Dealing with Boredom

This last Monday I underwent a minor surgery.  Unfortunately during the surgery there was a complication and I had to have exploratory surgery as well.  All this means that I am home for the week to recover.  Some people may find a week off of work to be delightful, but I have had too many days off in the last month and a half that I am tired of it.  Plus I am not able to do a lot of things and pretty much stuck on the couch.  Should I also mention that daytime television stinks!

Good thing my hobby is crafts!  My latest creation a granny square bag.

The bag is not my idea.  I found the idea on Raverly, an online community of knitters, crocheters and spinners.  With a general idea of how to construct the purse, I did the rest of the design as I went.  It was a really easy bag to make.  All I did was create three granny squares and seam them together.  The strap was made by braiding 18 strands of t-shirt yarn and knotting the ends.  Easy.  The entire bag was created in about 3 hours.  I am still trying to decide if I want to sew in a liner to prevent smaller objects from falling out, but until then the bag works great.

Harvest

Beautiful, beautiful herbs!  For Christmas I received an AeroGarden and two different seed packets, an herb assortment and tomatoes.  I decided to start the herbs first, as I figured they would be easier to maintain than the tomatoes...and boy was I right!!!!  With very little work, I have managed to grow some large, beautiful, healthy plants.  Today I decided to harvest the crop since there is no way I could use them as quickly as they are growing.  I now have 7 plates drying on my counter with three different Basil's, Oregano, Thyme, Mint and Dill.

I am in no way getting paid for promoting the AeroGarden, but I feel compelled to give my opinion on this product, so here it is.  If you are like me and live in a place where it is hard to grow outdoors, this is a great product (so far, we will have to see how well the tomatoes grow).  It is very easy to maintain.  It tells you when to add water and nutrients.  The lights are on an automatic timer, as well as the hydroponics.  It doesn't take up too much space on your counter and doesn't make a difference on your electric bill.  It is just wonderful!!

Below is my AeroGarden after the "harvest".  I will be interested to see how long it takes for the plants to grow as full as they were.

Doubled

Being Focused.

The triangle scarf has doubled in size.  Which doesn't mean that it is closed to finished by any means, but it is starting to take shape.  I am finding quiet in the focus it takes to knit.  More important, I am finding joy in creating it, which is one of the biggest reasons why I craft (besides not being able to just sit still).

Challenges this project is giving me?  The edges are rolling up, and I have tried what all the books say to prevent this problem.  I am hoping that once I block the project when I am finished, that it will solve this problem...but I am not very optimistic.

What is going well?  The design.  The whole design is just "knit on the fly".  No pattern.  This is giving me freedom to just knit and not have to worry about whether I am following something correctly.

Forever

What was I thinking??  While browsing the local fiber store, a while ago, the owner was opening up boxes of new inventory.  I couldn't resist, I love watching boxes being open.  A new sock yarn emerged, Online SuperSocke self patterning yarn.  With such beautiful colors, nice texture and durability, I immediately started picking a skein I liked.  The price tag...about $20...ouch!  Did that matter at the time though, not really. 

This skein of yarn sat, unattended for months.  I thought about making a pair of socks with it, but a $20 pair of socks??  Plus, I haven't knitted socks before and find them a little intimidating.  So fingerless gloves came to mind next, but I couldn't find a pattern that called for the weight of this yarn.  My brilliant idea...a triangle scarf and I would make it as big as the skein allowed.  Simple and easy.

What was I thinking??  Although I am loving the colors and the way it is looking so far, this project is going to take me forever.  It only keeps my attention for a short time (knitting is like that for me), the needles I have to use to make the self patterning yarn do its job are so small which means the rows are very short and well I am just not that fast of a knitter.  To say this is a challenge for me is an understatement.  My commitment to this project is 100% though and if it takes me years to get this done, oh well, all I have is time right?


Picture:  Start of the Triangle Scarf.  Would you believe I have been working on this, on and off, for a couple months?

Moving Forward

2011...a year that was supposed to hold great new beginnings has not started off as hoped.  I do not wish to go into such personal details as this is supposed to be a crafting blog.  But I am well and intent to move forward with a positive and hopeful attitude.

As for crafting...hmmm, well....ah....nothing, so far.  Stay tuned though as keeping my hands and mind busy with crochet, knitting and sewing may be the way to keep me sane.

The Weekend

This weekend is the big bazaar at the local high school....the one I was going to be prepared for this year.  Yeah right!  I may have about 6 books, 3 necklaces and a dozen hair clip bows.  Why is it that something always comes up when I am trying to achieve this goal.  I really want to make crafting a small source of income for myself, but somehow it always gets pushed to the waste side because life happens. 

Luckily, the friend I shared a booth with last year doesn't mind if she has the booth all to herself this year, but has offered if I have a few things to put in, I am welcome to.  Unfortunately, these days I go to bed at around 9pm.  Just enough time to get home, relax for a few, make dinner, eat dinner, clean up after dinner, play with my dog Kane, relax for a little while and then to bed...no time for crafting.

Maybe someone is trying to tell me to give up?

Hello! Hello!

Where o where have I been?  Sleeping and working.  That seems to be life these days.  I have been so exhausted the past month that I haven't done a whole lot of anything.  It is really frustrating, since I am the type of person that always has my hands busy.  Even when lounging on the couch, I will have a crochet hook in my hand.

