickr is having some issues.  Apparently no one can upload photos on the planet, judging from the topics on Flickr help.

Frustrating.  I hope tomorrow it resolves.

Age is no guarantee of maturity.  Lawana Blackwell

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Knitting

Thriftin’, Pawpaw and 2/4 grands, TDL

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WHERE’VE I BEEN

Last Thursday, I invited myself to Stuttgart for a visit, mostly to help out Bigmommy a little and just to spend a little QT with the Papoose and the Sprout.  I got to see the Papoose’s school and was fortunate enough to get the grand tour. Very exciting stuff!  My sweet son in law shares my love of rooting around thrift and antique stores, so Friday morning he, the Sprout and I took a field trip and did some thrifting.  I’ve collected blue and white pottery for just about forever and scored two new pieces and yet another hippie purse.  Say what you will, Bigmommy, about me being an old hippie, but because everything old is new again, I’m on the cutting edge of today’s fashion. ; p. So there.

These are in great shape, the spigot button sticks but will work perfectly after a little WD40.

These were both made by the Marshall Pottery, Marshall, Texas

Love everything about this!

2/4 GRANDS

You can tell he doesn’t care anything for them!

The only thing that could possibly make him happier would be to have all four in his arms.

THE DOCUMENTED LIFE

This week’s prompt was to somehow incorporate a feather.  This is my take on it, along with an e.e. cummings poem.

Modeling paste, peacock feather stencil, Derwent Blocks

Acrylic background, watercolor feathers

In seed time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy.  William Blake

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Knitting

WIP Wednesday, Booklove and Babylove

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ON THE NEEDLES

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Knit Vested and Stylish

Quince&Co.

Lark in Twig

So, before Mr. Iknead and I took off to Mt. Magazine last weekend, I did a stash dive and came up with ten (!) skeins of this lovely yarn.  I’m a little embarrassed to reveal that I’d completely forgotten about this little bit of stash enhancement.  Obviously, I’d bought it with a particular project in mind, what with ten skeins and all, but as for the planned project, no clue.    Anyway, I started  cruising Ravelry for patterns and settled on a  sweet and simple vest from Redheart.

Vested and Stylish

Redheart

Sorry sbout the crazy photos, my phone battery bit the dust and photos taken on my ipad are HUGE. We’re charging, by the way.  The pattern and the Lark yarn seem to be a perfect match; I love it when a plan comes together! 😉

WEDNESDAY BOOKLOVE

I just finished Anthony Rapp’s memoir, Without You.  This is another happy discovery, Mr. Rapp was one of the lead characters in my all-time favorite play, Rent.  FYI, he played Mark, an aspiring filmmaker.  A good read, especially since I love Rent so much, of course, it was loaded with Rent references and bits of insider trivia.  Next up is Lucky Us, by Amy Bloom, a book I know next to nothing about, other than the synopsis sounded interesting.

GRANDBABY LOVE

New Kid on the Block

Charlee Faith, who is all of one month as of Monday.  Beautiful, right??

She’s #4 in the grandbaby line up and I’m here to tell you, the grandparent thing?,  it never gets old.  Ever.

I’m linking today with Tami, Yarn Along and Frontier Dreams.

The greater danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.  Michelangelo

 

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Knitting

Love in the Library

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READ ANY GOOD BOOKS LATELY?

I’ve been burning up our local library’s downloadable collection more than usual these last few weeks.  My most recent read is Mambo in Chinatown written by Jean Kwok, a book I checked out because the title intrigued me.  For the longest time, I only read nonfiction, history and/or bio/memoirs mostly, but lately I’ve been branching out into fiction and (this is my dirty little secret) YA.  I love my library, I love that it’s right around the corner from my house and I can walk there.  I love it that the staff seems to always have time for a quick book discussion or recommendation.  I love that I can settle into a comfortable chair and knit the afternoon away without odd looks or feeling that I should move along and free up space for “real readers”.  I love seeing my tax dollars at work!  I love my library!

Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.  Buddha

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Knitting

Infatuated!

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OFF THE NEEDLES AND I CAN’T WAIT FOR FO FRIDAY!!!

I’m calling this bag Infatuated bacause…I’m infatuated!  Felting is finished and it’s sunbathing dry.

