OFF THE NEEDLES
Liesl is a done deal – knitted, ends woven in and blocked. It fits and I’m really, really excited at how it turned out.
Knitpicks Cotlin in Brown Sugar
Cocoknits
I’m linking with Tami and Frontier Dreams KCCO today.
Science is organized knowledge. Wisdom is organized life. Immanuel Kant
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ON THE NEEDLES
I’m coming right along with the Cable and Pleat Tunic, being really close to finishing the front and side shaping. For once, the color in the photo is nearly, if not completely, true. Another awesome thing about the patio – it’s a fantastic place for taking pictures.
POTS
Here’s my latest set of pots, which once again exceeded my glazing expectations.
I have one or two left to glaze and plan to go into the studio this weekend to finish them up. Class has a two week break before the next session and it’s always nice to go into the studio with a clean slate as far as projects go.
BOOKLIKE
This week’s book is a biography of Johnny Cash by Robert Hilburn. I like it, I don’t love it. It had parts that are hard to read, it feels like you are in the front row for his self destruction at times. It also goes into minute detail seemingly sbout everything, which bogs me down sometimes. This probably won’t be a repeater, it’s a library book, so I don’t feel guilty about just skimming it in parts. I’m anxiously waiting for my Audible credits to show up so that I can get Stephen King’s newest, Mr. Mercedes. They should be coming any time now.
AN ASIDE
Mr. iknead figured out how to turn the autocorrect off, but now, I get aggravated at all the typos and have to proofread much more carefully. I know, gripe, gripe, gripe. Sheesh!
I’m linking with the Wednesday regulars, Tami, Frontier Dreams and Ginny.
You must train your intuition — you must trust the small voice inside you which tells you exactly what to say, what to decide. Ingrid Bergman
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ON THE NEEDLES
My Cable and Pleat Tunic is once again on the needles, after starting and then frogging three times. I’m hoping that this attempt is THE one and I’ll finally see real progress.
MORE CRAFTINESS
I decided to I needed some kind of jar or pot to store the assorted brushes, pencils and markers that are accumulating quickly on my craft table. I love paisley- bet you didn’t know that about me- and decided to experiment with some paisley shapes and a straight sided glass jar. It’s not finished, I plan to cover the jar completely with paisley and then outline to make them stand out. Here’s what I have so far-
Yeah, I can see that outlining them is going to be a must to delineate the paisley shapes.
BOOKLOVE
I just finished Maeve Binchy’s A Week in Winter yesterday and it was OK. I enjoyed it, but probably won’t pick it up to read again. Admittedly, it was a departure for me, I generally go for nonfiction or horror or crime novels. Still, I liked it enough to finish it.
FIRST TIME
This morning was the first time I’ve been able to enjoy my coffee and newspaper on the patio. Birdsong and cool breezes, coffee and newspaper=perfect place to spend the morning. Crazy good.
Linking with Tami, Ginny and Frontier Dreams today.
Who we are never changes. Who we think we are does. Mary Almanac
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ON THE NEEDLES
I received the yarn for my My Harmonica Shrug yesterday, but in spite of my best intentions, it didn’t get finished. Today is another day, though, it could transform from WIP into a FO; technically, the day’s not over until midnight, right? I frogged the Cable and Pleat Tunic and restarted this time without the twist. That’s what distracted me from My Harmonica. I promised Harmonica that I absolutely, positively will not work on any other project until it’s finished. Yes, I talk to my knitting all the time, most of the time nicely, but there have been moments….
GOOD NEWS BAD NEWS
The good news is that the patio is finished and we’ve purchased a table, an umbrella and four great chairs to go with it. We’ve also gotten most of the plants in the ground and so far, they all seem to be doing well. We have a couple of different begonias, impatiens, lamb’s ear, butterfly bush and coral bells in the flower bed, with just a couple more to plant, a redbud that a friend gave me and an oakleaf hydrangea from another friend. The bad news is that it has rained for the last three days, so all the lovely furniture we’re so anxious to use is sitting in the garage, waiting for the sun to come out. When I checked the forecast this morning, it said rain and thunder showers continuing through Sunday. Crap. I hope it’s wrong. The other bad news is that Mr. Iknead’s back went out yesterday, due, I’m sure, to all the stooping, squatting and lifting he’s done over the past week or so. He had a rough afternoon yesterday, I hope he’s better today. Poor thing.
