through the move, or rather during the move, I am making us a couch pillow. it's in blanket stitch on needles that are larger than than the yarn sleeve calls for, which makes blanket stitch a fast and fun way to knit. it's a total battle on the right size needles, cause it's meant to be very dense.
This pillow is so soft and cuddly. I'm happy for it. and it'll be baby friendly because it'll be machine washable.
it's this verigated cream and brown color. it reminds me a lot of birch bark. it's a lot of fun to knit with. maybe when I'm done i'll post a picture.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
a pillow
i made a pillow. it's cozy. and I'm waiting for the sun to come out so I have enough light to take pictures.
and now I'm onto a ribbed scarf. it's really, really soft. and both these things make me want to curl up in a warm place and just be.
and now I'm onto a ribbed scarf. it's really, really soft. and both these things make me want to curl up in a warm place and just be.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
economy
i'm beginning to think the economy is affecting the rate at which people buy things on www.etsy.com
it's a bummer. although, talking to one lady who lives in this area, she said, there are still quite a few posh suburbanites who never see the kind of stuff your peddling, so going to local craft shows and art walks and stuff might actually get my stuff sold.
so. cool. now I just have to make enough to fill a little booth... oh and find these craft shows.
it's a bummer. although, talking to one lady who lives in this area, she said, there are still quite a few posh suburbanites who never see the kind of stuff your peddling, so going to local craft shows and art walks and stuff might actually get my stuff sold.
so. cool. now I just have to make enough to fill a little booth... oh and find these craft shows.
knitters porno
i got my first lion brand yard catalog in the mail yesterday. I'm in love. there's just pages and pages of pictures and descriptions of yarn. even one shocking thing - yarn made from 75% wool and 25% stainless steel. I have no idea what you'd use it for. socks for a man who cannot keep from getting holes in his? I imagine it's rediculously strong.
anyways. go to www.lionbrand.com and sign up for their free catalog.
I'm having trouble believing that you just give them your address and they send you this little booklet of such amazing things....
anyways. go to www.lionbrand.com and sign up for their free catalog.
I'm having trouble believing that you just give them your address and they send you this little booklet of such amazing things....
Monday, March 16, 2009
the mint scarf
I must say, I loved knitting this scarf. it knitted up fast, simple and the design looks so intricate and a little lacy, just like I like. I think the funnest part of it was using the cable needle, which is how I got it to criss-cross. I feel so much like a genius when I can use many knitting tools at the same time. the row counter, the two needles, the cable needle, even the point protector, they all make me feel so smart.
it was fun.
I want to knit more of those.
it was fun.
I want to knit more of those.
Monday, March 9, 2009
shabby chic
I have two things that were in my head, done and on the site. now, I'm conceiving another lace bottle. I made myself a tester. It's like 80% of what I want it to be. the pindles are, on average about 90% of what I want them to be and the wrapulet is like 99&. I can't say it's perfect, that's weird. but I just mean to say that they are that close to my original idea, or satisfying my original idea in that things may not have turned out like I wanted but reality may in fact be better or equal to fiction.
so, I'm off to clean house, think up dinner and then knit some lace for some bottles I've collected. by the way, I don't drink, some of you do, if you'd like to donate bottles, I'm appreciate it. maybe you'll want to wait to see what I do with them. there is one on my banner. but it's a short squatty bottle, and the idea s in my head will work better on regular shaped ones.
i'm excited. ;)
so, I'm off to clean house, think up dinner and then knit some lace for some bottles I've collected. by the way, I don't drink, some of you do, if you'd like to donate bottles, I'm appreciate it. maybe you'll want to wait to see what I do with them. there is one on my banner. but it's a short squatty bottle, and the idea s in my head will work better on regular shaped ones.
i'm excited. ;)
another pindle
even though they aren't selling, I made another pindle. And the first daffodil pindle currently has three people who mark it as a favorite. which is neat. so, I made a better one. one that is creme and yellow, with the petals in the right position. we'll see what happens.
now I"m off to post my wrapulet. I'm nervous about this one. I hope my pictures don't make it crappy. maybe jer can help me take better pictures one day. or, maybe I'll just sell them at little street fairs. we'll see!
now I"m off to post my wrapulet. I'm nervous about this one. I hope my pictures don't make it crappy. maybe jer can help me take better pictures one day. or, maybe I'll just sell them at little street fairs. we'll see!
Friday, March 6, 2009
white people and scarves
so, i was cruisin around the internet looking for interesting ways to say scarves. along the same vein of 'montagues and wrapulets' or 'pindles' and i found this:
stuff white people like #97: scarves
it's truly awesome. it makes me unafraid to knit scarves going into the hot season. t-shirts and scarves - I've done it. I'm unashamed. I'm white.
stuff white people like #97: scarves
it's truly awesome. it makes me unafraid to knit scarves going into the hot season. t-shirts and scarves - I've done it. I'm unashamed. I'm white.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
seafoam green wrap
I have started the seafoam green wrap, which doesn't seem like it'll take me too long. cheers! and working with seafoam green is so fun, it's such a delightful color.
