Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Finished Object Tuesday...

...last finished items for September.

This is Seaglass [Ravelry], a lovely camel-silk handspun:

Seaglass handspun

and the close up:

Seaglass handspun, close up

Specs:
Started 9/1/14;
Finished 9/27/14;
4.0 oz. Camel-Silk top from Greenwood Fiberworks;
230.7 yds. chain-ply, 14 WPI

I absolutely love the camel-silk top from Greenwood Fiberworks. It's a wonderful to spin, nice and soft. I'm not sure what I'll do with this yet...it might become part of my next weaving project.

I've been thinking about weaving a table runner in ocean or water colors. Seaglass would go nicely in that project. I need to stash dive for some other handspun in blues and greens to see if I have enough to do a table runner. Maybe this weekend...
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Monday, September 29, 2014

Well, that week got away from me...

...as did the weekend. I managed to post Eye Candy Friday on Facebook, but not here.  Oh, well.

The short story:
  • Saturday = Finished the Seaglass handspun, did the laundry, went to an anniversary party, and watched the mid-season finale of Outlander.
  • Sunday = Grocery shopping, did some needlepoint, spun more of Lilac, and cooked dinner.
Yeah, it doesn't look like much, but it filled my whole weekend.

I hope to post pictures of the finished handspun tomorrow.
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Thursday, September 25, 2014

Blog-and-run Thursday...

...it's been a busy week. Between fire drills for one client and design work for another, I've been crunched. I've been ready for the weekend since Tuesday...

As a result, not much craft-wise has happened. I tried knitting on Tuesday night and fell asleep in the middle of a row. Reading seems to be the safest thing. If I fall asleep in the middle of that, it's no big deal.

I hope to have a regular Eye Candy Friday tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed.

OK, break's over. Back to work!
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Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Happy Autumn...

...I'm so ready for autumn food!

Being that it's one of those weeks already, you get top-of-the-waves Tuesday today.
  1. I baked gingerbread cookies for Spin-In on Saturday and only kept 5 for home. Win!
     
  2. I finished spinning the singles for Seaglass [Ravelry]. They are resting for a few days before I will ply them. Camel-silk is very soft and I'm afraid that without the rest, it might fall apart during the plying process. We'll see how that goes.
     
  3. I started spinning Lilac Rose of Sharon [Ravelry], a Merino-Bamboo-Tussah Silk from Miss Babs.
     
  4. I declared Sunday to be Needlepoint Day, mostly because I didn't feel like working on any of the other WIPs. I had to frog a large section of the border because I was off one stitch. It was not something I could ignore, so out it came. I'm still off one stitch elsewhere, but it's in a section that is filled with specialty stitches and I think I can make adjustments to handle it. I might run out of one of the pearl cottons because I had to cut out some of the stitches. Keeping my fingers cross that I have enough!
     
  5. Reminder to self: when a needlepoint project says to stitch all of the borders and separators before continuing, ignore that instruction. I think I would have been better off stitching enough of the borders and separators to do a quarter of the design at a time.

    Normally when I stitch, I use the already completed sections as guides for the next section to stitch. There are too many large expanses of empty canvas for this project, and I'm afraid there might be several more counting errors. Guess I'll find out soon enough!
     
  6. I haven't taken enough time to look at the sky lately. The last sky pictures I took were last week (see below). I need to look up more!

Sunset 9/16/14
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Friday, September 19, 2014

Eye Candy Friday...

...let's hear it for the weekend!

More new flowers from our garden. Verbascum chaixii album. (I know...that just rolls of the tongue!)

Verbascum chaixii album

Abutilon: Lucky Lantern Red:

Abutilon: Lucky Lantern Red

Blue Mist Spirea

Blue Mist Spirea

Up this weekend: It's Spin-In time again! I'm looking forward to spinning with the group again.  I need to finish the Seaglass Camel-silk on the wheel. I won't get it plied on Saturday, but I'd love to finish the singles. I'm not allowing myself to start spinning something new until I finish these singles.

