Beads in the Green Silk Mohair

Another doll outfit finished.

Modeled by Prudence Not All Black and White

Beads in the Green Silk Mohair

Pattern: Not available

Yarn: Elann Silken Kidd in Forest Mist.
Content: 70% Super Kid Mohair/30% Silk, lace weight

Needles: Addi Turbo circular size1

Cast on: May 13, 2014
Bound off: May 19, 2014

Comments: Size 11 Japanese seed beads in matte silver lined green are knit in to the lace pattern around the neck ruffle and the skirt hem. 

I really enjoyed making this one. I got an idea and it worked the first time I tried it.

I decided to try my hand at making felted hats for my dolls. Here are my first two tries.

I didn't use a large enough piece of wool felt to get the brim as wide as I wanted for both of these. I need to use a slightly larger one. I made the green one to go with the above green outfit.

Its a little bit different style. A compromise for what I really wanted. I am pleased with the embellishment on this one. I used the same beads as are in the outfit so it kind of matches.

Yesterday I spent the whole day working on getting 5 outfits ready for Ebay. I made jewelry to match the outfits. Then I took almost 200 photographs, then had to spend time sorting out the ones I would use and editing them for the web. Then I carefully packaged everything up. I didn't get done until 6:30 in the evening. Consequently, we had a late dinner. Sweet Hubby doesn't like waiting that long for dinner. He comes home from work so hungry.

I am planning to get everything up on Ebay tomorrow. We'll see how it goes. I'm supposed to meet some friends for lunch in Coeur d'Alene, and there's laundry, and house cleaning. Urg. I will MAKE the time.

I must confess, I have purchased another doll. I found it on Ebay last week, never removed from box, too low a price to be believed. I couldn't resist! I have wanted this doll for a very long time, so I am very excited to finally have it. Ladies and gentlemen! I present Spock!

He's only 12 inches tall and in perfect condition. He now lives in a display case on top my piano. Don't want him getting all dusty and dirty. (Or worse, the cats getting him!)

Live long and prosper. \\//

Starry Night

The knitting was done weeks ago, but I just got the beaded chain done last night.

Starry Night Pendant Bag

Pattern: Bead Knitted Pendant Bags by Theresa Williams

Size: 2.5 inches

Yarn: DMC size 8 Pearl Cotton
Content: 100% Cotton
Color: Black

Beads: Size 10 Czech Cut seed beads

Color: Mixed metallics and iris

Needles: Size 0000 Double Pointed

Cast on: January 27, 2014
Completed: March 25, 2014

Comments: I forgot how much fun these are to make. I finished knitting it February 10, 2014. Usually it takes just a few hours for me to knit one of these, but I was knitting along with a class I was teaching on the subject.

For the chain, I used size 11 Japanese seed beads in black, and the leftover Czech beads from the bag. I also used an assortment of glass and sterling silver beads for embellishment. Stitch used on the chain was netting.

Close up of bag. It's about 2.5 inches across.

Close up of flap with dangle.

Bead embellishments.

The netted chain.

The front.

The back.

Bottom view

I will enjoy wearing this.

Important news: I am going offline for a couple weeks. We're taking a trip to Washington D.C. and Rhode Island with my brother-in-law and his family. I will get to see my daughter Sarah and my son-in-law Frank. I am very excited. You'll hear from me again mid April.

Live long and prosper. \\//

WIP Wednesday 2/5/2014

I finished knitting the body of my gansey last night. Woo hoo!

Next step is to join the shoulders with 3-needle bind off. Then it's picking up stitches for the first sleeve.

I took this pic of the beaded amulet bag I'm knitting along with my student.

Monday's class went very well. She caught onto short rowing the bottom very quickly. Next week we'll be sewing the side seams and making straps.

One of my orchids opened a flower yesterday.

There are two branches of buds this time. I've not had that happen before. It must be a happy orchid.

All in all, over the weekend we got about 12 inches of new snow. Now, the clouds have cleared and the sun is shining. It was -2F degrees when I got up this morning. It's friggin' cold out there.

Did I mention that our microwave oven croaked last week? It throws sparks, no matter what we put in it. We discovered a hole in the top where it's rusting and bits of metal are falling down. Yikes! The paint is peeling like crazy too. I've never had a microwave do that before. I've ordered a new one. It is scheduled to be delivered today. I also have Knitwits this afternoon. It will be interesting to see how this works out.

If you're interested in participating in WIP Wednesday, please join us.
Live long and prosper. \\//

Jeweled Cowl

Just realized I haven't done the finished post for this yet. I think it turned out gorgeous, but I'm kind of biased about it.

