tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44469961682506313552024-03-13T08:46:57.932-07:00Go to Your Studio and Make StuffThe things that come out of an improv comedienne's mind when she's not hooked up to an audience.Desihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08539890122366180627noreply@blogger.comBlogger361125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446996168250631355.post-24891636868759425222012-09-23T15:06:00.002-07:002012-09-23T15:08:23.406-07:00Sock Sniper<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just the colors the Belgian likes!</td></tr>
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I joined a group called Sock Sniper a couple of months ago. It's kind of a round robin game, just like Sock Wars only with a different name. My target was The Belgian. I knew her sock size, her address, and what colors she preferred. If I could get her socks done and mailed, she'd be dead. (Out of the game, not actually dead, but we're trying to be serious here.)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4NhAZ1q_sI4/UF-CT54dJGI/AAAAAAAADP4/uyhEyUHZXhY/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4NhAZ1q_sI4/UF-CT54dJGI/AAAAAAAADP4/uyhEyUHZXhY/s320/002.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Klaus, my cylon friend, poses with the socks in progress for the Belgian</td></tr>
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At 9 am on September 1st, the pattern was released. I knit socks for The Belgian as fast as I could, but ran into trouble. My arms started acting up, so I had to slow down. Too much. <br />
In the meantime, 0058 was knitting socks for me. 0058 was nearing completion when she received her little package of death from Killer Bunny. (socks) 0058 immediately stopped work on the socks for me and sent them to Killer Bunny. <br />
Now Killer Bunny had me in her sights. Too bad for me. As I struggled to finish socks for the Belgian, Killer Bunny's package for me arrived.(Cylon not included.) Now I'm out, too. But I've got a lovely pair of socks.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vgaYaZQHyNg/UF-CehU7QfI/AAAAAAAADQM/5_41TRC1Pw8/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vgaYaZQHyNg/UF-CehU7QfI/AAAAAAAADQM/5_41TRC1Pw8/s320/006.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guess you could say I died happy</td></tr>
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And Killer Bunny has another pair of socks to finish. Nyah!<br />
<br />Desihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08539890122366180627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446996168250631355.post-53517189191210564872012-08-17T10:17:00.001-07:002012-08-17T10:17:30.507-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Colorama Mama finally got her completion. She looked a little weird with just a face and all that crazy color, so I embroidered stars down one side. (It may have been Olympic fever.) She's really my first completed crochet project, that wasn't a plain string bookmark or a little edging on a knit project.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sUQD8Q4PtMA/UC53i9tRKtI/AAAAAAAADO4/xMlQSTItbZI/s1600/Colorama+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sUQD8Q4PtMA/UC53i9tRKtI/AAAAAAAADO4/xMlQSTItbZI/s400/Colorama+3.JPG" width="300" /></a>I got heavily involved in the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/ravellenic-games-2012" target="_blank">Ravellinics</a> this year. (That's the new name for Ravolympics.) It's the yarnie event sponsored by Ravelry that is based on the Olympic games. This is what I was doing for the Work-in-Progress event: the pattern is called <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/viper-pilots" target="_blank">Viper Pilot Socks</a>. (I named 'em Callsign Required.) You had to pick up something that hadn't been worked on for two months and finish it. This was a real toughie: I had started it in 2010--before I got a job! </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XyR9BcxtOEc/UC53mEdSOEI/AAAAAAAADPA/CpnpvppJx2E/s1600/Ca;;sign+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XyR9BcxtOEc/UC53mEdSOEI/AAAAAAAADPA/CpnpvppJx2E/s320/Ca;;sign+4.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
It's got cables and complicated patterning. The real bummer was that I ran out of yarn. So I worked in this red. I tried to make it gradual so it wouldn't show, but it's pretty darn obvious. <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gxh8zvpVg78/UC53sCHX7QI/AAAAAAAADPQ/W9yUoHNpn60/s1600/Callsign+6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gxh8zvpVg78/UC53sCHX7QI/AAAAAAAADPQ/W9yUoHNpn60/s320/Callsign+6.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Not pretty, but I medalled in WIPS Wrestling. And I think it really was wrestling. More like rasslin'.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jmw8D6DnwZk/UC55vcAZogI/AAAAAAAADPY/0Z0NLZYZvYM/s1600/2012+WIPs+Wrestling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jmw8D6DnwZk/UC55vcAZogI/AAAAAAAADPY/0Z0NLZYZvYM/s1600/2012+WIPs+Wrestling.jpg" /></a></div>
And the darn thing is done. Phew.Desihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08539890122366180627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446996168250631355.post-15039141536453146362012-07-22T16:51:00.000-07:002012-07-22T16:55:21.402-07:00Big Pants and the Tardis<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LPOhlrZd9e4/UAyPY0LNI3I/AAAAAAAADOc/8WSVGZtR7Xw/s1600/Mr.+Big+Pants+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LPOhlrZd9e4/UAyPY0LNI3I/AAAAAAAADOc/8WSVGZtR7Xw/s320/Mr.+Big+Pants+1.JPG" width="240" /></a>Meet Mr. Big Pants. I know that these bears are s'posed to be kinda skinny, but I had a little problem with guage. A lot of us do, in the pants department. So he's got a big bum. Me too. And he's still pretty cute. Me too.<br />
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We had a KAL/CAL (that's Knit-a-long/Crochet-a-long) in my Fiberworks group to benefit<a href="http://www.motherbearproject.org/" target="_blank"> The Mother Bear Project</a>. So I got this little guy going.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Pqc6qmSSYpg/UAyPbZkteeI/AAAAAAAADOg/Uz1iHuv__w8/s1600/Colorama+Mama+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Pqc6qmSSYpg/UAyPbZkteeI/AAAAAAAADOg/Uz1iHuv__w8/s320/Colorama+Mama+1.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
And this is Colorama Mama. She's crocheted. She's my first real all-crochet project. And she's almost done. <br />
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She's for the same KAL/CAL. Another fiber artist was having trouble with the pattern (the feet are kinda weird) so I figured I'd give it a go. I'm not saying Colorama is perfect but she's pretty decent for a beginner.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DFC8HLH4hAA/UAyPdfvBGMI/AAAAAAAADOs/BDP3TksSfK8/s1600/Totally+Tardis+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DFC8HLH4hAA/UAyPdfvBGMI/AAAAAAAADOs/BDP3TksSfK8/s320/Totally+Tardis+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
