Flower Power ! crocheted flowers...

Hello Dear readers... so, I have certainly been absent from my blog for awhile--4 months in fact! I guess I needed a break, but now I am back  and will be posting regularly. I thank you for your patience.

 Yesterday, in a fit of creativity, I created these crocheted flowers. I crocheted these from scraps of wool I had on hand and finished them with nice vintage buttons.

What possessed me? I have committed to 2--yes 2!! craft fairs for the Holidaze and so need crafted items to sell. This is just a few of the items I will sell...I also have hand knit hats, some sewn "inchy" pins, some beadwork, and of course, some linocut prints.

these are quick and fun to make---here is a blue posey....

this one is made from re-purposed angora yarn---I unraveled a thrifted angora sweater for the yarn...

lovely sunny flower~

rainbow flower with vintage button

will you be my star? I love this star vintage button...

I had thought I would make these into pins or brooches but have decided to make them into hair clips....

"Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep. "----Scott Adams

Got the Blues: Scrap Ripple Afghan

 I am currently (among other projects) crocheting an afghan out of wool  and  alpaca "scraps" I had in my yarn stash...mostly blues, greens, and grays, with a dash of pinkish heather....but of course, I am just about out of "scraps"--so now if I want to finish this project I am going to have to go and buy some yarn....(oh darn;-)

This is a fun project...and crochet progresses so fast! compared to knitting. The pattern is from the book 200 RIPPLE STITCH PATTERNS by Jan Eaton.

and--oh yes! I found the camera (whew!!!) hidden behind some stuff...so I will be posting here more often now.

Is it really lost?

If any of you are wondering why I have not posted much here lately--it is not only traveling and moving that has kept me from posting--BUT in all the traveling and moving I have misplaced (or lost???) my camera!!!! and I like to post photos with my musings...hopefully the camera will turn up soon...where do "lost" things go anyway? do the "Borrowers" have them?

Meanwhile here are some images from my archived  photographs....just some photos I took that I like. A little Alaska, a little art/crafts...

this is what I keep telling myself while I job hunt ....

crochet doily rug...with really fat yarn...

socks on 2 needles!  really fun technique....

trail to my sister's cabin in Alaska...I love this image..and I used it as my screensaver for a long time...

 beadwork on vintage hankie....

my cabin in Alaska....

a watercolor design.....for my portfolio....

B is for BROOCH

brooch, noun.
an ornamental pin having the point fastened by a catch; broach. Brooches are often made of gold, silver, or with jewels. Originally brooches were worn as a fastening for clothing.


These BROOCHES were fun to make---a nice "scrap buster"--a way to use up small left-over bits of colorful yarns...and very quick to crochet up!!!- I sewed a pinback to each one so they can be pinned onto your sweater, coat or hat to add some cheer....

I may make a few of these to sell on ETSY...I was thinking green and red ones for the holiday season would be fun...

It's Here! the KNIT AND CROCHET SHOW!

(image from CABLES UNTANGLED by Melissa Leapman)


The KNIT AND CROCHET SHOW started here in Portland yesterday ! "A knit and crochet retreat to nurture and expand your creativity and a shopping extravaganza for all of your stitching needs" put on by the Crochet Guild of America (CGOA) & The Knitting Guild Association (TKGA) Conferences. I belong to the Knitting Guild Association, so I got a discount on classes and free entry to the show.

I'm signed up for one class today---Melissa Leapman's (knitting) CELTIC CABLES. She wrote my all time favorite cable knitting book : Cables Untangled: An Exploration of Cable Knitting
If you live in Portland and haven't signed up for any classes yet--they have room left in many classes...bike on over to the Doubletree Hotel (by the Lloyd center) and check out the yarn vendors and sign up for a class...see you there!

Quote for today: "The only place where housework comes before knitting is in the dictionary."

Giant Doily Rug

I had a brilliant idea as I looked at the box of yarn (which I had totally forgot I even owned). This was FAT yarn---I hardly ever knit with FAT yarn--but I had been hauling this yarn around since the 1970's ( I kid you not---the sorry pack rat that I am) precisely because I had dyed all this yarn back in the 70's with natural dyes....all those muted natural colors--so hard to part with....

but back to my brilliant idea---I could use this yarn to quickly crochet a rug--I say "quickly" because I crochet much faster than I knit---and then in a FLASH I saw it--a crocheted rug--with this fat yarn--using a lacy doily pattern would be DiffeRent and perhaps really kind of great looking upon my nice wood flooring...so I commenced. And guess what?? I think I was correct? What do you think???