Big changes are coming in my life.  Although I am keeping it a secret for now, I assure you everything is good, and this change is wonderful. 

Jelly

The Salmonberries were not as abundant this year, as they have been. It seems that the effects of the non-existent summer, two years ago, when we barely reached 50 degrees and hardly saw the sun, is still showing. I miss seeing berries the size of walnuts, over taking the bushes. At least there were some berries, compared to the non-existent summer, where there were no berries, no flowers, and no sun.


Yesterday I took the day off, a much needed 3 day weekend.  (The last tax deadline, October 15th, has past and I have survived...barely)  Sunday I pulled out my three small bags of berries to de-thaw.  I was able to get about 2 gallons of berries, a small amount for me.

Thru smashing and adding a small amount of water I was able to squeeze enough juice for two batches.  Not a lot but at least some. 

One Month To Go

 With one month till the holiday bazaars begin, I am furiously working on increasing my inventory.  I am bound and determined that this year will be better.  I will be more prepared with a better focus.  Not sure if I have enough time to pull it off but I am going to give it my best effort.  My only worry right now is having enough variety as well as product.

Here is my newest item:
The Mushroom Stash Necklace
Will fit a lighter or lipstick, a roll of cash or whatever you wish.

And here are some new earrings.....

Tell me what you think.  I welcome all and any comments!!

Come on now I know you want to order some..wink wink.

Beach Treasures

I received a phone call mid afternoon yesterday asking if I would like to go beach combing.  I LOVE BEACH COMBING!  So of course I went.  I packed the necessities, my camera and a Ziploc bag, and traveled to a beach I haven't explored before not knowing what I would find.

After about a 15 minute walk, we approached the beach. I was at first amazed with the view (I never get tired of pretty landscapes), then I looked down....

Look closely at the beach, (click on the picture to enlarge) yes that is beach glass!  And lots of it.  Most were fairly small pieces, but I was able to find some big pieces.  There were lots of Amber, Clear and Green.  I also found some blue, yellow, a small red and some other neat things out there.

Here is all my loot...

I'd say it was a good day at the beach!

End of Road 1000 Feet

The island is receiving some beautiful fall days and I am trying to take advantage of each and every one of them.  Winter will be here soon and with that comes lots of rain, some snow, cold days and little daylight.  I always giggle on these nice days because it seems like everyone ventures outside to enjoy them.  We all get so couped up staying out of the bad weather that any amount of good weather brings out the masses.

My red nose pitt bull, Kane, and I drove all the way out the road, literally to the end of the road.  We were lucky to find only a few people out there and no other dogs.  (Kane is not too friendly towards other dogs)  We spent our time walking the beach, playing Frisbee, collecting fossils and just relaxing.

Crafting:

In crafting news, I am working on a couple skirt designs.  I have become obsessed with the show Project Runway and it has really sparked some great ideas for me.  Even as a kid I wanted to be a fashion designer and if that dream never comes true, I can at least design some really great clothes for myself, right?

Long Weekends

With one deadline behind me and another one steering closer, I decided to take last Friday off from work.  With a "To Do" list the size of the Titanic I was surprisingly feeling really energetic about the day.  Unfortunately, I was not as productive as I wanted to be...but I did finished this....

This lovely rug was crocheted using 7 different sheets and a size Q hook. 

You'll Have to Excuse Me

It is that time...AGAIN!  Taxes are due.  If you or your accountant, filed an extension for 2009 taxes, the time is upon you.  Corporate Return's deadline is September 15th and Personal Return's are October 15th.  Get them done!

Please forgive my absence, I will have an exciting new post after September15th.

Adventures in Crochet

The hooks are hot, my hands are sore and some great things are starting to come together.  I started a rag rug a long time ago and put it down because I wasn't getting the increases correct in the corners.  The rug just would not lay flat.  While looking around in the craft room for a project to work on, I came across this so called half complete wavy rug and the strips of fabric already cut for more torture of fighting this thing and thought...."I really should just crochet the rug."  So I put the wavy thing aside, grabbed the strips and the largest crochet hook I have and went to work.

I am very happy with the difference between the crochet and "rag rug" knots.  The crochet rug is soft and airy.  I am only about a third finished with the rug, if that.  I would like it to be large enough to fill the floor to the craft room.  I would also like there to be at least 4 or 5 more colors.

Craft Fair Item.

Hair accessories never go out of style, right?  Below is the first, of many, crochet head bands.  It is crocheted with cotton yarn so it is soft and won't be too hot.  It has a crochet button to join the ends at the back of the neck, making it easy to put on.  A great way to get your hair out of your face.

Something New.

A good friend gave me a crochet book a while back with all sorts of different stitches, motifs and techniques.  I am learning everything from Irish Lace to Broomstick Lace to three dimensional crochet and everything in between.  One thing that caught my eye was a "woven" flat pattern.  Used mainly for place mats and table runners, for its flat, even surface.  I can see many possibilities with this...a skirt maybe, or scarf, or maybe a bag....hmmm...

The Review

The Gnome House and Gnome Family made it to their new home with my niece last week.  And does she like them???  SHE LOVES THEM!!  I am happy to report that she is having lots of fun playing with them.  The other night, on her way to bed she grabbed them suddenly and held on tight, so my sister would let her take them with her.  How sweet is that?

Up on top of my to do list....make more Gnome Families!