And Tiny wants a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TARDIS" target="_blank">Tardis</a> hat, after seeing lots of 'em at <a href="http://www.comic-con.org/cci/" target="_blank">Comic Con</a>. (She's such a Dr. Who fan!) I couldn't find a crochet pattern for a tardis, unless people are wearing a tissue box cover on their heads... hmm... So this one's knitted. It's flying, too. Which I guess is appropriate for a time machine.Desihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08539890122366180627noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446996168250631355.post-85800694202809140102012-02-12T18:02:00.000-08:002012-02-12T18:27:08.055-08:00Kaleidescope Eyes<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708438556434628562" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eiNREMsd4cY/Tzhyn1pt_9I/AAAAAAAADNM/cm2RB4TnJQk/s400/HPIM2780.JPG" /> This pattern is called Garden Walk. I pulled it from <em>Egg Money Quilts</em> by Eleanor Burns. The dark purple and green flowers are all, believe it or slurp it, from the same batik fabric. I didn't realize that it would be so variable when I chose it. I used up every last scrap of leftovers from the front to make the back. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708438561281841106" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-__x-moR-ztY/TzhyoHtYl9I/AAAAAAAADNU/4_uGPTCtxLs/s400/HPIM2782.JPG" /><br /><br /><div>When I started to assemble it at PQM (that's Prayer Quilt Ministry, not Pretty Quilty Maidens, although maybe I should suggest it...), Therese happened by and said, "You want me to do that?" (She's the Big Kahuna of Quilt Assembly--BKQA for short.) My eyes got real big and I said "YEAH!" So she took over and put the thing together lickety split. (I'll try and get a pic next week.)</div>Desihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08539890122366180627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446996168250631355.post-64690324936932327292012-01-29T16:57:00.000-08:002012-01-29T17:08:31.763-08:00Swanee River<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8qw4gZZS69s/TyXrOvGdUZI/AAAAAAAADMg/uawP2NleAMQ/s1600/HPIM2776.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703223141528850834" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8qw4gZZS69s/TyXrOvGdUZI/AAAAAAAADMg/uawP2NleAMQ/s400/HPIM2776.JPG" /></a>So I'm back to "Bird of Love." It's so much easier now that I've finished the white parts. The stitching was picky in those places. I couldn't do the quick down-up movement, you know, when you slip the needle into the fabric and right out the top again in one move. I had to actually pull the whole thread through the fabric down and through the fabric up. That was really slow. Also, the filet cross-stitch looks good with only a half-cross, so that's what I'm trying. You can see it in the swirly wave things at the bottom. If I like it, this little sweetheart will get done soon. We'll see.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703223134399915762" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nInVbuFwvws/TyXrOUiyZvI/AAAAAAAADMQ/ssKrpd0GCF0/s400/HPIM2778.JPG" /> <br /><div><br /><div>Also, the Black Orchid socks have had some progress: one down, one left to go. So now I can say that I am knitting <em>socks</em>, not just <em>a sock</em>. Yay. I have 'em on size 0 needles (that's kinda like a long toothpick to the non-knitters out there). This way the socks should last a good long time. Tighter knit=thicker fabric=holes take longer to develop=less crying when I have to toss 'em.</div></div>Desihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08539890122366180627noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446996168250631355.post-37015453640365489422012-01-27T12:00:00.000-08:002012-01-27T12:20:57.021-08:00Pictures or it's not DoneThe Viper Pilot socks (<a href="http://gotoyourstudio.blogspot.com/search/label/Callsign%20Required%20Socks">Callsign Required</a>) have jumped back into normal space. I remembered wrong and thought there was an error in my knitting. I must have spent an hour looking at the pattern and the socks trying to find the problem. I even tinked (that's k-n-i-t backwards) out three rows looking for the error. The error was there was no error. And the past me left no notes for the future (now present) me. (Actually now past, too.) I found my spot and got to work. The heel is now completed--although the pattern is a little vague on the heel flap--and I'm on to the foot. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 175px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702404552913578946" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R3B7OPotXmk/TyMCum3768I/AAAAAAAADME/cxhOgveRidc/s400/HPIM2777.JPG" />That means this project is 30% done.<br /><br /><ul><br /><li>10% cuff, </li><br /><li>10% leg, </li><br /><li>10% heel & gusset, </li><br /><li>10% foot, </li><br /><li>10% toe and weaving in ends. </li></ul>Yeah, I know that's only 50%: there's a whole 'nuther sock to do. It was started in April of 2010 and seemed really hard. Now it's just paying attention.<br />These <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/threadbunny/french-press-felted-slippers">French Press slippers </a>got done last year. I dove into my button stash to find a fun way to complete 'em. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 319px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702404550067169074" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JFURbRsa2bY/TyMCucRTJzI/AAAAAAAADL4/UrkWfPxExB8/s400/HPIM2774.JPG" />Yep, I know they don't match. I'm happy. I did the finishing touches back in November but POIND. (Pictures or it's not done.) Now it's done.<br /><a href="http://gotoyourstudio.blogspot.com/search/label/in%20a%20garden">In a Garden </a>got framed up and I'm very pleased with how it came out.<br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702404542483595426" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V2BqEBz0C0U/TyMCuABPAKI/AAAAAAAADLs/ga_eMf7mWoc/s400/HPIM2772.JPG" />Now that it's framed it counts as done. I guess that's FOIND.</div>Desihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08539890122366180627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446996168250631355.post-65891640948779098302012-01-15T12:57:00.000-08:002012-01-24T18:38:09.661-08:002011, All wrapped upI read once that setting unattainable goals help you to stretch your limits. Hence 2011: The Madness. Mostly, I've been working my hinder-ender off. This job takes most of the creative time. That's not a bad thing: I've used my calligraphy skills to fashion signs for the chess case, my sewing skills to repair and replace game components, and my knitting to, well, keep me warm. Here, now removed from the side-bar, is a recap of<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">2011: The Madness</span></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="left"><span style="color:#6600cc;">Socks: Make 12 pairs (5 down) Not bad, in my opinion. The last pair got finished on Christmas day!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697972872955297298" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pcw7rSLRCro/TxNEI4hP_hI/AAAAAAAADLg/ZpkK0giYKis/s400/HPIM2770.JPG" /></span></div><br /><br /><span style="color:#6600cc;">Baby Booties: Make 6 pairs (1 down) 'Nuff said.