World unraveled.....

This is awesome...you must see it......

Franklin Habit

Last night was the best. Went to London and had a bit of shopping and then to I Knit London tot to meet Franklin and Tom and have my book signed. It was wonderful. Here is a pic taken by the guys at I Knit to prove it....

It is a small world as always, turns out Tom has family that live around Mattoon where my Grandfather has owned a cabin on the lake there for ages. So it was really good for me to get a little of Illinois for a very homesick girl!

I bought stuff of course....couldn't resist. I'm going to make this hat for one of my sis's....(scan down a bit and see the red hat.) I also bought some orange yarn to make me some gloves. We saw some really nice ones at Liberty's....but I just couldn't buy them when I can make them......especially at that price!!!!

Sorry no real pictures. I'm going to get myself a more compact camera so that I can actually carry it around with me more.

Websites to check out

While sitting here all covered up in upteen blankets and clothes I've been trying to catch up on some web goodness. I've found a couple things I want to pass on....

Yarndex Yarn Directory is a website where you can look up yarns and see patterns that go with them, reviews and also substitutions. It looks like a great help. I need to do a bit more scouting around but found out about it through Cast On.

The other cool site is the Knitting Scholar. This has reviews of knitting books and should be a really good source for those of us (yes me!!!) that should go on a bit of a book and yarn diet......I found out about this through Franklin Habit's blog Panopticon. I can't wait until next week. I'm going to go to the store I Knit in London and meet him!!! He has a new book out called "It Itches" which feature his cartoons. I love his work...and well....he is from Chicago...so is a bit of home.

Oh I'm so stressed about the election. I hope that everything turns out ok....nail biting stuff.....

Sick of being sick

Yep, here I am....bedridden with a nasty cold....messing around with the internet trying to get caught up and maybe...just maybe a bit organized. If any of you visit me on Rav...you will see that I've stashed a bunch of sock yarn I bought this weekend. I couldn't resist...I told hubby it was the virus that made me do it. I went several times to visit The Web of Wool stand, and by stitching their pattern for Mitt-Glove-en pattern in a bright pink/green/orange/blue Regia yarn....I sent many people their way. I love enabling (as many of you know.)

So where was I that I was buying all this yarn? At the Creative Stitches show in Cardiff helping at the NNA at booth for Poetry in Stitches 2. The pictures they have are gorgeous. The idea is that you take a poem and then interpret it through fibre. Sorry I don't have any pictures...but if you look on here....you can see some of them. The Otter if my favorite though during the weekend I kept changing my mind.

Anyway, I bought some jewelry supplies too. I keep hoping that I'll sort out my room soon and be able to get somethings done.

Last Secret Pal package

How great is this package. The yellow skein I think she died herself. How great is that. It has been a good secret pal, but I don't think I'll do it again for a bit.

Ra'Net has changed

I decided that I didn't like the pattern I was using for the scarf...so I've started over. Believe it or not I wanted something smaller......am I nuts.....well this blog isn't called crazy for nothing! I like it though, and it is going well. I can do a motif while I'm on train between home and work, so that is good. Should get a few done that way anyway.

I gave up on Henry, the yarn I was using (alpaca) split very badly and I couldn't get my count right. I hurt my back terribly doing it. It was so tight and stressful since there were so many slipped stitches. Hopefully, I find another pattern to do for my Dad.....really wanted a scarf for him!

I'm excited about teaching a crochet workshop. I hope that it goes well and I can do more. I'm going to teach a Granny patch that uses all of the crochet stitches that are most commonly used. Hopefully it will be great fun! I have several friends that have signed up....so that will be great.
'

Secret Pal

Here is the last package I got from my secret pal. Sorry the picture is too dark. The yarn is all purple and lush. It will be really nice knitted or crocheted up. Might need to start another blanket!

Projects - Scarves

I'm having fun working on scarves for Christmas. Above is the start of Henry which is a Knitty pattern. This one should actually go to my Dad, MOM KEEP YOUR MITTS OFF! I should have checked out Ravelry before I bought the yarn....most people said it was hard and took a lot of time. Oh well....never like me to back down from Alpaca, which is tearing up my fingers. Didn't know I was allergic to it. I like the alpaca though, it is Artesano 4ply.