I must confess that I did have to re-start this one as well. the seafoam green yarn called for size 8 needles, but my accent color is thicker yarn and calls for size 10. i knit the last wrap in size 9 becaue the purple yarn i was using called for nine, so i thought that was a good comprimise this time as well. but the seafoam green was knitting up much too loose. to offset the difference in size I added three stitches to the rows, it looks about right, and I should measure, but I'm confident. and wraps don't really need to be a certain size.
i've also almost memorized the lace pattern for the bottom of the wrap, and doing mostly stockinette with a little lace at one end is just the perfect amount of complicated, pretty and soothing to make knitting these things almost theraputic. and almost theraputic was right up my ally today.
anecdote from real life: I was at the local Joann's a week or so ago, stalking around the yarn department, when two older ladies with a foreign accent - something like indian - were talking an isle over. one says to the other, I was having this very stressful day and I just sat down with my needles and yarn and knit up and down a few rows and I felt so relaxed after just a few rows.
i thought it was so cute. not only is buying yarn sooo fun because of the colors and textures and the fact that the "pricey" stuff is $6 a skein, but you get to hear cute little things like that and realize that at it's simplest, knitting is really, really comforting.
yay knitting.
I must confess that I did have to re-start this one as well. the seafoam green yarn called for size 8 needles, but my accent color is thicker yarn and calls for size 10. i knit the last wrap in size 9 becaue the purple yarn i was using called for nine, so i thought that was a good comprimise this time as well. but the seafoam green was knitting up much too loose. to offset the difference in size I added three stitches to the rows, it looks about right, and I should measure, but I'm confident. and wraps don't really need to be a certain size.
i've also almost memorized the lace pattern for the bottom of the wrap, and doing mostly stockinette with a little lace at one end is just the perfect amount of complicated, pretty and soothing to make knitting these things almost theraputic. and almost theraputic was right up my ally today.
anecdote from real life: I was at the local Joann's a week or so ago, stalking around the yarn department, when two older ladies with a foreign accent - something like indian - were talking an isle over. one says to the other, I was having this very stressful day and I just sat down with my needles and yarn and knit up and down a few rows and I felt so relaxed after just a few rows.
i thought it was so cute. not only is buying yarn sooo fun because of the colors and textures and the fact that the "pricey" stuff is $6 a skein, but you get to hear cute little things like that and realize that at it's simplest, knitting is really, really comforting.
yay knitting.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
plum blossoms
i'm at it again - trying to make the perfect plum blossom for my banner and to sell. and although it's not quite what I had in mind. what I just made, is pretty dang close. it's a plum blossom inspired flower. I have given up on making it perfect. i'm not God. only God can make plum blossoms. but, I can make a pretty cute flower based on his design, and I have finally achieved something that doesn't make me disappointed.
now, I have to make more. at least 4 more, and a few to sell. I could sell one of my original 5, however, then I wouldn't have them if I wanted to use them for pictures or if I ever go to a craft fair. so, I gotta keep them.
I'm happy, cause this knitting goal has been hanging over my head for quite some time, and to have it done, well that'd just be awesome.
plus- i'm re-thinking my ideas for flowers. maybe less true to life colors and more muted colors that people actually wear. not everyone in the world wants to dress bright like I do, and so, I'm going to tone down those colors a bit. the colors in my plum blossoms are truly perfect, it'll just be getting from real life to picture that concerns me color wise.
now, I have to make more. at least 4 more, and a few to sell. I could sell one of my original 5, however, then I wouldn't have them if I wanted to use them for pictures or if I ever go to a craft fair. so, I gotta keep them.
I'm happy, cause this knitting goal has been hanging over my head for quite some time, and to have it done, well that'd just be awesome.
plus- i'm re-thinking my ideas for flowers. maybe less true to life colors and more muted colors that people actually wear. not everyone in the world wants to dress bright like I do, and so, I'm going to tone down those colors a bit. the colors in my plum blossoms are truly perfect, it'll just be getting from real life to picture that concerns me color wise.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
new things
so, i finished my wrap. it. is. amazing. maybe I'll get jer to take some pictures of me in it. i love it. and I was wondering what to do with this purple yarn that I bought myself over a year ago, and I found the perfect thing. My family thinks I can sell them for around $70, they take two and a quarter skeins of yarn and, now that I know what I'm doing, will be fairly uncomplicated to make. I'm excited. I currently have the stock pile to make a taupe one and a light teal - almost a periwinkle colored one.
I also have been working on knitted lace a-fix to bottles. it sounds strange. but, it will be amazing. and since I can use recycled salsa jars, liquor bottles, jams jars, just anything glass really, it'll be really fun locating interesting bottles to embellish. I'm also going to a-fix pearls, because I LOVE pearls, and maybe eventually ribbon.
In my head, my store style is pretty concrete today. but that doesn't reflect on-line or here, so I need to put up more inspiration photos and set up a good little studio situation for taking pictures of my pindles and what-nots. I think the setting up of the studio - procuring the correct accessories and backdrop materials will be one of the hardest things. although, I do have some of it already. like silver platters. thinking of which my mother has a bunch in her garage that were her mothers that she said I'm welcome to have. I just have to wade through the gobs of junk, bugs and dust to get to the box that has all these platters and bowls and silver bits.
today, today is a good day in knitting land. I'm looking forward to two unique ideas that aren't on etsy anywhere - the style of wrap I've done and embellished bottles with knitted lace and pearls. it's nice to have unique ideas. pindles are not entirely unique, but I'll still be making them, because they are fun and have received a little bit of hubbub, which is kinda awesome.
I also have been working on knitted lace a-fix to bottles. it sounds strange. but, it will be amazing. and since I can use recycled salsa jars, liquor bottles, jams jars, just anything glass really, it'll be really fun locating interesting bottles to embellish. I'm also going to a-fix pearls, because I LOVE pearls, and maybe eventually ribbon.