Right now this is a WIP (work-in-progress)---and only about 1/3 finished--so do check back to follow this project as it grows and changes...and I will of course post a finished photo.

Cashmere and Lace Repurposed (Creative Every Day!)

I love cashmere, but right now I can't afford the yarn---at least not enough to knit myself a whole sweater. I'm always looking at lovely new cashmere sweaters--but again-the cost! And I am larger sized woman, so the choices are limited. Then one day in a thrift shop (while shopping for wool sweaters to felt for various projects) I spied this very large black men's turtleneck sweater. Hmmmm...it sure was soft! so I checked the fiber content---it was pure cashmere! I bought it in a flash.

I should have taken a shot of this sweater when I started--when it was a very large man's turtleneck...anyhow, I have refashioned (repurposed, recycled?) this warm, soft, cozy, fuzzy all cashmere sweater. Now I find myself wearing it almost everyday around the house, because it is so soft and warm.

First I threw it in the washing machine and then dryer with a load of wool sweaters--hoping to shrink the sweater some---but I discovered that cashmere doesn't shrink much, and it sure does not felt at all. So next I took out the scissors and cut out the turtleneck and then I turned the edge under and hemmed around the neck--by hand. The sleeves were much too long, so I cut them off and also hemmed them by hand.
Then I used some washable wool sock yarn to crochet the edging around the neck and sleeve cuffs. I just used a steel crochet hook and poked it right through the hemmed cashmere edge to make a row of single crochet, then crocheted some shells into this row of single crochet, and finished with picot row.



The neck and sleeves edging took me 2 evenings to finish--and now I have my own warm cashmere sweater, created for about $10.00. And I can just throw it in the washer and dryer to clean it, since the fibers don't shrink. Plus, every time I wear this sweater somewhere I get compliments on it.....

Tutorial conglomeration!

For months I have been bookmarking online tutorials of wonderful creative crafty projects I want to make...some day....
so here is a short list of a few crafts to make in the New Year:


1) Very Easy Pincushions here from the Purl Bee---the Purl Bee is the online journal of PURL, a shop devoted to beautiful materials and tools for knitting, sewing, quilting and other crafts located in New York. They have a whole lot more great tutorials on their blog---but this one first caught my interest.


2) tiny happy's shoulder bag tutorial---I make my own bags--but I have wanted to try this style for awhile.

3) A pretty crochet flower tutorial from the blog Echoes of a Dream---I can think of many uses for these !





Rick Rack Roses from the blog Nostalgic Needle Art. Wouldn't these make cool additions to a hat?










4) A great tutorial for a button bracelet at the blog Creative Kismet. I love vintage buttons---and have made some bracelets and necklaces with them, but this is a great tutorial---with good illustrations---for a pretty bracelet of buttons which lies flat around your wrist.












5) A luggage tag tutorial from My Longest Year---just a decorative tag to help identify your luggage as it passes by on the conveyor belt....


I guess 5 projects should start the year of 2008 off just fine...more to follow soon!

Books As Gifts

Only 28 days (yikes!) until that BIG HOLIDAY. Here are some books I think would make great gifts for most Crafters/Artists (most of these are on my wish list):

Kristin Knits by Kristin Nicholas.
Ah! Color for knitters! Noted knitwear designer and color connoisseur Kristin Nicholas encourages knitters to conquer their color inhibitions, learn a little basic color theory, and create personally satisfying fiber palettes. Kristin has created 25 designs for hats, mittens, scarves, socks, and sweaters in sumptious Nashua Handknits Julia Yarn. This book is eye candy I can't wait to own!


Heirloom Buttons to Make: A gallery of decorative fabric, needle-lace, crochet, and ribbon and braid closures you can create by Nancy Nehring. The subtitle says it all here. To quote one Amazon customer review : "If you knit, crochet, or sew and like to give your garments a little extra, this book will give you lots of new ideas."


