Friday, July 29, 2016

Eye Candy Friday and a finished object...

...and the day can't end soon enough!

This is the completed Costa del Mar shawl [Ravelry]:


Costa del Mar shawl

and a close view:

Costa del Mar shawl, detail 1

Specs:
Started: 3/20/16
Finished 7/24/16
Pattern: Castra by Anthony Casalena
Yarn: Marie Antoinette by Yarn Love in Tranquil Waters

Overall, it was an enjoyable knit. I'm going to look at this other patterns by this designer to see if there's another one that looks interesting.

On to the eye candy. The squash plants continue to set blossoms and are busy producing squash.

Squash blossom, close up

And the magic lilies have sprung up in the front yard:

Magic lilies 2

Up this weekend: Absolutely no plans!

There are always crafty things to do. I should finish winding the new warp for the big loom and get that going.  I could also look at my knitting WIPs and my queued projects to determine which one to work on next. I have a candidate in mind for a new project, but I need to track down the yarn and the pattern.

I'd really love to just hang out and read!
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Wednesday, July 27, 2016

WIP-it Wednesday...

...and I'm not sure what my WIPs are any more.

I've been taking a (well-deserved) break from crafting, resting my knees and shoulders after all of that spinning. I'm not sure whether to pick up one of my long-term WIPs or just start something new.

If I decide to start something new, there's that whole "what should I start?" question. I have a couple of shawls in the queue for which I purchased the yarn, s there's that. There are multiple socks in my queue, but I'm not sure I'm ready to back to socks yet.

Of course, I have a perfectly lovely shawl (Canto de Sirena [Ravelry]) in progress. Maybe it's marinated long enough and I can be more successful with it now. It's a possibility.

However, the start-itis is strong in me today...

*WIPs roll call*

Worked on:
  • 4-shaft weaving sampler
    Started winding the new warp in thicker cotton to replace the original warp
Works In Progress:
  1. Finishing work
  2. Needlepoint pottery picture
  3. Valley of the Heart's Delight sampler design (cross stitch)
UFOs/Hibernation:
  1. Be My Baby for My Baby (knitting) [Ravelry]
  2. Canto de Sirena shawl (knitting) [Ravelry]
  3. Celaeno Shawl (knitting) [Ravelry]
  4. Mermaid of the Pearls (cross stitch)
  5. Peacock Pomatomus socks (knitting) [Ravelry]
  6. Peacock Majesty by Just Nan (cross stitch)
  7. Tucson Twilight (needlepoint)
WIPs To Be:
  • A peacock or mermaid quilt for me.

Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Last Tour de Fleece finished objects...

...and a final look at my output.

Tour de Fleece, day 22:

I finished spinning Dawn [Ravelry]:

Dawn handspun

and the close-up:

Dawn handspun, close up

Specs:
Started 7/22/16
Finished 7/23/16
Merino top (4.2 oz) from The Yarn Wench
167.5 yds. chain-ply, 11 WPI

Non-TdF: I finished binding off Costa del Mar [Ravelry]!

Tour de Fleece, day 23:

My final entry was Rose Copper handspun [Ravelry]:

Rose Copper handspun

and the close-up:

Rose Copper handspun, close-up

Specs:
Started and finished 7/24/16
Rose Copper Wild Card Bling Batt (4 oz)from the Yarn Wench
72.6 yds. plied with rose sewing thread and copper metallic thread
Bulky weight

Non-TdF: I blocked Costa del Mar [Ravelry]. I'm a little concerned that my shawl doesn't quite look like some of the other projects--one of the wedges doesn't have as much of a netted effect. However, I like the way it looks, so it's done.

Tour de Fleece, Finale:

Recap:
  • 10th Tour de Fleece
  • 10 finished skeins, four of which were art yarns.
  • Total of 1289.7 yds. from 40.7 oz. of fiber.
  • Spun every day of the tour and only took one rest day.

