"Properly practiced, knitting soothes the troubled spirit, and it doesn't hurt the untroubled spirit either." ~ Elizabeth Zimmerman

6/30/13

Doll Jewelry Debut

For the first time, I have made doll jewelry. It's not much. Just some strung beads, but I'm rather proud of it. I used glass seed beads and tiny fresh water pearls.



I made a necklace



and matching bracelet. I used stretchy beading thread for the bracelet. It's the first time I've used it. It's very streeeeeeeetchy!



It really dresses up the knit teal outfit.



I've added the outfit and jewelry to the slippers for the prize package I'm donating for the July Bingo game in the ImaginingEllowyneWilde Yahoo group.

Weather update. It was predicted to be hot and sunny yesterday. It was hot, but not sunny. It rained, and thundered, and lighteninged, and was a very wet day. Not one for doing anything outdoors. Today looks like it's going to be dryer. Sunshine, blue sky, and it's hot and muggy.

Sweet Hubby is away for a night. Ruth and I planned to go to a movie while he is gone, but there wasn't one playing that we wanted to see. Bummer. But we went out to dinner anyway. Went to Wah Hings in Rathdrum. It's our favorite Chinese restaurant.

Live long and prosper. \\//

6/27/13

Simple Woman's Daybook for June 27, 2013




Outside my window... Sunshine! Mixed with grey clouds and blue sky. It's very humid too.

I am thinking... about how tired I feel this morning. I woke up several times during the night, thanks to aches and pains.

I am thankful... for flowers. They add so much beauty to the world. I was thinking the other day about how I wish I had more blooming plants in my yard, and then I noticed all the wild flowers growing around the wild borders of the lawn. I have plenty of flowers in my yard.

In the kitchen... dishes need to be done. That is Ruth's job. She's not home at the moment because she's taking care of my brother-in-laws dog, Tripper while they are on vacation. She goes over to their house 3 times a day to check on him, play with him, and to give their cat some much needed luvins.

I am wearing... faded black jeans and a bright pink blouse with lace yoke and sleeves. I feel the need for wearing bright colors of late because the weather has been so gray for so long.

I am creating... another pair of fingerless mitts for Knitwits. This time I'm using a periwinkle blue leftover ball of Patons Canadiana from some really old stash.

I am going... to Yarnies today. I need to pop into the bead store in Coeur d'Alene too for some stretchy beading thread.

I am wondering... if maybe I should drop into Michaels and see what they have in stretchy beading thread?

I am reading... all the time. I read stuff on the internet, I read books, I read magazines. I love reading.

I am hoping... Sweet Hubby's bike will be returned all fixed and good today. I'm hoping it stays fixed for awhile. It seems like it breaks down every week. Last week the gears needed replacing. Then on Saturday when he went for a ride the rear wheel rim split. This is the third time it has split. I'm tired of this bike breaking all the time. You'd think a bike that costs thousands of dollars would be better made than this.

I am looking forward to... Yarnies. I have such a good time with them.

I am learning... something every day.

Around the house... yarn. Yarn yarn everywhere! Who's responsible for this?!?

I am pondering...how to set up the web site for our little online doll clothing business. It's kind of hard to do.

A favorite quote for today... "I'm not dead yet." ~ Monty Python.

One of my favorite things... cake. I don't get enough of it! My husbands family are not cake people. They are pie people. I discovered Tuesday that Super1Foods has single size servings of  cake available in the bakery. There will be more cake in my life.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Well, lets see. Yarnies today. I'm home tomorrow, and don't have much in the way of plans for the weekend because Sweet Hubby is going to be gone. He's going on a bike ride with a bunch of friends. I'll probably weed the garden, knit, and bead this weekend. That sounds fun (except the weeding). Maybe Ruth and I will go see a movie. Yeah! That is a good idea.

A photo to share...

Peony red




If you want to join the Simple Womans Daybook, click here.

Live long and prosper. \\//

6/26/13

Hurray for Rainbows!

It's a Rainbow day! Yes, I'm pleased with today's rulings from the Supreme Court. Hurray!




Instead of a WIP Wednesday post today, I'm doing a FO post. I've got 2 projects finished. First is the aqua and brown mens mittens I've made for Knitwits.


Aqua and Brown Mens Mittens

Pattern: Seed Stitch Stripe Mens Mittens by me, made for Knitwits.

Yarn: Soft by Red Heart
Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight
Color: Aquas/Browns

Needles: Addi Turbo Circular size 6

Cast on: June 6, 2013
Completed: June 25, 2013

Comments: Of course, I changed some things in this pattern. No seed stitch, and I added an inch in the length. I really love this yarn. It's very soft and nice to work with.




I have knit another pair of slippers for the 16 inch Ellowyne Wilde doll.



Pale Pink Doll Slippers

Pattern: Wovenflame's Doll Slippers

Yarn: Unknown Acrylic
Content: 100% Acrylic, fingering weight

Needles: Addi Turbo Circular size 3

Cast on: June 25, 2013
Completed: June 25, 2013

Comments: An easy peasy knit. I'm in the Imagining Ellowyne Wilde Yahoo group. We're having a Bingo game in July. I'm donating these for one of the prizes.

