NEEDLES AND HOOKS, BRUSHES AND BOOKS

SNOW DAY YARN DYEING

2012-01-22T19:43:00.000-08:00

Friday was a very snowy day--2-4 (or 6) inches of snow. Neither Rudy nor I had to go anywhere, so we just sat around and did our own thing. [In fact, I never got dressed at all, just stayed warm in my fuzzy jammies and robe.] I mostly knit and crocheted all day, but I also dyed a skein of yarn (I Love This Wool "Cream") using some of the techniques from the Dyepot Confidential video--though I used Kool Aid and Wiltons food coloring gels. After soaking the skeined yarn and then squeezing out the water , I twisted the skein loosely and microwaved it using Wilton's Lemon Yellow and Golden Yellow. After it cooled enough that I could handle it with bare hands ( c. 1 hour), I retwisted the skein and microwaved it using 2 packages of cherry Kool Aid. After this round cooled enough, I made two overhand knots in the untwisted skein, and microwaved it a third time with 2 packages of Berry Blue Kool Aid. Here's how it looked then.
I did a 4th round using Wilton's Sky Blue and only one knot. Here's how the skein turned out (I think it's gorgeous!).
Here's how it looks wound into a ball.

I also managed to make bread (using my bread machine) as well. A productive day.

SCARVES FOR CHRISTMAS

2011-12-28T18:26:00.000-08:00

A co-worker made scarves from the Lion Brand Tweed Stripes and the pattern on the label for all the women in her department and for friends. They were so beautiful, I wanted to make some for presents, too. I ended up making 9.

Rainforest

Mixed Berries

Orchid:

Marble

Caribbean

Limeade

Lakeside

Prism

Woodland

MMARIO MYSTERY SHAWL FFOUR

2011-12-02T19:25:00.000-08:00

Designer MMario has started the new mystery shawl KAL in the Mystery Yahoo Group. There are several options using the same basic pattern--a triangle, a square, a circular pinwheel, and a "mock" Faroese (triangle with center panel). I started the mock Faroese on November 14, never having done one before, with the sock weight yarn unraveled from a thrift store wool sweater. I made some errors and couldn't see them, so I started a second one with worsted weight yarn--I Love this Wool "Olive Green" dyed a darker green with Red, White, and Blue Kool Aid--so I could follow the pattern better. I also thought a pinwheel would be cool, so I started a third shawl using some fuchsia recycled sweater wool that is more a lace weight (and fuzzy-ish). I will not finish very quickly.

I finished Clue 1 today on all three--I do each charted row and return row for each version at the same time; it is then easier to remember the directions.
Worsted weight Faroese version

Blue Green Faroese version

Fuschia Pinwheel version

Closeup of Pinwheel

Only 4 more clues to go.

RAVELRY FGF OCTOBER TEST KNIT: LACEY CUFFS

2011-10-30T14:41:00.000-07:00

I did a test knit for these Starfield Cuffs by Holly Terrell. The pattern called for sock weight and lace weight yarn, but I used light fingering and sock weight instead (the colors looked well together and were seasonal). The cuff part turned out great--they fit well, the pattern is nice, and the yellow-green beads look pretty on the dark orange. The ruffle part was done with a dark yellow-green and the same beads. The pattern called for 2 repeats, but I thought I'd like them a bit longer and added a third repeat and bound off. Well, they looked sloppy, with curling edges and very wide and not very ruffle-y.

I tried wet-blocking them and they looked worse:

So i unraveled the third pattern repeat--much better:

Then I did a garter stitch edging--1 row purl, 1 row knit (twice) and bound off in purl. Now they look cute and wearable.

I'm going to do them again with some recycled grey wool yarns, I think, that can be blocked.

EVENING CRAFTERS SEPTEMBER 2011 PROJECT

2011-10-22T19:51:00.000-07:00

For September, we did an embroidered lavender-filled sachet. The project is in the June, 2011, issue of American Patchwork and Quilting (designer, Rebecca Shucksworth). The hardest part was finding the lavender. I finally located it at World Food Market in Schaumburg in the tea department. It smells lovely. I had to dig out my sewing machin--that I haven't used in over a year at least (maybe 2)--so I could have a tight enough seam to keep the lavender inside and to put on rick-rack (which I could have done better). Still, it is cute. I'll give it to my Mom, I think, if she wants it.

HULA HOOP T-SHIRT RUG

2011-10-03T10:26:00.000-07:00

I saw this pattern for a rug woven with loops from t-shirts using a Hula Hoop for a loom on Family Fun Magazine online. But I did not have a hoop. However, while visiting my Iowa grandchildren, I spied a broken hoop on their porch and asked for it (it was kind of lozenge-shaped instead of round). Last month I cut up some t-shirts and tried out the pattern. Mt first attempts were a mess--the warp loops kept falling off and were very skewed. Then I broke/bent the hoop some more to kind of get a hexagon shape and found a kid-sized t-shirt to use for the warp. That worked. My rug is not big--12"-13" in diameter--but not bad. I probably need the giant Hula Hoop to go bigger.
The Rug in progress

The finished rug

There was also a pattern for a bowl made on an embroidery hoop frame with loops cut from the sleeves. After enough rounds for a base, the weft loops are pulled very tight and eventually a bowl shape is formed:

EVENING CRAFTERS AUGUST 2011 PROJECT

2011-09-26T19:18:00.000-07:00

We tie-dyed t-shirts (and more) with a kit from Michaels with 3 colors: fuchsia, blue, and yellow.

Here we show our first attempts:

Here Linda and I model our second attempts; Linda is also holding a pair of socks she dyed as well.

CRAFTERS PROJECT JULY 2011

2011-07-22T19:25:00.000-07:00

Actually finished a project in the same month. We did a wind sock using fusible webbing and artificial leaves--or, in my case, flowers. The pattern was from an old Crafting Traditions magazine, May/June, 1998.
The original bunch of flowers

The finished wind sock (which already survived a thunderstorm.

September, 2011:
Here is Linda with her finished wind sock:

KOOL AID DYEING, MULTICOLORS

2010-10-04T15:24:00.000-07:00

I've been dyeing Heart & Sole sock yarn with Kool Aid to make Wendy D. Johnson's Pi Shawl (see future post), but decided to try some I Love This Wool "Winter White" and several colors at once, but not mixed. When I wound the wool in a skein, I tied it in 4 separate equal-ish parts so when it was in the bowl each section was sort of in its own corner. The yarn soaked for several hours, then it went in the square bowl just barely covered with hot tap water. I made 4 solutions of Kool Aid and 3/4 cup hot tap water--lemonade, lemon-lime, Berry Blue, and Cherry. I poured each solution in a different corner, plus some kitty-corner (or where ever I thought to do it)--no stirring. After microwaving for the first (of three) 4 minutes and resting 4 minutes, I did stir a teeny bit because some colors seemed trapped. The yellow disappeared, the other colors overwhelmed it.
Yarn in the bowl:

Yarn on shower rod drying--4 sections evident:

Better picture of colors before winding into new skein

To show the colors better, I rewound the yarn, spreading the sections out, so the color sections could be seen more easily (reverse order of picture above):

Here it is in a twisted skein--the colors are not really this bright:

Finally in a center-pull ball--still doesn't really show the muted colors, tho:

I may try this again. Now, what should I make with it? A hat? gloves? shawl? purse? felted bag? Hmmmmm...