PARTING SHOT
The newest Yarnbox arrived earlier in the week and here’s what it contained – 
Two skeins of Fingerpaints Supersock Self Striping from Cherry Tree Hill Yarn, 100% superwash merino, in Java Jive. I have only three words – It. Feels. Amazing.
Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere. Chinese Proverb
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OFF THE NEEDLES
Catnip socks! Hurray!!
Wendy Johnson’s Catnip Socks
Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock, in Wonderstone
Now, I’m off to stalk Rav in an effort to decide which project(s) to knit next, maybe a shawl or more socks. You can never have too many of either, you know.
CLOCK WATCHING
The Papoose, who claims, as always, “No nap for me, I’m not even tired” as she keeps an eye on the clock for the end of her rest time.
Linking with Tami and Frontier Dreams KCCO.
Living at risk is jumping off the cliff and building your wings on the way down. Ray Bradbury
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ON THE NEEDLES
Christmas knitting is going like gangbusters. One more evening of knitting on this particular project should wrap it up.
Les Miz scarf/shawl is moving right along, although when I took it outdoors for a picture I noticed that somehow one of the needles has pulled out, so that will be today’s Les Miz knitting.
Yesterday was a day of galloping startitis, so I caved and started Hilton Field Cowl, designed by Kate Gagnon Osborn, in a book called November Knits . I’m using Cascade 220 that I found in the sale bin at Yarn Mart, in the colors I love. Does it get any better than sale yarn in favorite colors? I don’t think so.
ON THE BOBBIN
This
is in the process of becoming
this
Merino from Diamond B Sheep in Greenwood, Arkansas
Linking up with Tami’s WIPW blog and Frontier Dreams. Visit them for inspiration overload.
Bite off more than you can chew, then chew it. Ella Williams
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Happy First Birthday, Sprout!
I’M INTO POTS
Oh my gosh! What a difference seven days makes! First pottery throwing class was last week and I admit it – I wasn’t sure that that whole wheel thing was for me. I did promise myself that I’d give it four weeks and if I still wasn’t feeling it, I’d go back into the morning handbuilding class. Well, yesterday’s attempt at the wheel was totally different, something clicked inside my head (in a good way) and it was so cool! The clay stuck to the wheel, just like it was supposed to, centering the pot on the wheel was a million times easier and by the end of class, my hands were beginning to know what to do to cone the clay up and down on their own. Nothing post-worthy yet, but I may go to the Art Center today to practice more, besides, I have a pot that needs to be glazed and I’m thinking black.
GRINS AND GRANDS
I ran across this photo when I was looking for something else on Flickr. I don’t know how I missed it because I love it! My son, Jordan, and his niece, Susannah. Isn’t it sweet?
ON THE NEEDLES
Les Miserables from Cynthia Parker, Hand Held Knitting in Fayetteville, Arkansas
Using
I’ve also started on some Christmas knitting, which, for obvious reasons, must be kept under wraps until then.
TOPSPIN
My roving FINALLY arrived and this is what it has become –
Mixed undyed black and white roving from Fire and Fluff, this may further morph into socks, but I’ve still not decided for sure.
Linking with Tami Amis and Frontier Dreams.
Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies. Mother Teresa
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I’ve been entirely too “hit and miss, mostly miss” about blogging since Mr. Iknead and I returned from our vacation. I’ve intended to get back in the routine, but have found some sort of excuse every day to put it off another few minutes, which turns into hours, which turn into days….
ON THE NEEDLES
I think this is one reason I’ve been so lazy about posting – too many projects with most of them stalled for one reason or another. The Ruffled Tank is ready to block before starting the ruffles, I intend to get that accomplished today and I started the Botanical Cowl on Friday, using the last vacation souvenir yarn from the Destin Yarn Shop. Then there’s the Blue Day socks I want to cast on for the Blue Day KAL on Ravelry, which started last week. I love the idea of a KAL, but the committment? Not so much. I should go get dressed so I can get some pics of the abovementioned before it gets too hot. Doing it in my pjs doesn’t bother me a bit, but Mr. Iknead tends to freak a little when I go outdoors in my jammies for anything other than picking up the newspaper from the front door. My neighbors across the back probably aren’t nuts about it either, come to think of it.
Then there’s the attempt at destashing, asking myself to answer truthfully, “Are you really going to use this yarn/yarn remnant someday?” Sigh. Where do I draw the line? Sigh.
Botanical Cowl
I’m falling in love with Mini Mochi, I think!
Ruffle Tank before washing, blocking and ruffles.