In my head, my store style is pretty concrete today. but that doesn't reflect on-line or here, so I need to put up more inspiration photos and set up a good little studio situation for taking pictures of my pindles and what-nots. I think the setting up of the studio - procuring the correct accessories and backdrop materials will be one of the hardest things. although, I do have some of it already. like silver platters. thinking of which my mother has a bunch in her garage that were her mothers that she said I'm welcome to have. I just have to wade through the gobs of junk, bugs and dust to get to the box that has all these platters and bowls and silver bits.
today, today is a good day in knitting land. I'm looking forward to two unique ideas that aren't on etsy anywhere - the style of wrap I've done and embellished bottles with knitted lace and pearls. it's nice to have unique ideas. pindles are not entirely unique, but I'll still be making them, because they are fun and have received a little bit of hubbub, which is kinda awesome.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
more inspiration
maggi will know the one at the bottom, it used to be my wallpaper for my computer screen at work
Monday, February 16, 2009
inspiration
I need things that inspire me. fabric, pictures, colors, yarn, flowers. a feel. so, I'm posting pictures here that I find on the internet, not too many at a time, but some.
inspirational thing #1: tea dresses
inspirational thing #1: tea dresses
oh blah
my store and my stuff is in some serious need of uniqueness. like, a style, everything going together and coming from the same person.
it's like self identity. but, i need not to see it that way.
so. i gotta pick something, and stick to it.
it's like self identity. but, i need not to see it that way.
so. i gotta pick something, and stick to it.
Friday, February 13, 2009
the wrap
the wrap is more like a capelett or a wraplett. one of those. and it's about 1/3 of the way there. I'm excited. Knitting in stockinette is sooo quick. i have missed it. i'm going back to knitting and watching pillow talk with doris day and rock hudson, because it's completely freezing, i can't feel my toes and the baby is sleeping.
but i'm thinking, that if i have a section devoted to these things I'll call it the Capeletts and Montegues. it's silly, i like it.
but i'm thinking, that if i have a section devoted to these things I'll call it the Capeletts and Montegues. it's silly, i like it.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
gauge
so i thought i could make the wrap even though I was bigger than gauge. I really did. and then I realized that the piece that I was working on was 15 inches when it should have been 12 inches which is quite a large difference.
so, i'm ripping it out again. maybe I'll use smaller needles, maybe I'll just use less stitches since the pattern is rediculously easy. whatever I do, I hope the fourth time is the charm.
so, i'm ripping it out again. maybe I'll use smaller needles, maybe I'll just use less stitches since the pattern is rediculously easy. whatever I do, I hope the fourth time is the charm.
a wrap
so, i know my goals for the week mentioned nothing of a wrap, but i've been staring at my three skeins of lavender yarn for quite some time, and well, i couldn't help myself. I also found a way to incorporate some lovely creme yarn i picked up a while ago as well.
so far I've only ripped out the stitches and started again twice. the problem was that the original lace pattern i had picked out for the edge came out looking like I had made repeat mistakes and not an actual pattern. and then the second edging I chose was based off garter stitch and looked really lame at the bottom of my stockinette panel. but now I adjusted the second edging to stockinette and it's looking a lot better. I'm excited about it. it's just two big rectangles, so construction should be really simple and quick, which I'm happy about.
no more lace for a while. I'm still bitter about how the end was no where in site for the longest time. It's like trying to sail over a lake, and you keep thinking, it's just a lake, the shore will be coming up any minute now, and well, it takes a lot longer, but after every little swell you are still looking for the land. I anticipated lake perris, i got lake erie. at any rate, this should be around clear lake status.
anyways, aside from dreaming about being able to take day trips again when I'm not pregnant, this wrap should be fun, and it's bloody cold, so hopefully it'll go fast so i can wear it soon.
so far I've only ripped out the stitches and started again twice. the problem was that the original lace pattern i had picked out for the edge came out looking like I had made repeat mistakes and not an actual pattern. and then the second edging I chose was based off garter stitch and looked really lame at the bottom of my stockinette panel. but now I adjusted the second edging to stockinette and it's looking a lot better. I'm excited about it. it's just two big rectangles, so construction should be really simple and quick, which I'm happy about.
no more lace for a while. I'm still bitter about how the end was no where in site for the longest time. It's like trying to sail over a lake, and you keep thinking, it's just a lake, the shore will be coming up any minute now, and well, it takes a lot longer, but after every little swell you are still looking for the land. I anticipated lake perris, i got lake erie. at any rate, this should be around clear lake status.
anyways, aside from dreaming about being able to take day trips again when I'm not pregnant, this wrap should be fun, and it's bloody cold, so hopefully it'll go fast so i can wear it soon.
Monday, February 9, 2009
this week
This week, I'm setting myself a goal. ok, so three goals:
-finish 5-7 plum blossoms for banner picture and possible for sale
-make a pink hydrangea pindle
-start and complete spanish lace purse
i think this is doable. I hope, I hope.
