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I'm sleepy, iPhoto isn't cooperating, and flickr is only offering me photos of sleeping cats and dogs. I was hoping for a flash of inspiration. More tomorrow.
Two pretty, pretty blogs:
luluetsidonie (in French)
December 30, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Ok, that black and red quilt just isn't working. I was looking at it tonight as I folded it's fabric and I think it needs to come off the wall and hibernate in a box for a while. I'd love to do a quilt with these ikats from the quilt show last October, and some wovens from Kaffe Fasset. There's a quilt artist who uses ikats and I'm blanking on her name, but she's my inspiration for this. Oh, and she had a small show at PIQF.
One of the favorite gifts this year. Grandma bought a helium balloon kit, two actually in case the first didn't work for some reason. Merrick loves balloons, and Byrd filled one of each color for him this morning. I wound the strings around a plastic dinosaur to hold them at his height, and he was fascinated by the translucent colors. Eventually he got in the middle of the bunch and jumped around, that was fun to watch.
Pass along toys from the neighbors sons. The fellas built a huge house and then towed it around with the tow truck.
The other favorite gift was a harmonica (my idea) I think because it makes sound on an inhale as well as an exhale, so it's easy to figure out, and the tone is a bit nicer than a train whistle (another gift this year).
December 29, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Bookshelves are in, earthquake-strapped, and loaded! I can see everything at once, I can even find things. I have enough space to rearrange and sort. Bliss.
The corner shelf can't have a door, so it's Merrick's, except for the shelf of art books.
Billy bookcases from Ikea, with glass doors. Ikea lights, too.
Mitts are finished and I really enjoyed them. This is an alpaca blend from Cascade maybe? Not Blue Sky, anyway. I don't think it's as soft as the Blue Sky. Did I mention that my mom wants these?
A local yarn store (Communknity) is closing and today was 30% everything. Surprise, I bought pink and orange.
The orange is for full length gauntlets with a thumb tube and shaping from The Purl Stitch. I'm actually 6 yds short with two skeins, so I'll either do the ribbing in a matching color or make them a smidge shorter.
December 28, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
We went back to Ikea yesterday to get the bookshelf lights I had forgotten the first time around. I spotted an Indian lady wearing an orange sari with a cream colored Icelandic sweater, all of the colorwork was done in natural wool colors.
It surprised me a for a second, then I realized how pretty it was. The motifs on each garment were about the same size, and the colors looked good together. Here's a polyvore approximation.
sari + icelandic sweater by ruched
We had dinner with friends tonight, and they have two boys 11 and 6. They're into video games rather than toys now, but they pulled some matchbox cars, duplo blocks, and dinosaurs out of the garage for Merrick to play with, and suddenly all three were on the floor building things and knocking them down. It was really sweet, especially when the oldest taught Merrick how to use one of those cars that zoom away after they're pulled backwards.
December 27, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
I've started this fab Dr Who length scarf, using an amazing merino yarn called Filtes Super King, which isn't being made anymore because the company closed, so I had to buy it from a nice woman on Ravelry, who it turns out had listed it 15 mins before I emailed her about it.
It's really soft and squishy, and I love it, but I've already started over once (the pattern was off and I didn't notice) and ripped back from 12" to 6" because of an inadvertent short-row.
My left hand is hurting, maybe that's it. The ring finger tendon is sore, it's something to do with the way I hold the needle. I'm so excited to wear this scarf that I'm determined to finish it before it's too warm to wear it.
It's from this book, which has some really nice stuff. This is the second, the first one is very good too. I think the first has more basic sweaters, this one has sweaters with bobbles and ruffles and things.
December 26, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
December 25, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
We orbited the yellow and blue death star today, and the trip was successful. We bought bookshelves to line the dining room, something I've wanted to do for a while. Right before we left Byrd checked out the little food market and I guarded the cart and people watched. Lots of women in heels, with bundles and parcels and a kid along for good measure. An older man wheeled out a cart full of 57 dish drainers. Maybe he runs a school for dishwashers?
The photo is one of those funny red kid's chairs, we got a red table to match. Byrd assembled them in time for dinner, and he and Merrick ate at the kid table. Merrick with toes dangling above the floor, and Byrd with his knees up around his elbows.
I've put the mitts aside temporarily because I was still making mistakes. I put in the first row of increases, then totally forgot about it when I was knitting over them and took out those "tangled messy two stitches smushed in place of one, how did that happen?" stitches. Erg.
I'm reading a trashy novel instead of knitting. They are so yummy and satisfying.
December 23, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
Spooky prints in fresh snow by 2pie. They remind me of Roman friezes.
Bodice/dress/top made of recycled ties, from OutsaPop, tutorial here , via the ever nifty Suburban Queen
A new-to-me blog, Handmade by Alissa via Crazy Mom Quilts (I think). I love the way she combines prints, old-school style with each echoing the colors of the other, half new-school with super modern prints.
I adore that method old quilts, the colors are wonderful with a quick look, or more slowly enjoyed, as you notice how the colors hop scotch from one block to the next, it's very satisfying.
Also, when I checked her about page to see if she mentioned anything about posting her photos, she looked kind of familiar. I'm pretty sure I went to middle school with her in New Hampshire. Weird. I need to write a non-stalking, non-freaky email and ask her.
(all from Handmade by Alissa)
Now something from me. I'm really enjoying these knitting books. The first two are textile history, the third has textile history, but it's used to explain how to make a better sweater. What yarn to choose for which effect, what shapes are easiest or most authentic, how to combine surface patterns, etc.
December 22, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)