Thursday, July 29, 2010

Oooo La La

Saturday is my friend's birthday.
I found a pattern on Ravelry for some felted slippers.
I've never felted before - it seemed good.

It was good.

It got better.
I added crocheted roses from Nicky Epstein's Crocheted Flowers

I don't think Duffers is a good name for this slipper pattern. They are much more elegant than that name would imply.

FYI: I frogged the celtic knot purse/scarf that was on my to finish list. I decided I didn't really want a bag, and I also didn't want to knit a lot more and turn it into a scarf - the yarn was too scratchy. That yarn has now been turned into these lovely felted slippers!

P.S. the table cloth in the background is one I bought at the Good Will Bins on Crap by the Pound day. It's beautiful and in near perfect condition!

Monday, July 26, 2010

I've had a busy few days


Yah. I know. The picture is blurry - but so is my vision after all the blueberry picking I've done over the past several days - and this isn't even a bumper crop year!



The sock is an amazingly quick knit. I just haven't had as much time to knit as I would like (is there ever as much time to knit as I would like?). It has progressed further than in this photo, nearly to the cuff.



The quilt for The Sweet Spot is coming along nicely. I am quilting around the perimeter, then I just need to bind it.



This, however, has been the real push this weekend. I got the cushions sewn for The Sweet Spot! And, behold! They turned out just as envisioned - not something that always happens. Many of my projects morph in process and usually turn out well - just not as planned. These cushions, however, look just like I wanted them to and thought they would.


Sunday, July 18, 2010

Raspberry Socks Forever!

The July-and-1/2 Socks are begun!
Knit from the Leyburn pattern on Ravelry.
I'm calling them Framboise and they are scrumptious.

I learned two new techniques with these socks. One is carrying a strand of yarn and the second is the toe-up method. Actually the toe-up method could prove to be my undoing! I can never wait to get to the point when I can try the socks on and with the top down method, you are more than half-way there before that can happen. With the toe-up method, you can start trying the socks on from about the third round and continue trying them on with each successive round. I know this for a fact!

All this sock trying on is slowing my knitting speed a bit, plus - I'm afraid the sock will be worn out before it is even off the needles.

But it sure looks good!

The lace scarf progresses nicely as well - just not as photogenically.

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Fairy Knitting and Crochet

One of the things I've always most enjoyed crocheting is lace, so I've been eager to try knitting lace to see if I like it as well.

I do.
But the lace yarn is so much finer than the crochet thread - I feel like a fairy knitting spiderweb with pine needles!
This will eventually be knit up into a lovely wisteria colored scarf with an all-over leaf pattern.

In the mean time - I have made a real push to get WIPs moved off the to do list - and here is one of the items. A second pair of crochet-lace-edged pillowcases for Sunshine.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Staying on Task

The July socks are finished! The pattern is Twinkleberry just like the previous pair. This is the best sock pattern ever!

I also sneaked in an extra project. I made napkins with some of the fabric I bought at the Good Will Bins. When I saw the blue fabric, I just knew it would be for napkins - it is woven, so looks the same on both sides. I dislike cloth napkins that only have the pattern on one side - bleah! These look rather 4th of July-ish, but there you are.

If you are counting, you will notice there are only 7 napkins in the photo. I have No. 8 ready to go, but need to make a little extra bias tape.

Monday, July 12, 2010

Progress

This is my favorite time to try on a sock - it looks like a sock, only the toe is left to knit, and with all those knitting needles sticking out - it has a dangerous, ninja look to it! Sock no. 1 is finished and sock no. 2 is awaiting a heel. July socks look to be finished on time!



On Saturday, El Guapo, Sunshine and I drove to Medford to pick up the vintage trailer. It was a beautiful day and a long enough drive to explain why sock no. 2 is ready for a heel!






First stop: Medford Les Schwab for new tires and packing the bearings.

$$$






At home Saturday evening, I couldn't stand the contact paper covering the table, so I sat out in the trailer and peeled it off. You can also just see where I pulled back a corner of the top layer of carpet.



Sunday. I've stripped two layers of carpet and got to the original vinyl tiles. I pitched the cushions, curtains and bed out.

I am discovering that over the years, people have spent quite a lot of time ruining my trailer (the bottom layer of carpet was screwed down about every 8 inches) and I find myself offended!

But, I am down to bare bones and . . . no nasty surprises!