One of my Peonies is blooming. It only had 2 flowers this year. I want to share them with you.



The rain continues. It's warm rain. I'm glad of that. Still, I am very tired of rain. Rumor has it we're gonna get sunshine and temps in the 90's F this coming weekend. I'll believe it when I see it.

Live long and prosper. \\//

6/23/13

Irish Cream

Another bracelet done in Right Angle Weave.




I used 8mm Champagne glass pearls, 4mm white glass pearls, 4mm Golden Shadow Swarovski Bi-cone crystals, size 11 gold seed beads, and size 15 beige lined seed beads.



I used a toggle clasp.



I like it.



I caught a bug last week, so I was sick for a couple days. I'm feeling better now, though the energy is lacking. So I didn't get much done this weekend. The bracelet above was finished today. I also spent a couple hours or so deciding how I'm going to embellish the Laura McCabe necklace I started last year. Choosing beads in the colors I want to use and the size and shape I need was not easy. Most of the beads I bought specifically for the project I have ended up rejecting. Plans change over time I guess. Fortunately, my stash contained plenty of alternatives.

In the weather dept, it has been raining, and raining, and raining. On Wednesday night it rained so hard during the night that the pounding on the roof woke me up. When I got up in the morning, I was actually surprised all the plants were still upright. I fully expected them to all by knocked flat on the ground. I wish I knew exactly how much we got. It was more than 2 inches, I'm sure of that. Our little weather station is not working for some reason. So no rain measurements for us right now. I wish Sweet Hubby would fix it.

Live long and prosper. \\//

6/19/13

Twilled Stripe Fingerless Mitts





Twilled Stripe Fingerless Mitts

Pattern:  Twilled Stripe Arm Warmers by Gretchen Tracy, made for Knitwits.

Yarn: Unknown
Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight
Color: Heather gray

Needles: Addi Turbo Circular size 8

Cast on: June 9, 2013
Completed: June 19, 2013

Comments: I knit these mitts while participating in the Underappreciated KAL in the Fingerless Mitts Fanatics group on Ravelry. I chose this pattern because it had no projects. It's really very pretty.



 The stitch pattern is easy peasy to knit and memorize. 



Just nothing done for the thumb part of the hand. I've modified the pattern quite a bit. I shortened it a bit, and added a thumb gusset. Instructions for the thumb as follows:

Knit 3 repeats of the pattern, then begin thumb gusset.

Rnd1: Knit in established st pattern on first 22 sts, M1, K in pattern on remaining 20 sts.

Rnd 2: Knit in stitch pattern on first 21 sts. P1, K1, P1, continue in st pattern on remaining 19 sts.

Rnd 3: Knit in stitch pattern for first 21 sts. P1, M1R, K1, M1L, P1, continue in st pattern on remaining 19 sts.

Rnd 4: Knit in stitch pattern for first 21 sts. P1, K3, P1, continue in st pattern on remaining 19 sts.

Repeat rows 3 and 4, increasing 2 sts as established until there are 15 sts between the 2 purl sts.

Next row: Knit in stitch pattern on first 21 sts. P1, place next 15 sts on a stitch holder, P1, continue in st pattern on remaining 19 sts.

Next row: finish as pattern instructs on remaining 42 sts.


After you have finished the mitt top, place thumb stitches on needles. Knit across first round, pick up 3 sts over thumb gap. There will be 18 sts on the needles.

Knit 3 more rounds, then 4 rounds of 1x1 rib. Bind off.



Live long and prosper. \\//

6/16/13

Happy Fathers Day

Happy Fathers Day to all the wonderful Dads out there.




Live long and prosper. \\//

6/13/13

More X's and O's

Yesterday I was in the mood to bead big time. I wanted to make another X and O bracelet. So I tossed housework and weeding aside and beaded all day. I ended up making two bracelets.

This one is done in shades of purple and pale yellow.



 I LOVE it!



I used purple 4mm Swarovski crystals, pale yellow Czech  firepolish crystals, 6mm lavender glass pearls, and pale yellow pearl size 11 seed beads.



It sparkles. Boy, does it sparkle! I have a few different things in my wardrobe that it will go with too.



After I got that one done, my daughter admired it so much she asked me for one. She chose dark blue and white for colors.



It was a real challenge figuring out how to do this one so it would sparkle the same way.



The base is made with dark blue 6mm Druks. Initially, I started with dark blue crystals but they didn't show up very well with the dark blue background. So I switched to 4mm white firepolish crystals and 4mm crystal bicones. I used pearl white size 11 seed beads. It turned out perfect.



My daughter loves it.



So, I've made a total of 3 bracelets this week.



I feel a bit guilty for not doing my 'chores' for the day. I hope to make up for it on Friday, assuming the beading bug doesn't bite again. It might cuz I ordered a whole bunch of new glass pearls this morning and they should be here by then.



