Many rocks later.....

Well the painted rock craze has bit me but bad......these rocks will go to my GPs office where they give them out with a card I made that says

Just for You

You are braver and stronger than you think----

You Rock!

They are given to patients who are having an especially difficult time.

I do enjoy painting them and am considering making some for my patio for the perimeter of the pea gravel area.  Just have to make sure they'd be weather proof.  I am still making the crochet-covered rocks, but these are a fun medium to work with, too.

Calling all River Rocks

I am in desperate need of river rocks.  I want to start working on my covered rocks again; of course I didn't save any. ha ha ha

The genius of this crocheting is that you only have to do a small doily----the back is pulled up snugly (by running a thread through the last row of crocheted loops) and voila, your rock is done!
As usual I didn't use a pattern, nor write one, as each rock is so unique the crocheting sort of did itself.

The rocks I used were from the Dollar Store, but now the rocks they sell are quite a bit smaller.  I do want to do larger rocks, true river rocks---but health issues prohibit the adventures of my youth, so I will be crying "River Rocks" in the streets.  Nothing surprises anyone around here anymore, regarding what to expect from me next.....

Update 5/6/19
Thanks to a knitting buddy I found a local landscaping business where I can get the rocks I need.  Each is 25 cents.  I'm a happy crocheter now!!

cracking up

I live in a very small and quaint town.  Population just below 7,000.  Same as ten years ago.

Someone(s) on the town counsel had a struck-by-lightning idea a few years back.  Since we are on the Heritage Trail, and on an interstate highway, we get a lot of visitors.  So here comes the idea.

I sure wasn't ready for it.

Year one-----there were statues placed all around town (at least 20?)….remember, we are a small town....statues that were in the form of something that makes us famous during our fall festival....anyway, these statues were then painted to represent local businesses or interests.

I can't tell you how painfully tacky I found them.  Only a few were painted in a classy fashion yet I could never wrap my brain around the idea of the statues to begin with.  And I daren't make any comments in public; I never knew who might be on the town counsel.

Year two----it got worse.  The original statues were removed (and I breathed a premature sigh of relief).  But now came the scarey part-----casts of real people were placed all around town.  One was a woman sitting at a bench, seemingly taking photos of the town.  Another two were coming out of a local coffee hangout----each time I drove by and saw them I did a double-take because I was afraid they might not be paying attention and might walk into traffic.   Grrrrr.

Year three-----how happy I was to see those creepy, life-like and life-size statues go.  I hope that's it, I said to myself.

But.
No.

Now we have these random "works of art" I'll call them for a lack of a better term.  They are so bizarre because they have nothing to tie each one to the other or represent our town with any type of theme.  I can't even bear to write about them as my blood might begin to boil.
Except------near a dentist's office is a large work that from a distance looks to be made of glass tiles.
I was walking in town a few days ago and had to stop by it to wait for the light to change.
I looked closely and laughed my head off.  See below.  Mind you, this is near the dentist's office.

The laugh's on me. And I don't even mind.

old friends

These are snowbabies.  They are porcelain figurines (or tree ornaments) made by Elaine at BrierRose.  I did porcelain work in the late 80s and did over 100 snowbabies that were from the same molds and were painted (by me) almost exactly like Elaine's.

I didn't keep even one.  I have been kicking myself for decades about that.  I sold them in sets or gave them as gifts.  Imagine my delight when I found them again on Elaine's website.

Give her site a perusal; her work is the best I have found.
www.brierrose.com

winter break

I'm in a bit of a lull-----can't land on a project though several are staring me in the face.

I did finish a third pair of fingerless gloves; they haven't been sewn up yet.  My hands have been freezing this winter, so much so that I have to wear the gloves while I sleep.

Here are pics of the two that are sewn up..... both have been knitted in sock weight wool.  I am surprised by how cozy they are for their weight.  They wash up by hand beautifully.
I hope to put the pattern here in the next few weeks.

Paton's Kroy yarn

Paton's Kroy yarn

Purse overload warning

I'm finally ready to download pics of the purses.  Even now I have four more prints that I will hopefully sew over the weekend.  They have been fun and were jumpstarted by the elephant purse, my prototype and favorite.  It makes me happy to look at it which is strange since I'm not generally  fond of whimsy.
The purses are cut 13" by 8.75".  The handle is 42" long.  The side/bottom gussets are 2".  It's small enough to not hurt my shoulder but large enough to carry the essentials.  In fact there is nothing else I wish I could fit in.
Here goes!

Purse 1

Elephants, fabric from local sewing center

Purse2

Fabric from Lolly's in Shipshewana

This is an 1895 reproduction fabric

Purse 3

Fabric from local sewing center

Purse 4

Fabric from local sewing center

Purse 5

Fabric from WalMart

Purse 6

Fabric from Lolly's in Shipshewana

Another 1895 reproduction fabric

Purse 7

Fabric from local sewing center

Purse 8

Fabric from Yoder's in Shipshewana

Purse 9

Fabric from WalMart

Purse 10

Fabric from local sewing center

Purse 11

Fabric from local sewing center

Purse 12

Fabric gifted to me....as a large scrap

Purse 13

Fabric from Yoder's in Shipshewana

Purse 14

Fabric gifted to me as a large scrap

Purse 15

Fabric from Yoder's in Shipshewana

Purse 16

Outside fabric from JoAnn Fabrics,

inner fabric (and strap) from local fabric store

Record-breaking

It's been a long time-----like all other ventures I need to be in the mood for blogging.  Today the temp was close to -50 (wind chill) and I am now coming out of my thaw; tho the internal temp is close to 70, asthma has kept me from doing much.