Below is the start of a scarf for one of my sister's. I made up the motif and thought I would use some of the fab yarn I got from I Knit show.

I Knit

I had a great time with the girls at I Knit. Above is a few things I picked up. I also picked up an
Elizabeth Zimmerman book, which is something I've always wanted. I decided to make scarves for my sisters and that is what most of the yarn will go for, see if I get them done now.

Secret Pal question

I’m sure most of us have a proudest moment when it comes to knitting. A project or technique that you’ve tackled and completed beautifully. What is your proudest knitting moment??

And on the flip side? What is the one thing that you can’t get right? What is that one project that you’ve never been able to complete? Or that you did complete but then hid away instantly because it was too embarrassing?

Well, this is an interesting one. I have to say that my proudest knitting moment was my first sweater. I had never made a sweater for myself because of my big arms. But I was able to get it to fit and it is nice and bright and a wonderful sweater to wear.

On the flip side are socks. I've tried several times to make me socks, but they are always too small. The last ones were given to a friend because they ended up being a 4 (6 US) instead of a 8 (10 US)....so.....I keep trying!

Thanks Secret Pal

I thought I had already posted about these....aren't they beautiful? I've got another package to post about when I get a chance to take a pic.

Been busy reorganizing and hanging new curtains in the living room. I'll have a pic of that soon too!

Secret Pal Question....

Have you ever entered your knitting (or anything else) in the fair? NO!!!
Would you ever consider it? Not on your life. They do have what they call "Shows" here per county. But you have to be so perfect that there is no way I would put myself through that! Long ago, in a time far away, I was in 4-H and my grandmother helped me make a skirt and headkerchef.....hmmmm...that was the 70's ya know! I one blue ribbon, though I didn't think I sewed it up very well, but my cookies that everyone loved got a second......go figure!!!! Put me off!

What have I been up to?

I picked up a couple rug kits while we were on vacation. This is locker hooking, which I'm enjoying very much. I hope you don't mind the YouTube link, but it really shows you how to do it. I'm using some green fabric that I had tried to make a rug from before and some shirts that I've "grown out of". Actually, I need some more...might have to do some charity shopping tomorrow!

Secret Pal Question #8

What is your favorite supper for a hot summer evening?

Hmmmm....I would have to say BBQ. I miss that actually, because we don't have one. Corn on the cob...with chicken or a burger with BBQ sauce....making my mouth water....sigh...another thing I miss the US for...yes I know I could have a BBQ here...but it wouldn't be the same, especially with all the rain we are having!

SP questions

I've missed a couple while I was on vacation... but here are the new ones

What is(are) your favorite place(s) to knit? Everywhere. I love to knit at Borders with my friends, out in the garden with the cats playing around me, and in bed.

What supplies (besides yarn & needles) make the setting perfect for knitting...
Having what I need at hand, and not searching for the scissors or the tape measure. Problem is, I'm not that organized. So even though I buy lots of little organizers and buy all the supplies (and buy cute stuff to boot....) I still don't usually have what I need when I sit down!

Anyone else like this? Or is it just me!!!!

What would you consider the perfect amount of stash?

Another secret pal question....this is hard really...because of course stash is SO important. I find that now that I can afford a bit more yarn, I'm buying a lot. I've decided that I'm stocking up for the time when I can't buy anymore....which has worked for a bit. But now I've decided to only buy for projects...which is a bit better...but I've got a lot of projects in the plans also!!!! So the money is still being spent!!!! Especially at my not so LYS Ippikins!

Hello Kitty fun

Here are a couple of presents I've made recently. I love the top pattern book the most. But I like the way you stitch on the face on the bottom picture. My Niece Paige got the Kitty and her mom told me she took it to a sleep over the next night. I had to make something for her, when we visited last everything that was knitted in my suitcase she would ask..."Did you make this?" Her brother is getting a doggie, and possibly more from the easily found book below. It uses a type of chart for the directions which is handy.
Off on vacation now. Taking a bag and a basket full of crafting goodness. Wonder if I'll get any of it done?