-finish 5-7 plum blossoms for banner picture and possible for sale
-make a pink hydrangea pindle
-start and complete spanish lace purse
i think this is doable. I hope, I hope.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
and now...?
my store looks pretty snazzy. and I really did just want ten items on there before I advertized. but, now that the 10 items milestone is here, I still feel understocked. it's probably because my pindles need a good cardboard resting place with the name of the store on them. and I need to rethink my shipping materials. and, well, I want an arsenal of pindles AND knitting accesories like purses, scarves, hats, pillows, head bands, wraps. and all that takes none other than, time.
so, i'll just let the store run the way it is. advertising is for a time when life will not completely change for a year or so, an epoch, in my life, of stability. nothing is stable right now. I'm hopeful, but kinda sad that my big store dreams wont be realized for a while.
but, the big reason - helping Jer out with things and not feeling like a loafer/moucher and using my creative talents have already been accomplished. jer and I are both excited. and in light of the excitement I have a lot more ideas to be cranking out this week and next.
this being creative thing and then, [shocker] DOING SOMETHING WITH IT, is so awesome.
I'm being a good steward of my natural gifts, abilities and likes. three cheers for doing what you love!
so, i'll just let the store run the way it is. advertising is for a time when life will not completely change for a year or so, an epoch, in my life, of stability. nothing is stable right now. I'm hopeful, but kinda sad that my big store dreams wont be realized for a while.
but, the big reason - helping Jer out with things and not feeling like a loafer/moucher and using my creative talents have already been accomplished. jer and I are both excited. and in light of the excitement I have a lot more ideas to be cranking out this week and next.
this being creative thing and then, [shocker] DOING SOMETHING WITH IT, is so awesome.
I'm being a good steward of my natural gifts, abilities and likes. three cheers for doing what you love!
tah dah!
Jer and I spent at least two hours taking pictures of all my stuff and now I'm posting it! I'm so excited! The calla lily and daffodil knit up so fast, it was awesome!
Saturday, February 7, 2009
A New Day
I'm residing myself to the idea, that, although it'll be hard, we may be residing at the inlaws for q while longer.
with that, i'd really like to put up a little cork board in the room we refer to as the 'baby lounge'. it has our big, comfy couch, my writing desk, a changing table and a dresser full of luxy's clothes. it truly is a 'baby lounge', we can take care of the baby AND lounge on the couch or leisurely read/write/study at my desk. so, there's a big of unclaimed wall space and I'm thinking that I could move in a bit of my knitting stuff, and put up a cork board to attatch little inspirational bits, like pictures of flowers, pieces of fabric, words, art, ya know - stuff. Have a tiny space that'll be like my 'studio'. like a four foot space, really. but it would work out I think.
and other than that, I'm REALLY close to finishing my bougainvillea pindles. There are three, which i can't decide if I want to sell as a lot of three flowers and then make a fourth to sell as a single, OR sell each on separately. we'll see.
I'm also dreaming up how to knit a calla lily. Which I may try today after I finish the bougainvillea flowers. And in the very distant knitting future I see daffodils and possible camilias. who knows, it's a lot of fun though. and my purse is done and I have two more lined up. as soon as i get a few more flowers done I'll start on those.
it's so fun to have projects and be creative. I like it. A lot.
OH! and the biggest news! I now have a plumblossomknits business debit card which is funded by non other than.... My Sales!!! wooo hooo! so, I have to get posting some more stuff so I can get some of the things I want. Like:
-cool cardboard backings for my pindles
-some cardboard tags that say plumblossomknits on one side so I can put the materials used and washing instructions on the other side and a-fix them to all the things I sell.
-business cards
(-a cork board? a nifty big basket for my stash of yarn? a rad little crafty box for my pindle creating bits?)
oh, and I really need some really pretty smelling tea candles for - ok so i just spent twenty minutes of my life looking for a picture of a tea light holder that Kim bought me for Christmas, and I just can't find it. BUT be assured, it's really pretty and I love it. and I use it daily and i'll soon be running out of tea lights.
hurumph.
i'm going back to knitting, it's cold, i might also drink tea. maybe.
adios!
with that, i'd really like to put up a little cork board in the room we refer to as the 'baby lounge'. it has our big, comfy couch, my writing desk, a changing table and a dresser full of luxy's clothes. it truly is a 'baby lounge', we can take care of the baby AND lounge on the couch or leisurely read/write/study at my desk. so, there's a big of unclaimed wall space and I'm thinking that I could move in a bit of my knitting stuff, and put up a cork board to attatch little inspirational bits, like pictures of flowers, pieces of fabric, words, art, ya know - stuff. Have a tiny space that'll be like my 'studio'. like a four foot space, really. but it would work out I think.
and other than that, I'm REALLY close to finishing my bougainvillea pindles. There are three, which i can't decide if I want to sell as a lot of three flowers and then make a fourth to sell as a single, OR sell each on separately. we'll see.
I'm also dreaming up how to knit a calla lily. Which I may try today after I finish the bougainvillea flowers. And in the very distant knitting future I see daffodils and possible camilias. who knows, it's a lot of fun though. and my purse is done and I have two more lined up. as soon as i get a few more flowers done I'll start on those.
it's so fun to have projects and be creative. I like it. A lot.
OH! and the biggest news! I now have a plumblossomknits business debit card which is funded by non other than.... My Sales!!! wooo hooo! so, I have to get posting some more stuff so I can get some of the things I want. Like:
-cool cardboard backings for my pindles
-some cardboard tags that say plumblossomknits on one side so I can put the materials used and washing instructions on the other side and a-fix them to all the things I sell.
