quilt: miranda & todd's wonky log cabin

I hope Miranda and Todd like this quilt half as much as I do.  I am really pleased with how it turned out!

handmade shopping

I am a huge fan of buying handmade goods, especially locally. To that end, I do as much of my "shopping" at craft fairs and festivals as I can, including today at the Fremont Fair in Seattle. I had on my list a couple of t-shirts, a skirt to wear to Alaska in September, and a wine bottle stopper (that one had been elusive!). Since I want to do what I can to promote buying handmade, here are the websites of the folks I bought from today:

Uzura www.etsy.com/shop/uzura
Intertwined Designs www.intertwineddesigns.com
B Hive Designs www.bhivedesigns.com

go handmade!!

vitreous humor

This has been my favorite yarn for a long time. I felt like the spinner must've had me in mind when she created it, but given that I wasn't the first, and that she regularly sells out of it, and that there are several projects made with it on ravelry (rav link), I guess I'm not the only one who would love and cherish such a yarn. In fact, I know this is true, because I place the origin of my penchant for eyeballs squarely on my dad. He knows why.

And, no sooner did I say that I can't do a whole knitting project in a single sitting in my last post, than do I do exactly that. Last night, I sat down with my favorite yarn (which I had previously been content to simply display in a wad in my bookcase) and a pair of borrowed size 35 needles (for the non-knitter, that's the same diameter as your average broomstick), and Kathleen Rogers' Vitreous Humor Scarf pattern (rav). It was the first (and as yet, only) pattern I'd seen for this yarn that allows the yarn to retain it's gutsy, sinewy character instead of just knitting it into a dense, pink fabric.

And even a little early for halloween, no less!

oh no, not another one

I have recently discovered needle felting. As if knitting, quilting, sewing, beading and occassional card making and embroidery weren't enough crafts to have in my life, I now have needle felting. And of course, I love it. I love that you can sit down with a little idea and go from roving and needle to finished product in one sitting. Quilting and knitting are not like that -- at least, not for me.

Here's a little felted embellishment I made for Chinchilla's broach...

and here's a flower....

anyone who knows about my facination with eyeballs will know where I'm going with this one....

The temperature hit 97 degrees today, so what did I do? I finished a quilt! I'll be giving it to baby Maja this weekend.

specs: 50 x 50", the colorful fabrics are from the Noveau line by Moda. Orange and yellow flannel backing.

I still got it

I haven't done much jewelry making lately, so when a colleague was telling me how she wanted some gaudy orange earrings to go with a teal dress she planned to wear at an upcoming wedding, I jumped at the opportunity to pull out the needlenosed jewelery pliers. Ellen helped me select the beads, and I came up with these lovelies:


specs: about two inches long overall, mostly Swarovski Crystal (multiple colors), cloisonne and metal beads, golden wire, golden earwires (unsure of specific precious metal content).

knit one, fly too

Writing from over Nevada again…

I just finished the Liesl scarf. This was easily the most complicated knitting I’ve ever done, which meant reading a pattern for every row from what is now a softened and dog-eared piece of paper, but never while conversing, listening to music or while watching a movie. It was not knit on at either of my knitting groups, though I would show it off at said groups after sufficient progress had been made. When I’m crafting at home, I usually fall into one of two situations, either I’m listening to the radio and sewing or quilting, or I’m knitting while I have a movie on, so no knitting on this scarf then either. Working, eating and sleeping take up a goodly chunk of the rest of my time, which left one time group for complicated knitting: airplane time. I cast the project on while we were at Steamboat Springs in January (which is of meaningful coincidence, since the scarf recipient was born in Colorado). I’ve worked on it in the airspace of Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Arizona, Idaho, Utah and Colorado. To round it all out, the yarn is by Mountain Colors of Wyoming.