AAUW EVENING CRAFTERS MAY 2010 PROJECT

2010-05-27T09:44:00.000-07:00

I need to keep up with finished projects. Here, at least, is the one originally scheduled for this month, but started--and then put aside--in October (?). The actual meeting for this month was canceled (schedule conflicts), but I finished mine. This was an old project originally on our schedule in 2008, I think, and the pattern came from a book owned by a former member who has since succumbed to breast cancer [we miss you, Vony!]. It is a friendship fridgie done on 10-count plastic canvas with embroidery floss. It says "friendship blooms from seeds of caring".

CRAFT IN AMERICA SERIES

2009-10-09T09:07:00.000-07:00

I was able to tape the episodes of Craft in America on Wednesday and loved them! Episodes are available online and on DVD if PBS is not available. Anyone who loves crafts should see them. Wow!

VISIT TO IOWA: FINISHED PROJECTS

2009-04-18T10:22:00.000-07:00

I'm way behind in posting here--I spend too much time on Ravelry.

I did get a lot done for our trip to Iowa--some before, some while driving, and some while there. I had finished some slippers for Andrew, and then completed (on the drive) some for Daniel and started a pair for Thea, which I finished on the visit. These are from an old McCall's Needlework & Crafts and were part of a Learn-to-Knit series. I was using measurements from several months ago and thought I had planned enough to add a bit, but they still seemed a bit snug. I added the little cuffs, but they wanted to stand up, not lie down--the kids still liked them.

(Andrew couldn't find his when I took the picture, but his are beige with brown cuffs and soles.)

I finally finished a skull-themed hat for Billy, this time using the graph from the We Call Them Pirates pattern

I made Melanie fingerless gloves from the Fishtail Wristwarmers pattern (adding thumbs and making them longer) and made her a Divine Hat to match.

While we were there, I made Tegan this Amigurumi "Heartfelt" Bunny:

I also gave Thea the pair of ribbed fingerless gloves I had made that were too small--they fit her fine. I had a pair I'd made for me in gray, but Billy saw them and asked for them so he got them. Now Daniel wants a pair--in red--which I'm nearly done with. I'll make a pair for Andrew, too, so he won't be left out--in blue. I don't have pics of them on the kids. [I'll show the pictures I do have on a separate post.] I also made a pair of Hurry Up Spring Armwarmers from Stitch 'n Bitch Nation for Annie.

TOKYO QUILT SHOW PICS

2009-02-03T13:06:00.001-08:00

[via Mason-Dixon Knitting]
Check out the awesome quilts from the Japanese quilt show in these Flickr set from Be*mused, Moving Hands, and Moonstitches.

CALS & KALS

2009-02-01T20:35:00.000-08:00

After reading a recent "This Week in Ravelry" that highlighted some groups, I joined the Block-a-Month CAL. The idea is to make one 12 inch block each month and have an afghan by the end of the year. Additional 12' and 6" (baby afghans, perhaps) block patterns are available. Of course, I couldn't stop with one. Ive made both 12 " and four 6" blocks in each of two colorways--so far--and am thinking of a couple more. I just started one block for February.

Then I found the Christmas 2009 Monthly Make-a-head. January was miniatures and ornaments. I only made one thing--a crocheted star--but will probably add a few more items later. February is scarves or shawls and I already cast on for the Snake scarf Knitalong . I also signed up for the Yahoo Holiday Mystery Gift-along group which is currently doing a mystery shawl--both KAL and CAL. I'm still finding yarn for this one, though, so am way behind.

A new group started on Ravelry for Fabric Knitting & Crochet--of course, I joined it. The first project will be a knit or crocheted bath mat using, probably, strips of t-shirts. I also joined the Learn-to-Knit Afghan group that is going through Barbara Walker's book. I am not ready to start this yet.

However, as part of all these potential projects, I'm going through my boxes of yarn, consolidating, untangling and winding, and testing for wool. I already discarded one beat-up packing box. Winding balls of yarn is a good project to do while watching TV.

I'm also trying to finish some things for Annie's kids before Friday--slippers, mitts for Mel, a hat for Billy, maybe a toy for Tegan???

You can tell I haven't been working much.

CHRISTMAS GIVE-AWAY

2009-01-02T21:25:00.000-08:00

Last year, the hats I'd made that no one seemed to want went to PADS--the EZ Swatch caps and a ribbed (failed Hallowig) hat. This year, I decided to take the hats and scarves and mitts I had left to the annual Christmas gift exchange/birthday-party-for-Dad at my parents. It was postponed a day from Christmas Eve (the actual birthday--88 years young) to Christmas Day because of the bad weather. [We didn't have a donation box at the library this year and I also felt I had spent too much time on some of the projects to donate them out of the family. If any had been left, I would have, though.] I laid them all out, and all were taken:
Three Tams (see entries below):
A--to youngest sister Nancy; she liked that it was big and loved the colors (actually, I think the variegated yarn originally was hers)
B--to second sister Pat; she has reported it is very warm
C--to niece Lauren; the blue looked great on her
Divine Hats:
"orchid" color--to niece Joy; the color was perfect for her
off white--to my Mom; the smaller size fit her very well
black--to sister Nancy; again she liked the larger size [it had been hidden in the pile of coats, somehow, and she was still there, so she got it]
Cabled Mitts:
off white--to sister-in-law Joyce; she wasn't there, but my brother Mark took them for her and I heard she really liked how they fit
black--to fourth sister Jeanne; she is an artist and--for now--a condo renovator, so she felt they would be very useful
Scarves:
blue "Road Not Taken"--to third sister Marce; kind of by default--it's what was left
off white "Holland"--I have no clue who got it, but it wasn't left when we departed.
Each of my siblings there and my parents also got one of the various dishcloths--8 in all--I'd made--"ballband", "9-Patch", and "Garterlac".

For next year I'll probably do more mitts, hats, scarves, and probably mitered hanging dish towels--or whatever. It is nice to know one's work will have a place to go.

THREE TAMS--TAM C

2009-01-01T18:40:00.000-08:00

I finished this tam in August as part of the Ravelympics "WIPs Wrestling"--I had started it in February and got distracted. Once again, I ran out of the ombre yarn and had to use white to finish. Somehow I messed up the decreases, so I added a pom pon to hide the irregularities. It looks cute, I think.

