Tag: knit

Knitting

Whatcha Workin’ On?

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IT’S A NEW ONE ON ME

I’ve been playing around with the idea of starting a new Wednesday meme for works in progress, for crafters/artists of all types.  So, this week I did more than just toy with the idea – I did a little research (with emphasis on little) and decided to just jump in and give it a whirl.  I’m calling it Whatcha Workin’ On Wednesday and if you have a work in progress, or, like me, several works in progress, and you’d like to share, jump in and join me! I bet nearly all of us are familiar with the little form thingy, especially if you’ve been sharing all along, just remember to be patient and gentle with me, this is new territory and I’m learning as I go.  Oh, yeah, I love love love comments, but don’t feel like you have to leave one, no matter whst Mr. Linky tells you.  A link, though, a link back to Whatcha Workin’ On would be greatly appreciated.

FYI – I had no idea what a meme was until I googled it and I’m still not completely sure I understand.  Can someone explain in words of one or two syllables?? 😋

One more thing – don’t hesitate to let me know if something is wonky.  Again, I’m new at this and always up for suggestions.

ON THE NEEDLES

Christmas knitting is continuing.  I won’t post anymore about it because it’s a gift, but here’s another of my WIPs.

Socks of Kindness

Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock Yarn

Watercolor

A Pinterest Pattern

 

 If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.  John Quincy Adams

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Knitting

Mixed Media Monday 11/23/14

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MY OWN MIXED MEDIA aka MOMM

I’ve become obsessed with Artist Trading Cards and the idea behind them.  Learn more about them here and here. I love their size, they lend themselves very well to all different types of media, watercolor, collage, stencil, stamps, you name it.  I love that their size being what it is, every element or space needs to “count”, with the attitude of more bang for your buck or large works in a small space and I love the idea of trading cards with other artists, though I feel very shy about this for some reason right now.  Here are a couple that I’ve completed recently.

ATC, Distress Stain, stamps, butterfly die cut, distressed edge

Corregated ATC, die cuts, key, word beads

Maybe today I’ll get more confident and sign up to trade.  Loyal readers, anyone into ATCs?

CREATIVE CHRISTMAS

Christmas projects continue on the knitting front and I’ve added some of my pottery to the mix.  Being Christmas gifts, your imagination will have to suffice, but I’m excited about gifting them and isn’t that what gifting is all about?

THE TABLE

What’s going to be on yours this Thanksgiving?  Ours will hold a turkey, the requested every year english peas, mashed potatoes, broccoli cheese casserole and corn casserole. My Thanksgiving offerings will mostly be of the sweet persuasion, a raisin pie, something chocolate, snickerdoodle bread, and an apple slab thingy that I saw on the King Arthur Flour website that looks and sounds delicious.  Ya know, we could cut to the chase and just cut out the turkey and broccoli but somehow, I don’t think that will happen.  Does it show that I’m not a broccoli fan??

Deeds of kindness are equal in weight to all the commandments.  Talmud

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Knitting

WIP Wednesday, Booklove 11/19/14, Possum?

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ON THE NEEDLES

Yes, I have several WIPs, having finally gotten around to starting my Christmas knitting.  Being Christmas knitting, you’re just going to have to use your imagination.  No photos posted until Christmas Day.  Who said I couldn’t keep a secret???

BOOKLOVE

I’m right smack in the middle of this book, The Secret Life of Violet Grant, written by Beatriz Williams.  Very escapist, a great book for cold days, with a fire in the fireplace and a cup of coffee within easy reach.  I started and finished one called The Dressmaker, by Kate Alcott, a Titanic story with a different point of view.  Another good one for a cold day.

GUESS WHAT DAY IT IS!!!!!

Wondrous Box Day, that’s what!  Otherwise known as Yarnbox Day, it’s the day I want to hug my mail carrier. Look what’s inside this month!

 

Sorry for the fuzzy photo, but you get the color.

Yarn Outlaw

Bohemia Sport

40% Polwarth

45% Alpaca

10% Possum

Absinthe

 OK, this possum thing is a first for me.  Growing up way down in southwest Arkansas, in a town you could describe as “yew cain’t git thar frum heer”, I know about possums.  Sort of cute, but nasty, scavengers that really do fake death when threatened, but could give you a nasty bite anyway.  Is this the same kind if possum?  How exactly do you go about getting possum fur for yarn?  Shear it?  Scare it and shave it while it’s playing possum, pretending to be dead? I’m very curious.  More research needed.

 This is what I think of when I think possum.

The possession of knowledge does not kill the sense of wonder and mystery.  There is always more mystery.  Anais Nin

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Knitting

FO Friday 11/12/14, Cowgirls, Well Hello

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SUP?

Between Revival, Stephen King’s newest, my obsession with finishing Sockhead and more than a little experimentation with some new inks and stains in my art journal, something had to give and this week it was blogging.  Anyone else familiar with the “as soon as I get to the end of this row/this page” syndrome?  I’ve had a raging case of it lately and see no respite from it in the near or distant future.  Oh yeah, and Michael’s 25% off everything (even sale stuff) Veteran’s Day sale ate up quite a few hours also.

