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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.