Tag: shawl

2020 · Arkansas Art Center Sale · Knitting · pottery

Five Roses Finish!

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OFF MY NEEDLES

My Five Roses Shawl is finally finished and I think it turned out really well. There were a few moments when I seriously considered frogging and starting over but I’m glad I didn’t. My project notes are here.

My Five Roses Shawl

Christmas knitting continues. With My Five Roses completed, some of my self imposed pressure has eased and I plan to focus on my Christmas projects for the next few weeks. No new projects until 2021 is my mantra for the time being. 🧘‍♀️

In the kiln

I have high hopes for these little bowls. I got a sample pack of brand new Amaco glazes and can’t wait to see how they turn out.🤞

We see things not as they are, but as we are. Our perception is shaped by our previous experiences. Dennis Kimbro

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Knitting

Dixie 8 Handknit Socks 0, WIP Wednesday

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This little angel is waging war on my handknit socks!

I’m beginnning to think I  need to buy a safe…she manages to find and destroy at least one sock of a pair.  She’s learned to knock the clothes hamper over to pull out the socks.  I’m trying to cut her some slack, she’s still a puppy, but her taste for handknits and Mr. iknead’s azaleas is making me want to tear my hair out.

ON MY NEEDLES

This is about the fourth attempt at getting started on this.

Droplets Shawl

Knitpicks

Airy Yarn from Unique Chic Studios

80% Tussah Silk/20% Merino

I think I finally have a handle on it – I hope so anyway!

ONE MORE THING

I’d like to invite you to visit my new Etsy shop, ClayDreamsPottery..  I plan to update every other Monday morning, but now, I’m slowly adding things, but I’d love for you to come have a look around.  I hope you like it!!!!!!!

Those who aim at great deeds must also suffer greatly. Plutarch

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Knitting

But When Can I Start Knitting Again???

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FINGER NEWS

Over the last few months, I’ve developed a ganglion cyst at the top joint of my right index finger which has been growing and getting increasingly tender.  I finally went to my local doc, who, in turn, sent me to a hand specialist.  Hand doc recommended excision of cyst, along with some bone spurs that have also gotten larger and more painful.

CUT TO THE CHASE

Had finger surgery yesterday, which went very well according to the hand surgeon (best ever IMHO)

and am now sporting this –

My postop visit is 6/21 – 2 weeks from now.  I’m hoping to have figured out how to knit around the dressing before then. 🤔 If not, then I suppose Mr. iknead will be shopping for a straitjacket. 🤣

ON MY NEEDLES

No doubt most will recognize Clapotis, which has

proven to be a really enjoyable knit!

 

A bit of stitch detail (please disregard cat hair)

Knitted using Baa Ram Ewe Dovestone DK

A blend of 50% Bluefaced Leicester, 25% Wensleydale

dark brown masham

Rhubarb

It’s been YEARS since I picked up a hook and I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how easy it has been to get back into crochet.  This pattern is Windowpane Scarf, using Hobby Lobby Sugarwheel, Green Tea Swirl colorway on a size E crochet hook. Not crazy about the color, but it’ll do. 🙂

Bangkok to Little Rock Countdown continues at T minus 18 days……

Yesterday is history. Tommorrow is a mystery. And today? Today is a gift thats why they call it the present.

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Linking today with Artsy Fartsy Link Party

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 4/30/14, Booklove

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ON THE NEEDLES

1) Hitchhiker

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2) Socks on a Plane, #2

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3) Vivacious Chocolate Shrug

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BOOKLOVE

I’m still loving Frog Music as much as I did when I started it; since the story is told backward, end to beginning, the suspense  is building and I’m less sure of “who did what, when and why”.  I love that in a book – do you?   And since I’m very seldom book monogamous, I started Anya.  You can read about it here.

I’m linking with my usual Wednesday blogs, Tami, Frontier Dreams KCCO and Ginny’s Yarn Along.  Do you have others you’d like to share?

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.  Eleanor Roosevelt

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Knitting

New, Attempted Murder and Shoes

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SWAP

The Iknead iPad swap is complete and both of us are well satisfied.

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I took possession of his old one and both of us are busy learning the ins and outs of our newest gadgets.

LUCKY FOR HER

Yesterday, while I was happily spinning away, I looked into the hallway and saw that Josie was very busy trying to “kill” what I thought was one of her toys.  She loves squishy and has a toy box full of assorted soft, floppy toys.  On closer inspection, it wasn’t a toy at all, it was MY IN-PROGRESS HITCHHIKER SHAWL!!!!!!  I whipped out my phone to take a pic to post to Dogshaming; she wasn’t even ashamed enough to stick around for the photo.  That’s a Pug for you.  Luckily, no damage was done, except for pulling a bit of the yarn off the skein, it does have a whiff of Josie drool, but a little airing should take care of that.

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TDLP

My week 17 completed project for The Documented Life.  This challenge was to draw or photograph my favorite pair of shoes.

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I can hardly wait for the next one! Visit their website for more awesome!

Whenever you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.  Arthur Conan Doyle

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Knitting

WIP Wednesday, Booklove and TDLP Obsessed

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ON THE NEEDLES

Newest WIP is another Hitchhiker, in Sachet Patons Lace that I picked up I don’t know when on a Hobby Lobby run.

I’m really liking the way this is knitting up.

Socks on a Plane are still on the needles, but have grown not a bit in the last week.  Tomorrow, I keep telling them, just hang on.  So, yes, the crazy yarn lady is talking to her unfinished socks now…..

BOOKLOVE

102 pages in and it has me walking extra miles on the treadmill.  That’s how fantastic this book is, a repeater, for sure.  I’m so glad I bought this instead of checking it out at the library, it’s a book to be savored.

WORD DOC

I got my first challenge for The Documented Life project completed and posted; the challenge was to use a cardboard food box in an unexpected manner; this is what I came up with –

The new challenge for Week 17 is on the drawing board.  I’ll be sharing it soon, meanwhile, check out it out, don’t be surprised if you find yourself drawn in and then obsessed.  Everyperson Art.  Love. It.

Linking with Tami, Ginny and Frontier Dreams.

All great art is the work of the whole living creature, body and soul, and chiefly of the soul.  John Ruskin, The Stones of Venice

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Knitting

WIP Wednesday 11/13/13

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ON THE NEEDLES

From Quince & Company, this scarf:

Scapula, done in Lark yarn, color Bird’s Egg, 100% American wool

This has to be in my top ten fave projects, both the pattern and the yarn.  Though I prefer to “buy local” to support my LYS, I have to admit that Quince & Co. has turned my head a time or two.

Another couple of projects, both Hitchhiker shawls, are still on the needles also, but progress is slow and nearly imperceptible.  I’ll spare you the nearly identical pics.   Hopefully, they’ll join the ranks of FOs in the next week or so.

Linking with Tami and Frontier Dreams.

Things should be made as simple as possible, but not any simpler.  Albert Einstein

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