Thread Painting

Saturday was a very productive day.

Our Art Quilters met at the library for our very first work session.

Once we got the tables set up and place, electrical taken care of, and chair height's adjusted

Susan took on the task of showing us some thread painting techniques and we were off and running.

There were seven us - all concentrating and stitching and stitching.

We chose to thread paint onto floral fabric.  Each picking something a little different.

Though a couple did print out their own flower pics onto printer fabric.

Our reserved time for the room at the library was for four hours 

- at right about the three hour mark we were exhausted.

Boy, it was intensive work.  :^)  sweaters had to be shed and the thermostat lowered. 

We were a room full of hot babes ! ! ! 

The work done during those three hours were truly surprizing.  

We done gooooood!

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I know I still have a Looong way to go before I feel confident, let me tell you.

This is what I accomplished during our session.

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Seems the idea of the crafting cottage appeals to our imagination, for sure.

Your comments have my mind reeling !

Ahh, the possibilities.

We, here in mid-MO are anticipating our winter snow 

that is to include, rain, sleet, ice and thunder snow.

Total accumulation forecast to be at least a foot here in Jeff.

Hugs

Hey, wanna hear about my Nook?

This past week Hubby and I have attended two Nook evenings.

Our local library Nook evening introduced Nook users to their elibrary system.  [click on this hyperlink to read more about it]

Our library belongs to a consortium of  Missouri libraries in cities and towns of a population of under one-hundred thousand.

Currently ten libraries comprise the consortium.

Each library contribute to the overall budget based on library membership.

St Joseph being the largest contributor with Jeff City coming in second.

Currently the Consortium has a library of over three-hundred fifty ebooks.

If I remember correctly, more than one hundred of these are e audiobooks.

After downloading two programs from our library website to a pc, laptop or netbook these ebooks can be downloaded and read on my Nook.

We downloaded Overdrive that connects us to the eLibrary

and downloaded Adobe Digital Edition Reader  that enables our Nook to read the digital editions.

We downloaded these to my netbook [these. also could be downloaded to my laptop or desktop pc].

The installed programs allow the ebook to download  so that I can start reading.

Books are lent for a period of fourteen days.

And like any other library book it can be re-newed.

We downloaded our first elibrary book that evening.

We have yet to download an e audiobook from the library but will in the next couple days.

We attended our second Barnes and Noble Nook evening on Thursday.

The very capable Nook 'guru' led us though more hints and tips for enjoying our Nooks.

Since our first Barnes and Noble Nook evening, and our second last Thursday,

we are taking advantage of the pre-loaded Nook Extra  -  Pandora Radio,

it's free Internet Radio that I have customized to my musical preferences.  

I now have three stations - Classical, Enya/Enya-like, and Pink/Pink-like music.

Depending on my mood I chose which genre I can listen to

- though Classical will no doubt be played most of the time.

My Pandora Radio can be

 played on my Nook as background music while I read, or surf The Internet,

while I catch up on blogs I follow,

or while read and send email

or even while doing Crossword Puzzles or Sudoku on my Nook.

Yes, I love the features of my Nook.

Especially The Internet features - liking being able to post to my blog.

Lots of fun!!!!!

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I think there is lots o' snow heading toward mid-MO!

Hugs

How would you like

How'd you like a special cottage such as this 

as your crafting cottage?

Early last summer when son and d-i-l were visiting,

d-i-l and I spied the For Sale sign in the yard.

-  -  -  Stopped the car, 

jumped out for the info sheet

and found that for 160k we could own it

A special crafting cottage of our own.

Gee, a gal can dream can't she ?

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Have mentioned lately how your Comments have made my day?

I love reading what you have to say 'cause they are such a reward.

It's nice to know you care enough to spend time visiting and commenting.

Thanks everyone.

- - - - - - - - - - -

I want to give credit where it is due.

Lotus Blossom was a gift to me from a special quiltin' gal.

Hugs

Sewing Room Companions

These little gals keep watch over the goings on.

Not certain this of this ^ gal's name

This ^ girl is referred to as Googly-eyed girl

This ^ dolly's Eleanor B.

Another pincushion ! !

I call ^ Lotus Blossom.