</span><br /><span style="color:#6600cc;">Sweater: Make 1 for me. Yeah, that's still in the dream stage.</span><br /><span style="color:#6600cc;">Gloves: Make 3 pairs (see above)</span><br /><span style="color:#6600cc;">Hats: Make 1 (done!) VICTORY!</span><br /><span style="color:#6600cc;">Charity: Make 2 projects (1 down) 1>0 (that's not an emoticon: it's a mathematical expression)</span><br /><span style="color:#6600cc;">New Baby Coming: make something (sorry, kid)</span><br /><span style="color:#006600;">Non-charity quilts: Complete 6 --zilch (sewing machine mostly used to convert ugly boy uniform shirts into pretty girl uniform shirts so I don't look like a shlub at work)</span><br /><span style="color:#006600;">Charity tops: Make 12 (3 down--there may have been more)</span><br /><span style="color:#006600;">Morsbags: Make 30 + Zipper bags: Make 30 (grouped here to make it look like less)</span><br /><span style="color:#006600;">Bonus: 1 apron (WOOT!)</span><br /><span style="color:#000099;">Cross-stitch projects: Complete 6 (2 down) Well, that's somethin'</span><br /><span style="color:#000099;">"Involved" beadwork: Complete 1 + Earrings: Make 20 pairs for sale No beads, no how.</span><br /><span style="color:#cc6600;">S&SF/Asimov mags: read 12 (6.5 down--halfway there!) .5 refers to the one I lost in Costco halfway through. Meh.</span><br /><span style="color:#cc6600;">Non-fiction Books: read 4 (2 down) Really? Just 2? Just checked. Yup. 2.</span><br /><span style="color:#cc6600;">Classic Literature: read 4 (done) </span><br /><span style="color:#cc6600;">Other Books: read 12 (done! +2) </span><br /><br /><br /><br /><p>So if we break all this down into what's really been completed:</p><br /><br /><ul><br /><br /><li>FIVE pairs of socks</li><br /><br /><li>ONE pair baby booties</li><br /><br /><li>ONE hat</li><br /><br /><li>ONE charity bear</li><br /><br /><li>THREE charity quilt tops, maybe more</li><br /><br /><li>TWO cross-stitch projects</li><br /><br /><li>26.5 books and magazines read</li></ul><br /><br /><p>So really, all this AND a thirty-hour job AND a home AND a teenager getting ready to graduate from high school: not bad. I'd be willing to bet that none of my co-workers at the game store made five pairs of socks last year. So there.</p>Desihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08539890122366180627noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446996168250631355.post-60958921737585335362011-07-31T17:24:00.000-07:002011-07-31T17:27:33.030-07:00Think this is a bad hand?<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BztvrSZAejI/TjXyc8uNTrI/AAAAAAAADLY/-cYSHhY6ARE/s1600/bad-hands%255B1%255D.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635677087874240178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 226px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 172px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BztvrSZAejI/TjXyc8uNTrI/AAAAAAAADLY/-cYSHhY6ARE/s400/bad-hands%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><p>Yep. I've hurt my paws. No blogging. No knitting. No quilting. Mostly exercise, ice, and whining. But let's pretend that I'm working as a supermodel in Rome and I just don't have time for those things. </p><br /><p>I'll be back when this glamourous gig is over. </p>Desihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08539890122366180627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446996168250631355.post-78928277519994182532011-07-09T22:27:00.000-07:002011-07-09T23:02:49.839-07:00Santa's Back<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627595383910880690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 294px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZcpDj-tG7nA/Thk8L3Wi1bI/AAAAAAAADLQ/XhCH0ZG_aUE/s400/HPIM2754.JPG" border="0" />Ooh, does this look like some kinda creepy shadow to you? It does to me. But behind the darkness... <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627593239156071906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 306px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U8qx1SG2x2Y/Thk6PBhJneI/AAAAAAAADLA/HopTvi9Tzzs/s400/HPIM2753.JPG" border="0" />Santa Claus! Or rather, Avignon Santa. I glued the black felt on by spreading tacky glue over the cross-stitching on the back and setting it right on the felt. I let it dry overnight then carefully cut around it. <em>Yeah, that's gotta be the most complicated instructions ever....</em>Desihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08539890122366180627noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446996168250631355.post-79032870863263322812011-06-25T22:50:00.000-07:002011-06-25T23:11:08.987-07:00Finished... Well, almostWhile going through my grandmother's possessions (some years back), I discovered a cross-stitch sampler I had sewn for her and given, unframed. There it was, exactly as I had given it to her, in a drawer. Not on the wall, like the pieces I had framed for her, not sewn into a pillow, just carefully put away. This was an important lesson to me. It's not finished until it's finished. A quilt top is just a piece of fabric. An ornament without a hanger is just a bobble looking for a place to be. With this in mind, I show you the latest <em>progress</em> on these pieces.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622402300247196290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 372px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-flkM9RvnpA0/TgbJGnKSwoI/AAAAAAAADKg/ZMNS0rCoKyk/s400/HPIM2747.JPG" border="0" />For the longest time, the link to A Stitch in Time has gone to the "I got nothin'" page. Now I can show you. The embroidery is done and the photo has a minimum of fuzzy. It's tiny, so I intend to make this into a little Christmas tree ornament.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622402316745608738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 278px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FfUBTqkCGvY/TgbJHkn0jiI/AAAAAAAADK4/dAglg_8A4Kc/s400/HPIM2749.JPG" border="0" /><a href="http://gotoyourstudio.blogspot.com/search/label/Avignon%20Santa">Avignon Santa </a>is nearly done. He's been cut out from the perforated paper he was stitched onto and just needs his felt backing. I plan to glue him to the felt, then carefully cut around it. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622402308131652674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 287px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X7iB63TUmkI/TgbJHEiGBEI/AAAAAAAADKo/rSvhJlek7AA/s400/HPIM2746.JPG" border="0" /><a href="http://gotoyourstudio.blogspot.com/search/label/Bird%20of%20Love">A Bird of Love </a>is holding my attention more than I thought. I purchased a pattern that claimed to be filet cross-stitch. I thought it was more complicated in the original pattern, but this one just said, stitch it normally but with only one thread. A little disappointing, that. But certainly do-able. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622402313611197170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 248px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eLUnxZZ6d14/TgbJHY8hOvI/AAAAAAAADKw/v2ZlikRaRJw/s400/HPIM2750.JPG" border="0" />Finally, <a href="http://gotoyourstudio.blogspot.com/search/label/in%20a%20garden">In the Garden </a>just needs to be framed. Looking at it just transports me! I very sneakily signed it inside the terracotta planter. If you look carefully, you may see "desi 11".<br />PS: I <em>did</em> frame the sampler from Grandma's house, and it's hanging in my studio.Desihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08539890122366180627noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446996168250631355.post-35406368342232201512011-06-12T10:51:00.000-07:002011-06-12T11:04:35.071-07:00A Green SwanIt strikes me that I didn't show you the picture of the latest oopsy before I done fixed it. This is the danger of using the same symbol for different colors in the pattern. Twice in this pattern "x" is used, once for shell-grey, once for medium blue-green. I must assume that the original had it in blue for one of the colors. But I photocopied it in black and white. Dur.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617393224597852834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l-Lg8g__E64/TfT9YCPXUqI/AAAAAAAADKY/guNMgx8AlBE/s400/HPIM2717.JPG" border="0" /><br />Anyhoo, without careful reading, I stitched all, and I mean ALL, of the swan's detailing in green before I asked myself, "but what about the grey?" I had a choice then.<br /><br /><ol><br /><li>Toss the whole project</li><br /><li>Pull out the green and sew it in the correct color.</li><br /><li>Toss the fabric and start over with something new.</li></ol><br /><p>So I slept on it. My brain works better that way. I chose option #2. And I'm glad.</p><br /><p>Really? A Green Swan? How... modern.</p>Desihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08539890122366180627noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446996168250631355.post-25294441134969417552011-06-10T10:39:00.000-07:002011-06-10T14:12:02.277-07:00Pre-ThinkWhat do you do if you can't think? Use a <strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">plan</span></strong> already in place. Works for emergency workers, for the military, for teachers... For a crafter, that means kits, whether these kits are store-bought (or catalog-bought) or put together yourself out of the vague hope that you'll get to it <em>someday.</em> Well, turns out Someday is today. Yup. Not thinking. Or, shall I say, not thinking of the craft. (Such an erudite term, don't you think? <em>The Craft. </em>Unless you're thinking of the movie.<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115963/"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616694925206493490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 220px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 329px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mhz-WNexHUo/TfKCRqSsGTI/AAAAAAAADKI/6OCf8-HOHlE/s400/220px-The_craft_movie_poster%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" /></a>Not erudite. Not at all. But vaguely empowering. In a really bad girl kinda way.) <br /><div>So if you think I've been swanning around, having all kinds of fun at the expense of my <em>Craft</em>...<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616647905674369906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 291px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lj5gKiS8Z_w/TfJXgw4pm3I/AAAAAAAADJg/yRCh4BXAGl4/s400/HPIM2718.JPG" border="0" />you're kinda right. This is what I mean by Pre-Think: I put this kit together (xeroxed the pattern from a book I gave away years ago, got the floss and fabric from a store back in the olden days*: Willie's Needlework in Orange County, I think. The pattern is called "A Bird of Love" and google gave me nada about it. Also, it calls for "filet stitch"--something I can only guess at, as it's really a crochet term. Eh, I guess I can think a little. </div><br /><div>And this is totally a kit that's been sitting in my bin: <a href="http://www.123stitch.com/cgi-perl/itemdetail.pl?item=MH20-6302">Avignon Santa </a>Christmas ornament. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616647916733851602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 275px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mH1MxBspPbk/TfJXhaFb59I/AAAAAAAADJo/2EwHOfRTzLc/s400/HPIM2720.JPG" border="0" />Nice, huh? Came with everything but the scissors. You might notice that the beads are sewn on in two directions. I didn't originally start that way. But the red beads are 11/0 size and a litle wide around the belly for the perforated paper. So side by side they crowd each other, but stacking them hole-to-hole, they line up like French schoolgirls. (Like I'm the only one who read Madeline a hundred times.)<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616647926479287122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 339px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D7dY5qoVSis/TfJXh-Y7c1I/AAAAAAAADJw/LGxAkMDvMiw/s400/HPIM2721.JPG" border="0" />I swear I took a picture of the unruly crowding, but it was blurry and I didn't want to burden you with that.</div><br /><div>*Yes, 1989 is too olden days.</div>Desihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08539890122366180627noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446996168250631355.post-25542436888937166972011-05-13T09:39:00.000-07:002011-05-13T10:23:21.659-07:00Great Galumphing Grasshoppers!I really don't like it when bloggers or podcasters apologize for "being gone so long." I rarely notice it myself unless they point it out. So I'm not pointing it out. And you're not noticing. Are we clear on that?<br />As I am a working woman (I'm afraid to say <em>working girl</em> these days--my duties are extensive, but not <em>that</em> extensive), my time and energies are more limited. I find myself working mostly on projects that are<br /><br /><ol><br /><li>well-directed and don't involve much modification. For instance, I finished my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/threadbunny/hearts-and-flowers-socks-2">Smoke Flowers Socks</a>. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606245522096989778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 285px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dYS-kMCg4yU/Tc1imWQ3JlI/AAAAAAAADIc/iH0kEIaahw4/s400/HPIM2673.JPG" border="0" />The chart--pattern is <em>Hearts & Flowers" </em>by Wendy D. Johnson--is very easy to read. Not to mention that I'd already started these socks before THE JOB and was well under way. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606245527355299586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 360px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2IRXGrdAlxA/Tc1imp2ilwI/AAAAAAAADIk/HoGHBb37GGs/s400/HPIM2675.JPG" border="0" />I think they're so pretty! </li><br /><li>automatic. These purple-on-black Vanilla socks are always with me. The perfect thing to knit in the dark. (Not to fix in the dark--I need a really bright light for that!)