Specs: Pattern is Liesl, by Mary Joy Gumayagay at Yummy Yarn. Yarn is Mountain Colors, Mountain Goat (name of the yarn, not the source of the fiber), in the Firestorm colorway.

never mind the woman modelling the wool scarf when it's 73 degrees F outside. she's crazy.

spring cleaning

treetops at carkeek park, seattle

I am sometimes asked by my California-based friends and family if the dreary weather of the Pacific Northwest depresses me. I went to college in extreme northern California, where it was also often foggy and wet, and I've lived in Portland since then. I remember the same feelings when I lived in those places as well: I certainly don't feel depressed, or even down about the weather (I've always quite liked the rain), but man, if that first warm, sunny day of spring isn't the best thing ever, then I don't know what is.

evidence of sunlight

I had an action packed weekend this weekend: birdwatching early on Saturday (we didn't spy what we were looking for, but we saw some other neat critters -- including a squirrel expelling itself rather comically from a trash can), then therapy dog class, three hours in the garden and then I trotted off to knitting group in sandals. Today I went to yoga, and in a fit of spring cleaning, cleaned the garage and de-grimed the tops of the kitchen cabinets (ew). Took my bike out of hibernation and in for a tune-up, then ran some errands with the car windows rolled all the way down and the stereo (slightly) up.

In finished project news, I finally got the last of the seed beads put on the felted bowl....

finished measurements: 10 inches in diameter, 5 inches tall, Alpine worsted weight wool, in a charcoal grey and pale blue, seed bead embellishments.

finn's blanket

For Finn's Therapy Dog training, they suggest that we have a blanket for the dog to sit on while he's on a visit. If you're visiting kids, they suggest a kid-appropriate theme (Buzz Lightyear is on the trainer's dog's blanket). I considered getting some bright fleece at the fabric store, and was looking at some when I came up with this idea:

it's a fleece blanket that we used to cover Finn's wire crate with, but since he doesn't use that anymore, the blanket was free for other uses. Like having Finn's name appliqued to it. I'd say it turned out pretty well, considering that the feed dogs don't really do much with fleece -- it was really a different sort of applique for me.

Oh, have I not mentioned Therapy Dog training? Why, yes! For the past few weeks, Finn and I have been spending an hour each Saturday morning at his day care place, where they also do obedience training, including really specialized stuff like agility training and therapy dog work. Now therapy dog work shouldn't be confused with service dog work, where the dog is at a person's side, rendering assistance all day, every day. Therapy dogs go (with their person) to visit people who could use a little puppy love, such as hospitals, retirement communities and nursing homes, psychiatric care facilities, prisons and some schools. There are two different therapy dog organizations that we're training to be certified with, Delta Society and Connecting Canines. There are also therapy cats, therapy chickens, and once our instructor worked with a therapy miniature pony.

project improv blocks

I made one each of three color combinations: blue & green, pink & orange, and my new all-time favorite, red & aqua. Each block is 12x12 inches and will be sent off to Jacquie of Tallgrass Prairie Studio, for their inclusion in Project Improv.

confessional #3

I really need to blog more often than just Sunday confessionals.


I believe I crafted every day (I've taken to bringing some knitting to work, to tinker with at lunch, or better yet, get someone else to drive the vanpool so I can knit), and don't have any finished projects to show for it, I feel like I'm getting a lot done. I'm about one-third done with a Pleated Beauty Bag for Habetrot:




I started a new knitting project for felting (I'm improvising the design -- I'm going for an organic-but-not-too-lumpy look.... wish me luck!):




And speaking of improvising, I am getting down to business with my Project Improv blocks. Today I went through my stash to see what I had that would work for the assigned color combinations (pink & orange, green & blue, and red & aqua (I'd never given that last combo any thought at all, and I think I even cocked my head at the Project Improv directions when I saw it, but now I see it everywhere, and I love it)):




And we received our swapping partner assignments for the Bend the Rules Sewing #4, so I'll be searching for fabrics for that too, soon.


And...drum roll please.... I bought no new craft stuff this week! Is it reasonable to feel so accomplished for doing.... nothing?

Edited to add: lest I end up posting only weekly confessionals, I am going to place a text box on the sidebar for my confessionals from here on out.

confessional #2

There must be something in the water... Holly, Sooze and I all fell off the wagon this week and bought craft stuff. Like them, I could blame something (or someone... Ellen, I'm looking in your general direction), and I can make the argument that I was going to have to buy these fabrics eventually anyway, since I have next to no pink fabric in my stash and Habetrot has recently informed me that all of her pink baby knitting was well-guessed. What I would rather do though, is consider these initial two weeks of the Use Me Up Challenge to be like those of a new diet. They say that when you try to loose weight, your body freaks out a little and in fact you might gain a pound or two before you start to loose any.

Or maybe I'm just not cut out for this? We'll see.