Side view:

Top down view:

CABLED FINGERLESS GLOVES

2008-12-30T13:18:00.000-08:00

I'm kind of on a fingerless-glove jag right now. I made this first pair in November in 2 days. The yarn is a worsted weight acrylic, K-Mart Caron, really old. The pattern is from Crafts 'n Things, April, 2008. They looked easy and fast and weren't made with size 0 needles.
Here's what the backs look like:

Here's a palm side and a back side:

Here's one on my hand--a bit snug, but still comfy:

I made the pattern again in black on larger needles with Red Heart Super Saver:
Here's the pair:

Here is one on my hand--not as snug, but still comfy:

I gave them away at Christmas and more people wanted them, so I'll make more, though not necessarily the same pattern.

CROCHETED DIVINE HATS

2008-12-10T10:24:00.000-08:00

I've been knitting and crocheting quite a bit lately. This pattern I discovered through my daughter Karin's Ravelry page. she had made one and it looked cute and easy. It was easy--once I re-educated myself on how to do front and back posts--and they went very quickly. The design is from Rheatheylia. The first one I made from a very soft yarn using the recommended size K and I hooks; The only modifications I made were to only do 6 instead of 7 of the 4dc rows--no need to fold back the ribbing--and use hdc instead of sc for the transition to "ribbing"--it was easier to find the "posts".

The second one was made using a heavier off-white yarn and I tried smaller hooks--J and H--so needed to do the 7th 4dc row.

The third was made using black I Love That Yarn, though I had started it with the heavier Red Heart Super Saver and frogged it as being too bulky. This one is for me, and I used the K and I hooks and 6 rows of 4dc. I started this on Sunday, did a lot while sitting in the Social Security Office on Monday, and finished the last 2 rows on Tuesday.

SKULL ISLE HATS

2008-11-24T17:59:00.000-08:00

I made two versions of the Skull Isle Hat from Son of Stitch 'n Bitch in October. I was trying to make them for my little grandsons, but the first was way too small for anyone.

It didn't even fit baby Tegan

(though Andrew really liked it anyhow).

The second (made while we were visiting in mid-October) fit both Andrew and Daniel, though rather snugly. [Looks like I skipped a row of the pattern, somehow.]

I started a third, slightly larger version, which ~~will probably go~~ went to Daniel (finished before Thanksgiving). I don't have pictures of him wearing it yet, so the pictures are of me wearing it--a bit snug, though. Anne did say he wears it all the time.

FELT BANNER FOR FALL

2008-10-23T17:52:00.000-07:00

I was hoping to finish this for the Fair this year... anyway, It's done now. The pattern is in Crafts 'n Things, October, 2003, and designed by Barbara Swanson. The pumpkin is really oranger.

SOS08 OVER

2008-09-02T13:49:00.000-07:00

On my feet, but really, too small:

Summer of Socks 2008 has ended. I finished one pair of adult socks a day before the final deadline. I used Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's basic sock pattern, Magic Stripes "Denim stripes" sock yarn (now discontinued), and size 0 double-pointed needles (one sock) plus size 1 circular needles (the second sock).

SOCK ON VACATION

2008-08-24T20:17:00.000-07:00

As part of Summer of Socks 08, there was a "Socks on Vacation" competition. I signed up for it, and (while in Tucson and Phoenix) took some pictures of my only SOS08 completed sock having a good time visiting the sights. We were supposed to submit a single picture by Monday, August 18, and the resulting collection of entries would be then voted on. We got home in mid-afternoon and I rushed to the computer to upload and format a suitable picture and send it off to the moderator. Unfortunately, though I saved it as a jpeg and sent it as an attachment, she apparently received it as an "ink" and could not upload it. [I was using Opera as my browser and I should have tried Mozilla, I realize now]. I was (and still am) crushed--I think I had a really good picture to submit. Disqualified by technical difficulties! There was no time to try something different. Maybe next year.

Here are the pictures I took of SOCK ON VACATION:
Sock outside Colossal Cave near Tucson [Sock bunny-eared by my oldest grandchild, Rachel]--this was the one I submitted:

Sock IN Colossal Cave:

Sock at the Phoenix Airport:

Sock at the Reid Park Zoo in Tucson:

Sock on Rachel's ballerina-pointed foot (it was really too small for her):

RAVELYMPICS OVER

2008-08-24T09:50:00.000-07:00

Ravelympics ended today at 10:59 a.m., DST. I had entered 10 potential medal winners, but only crossed the Finish Line for 6. I ran out of time, so 4 entries were DNF.

Events:
WIPS Wrestling: 2 medals, 1 DNF (1 each for Team Chicago and Team Illinois)
Sock Put: both entries DNF
Scarf Stroke: 2 medals (both for Team Illinois) and 1 DNF
Homeandstuff Hammerthrow: 2 medals (1 each for Team Illinois and Team Chicago)

Now I have to finish my SummerofSocks 2008 entries--1 week to go.

RAVELYMPICS STARTS FRIDAY

2008-08-05T19:20:00.000-07:00

Glutton for punishment--that's me! I signed up for The Ravelympics on Ravelry--a challenge to do projects during the Beijing Olympics. For most of the events, you cannot cast on until the Opening Ceremonies and you must finish by the time the torch is put out at the Closing ceremonies. The only exception is the event called WIPs Wrestling which is to finish projects that need finishing, but that have not been worked on recently (since mid-July, at least). I'm on two teams--Team Chicago and Team Illinois and have signed up for 5 projects each--10 in all. Some of this time will be spent traveling to Phoenix/Tucson so I took into account plane/terminal time.

My events are:
WIPs Wrestling--3 projects
Sock Put--2 projects
Scarf Stroke--3 projects
Home-stuff Hammerthrow--2 projects (dishcloths)

I'm currently trying to finish some other projects--my first pair of socks for SOS'08 (I'm closing in on the toe decreases on the first sock), an EZ Surplice Sweater (only buttons left to attach) and a Mystery Blanket (needs edging and it looks like it will be I-cord) for Baby River, and adding the real edging to the Heirloom Pineapple Afghan (this one can wait).

I'm in training now [gathering materials, etc.].

My daughter Karin is also participating for Team Seattle.