Live long and prosper. \\//

6/12/13

WIP Wednesday 6/12/2013


Time for a WIP Wednesday post! Remember the other day I mentioned that I seem to be in a Turquoise mood? This is why. I'm knitting a pair of Turquoise and brown mens mittens for Knitwits.



AND I'm knitting a shrug in shades of Turquoise, also for Knitwits.



Everything I make I want to use Turquoise. However, I have managed to slip in some other colors. This is going to be a pair of fingerless mitts (for Knitwits).



I've joined a knit along in the Ravelry Fingerless Gloves Fanatics group. This grey yarn is leftovers from the grey/silver/black/and white shrug I finished a couple weeks ago. It's just an unknown acrylic that was donated to Knitwits, but it has a beautiful silvery sheen to it that, sadly, doesn't show in the pictures. I just had to make a pair of mitts with it. The theme for the knit along is "Under-appreciated". We are to pick a pattern in Ravelry that has less than 15 projects to it's name. I've chosen Twilled Stripe Arm Warmers, which technically isn't mitts because there's no thumb/hole. But it came up in my search for fingerless mitt patterns, and I can easily stick thumbs in it. Currently, this pattern has 1 project to it's name. Mine. Hopefully after I get mine done, others might take an interest in it.




If you're interested in participating in WIP Wednesday, please join us.

Live long and prosper. \\//

6/10/13

Hugs and Kisses or X's and O's

The June challenge for Seedbeadersters group is Right Angle Weave. Specifically, this bracelet. And clearly, I am in a turquoise/aqua mood right now. (More about that later this week.)

Click on the pics to embiggen


It is a variation on the Hugs and Kisses, or X's and O's bracelet pattern that can be found all over the internet. I didn't use a pattern because it was pretty easy to figure it out without one. If you want one, you can find it in the Monomint Etsy store-->  Oh Donna X's and O's.



It's also in the Bead and Button 2009 Special Edition issue Brilliant Crystal Jewelry 2.



I used pale gold 6mm freshwater pearls, 3 colors of 4mm Swarovski crystals, and size 11 Czech seed beads in turquoise. I used 6lb Fireline in Crystal for thread.



I LOVE this bracelet! I think it's the prettiest one I've made thus far (but I'm biased). It's sparkles! I want to make another one.



I worked on it out on the deck today, between laundry loads. The weather was so perfect. Sunshine, blue sky, and a gentle breeze. Not too hot, not too cold. Just perfect. I enjoyed myself immensely.

Live long and prosper. \\//

6/9/13

Yay!

We got the hot tub all hooked up and working this weekend. When I got up this morning the water was warm and toasty. I had to get in right away! Sweet hubby and I sat in it while drinking our morning coffee. It was delightful! I am lovin' it!

Later in the afternoon, after working in the garden and finishing up the installation of the cover lifter, daughter Ruth and I got in again. Sweet hubby took this picture of us.



Cable is very curious about this strange new thing full of water that we seem to be overjoyed about. But not curious enough to get into it, thankfully.

We are very happy with our hot tub. I think I'll order a new swimsuit.

Live long and prosper. \\//

6/4/13

Gray Gala Mittens


Gray Gala Mittens

Pattern: Seed Stitch Stripe Mens Mittens by me, made for Knitwits.

Yarn: Mixed Fiber Novelty by Gala
Content: Acrylic/nylon/polyester mix, worsted weight
Color: Gray/Brown/Pale Apricot

Needles: Addi Turbo Circular size 6

Cast on: May 27, 2013
Completed: June 4, 2013

Comments: I altered the pattern some by just doing stockinette stitch and to make it fit a large mans hand. I added two inches between the top of the thumb gusset and the top shaping (to 10 inches from cuff edge instead of 8 inches). I added 4 rows to the thumb length too.



A close up of the fabric. The yarn consists of a smooth grey yarn wrapped by a thin variegated boucle'.



 These mittens turned out nice and thick, and warm. They will keep someone's hands toasty next winter.



I finished the mittens while I was at Rathdrum Knitalong today. I cast on for a Fancy Flossy Shrug after that in shades of aqua. After finishing this blog post, I'm gonna go sit out on the deck and knit because it's gorgeous out. The air smells good too because the lilacs are blooming. I'd work on the garden but I'm super sore from working on it yesterday.

My garden is doing good despite the rain we've been getting this past week. It rained all weekend, at times coming down in sheets! I had planned to work on the yard pulling weeds and whatnot, but ended up spending the weekend indoors, feeling robbed.

I was worried it would drown my poor garden, but we've got a few days of dryer weather in the forecast, so it should be okay. Things are growing nicely. I've got several potato plants now, and all the corn and bean seeds are sprouted. I've got acorn squash plants, and I finally planted the Chinese Cabbage sprouts my sister-in-law gave me. They almost doubled in size overnight. I think they're happy to finally be in the ground.

The new pump for the hot tub arrived this morning. I was disappointed that it didn't arrive last week. Well, maybe this next weekend I'll finally get to sit in the tub and enjoy.

Tomorrow I have Knitwits. I've got 4 things to turn in. That's pretty darn good for me.

Live long and prosper. \\//