OFF THE NEEDLES

Sockhead

Malabrigo Rios

Ravelry Red

This is the second go round for this hat.  The first was way, way too big so I frogged and reknit using size four needles.  It was still a tad big but after a soak, a spin and then a trip through the dryer at the medium setting, the size is perfect.  Two thumbs up!

YEEHAW!

This week’s prompt for The Documented Life art journal project was to incorporate fabric onto the page.  I found an old bandana that I knew was perfect but sort of got stuck as far as overall ideas.  Nothing felt “right”.  I did a bit of brainstorming about what I thought of or felt when I looked at it. The cowgirl motif fell into my head and I swear I actually heard a loud click.  I had the Wild West card in my paper stash, then added vintage cowgirl ephemera I found on the internet.  After I got everything in place on the page, I was reminded of how we used to stick photos around mirrors back in the day.  Actually, I still do this.  Old school all the way, me.  I love how this page turned out –

Week 46

The Documented Life Project

Use fabric on your page.

BAKED

At Mr. Iknead’s request, I baked Hello Dollies today.

Butter, chocolate, coconut, pecans and Eagle Brand – what’s not to like??

 STILL MY BABY

My son and his girls.  An amazing dad who got a surprise promotion today at work. I couldn’t be prouder!

An optimist is a person who sees a green light everywhere, while the pessimist sees only the red stoplight… The truly wise person is colorblind.  Albert Schweitzer

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Knitting

FO Friday Simplex

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OFF THE NEEDLES!!!!!!

Simplex Shawl

My current favorite FO.  Love, love love how this turned out!

We all live under the same sky, but we don’t all have the same horizon.  Konrad Adenauer


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Knitting

WIPW 11-04-14, Booklove

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ON THE NEEDLES (TECHNICALLY)

Simplex Shawl

Since my nitpicky, obsessive side insists that a project isn’t finished until washed, blocked and dried, my WIP this week continues to be Simplex, although I expect that tomorrow it will be transformed into an FO, thanks to the ceiling fan.  Please excuse the wonky photo– I had to stand on the Papoose’s little stool to take the picture.  The way it was moaning and groaning, the photo session could have gone really bad, really fast and I’m happy that I managed to get a marginally OK photo without breaking a hip.  Better photos Friday.

BOOKLOVE

I finished an amazing book today, Labor Day, by Joyce Maynard.  I loved this book and became totally immersed in the story.  Thumbs up all around.

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

It pays to be obvious, especially if you have a reputation for subtlety.  Isaac Asimov 

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Knitting

Marker Mania, 2015 TDL Reveal

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“AIN’T LOVE GRAND??

OK, I’ve officially gone off my rocker for Copic markers. I’ve been spending a lot of time just admiring how pretty they look in the cup I use to hold them on my table. I’m working toward getting better at blending and highlighting, not having any art experience before, I have trouble making what I see in my head match what I’m putting on paper, but with practice I hope it becomes easier.  Even if it doesn’t, every minute I spend with my art journal is a joyful one!

 

THE BIG REVEAL

Right at this moment, thousands of art journalers are anxiously awaiting the announcement of Art to the 5th’s plan for the 2015 The Documented Life art journal.  It’s to be revealed at 12:OO today, EST, which is 11:00 our time.  I suspect there might be a Facebook crash then as we all get our Facebook up and going so as not to miss a single second of the big reveal.  Maybe not, but I’m just saying……..

THE SCOOP

The “official” journal is the Diane Reavley Dylusions large art journal.  I’m excited to try this particular one, the pages are card stock, which I love working with.  This journal is the one that the Art to the 5th ladies are using, but is only a suggestion.  I’ve been using a lined, spiral bound notebook and it’s been OK; having been an art journal newbie this past year, it’s worked for me, but I think I’ll be happier this time around with their suggestion.

They’ve also lined up some fabulous guest artists, including the above mentioned Ms. Reavley, along with new tutorials/classes.  You can check them out on the Art to the 5th website.

OH BTW

The Simplex shawl is (finally) off the needles, just needing a wash and a block and I’m already doing some stashdiving, looking to see if there are any likely project candidates in the pile.  If I was really smart, I’d start my Christmas knitting but hey, why not wait until the last second and pull a couple or three back to back all nighters and make this holiday REALLY one to remember?  Anyone else ever sobbed while Kitchenering a sock toe, while trying to thaw a frozen turkey by the blow dryer method in the wee hours of Christmas morning?  Yeah, me neither.  But I digress.  Simplex pics on Wednesday, I promise.

I can’t complain, but sometimes I still do.  Joe Walsh

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Knitting

WIPW, Bikes at the Beach

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ON THE NEEDLES

I continue to plug along on Simplex, which is slowiy but surely growing and hopefully will be finished in the next week or so.  At this point in every project, I begin fantasizing about my next project, even if I don’t specifically have one picked out.  Too bad I don’t have a time lapse to post, because that’s about the only way to see Simplex’s growth from week to week without actually counting the ridges/pattern repeats.  Someday, I’m going to try a time lapse photo, just for fun.

