What's Happening

Here's what's happening around here in March so far.

I took Alex's suggestion and bought some trading card sleeves for my "Photo a Day" project.  I put the photos in and then slipped in an explanation and date for each on the back.

The photos

The descriptions of said photos.

Thank you for the great idea, it's working well.

Here's what's happening in my knitting world.

The pullover.  It is possible this is the last sweater I will knit. Unless perhaps a baby one.

I have started another pair of socks in self patterning yarn. They will look something like these.

I did not knit these, but  this is the yarn I'm using. These are from Stephanie Pearl-McFee.


Weaving is coming along very slowly.

Spinning is fun.  Here is a photo of my wheel which doesn't look anything like the more familiar wheels like the one I use at Coloma. 

It's a Schact Sidekick. It's easy to carry, but too modern for the Gold Discovery Park in Coloma.











Here is some fiber I purchased on ETSY from Three Waters Farm.  I've almost turned it all into yarn.

Muted Conversation is the color.

Stitches West was lots of fun  I love riding the train even though it's a bit of a long walk to the convention center after you arrive.  Stitches South is in a few weeks in Nashville, TN.  All about Stitches events here.  I went with guild friends to SW for the market place.  I bought three things. Stitch markers, yarn and fiber. Believe me I was being restrained.  The stitch markers are gorgeous so before I close for today, here they are.

Ciao amici.

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.

Did I Mention

I love socks?  Yes, I did here.  My beloved eldest child, Elizabeth (the mother of my cool grandson) also loves socks.  She knits faster and better than I and I'm in awe.  So looky here.  For me!

They are so detailed and intricate. Who would want to wear shoes?

We knitters are  fond of things for holding knitting projects and tools.

Here is my current project inside the Sock bag by Slipped Stitch Studios .

Uh oh. You can't see inside this way.

That's pretty yarn and those are pretty small needles.

You are right. It's a pair of socks in the making.  l knitted one to the point where one starts the heel, so I'm now doing the same for sock 2.  This beautiful yarn is  Kelpie from Dragonfly Fibers .  More about socks some day soon. "That's a promise and a threat." (from a song by Heart)

Warning; the video link to the 'song' is really only a photo while the song is playing. May be ads.

Flashback

Some of my stuff.  I'm sorry if you've already seen it.  It seemed to be a good day for looking back.

Oh, these are old.  I still have the bunny, but the computer's gone.  I gave the baby bee hat to a pregnant co-worker and the sofa has gone to the dump.

This is the second book I made.  It's in the hands of a good friend now.

I painted this switch plate cover to make leaving the house a bit more fun.
Here's another one I particularly like.  Dreadful photo though.

 

In 2011 I made a crazy birthday card for my sister, Katherine, who loves chocolate.  I did a type of collage on a paper plate.  It went through the mail with a bit of extra postage attached.(See 5 celebrate stamps)  That is not her address, by the way, so no trying to send her messages about her
weird sister. Anyway, she's known about me for years.


And so now it's time to close. Another photo that's old and, yes, you have seen it before.  It was quite a number of posts ago.

I Know It's Tuesday

For all of you who might have stopped by yesterday because of my mentioning Monday in my last post,  I am sorry.  It was a blue Monday so I didn't do much of anything.  Well, I escaped into the world of British television and did a bit of necessary stuff on the Internet, but it didn't amount to a very productive day.  Lo siento mucho. (Well, it was Cinco de Mayo).

Nothing to show you so far, but it's coming along.  I wasn't as near completion on the project as I thought.  Been working on it this morning. Part of the difficulty for me was adding a pocket in the seam when the pattern didn't call for it.  The basic steps were familiar to me, but this has a flat waistband in front and elasticized one in back so I had to do some figuring out.  Looks okay so far.  Plus, I was only putting one on the right so I had to make sure that's where I put it.  Yay!  Photos coming, maybe today.

In the mean time, I have started another pair of socks.  I had planned to knit this pair with a  fancy pattern, but reverted to the Basic Sock from Knitting Rules  by Stephanie Pearl-McFee  (the Yarn Harlot ).  It's basic and she is fun to read.  The yarn is from Dragonfly Fibers , their Djinni Sock yarn which is superwash merino, cashmere and nylon.  This color is Kelpie.
I bought that one and this one.

It almost looks the same, but this is Blue Morpho Butterfly and is all blue.
I bought them from Dragonfly at this year's Stitches West.  This link takes you to the main site for all the Stitches events.

So that's all for now.  I'll be back with photos of my sewing project asap.

Vapor trail at sunrise.

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.

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