<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606245530530341826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 338px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1Sq6NurxplQ/Tc1im1rh48I/AAAAAAAADIs/cFDOg-ZBq6k/s400/HPIM2713.JPG" border="0" />ooh, Purple Vanilla... or Violet Vanilla, or Black Vanilla... what do you think? I need a name for this project. I'll hold off calling it something until I get some input (That's your cue, Dude... Dudette... Dude-Being: click the respond button and tell me what you think I should call it.</li><br /><li>with friends. This is my Knit-in-Public evidence. The project is <em><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/threadbunny/viper-pilots">Callsign Required socks</a>.</em><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606245516977954946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 260px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8yBBEYcmeKU/Tc1imDMY4II/AAAAAAAADIU/hbbQHqCXcX0/s400/HPIM2669.JPG" border="0" />Even though I miss a lot of meetings these days. I'd like to schedule a different time of the week for an alternate knit meeting. If I can figure out a regular time...</li><br /><li>Fun & easy. More about that later. If you're good.</li></ol><br /><p>And no, there aren't any grasshoppers in the blog. But feel free to make yourself one.</p><br /><ul><br /><li><a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_2149814_frozen-grasshopper.html">Frozen Grasshopper</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://www.origamitube.com/play.php?vid=443">Palm Leaf Grasshopper</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fbe2vPp-Hw">Clothespin Grasshopper</a></li></ul>Desihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08539890122366180627noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446996168250631355.post-51933038269460041692011-02-28T21:25:00.000-08:002011-02-28T21:40:34.639-08:00Knittin KittenSo the only thing I've finished this month is really easy slippers. The pattern is <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/amy-marchs-slippers">Amy March Slippers</a>: a freebie from Tiny Owl Knits. And they used up some of the stranger balls in my <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YhGzBP240s0/TWyDt7FLK1I/AAAAAAAADHs/s3l6s_dL_bQ/s1600/HPIM2663.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578978863381949266" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YhGzBP240s0/TWyDt7FLK1I/AAAAAAAADHs/s3l6s_dL_bQ/s200/HPIM2663.JPG" border="0" /></a>stash. I'm counting 'em as socks on my 2011: the Madness list. I know they don't have cuffs and some people would say they're not socks but I made the list. I make the rules. So there.<br /><div><br />Comfy, cozy, smooshy, whooshy slippers! <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hQW2ctJmufc/TWyDte1A6dI/AAAAAAAADHc/7YQV7pJsDQs/s1600/HPIM2667.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578978855797975506" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hQW2ctJmufc/TWyDte1A6dI/AAAAAAAADHc/7YQV7pJsDQs/s200/HPIM2667.JPG" border="0" /></a>Yup, it's the perfect thing for a working woman to slip on at the end of the day. And who's that working woman? Yup. Me! I've actually had a paycheck. Seems unbelievable. I had kind of a ceremonial opening of the pay envelope. It was awesome. And my boss has used these words about me: <span style="font-size:180%;">wonderful</span> </div><div><div>and</div><div><span style="font-size:180%;">amazing</span>.</div><div>He's been trying to figure me out: why I work so hard and I'm so cheerful. Dur. I'm happy! <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xTCb_cjfw_g/TWyDs_4IxJI/AAAAAAAADHU/PFY3woOnEek/s1600/HPIM2668.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578978847489574034" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xTCb_cjfw_g/TWyDs_4IxJI/AAAAAAAADHU/PFY3woOnEek/s200/HPIM2668.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><ol><li>I like working with the public. </li><li>I like games.</li><li>I like being appreciated.</li></ol></div>Desihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08539890122366180627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446996168250631355.post-25733168533501807542011-02-04T20:46:00.000-08:002011-02-04T21:07:30.623-08:00How Many Socks Make a Pair?<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-sWIFYTpY6s/TUzXiIo_RtI/AAAAAAAADHM/ZGNj-w16x4E/s1600/GameEmpire%255B1%255D.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570063820585387730" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-sWIFYTpY6s/TUzXiIo_RtI/AAAAAAAADHM/ZGNj-w16x4E/s200/GameEmpire%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" /></a>Guess who got a job! A real-life, paying job! With a pay check! And a schedule! And a boss! You got it right--Me! After being the lady of the manor for almost two decades, I've returned to the work place. (And loving it!)<br />Which is why I haven't been blogging that much or knitting that much or quilting that much or really, much of anything besides learning, absorbing, thinking, counting, redisplaying, cleaning and then when I get home: zombie. Not the brain-eating rotting-right-before-your-eyes kinda zombie, more the sit down and stare blankly kinda zombie.<br />But since you've been so patient and read so far, let me show you the Rockin' Pixie socks in progress. Notice anything strange? <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570062718558893794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-sWIFYTpY6s/TUzWh_RZduI/AAAAAAAADHE/EUwywxbd7qU/s400/HPIM2659.JPG" border="0" />Does one look a little <em>smaller</em> than the other? Yeah, it turns out that when knitting, there's this thing called guage.<br /><blockquote>Guage (n) the number of stitches per inch in a sample of knitting with one type<br />of yarn, a particular needle, and a particular knitter. Note that the knitter's<br />guage can change with experience, mood, temperature, chocolate, and massage. It<br />is recommended for almost any pattern that the knitter "get guage" before<br />beginning. But most of us just skip it.</blockquote>Sideways socks do not respond well to "skipping it". Instead of just stretching a bit around the leg (if knit too small) or being slightly fluffy (if knit too big), the sock is just too long. And not, oh-I-can-fudge-it too long, like 2-3 <em>inches</em> too long.<br />So I'm having to make <em>three</em> socks. So the answer to our question is three. Three socks make a pair. <em>sigh</em>Desihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08539890122366180627noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446996168250631355.post-37169883584155371792011-01-29T11:16:00.000-08:002011-01-29T11:59:53.605-08:00Glue Diva with Sticky Fingers<div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-sWIFYTpY6s/TURvl2ig3eI/AAAAAAAADGw/KNzUGYjkHsI/s1600/HPIM2654.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567697735422893538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-sWIFYTpY6s/TURvl2ig3eI/AAAAAAAADGw/KNzUGYjkHsI/s400/HPIM2654.JPG" border="0" /></a>When Tiny came into the bathroom, this is what she saw. What can I say? Occasionally, mah jongg tiles need a good wash. Especially if you've played on a table in public use. It didn't take much, just a soak, once-over with the sponge, and drying. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567689948375612626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-sWIFYTpY6s/TURoglhw_NI/AAAAAAAADGI/KuaFX8qxrR8/s400/HPIM2655.JPG" border="0" />The real work came with glue and clothespins. Rubber bands, too. The inserts in my case had come a little loose. Not horrifying or anything, but the heat in the car probably cooked the glue a little more than needed.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567689952354986482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-sWIFYTpY6s/TURog0WhafI/AAAAAAAADGQ/0pU4ymepA6U/s400/HPIM2656.JPG" border="0" />I'm kind of a glue diva. I have Krazy Glue, Elmer's Glue, hot glue, Gorilla Glue, School Glue, Paper Glue, Watch Cement, Epoxy--I've even <em>made</em> glue out of rice flour. So, when something gets broken, I go to town! Not a perfect record by any means, but sticky fingers are not uncommon around here.<br /><br /><p>I broke into Tiny's sock drawer and finally got pix of the Slayer Sox I finished, what? Four months ago? (She loves 'em, by the way, and wants more. Nice to be appreciated.)<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567690445336238482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-sWIFYTpY6s/TURo9g2aWZI/AAAAAAAADGg/_taopWRed3A/s400/HPIM2644.JPG" border="0" /></p>I thought about putting this pic up for her socks, but her feet are just a little too big for booties now. The pattern is Elegant Snowballs Booties from the 2010 Knitting Pattern Calendar. (Hey, got another project down from my <strong><span style="color:#000099;">2011: the Madness</span></strong> over on the right there.)<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567690450892677234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-sWIFYTpY6s/TURo91jK4HI/AAAAAAAADGo/RBeNOC3jWqQ/s400/HPIM2653.JPG" border="0" />Speaking of which, one charity project down: I'm calling the her the Sugar Plum Bear-ie. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567699340899015602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-sWIFYTpY6s/TURxDTZ2W7I/AAAAAAAADG4/UhL2LKttE-s/s400/HPIM2661a.JPG" border="0" />I'll be sending her off to <a href="http://www.motherbearproject.org/">The Mother Bear Project </a>in February. It's a really cool organization and... <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/cogknitive/933903/1-25">CogKNITive</a> and <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/the-manic-purl-podcast/1492434/1-25#13">The Manic Purl </a>are both randomly giving away prizes for Mother Bear Knitters! One entry per bear. Deadline: Feb 20. Look into it! </div><div>Oh, yeah, this bear is modeling on top of a new apron I made. Pretty basic apron, but the fabric is groovalicious, in my not-so-humble opinion.</div>Desihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08539890122366180627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446996168250631355.post-63625662628061847822011-01-17T17:06:00.000-08:002011-01-17T19:43:27.109-08:00Setting CornerstonesQ: What is a cornerstone? <div><div><div>A: Well, aside from architectural definitions--which won't be helpful since we're talking about a quilt, here--a cornerstone is that little blob of fabric that goes in borders and in sashing where two strips of fabric meet. Or don't really meet, because the cornerstone is there instead. Dur.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563331930150045730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-sWIFYTpY6s/TTTs6iguiCI/AAAAAAAADFo/sNshOqt2K8k/s400/HPIM2640.JPG" border="0" /></div><div>In this quilt, the cornerstone is the little square with the lightening bolt on it.</div><div>Q: Why do you use cornerstones?</div><div>A: 1. it looks cool, 2. sometimes fabric won't look nice butted up against itself, like the stripe in our example, 3. you don't have quite enough fabric (2" short is still 2" short).</div><div></div><div>Q: Enough with the Qs & As already. Show me how it's done!</div><ol><li>Measure the width of your unfinished quilt. (We'll call it the <em>medallion</em> to cut down on confusion.) Measure the height. Cut your border fabric strips. Mine were 2.5". Cut the strips to the exact width and height of your medallion. Pin and sew the width strips to your medallion.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563331911630679954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-sWIFYTpY6s/TTTs5dhXb5I/AAAAAAAADFI/IF8ZoubaC9E/s400/HPIM2636.JPG" border="0" /></li><li>Cut 4 cornerstones, the same as the width of the border strips. (2.5" here.) Pin and sew them to the ends of your height border strips.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563331913227442498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-sWIFYTpY6s/TTTs5jeEGUI/AAAAAAAADFQ/5hghxaUKqnk/s400/HPIM2637.JPG" border="0" /></li><li>Pin and sew the height border strips to the medallion, being careful to match up the cornerstone seams to the seams between the width strip and the medallion.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563331924687136482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-sWIFYTpY6s/TTTs6OKRJuI/AAAAAAAADFY/27MOjwll6TQ/s400/HPIM2638.JPG" border="0" /></li><li>Add another border if you like. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563331928935465906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-sWIFYTpY6s/TTTs6d_Jg7I/AAAAAAAADFg/BvYQ-SSevE4/s400/HPIM2639.JPG" border="0" />Hey! You've got quilt!</li></ol></div></div>Desihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08539890122366180627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446996168250631355.post-45405514506314832992011-01-16T19:57:00.000-08:002011-01-16T20:06:30.863-08:00Charge!<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-sWIFYTpY6s/TTO-bCTYFyI/AAAAAAAADEw/cUFsNzhvKis/s1600/HPIM2627.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562999336416581410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-sWIFYTpY6s/TTO-bCTYFyI/AAAAAAAADEw/cUFsNzhvKis/s400/HPIM2627.JPG" border="0" /></a>Prayer quilt for Tim. I was working on the houglass components and ran into a little trouble. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562999343978895314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-sWIFYTpY6s/TTO-beeX19I/AAAAAAAADE4/r3UK3i1LGEA/s400/HPIM2628.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br />Tip of the day: when trimming, BE CAREFUL. I'm really not sure how I managed this, but I think it wouldn't have happened if I had followed that advice. Probably.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562999349534351602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-sWIFYTpY6s/TTO-bzK5YPI/AAAAAAAADFA/fxXpbG0L3nQ/s400/HPIM2629.JPG" border="0" />There was enough fabric to make up for my little gaff. The medallion is now completed and I've got the borders started. Tomrrow should see progress.Desihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08539890122366180627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446996168250631355.post-64657915605020578842011-01-13T12:44:00.000-08:002011-01-13T12:52:09.312-08:00Any Guesses?