Evidence of Creative Weekend

Yesterday I mentioned I had a great flurry of creativity this weekend and today I have the photos to prove it. Cause I mean what good is a story without a photo? I do have yet to get a photo of the wonderful hat I made though, always something to do, right?

A friend of mine taught me how to make pickles so in turn we decided I'd teach her how to dye wool. As you can see from the photo we had some colors drying and I did a bit of carding. I did some noting of details in Flickr on this photo of my kitchen. Head over there and check it out, but first leave a comment and let me know which of these four color-ways you like best!

Endpaper Mitts

I had quite the weekend of creativeness. Those are the kind of weekend were I dream about being able to dye, spin, and knit full time. I ended up with some great colorways and a SWEET hat - but since I don't have my camera with me here at I work I'll have to wait to show you those photos.

But I can show you my completed Endpaper Mitts that I do love. They have definately been worn already this fall and I very much enjoy the look of them and how accomplished they make me feel. I did find a dropped stitch in the ribbing!!! I know, heaven help us all, but it will be okay. Unlike some purist knitters I'm not completely opposed to knots so I'll get the lil' booger knotted up and I'll be good to go.

Oh and another completed project I never shared with you all is my first pair of toe up socks. Also knit with my own colorway and handspun. Do you like them?

San Luis Flurries

No! It has not started snowing here... yet. There was a freeze last night, but hopefully the days will continue to be lovely. Still I decided to take task at designing my first fair isle pattern.

When I began knitting I never used patterns. I was taught how to make a basic sock, then I made a hats, scarves, and at some point I decided I wanted to learn how to make a thumb gusset so I found a pattern for fingerless gloves. It was from there I entered the wonderful world of patterns and in turn Ravelry.

Since I had begun my knitting without patterns I decided I sure as heck should be able to write one, and that I did. I'm trying to decided if I should write the pattern up for sale on Etsy, and I'm also trying to decided if I want to keep the hat or sell it. You can only have so many knitted things, but truth be told I don't have a hat like it.

Knitting Socks

Some knitters are completely hooked on socks while many others hate them. I was always rather indifferent. I like the result, but I wasn't keen on knitting the same thing twice. Well, now I have the best solution in the world. I checked out 2-at-a-Time Socks from the library and traded some of my yarn for needles on Ravelry and off I went. I started them this Saturday and I must admit I am falling love with socks.

First of all I love this yarn, it couldn't be any more perfect for fall. Also the pattern I chose, since I wasn't super crazy about any in the book, was Monkey from Knitty and I couldn't be happier with it. I haven't gotten to what I'm considering to be the difficult parts yet - such as turning the heal, but I'll tackle that when I get there.

In other news, I recently joined the 21st century. I was never much for reading blogs until I started finding a few here at there that caught my fibery interests, and then I hunted down a few of my friends. I initially just kept the book marks in my public bookmarks on delicious.com (love this site), but last week I took a plunge. I now use google reader, yes, I have enough blogs to read that I have a service to keep them organized and tell me when there are new posts. Truth be told, it is pretty handy. I just hope that my blog is on someone's google reader list.

Flickr Update

I am gathering some photos of projects that I have completed, but in the mean time I have updated my flickr account. Have look!

Canning

This is what I am going to attempt this weekend. Never done it before. Could be a disaster. Wish me luck!

Sewing my Japanese Knot Bag

So I haven't exactly taken up sewing, but the curtains got so boring that I decided I should at least try something else. I came across the pattern for this bag from a blog that I was reading. Here's the blog and here's the pattern.

I gotta say that I actually enjoyed making this bag. I used a flour sack and some navy fabric I found at a thrift store. I was able to clearly understand the instructions and make something that has hidden seams. Yay! Also it is a GREAT lunch bag.

I'm not in love with sewing now by any means, but I have my eye on another pattern I'd like to try. It's a simple skirt, well it looks simple, but the draw back is I'd have to purchase the pattern. I know, and will admit, I am cheap.

Decorating

David and I have been living in this apartment for over a year now and though it is furnished it, of course, isn't cute. Though I must say the futon has a cute cusion and is actually comfortable - still I hate the white frame.When we moved in I sort of resigned myself to the fact that as a full time volunteer I wouldn't have the money to make the apartment cute. Well, now after a full year, I can't take it anymore!

Earlier last month we rearranged the whole place. By whole place I mean two rooms, oh and I pushed the kitchen table closer to the wall. Anyhow, there just wasn't much color so I decided to look for some fabric to bring about some change. Because I live in the boonies there are only three fabric stores within a two hour drive - two quilt shops and Wal-Mart (yes, I cringe at the thought too).

I went to the quilt shops and found fabric I LOVED, but it cost $9 a yard. Not horrible I realize, but making only $50 a month (most of which is spent before it is in hand) made $9 a yard seem impossible. Reluctantly I went to Wal-@*%#. They had lots and lots of fabric for $1 a yard. I found a beautiful green and spent $5 on fabric and $2 on thread and I was ready to get out of the florescent cave.

As you can see I only have one of the curtains up, that is because I broke the sewing machine needle after the first curtain when I tried to hem some jeans. No worries the second one is well on its way, so I hung the first one for inspiration.

Also I have been very tired of the walls. The rearranging took care of some of that empty space, but there was a wall in the kitchen/dining area that drove me nuts. Recently my family visited so we drove down to Santa Fe (2.5 hours) where there happens to be Target, and I found this little beauty - yay. Don't you just love how they put an outlet in the middle of wall? What in the world?

So overall the place definately doesn't look like it would if it were truly mine, but at least now it has some color and maybe a little style. Only problem. I still can't stop drooling over these wall decals on Etsy.

The Fiddle

Wish me luck! Today will be my first fiddle lesson. Yes, I say fiddle, not violin. You are correct in thinking they are the same instrument, but the difference is in how they are played. Truly, I know nothing about all of this. I have always liked the fiddle and so my husband bought me one for Christmas a couple years ago, and yes, I am just getting around to taking lessons. I did try to learn from a DVD for a bit, that didn't go too well. I'll let you know how lessons turn out!

Oh and here's a glimps of what I'm currently knitting. My brain hurts. But the best part is my hubby saw what I was working on and said, "You're getting too good at that." Ha ha

Blessed and August Summary

I got to work today bit tired and a bit stressed. I arrived having forgotten three things at home, all of which I needed to bring to town, one of which was my gym bag so there will be no working out today. But then things sorta brightened up.

I got a voice mail from an old friend who I just mailed a letter to and a client brought me lunch (yum Cambodian food). Then I thought about the little package my mom is sending me and how I just sent a package to a good friend that I know she'll like. And that my yarn arrived today for a new project. Sometimes I just have to remember things aren't that bad, you know?

Let me give you a little summary of August since clearly there wasn't much blogging in the second half. My in-laws visited for a week, then two new volunteers arrived then my folks, brother and sister-in-law visited for about a week, then another new volunteer arrived and then it was my birthday -oh and I worked. I think that about sums it up. Our voluntary service unit is nearly complete for the year, just one more volunteer to arrive this month.

As for my birthday, well, I got some very lovely things - yarn, dye, $$, and pottery. Today I'll share a photo of the pottery. These are from my sweet husband who I love so dearly (not just because he is good at buying gifts). He purchased them from the Etsy shop called RisingSky and this garlic pot and cream pitcher are from his Ponderosa collection. Just gorgeous!