Hugs

New Obsession?

Not really an obsession -

there are a plethora of gorgeous colors out there just for the picking!

I can't resist.

Now that you've glimpsed these nail candies,

really, who can resist?

If that's not enough of a reason for a second - or third - look

What great names 

Add to the mix

Amethyst

Star Spangled

Shimmering Mauve

First Time

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ Swoon ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Hugs

The GOOD sox

My third pair of Hedera - also a Cookie A pattern.

They're an easy knit and always look intricate.

They're no trouble at all.

This color I am calling Mint Sage. And really loving the color.

I'm more than half way with these babies.  

Just past the heel turn and working on a quick finish to the gusset 

 - then continue on with the remaining length of the foot and ready for the toe decreases ! ! ! 

Hugs

Pointelle Frustration ! ! !

This is the progress so far on these rascals.

The right sock knits up fine.

When I get to the left sock those darn stitches don't always coincide with the chart.

I count, I knit, I yarn over, why, I even ssk.

 I HAVE KNIT  diagonal patterns by Cookie during the first Cookie KAL on Ravelry SUCCESSFULLY

 so I know I am capable of doing it.  It just isn't working smoothly at all.

Right now they are still stuck under my chair taking a 'time out'.

Hugs

Next Project?

The other day while I was ordering the Swift I saw that shipping was free - sooooooo

my Yarn Stash is now richer by six skeins of white.

Rav has a yarn dyeing discussion group.

While browsing through some of the posts 

I read that some are using Wilton Icing Color for yarn dying.

All that it takes, aside from the icing dye, is white vinegar and a kettle of hot water.

You know how well I get around in the kitchen - how hard can this be.

Yes, I know this is not THE way serious yarnies do it. 

Just as soon as I get around to it I will order the Procion Dyes  

but 'til I really get serious.  Let's play ! ! ! 

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Or, should I buckle down to give Thread Painting a try

It's been on my to-do list for such a long time.

Decisions, decisions.

Oh, I'll think about it tomorrow.

Hugs

Red and Green

Just to let you know I haven't been slacking off here are a couple of projects finished
during the here and there bits of time I've spent on them.



Still using up those scrap pieces.
There is good new along those lines
I'm getting fed up with all these little pieces.
Yesterday I found just one more little bit of strip scraps.
I do believe they will find their way into the TRASH ! ! !
I know that's drastic talk from me
but enough is enough and now this is enough.
To the TRASH ! ! !

 

Now on to better topics.  Sox ! ! ! !
This pair has turned out just great for keeping my feet warm this winter.
Love this shade of greenand just a touch of orange-y at the cuff adds interest.

Keep Warm !

Hugs

A Swift Wool Lesson

DD#1 gifted me with a Gift Card to a lys.

Among others, these two Malabrigo Sock yarn hanks

made it into my shopping bag.

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Appropriately named, the KAL is Ravelry Red will be knit into a great Cookie A sock pattern.

My other pick is Azules. 

I love to knit sox.

I love to knit sox 2-at-a-time.

I don't want to go 'mad' trying to knit with this yarn in this configuration so

these two hanks really need to be wound into yarn cakes. 

 That way I can knit two socks at one time using one 40" long circular knitting needle.

*  *  *  *  *  *  * *  *  *  *

This is where my new Swift gets a workout along with my postal scale and yarn ball winder.

You can see the Swift in it's collapsed state.

The umbrella-like part that will hold the yarn,

the screw at the far right that attaches to the table table top

and in between the umbrella and the 'attacher' is the set-screw portion that holds the umbrella open.

Knitting two-at-a-time sox requires two balls/cakes of yarn.

The hank of yarn [minus the paper tags] must be weighed [in grams] 

I want both balls/cakes to be same weight/length.

Ahhh, we have 96 grams of Ravelry Red to work with today.

That means we'll end up with two cakes/balls 48 grams each.

Once the hank is untwisted it looks like this.

The white twine is woven at three places around the hank to keep zillions of tangles appearing.  Oh, what fun that was, just ask Hubby.

These will be cut and removed once the yarn is on the Swift.

The Swift expands to fit the current hank of yarn.

This is the part where Hubby does one part of our operation.