-business cards
(-a cork board? a nifty big basket for my stash of yarn? a rad little crafty box for my pindle creating bits?)
oh, and I really need some really pretty smelling tea candles for - ok so i just spent twenty minutes of my life looking for a picture of a tea light holder that Kim bought me for Christmas, and I just can't find it. BUT be assured, it's really pretty and I love it. and I use it daily and i'll soon be running out of tea lights.
hurumph.
i'm going back to knitting, it's cold, i might also drink tea. maybe.
adios!
Monday, February 2, 2009
score!
I finished my lace scarf. It's an absolute dream. but is it my dream? not really. I'll try selling it. I could see someone, somewhere, wearing it all the time and thinking it was THE best thing ever. but I fall in love with dresses, and big overcoats, not scarves. so, this will be moving on.
AND since this is finished, I'm making another scarf out of the purple yarn I've been staring at.stairing at?stareing at? for a while. Puxatawney Phil said I've got 6 more weeks of scarf season, so I'm taking advantage.
and I still have purses and pindles and wraps and hats and pillows and socks and gosh. a lot of stuff in my head. a lot of stuff that WONT be made out of lace no matter how triumphant the other side of knitting lace mountain may feel. I'm working with chunky stuff for a while. till I get another hankering and then maybe i'll change to medium a 2 light weight instead of lace thread. seriously. I just knit over 400 yards - that's 4 football fields worth of yarn. and it's so thin it always looked really small, like the end was close. but no, four football fields is a lot of yarn over, slip one, knit one, pass. it's a rediculous amount even. and it wasn't mindless because of the slip one and the pass.
man, today has been a hard day. screaming baby for over an hour. knitting the end of that scarf because it looked like I only had a few more rows to do, but it looked that way all day untill, upon casting off, I was actually SHORT yarn. no kidding.
I'm trying to get all this out before jeremy gets home and he will be home any minute now. he's officially four minutes late actually.
and althought today was difficult and triumphant at the same time, I still don't have our room clean, the laundry done/started or dinner started. at least chicken pot pie is easy. it's a bunch of small, easy steps.
ok. gotta go. jer's home. bye!
AND since this is finished, I'm making another scarf out of the purple yarn I've been staring at.stairing at?stareing at? for a while. Puxatawney Phil said I've got 6 more weeks of scarf season, so I'm taking advantage.
and I still have purses and pindles and wraps and hats and pillows and socks and gosh. a lot of stuff in my head. a lot of stuff that WONT be made out of lace no matter how triumphant the other side of knitting lace mountain may feel. I'm working with chunky stuff for a while. till I get another hankering and then maybe i'll change to medium a 2 light weight instead of lace thread. seriously. I just knit over 400 yards - that's 4 football fields worth of yarn. and it's so thin it always looked really small, like the end was close. but no, four football fields is a lot of yarn over, slip one, knit one, pass. it's a rediculous amount even. and it wasn't mindless because of the slip one and the pass.
man, today has been a hard day. screaming baby for over an hour. knitting the end of that scarf because it looked like I only had a few more rows to do, but it looked that way all day untill, upon casting off, I was actually SHORT yarn. no kidding.
I'm trying to get all this out before jeremy gets home and he will be home any minute now. he's officially four minutes late actually.
and althought today was difficult and triumphant at the same time, I still don't have our room clean, the laundry done/started or dinner started. at least chicken pot pie is easy. it's a bunch of small, easy steps.
ok. gotta go. jer's home. bye!
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
seriously ugly.
so, there are a couple of redeeming options in this overview of this knitting magazine issue, but seriously, most of them are hideous. and even if they were done in colors people wear, like grays, deep blues, whites... some of them would be wearable. but ugly colors meets old lady style isn't something i could see spending time on.
in other news, I'm working on a lace scarf that is never ending, a bougainvillea pindle, still haven't lined the purse i've been talking about AND there are no pictures today. maybe later.
i have to do home makery things.
in other news, I'm working on a lace scarf that is never ending, a bougainvillea pindle, still haven't lined the purse i've been talking about AND there are no pictures today. maybe later.
i have to do home makery things.
Friday, January 16, 2009
blue hydrangea
so there are dried blue hydrangeas all over this house. the flower i was trying to make for the purse that is all constructed and just needs to be assembled, well that flower was blue. or rather the color i bought for the embellishment was blue. i want to make a blue bird. i made a bird. jer says it looks like a bird of prey. it's scary. not cute. who wants a scary blue bird on their really cute purse? no one i'm selling to.
so you saw in older posts that i tried a forget me not. it was easy to forget. i had plans to try again, but wasn't too eager. and then...
i woke up this morning to set out on a blue hydrangea creating adventure. and upon the first try of making one of the small 4 petaled flowers that blue hydrangeas are made of, i accomplished what i had in mind.
which didn't turn out perfect, but the end result was pretty much what i envisioned. it was great. and here it is, for all your viewing pleasure.
goodnight.
so you saw in older posts that i tried a forget me not. it was easy to forget. i had plans to try again, but wasn't too eager. and then...
i woke up this morning to set out on a blue hydrangea creating adventure. and upon the first try of making one of the small 4 petaled flowers that blue hydrangeas are made of, i accomplished what i had in mind.
which didn't turn out perfect, but the end result was pretty much what i envisioned. it was great. and here it is, for all your viewing pleasure.
goodnight.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
still knitting flowers
i need to publish this simply because i took the picture and put it on the computer nad one last simple step is required - uploading it.
so, without further adoo - pictures of the petals for the next two plum blossoms:
these are hard to see - they are pink and white and have likts of strings
and then to the right is pictures of the solid pink ones.