Jeweled Cowl

Pattern: Jeweled Cowl by Sachiko Uemura

Size: 44 by 14 inches

Yarn: Raven Ridge Fiber Arts Hand Painted Sock
Content: 80% Merino Wool/20% Silk
Color: Pine Bark

Beads: Size 8 Silver Lined Pale Pink AB

Needles: ChiaoGoo Twist Red Lace Circular size 8

Cast on: October 29, 2013
Completed: November 28, 2013

Great pattern. I would suggest using a very stretchy cast on and bind off. I LOVE this yarn but, unfortunately, it's been discontinued.

The beads went perfect with this yarn color.

It's wrapped and ready to be shipped today.

I also finally got around to taking a pic of this years Christmas tree.

We got a new star with LED lights in it. It changes color. It's pure coincidence that it turned purple just as I clicked the camera button.

Live long and prosper. \\// 

Embellish Me Too

I taught the second part of the beaded knitting class on Saturday. It went very well. We stopped for lunch, and then I taught them how to make the beaded strap. I don't usually do that because it's a knitting class, not a beading class. But they all brought the materials to do it and were so enthusiastic. All in all, the class was very fun to teach. Having enthusiastic students sure makes a difference.  The students finished their little bags. All of them turned out great. I finished mine too, and here it is.

Embellish Me Too

Pattern: Embellish Me by me.
Size: 2 inches by 2 inches

Yarn: DMC Perle Cotton, size 8.
Content: 100% Cotton
Color: Pale lavender

Beads: Czech size 11 seed beads in Purple Iris

Needles: Size 0000.

Cast on: October 25, 2013
Completed: November 2, 2013

I embellished it with a strand of beads on the front containing a 4mm bronze Czech firepolished crystal, 8mm purple rondelle crystal, 4mm golden shadow Swarovski crystal, and 10mm lavender round crystal. Then I added 3 little loops of size 11 seed beads at the top of the strand.

I incorporated the same beads used in the embellishment for the 24 inch strap.

I've been scheduled to teach the class again in December. I hope it fills up and did as well as the one just finished.

On Sunday I was a complete and total recliner potato. I watched movies with Sweet Hubby all day, played on my computer (I've discovered the game called Candy Crush), and did some knitting. I actually got the Octopus sweater out and worked on it. This is where I am on it now.

If you'll remember, one of the cats had damaged it, so I had to frog back to that spot and do it over. I got rather frustrated with it, so I put it in hibernation. However, it's supposed to be a Christmas present, and Christmas is coming fast. I need to get it done. I spent about 3.5 frustrating hours on it frogging and rewinding balls and getting it into a point where I can work on it. I've got it figured out now, and it should proceed forward, rather than back.

It has been bitterly cold around here. It's been dipping in the 20F's at night, and not getting over 50F during the day. Sunday morning we even got a bit of snow. Today it started sunny and cold, but as the day progressed, clouds moved in. It's supposed to snow tomorrow. Joy joy.

Live long and prosper. \\//

WIP Wednesday 10/30/2013

A quick WIP Wednesday post today. It's a busy week!

I'm knitting along with my beaded knitting class, working on an Embellish Me amulet bag.

I'm at the halfway point and trying to decide if I want to knit in a row of loop fringe, or put fringe on it after. Decisions, decisions.

It was sunny this morning, but 17F degrees when I got up. Brrr... There is STILL a little bit of snow on the ground from Monday morning. It clouded up this afternoon and smells kind of snowish, if you know what I mean. It was 48 degrees, but it sure didn't feel that warm. I've prepared the deck for winter. All the chair cushions and whatnot are put in storage. For the first time, I've taken the cover off the umbrella and tossed it in the washing machine. It was looking pretty disgusting. Keeping my fingers crossed it'll be okay. It should be washable, but I've never done this before (I didn't even know it could come off until earlier this summer). You never know with these things.

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

Live long and prosper. \\//

Knitting Update with Turkeys

In the interest of finishing my angel necklace, I didn't get as much knitting done this past week as I would like. I have some accomplishments though. I got the thumb figured out on the entrelac mitt pattern I'm writing. I am almost done with it. I will then test knit the pattern to make sure it's correct. I see it being done in about a month, assuming things go as planned.

I finished the first Mystery sock.

I cast on the second one right away. I finished the cuff last night and did the first 2 rows of the leg. I'll be glad when these are done. I have to get them finished by the end of next week, or I'm in deep doo doo (figuratively speaking).

This morning a flock of turkeys showed up in the front yard. There was a tom and 12 hens. I tried to take pics. They are so shy, it's hard to do.