RIBBON WINNERS AT KANE COUNTY FAIR

2008-07-21T13:41:00.001-07:00

I had entered 18 craft and needlework projects in the Kane County Fair this year, but only completed 15 in time. In fact, I was sewing the strips together for the afghan on the way to the fairgrounds on Tuesday, and crocheting a temporary edging for the top and bottom as well. I finished a few miles from the fair site. Here are pictures of the finished entries with their corresponding ribbons (all items won something):
Tam A (see February 11 entry below):

Tie-Dye t-shirt (this year's project done at the Library):
front

back

Welcome Door hanging--plastic canvas Craft Group project:

Pineapple Afghan from 50 Sensational Crochet Afghans and Throws

Closeup of pattern

Christmas ornament--quilled angel from Quill-a-Way Christmas leaflet:

Magnetic Fridgie--Shoo Fly quilt block:

Beaded Snowflake Earrings from All Info about Jewelrymaking:

String Art Greeting Card:

Knit Vest--Rick Mandragon's Bias Knit Vest pattern (Knitting Universe):
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Christmas ornament--Bargello needlepoint

Christmas ornament--beaded from Mill Hill kit:

Needlepoint picture--"counted canvas" from Cross Stitcher, June, 2006:

Christmas wall hanging:

Christmas ornament--crocheted snowflake:

Christmas ornament--cross stitch patchwork heart:

FINALLY CAST ON FOR SOS08

2008-07-21T13:36:00.000-07:00

I finally cast on for my first Summer of Socks '08 project on Sunday night. My original plan was to use 2 circulars, but one of them is currently in use for a baby sweater. I had a set of 5 size 0's double pointed, so I'm using them. I am finding I like 5 easier than 4. The pattern is Yarn Harlot's basic sock pattern and the yarn is Lion Brand's Magic Stripes "Denim Stripe"

SUMMER OF SOCKS 2008 BEGINS

2008-06-27T18:47:00.000-07:00

I signed up for Summer of Socks 2008 on Ravelry, hoping to force myself to make a real pair of socks. Eligible socks were to be cast on no earlier than Saturday, June 21. However, I still haven't started. One reason is that Fair entries will have to be priority until mid July. Then, too, I will need to use my size 0's and and one of my circulars is being used to make a sweater for Baby River--still awaiting his arrival. I may cast on just to cast on, but I'll have to use (gasp!) double-pointed needles (!). [I'm trembling.]

I'm also reading overdue books and books for Summer Reading at 3 libraries, learning how to make computer games using Game Maker and Scratch (for a potential teen program at the library), and working more hours. AND, our air conditioning is still non-functional (all the coolant had leaked out and the "hole" is still present and possibly not fixable).

I did roll up my yarn--Magic Stripes' "Denim Stripes"--into 2 balls.

We sent in our Kane County Fair entry forms today. I listed 18 crafts and 17 food entries. We'll see what I get done by July 15.

SUMMER HAIKUS FOR WENDY J.

2008-05-28T12:08:00.000-07:00

Wendy Johnson has set up a challenge contest asking that commenters to her blog write a haiku about summer. [She had 428 comments as of today!] The one I submitted was this:

Black monsoon curtains
dust devils spin to escape
enfolded, drenched, gone

Some of the others I came up with were:

Dust devils race by
black monsoon curtains roll down
exterminated

Dervish dust devils
black monsoon curtains race them
obliterate all

Promise of summer
warm fragrant breezes caress
strawberry flowers

For some reason, I forgot 5-7-5 and did some 3-7-3 and 3-7-4, etc.:
Deadline looms
fair entries still not finished
weave in ends

County Fair
dust heat racing pigs 4H
blue ribbons

Every time I visit
Tucson monsoon rains pour down
still too hot

SRPs
tie-dyed hands recording sheets
BBQ's

Monsoon rains
eradicating dust devils
withering thirsty still

SRP
tie-dyed t-shirt time again
where's my prize?

Obviously, I won't be publishing a book of poetry anytime soon. It was fun,though.

THREE TAMS--TAM B

2008-04-04T18:01:00.000-07:00

I actually finished this one in less than one week in February. I ran out of the ombre yarn and had to finish with a blue that was very close. Still not as tam-ish as I had expected. Pretty, though.

Side view

Top view:

The ombre yarn--greens, blues, purples

Worn with ribbing rolled up

Inside the tam (neat, huh?):

Worn as a tam (sort of):

I started Tam C, but got bogged down in the currogated ribbing--tedious.

THREE TAMS--TAM A

2008-02-11T15:21:00.000-08:00

I had been working on a vest made with Red Heart's "Gemstone", but discovered that my second (and third) skeins had a very different colorway than my first had--same color name, different dye lots. The one I had used for the vest back had navy blue, and darker colors than the other skeins, which had no navy at all. You can kind of see the difference in this picture:

So, I had to stop work on it until I could find more yarn closer to my original (which I did find on Friday at Michaels). Anyhow, I wanted to knit something small, and remembered the tams in the new Winter issue of Knitty, which fortuitously used small amounts of ombre-type yarns. I have several orphan multicolored yarns in small amounts. I started one with size one needles for the ribbing (I have to go down 2-3 sizes to get guage) and a grey-white-green-rust kind of yarn with an off white; the ribbing seemed too tight and the white in the ombre got lost in the white of the background. I frogged it and started another using size 2 for the ribbing and size 3 for the main part and found a small ball of this multi

with an ecru-ish main color. The colors look great together:

It took about a week of obsessive knitting, but I finished it Sunday.
The hat from the side, stretched:

The top of the hat:

Since it is acrylic, not wool, I can't really block it. Here's how it looks on me as a tam:

If I pull it down like a cap, it goes down to my nose! Though I could fold the ribbing up.

BEDROOM SHAWL

2008-02-01T13:22:00.000-08:00

Last winter I started to make an Elizabeth Zimmermann "Ribwarmer" vest (from The Knitting Workshop) with this nice grey yarn I had in my stash. I loved the way it felt--even though it's acrylic--but I ran out and couldn't find any more, not even another in a close shade. I had been doing a bit of nightly knitting before going to bed, sitting up in bed propped up with pillows, but my shoulders were chilly. So I decided to use that yarn and make a simple triangle shawl with the grey yarn--essentially a garter stitch washcloth pattern (k1, kfb, k to end) until I ran out of yarn. I got to 150 stitches across and bound off. It was nice and warm, but a teensy bit smallish.

Inspired by the way Wendy Johnson had added the lace edging to her Pinwheel Sweater, I thought I could add a lace edging to make it a bit larger while also learning how to attach lace and do more lacework. I looked through a lot of books and online, with limited luck in finding an edging that you attach as you go and that turned a sharp corner. Then I took A Gathering of Lace out again and found an edging (Shaped Triangle) that looked like it would work--though I had to adjust a bit for the much smaller number of rows (and a number that did not divide appropriately)--lots of graphing! I didn't have any other grey to even come close in color, so I first tried a very light,clay-ish shade. I got one side done--and ran out of yarn and didn't have any more.

Frog time!. Then I thought I'd try a pink (didn't like any of the colors I had) or a blue--and found this one skein of turquoise acrylic yarn, a bit fuzzy and very soft. After much ripping out at the start, I got into the rhythm--and remembered to use life lines. I finished it today--with one inch left over after binding off. I had tried putting on the top edging (with a slightly darker turquoise yarn), but didn't like the way it was coming out. It is not meant to wear in public, just at home.