i just had to do it.
so, without further adoo - pictures of the petals for the next two plum blossoms:
these are hard to see - they are pink and white and have likts of strings
and then to the right is pictures of the solid pink ones.i just had to do it.
knitting flowers
today was a day for knitting plum blossoms and forget-me-nots. That, over there is a picture of my first finished plum blossom. it's a lot bigger than an actual plumblossom, but once i have 5 made and attach them to a branch, they'll look pretty great. and they don't have to be perfect because they are for my banner, not for sale. and i think i'm going to play with the design before i sell these.
and here is a picture of the very funky and not at all like a forget me not:
So i'm thinking I might practice making the pin back on it. and then give it to someone as a silly thing. i dunno.i have big plans for the forget me not. they are supposed to look more like this:
i have a lot of work to do on this... BUT it can be done, and i'm excited. no one seems to knit flowers with care about their natural details. this will be fun.
Monday, January 12, 2009
flowers
knit up some flowers yesterday. 4 to be exact. 3 of them look like ameobas. one looks like an awesome flower, but still is not quite what i was going for. i'll try, try again. the missing ingredient: little brown beads.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
an update
so, i was thinking on Friday or maybe thursday that it would be really cool to knit some plum blossoms as a signature. then i thought it'd be really cool to knit flowers, actual flowers, buttercups, roses, calla lilies, plum blossoms, morning glories and make them look like the real flower. i could sell them as pins or broaches or whatever you call those and advertise purses and hats and scarves and wraps with those flowers on them - BUT sell them seperatly for like $7 a piece.
and then it would be like well, there was a lot of thoughts flying around in my head after that: i coud make things for these pins to go on that were like nature - like the dark brown purse i'm making reminds me of tree branches and then i was going to make a ittle blue bird to go with it. but what about like sand and sea shells or sand and desert flowers. or greens for grasses and leaves with pretty, bright beautiful renditions of different flowers. i've wanted to make a spanish lace purse with a kind of honey color and make bouganvilla flowers for it. and then i bought yarn that looks so much like birch bark and i could put on some kind of flower that grows near birch bark.
i could even do deep blue mountains with an acorn.
nature has endless beautiful flower and calm colored back ground combinations. my options are endless.
then i tried to make a plum blossom. it looks almost just like a hibiscus. which, one day, will be handy to know how to make. just not today. but i have a nice white one now.
so, i'm still finishing the brown purse and havn't started on the blue bird. and i bought stuff to make my own wood-beaded handles, which frankly, i'm afraid of because they may not work. BUT i should be able to get the majority, if not all of my money back for the materials. which would be aweosme, if it doesn't work out.
so - that's where i am. finishing the purse, worrying about the handle and contemplating the make up of a plum blossom.
and then it would be like well, there was a lot of thoughts flying around in my head after that: i coud make things for these pins to go on that were like nature - like the dark brown purse i'm making reminds me of tree branches and then i was going to make a ittle blue bird to go with it. but what about like sand and sea shells or sand and desert flowers. or greens for grasses and leaves with pretty, bright beautiful renditions of different flowers. i've wanted to make a spanish lace purse with a kind of honey color and make bouganvilla flowers for it. and then i bought yarn that looks so much like birch bark and i could put on some kind of flower that grows near birch bark.
i could even do deep blue mountains with an acorn.
nature has endless beautiful flower and calm colored back ground combinations. my options are endless.
then i tried to make a plum blossom. it looks almost just like a hibiscus. which, one day, will be handy to know how to make. just not today. but i have a nice white one now.
so, i'm still finishing the brown purse and havn't started on the blue bird. and i bought stuff to make my own wood-beaded handles, which frankly, i'm afraid of because they may not work. BUT i should be able to get the majority, if not all of my money back for the materials. which would be aweosme, if it doesn't work out.
so - that's where i am. finishing the purse, worrying about the handle and contemplating the make up of a plum blossom.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
awesome thing, part deux
so, yesterday i was fantasizing about all the fabrics i could buy at joann's to finish all the products in my head. including, but not at all limited to what i need to finish this purse.
and i decided that being a good steward of my husbands money, i should refrain until i get the coupons because then i can buy things one at a time for 50% off. it was a hard decision. when i'm sad, i buy fabric.
and then, the coupon book came! the same day! AND there are like 5 serparate anything in the store including fabric 50% off coupons! all for different days of course. but it's worth it. to go every week in january and save like a million dollars.
i was pretty awwed. i mean really, the EXACT same day. and how did they know that I moved?
and i decided that being a good steward of my husbands money, i should refrain until i get the coupons because then i can buy things one at a time for 50% off. it was a hard decision. when i'm sad, i buy fabric.
and then, the coupon book came! the same day! AND there are like 5 serparate anything in the store including fabric 50% off coupons! all for different days of course. but it's worth it. to go every week in january and save like a million dollars.
i was pretty awwed. i mean really, the EXACT same day. and how did they know that I moved?