I've vacuumed top to bottom and front to back. Later today I plan to take a bucket of hot water and some Dr. Bronner's soap and clean top to bottom and front to back again. Then I will feel comfortable about camping in the lovely trailer.



Unable to locate the VIN thus far.

Friday, July 9, 2010

Some Hard Truths About Me


I hate being told what to do.
I've known this for a looooong time.

What I have only recently discovered, is that I hate being told what to do - even if it is me telling me what to do.
Apparently, I will rebel and start new projects that aren't on the list, just because I said I had to finish the list first.
Pictured above is the dress I bought at GoodWill and wore to Migi's (the offspring formerly known as Cheerleader) high school graduation. I paid $7.99 for the dress and told the girls I was planning to shorten it as I felt frumpy wearing it. Both of them said I should leave it as it was - and admittedly it is a very nice dress, so I left it.

Until last night, when El Guapo told me he had seen our 68 year old neighbor lady wearing a dress that looked very similar! I immediately cut off 8 inches and used those inches to make a sweet little ruffle along the bottom. Turns out I was right all along and should have gone with my instincts. The dress was very nice, but now it is darling!

Oh, and I did finish the Urban Outfitters knock-off shrug - just in time for the summer's first 97 degree weather! So I did do one thing on my list.

I bet I'm very difficult to live with.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

My Folly




I bought this yesterday on Ebay! I didn't for a moment think I was going to win, I only bid $5.00 over the previous bid of $250.00 and I won!!!! Crap!



I've been wanting a camping trailer for a loooooong time. For many years, I thought I wanted to buy a tent trailer, travel around the USA one summer, then sell it. Over time I have decided that tent trailers are too expensive and prone to problems from all the folding and unfolding. Also, I wanted a place to put our camping gear and leave it! I only want to haul food and clothing out to the trailer to be ready to go.




Recently I became aware of the cuteness potential for vintage travel trailers, and - if you are prepared to do some restoration - the low entry level cost. Also, many of these oldies have no titles, they've passed too many years and hands. So a new title can be obtained, with a little effort, but it makes the price much lower.








So, for $255.00 I am the proud owner of this tired little trailer (12 ft). But oh, the plans I have!


New exterior paint job, new red and white checked vinyl floor, red and white cushions with aqua accents and white lacy curtains!




Too Cute!



Edited to add: I figured out my crap by the pound price for the trailer - .17 per lb.!

Sunday, July 4, 2010

I've Been Canned . . .

Cheerleader (need to get a different name!) and I dropped Sunshine off at her friend's house in Monmouth this afternoon so Sunshine could spend the 4th of July with her other family. On the way there we saw a yard sale in progress and stopped at it on our way home.

Looky at what I found! 14 Wire Bail canning jars for $10.00! There are 11 quart sized jars, 2 pint sized jars and one that must be 1 1/2 quarts. All but one are very old and the newer one has French writing on it. There is even an unopened vintage box of rubber gaskets! I frequently shop for this type of jar at the second-hand stores and haven't found any for less than $4.50 each, so I considered this to be a major score!

Now I can't wait to get canning!

Here is the lavender wrap-around skirt. I made it from a rayon scarf/shawl thingy that my friend gave me. I think it is a souvenir from Mexico. It had some nice bead work on the two ends so I used those ends to make the bottom of the skirt beaded. Much more useful in skirt form!

Friday, July 2, 2010

I am so disappointed

After posting my list of works in process and projects I want to start and sternly saying I could not do anything new until I had whittled away at the list, I did finish the wrap-around skirt and I did work on the July socks.

Then, this morning, I cut 120 3 1/2 inch squares of scrap fabric - apparently with the intention of making a patchwork blanket! Is that on the list? IT IS NOT!

Do I care?

Thursday, July 1, 2010

The List

NO new projects will be begun until the majority of these WIPs are completed!

1. July Socks
2. Lavender Wrap-around Skirt
3. Celtic Knot Bag/Scarf (can't decide what it is going to be yet) frogged
4. Scrappy Quilt
5. Crocheted Edging on Pillowcases
6. Circular Shrug

Once I have knocked back the above projects to a manageable level, I may begin these projects:

1. Doll with Carrying Case and Clothing
2. Apron
3. Union Jack Cushion
4. Cushions for Outdoor Furniture
5. July-and-a-half Socks
6. August Socks