RECIPE BOXES

2008-01-03T09:58:00.001-08:00

Although I have two entire bookcases of cookbooks, I also have a few recipe boxes. The one that is in active use is this wood one (I don't know if it was a gift or from a garage sale), but it is relatively new, maybe from the last 5 years:

I also have these two Rice Krispies recipe boxes--there may have been 3 or 4 at one time--that were from an offer on the box. They were meant to go to some of my children (one or two might have the other boxes) and they contain duplicates of a few recipes--another project never finished!:

I used to have more boxes (a Land-o-Lakes one and a Sylvester & Tweety Pie one, but we had a kitchen fire ten years ago and I lost most of my recipe boxes and recipes.

Here are two recipes that are used. This first is from a friend who served it at several meetings hosted at her home and is one of my favorite Sloppy Joes recipes; she says it was one of her mother's recipes, so probably from the 30's or 40's:

Hambeques

1 lb ground beef
1/2 c. onion, chopped
1 c. stock or water
1/2 c. chopped green peppers
2 Tbs "fat"
1/2 c. catsup
Salt, pepper, cinnamon, marjoram, allspice, paprika, and 1 Tbs worcestershire sauce. [to taste, but I used 1/2 tsp for each spice; once I also added 1 Tbs brown sugar]

Brown the onion and green pepper in the "fat". Add meat and fry. Add liquid and catsup. Add seasonings. Simmer c. 15 minutes. Thicken with flour [I used c.1/2 Tbs] mixed in water and cook 5 more minutes. Skim off fat.

One great aspect of this challenge is finding recipes you've forgotten about. Here's a family favorite that I should have made for the annual Cookie Exchange Party. It is from a Ladies Home Journal Christmas issue originally (70's or 80's):

Cheesecake Dreams

Base:
1/3 c. brown sugar , packed
1 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 c. chopped walnuts
1/3 c. melted butter

Mix the first 3 ingredients in a small bowl. Stir in the melted butter until well combined. Reserve 1/3 c. of the mixture. Pt the remainder gently into a greased 8" square pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes.

Filling:
1 8 oz package cream cheese
1/4 c. sugar
2 Tbs. milk
1 Tbs. lemon juice
1 tsp. vanilla
1 egg

At medium speed, beat the cream cheese and the sugar together until smooth. Beat in the remaining ingredients. Pour over the baked crust; sprinkle with the reserved crumbs. Bake for 25 minutes more. Cool on a wire rack; cut when cool.

This recipe can be doubled and put in a 9" x 13" pan.

5-HOUR SWEATER FINISHED FOR PJ

2007-11-16T20:03:00.000-08:00

I sewed on the last button on Wednesday and Rudy took it to Harper for Margaret to pick up at her department office on Thursday. I hope she takes a pic of him wearing it. I think the navy and orange (Go, Bears!) will look better on him than the green lacy set I made before he was born.

I'M ON RAVELRY!

2007-11-16T19:58:00.000-08:00

I got accepted at Ravelry (a new yarn-related forum/blog/project-source-database/community, etc.). I didn't have to wait too long to get in, either. My Ravelry name is (predictably) "LizzieHelen".

RED AND GRAY SPIRAL HAT

2007-11-15T20:50:00.000-08:00

I'm finally putting up the picture of the red and gray version of the spiral hat, the one I made for Yvonne. This one turned out too snug. I have to make her a new one, too.

KNIT SPIRAL HAT

2007-02-25T19:42:00.000-08:00

This is the hat I knit last year during The Apprentice and American Idol. The pattern is from Handknit Holidays: Knitting Year-Round for Christmas, Hanukkah, and Winter Solstice by Melanie Falick.

Although every time I measured it seemed to be in gauge, it turned out huge. I gave it to Fabien, but he gave it back saying it was too big for him(!)--and he didn't like the I-cord top. I was going to frog it, but, instead, I donated it to PADS. I hope it fit someone and kept them very warm.

I made the hat again, much smaller, in red and gray for Yvonne--with just a plain top. [Picture later] I'll have to make something else for Fabien since I'm tired of the pattern.

[This has been a test of putting phots online again; I think it worked.]

BEEN BUSY, ETC.

2006-09-22T20:41:00.000-07:00

Hard to believe it's been so long--5 months--since I last posted here. Part of the reason is that I wanted to post pictures of projects I was working on, so I kept putting it off. Unfortunately, after our move in April, the printer--which handled the photo editing--refuses to be recognized by the computer. If you try to access it, it says there is no printer, but if you try to install it, it says it's already there!!!!!! I also tried to upload to the Microsoft program on the computer itself, but it kept saying "the scanner or camera is already in use"(?????) Then, of course, I got really busy at work, finishing stuff for the Kane County Fair, planning and working at the Art Show in Elgin, reading books for three Adult Summer Reading Programs, and trying to keep unpacking at the new house. And my husband--who said he would fix the problem--got extremely busy, teaching a Summer Math course as well as taking an Organic Chemistry course AND working as a software consultant. This semester, he is working full time and teaching 2 classes at Harper--you can tell he's retired (!). Meanwhile, my camera is filling up with pictures of projects, artists, and our trips to California and Arizona this summer.

Currently I'm working on socks-to-be-felted from Cat Bodhi's Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles--so far it's been easy enough (I never made socks before) but I'm running out of the wool I started with; they'll probably end up two-colored. For my AAUW craft group we've been making "Gingham" coasters from plastic canvas and I'm making a box to hold them. Also, as part of the 50th Anniversary of Elk Grove Village , local artists and some of our staff were asked to decorate black metal book ends. I got mine late, but got several ideas and finished 2: one decorated with blue and white flat-bottomed glass marbles (on sale this week at Michaels and Hobby Lobby) and one with broken discarded cd-roms in a mosaic effect (very cool!). I'm still working on an embroidered set and probably a pieced one as well ("Broken Dishes"). We'll see. So far 22 sets have been finished and are on display at the Library. We may have a silent auction for them on October 15th at the Open House.

DANIEL'S SWEATER, ETC.

2006-03-24T15:56:00.000-08:00

Wow! It has been a while since I posted here. I did finish Daniel's sweater in January and sent it to Iowa by mail. However, I don't think he has put it on yet (he's 3). His mom says she'll use it instead of a coat when the weather is a bit warmer.

Because we are getting ready to move and I was preparing to go to France for my youngest daughter's wedding--listening to Pimsleur tapes, scanning old magazines to-be-tossed, packing some stuff up, and reading over-due books--I haven't done much craft/needlework except for my AAUW Craft Group project which is a felt penny rug with a lighthouse and sailboat motif from the August, 2003, issue of Create & Decorate Magazine. Even after 2 meetings, I only have all the pieces cut out and a couple of them embroidered onto the background.