<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561774394644345634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-sWIFYTpY6s/TS9kWCmjsyI/AAAAAAAADEg/381LhehFuIE/s400/HPIM2614.JPG" border="0" />What would you guess this project is? The yarn is fingering weight, and the needle size is 2. And yes, it looks this weird in person.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561774404052093426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-sWIFYTpY6s/TS9kWlpiifI/AAAAAAAADEo/DNvIx00qNhg/s400/HPIM2615.JPG" border="0" /><br />It's... socks. Okay, it's a sock. It's knitted not from the cuff down, not from the toe up, but <em>sideways</em> around the leg and foot. The pattern is called "Pixie" from <a href="http://www.rustlingleafpress.com/enchanted.html"><em>The Enchanted Sole</em> </a>by Janel Laidman. As far as I can tell, the pattern is written perfectly. I haven't run into any problems yet. It's just... weird. Nice and all, but weird. Kinda like a blogger you might know...Desihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08539890122366180627noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446996168250631355.post-19664032898978201122011-01-11T07:00:00.000-08:002011-01-11T07:52:06.402-08:002011, Here I Come!I was looking for a gadget that I could use to keep track of my progress on my 2011 goals. TickerFactory seemed great, but I could only get it to configure one ticker. Boo. So I guess I'll have to just do it by hand. (Until genius strikes... and that could be a while.) I'll just put the text into my sidebar. But first, I'll run it by you:<br /><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Knitting</strong></span><br /><strong>Socks</strong>: Make 12 pairs (1 down as of yesterday!) That means there should be one pair/month. I can probably do that, seeing as I have four pairs already started.<br /><strong>Baby Booties</strong>: Make 6 pairs (They keep getting born!)<br /><strong>Sweater</strong>: Make 1 for me (I know, I should have made a sweater for myself long ago. Wipe that smug look off your face, you experienced sweater-knitters and send me some good mojo!)<br /><strong>Gloves</strong>: Make 3 pairs (I just want more gloves!)<br /><strong>Hats</strong>: Make 1 (I figure I will anyway, so if I put it in the list, it looks like I planned it.)<br /><strong>Charity</strong>: Make 2 projects (Bears, hats, whatever...)<br /><strong>New First Cousin, Once Removed, on the Way</strong>: make something. (Consult with first cousin)</div><div align="left"><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Quilting</strong></span><br /><strong>Non-charity quilts</strong>: Complete 6 (Somehow it's just easier to make them for someone else.)<br /><strong>Charity tops</strong>: Make 12 (Tops are what they want.)</div><div align="left"><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Sewing</span></strong><br /><strong>Morsbags</strong>: Make 30 (and give them out--Earth Day is April 22)<br /><strong>Zipper bags</strong>: Make 30 (sci-fi/fantasy theme will be fun!)</div><div align="left"><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Hand-Sewing<br /></span>Cross-stitch projects</strong>: Complete 6 (any size)</div><div align="left"><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Beadwork</strong><br /></span>"<strong>Involved" projects</strong>: Complete 1<br /><strong>Earrings</strong>: Make 20 pairs for sale </div><div align="left"><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Reading</span></strong> (Actual books, audio doesn't count.)<br /><strong>S&SF/Asimov mags</strong>: read 12 (That's only one/month and the backlog of unread 'zines is embarrassing.)<br /><strong>Non-fiction Books</strong>: read 4 (What? Only four? Yeah. Probably the ones on last year's book list.)<br /><strong>Classic Literature</strong>: read 4 (So here's the funny bit: the Bible is composed of 66 books. Some of them are really short. And they count as Classic Literature. Heh.)<br /><strong>Other Books</strong>: read 12 (That's right. Any old trash I want! Or if I decide to read 16 works of classic literature, they can count here. What? It could happen.)</div><div align="left"><br />Phew! So, you think I can do it? Of course, I'll probably wind up adding to the list... </div>Desihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08539890122366180627noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446996168250631355.post-79569049984182608942011-01-10T21:40:00.001-08:002011-01-10T21:56:27.316-08:00Which is Which?<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560799443285226194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-sWIFYTpY6s/TSvtoZw0stI/AAAAAAAADDg/nihJZPSmCeg/s400/26132619.JPG" border="0" /> The Wicked Traveler Socks are done! Hurrah! The weirdest part was finding the right buttons for 'em. But somehow in my stash of items there was a sample card from a button company. Look in the top left corner. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560800582391936114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-sWIFYTpY6s/TSvuqtRBtHI/AAAAAAAADD4/iJ5E8vqqrak/s400/HPIM2625a.JPG" border="0" />See the date? <em>Probably not. It's really small in the photo, Desi. </em>Well, it says "July 1954." That means these buttons have been out of circulation for over 50 years! Well, welcome back. I'm not sure how you fell into my hot little hands, but my socks are the better for it. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560802283221381282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-sWIFYTpY6s/TSvwNtWXcKI/AAAAAAAADEA/rr6gc0tJL14/s400/HPIM2626.JPG" border="0" />And nope. There's only one button of each style so they don't <em>exactly </em>match, but I think they're close enough. And durned purty, if I do say so myself! Can you guess which one's from the card and which one came out of my sewing box?Desihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08539890122366180627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446996168250631355.post-3085980815647063102011-01-06T16:39:00.000-08:002011-01-06T16:53:18.939-08:00Wha Happa?<div><div><div>That's "What happened?" as heard by most dentists. Go ahead. Open your mouth wide, stick at least four fingers in, and try to say it. If you can understand it, you're probably in the dental profession. (Free-Range, I'm talking to you!)<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559238218146514194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-sWIFYTpY6s/TSZhtI5mBRI/AAAAAAAADDI/HZQBGYsaFUM/s400/HPIM2607.JPG" border="0" /></div><div>Anyway, my thoughts were that I would probably put down the knitting needles and pick up something else once I had completed the long, long shrug for Tiny. Nope! I yanked this ball of yummyness (That's a word. Look it up.) out of the stash and started on <a href="http://wendyknits.net/">Wendy D. Johnson's Hearts and Flowers Toe-Up Sock</a>. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559238224651429378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-sWIFYTpY6s/TSZhthIfJgI/AAAAAAAADDQ/66vg7hz6-P4/s400/HPIM2610.JPG" border="0" />I could barely stop myself to eat. It's wonderful! Perhaps it's because I don't <em>have</em> to do it. There's no assignment, no deadline, nobody but me waiting for 'em. But that's not like me. I do well with assignments, deadlines, people waiting... Hmm, maybe I'm possessed. That'd be cool. Possessed by a ghost that knits socks. So I've been working on this for just three days and I've already completed the heel! </div><div>Or perhaps.... <em>somebody else</em> has been working on this for just three days and already completed the heel.... Ooooweeeooooohhhh...