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
one side
just finished one side of a hand bag. it's gunna be dark brown with a little blue bird on the front and it's going to have curved wood handles.
i have big plans for the bird. it's going to be knit also. and it's going to double as a pin or broach or whatever you want to call those. and i'm going to reinforce it so it's sturdy and back it with dark brown felt.
and then, depending on the ease and appeal of the blue bird. i might make more. and sell them. someone on etsy is selling such things for around $30 a piece. and people are acctually buying them. i think that's rather rediculous, i might charge 10 or 15, depending on how awesome they are/it is. i think $30 for something that seriously looks like it took all of about half an hour, well, it's kinda rediculous. i'd feel bad.
but maybe, just maybe they'll sell so quickly that i'll have to up the price.
or maybe they'll just sit there on the site like the things on their now with nary an onlooker.
i'm grumpy today. i need sleep, less brownies, less hot chocolate, more meat. lots more meat.
and i'm grumpy because the new year means that I cannot put off going to the pregnancy dr any longer. and i really don't want to go, and i can't find the paper that has the phone number and name of the dr.
so i just knit one half of a purse. maybe today will be a whole purse day, but i need to buy things to finish it and i need to buy baby food.
boo.
i have big plans for the bird. it's going to be knit also. and it's going to double as a pin or broach or whatever you want to call those. and i'm going to reinforce it so it's sturdy and back it with dark brown felt.
and then, depending on the ease and appeal of the blue bird. i might make more. and sell them. someone on etsy is selling such things for around $30 a piece. and people are acctually buying them. i think that's rather rediculous, i might charge 10 or 15, depending on how awesome they are/it is. i think $30 for something that seriously looks like it took all of about half an hour, well, it's kinda rediculous. i'd feel bad.
but maybe, just maybe they'll sell so quickly that i'll have to up the price.
or maybe they'll just sit there on the site like the things on their now with nary an onlooker.
i'm grumpy today. i need sleep, less brownies, less hot chocolate, more meat. lots more meat.
and i'm grumpy because the new year means that I cannot put off going to the pregnancy dr any longer. and i really don't want to go, and i can't find the paper that has the phone number and name of the dr.
so i just knit one half of a purse. maybe today will be a whole purse day, but i need to buy things to finish it and i need to buy baby food.
boo.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
now what?
for some reason i thought that having a sale would do something. it hasn't. well no, it has encouraged me. that the labor intensive work of creating knit things paid off. I'm no where near even on my financial adventure. but I am validated. I no longer feel silly trying to tell myself that this will work.
it did work. on one of my little gambles. after all, isn't that what they are? I buy the yarn and the tools necessary, sit back, think of something to create, something someone may want to pay money for. then i set to creating it. purchasing things to create pictures in my head, well that's a gamble too. what if my fingers and needles can't do what i see in there? what if the yarn can't do what i see in there? and then, if it gets to be finished, then posting it onto my site and waiting. like a fisherman with his worms. only he grew the worms, with quite a bit of time and thought.
and he put some lines out there. one got a bite. he grew the right worm, used the right line. and every single fish can only be caught with the right worm, the right line, the right time of day, the right lake.
this, this is why i don't grow tired. this is why i don't give up. i'm like a gambler. yes, none of these worked, but look how close I came. maybe the next one will be a lucky break.
wow. i understand fishing now.
i'm excited to have found something in which the promise isn't too far from the labor. I can see it. quite clearly. I'm excited to have found something that I can do.
I don't have a yard in which to grow things and sell them at market. I don't have animals to breed and sell at auction. but i have hands, and ideas and the internet. and I can work with my hands like people were meant to do.
i can still cook my whole chicken, although i can't deny the urge toraise my own, have them slaughtered and pluck them myself. i can still use fresh veggies and home made broth. even though the veggies aren't from my garden. I can still drink milk, even though it isn't from my cute little jersey cow. jersey cows are the cutest, by the way. they have big doe eyes and are very gentle and much more like a family pet than a barn yard beast.
I don't want to be industrialized, techonological, metalic, mechanic and factory made. i want to be human. by knitting, i am a little closer.
it did work. on one of my little gambles. after all, isn't that what they are? I buy the yarn and the tools necessary, sit back, think of something to create, something someone may want to pay money for. then i set to creating it. purchasing things to create pictures in my head, well that's a gamble too. what if my fingers and needles can't do what i see in there? what if the yarn can't do what i see in there? and then, if it gets to be finished, then posting it onto my site and waiting. like a fisherman with his worms. only he grew the worms, with quite a bit of time and thought.
and he put some lines out there. one got a bite. he grew the right worm, used the right line. and every single fish can only be caught with the right worm, the right line, the right time of day, the right lake.
this, this is why i don't grow tired. this is why i don't give up. i'm like a gambler. yes, none of these worked, but look how close I came. maybe the next one will be a lucky break.
wow. i understand fishing now.
i'm excited to have found something in which the promise isn't too far from the labor. I can see it. quite clearly. I'm excited to have found something that I can do.
I don't have a yard in which to grow things and sell them at market. I don't have animals to breed and sell at auction. but i have hands, and ideas and the internet. and I can work with my hands like people were meant to do.
i can still cook my whole chicken, although i can't deny the urge toraise my own, have them slaughtered and pluck them myself. i can still use fresh veggies and home made broth. even though the veggies aren't from my garden. I can still drink milk, even though it isn't from my cute little jersey cow. jersey cows are the cutest, by the way. they have big doe eyes and are very gentle and much more like a family pet than a barn yard beast.