I have read a LOT of books (36) since January, though. The Schaumburg Library's Winter Reading Program had a theme of Native American characters and writers. The six books I read for that were:
Arthur Williams' Missing at Tenoclock--small-town Colorado female deputy is forced to take over a murder investigation when the Sheriff is killed
Jake Page's Stolen Gods--blind New Mexico sculptor helps solve the murder of an art gallery owner who dealt in historic Indian artifacts
James D. Doss's The Shaman Sings--newcomer sheriff investigates the vicious murder of a young graduate student at the local college in a small Colorado town
Chelsea Quinn Yarbro's Ogilvie, Tallant, and Moon--lawyer uses his shamanistic abilities to relive the last hours of a murder victim's life [recently republished as Bad Medicine]
Scott Young's Murder in a Cold Climate--Inuk Canadian Mountie travels by plane, helicopter, dogsled, and snowmobile in an effort to solve the murder of a prominent man
Kirk Mitchell's Cry Dance--BIA officer Emmett Parker and FBI rookie Anna Turnipseed search for a cold-blooded killer who mutilates his victims amidst Native American confrontations with opponents of reservation casinos

More on the books read later.

BILLY'S & ANDREW'S SWEATERS

2006-01-18T13:51:00.000-08:00

Andrew in his new sweater. It's lighter weight than Billy's and only took me three days to make.

Billy in his new sweater. The sleeves are, indeed, WAY too big, but he likes it. If I get a chance (maybe this summer), I'll redo it.

Both boys in their sweaters.

I started Daniel's in the car on the way to Iowa and worked on it on Saturday while watching TV at the house...but (of course) I ran out of one yarn with just the top of the second sleeve and the neck to go (sound familiar?). So I'll have to finish it here and send it in the mail. It's royal blue, medium blue, and off white.

I recently finished Donna Simpson's The Gilded Knight--lame, impoverished ne'er-do-well tries to persuade his deceased cousin's widow to vacate the entailed estate she lives on, but a blizzard keeps him snowbound with her and her gravely ill daughter, enabling him to learn to know her better as well as to re-examine his own pointless life, leading to love and personal reform (a kind of bittersweet story, with a potentially happy ending); Catherine Asaro's The Last Hawk--Sauscony's brother, Kelric, doesn't die in battle, but crash lands on a planet ruled by women, where he is forced to remain for 16 years, a catalyst through his Quis playing skills causing great societal changes and war (another intense story, hard to put down, though the end is very sad, if heroic); and Charmed Destinies--three novellas connecting romance and magic by Mercedes Lackey (dark view of medieval life with a great revengeful ending), Rachel Lee (cute story about a future/modern couple magically co-dreaming the same adventure while at work), and Catherine Asaro (interesting tale in which a girl discovers her mage abilities by finding a long-lost heir to the kingdom).

BILLY'S SWEATER FINISHED

2006-01-10T13:25:00.000-08:00

After much "frogging" and using different yarns, I finished it.

It is heavy, but actually doesn't look too bad. I don't think the yarn changes are too glaring.

I have not been doing any craft stuff since then--a week ago--until Sunday, when I did start a sweater for Andrew, but I only have a couple of inches done. Blogging, reading, and packing up Christmas stuff have taken a lot of time. And, I worked this past weekend. This sweater will be in brown shades.

I am currently taking down the tree; I packed the ornaments yesterday. I brought in the outdoor lights this morning and am packing them; I'll get the tree lights later today. Here's some pics of the tree as it was:

I've only read a few books since Christmas. Lynn Kerstan's Dangerous Passions was quite good, another in her Black Phoenix series, though leaving the reader with several unfinished plot threads. I also like Nora Roberts' Blue Smoke even though a lot of characters died nasty, horrible deaths. Rita Mae Brown's The Hunt Ball was a nice relief, more picturesque than scary or gory. Lady Savage by Donna Simpson was very different, depicting the struggles of upper class Regency era characters to survive on a deserted Caribbean island after being dumped when their ship was hijacked.

STILL WORKING ON SWEATER FOR BILLY

2006-01-01T11:03:00.000-08:00

The frustration continues since I have now run out of two of the three yarns used in the sweater. I have substituted, but the colors really don't match. So, the top of one sleeve and the collar will be "slightly" different. Oh, well.

SWEATER FOR BILLY CONTINUED

2005-12-26T13:23:00.000-08:00

Still working on the sweater--and nothing else. It took me most of the week to do the first sleeve, since I ripped most of it out after I was almost done because it was too long (I changed the increases from every 6 rows to every 5 and it helped). Saturday I finished the first sleeve, but only after taking out the cap shaping several times until it fit the shaping on the finished body sections--major frustration. I finally started the second sleeve today. However, since the kids were unable to come here for Christmas because of car trouble, I now have at least a week to finish it.

Meantime, I've been reading, but just a few books: Jeffery Deaver's The Coffin Dancer--the second Lincoln Rhyme mystery, good, but full of scary tension and twists; Shirley Jump's The Angel Craved Lobster--the third in the "romance with recipes" series, enjoyably humorous and with all-seafood recipes this time (the Indiana brothers are real characters); Mercedes Lackey's The Wizard of London--another in the Elemental Masters series and an engrossing story (tho I liked Phoenix and Ashes better). [Looking at the first Amazon review, it appears the original stories about the parrot and raven featured in the story are available online at the Baen Free Library.]

SWEATER FOR BILLY

2005-12-16T20:07:00.000-08:00

I'm currently pretty much working exclusively on a knit sweater for Billy. It's an 8-ish, using size 17 needles and three strands of yarn, each a different shade of blue. It's loosely based on the basic rolled edge sweater in The Yarn Girls' Guide to Kid Knits: Patterns for Babies and Toddlers, but up-sized, mostly using the guide in Ann Budd's The Knitters Handy Book of Patterns. I've done the back and am almost done with the front and have yet to start the sleeves. If I get it done soon, I'll try to do a sweater for Daniel and Andrew, too--which, being smaller, might take less time. I only started Billy's last week.

Of course, I'm still also trying to read my overdue books as well (and watch ANTM 5, TA:MS, and TA, work, keep my blogs up, and read about the TV shows on FORT). I've recently finished Teresa Medeiros' After Midnight--a "Regency" vampire story (though I'm not a fan of vampire stories in general, this one handled it well); Sarah Andrews' Only Flesh and Bones--Geologist Em Hansen investigates the murder of the wife of her former boss (I liked it, but it does take a while for the story to develop, then you're hooked); two Aaron Elkins' mysteries, Old Bones--Gideon Oliver uses his expertise as a bone specialist to identify bones found in an old French wine cellar (a page turner and a likeable protagonist)--and A Deceptive Clarity--art museum curator tries to find the fake in a collection of art formerly "liberated" by Nazis during WWII (very interesting, since I like art--tho not the period Chris Norgren specializes in (Renaissance)--and the descriptions of European cities are delightful); Susan Alexander's Skintight--Las Vegas showgirl meets professional poker player, who just happens to be the son of her former husband (great, funny romance and I especially liked the dance-related parts); Victoria Alexanders' When We Meet Again--another Effington lady finds her destiny, this time a "disgraced" cousin (Pamela) comes home and finds herself engaged to an exiled Prince, Alexei (another funny, romantic story); Jude Deveraux' First Impressions--a mother of a newlywed inherits a Southern colonial house, finds herself in danger, and needs the help of a jaded FBI agent and a local lawyer (delightful, hard-to-put-down book); Carl Hiassen's latest YA book, Flush--teenager finds himself helping his "ecoterrorist" (sort of) father discover the truth about a local gambling ship's illegal waste dumping (a fun read, with wacky characters, tho not quite as good as Hoot); and Jenny Nimmo's Charlie Bone and the Castle of Mirrors--more about Billy Raven's ancestral background is discovered when Charlie and his friends try to save him from evil "adoptive" parents (good story, but seems to be more of a too-short filler leading to the next story).