Favorite Socks: 25 Timeless Designs from Interweave by Ann Budd (Editor), Anne Merrow (Editor). These 25 sock patterns are taken from various issues of Interweave Press magazines such as "Interweave Knits" and "Piecework" and "Spin-Off." Many of the original issues of Interweave Knits have gone out of print and Favorite Socks ensures these patterns are accessible for a new generation of knitters. Besides providing many classic patterns, this collection also includes a helpful tutorial on knitting socks on two circular needles, and instructions for both toe-up and top-down knitted socks.. However, I think this sock knitting book is not for the novice sock knitter---but aimed at more veteran sock knitters--if you have never knit socks, or never used 4 double pointed knitting needles you may want to watch a video or take a class to learn to knit a basic sock.


Crochet Jewelry: 40 Beautiful and Unique Designs by Waejong Kim and Anna Pulvermakher. The 40 crochet projects range from easy to complicated. The instructions at the beginning of the book are quite thorough and cover some unusual techniques not usually found in a crochet book such as hairpin crochet and cable techniques. "Featured projects include multicolored bead and crochet necklaces, lacy spider web chokers, delicate yarn and wire bracelets, lively cherry earrings, mohair flower pins, and pretty cocktail rings embellished with beads and stones." I am an avid bead crocheter, so I am quite intrigued by this book of unusual crochet jewelry.

I have just started working in a bookstore again! so I will be blogging about the store and more crafty books soon--now back to knitting those holiday gifts.....

Sweaters "Repurposed" into handbag

I buy wool sweaters at thrift stores or garage sales--throw them in the washing machine and dryer---shrink them to the max--and then have nice, heavy wool felt to create handbags with. This bag is large--I wanted a bag I could carry all my usual purse detritus and a knitting project and a small sketchbook and maybe even a paperback book to read. Seems I'm spending quite a bit of time lately on the bus or BART, and since I like to knit or read while I travel, and needed a roomy bag that would carry everything. On this bag I also created a large closing flap on the front---and sewed on crocheted granny square (from another unfinished project.) I used the buttonholes from the sweater on the lower flap edge as a closure. The handle I made out of strips I cut from the sleeves of the sweater--then I braided the strips---this makes a nice sturdy handle.



And I lined the bag--isn't this fun lining material? I thought this fabric complimented the greenish tweedy wool nicely---and I also made some functional pockets inside for keys and cellphone---the two items I am always digging around in the bottom of my bag for. Took this bag out for a spin today and she got her first compliment!

Thrifty crafty books!

Sometimes I think "old" craft books have the best information and patterns in them. Maybe that comes from once owning a used bookstore?

Funny thing :-) I have been thinking about creating a granny hexagon afghan for awhile...and then I found this book at a thrift store. Published in 1976--even though some of the projects are rather dated---it covers all I need to know to crochet the afghan I have been contemplating, and more!






I also found this long out of print lovely little embroidery stitch book.
Originally published in Denmark in 1959, but translated and published in English in 1966.

Most of the illustrations are in black and white, but there are quite a few embroidery stitches I had not seen before. Each stitch has easy to follow black and white illustrated directions, as well as a photo of the finished stitch.

Covers the usual chain, knotted, buttonhole and satin stitches, as well as drawn thread work, and hardanger and lace stitch fillings.... a real find!



Today's quote:

"The only place where housework comes before needlework is in the dictionary."

--Mary Kurtz

R is for Ripple Rainbow

Don't know why this baby blanket is taking so darn long to finish...maybe because I only crochet on it while I'm watching TV? ---and I don't watch very much TV.....

Crocheted with wool scraps and left over bits from other projects---the beige, gold and browns I dyed (an eon ago) with natural plant dyes.

New Bead Crochet

New bead crochet--orange leaves and fringes....a choker to wear to my daughter's graduation...she's finished her Masters! and this just happens to go with the dress I'm wearing--so I finished it, just in time! and it seems only fitting that the big carved leaf was a gift from my other daughter....

Happy Graduation Kesia! and much Congrats from your Mom! you are precious and will give much to the world.

A note on technique: the free form fringes were added on after I completed the bead crochet.