Tour de Fleece 2016

If I intend to spin in the Ravellenic Games, I need to rest my knees. Maybe I should just knit...
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Friday, July 22, 2016

F.O. and Eye Candy Friday...

...and into the last weekend of Tour De Fleece.

Tour de Fleece, day 20:

The Finished Object is Geode [Ravelry]:

Geode handspun

and the close-up:

Geode handspun, close up


Specs:
Started and finished 7/21/16
Geode Wild Card Bling Batt from the Yarn Wench
46.5 yds. plied with Berroco Quest in Roseglow
Super-bulky weight

And in the Eye Candy category, there wasn't anything new in the garden to take photos. In the spirit of Flashback Friday, I went into the archives and pulled out some photos from our trip to Oregon in 2008. These photos are calm and peaceful, something I need after seeing political Facebook posts.

These are wild foxgloves:

Wild foxgloves

...wild berries:

Wild berries

and a forest scene:

Oregon greenery

Tour de Fleece, day 21:

I started spinning Dawn [Ravelry]. I spun about 75% of the singes. I'll finish this one up tomorrow.

Up this weekend: Spinning for the last two days of Tour de Fleece is primary. It's also the last two days of my vacation, which went way too fast.

Sigh.

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

WIP-it Wednesday and a finished object...

...Tour de Fleece only has a few more days, so I'm trying to get as much spinning done as possible.

Tour de Fleece, day 19:

I finished plying the Surprise Box handspun [Ravelry]:

Surprise Box handspun

and the close-up:

Surprise Box handspun, close up

Specs:
Started 7/6/16
Finished 7/20/16
Polwarth Surprise Box (4 oz.) from Greenwood Fiberworks
228.9 yds. chain-ply, 14 WPI

I think I'll spin another art yarn tomorrow. They spin quickly and then I can concentrate on binding off my shawl!

*WIPs roll call*

Worked on:
  • Costa del Mar (knitting) [Ravelry]
    Finished knitting all the rows! I've started binding off, but it's going to take a while.
  • Finishing work
    I finished hand stitching on all of the flats. I need to lace the needlepoint flats and then figure out some sort of hanger to use for all of the flats.
Works In Progress:
  1. 4-shaft weaving sampler
  2. Needlepoint pottery picture
  3. Valley of the Heart's Delight sampler design (cross stitch)
UFOs/Hibernation:
  1. Be My Baby for My Baby (knitting) [Ravelry]
  2. Canto de Sirena shawl (knitting) [Ravelry]
  3. Celaeno Shawl (knitting) [Ravelry]
  4. Mermaid of the Pearls (cross stitch)
  5. Peacock Pomatomus socks (knitting) [Ravelry]
  6. Peacock Majesty by Just Nan (cross stitch)
  7. Tucson Twilight (needlepoint)
WIPs To Be:
  • A peacock or mermaid quilt for me.

Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Tour de Fleece update and Top-of-the-Waves Tuesday...

...I love vacation!

Tour de Fleece, days 14 and 15:

As planned, I spun an art yarn. I spun the single easily on day 14, but realized that I did not have the color of thread that I wanted to use as a ply.  So on day 15, I took a field trip to Purlescence Yarns.

I'm sad that they will be closing at the end of August. In addition to looking for a plying option, I wanted to buy some bobbins for my shuttles and just scope out what they had. I found my bobbins and found a gold mercerized cotton that might work for plying.

Since I was out already, I stopped at Eddie's Quilting Bee to check out their specialty threads. I found some great quilting threads to use for plying--I bought 4 spools! I used two of them to finish the art yarn.