JESTER HATS FROM YARN GIRLS BOOK

2005-12-05T17:00:00.000-08:00

Last winter I made these darling Jester Hats for the three youngest Iowa-based grandchildren (mainly because they were supposed to work up quickly). The pattern came from The Yarn Girls'Book of Kid Knits: Patterns for Babies and Toddlers. I finished Thea's as while we were there and did take pictures of them wearing them, but they weren't as clear as I would have liked. When they came to see us last week, they all had their hats so I took pictures of the hats alone. They are a bit big on them, but do look cute.

All three hats:

Andrew's hat:

Daniel's hat:

Thea's hat:

MELANIE'S PONCHO FINISHED

2005-12-03T12:55:00.000-08:00

Well, I did finally finish the poncho on Sunday, just before they left for Iowa.

Surprisingly, it fits just right.

It seemed so big while I was working on it. It was the only craft I worked on all week, even during lunch at work and during the evenings while everyone else was watching movies. But I did get it done.

Now I'm kind of in a wishy-washy, what-should-I-work-on-next state. I did do some on the baby afghan while watching my tape of three episodes of America's Next Top Model and one episode of The Apprentice: Martha Stewart.

I've also been trying to finish some of my majorly-overdue books--some so overdue they've been declared "lost". I recently returned Elizabeth Castro's Publishing a Blog with Blogger--got some good hints, though a lot I already knew; Marc Romano's Crossworld: One Man's Journey into America's Crossword Obsession--mostly about the annual American Crossword Puzzle Tournament (I enjoyed this very much); Kathy Reich's Crossbones--a kind of departure since it delved into the possibility of a post-Crucifixion Christ (very interesting); Patricia Rice's Much Ado about Magic--the latest in the Malcolm Family series in which the women have "talents" that might designate them "witches" (loved it and can't wait for the next); Shirley Jump's The Bride Wore Chocolate--another of her funny recipe-a-chapter contemporary romances in which each recipe (in this book, all have chocolate in them and are easy) has relevant character commentary (enjoyable, but the recipes really made me wish I wasn't allergic to chocolate [sigh!]); Jeff Lindsay'sDearly Devoted Dexter--funny and disturbingly gruesome at the same time because the main character/narrator is himself a serial killer of serial killers (really nasty deaths, but still a compelling read); Sarah Andrews' Mother Nature--geologist Em Hansen goes to California and investigates a murder relating to environmental cleanup of old, buried, leaking oil tanks in a flood plain (not a quick read, but very interesting); Jo Beverly's A Most Unsuitable Man--another excellent romance set in the Malloren milieu (hard to put this one down, even though this time period is not a favorite of mine). I just finished Betina Krahn's The Book of the Seven Delights--an exciting, Indiana Jones/The Mummy-type of adventure romance set around the turn-of-the-century in which the heroine (a Librarian!!) searches for the lost Library of Alexandria (loved it! great fun)--and Sam Baker's Fashion Victim--murder during New York's and Milan's Fashion Weeks (very timely and intriguing since I've been watching ANTM 5).

Yvonne and I also watched Revenge of the Sith this week--great special effects, but the story, etc., "eh". Now I'll have to read the book version--which is supposed to fill in some gaps.

MELANIE'S PONCHO CONTINUES

2005-11-25T14:51:00.000-08:00

I'm still working on Mel's poncho. I started the 4th and last section yesterday in the car on our way to Wisconsin, but still have a ways to go before Sunday when she goes back to Iowa--and it's her Birthday. It's the only craft I've worked on for the last week--when I realized it had to be finished NOW--except for the ornament I made at my AAUW Craft Group on Tuesday night. And, of course, I've worked every day this week (except Thanksgiving) and I will work all weekend, too. Nutcracker is Saturday night.

STARTING MELANIE'S PONCHO

2005-11-12T18:46:00.000-08:00

I finally started Melanie's Poncho using the same pattern as Thea's, only in turquoise and larger. At the moment, tho, I'm frustrated because I've ripped out at least 8 rows because the number of stitches was wrong and the yarn-over rows had to be ripped out completely--several times already (AAARRRGGGHHH!). I' am still going to try to have it done by Thanksgiving for her birthday--they'll be coming here for that holiday.

I'm coming along on the small "Autumn Sampler" and Jean's afghan, bit by bit. I've added the "Turkish Afghan" to my current projects, in rotation, also having ripped out 6 rows because I thought the "intarsia" stripe looked wrong--did it again and it looks much the same; oh, well. I tried a small circle-type flower pattern on the white afghan and like the way it looks; I'll use it for the small half-triangle sections, at least.

Recently I've finished Beth Ciotta's Charmed(a sequel to Jinxed), a cute and funny contemporary, Elizabeth Peters'The Camelot Caper, on audio download from Overdrive (I read it many years ago and it's still silly and funny), Margaret Maron's Rituals of the Season, another good cozy mystery about Judge Deborah Knott, and Susan Elizabeth Phillips'Match Me If You Can, a very funny, very romantic story set in our own North-side Chicago.

YARN TANGLE

2005-11-02T17:57:00.000-08:00

This year's pumpkin:

For the last two days I have been untangling a huge mess of yarn that has been around for years. I was trying to see if there was some yarn for a poncho and decided to sort the whole thing--it originally filled a large garbage bag.

This shows less than half of the original tangle

Yhis is a closup of the mess

Most of it was short pieces or remains of skeins. I was surprised that I had so many ends left from the weaving projects I had done in the early 70's!!--pearl cotton, warp thread, and the fingering yarn from Bridget's baby blanket. I had recently pulled out enough long pieces of the turquoise fingering yarn to make a Barbie sweater,

The sweater is from Knits for Barbie

Closeup of sweater; the little shorts were made using the small amount of brown yarn left from the afghan

but now all that's left is many pieces measuring only 2 to 6 inches. Now all that yarn is "sorted" into the pearl cotton ends, the string-ish ends, the fingering yarn ends, cotton rug yarn bits, needlepoint yarn, < 50-inch pieces (to be tied onto others in a ball for a future scrap afghan), > 50-inch to c. 60-inch pieces (to be made into "flower" centers for a future scrap afghan). Anything longer was rolled into balls and put into the boxes I have with yarn sorted by colors. The "bag" is now much smaller and neater, not trailing bits of yarn that fall out.