I'm in think-mode with the quilt. I can't decide how to stitch the border of the quilt or how to quilt the insides of the blocks.  I hope inspiration strikes soon because I'd like to finish this quilt so I can resurrect "Going Snow Global" from the UFO pile!

No other specific plans...we'll just see where the crafts take me!
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Wednesday, September 17, 2014

WIP-it Wednesday...

...with a new WIP to show.

This is the Alcea Cowl that I'm making for Loopy Academy:

Alcea Cowl beginnings

It was surprisingly hard to get a decent photo of this WIP. I don't know if it's because the colors are so intense or what. It took me about 20 shots to get this one less-than-great photo. Even the shots I took this morning in natural light were slightly blurred. Boo!

WIP Roll Call
WIPs in Rotation:

  1. Alcea Cowl [Ravelry]
    Knit about 5 inches....at least 44 more inches to go!
  2. I'm Just Mad About Citron Quilt (quilting)
    Did all of the stitch-in-the-ditch quilting; on to quilting the insides of the blocks
  3. Seaglass handspun (spinning) [Ravelry]
    About 3/4 done with the singles
  4. Tuscon Twilight (needlepoint)
    50% done with the outside border; added more inside separators. (getting really tired of brown)
  5. Stealth project
    Small amount of progress
WIPs, no play this week:
  1. Beyond Antares, aka Equatorial Nights (knitting) [Ravelry]
  2. Ghouls, ghosts, and witches...oh, my! (cross stitch)
  3. Mermaid of the Pearls (cross stitch)

UFOs/Hibernation:
  1. Celaeno Shawl (knitting) [Ravelry]
  2. Going Snow Global quilt (quilting)
  3. Halloween Phat Fiber samples (spinning) [Ravelry
  4. Peacock Pomatomus socks (knitting) [Ravelry]
  5. Peacock Majesty by Just Nan (cross stitch)
  6. Stormy Affection (knitting) [Ravelry]

WIPs To Be:
  • Wurm hat [Ravelry
  • Raspberry Mittens [Ravelry]
  • A peacock or mermaid quilt for me.

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Random thoughts on a Tuesday...

...I keep hoping to get back to a Monday-Wednesday-Friday posting schedule, but Mondays just seem to fly by and it's Tuesday before I know it.

Weekend report: I managed to work on a few things on my list:
  1. Continued spinning the Seaglass [Ravelry]. I'm getting close to finishing the singles
  2. Did all of the stitch-in-the-ditch quilting for "I'm Just Mad About Citron"
  3. Continued to stitch the separators for Tuscon Twilight needlepoint
  4. Started the Alcea Cowl [Ravelry], one of my Loopy Academy knitting assignments. I need a clever name for this one...something Brazilian to go with the color name "Brazilian Emerald."
I did order another skein of yarn for the Raspberry Mittens [Ravelry] that I'm knitting for Loopy Academy. This is Lost in Plum, another Dream in Color Classy yarn.

Lost in Plum yarn

I think it might be a little easier to knit as it's not quite as dark as Amethyst Ink, and there is no question that this meets the color requirement.

I think my camera (Canon SX170 IS) is having issues with the macro setting in Program mode . Many of the photos I've taken in the last week are blurry when taken in Program mode, while the pictures taken with the Auto mode turn out OK. I've gone back to my previous camera (Canon SX150 IS) to make sure its the camera and not me. :) The SX150 has fewer megapixels (14.1), but does a better job in with manual focus than the newer version.

