Sascalia makes these beautiful pictures. When I saw it on the front page of Etsy.com I knew I had to have it! It was going to go into our entrance way, but now that we have painted a wall in our kitchen yello, I think it will relaly go well in there. It is a print mounted on wood which I think is an interesting. It is nice not to have to frame it.

I went to the doctor today and found out that I've pulled a muscle around my ribs by coughing and that is why I'm having so much pain. I mean a lot of pain. She gave me an anitbiotic which I was surprised about and a cough syrup with codine. Hopefully this will help. I didn't get the sewing done I wanted to because I find it hard to move my left arm around much. But I've been wanting to post about that picture so I did do my promise of posting!!!

Making promises

Hmmm...wonder if I can keep promises to myself yet. I can keep them to others no problem, but to myself? Yesterday I said I wouldn't get on facebook and play games...but I did. Spent most of last night doing it. What am I suppose to be doing online??? Maybe looking at blogs and getting inspiration to put some crafting goodness on here and some book reviews on my book blog???

Right I need someone to promise to, so I'm putting it on here and hopefully anyone that reads this will comment and kick me in the butt to get things going here. I mean really, what use are the stupid computer games when I have lovely fabrics, buttons etc to be playing with!!!!

I've got a room to decorate so that I can do lots of lovely crafts and get back to being the kind of crafty person that I love, instead of a computer game slob. So I hope to blog a bit about what I'm crafting, the decorating I'm doing (hopefully picture of my new yellow wall in the kitchen maybe!) and some great stuff that I've bought too!

So don't give up on me! I'm promising that every Wed I will blog about what is going on and lets have fun again!

Finished project

Yes, this is finally finished. I actually knit it last year and even did the sewing...but then I took my time getting the ends sewed up. The yarn is great, but since it is like a tube of cotton, just weaving the ends in wasn't enough. I used sewing thread to sew up the ends and that work great. It is a bit tight, but I'm losing weight (I hope) so it should fit better soon.

Kiki Mariko rug

I'm having a great time working on this rug...rug you say...it looks like you are doing it in the round....well I AM. How cool is that. The pattern is from "Mason-Dixon Knitting: Outside the Lines". I've had this book for awhile and I love the Fair Isle patterns. So, when my friend Kate and I went to a Fair Isle workshop I figured it was about time. Plus, the place we went (Get Knitted in Bristol) had the yarn it called for so I thought it was a sign. The workshop was great and I'm so proud...I CAN KNIT WITH BOTH HANDS!!! I never though I would master English/American knitting...but I can now and it has made this rug so much fun to knit....oh and the knitting in the round. Well it is much easier to knit the stitches with two hands then purl, so doing it in the round you don't have to...but you do have to cut your work apart. AAAHHH...I figured that since this project is to be felt first it should make it a bit safer!

I like the colors, though I was really limited to what they had. I think my color sense is getting better!

Wednesday is craft day!

I'm very happy with myself today. I actually crafted! I saw some work by some ladies where they took bluejeans and cut them up and made material out of it. I liked the idea, because I've been wanting to recycle and jeans can look a bit....well....naff in some projects. I've been wanting to make a bag that I could carry my embroidery around with me. I had a freebie that worked really well, but I needed to replace it. So here is what I've been doing. All material is from the same pair of jeans, just one side. I wanted the checkerboard effect more then the stripe, but though both sides don't have to look the same! I've zigzaged around the outside and then used a thiner zigzag on the horizontal lines. I don't want it to be perfect and so I've left the vertical so it can fray. My idea now is to use a fabric for the top and use another piece of jean to sew the bottom together. I want it to have a bit of a box like bottom to it. My scary part will be the zipper, but I found a good tutorial I've been saving here.

So Hurray for Crafting Wednesday!!!!!

Snow 2009

How cool is this??? Was so surprised when Rich said there was lots of snow on Monday morning. Just walked out and was amazed by how beautiful it was....of course I'm bored of it now! Now that I've had to walk to the train station in it!

Right....it is about time I get on the stick....

I'm starting to sort myself out. Since I'm feeling so much better, the house is getting a bit on my wick....but we are getting there. I can't believe that I've lived in this house for so long with out redecorating more then just the bathroom!!! And that took about 4 years......

I'm going to try and get back to crafting again. I've actually went through my room and cleaned it out, I was so impressed by how little time it actually took. I got rid of just a few things. Now I'm starting to think of how I'm going to arrange the room when I move it to the big room...so watch this space. Wednesdays are the days. I've had a lot of stupid appointments on Wednesdays and with the boiler not working...seemed like I never stayed home long enough to actually craft.

I have been knitting like crazy for Christmas, but no pics....

Few things to tell you about though.....


Met this Layla in Much Wenlock and fell in love with her stuff. We hit to off and I can't wait to work with her a bit. I bought the above print for one of my nephews. They are so lovely.

Well, off to try and get some more embroidery done!

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!