ON THE BOBBIN
And then there’s the spinning. I’ve spun nearly all the fleece from last week, I’ve been holding a little back, sort of like for a rainy day, which I plan to card and spin sometime this week, if not today. I ordered some beautiful roving last week and am a little bummed that it hasn’t arrived yet and with today being a holiday, it for sure won’t arrive until tomorrow at the soonest. This is where the rainy day thing kicks in.
Simplicity is the key to brilliance. Bruce Lee
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OFF THE NEEDLES
Here’s Hermione’s Everyday Socks:
This pattern is a Rav freebie and I totally loved knitting these up; a four row repeat that was easy to memorize and was really awesome with the yarn, which was from Premier Yarns and was wool-free. The color is Vegas Lights and lent itself well to this pattern. Being on vacation for the past week, these socks had quite a bit of beach time. Got a few odd looks, you’d think people had never seen knitting on the beach! 🙂
SCENES FROM VACATION
BABYDIVA AND BABYDADDY ON THE BEACH.
THE SPROUT LOVES THE BEACH!
Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which one to keep, Scott Adams
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ON THE NEEDLES
This is the WIP that I nearly went nuts getting posted to this week’s WIPW yesterday, only to figure out that was NOT Wednesday, it was Tuesday and no, I’m not oriented as to the time, place or person. Hanging out in a hospital room will do that to you.
Scrappy Yarn Blanket from The Heathen Housewife
A Free Ravelry Pattern
APPRECIATION
I just want to give a quick Thank You to all who have encouraged me and prayed for Mom and me these past few days. I can definitely feel them all. They’ve really made a difference, helping me maintain a positive attitude and a patient heart.
I’m linking up today with Tami and Frontier Dreams, give them a visit and be prepared to be wowed!
If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change. Wayne Dyer
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ON THE NEEDLES
For your viewing pleasure, I present Heidi Kirrmaier’s Mendano Beach bag, in Sugar and Cream 100% cotton, Country Red and Ecru, started last evening. I love everything about this bag, especially the tie shoulder strap. Being vertically, ahem, challenged, bag straps are usually too long, so a adjustable strap is always a good thing. The price is right also, a free Rav pattern.
MOVING ALONG
The Sunday Swing socks are finished, cast off, ends woven and photos taken but you’ll have to wait until FO Friday for the unveiling. There will be no FOs posted until it’s time. ; ) Remember those old commercials, for Bartles and Jaymes, I think. A blast from the past as they say.
LANDSCAPED AND LOVELY
For another type of finished project, look at our new front yard! We’ve gone from the ugliest yard on the block to the most beautiful, IMO. We finally were able to have a sprinkler system installed and had real, live landscapers come in and transform it for us. Here’s a really embarrassing before photo-
and a couple of afters, as of yesterday morning
Love my Hydrangeas!
I’m linking up with Tami’s WIPW blog and Frontier Dreams Keep Calm Craft On blog on this Wednesday. Don’t forget to pay them a visit!
In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous. Aristotle
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OFF THE NEEDLES
The first Crocus Vernus sock is (finally) off the needles and I’m pretty happy about the way it turned out. If you remember, this was the project that inadvertantly was left behind after the Papoose’s birthday party and had one of the needles pulled out before I could reclaim it. I gave putting it back on the needle a quick try but then decided to suck it up and frog. I made a change or two, mainly deciding to just do three pattern repeats for the leg instead of eight, making it shorter and hopefully not quite so hot on the feet this summer.
I started the second sock yesterday and am on the second of the three pattern repeats on the leg. A FO Friday post seems possible.
JUST ADD WATER AND PLEASE PASS THE SUNSCREEN
Mr. Iknead and I are joining kids and the grands today for a swim and then a cookout. Babydaddy is smoking some ribs and my contribution will probably be something sweet and maybe some deviled eggs.
Saturday afternoon, I began the much dreaded, once every two or three years, search for the perfect swimsuit. You know the one – it gives me the same body that I had 30 years ago, when I could laugh in the face of gravity, and shows off the perfect tan that I slaved over, beginning in March, shivering in a bathing suit but sure it would all be worth it when I heard the gasps, ooohs and ahhhs of envy around the pool. Never happened, never will but I did get two new bathing suits without too much damage to my self esteem. Still, could someone just tell me why the lighting in dressing rooms invariably makes my skin look like cottage cheese?
I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work. Thomas Edison
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Knitting, sewing, gardening, and the occasional gluten-free recipe.
A little about knitting and a lot about nothing...
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Est. 2019
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