This is King Tut [Ravelry]:

King Tut handspun

and the close-up:

King Tut handspun, close up

Specs:
Started 7/15/16
Finished 7/16/16
Tut Wild Card Bling Batt from the Yarn Wench
91.2 yds thread-plied
  • King Tut quilting thread in Nile Delta
  • Superior Metallic thread in Jade
Bulky weight

Tour de Fleece, days 16 and 17:

I did a little stash dive and found some top that I purchased in 2009. This is Taos [Ravelry]:

Taos handspun

and the close-up:

Taos handspun, close-up

Specs:
Started 7/17/16
Finished 7/18/16
Merino top (4.1 oz) from The Yarn Wench
122.8 yds. chain-ply, 10 WPI

Tour de Fleece, day 18:

I realized that Tour de Fleece is over on Sunday, so I didn't have much more time to finish the Surprise Box handspun that I started during the first week of the Tour. I spent today finishing the singles for this handspun. I started chain-plying it and had to stop because my knee was bugging me. I'll finish plying tomorrow.

And the rest:
  • I took a few photos of some fiber stash that wasn't in Ravelry yet. I added those to Ravelry yesterday. I know there are many fiber stash items that are not in Ravely yet, but I don;t want to spend the rest of my vacation doing that!
  • I cooked myself a real dinner last night instead of just grabbing something from the fridge. The leftovers will be dinner tonight!
  • The Husband comes home tomorrow night, so I'm going to enjoy my last night of a clean house and quiet time. 

Friday, July 15, 2016

Eye Candy Friday and Tour de Fleece update...

...and I am in vacation-mode for the next week. Hooray!


There isn't much in the way of eye candy from the garden. Our bi-color carnations are blooming again:

Bi-color pink carnation

The white and yellow dahlias are blooming:

White and yellow dahlia


Looking up for a change to capture the clouds this morning:

Morning sky and fog 7/15/16

Tour de Fleece, day 12:

Spun another braid of Sampler box fibers.

Tour de Fleece, day 13:

This was my first day of vacation. Before I let myself spin, I did quite a bit of housework. Then I started and finished Oxidized Purple [Ravelry]:

Oxidized Purple handspun

and the close-up:

Oxidized Purple handspun, close up

Specs:
Started and finished 7/14/16
Merino-Silk (3.9 oz.) from The Yarn Wench
163.8 yds. two-ply, 11 WPI

Tour de Fleece, day 14:

I finished the housework this morning and did a run to Target. My plan is to spin an art yarn because my knees and ankle are sore from yesterday's spin.

Up this weekend: More spinning!! I also want to rewarp the loom. Mostly, I just want to alternate spinning with whatever catches my attention.

And relaxing when I want to!
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Wednesday, July 13, 2016

WIP-it Wednesday...

...and Tour de Fleece report (such as it is).

Tour de Fleece, days 10 and 11:

Continuing to spin the Sampler box fibers.

*WIPs roll call*

Worked on:
  • Costa del Mar (knitting) [Ravelry]
    Added 4 extra rows to the last section because I wanted the shawl to be a bit longer; working on row 231 of 237
Works In Progress:
  1. 4-shaft weaving sampler
  2. Finishing work
  3. Needlepoint pottery picture
  4. Valley of the Heart's Delight sampler design (cross stitch)
UFOs/Hibernation:
  1. Be My Baby for My Baby (knitting) [Ravelry]
  2. Canto de Sirena shawl (knitting) [Ravelry]
  3. Celaeno Shawl (knitting) [Ravelry]
  4. Mermaid of the Pearls (cross stitch)
  5. Peacock Pomatomus socks (knitting) [Ravelry]
  6. Peacock Majesty by Just Nan (cross stitch)
  7. Tucson Twilight (needlepoint)
WIPs To Be:
  • A peacock or mermaid quilt for me.

June 2016 recap...

...yeah, I know it's very late!