Infatuated_Bag.JPG

Infatuation

Noro Kureyon 352 and Cascade 220 #7801

Designed by Irina Poludnenko

It has a lot of fuzz, but I expect that will diminish with some patient lint brushing.

Knitting

I Do Redo, WIP Wednesday and Grands

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I DO REDO

Mr. Iknead and I renewed our wedding vows last Friday for our 35th anniversary.  It was surprisingly emotional, both for me and for him.  I’m not a crier at all, so to just break down with happy tears was unusual.  We had Holy Communion – again, surprisingly emotional and just special.  That’s the only word I can find to describe it, special.

Aren’t we beautiful! Seriously!

Trio of Blessings

L to R – The Sprout, Babydiva and The Papoose

 

 After pics, we all went out to dinner and it was just joyous…..until the nasty little incident with Babydiva.

Here’s what happened:  we had to wait for a table, not unusual, we were a big group and it was Friday evening.  Waiting for a table with three hungry children had ugly potential, so Babydaddy and Bigmommy took the big girls outside to wait.  Lots of little girl fun, with hopping, skipping attempts, chattering, laughing, squealing – little girl stuff.  During a round of hopping, Babydiva tripped and faceplanted on the sidewalk.  Lots of blood and little girl hysterics, both from Babydiva and the Papoose.  Luckily, no broken or loose teeth, just a fat lip and we were able to get it iced quickly. I think Babydaddy was more traumatized than Babydiva, luckily for them, I just happened to have a Tide pen in my pocketbook and his bloody shirt was taken care of and Babydiva just happened to have some Barbie stickers and what didn’t come out with the pen, she put stickers over.

Poor Baby

Anyhow, it didn’t affect her appetite and by the end of the meal, all were happy again.   Parenting in the Trenches or Never A Dull Moment. : )

ON THE NEEDLES

Slip Stitch Felted Bag

Irina Poludnenko, Designer

Kureyon #352 and Cascade 220 #7801

Linking with Tami and Frontier Dreams.

Imagination rules the world.  Napoleon Bonaparte

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Family · Knitting

FO Friday, I Do, Wise Words

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OFF THE NEEDLES

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Honey Nectar Cowl

Tosh Chunky in One of a Kind Nectar

This yarn was much prettier after it was knit up.  The colors seemed sort of, I don’t know, blah, I guess.  I’m so glad I stayed with it to the finish.  I love the soft, subtle colors now!

I DO RENEW

Mr. Iknead and I are renewing our marriage vows this evening, with our sweet son in law officiating.  It’s very low key, just family, the kids and their spouses and the grands, in front of the fireplace here at home, with dinner afterward. The past 35(!) years hold so much laughter and love, along with some tears, of course, but the love and laughs far outweigh anything else.  So, yeah, I’d do it all again in a heartbeat.  Pictures to follow.

A WORD TO THE WISE

When your paper carrier leaves your paper right on top of your sprinkler system, do not, I repeat, do not attempt to dry it, the paper, not the carrier, in the microwave; or at least, don’t get distracted and walk away.

I didn’t know paper would ignite at around the 20 second mark.  Yeah, my attention span is about that short.  Burned clean through the first section and about halfway through the second, FYI.

Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.  Henry Ford

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Knitting

How’d It Get To Be Thursday Already???

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SO YEAH

I truly don’t know what happened to my time this week.  I’m just surprised today is Thursday already.  We watched the Papoose and the Sprout once this week and had dinner out with friends, last night, I think (Taziki’s, yum) but aside from those things, I’m at a loss.  My story is that I was abducted by aliens, everyone knows that when you’re abducted by aliens, you have missing time, right???

ON THE NEEDLES

Apparently, I was able to grab my knitting on the way to the mothership (see above) and started a new project, Honey Cowl. Details here.  i had a skein of Mad Tosh in a one of a kind colorway, Nectar, which is working up nicely.  If all goes as planned and I don’t have another appointment aboard the mothership (see above), it will be off the needles in time for FO Friday.  It’s not the most exciting project, but it works up quickly and easily enough.

