Kelpie Socks Done

Yup, finished them last night and here they are.

Let me just say that hand knit socks fit so well they can't help but be comfortable. And if knit of wool or other animal fiber they are warm.

Samples of other handknit socks,  The last pair were knitted by my daughter who won an honorable mention at the state fair for them.  Lest you think I'm absented minded, I do remember posting these photos previously.

And you know I do love socks. 

If you love socks or know someone who does, look at the amazing variety at Sock Dreams.

You may wish to revisit my sock love post here.

Tomorrow I should get to weaving on my towels and working more on my pullover.

Happy days!

Okay, Yes, it's a Resolution.

We say we're not going to do it this year. We seldom keep them, but maybe sometimes.  One year I resolved not to eat in my car.  I kept that one for 6 whole months before something went wrong.  Does anyone remember my very first blog post?   I gave myself 15 months to finish 65 unfinished projects.  Then I auditioned for Les Miserables and that slowed down the original plan. It's been over 17 months now, but that's okay.  Some of my friends have told me I should not have counted items I hadn't started even if I had the pattern, fabric or yarn for them.  I'm now going with that.

You saw the costume for my friend's granddaughter, yes?

Here's is my 6 ft grandson in his new robe below.

He is much admired by Nipper (left) and Sonny.  Sonny is a real dog and though he appears smaller in this photo he is nearly Nipper's size.

 Mittens for my sister in Arkansas. Sophie is ignoring everything.

Oh, did I mention resolutions?  I did.  So here it is.  I resolve to finish my weaving project, the one on the loom now. Also my Kelpie socks, only a quarter of the second sock left.  Also my pullover.  And one sewing project (other that bags for the Co-op).

Kelpie socks                                                          Pullover

That's the weaving in the background.  My goal is to have these four projects finished by the end of January and it's completely possible.  I want this to happen.

For Christmas I received a wonderful project bag from my daughter. It is made by Slipped Stitch Studios.   I had bought one for sock projects last year and love it.  The new one holds a bigger item and is perfect for the pullover.

Whether or not you  make any resolutions for 2015, I wish you joy and good health.

Sewing a little

Aha!  I finished the blue skirt.

Okay, if you look closely, you can tell I have not put the hem up yet.   Don't look.  But it fits me and I won't need to make much of a hem so I decided to post it now instead of later.

A close-up of a gore.  The fabric looks like tiny bubbles.  Oh, remember that song by Don Ho?




I've three current projects going besides hemming the blue skirt.

 #1 A blue jean bin project.

I must admit this photo doesn't tell you much.  A surprise awaits. Soon.


#2   A denim vest jacket for my sister.  No photos of any kind, but stay tuned there will be some.  I have the fabric and notions, but no picture.

#3      Two days ago I experienced serendipity.  Although I needed some deck seating,  I wasn't actively looking.  My old chairs had one by one torn the seats from the chair frames. Not one of the four is usable.  Serendipity.
I found a parking space in front of World Market though I had not planned to go there.   Out in front there were some colorful garden chairs.  I saw. I sat. I bought.

 

Red, green, yellow and orange.  They are comfortable as they are, but because they're metal I decided chair pads would be necessary.

           

    I made a pattern from pages from a Road Scholar brochure. No other     paper  was available.

I bought 1/2 inch foam.

                       And I found really nice fabric as colorful as my chairs.


Check back for the finished projects, but don't expect too much too soon.
I am only human.  I bet you knew that about me, didn't you?

 Bye for now.  I must sew.

Post Script.  When I made the link to YouTube for Don Ho there wasn't an ad, now there is. Aack, but it's short and he's worth the wait.

Socks done

Just a short note today to say one of my original unfinished projects is done.

On the left, the little yellow sock start?

Part way through sock one.

First sock.

Both done, a pair.

How wonderful that today is a little cool and rainy so I can wear my socks before the summer weather arrives.  Thank you, Lord.

Baby dress

I did finish it.  The baby dress.  It didn't turn out as well as I'd hoped and I don't know who's going to wear it, but I'm glad I've finished an unfinished item.

I wish I had more of the yellow fabric.  I would have done 2 pockets on the skirt.  Or maybe even have done a yellow daisy-type flower.  Oh, well.  It's okay.  I think it would fit a two year old, but being far removed from youngsters, I'm not sure.











Here is my next project.  I think.