What is my favorite summer drink....

My hostess for SP12 has asked us to post our favorite summer drink. I have to admit that I miss Ice Tea so badly since I moved to the UK. I'm hopeless at making it. I have tried, but it just isn't the same, so I have to wait until I'm able to go to London and have a couple at the Texas Embassy...my fav restaurant over here!

So what do I drink here??? Water, water and occasionally a Fanta Lemon with lots of ice.

So what have I been working on???

This.....Rowan Joy, Rowan Handknit cotton

And this.....
The first and second pictures are of a sweater I started a few months ago. The crocheting has been easy, but I had to work to make the sleeves large enough for my huge arms....no it isn't muscle. Anyway, the first picture is closer to the real color of the green then the second.

The third picture is an experiment I'm doing. I've been wanting to make some rugs...don't know why...just did. Well in July I have been asked to do a quick lesson on luceting with the gals at the guild. So I thought it would be good to actually have something sort of made for it. I love the square braid this makes and it sews together very easy. I'm making this out of Peaches and Cream cotton I bought in the States when I was home for Thanksgiving!

Secret Pal 12

I took a little break, but then decided I really wanted to have another go at being a Secret Pal. I really enjoy the shopping for someone else for a change. So here is my answers....

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I’m kind of a yarn snob…though I do use Collinette acrylic. During the summer I really like cottons.
2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I have a few different ways to store my needles, the one I like the most is my wicker vase with my wood and bamboo straight needles in. I could use something to help me organize my circular needles by size.
3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I would consider my self an intermediate. I’ve been knitting for 10 years now, but only this year did I make myself a sweater! I use to make things for others all the time, but have become a bit selfish lately…though I still have my niece and nephews to make things for.
4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Yes, I have an Amazon wish list.
5. What's your favorite scent?
Lavender or vanilla
6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
Yes!!!! Anything but licorice
7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I do about everything you can think of, though I’m doing a lot of beading at the moment. Well, and I’m also busy making rugs with a couple different techniques that I will talk about in future posts. I drop spin, though I need more practice.
8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I like new music (that isn’t to Pop).
9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
I’m in to strong rainbow colors at the moment.
10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
Married with two cats and a guinea pig!
11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
No ponchos….but yes to the rest
12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
At the moment I doing a lot of sweaters, but I like knitting anything really.

13. What are you knitting right now?
Finishing a crocheted summer sweater and knitting a t-shirt type shirt.
14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Absolutely!!!!!!
15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I use more circular because I travel with my knitting a lot. No plastic though.
16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
No, though I can see the benefit after spending a bunch of time needing to undo knots in a sock weight yarn that caught on itself all the time I was trying to hand wind!
17. How old is your oldest UFO?
Hmmm…..10 years???
18. What is your favorite holiday?
Going to the States to visit my family.
19. Is there anything that you collect?
Books
20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
I don’t subscribe to any knitting mags at the moment, I do get Selvedge which is a wonderful textile book. I really like to learn about all kinds of textile technigues.
21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
Rug hooking
22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
Yes, I do…though I’m a tight knitter so I find it hard to fit my foot…I have a high arch and no ankles
23. When is your birthday?
Nov 15
24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID?

Yes, dlad2002

Let the fun begin!!!

Wednesday craft day

Hey! I did it! With some distractions.....

as this in my face as I try and make this:

I like this, but decided it wasn't long enough....and of course I didn't have enough of the tiny beads...so off for more. I used waxed linen and I've learned that using beeswax and letting the end get hard a bit makes it go through the holes much easier. Stuff like that you can't learn from a book!

Next I took apart a necklace I bought at a charity shop to make one that I've been inspired from Instyle Mag. Of course, again not enough beads. I was going to make it out of wood beads, but didn't like that they are dyed and can't be guaranteed not too bleed. Then I thought of glass beads, but that was going to be very heavy. The necklace in the mag was made of resin...so I thought it would be ok. Especially when I walk into the only charity shop I went in that day and found this necklace! So I just need to find a few more small plastic beads and I'll have that one made. I'm not sure if I'm going to keep either of these necklaces. I like them, but the colors aren't really me. I've been tempted to open an Etsy shop....but not too sure.....what do you guys think...and give me your real opinion....you won't hurt my feelings.