Finished:

  • Nothing crafty
  • Books:
    1. Knit to be Tied, Maggie Sefton
    2. The Rising, Debra Dunbar
    3. Night Shift, Charlaine Harris
    4. Silver Linings, DebbieMacomber
    5. Wildflower, Drew Barrymore
    6. Leonard, William Shatner
    7. A Girl's Guide to Moving On, Debbie Macomber
Started:
  • 6/21 Arachne handspun (spinning) [Ravelry]
  • 6/5 Needlepoint pottery picture
  • 6/4 Finishing work (sewing, lacing)
Works In Progress:
  1. Costa del Mar (knitting) [Ravelry]
  2. Valley of the Heart's Delight sampler design (cross stitch)
  3. 4-shaft weaving sampler
UFOs/Hibernation:
  1. Be My Baby for My Baby (knitting) [Ravelry]
  2. Canto de Sirena shawl (knitting) [Ravelry]
  3. Celaeno Shawl (knitting) [Ravelry]
  4. Mermaid of the Pearls (cross stitch)
  5. Peacock Pomatomus socks (knitting) [Ravelry]
  6. Peacock Majesty by Just Nan (cross stitch)
  7. Tucson Twilight (needlepoint)
WIPs To Be:
  • A peacock or mermaid quilt for me.

Monday, July 11, 2016

Tour de Fleece, blog and run version...

...I finished another yarn.


Tour de Fleece, day 7:

I took a rest day...I was too tired to spin after work. I'll make up for it by spinning on one of the designated rest days.

Tour de Fleece, days 8 and 9:

I started and finished a bulky handspun over the weekend.

This is Turquoise and Coral [Ravelry]:

Turquoise and Coral handspun

and the close-up:

Turquoise and Coral handspun, close up

Specs:
Started 7/9/16
Finished 7/10/16
Polworth-Silk top (4.3 oz) from The Yarn Wench
102.4 yds chain-ply, 8 WPI
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Friday, July 08, 2016

Eye Candy Friday and Tour de Fleece update...

...yeah, and I'll post last month's recap at some point.

Eye Candy Friday

We planted a lot of flowers to entice bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds into our yard. This spiked gayfeather is supposed to be a favorite of butterflies:

Spiked Gayfeather

The superbells are going string:

Purple superbells

and our bougainvillea has really upped its game this year:

Bougainvillea in the morning sun

Tour de Fleece, days 5 and 6:

Because I don't have a lot of time and energy after work, I decided to start spinning a sampler box from Greenwood Fiberworks. The box contains 7 mini-braids of polworth top, each weighing anywhere from 0.4 oz. to 0.6 oz. I can spin one mini-braid in about an hour, which gives me a sense of accomplishment and keeps me from getting too tired. I'm spinning them one right after another in a random order.

Surprise Box handpun, in process

Up this weekend: Spin In tomorrow! I have to pull something from the stash to spin as I want to keep the sampler for work days. I only work Monday through Wednesday next week because it's time for my annual craft-cation! Hooray!

High on the list to get done before the Husband goes off on his annual biking trip is to get the kitchen back into some sort of order. He's done a great job getting the counter, sink, and garbage disposal installed. He's almost done making a new sill for the stationary window in the kitchen. He's also making a new shelf for under the sink where he had to rip out the bottom of the cabinet.

Here's our new counter:

Replacement kitchen counter

I need to get the rest of the baking stuff put away so we can find the rug under the dining room table. Every surface needs a good cleaning to remove the thin layer of sawdust, grout dust, and general dirt that has settled throughput the kitchen and living room. If I don't get that done before he leaves, it will be my top priority for vacation. Then I'll be able to relax and enjoy myself!

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Wednesday, July 06, 2016

Tour de Fleece update and WIP-it Wednesday...

...first the update.

* Tour de Fleece, days 1, 2, and 3

I finished spinning Arachne [Ravelry] that I started at June's Spin-In.

Arachne handspun

and the close-up:

Arachne handspun, close up

Specs:
Started 6/18/16;
Finished 7/4/16;
Vervain Silky Roving, SW Merino/Bamboo/Silk (50/25/25)
From Mosaic Moon
214 yds chain-plied, 13 WPI

* Tour de Fleece, day 4

I spun Surf and Sun [Ravelry]. This is an art yarn, spun thick and plied with thread.