So yeah, I bought an entire quilt top's worth of fabric on Friday. I popped it all in the wash on Friday night, ironed it on Saturday morning, and then something amazing happened: I sat down, desgined the quilt, cut the pieces and had the whole thing pieced before lunch. Now get this: the baby isn't due until this summer! I really don't know how that happened....





Other projects I worked on this week:

* organizing my craft room: I love the new set-up, and I feel so.... organized!

* the Liesel scarf and the aforementioned dishcloth for Heather and Stephen (deemed an "incredibly fancy dishcloth" by the ladies at my knitting group):



...and as I headed out of the back yard, I snapped an obligatory spring-is-coming crocus photo -- they were all over, right after Thursday's snow melted.

confessional #1

Did I buy new craft stuff? yes.

Was it necessary in order to finish a current craft? well, that depends.

Heather and Stephen came to visit me from Portland last weekend, and while they were here, I decided that I would make for them, new homeowners as they are, a dishcloth or two for their kitchen. Heather even helped me select the yarn. But what I didn't realize until I got home was that the yarn is a 70% silk, 30% cotton blend, instead of the 100% cotton I was expecting. The care instructions on the yarn ball said "do not leave wet" -- directions that do not bode well for a dishcloth. I consulted Ravelry for silk dishcloth projects, and found exactly...zero. After a little more research, I learned that silk can become rather odiferous after being wet, and somehow I didn't think that a stinky dishcloth was the "congratulations on your new home" sentiment I was looking for. So on Thursday, I went to Village Yarn and Tea and picked up two skeins of Hempathy yarn, which should be just fine for dishcloth knitting.

I decided to make these dishcloths before I "officially" began the Use Me Up Challenge, but it's not like I had the project on the needles, so was my purchase of new yarn necessary to complete a project? Yes and no. I can defend myself by pointing out that at least I have a goal for this new yarn, I didn't just buy it because I loved the colorway.

I crafted for at least an hour every day except Tuesday, which is a busy day for me, since I go to yoga halfway across town, and between dinner, walking the dog and yoga, my evenings are pretty well spoken for. But at least I did work extra hard on Nathan's quilt (just a few more feet of binding!), and I went to knitting circle twice this week. All told, I crafted for over an hour each day, just not every day. I may have to make Tuesdays a permanent exemption, since I am determined to stick with Tuesday yoga.

use-it-up challenge

I have been inspired by Holly of Stupid is the New Awesome to get my butt in gear and put more work into my current craft projects. It is so easy to come down with a serious case of startitis, that one completely forgets that one already has several projects in the works. This is as much a project management technique as it is a shopping-control technique.

So here -- based on Holly's rules -- are mine:

1. At least one hour a day goes into the making of something, or a project has to be completed, whichever comes first.
2. Confession is on Sunday, where I tell what I did buy (sometimes you have to have thread and such). If I must buy something, it must be completely justifiable for project completion.
3. Multiple days can be accounted for in a single entry. This isn't a cop-out -- most of you know that blogging is rather time consuming, and the whole point of this challenge is to actually do, rather than shop for or talk about.
4. Pictures to document my progress. I have a tendancy to post pictures of raw materials and completely finished projects. I don't know about you, but I love seeing the in-between stages of other folks' projects.
5. Not sure how long this challenge goes on for. Let's say until the end of 2009 and see where we are (if I make it that long).

All that said, I totally just signed up for Bend the Rules Swap #4. For this, I must make an exception to the above rules. I will try, try, try to use fabric and notions out of my own stash, but if I get matched up with someone who wants their handbag to feature novelty vegetable prints or Victorian peonies, I'll be out of luck and off to the fabric store.

So, I started thinking along these lines as soon as I read Holly's post, trying to get an hour of crafting in every day, and because of that, I was able to quickly start and finish this fabric bucket. I devised the construction all on my own (though I am sure I am not the first person to construct a fabric bucket this way -- nothing groundbreaking going on here): a six-sided bag, each panel tapering down to a 30 degree point, lined and supported by fusible interfacing, topstitched around the top and folded over. It's part of a get-well-soon gift for a colleage of mine and the leader of our office "Yarnistas" group. My fellow Yarnistas have all donated some fun yarns for her to play with while she's getting better. Get well soon, Annie!

fabric: from my stash, the outer fabric is probably a Kona Solid or similar, and the lining is Tula Pink's Full Moon Forest, which I adore.