New Projects

Ripple crochet scarf in various wool yarns (some natural dyed by me about 15 years ago!)--I just need to weave in all the ends, then it will be sent off to the Afghans for Afghans project. They accept not only afghans--made of wool--but hand knit or crocheted (from wool) baby blankets, hats, vests, mittens, socks and scarfs to help keep Afghani people warm.


Some beading in progress (WIP)--this one is a small bead embroidery...rather freeform, as I am just letting the piece lead me...


This one is right angle stitch, then embellished--playing around with a freeform right angle sampler....

Quote for today: "To be on a quest is nothing more or less than to become an asker of questions. " ---Sam Keen

One Square at a Time

This 8" x 8" crocheted square I created in about 21/2 hours this morning is now flying off via the USPO to join the over 500 squares already sent to the Mosaic Yarn Shop in Blacksburg, Virginia. A few weeks ago I blogged about this yarn shop's request for donations of knitted or crocheted squares to make blankets for the victims and families of the Virginia Tech tragedy. (The post is still here--just scroll down.) Already they have received over 500 knitted and crocheted squares--you can go here to their blog for an update and some nice photos of some of the squares.

While making this square I thought about the communal process involved, and how the Internet has aided and changed the concept of a "friendship quilt" or friendship afghan, or blanket. When I was young(er), we made this type of group comfort blanket or quilt together in our local community for people who had an illness or needed comfort--and we made "friendship" quilts to honor births, weddings, and graduations. Now many many quilters, knitters, beaders, and crocheters are making squares for folks who may have experienced a tragedy (victims of Katrina, Virginia Tech shooting, etc. ) who they have never met, or for breast cancer research--all facilitated by connecting through the internet.

I find this a remarkable and positive sign that we can--as humanity--also solve larger problems we face (wars, the environment, national health issues, just to name a few examples) if we just learn to work together; I think politicians could learn something from knitters and crocheters about co-operation and helping others in need. Yes, I know--this sounds naive...but what we are currently doing is not working very well--is it? Just put us knitters together in the Congressional Halls for 3 weeks--all the national messes would be solved ( I kid you not!).

I am grateful that I had the opportunity to do something for these families--I am a firm believer that every little positive thing we do helps---and applaud the Mosaic Yarn Shop for taking on such a big endeavor.

Quote for the day: "Do all you can with what you have, in the time you have, in the place you are." ---Nkosi Johnson
Twelve-year-old Zulu boy, living with AIDS

Knitting Notes & Truth Poem

Today I stumbled across this great website --microRevolt--- with a great tool for crafters. "KnitPro is a web application that translates digital images into knit, crochet, needlepoint and cross-stitch patterns. Just upload jpeg, gif, or png images of whatever you wish---and it will generate the image pattern on a grid sizable for any fiber project. knitPro is based on the tradition of pre-industrial craft circles who freely shared patterns and passed them down from generation to generation." I tried this out--and it generated a good grid of my image---wow! this is a versatile tool for many craft applications.

Crochet or knit for the victims and families of the Virginia Tech tragedy.
- A local yarn shop, University City Blvd. Blacksburg, has posted a call for donations of knitted or crocheted squares to make blankets for the victims and families of the Virginia Tech tragedy. Check out the particulars at the Mosaic Yarn Shop's blog.

For me, this is one tangible way to promote healing--knitting a square or 2 with love and kindness in each stitch. I need another project like I need a hole in my head--but I cannot resist this call--I will be posting my finished square here in a few days.

QUOTE FOR THE DAY: " The only place where housework comes before needlework is in the dictionary. " ~Mary Kurtz

And today's poem (don't ask me how this relates;-)

Truth Serum

by Naomi Shihab Nye

We made it from the ground-up corn in the old back pasture.

Pinched a scent of night jasmine billowing off the fence,

popped it right in.

That frog song wanting nothing but echo?

We used that.

Stirred it widely. Noticed the clouds while stirring.

Called upon our ancient great aunts and their long slow eyes

of summer. Dropped in their names.

Added a mint leaf now and then

to hearten the broth. Added a note of cheer and worry.

Orange butterfly between the claps of thunder?

Perfect. And once we had it,

had smelled and tasted the fragrant syrup,

placing the pan on a back burner for keeping,

the sorrow lifted in small ways.

We boiled down the lies in another pan till they disappeared.

We washed that pan.