I'd really like to avoid buying a new camera for a few reasons.
  1. Canon is no longer making a camera that takes AA batteries, at least not in this line. I have had terrible luck with cameras that need a special rechargeable battery--they are always running out of charge. And it gets expensive to have multiple, special batteries charged and ready, assuming you can buy them. One of my previous cameras was a Vivitar, which worked great, but the battery stopped holding a charge and I couldn't find another battery locally.
  2. Other brands of point-and-shoot cameras in the same price range as my Canon and with AA battery capability, do not allow me to get as close in macro mode as the Canon. I can get as close as 0.6-in with my Canon. Some other cameras are only 3 inches. Yes, it makes a difference.
  3. Cost. It would into into my loom fund! I'm saving up for a Baby Wolf loom. :)
  4. No, I don't want a DSLR camera at this time. Mostly because of cost...see #3 above.
Anyway, I'm hoping to stick with the Canon SX150/SX170 until I absolutely have to get a new camera.
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Friday, September 12, 2014

Eye Candy Friday...

...I don't know about you, but I'm so ready for the weekend!

Today's eye candy is brought to you by the colors yellow and orange. This is a Sunrita (gaillardia):

Sunrita Scarlet Halo

a bi-color sunflower:

Bi-color sunflower

and wallflowers:

Orange wallflowers

These are some of the new plants that the Husband bought for me. More next week.

Up this weekend: I have no specific plans, but there are several things I'd like to do. There's just not enough time in a weekend to cram them all in.

I'd like to:
  1. Finish spinning the camel-silk [Ravelry] that is currently on my wheel.
  2. Start machine quilting "I'm Just Mad About Citron"
  3. Work on the cross stitch mermaid
  4. Work on the Tuscon Twilight needlepoint
  5. Start one of my Loopy Academy knitting assignments
  6. Knit a few rows of Beyond Antares [Ravelry]
  7. Plan the next weaving project
And, of course, there are those mundane household chores that must be done like laundry, vacuuming, mopping, and grocery shopping.

I need at least a 3-day weekend every week!
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Wednesday, September 10, 2014

WIP-it Wednesday...

...no updated pictures of the WIPs, but this fiber is currently on the wheel:

Seaglass Camel-Silk top

in the WIPs-to-be category, my yarn arrived for the Loopy Academy projects! Here's what I'm using.

For the Cowl in a multicolored (2+ colors) fingering yarn, I'm knitting the Alcea Cowl [Ravelry] in La Jolla yarn by Baah!, using the Brazilian Emerald colorway:

Brazilian Emerald La Jolla yarn

For the hat in a designer new to me in a sport or DK yarn, I'm knitting the Wurm hat [Ravelry] in Tosh DK by Madelinetosh, using the Lepidoptra colorway:

Lepidoptra Tosh DK yarn

For the mittens in a solid or semi-solid color in worsted weight, I'm knitting Raspberry Mittens [Ravelry] in Dream in Color Classy. The yarn I ordered for them might not be right, so I may need to order another. This is the color I bought, Amethyst Ink:

Amethyst Ink Classy yarn

It's very dark with amethyst undertones so I'm not sure whether it qualifies as semi-solid color. I love the color, so it won't be wasted!

WIP Roll Call
WIPs in Rotation:

  1. Beyond Antares, aka Equatorial Nights (knitting) [Ravelry]
    Working on row 15
  2. I'm Just Mad About Citron Quilt (quilting)
    Ready for machine quilting
  3. Seaglass handspun (spinning) [Ravelry]
    About halfway done with the singles
  4. Tuscon Twilight (needlepoint)
    Still stitching the design separators
  5. Stealth project
WIPs, no play this week:
  1. Ghouls, ghosts, and witches...oh, my! (cross stitch)
  2. Mermaid of the Pearls (cross stitch)

UFOs/Hibernation:
  1. Celaeno Shawl (knitting) [Ravelry]
  2. Going Snow Global quilt (quilting)
  3. Halloween Phat Fiber samples (spinning) [Ravelry
  4. Peacock Pomatomus socks (knitting) [Ravelry]
  5. Peacock Majesty by Just Nan (cross stitch)
  6. Stormy Affection (knitting) [Ravelry]

WIPs To Be:
  • Alcea Cowl [Ravelry]
  • Wurm hat [Ravelry
  • Raspberry Mittens [Ravelry]
  • A peacock or mermaid quilt for me.