I started working on this box then...again don't have what I need. I used some cool double stick tape I bought that is suppose to be really good. But I still think it needs some glue to fill in the wholes and make the whole thing more stable. I've had this mix of beads for ever. I think it looks cute on here. It is just a box that I got with some jewelry I bought. Thought it would be cool to recycle some more!There...so I finally did something! Now I'm going to watch telly with hubby and maybe fool around....with my blog layout....fooled ya!

Lucinda Wilby

Wow did I have fun at Wonderwools Wales. My sis-n-law went with me and we both really enjoyed the day. I bought lots of fun stuff, including these wonderful paintings done by Lucinda Wilby. I'm going to hang them in my craft room...whenever I get it redone.....hmm......well...I might have to hang them somewhere else to begin with! They are so cute though! She makes all different sizes. These are 6x6, I think. I will probably have to keep tabs on her and buy one of the bigger ones to go with these. She had four of the pictures hung on a board and it looked so cool!



I also finally got myself an inkle loom, made or Welsh wood of course. I bought a banner that I'll have to take a picture of when the light is better outside (it is raining at the moment). It is a "Hen party". I love chickens that aren't too country and this one is great.

Added later: talked to Lucinda so I got her blog. She is talking now about getting on Etsy hopefully....so if you like her stuff and would like to have one too....contact her and encourage her to do so!!!!

I'm having a bit of a crisis in craftiness. I feel a fraud sometimes, mainly because I have so many ideas...but not the time or skill to pull them off. I need to get to know people we wouldn't mind working with me on projects. So far this Wed off business has meant me sleeping all day....which is what I need....but I'm not getting the house caught up or the crafting done. I don't know if I've mentioned it here, but I have depression and it has taken a lot out of me. I've been trying to live with it for a few years now. It is slowly getting better, but I can get so frustrated with how slow. I want to create, play with my cats, have fun with my husband.....but instead I sleep and work. Ok, done blabbing....I have a wet cat walking on the desk in front of me and I'm taking that as a sign I should go play...since I can no longer see the screen!!!

Tomorrow.....

anticipation. I'm off tomorrow for the first time without being sick or at a meeting...lets see if I actually get some crafty goodness done.....and POSTED!

Change in my life...

I've become on of those part-time workers....and I'm so glad. I took a chance with my boss at work and we decided that I should have one day off during the week. So now Wednesday can be catchup and....wait for it.......CRAFTING DAY!!!! Well, that was the theory...until I came down with a killer cold and spent all of Wednesday moaning around the house...house...I mean BED. Anyway, next week I hope will be better and I can do some posting! I've got a really cool couple of necklaces I'm working on, and I'm really close to getting another sweater done....if I can just get the arms right.

Anyway...HAPPY CRAFTING!

Paris trip

Here are a few pics from our trip to Paris ....

These cakes were gorgeous....but we didn't buy one....well maybe a piece of something!


On the hour the tower sparkles with flashing lights. I thought we did a pretty good job of capturing that!

I did get my sweater done on time...but forgot to get a picture...it was a bit cold really to be taking my pic with out my coat on!

Brighton Show

She will probably kill me for this....but I had to show the work of this lovely lady I met on Saturday at the Craft show in Brighton. Sue Allan, who works under the name Sew Sister, is so enthusiastic and full of love for the work she is doing. She really helped me get some ideas going in my head of things I want to do. Her dolls are beautiful and if you have had a look at the Textile Directory, you will see they have her dolls everywhere! It is wonderful! Here is a sample of what she does. Unfortunately, you don't get a good view of the texture of these pieces. They are so wonderfully tactile and she was nice enough to let us know her secrets....this is the kind of stuff I love to do myself. Take fabric and then embellish it until it becomes something else almost.

I couldn't resist of course....I mean how beautiful is she! Her name is Tansy, she names them all and they definitely have great personality. Here she is with her friends....
And her she is proudly at home with me....she looks happy doesn't she......