He's putting the hank on while I expand the umbrella and set the adjustment screw.

Getting ready to wind onto the ball winder the separator twine is removed.

Oh, hey, don't want to forget to tell you that the spindle comes off the winder  

I've weighed it and marked it

- 15 grams -

Now we are set to begin winding the first ball.

YaHooo

Once we guessimate that we're at the half-way point 

yikes!  gotta do the math 

96 grams of yarn divided by two balls = 48 grams

48 grams plus 15 gram spindle = 63 grams

Whew! that wasn't to bad.

After a couple of hundred turns on the winder a quick weigh-in.

Twenty-three grams short of half.

A few for winds and here we are !

SIXTY-THREE GRAMS

Weigh in without the spindle.

Oh, so shoot me we're one gram shy.

Hey, they say one foot is always smaller than the other.

Here's the second ball's weigh-in.

That's it  -  That's all !

Hey, quick, easy, accurate [give or take a gram this time].

#  #  #  #  #  #  #

Ready for action!

Hmmm, which Cookie A design will these end up?

Lucky Feet.

Hugs

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

What I Made During Snow Day

Several months back I cut the vinyl for

The Smart HandBag by Julie Smart

Yesterday while straightening my sewing area there pops up the two vinyl bags cut ready for completion.

I picked the larger of the two 11 x11 x 5 rather than the 9.5 x 10.5 x5

Eleven inches tall was not to my liking so lopped off a bit - checked - lopped off it bit more - checked - ahhhhh, just right.

Turned out that eight inches was more to my liking.

Unlike the pattern instructions, I encased the vinyl edges in bias tape.

After a period of time the vinyl becomes a bit hardened and can  be sharp,

encased with bias tape that ain'ta gonna happen.

The handles are a cotton twill that was in it's original life was a tie on a blanket we purchased at Wal-Mart.

I just knew it would come in handy for 'something'.

The twill was rather flimsy so I embellished it with ribbon that dil had used to wrap my Christmas gift.

Which I just knew would come in handy for 'something'.

Just the size for one of my 2-at-a-time Socks projects.

Hedera is one of my current sox-on-a-needle projects.

BTW, Pointelle is just about ready to be @#$%$#@#$% ! ! ! ! ! ! 

Don't know what the deal is, just can not go two rounds without loosing count or track or what ever ! ! 

Am I going to be de-feeted by two balls of yarn and a chart with symbols?????

Stay tuned  .  .  .

Knitterly Hugs

opps, we're on a warming trend the temp is up to ten degrees F.

Doing My Part to Show-n-Tell Snow

It surely came.

Winter HAS ARRIVED in mid-Missouri.

It's Seven Degrees F outside our cozy home.

Our yard was inundated with between eight and nine inches of the white stuff.

Had to hire someone to clear the driveway.  

hmmmm, that's a first for us .  .  .  .  .

Spent the day enjoying The Snow Day.

Of all the winter wonderland this Sycamore just beyond our deck stood out ! ! ! ! 

Hugs

Sox in the Making

While I have free time during our daily outings

this pair of purpley-striped ribbed sox 

are stashed in the console between the front seats and

get a couple more rounds completed each trip.

Eventually they'll get finished

in the meantime my hands are kept busy.

You know - Idle Hands Are The Devil's Workshop

This goldenrod pair is Pointelle 

 and is on it's THIRD beginning

and now being knit using Cascade Heritage superwash wool.

For some reason this particular  pattern is not co-operating with me.

The first two attempts were with Jojoland Melody yarn

and after the second time of ripping them back

I decided that Jojoland Melody was JINXed for 

Pointelle.

So I've begun once again and

 hoping third time [and a yarn change] is the charm. 

This minty morsel is Hedera

Our Rav Cookie A's KAL is a little different from last year's Cookie KAL.

After a group vote, Pointelle AND Hedera are the patterns chosen for this first KAL.

As long as a pattern is begun in January

we have until the end of February to finish either

one or both in order for them to be eligible

for a chance to win [picked by Mr. Random Generator] 

great things

from the individuals who have donated such lovelies as YARN.

Today is a snow day - have 4-5 inches of snow.

Hugs