I don't want to be industrialized, techonological, metalic, mechanic and factory made. i want to be human. by knitting, i am a little closer.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Ode to Maple Bark Scarf
I made my first sale! I'm so excited. I woke up this morning with a million things on my to do list, and then my first to-do involved the computer, I checked my email and TAH-DAH! first sale!
i'm like professional now...
and yesterday, while my big sunday dinner was cooking, I finished the scarf and took the pictures. And last night, after dinner, when I was so full, I posted it and within 40 minutes it had already been looked at 7 times! And then, to my surprise and elation, I awoke this morning, the 5th day of the new year, a professional knitter.
so once i found that out I did two things, ate breakfast and took care of the baby while I put together the rest of my site. I'm so thankful for having the opportunity to write ALL the original FAQs for www.myschoolbookstore.com, my old job. My only job, really.
And I sit mystified.
In other knitting news I tried a pattern for the first time last night. my head hurt, kinda a lot, and the book kept saying these are simple patterns so that you can have nicely knitting backgrounds on which to paint your knitting masterpiece. They say Picasso, I think it's him, could free hand draw a perfect circle. well, mine are ovals and the two ends don't meet. and that is evident in my recent dance with the pattern.
oh i love knitting. two sticks, some string, and endless possiblities. I think I could live my whole life and never get bored of knitting. and if the craft remains as ming bendingly complex as last night, well, I also wont be senile demensia. or however you spell it.
i'm like professional now...
and yesterday, while my big sunday dinner was cooking, I finished the scarf and took the pictures. And last night, after dinner, when I was so full, I posted it and within 40 minutes it had already been looked at 7 times! And then, to my surprise and elation, I awoke this morning, the 5th day of the new year, a professional knitter.
so once i found that out I did two things, ate breakfast and took care of the baby while I put together the rest of my site. I'm so thankful for having the opportunity to write ALL the original FAQs for www.myschoolbookstore.com, my old job. My only job, really.
And I sit mystified.
In other knitting news I tried a pattern for the first time last night. my head hurt, kinda a lot, and the book kept saying these are simple patterns so that you can have nicely knitting backgrounds on which to paint your knitting masterpiece. They say Picasso, I think it's him, could free hand draw a perfect circle. well, mine are ovals and the two ends don't meet. and that is evident in my recent dance with the pattern.
oh i love knitting. two sticks, some string, and endless possiblities. I think I could live my whole life and never get bored of knitting. and if the craft remains as ming bendingly complex as last night, well, I also wont be senile demensia. or however you spell it.
Friday, January 2, 2009
3 things
three things:
I decided to get buttons at the craft store today but I only had $5 in my purse and I was determined not to use my debit card. so I went and I wanted two sets of buttons and some beads and they amounted to something like $7, so i went back to the button section to decide which buttons I liked better because I was going to have to choose between the two sets. just when I found buttons that were way cooler than either pair that I had this guy walked over with his wife and read a sign that I missed: all buttons - 50% off. so I grabbed three sets of buttons and my beads and headed for the checkout. they are rang up to $5.25, and after a minute of scrounging I found a surprise quarter! I realized later that I left the house with $5.37 and spent all but two pennies and a nickel.
how perfect.
so then, I can home and finished another bracelet, by sewing on the buttons. and then I started to finish my Owl Eyes Brown Scarf. I'm not sure I like that name though, i might change it. It was going to be tree bark scarf, but that's lame. and now it's hovering out there with no permanent name.
and THEN a present Jeremy bought me for Christmas came! It's a knitting pattern book, and there are some awesome patterns in it. He bought it for me because it's called Knitting Little Luxuries, which is the catch phrase or whatever for my site. And that makes me excited. VERY excited.
so that's my three things for the day. all is well in my knitting world.
I decided to get buttons at the craft store today but I only had $5 in my purse and I was determined not to use my debit card. so I went and I wanted two sets of buttons and some beads and they amounted to something like $7, so i went back to the button section to decide which buttons I liked better because I was going to have to choose between the two sets. just when I found buttons that were way cooler than either pair that I had this guy walked over with his wife and read a sign that I missed: all buttons - 50% off. so I grabbed three sets of buttons and my beads and headed for the checkout. they are rang up to $5.25, and after a minute of scrounging I found a surprise quarter! I realized later that I left the house with $5.37 and spent all but two pennies and a nickel.
how perfect.
so then, I can home and finished another bracelet, by sewing on the buttons. and then I started to finish my Owl Eyes Brown Scarf. I'm not sure I like that name though, i might change it. It was going to be tree bark scarf, but that's lame. and now it's hovering out there with no permanent name.
and THEN a present Jeremy bought me for Christmas came! It's a knitting pattern book, and there are some awesome patterns in it. He bought it for me because it's called Knitting Little Luxuries, which is the catch phrase or whatever for my site. And that makes me excited. VERY excited.
so that's my three things for the day. all is well in my knitting world.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
oh computers...
so i just spent like an hour or more editing photos, choosing the perfect words and putting together another showcase of something to sell on my site. AND then i did something stupid and lost it all and had to start again. luckily, the pictures i edited on the computer itself and not on the internet. however. i was still angry. i decided to blog about it.
this is going to be a blog mainly about my knitting, because, well, my husband and baby and inlaws, whom i live with, they just don't understand the wonder of blocking, the mistery of kitchners stitch, the beauty of natural fiber over synthetic....
this for those of the world who get it.
maybe this is just for me to talk shop and not feel like a completely misunderstood dork.
this is going to be a blog mainly about my knitting, because, well, my husband and baby and inlaws, whom i live with, they just don't understand the wonder of blocking, the mistery of kitchners stitch, the beauty of natural fiber over synthetic....
this for those of the world who get it.
maybe this is just for me to talk shop and not feel like a completely misunderstood dork.
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