Tuesday, September 09, 2014

F.O. and Top-of-the-WavesTuesday...

...I finished something over the weekend!

This is Holly Berries [Ravelry]:

Holly Berries handspun

and the close-up:

Holly Berries handspun, close up

Specs:
Started 8/23/14;
Finished 9/7/14;
Merino-silk top (4.6 oz) from Wonderland Dyeworks;
219.6 yds chain-ply, 11 WPI

Top-of-the-Waves:
  • On Saturday, we took the train to San Francisco and met the Daughter for lunch. We walked down the Embarcadero to a little Peruvian restaurant and made a meal from their small plate selections. We walked around the Ferry Building for a bit before heading home. It was a gorgeous day in the City with only a little wind here and there. A wonderful way to spend the afternoon.
Bay Bridge
  • Because the train trip was over an hour, I spent the time knitting a cowl. This could end up being a gift, so I'm not posting a picture here.
     
  • I walked 13,589 steps on Saturday, a personal best for me! And I paid for it on Sunday with very sore hips and calves!
     
  • I joined the Loopy Academy, which requires that you finish a set of 3 projects in 3 months (a semester). You post pictures of your finished projects the the Loopy Ewe website gallery. The first semester assignments are to knit a cowl, a hat, and mittens using a specific amount of yarn and specific weights. Follow the link above for more info if you're interested.
     
  • Yes, I am a little crazy to take on 3 knitting projects to be completed by the end of the year.
     
  • And, DARN! I had to order yarn from the Loopy Ewe for the projects (one of the requirements). ;-)
     
  • I did a little spinning, but really didn't have time to do much else craft-wise this weekend.
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Friday, September 05, 2014

Eye Candy Friday...

...and I'm ready for the weekend!

Today's eye candy is brought to you by my sister and her husband. Yesterday was my birthday and they sent me a beautiful flower arrangement.

Birthday bouquet

Here's a closer look:

Birthday bouquet 2

a white rose:

White rose

some white daisies

White daisies

a pink carnation

Pink Carnation

and some purple flowers:

Bouquet detail

The Husband bought a bunch of new flowers to plant in the garden just for me. You'll see pictures of them next week. He also gave me two braids of spinning fiber, one SW merino and one polworth. He's getting pretty good at picking colors I like. :)

Up this weekend: We're going to continue my birthday celebration and have lunch with the Daughter. Also this is the weekend of the  Mountain View Art & Wine Festival. We try to go to this one every year.

I have plenty of craft things to work on, so I'll have a pretty full weekend. We'll see what catches my eye!
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Thursday, September 04, 2014

August 2014 recap...

...more reading this month than finished craft items.

Finished:

  • 8/24 Deep Teal Dream handspun (spinning) [Ravelry]
    Merino-Silk top (4.5oz) from Wonderland Dyeworks;
     294.1 yds. chain-plied, 14 WPI
  • 8/30 Toulouse handspun (spinning)  [Ravelry]
    Merino-silk top (3.9 oz)  from the Yarn Wench;
    started on the spindle and finished on the wheel;
    379.7 yds chain-ply, 16 WPI
  • Books:
    1. The Art Forger, Barbara Shapiro
    2. NYPD Red, James Patterson
    3. Dark Waters, Shannon Mayer
    4. Poison Promise, Jennifer Estep
    5. Blood Games, Chloe Neill
    6. Veiled Threat, Shannon Mayer
    7. Tracker, Shannon Mayer
    8. Blind Salvage, Shannon Mayer
    9. Shadowed Threads, Shannon Mayer
    10. Raising Innocence, Shannon Mayer
Started:
  • 8/23 Holly Berries handspun (spinning) [Ravelry]
  • 8/30 Stealth project
Worked on:
  • Beyond Antares, aka Equatorial Nights (knitting) [Ravelry]
  • Ghouls, ghosts, and witches...oh, my! (cross stitch)
  • I'm Just Mad About Citron Quilt (quilting)
  • Mermaid of the Pearls (cross stitch)
  • Tuscon Twilight (needlepoint)
Works In Progress, did not work on:
  • Love scissor fob by Shepherd's Bush (cross stitch)
UFOs/Hibernation:
  1. Celaeno Shawl (knitting) [Ravelry]
  2. Going Snow Global quilt (quilting)
  3. Halloween Phat Fiber samples (spinning) [Ravelry
  4. Peacock Pomatomus socks (knitting) [Ravelry]
  5. Peacock Majesty by Just Nan (cross stitch)
  6. Stormy Affection (knitting) [Ravelry]