Another Amber Creation, but I've not made one of these before.  So let's see if i can pick up where I left off and don't mess it up.

Or maybe this one.

I like the Provincial fabric, but I guess I didn't include the pattern in the photo. It was a tote bag. Here goes.







Confession time.  I'm longing to make something I haven't already started.  A blouse or pair of pants for spring, or a great pattern I found on Craftsy. It's another bag.  See it here. Knotty Girl Boho Bag

The striped socks for my sister are nearly done and when they are, I have another pair I'm working on which you have seen in my sock post. Yellow-green.  After that I must finish my turquoise pull-over.

 

So that's it for this time.  Thanks for hanging in with me.

       Take a tip from my cat, Eddie.  Lie down, stretch out and relax.

Hey, it's almost January!

Hiya to everyone.  It is almost January.  Don't get me wrong I love Christmas,  I love celebrating God's greatest gift, the first coming of my Lord.  I love the decorating and the family time. The music and general good will.  Somehow this year January looks  so  ripe with potential and it's because being in Les Miserables has consumed a great deal of my life.  Our last show is December 30th and so January 2nd seems like a gateway to marvelous new things.

So please keep checking back   I will Finish the Unfinished this bright new year of 2014

We don't often get snow here in the foothills, but we had a lovely one on the 6th of December this year.

If you are reading this before Christmas, do have a happy one,  If it's after, just remember it's almost January.  Or perhaps it's already here!


 
 A bit of color to send you on your way.  Come back when ever you care to, you're always welcome.

What list?

You've heard of people making a list of things they want to do before they die.  Some call it a bucket list.  I 'm not wild about that term.  Remember the book "1000 Places to See Before You Die"?   There's one called, "1000 Books to Read Before You Die."   Well, I say what about the things you want to do before you're too old?  Ill or infirm?.  Of course no one knows for sure the hour of their death nor do we know for sure when something we always dreamed of doing becomes too hard to even attempt.

No that's not me on the river though perhaps in the future. She is sculling.  Today at 0830 PDT, yours truly began to learn to row with the hope of someday doing that.  Think opening sequence of "The River Wild" with Meryl Streep.  Meryl is sculling on the Charles River in Boston.  I love that scene. So I had a 2 hour lesson and the only thing I had trouble with was getting out of the boat.  More about much much later.  Or never.  The lesson was wonderful.

And then . . . . 

I picked up my viola.  What did she say?  I thought this was about sewing and knitting and baskets and finishing, not boats and fiddles and starting.   Okay,  you are right.  And I fully intend to finish my rowing lessons and to finish my viola lessons unless pain interferes.  I have arthritis in my hands.

And then . . . . 

I went to the theater for rehearsals (because I always wanted to be in a musical) and while there got another handful of  costume items to work on.

But here's the good news
.  I finished my first basket.  Even though I didn't finish it exactly as it was supposed to be,  I am happy with it.  There's another one to do, but it's a kit and I have permission to start it in a few months. There will be no other basket making until that kit is finished.  Here's my basket.  I'm calling it Molly.

Hooray!

Thanks to Joan Soth and Pam Crause of the Hangtown Fibers Guild Basket Group.


That's all and that's enough.  Please come again.

A Challenge for Me

Welcome to my blog.  It's a personal challenge for me to finish the many unfinished projects I have here in my home.   I spent quite a bit of time finding and photographing the 66 projects.  Although beading is also a hobby I enjoy,  I didn't include bead projects.  I may be adding them in later.  So . . . 

My  list:

•  Sewing    22  unfinished
•  Quilting   16  unfinished
•  Knitting   24  unfinished
• Weaving    2   unfinished     
• Basketry    2   unfinished   (there won't be more, not my   favorite)

 

My  plan:

• Finish these unfinished projects in 15 months
• One sewing project per week
• One knitting project per month
• Weaving and Baskets will be finished
• Buy no new fabric or yarn during this time
• Enjoy it because I know I do.
• Do it because I want to say I did it! 

Starting  with :

•  On the far right,  it's a knitted hoodie. Knitting from the neck down then adding on the hood.

•   Although I'm retired from nursing, I had one scrub top cut out.  I'll start with this one. On Valentine's Day I can wear it.  Or not. 

Do you have unfinished projects?  Come along and join me.  

Post Script: This used to be called Finishing the Unfinished. I changed the name in March 2014.  SF