Makes me think of a pizza!

THE GRANDS

A few more beach pictures, if you can stand it.  I wish I could take credit for these, but I can’t.  Mr. iknead took these beauties.

 Sprout and Sand

 

At the End of the Day

Best idea of the whole week!  Babymama and Bigmommy rented bikes with buggies – it was hard to tell who had more fun!

 The Sprout had to ride by herself, but with a snack and her paci, all was well.  Next year, Charlee will even the count and she’ll have a bike buddy.

Light tomorrow with today! Elizabeth Browning


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Knitting

WIP Wednesday, Booklove 10/14/14

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ON THE NEEDLES

 My Simplex Shawl continues to grow.  According to the pattern, it’s more than halfway finished.  More about it here.

BOOKLOVE

Where do I start?  I’m rereading Stephen King’s Dark Tower series and am up to Book Three, The Waste Lands.  I read The Wind Through the Keyhole in Florida, a book that technically falls between Books Four and Five, but was released in February, 2012.  This series continues to be my all time favorite.  Crazy love them all.

THE DOCUMENTED LIFE

I got a little behind in my art journal while on vacation and am just finishing up last week’s prompt, which was Polka Dots.  After a couple of false starts, I got into the groove, using a circle stencil to draw flowers, then handcoloring them and cutting them out to layer with stenciled dots, spray ink and, probably some stamps.  I drew and colored these flowers just for fun today.  I don’t have a current plan for these, but I thought they turned out well.

 I love drawing and coloring flowers – they’re probably my favorite, but I’ve been sort of down on myself because I’m not good at faces and because lettering also isn’t something I feel I do well, especially when I compare my stuff to projects others post, but I’m adjusting my attitude starting now.  New mindset:  So what if all I can draw is flowers – I love doing them.  So what if every face I draw is weird and more than a little wonky – I’ll never be commissioned to do a portrait.  So what if my lettering leaves something to be desired – I can practice and get better at it and if that doesn’t pan out, I’ll use my computer.  So what if my journal pages will never be hung in the Museum of Modern Art or the Louvre – they make me happy and creating them feeds my soul, just like they’re supposed to and because of that, I am an artist!

Linking with Tami, Frontier Dreams KCCO and Ginny’s Yarn Along

Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go.  T.S. Eliot

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Knitting

WIP Wednesday Just Under The Wire

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ON THE NEEDLES

Simplex Wrap

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A Little Detail

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BEACHBOUND

Mr. Iknead and I, the grands and their respective keepers parents (minus the Papoose and Sprout’s daddy) and Mr. Iknead’s brother and his wife are heading to Grayton Beach next week for an end of summer vacation, thanks to Clef and Mary Vaughan, who also happen to be Big Daddy’s mom and dad and the Papoose and Sprout’s other grandparents. Their generosity truly blesses us again and again.  Thank you again, Clef and Mary! (Heading off to pack my knitting/yarn suitcase.)

Thought is the sculptor who can create the person you want to be.  Henry David Thoreau


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Knitting

Seeing Red

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RED

I’ve started three new projects this week and it’s easy to see their common thread – red.

 

Hermione’s Half Blood Prince Socks

Stash yarn – no ball band

Mercerized cotton

Sockhead Hat

Malabrigo Rios

Ravelry Red

Simplex Shawl 

Frosting Worsted

Delicious Yarns

Cherry

and

Sweets Worsted

Delicious Yarns

Red Velvet

This is a Yarnbox project.

What can I say?  I love red!

Roses red and violets blue and all the sweetest flowers, that in the forest grew.  Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene

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Knitting

WIP Wednesday, Birthday Sprout, Booklove

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ON THE NEEDLES

 Sock.JPG

Feuillettes

from Red Bird Knits

Lorna’s Laces Solemates

Watercolor

Several years ago I took part in Red Bird Knits sock club and received this particular sock pattern.  I long ago forgot what yarn was included, but I picked up a couple of skeins of Solemate a few weeks ago and it seemed to be a great match for this pattern.  Solemate is to die for, so soft!  I glad I bought a second skein because I’m already thinking about my next project using it!

BOOKLOVE

TWO

Our sweet Sprout turned two yesterday! All the grands are especially amazing and Miss Annabelle is no exception.  In a nutshell – you always know where you stand with her.  She either loves it or hates it and wants you to know it in no uncertain terms.  She’s a snuggler, a giggler and has had us right where she wants us from the very minute she was born.  She is a joyful blessing!

GREEN GROWING THINGS

Our flowers have never looked so good!

The Norfolk pine I’d given up for dead has come back with a vengence and has doubled in size!

I don’t know what this is called, but the hummingbirds love it!

Impatiens has nearly taken over our flower bed!

ALL BETTER

As you can tell, I can once again post photos and this makes me happy.  Happy is good.  Mr. Iknead was getting tired of hearing me talk ugly to my iPad.

Linking with Tami, Frontier Dreams and Ginny’s Yarn Along.

Life is change.  Growth is optional.  Choose wisely.  Karen Clark

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