Sue brought to my attention the Needlepunch felt that I actually own some of....typical of me really. This is what she uses to get the texture on her work. I don't know why I didn't think of using this to make rugs. We need some rugs in the house and I've been trying to think of ways I can A) recycle and B) make my own. I think I'm going to make one for the stairs by felting the needlepunch in the washing machine. Then cutting to fit, putting some of the fabric I have for woven rugs underneath for stability, and embellishing with felt flowers...or I think dots. HMMM.....watch this space........

Finally some WIPs....

This is what I've been frantically working on at the moment. It is a Colinette pattern called Enid, out of the book Iona. I'm not using the silk yarn they asked for....well I've never made a sweater and I'm not so sure about paying that much when I'm not sure how it is going to work out. I'm doing it in Skye Magenta.....it definitely has a WOW factor as far as color. I was knitting outside in the little bit of sunlight we actually have had this week and it seemed a bit brighter then the sun!
I'm also working on a Granny Blanket. Some of the yarn was given to me and I didn't know what to do with it. I bought the bright pink, which is another yummy yarn called Marshmallow. I need to get some more...hopefully Ippikins will still have some.



If you venture into my house...don't be surprised to find a few body parts laying around.....I bought this book recently.....

and I've been trying to make one of the teddies....but the body parts keep disappearing.....the culprit is one of my kitties that has decided that anything I make is for her sole use as a toy!

LillyMoon

The Orange Book

I decided that each month I would try to treat myself to a little something off of Etsy. This month I decided I had to buy a print from LillyMoon. So I bought the above print. It will look so nice in our bedroom...I was hoping to paint one of the walls the blue in the background. It also covered three of my favorite things as a subject...reading...sleeping...and knitting (spot the knitting needles in her hair????). Her work is stunning. I bought some of her buttons too, with images from her work, but they didn't scan very well. She sent the items in such pretty packaging along with a free 5X7 print below.

Dear Mr Rain

That is what I love about Etsy...everyone is so excited about their work and they take such care presenting their items as if they were found in a physical store....instead of just online!

Alison Willoughby

When my friends and I went to London last fall to Origins, we met Alison. Two of us had been admiring her work in Selvedge and other magazines for awhile and were so excited to meet her and view her work in person. I was going through my new Fiberarts magazine and low and behold she has written a book about how to make her skirts!!!! I'm so excited and have put it on my wish list for sure....even though it doesn't come out for awhile! For some reason the picture and title will be different in the States:

Go figure!!!!

I also ran across this book that I want really bad when it comes out!

Came across this book....

I couldn't resist it! That is soooooooo MEEEEEEE!!!!!!! I love RESTING!!!!!!

And I definitely plan on doing this one day!!!!

New Blog

One of my favorite craft book (well knitting) editors has a blog now!

http://www.melaniefalickbooks.com/

It will be good to keep an eye on what she is working on. You might know her from "Knitting in America", which is the book that got me knitting 10 years ago. She is someone I trust when buying books. I've always something inspirational!

Merry Christmas to us!

Rich and I decided (well I decided) that we should pick up a nice art piece for Christmas. We did the same thing for our anniversary. I think this could become an important part of our gift giving. We picked out this earthenware piece for my favorite art gallery in Much Wenlock. It is by Janet Creed. She had also made some other birds and a pig, but we really liked this. I love Rooks, we see them a lot on our favorite beach. The work is really striking and all of them make you smile when you look at them. That is what I'm looking for in art at the moment...for it to make me smile or go WOW!

I've promised myself to write more on here. I have so many great ideas of things I'm wanting to do and I'm working on and I just don't take the few minutes to blog. Which is a shame, because the whole reason I wanted to blog was to discuss what I'm doing and know that people reading it might actually get what I'm on about!

So I expect to be doing a bit more posting!

Oh, and my Mom and Dad bought me some really great books off of my wishlist.
I have the Loop-d-Loop crochet book and I liked it so much that I thought I would have this one too. I'm starting to get certain designers that I really like. That has made things I bit easier. Though most of these patterns are for inspiration.

I had bought the Twisted Sisters sock book and thought I'd have a go at the sweater one. I can't wait to have a go....though I've got several projects a head of this.