And before that, I whipped up these little heart name banners for my nieces. This is Zoe's, I also made one for Emma.

fabrics: leftover red & pink fabrics from the red & white quilt and fusible fleece from emily's diaper bag (both here), plus vintage muslin and some new ribbon.

WIP: nathan's quilt

finished projects

Lisa and Colin's wedding quilt, aka the red & white quilt (yes, finally). For the record, Ellen and I agree that while it's acceptable to give regular wedding gifts for up to one year after the wedding, wedding quilts get five years, so I am actually three years ahead of the game on this one. Lisa's a quilter too, so I'm hoping she'll understand....

The details: log cabin block pattern, various red, white and pink-themed fabrics, including two vintage monogrammed napkins and a vintage rose-themed handkerchief (lower left corner, one block up, one block over). Quilted with a "medium gauge" stippling pattern in white thread -- the first one I've quilted entirely on my new Bernina.

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And a diaper bag for Emily. Or is it for Buford?

Pattern: Amy Butler's Birdie Sling; fabric: Heather Ross' Mendocino, various colorways

After I took that top photo, I added these buttons, but it had gotten too dark out for a tree reshoot.

(check out the snow meltage in two days!)

red & white quilt

Finn decided to "help" me with arranging the blocks of the red & white quilt yesterday. Good thing I had just given him a bath!

sewing as prozac

When Matt came to visit, I had to put away my sewing table. I made an agreement with myself that I would leave my beloved Bernina packed away until after I'd taken the GRE, so as to not be distracted by it when I should be studying. Apparently I should I packed away the knitting needles too, but that's another story. When Give-Away Day arrived, I found that I wanted to make the coasters I was giving away presentable, and that clearly, a fabric gift bag was necessary. So out came the "sew 'chine" and the fabric and the thread. It was just a basic square gift bag, and not even for someone I know, but about halfway through, as I adjusted the fabric for the seam allowance, I had sensation of intense happiness followed by a micro-epiphany: sewing makes me happy. I described the moment to Eric, and he asked if I was thinking that sewing was meditative, and I said, "No, this was more like what I expect Prozac is like."

P.S.: Michelle, I sent the coasters to you yesterday... let me know if you don't get them by sometime next week. Enjoy!

urban craft uprising!

I've just come home from volunteering with the Urban Craft Uprising Streat Team -- a fantastically good time and kick-ass craft show. Seriously, I've never been to a better craft show. I am so glad I saw the call for volunteers -- I'll be sure to do it next year too, if I can. I hung banners (thanks to Troop 253 for those knot skills -- I had everyone in awe!), I counted folks coming in the door, I directed traffic, I handed out swag bags (greatest job ever -- there were people lined up for over two hours waiting for these bags of goodies, so imagine how thankful they were once they got them!), I sat with authors while they signed their books, I sold UCU merchandise, I "gophered" for the vendors, I helped them bring their wares and displays into the space (lots of exercise there), and I distributed raffle tickets. Reminiscing makes my feet sore all over again.

I had to practice some serious self-restraint too (saving for our trip to Steamboat Springs in January), there were some of my favorites: Texture, glamscience,and Revival Ink (my favorite t-shirt is one of hers). Some of my new favorites are Amphora Candles, Felted Style, Made by Moxie, Rivkasmom, Sam Trout, Semilla Designs, and the famed Yarnia, whose yarns I just couldn't stop touching. Speaking of which, I've often heard the phrase "delicious" and "yummy" used to describe yarn, but I have to admit, I never really understood that sentiment until today, when I saw Spincycle Yarns for the first time (I do believe this will have pavlovian implications for me in the future).

But the two vendors/artists I really haven't been able to get out of my head have been ECOTONES, who needle felts wool and silks together to make the most amazing neck warmers, chokers, wrist cuffs and other beautiful -- nay, yummy -- pieces. Naturally, they don't have a website (gah!), so I just may have to go back tomorrow to pay them a visit. And Fernworks Fine Art, whose jewelry is just stunning.

Oh my, it was a great day.

Give-Away Day Drawing Winner!

First, I want to thank everyone for your kind, encouraging comments -- it's always nice to get a little praise now and then, and it was great fun to make a gift for a total stranger.

So without further ado, I've just randomly selected a winner from the 91 commenters: number 27, michelou! Congratulations michelou, check for an email from me.

Housekeeping: while I love seeing that 91 people liked my crafties enough to ask if they could have them, for their protection, I am going to delete the comments in an effort to protect their email addresses from who-knows-what.