Surf and Sun handspun

and the close-up:

Surf and Sun handspun, close up

Specs:
Started and finished 7/5/16;
Wild Card Bling Batt (3.6 oz) from The Yarn Wench;
80 yds. thread-plied with blue rayon thread and gold quilting thread; Bulky weight

It took me about 3.5 hours from start to finish, which is pretty good. I don't think I can keep up that kind of output every work night, though. I might only be able to get an hour in tonight.


*WIPs roll call*

Worked on:
  • Costa del Mar (knitting) [Ravelry]
    Working on row 223 of 233
Works In Progress:
  1. 4-shaft weaving sampler
  2. Finishing work
  3. Needlepoint pottery picture
  4. Valley of the Heart's Delight sampler design (cross stitch)
UFOs/Hibernation:
  1. Be My Baby for My Baby (knitting) [Ravelry]
  2. Canto de Sirena shawl (knitting) [Ravelry]
  3. Celaeno Shawl (knitting) [Ravelry]
  4. Mermaid of the Pearls (cross stitch)
  5. Peacock Pomatomus socks (knitting) [Ravelry]
  6. Peacock Majesty by Just Nan (cross stitch)
  7. Tucson Twilight (needlepoint)
WIPs To Be:
  • A peacock or mermaid quilt for me.

Friday, July 01, 2016

Eye Candy Friday and the tale of the new kitchen faucet...

...Happy July! I'm looking forward to a 3-day weekend!

A couple of weeks ago, I posted a photo of the foxgloves that were just starting to bloom. They are open now:

Foxglove spire in bloom

The tropical milkweed has seeds bursting from seed pods and they are ready for the wind to carry them away:

Seeds bursting from their seed pod

Our spider lily is blooming:

Spider lily

And our lime tree has both baby limes and blossoms:

Lime blossom

Up this weekend: Tour de Fleece starts tomorrow! I have a general idea of what I'm spinning. I just haven't had the energy to go pull the batts and top from my stash. This is my 10th year of participation and my 10th year of being a spinner. Boy, that went fast!

The other project is to help the Husband where ever he needs so we can get the kitchen back together. Kitchen? It looks like a bomb went off in there.And I can pretty much take the blame for it.

We had a leak in the kitchen faucet that was getting worse. Given that California is not completely recovered from the drought and we don't need to be wasting water, I asked him to replace the faucet. Since he installed the sink and the faucet originally, I didn't think it would be a big deal. Wrong.

He couldn't get the faucet out of the sink. So the next step was to remove the sink.

Removing the sink broke the 45-year-old tile that surrounds it. And, oh look, there's dry rot and termite damage behind the sink.

We can't afford a kitchen remodel right now, so we decide to do a short-term fix of replacing the counter with laminate after fixing the damage. That will hold until we can afford the remodel.

Except the laminate has a back splash that is shorter than our tile one. So he removed the tile back splash and replaced the drywall. He fixed the damage behind the sink and put in new insulation along the outside wall because the old stuff sucked.

He went to measure the sink for the cutout in the laminate counter. The sink won't fit. Cr@p! After he looked at about 100 sinks trying to find one that will fit, we ordered one of 2 that will work.

He found where to buy new mounting hardware for the garbage disposal. I asked him how old the disposal was...yeah, it's pretty old (read: way out of warranty). I suggested we head that one off at the pass and just buy a new one. We found one on Amazon and that was delivered yesterday. (Thank you Amazon Prime and same day delivery!)

The sink was delivered today and The Husband was measuring for the sink cutout the last time I talked to him.

At this point, we're just waiting to see what else will go wrong...
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WIP-it Wednesday...

...a little of this, a little of that.  No photos this week. Things look pretty much the same. WIPs Roll Call Worked On: Dreaming ...