</div></div></div>Desihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08539890122366180627noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446996168250631355.post-23932869932443283742011-01-02T17:32:00.000-08:002011-01-03T11:09:30.386-08:00What I Did for My Christmas VacationThis. Mostly. On Christmas Eve, I finally gave up and wrapped the unfinished project, needles and all. I think most people would be perplexed if they opened a gift with knitting needles still in it. But when Tiny opened it up, she totally got it. Her eyes lit up: she was excited! Now that kid is soooo knitworthy!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557767002869263650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-sWIFYTpY6s/TSEnpI5o7SI/AAAAAAAADC4/gwDLJgJpxro/s400/HPIM2599.JPG" border="0" /><br />After Christmas, I went nuts getting ready for our annual New Year's Eve Game Night, cooking and cleaning. Mostly cleaning. Here's how I made it work: I made these lists based on each room and taped 'em down on my desk. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557766983146508066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-sWIFYTpY6s/TSEnn_bXjyI/AAAAAAAADCg/pcMvZQ9tcO8/s400/HPIM2595.JPG" border="0" />Lists tend to get lost... especially if it's stuff I don't really enjoy. Tape keeps it findable.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557766977125457074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-sWIFYTpY6s/TSEnno_1nLI/AAAAAAAADCY/eGE7jLaJ1ZQ/s400/HPIM2594.JPG" border="0" /> <div>It worked! The house was tidy by the time 2011 came roaring--and honking and shouting--in.</div><div>And New Year's Day saw that shrug finished:<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558034986404445234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-sWIFYTpY6s/TSIbX1XUfDI/AAAAAAAADDA/H17uv6GfGJM/s400/HPIM2602.JPG" border="0" /></div>Desihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08539890122366180627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446996168250631355.post-41398152540519407222010-12-21T00:38:00.000-08:002010-12-21T20:33:24.731-08:00A Shrug for Her ShouldersI have been monogamous to one knitting project--virtually one project alone for about two weeks. It's making me nuts! Not that I don't like it: I think it's lovely. But one project? <div><div><div>Of course, I couldn't stand it. I finally broke last night. I've had this package of charms sitting on my desk staring at me, daring me to do something. When I blinked first, I was forced to make them into stitch markers, using the first tool to hand, namely fingernails. Yup, I just slid my nail into the jump ring, slipped in the charm, nail out, worked the charm around, and voila! <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553311078630550898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-sWIFYTpY6s/TRFTANkD7XI/AAAAAAAADCE/DoMQba__DPs/s400/HPIM2583.JPG" border="0" />It's not my fault. And on to the monotonous--er, monogamous--knitting. <div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553311057760852466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-sWIFYTpY6s/TRFS-_0VmfI/AAAAAAAADBs/coQtIRfdFPA/s400/HPIM2518.JPG" border="0" /><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sidhe-shrug">Sidhe (pronounced "she") Lace Shrug</a> from <a href="http://www.vampireknits.com/">Vampire Knits </a></div><div> </div><div>It's for Tiny's Christmas gift. Foolishly, I imagined that I could make this little beauty from stashed yarn: a size <strong>large</strong> shrug from a <strong>single skein</strong> of sock yarn. 400 measly yards. Enough to make a pair of women's socks. One pair. A shrug is like two <strong>long</strong> socks (sleeves, actually) connected by a long flat bit to go across the back. So it's more like <strong>three long socks</strong>. That's a lot of yarn!</div><div>So, easy solution, right? Just go back to where I got that gorgeous yarn in the first place. <em>sigh</em> </div><div>No, this yarn was part of the Jane Austen Yarn Club from last year. It's the Northanger Abbey colorway. Even the dyer didn't have any left... and doesn't remember how she made it. I asked. I asked other members, but no luck. They'd either used it, lost it, or had plans for it.<br />So I did the next best thing: I went into <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/knitting-in-la-jolla-la-jolla">Knitting in La Jolla </a>with my project in hand and asked to see the sock yarn. I told her I knew she couldn't match it, but maybe we could find something that would look nice. I mean, I may be a doofus, but I'm not an idiot. Wait. That didn't sound good. But we had success: a nice plain purple <a href="http://search.yarn.com/search?w=cascade+sock">sock yarn from Cascade</a>. It's working in well, I think. </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553311067596307778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-sWIFYTpY6s/TRFS_kdSvUI/AAAAAAAADB8/yDC8NItvA1U/s400/HPIM2581.JPG" border="0" />First I knit it every other row with the new yarn, then two rows on and two rows off. Then four-two, then six-two... then I ran out. So just Cascade for the rest.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553311081626481410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-sWIFYTpY6s/TRFTAYuWMwI/AAAAAAAADCM/PIlsJN1myLc/s400/HPIM2587.JPG" border="0" /></div></div></div><br />This is how it currently stands. Ooh, I hope I can get it done by Christmas morning. The <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.yarnharlot.ca/">Yarn Harlot </a>knit a whole sock in a day. Maybe I can borrow her helper monkeys...Desihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08539890122366180627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446996168250631355.post-83623172104256061602010-12-20T17:27:00.000-08:002010-12-21T00:38:18.039-08:00No notes<div>Bugs! I usually have a few sticky notes hanging around to tell me what to blog about--not orders, you understand, but suggestions. And all I can find is my TV watching list, a couple things I want to buy from Knit Picks, and a note about vitamins. Also something about emptying the shredder before it explodes. Eh. It could take a few more bank receipts.<br /><div><div><div>Oh, I know. I'll check my photo uploads. December, December... ew, it's organized by days of the week. Sunday, nope. Monday, ahhhh!</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552942814348951634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-sWIFYTpY6s/TRAEEaNTwFI/AAAAAAAADBM/WMpfj3seJTE/s400/HPIM2571.JPG" border="0" />Here's the Bleaf Lace Scarf on my sweet aunt as it's being stolen by her granddaughter. That kid's got good taste! I'm told she still wears the red sweater I made her last year.</div></div></div>Desihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08539890122366180627noreply@blogger.com0