In looking for poncho yarn, I also decided that I'd better check that any yarn I found wasn't already "committed" to another project. So, I looked in my "partially done" box and pulled out the part of a "Turkish Afghan"

(from a Family Circle Great Ideas Fashions and Crafts, July, 1986) I had last worked on in 1997 (!), before The Fire. Sure enough, one of the colors I was thinking of using was one especially bought for that afghan. I then dug through everything again and pulled out all the yarn I had for it; only two colors could not be found, and they were small amounts that I can substitute without a problem. Another project to work on!

There is an additional on-going project I've started. This summer, I knit an all-white afghan--made up of triangles, mostly done on our trip to Seattle--that was supposed to have flowers embroidered on it. Fair time came, and I ran out of time, so no embroidery got done and I entered it "plain" (and still got a 3rd). The original design was too heavy for what I had (I had used larger needles and acrylic yarn instead of wool), so I started to look for duplicate stitch patterns. I've found some that might work, but I'm still testing and learning the technique.

Michaels has a sale on embroidery floss this week, so I did pick up the remaining skeins I need for the "Autumn Sampler"--a lovely array of Fall colors when seen together. These seasonal samplers are very small--around 3" x 5"--and done on 18-count aida; the original design calls for 36-count linen but I couldn't find any and I had enough of the 18-count for all 4 seasons.

I recently finished Donna Andrews" Crouching Buzzard, Leaping Loon, the next Meg Lansdowne mystery--a fun look at murder in a computer game development office. I also just finished Ellis Peters' The Knocker on Death's Door, an Inspector Felse mystery written in 1970. It was good, but dated, and the murderer was kind of obvious. I like this series, though, even if only a few volumes are in print.

CROSS STITCH "WELCOMES" FINISHED

2005-10-28T17:52:00.000-07:00

I finished the 4th Seasonal Welcome from Just Cross Stitch, but have to decide how to mount them now--maybe on navy, which seems to go with all the colors used. I'll have to see what's in my stash here (a lot is in storage).

Winter Welcome Closeup

Winter Welcome

Summer Welcome

Summer Welcome Closeup

Spring Welcome

Spring Welcome Closeup

Autumn Welcome Closeup

Autumn Welcome

I also finished crocheting the first two panels of the baby afghan (that I had to go back on to add more squares) and have started the third panel. I may do the embroidery on the first two before finishing the remaining panels, just to see how it will look.

Thea's poncho was mailed on Monday. I'm trying to see what yarn I have sufficient quantities of to make more ponchos, probably doing Melanie's next--but what color??? Should I do another knit one or do the crochet version??? Decisions!

I also started knitting one of the simple little purses (from our Learn-to-Knit class at the library) for Guinevere. I can do it while watching TV during commercials.

I wanted to do the Autumn cross stitch sampler like the Winter one I finished (need to mount that, too), but I don't have some of the floss and hate to buy it off-sale when I need 12 skeins. So, I'm waiting for a sale (missed the one at JoAnn's since it was only 2 days).

Recently finished reading Donna Andrews' Revenge of the Wrought Iron Flamingos--murder at a Yorktown Reenactment with lots of interesting and funny characters--and Kasey Michaels' Shall We Dance--a post-Regency romance with Princess/Queen Caroline (never crowned) as a major character, which made it a kind of sad story with wacky characters. I also finished the Mercedes Lackey/Rosemary Edghill edited collection of urban elves stories, Bedlam's Edge--very enjoyable, though the story about evil threatening New Orleans was a bit too timely.

LATEST BOOKS

2005-10-16T22:19:00.000-07:00

Just finished Odom's The Destruction of the Books--chock full of action (unfortunately of the kind to make a librarian of any time period shudder). It's another book I can barely wait to read the sequel to--like the next Harry Potter; fortunately I will only have to wait a week or two (I have a "Hold" on it) instead of a year.

The other book I finished was Elizabeth Thornton's The Marriage Trap, a well-done Historical Romance. She's one of the authors I look for.

I started Joanna Lindsey's Marriage Most Scandalous, but did not like the characters, so I didn't read beyond the first 3 chapters.

Still working on my 4 projects. I'm ready to do the neck for Thea's poncho.

NAME CHANGE/AFGHAN PROBLEM

2005-10-11T22:10:00.000-07:00

Karl compained the title was too boring, so I'm trying this title now. Better? Not? Also, I changed some colors a bit--may need more work, tho.

The baby afghan I'm crocheting is made up of strips of alternating afghan stitch and lacy-ish stitch "squares"--I thought there were 5 "squares" per strip or panel (that's what the picture shows). BUT, on rereading the directions--after having finished 1 "complete" 5 square panel and almost finishing a second--I realized each panel is actually 7 squares. Thankfully I only have to go back to one panel and unravel the edging and just continue on the second panel I'm already working on. Not a catastrophe.

I'm almost finished with Thea's poncho--started the 4th section--and the 4th seasonal cross stitch "Welcome". (I only worked a few days last week and this.) Also have gone back to another cross stitch project I've been working on sporadically for several years.

Just finished Mel Odom's The Rover--which I had started in June before I saw him at ALA. Excellent adventure! Also finished Patricia Rice's California Girl; nice contemporary romance.

NOT ANOTHER BLOG?!!

2005-10-07T13:24:00.000-07:00

Yep. I'm going to try ANOTHER blog--not that I keep up with the other 4--to record what I'm working on craft-wise and book-wise.

Right now I'm knitting a "Martha's Poncho" for Thea, with the intention of making a poncho for each of my 5 granddaughters. It's in a really nice medium blue I got at a garage sale.

I'm also crocheting an afghan for my youngest grandson. It's part afghan stitch, part lacy crochet and will have cross stitched embroidered animals on the afghan stitch parts--like the "Toy Fair" afghan I made for Maddie, but lighter weight--which should be better for California.

And I'm finishing the last in a set of 4 seasonal "Welcome" cross stitch designs intended for my parents from Just Cross Stitch magazine. We've been doing this in my AAUW craft group, too.

Also from Just Cross Stitch, I've started a set of 4 small seasonal samplers designed by Gail Bussi, one of my favorite designers. I finished the "Winter" one, but have to figure out how I want to display it--possibly as a little wall hanging rather than in a frame.

[I plan to post pics when I figure out how.]

I just finished reading Marion Chesney's Sick of Shadows (third in her new series and typically full of main characters who never do the right thing to make themselves happy) and Sam Llewellan's Little Darlings (wierd, "typically?" British satire for children, especially for those who like Lemony Snicket's books). I still liked them both.