I have been sewing small purses the past few weeks.  I've been collecting fabric for this for a few years.  Some of the fabric was gifted to me as large scraps from a quilter.  I've had my usual insane-fun and will be posting the pics in awhile.

Here are other things I have been working on since the last post:

Embroidered grilling towels for my surgeon for Christmas

These gnomes are some of the 60+ I've done for Christmas 2019.  I began them over Christmas 2018. I just have to move when the mood strikes.  Knitting the little caps was the best.  The gnomes are 2 1/2" tall.

  

Crocheted owl keychains....made with DMC embroidery thread.  I was gifted a box of thread several years ago.  The gifter bought a few gallon bags worth at a garage sale.  I love trying to use it all.

 This is Olaf Scandanavian, made of wool sport wt. Wool of the Andes (Knit Picks).  He is the third I have knitted in 30 years.  He has a wife on the needles.

 My wool socks are drying; I have established a way to utilize the washing machine with no agitation and can get all pairs washed and hung within 30 minutes.  This is not all my pairs; these were the ones that were laundered.

This knitting bag has an amazing story.  The outside fabric is a linen kitchen towel I found at a thrift store.  I suspect it is decades old.  In fact, I had to cut off the edges as they were moldy.  At the bottom it says "Made by Linen Union" and the other edge says "Made in Ireland."  Having some Irish roots, as well as being interested in Aran knitting stitches, I was more than thrilled to pay 15 cents for it.

The inside fabric is a woven kitchen towel (as opposed to having the ink just printed on it)….it was much more pricey with a tag of 50 cents.  Into the cart it went.

 This is the back side of the knitting bag.

Front side of the bag.  A bit of history is given; also, the stitches are illustrated and explained.

 A closer look at Olaf.

 These 3" socks were knitted by me to give me some sort of door decoration.  I had the bunting hanging on the front door over the holiday season.  It made me happy to look at it.

These 2 1/2" gals are painted on wooden doll pegs.  I get a hankering to paint every 5-8 years.  Astonished that my paints last so long!  I daren't toss them cuz I might want to paint again....they were made for a nurse's 4 yr. old daughter.  Very well-received.

I think the water bottle brand is Fashy.  It is German and really holds heat.  I thought a wool cover might be useful...once again wool showed its superpowers.  Never scoff at a water bottle sweater.

I wanted to come up with a warm chemo cap for the local cancer center.

Knitting is my favorite but crocheting felts nicely, too.  It also goes faster than knitting.

The above photo is how large I must make each hat since felting wool shrinks it considerable.  That's the idea because a dense wool fabric is warm and somewhat waterproof.  I can't wait to see how they are received...

Double-brimmed they sure warm the head!

LED nativity scene

Here is the nativity I bought today.  It is "olde world" and I can't tell you how much I like it.

Here it is in motion:

Bear with me....

...new computer; have to figure out where all the pics are that I want to post.

Been busy and hope to share some pics/posts soon!

Hot off the needles

No, I didn't knit these uber-quickly; they have been on their needles for weeks and have just been completed.  I usually knit socks then go back and put in the heels.
Lots of learning curves with striping......on to another pair.

 

 

My first self-dyed Christmas socks

Getting ready for fall

Here is the pair of autumn stripes I finished the other day.  I hope they stay colorfast.  I used food dyes.

Knit Picks

     This is a great shout-out to Kamber at Knit Picks.  I just got off the phone with her, asking tons of questions about acid dyes for dyeing my yarns.  Most of my natural yarn comes from Knit Picks because a) the price is right and b) no one can beat how soft the Bare Stroll is.....the more washed the socks are the more like cashmere they feel.  (Hand-washing advocate here.)
     Kamber, your help was invaluable and I will take your advice.  Thanks for all of your suggestions.

Sneak Peak

Okay, okay----those who know me well know I CANNOT keep a secret, when I am making something for someone.  I'm just too excited.  (I can keep other secrets.)

Here are two sock sets I've dyed.  

Success!  Self-striping knitting is such a blast.

 

This is what the mill looks like with 100 grams of wool----462 yds. of this brand.

The mill rotates smoothly like a windmill---mesmerizing and addicting.  It puts me in "the zone" and unfortunately only takes 30 minutes.

Each color of striping takes about five yards of warp (for lack of a better term)....the knitmath is fascinating and is best left to daylight hours.

 

Tying it off at intervals----still tangles threaten once the wool is wet.  Courage!

Tying takes upwards of a few hours if you add more ties (which I am prone to do).

You have to learn to like each stage of the process or you'll be miserable.

Don't ask how I know.  :)

 

I remember my weaving days.....when I dress the mill there are 20 yards in circumference....loosely chained, as above, it is only 2 yds, which makes it easy to store for future dyeing.

Hot dog, a very happy dyer here.

 

My autumn stripes.  I'm not into tonal---I like my stripes fully saturated.  Still, it is knitting up to be a lovely pair of socks.