Wednesday, September 03, 2014

WIP-it Wednesday...

...in which I have two WIPs to show.  Granted they are not the best pictures in the world, but you'll get the idea.

This is Holly Berries [Ravelry], a merino-silk from Wonderland Dyeworks:

Holly Berries handspun, in progress

This is I'm Just Mad About Citron right after I finished pin-basting it. It's now trimmed and ready for machine quilting.

Citron, gray, and white quilt


I also started a new handspun: Seaglass, a camel-silk braid from Greenwood Fiberworks. The colors are soothing blues and greens and I'm in love with the camel-silk blend!

WIP Roll Call
WIPs in Rotation:
  1. Holly Berries handspun (spinning) [Ravelry]
  2. I'm Just Mad About Citron Quilt (quilting)
    Ready for machine quilting
  3. Seaglass handspun (spinning) [Ravelry]
    Just started on Monday
  4. Tuscon Twilight (needlepoint)
    Still stitching the design separators
  5. Stealth project
WIPs, no play this week:
  1. Beyond Antares, aka Equatorial Nights (knitting) [Ravelry]
  2. Ghouls, ghosts, and witches...oh, my! (cross stitch)
  3. Mermaid of the Pearls (cross stitch)

UFOs/Hibernation:
  1. Celaeno Shawl (knitting) [Ravelry]
  2. Going Snow Global quilt (quilting)
  3. Halloween Phat Fiber samples (spinning) [Ravelry
  4. Peacock Pomatomus socks (knitting) [Ravelry]
  5. Peacock Majesty by Just Nan (cross stitch)
  6. Stormy Affection (knitting) [Ravelry]

WIPs To Be:
  • A peacock or mermaid quilt for me.

Tuesday, September 02, 2014

F.O. Tuesday and the weekend report...

...welcome to September! It was a very productive weekend.

For today's finished objects, here is Toulouse:

Toulouse handspun
and the close up:

Toulouse handspun, close up

Specs:
Started 7/7/14;
Finished 8/30/14;
Merino-silk top (3.9 oz)  from the Yarn Wench;
started on the spindle and finished on the wheel;
379.7 yds chain-ply, 16 WPI

It took forever to ply, but I'm very happy how it turned out.

Spinning is the best craft to do while watching the latest episode of Outlander, so I also spun quite a bit of Holly Berries, a merino-silk from Wonderland Dyeworks. Photo tomorrow.

On the quilting front, I pieced the backing for the quilt and finished the quilt sandwich for I'm Just Mad About Citron.  Photo tomorrow.

I worked on the Tuscon Twilight (needlepoint) for a bit. My goal is to finish stitching the outside border so I work on the interior separators.

I also worked on a stealth project...my target is Thanksgiving, so there's no great rush for it (yet).

The mermaid didn't get any play this weekend. I need to get back to her soon!

I'll get a recap together as soon as I can...
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Another Finished Object...

 ...yay! I finished the first yarn on my new Lendrum DT. I tried a 2-ply and it turned out OK. Using the plying head was not as smooth...