Honey Cowl

SOME WOULD DISAGREE

I read somewhere a day or two ago that nothing dates someone more in this day and age than putting a double space between the ending punctuation of one sentence and the first letter of the first word of the following sentence.  It just screams “Hey everyone!!!!  I learned to type in the 1970s (or earlier)!”  Know what?  I don’t care – not even a little.  Mrs. Frachiseur’s typing method rules and will continue to do so.  FYI – Mrs. Frachiseur was the typing teacher back in the day at good old DeQueen High.  Hey Mrs. Frachiseur!! I’m so happy to know it’s not the gray hair or the laugh lines giving me away.  It’s the dadgum double space!  

1/4 GRANDS

The Sprout

  

 First Time Painter

 

 MOMM*

My newest mixed media project, with modeling paste, ink stamps, postage stamps and acrylic paint.

 Always be smarter than the people who hire you.  Lena Horne

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*My Own Mixed Media

 

Knitting

FO Friday, What To Do Next?, Pretty!

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OFF THE NEEDLES

My Guernsey Wrap

It’s unblocked and I’m sure the stitches will really pop after blocking, but I’m so excited to have something finished for today  that I couldn’t wait.  I’ll post another photo, I promise.

DECISIONS, DECISIONS

What next? Socks maybe? Another wrap? A sweater?  Maybe one of each?

SHINY!

This is my anniversary gift from Mr. Iknead. We’re renewing our vows next week with son in law Clefton officiating.  Thirty-five years and he’s still my best friend.  (I’m leaving out the lover stuff because it grosses the kids out.) He’s getting better at his gift giving, but he still needs more practice ;).  I saw this when we went to get our wedding rings cleaned and resized, and I loved it. I never dreamed I’d have it on my finger!  I can’t stop admiring it!

Knitting

Ouch!!! Successful Sling

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OWWWW

I woke up Sunday before last with a toothache, just out of the blue.  It was strange, just coming on like that.  No problem with my regular evening’s brushing and flossing Saturday night.  Anyway, I had a root canal this afternoon and with any luck, I’ll be back to normal toothwise tomorrow.  OK, whine over.

SLINGING THE BABY

Look what Babymama and I made!  The sling, I mean; I had nothing to do with making the baby.  Wait, Mr. iknead and I made Babydaddy, so I guess I did have something to do with… never mind.

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The first official wearing of the baby sling Babymama and I made.  It looks great, doesn’t it?

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I’m having some challenges with WordPress/BlogPro.  Here’s hoping I can settle these.

Well done is better than well said.  Benjamin Franklin

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Knitting

WIP Wednesday, Booklove

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ON THE NEEDLES

Though it looks the same as it did last week, I have made progress on My Guernsey Wrap and hopefully will have knitted the last stitch in time to post it as a FO on Friday.  If I didn’t jinx it by saying that, that is.  You can read more about it here.

BOOKLOVE

Man, I’ve been burning through the downloaded library books this week.  So far, I’ve finished Home Safe by Elizabeth Berg, Grey Wolf by Simon Dunstan, Sisterland by Curtis Sittenfeld and started Delicious, by Ruth Reichl.  All great books, but I  think my favorite is going to be Delicious, but really, it’s too soon to tell.

FIXED

I had a challenge or two with my last post with a couple of pictures missing.  It’s fixed (I hope) and if you’d like to give it another look, it’s here.

I’m linking with Ginny’s Yarn Along, Tami and Frontier Dreams.

Excellence is to do a common thing in an uncommon way.  Booker Washington

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Knitting

Grape Jelly, Pots and Paper

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JELLY GIRL

This photo is so totally cute, so totally Sprout, I have no words…..

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POTS

This little guy started out as pinch pot practice, then it grew on me and I added some coils and I just this second saw a funky face on it.  Does anyone else see a face?  Not sure I like what I’m seeing.  Freaking me out a little to be honest.

 

This one slid in under the radar, for some reason, I have no notes on it at all, so I have no idea what it’s glazed with.  Salt celadon, maybe?

 IMPULSE BUY

I saw these on my latest trip to Hobby Lobby and picked up a couple on a whim, a pack of watercolor and one pack Bristol.  Here’s a couple of things I’ve been playing at –

The top two are spray inks, the bottom left is watercolor and Pitt pen and the right is Pitt pen and Copic marker over watercolor.

By the way, I finally broke down and got a couple of Pitt pens and I love love love them!  They’ve totally lived up to my expectations, why did I wait so long???

One today is worth two tomorrows.  Benjamin Franklin

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