The tom is the one in the foreground, in the shade of the house. Right after this shot, Tommy dashed out the doggy door and chased them away. They all flew up into the trees. I'm amazed how high they can go considering how large they are. Most of the time Tommy has to stay in until the turkeys leave on their own, but every once in awhile I let him chase them away. I don't want them to get too comfortable. Having turkeys hang around on a daily basis is asking for trouble. They can do incredible damage.

This is something weird. We got bits of hail on and off all day yesterday (along with all manner of weather). I took pics of a hail stone. It's about a quarter of an inch in width.

I need to work a bit more on focusing this close to something.

This morning the sun is shining and the sky is blue. I have my fingers crossed it will stay that way because if it does, as soon as it's warm enough I'm going outside!

Live long and prosper. \\//

A Bit of Knitting

I cast this on yesterday and bound it off about 10 minutes ago. It's almost 10:30 pm and I haven't done my blog post yet. Yikes! So I've grabbed my camera off the table beside me and taken these pics.

 Technically, it's still a work in progress cuz I have to make the second one. But, ain't it cute?

 It will be a birthday present for someone special.

Does everyone know we have only 37 days until Christmas? A friend showed me this video this morning and it is so cute and timely. My fellow knitters, and the folks we knit for, will all be able to relate.




Live long and prosper. \\//

19 down, 11 to go.

What's On, Then Off, Then On the Needles

When I was researching for ideas on what to do for Sarah's flowers, I came across a picture of a lovely bouquet being held by a pair of hands wearing beaded knit fingerless gloves. "Wow!" I thought. "What a great idea." I filed it away for future reference. After finishing the shawl I found myself with a lot of leftover yarn. I had, in fact, bought 2 skeins of it and didn't use up all of the first skein. So, in the interest of fun and love, I sought a pattern for beaded fingerless mitts that would look good in a wedding. I'm surprised how many of them there are. It was hard to settle on just one. I chose, though, and that's what I've been knitting this past week.

I've already cast on, knit, bound off the first one, and started the second. Excuse the orange hand. I cut it out of a shoebox lid.



It has ivory colored beads in it.


I'm using 2 strands of the lace weight together to give me fingering weight and it's working magnificently. I love this pattern. It's so simple and pretty. I'll give more info about it after I get the second one done.

I found myself having to do more flowers on Friday. Sarah decided she didn't want to wear a veil with her dress. She wants a head wreath instead. I used some of the leftover silk flowers to make it. I've finished it, just haven't taken pics yet. I told her no more. I am not making another flowered item for the wedding. I am wedding flowered out. I long to work on other things now.

Yesterday I got to work on the lime and violet project I started many moons ago for a beading swap I was participating in. I ended up dropping out of the swap because the flowers took precedence.

Where I was when I dropped out.

Now I can finish that project, and lo and behold-I've joined another swap. This one is for one of the groups I'm in on Ravelry. It's a knitters swap with the theme Buy Local. Along with yarn we're to send our swappee something from our local area. Like for instance, huckleberry something from North Idaho. Or we can make things, or whatever. I figure I can't get much more local than shopping my own bead stash. Heh heh.

Anyway, I'm working on an Ndebele spiraling tube. It's coming along nicely. I plan to utilize one of the beaded beads I made earlier this year in this project-which will be a necklace.

It's been warm, humid, damp, and stormy all week. Lots of lightening and thunder. I sure hope it doesn't rain on wedding day.

Have a good day.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Teaser

I had kind of a difficult weekend. I had all kinds of plans because we were having gorgeous weather, but most of them didn't take place because I acquired a monster sinus headache that started Friday night and I still have it. One of those really really bad sinus headaches. The kind that makes my vision blurry, the eyes sensitive to light, the brain unable to complete thoughts, and doesn't seem to respond to any of my pain killers. So I ended up taking it easy because I could hardly function.

Ruth came home for the weekend. She needed to get away from the drama that has become life with her room mates. This is finals week. I told her to hang in there. Just one more week to go and then she'll get a nice summer vacation. She'll be moving to a new apartment and a new room mate for next year too.

She's coming home next weekend, mostly to drop of Lindy. I'm going to be cat sitting the Grandkitty. The following week after finals she's off on a geology field trip for three weeks. They're going somewhere in Montana.

On Saturday Sweet Hubby and I took care of some necessary pruning. There was quite a bit of damage from the snow to the shrubs and bushes in the yard. I also did some weeding.

Weeds have begun to grow in my flower beds. This year I'm trying a new method-for me anyway. I got me a big jug of Round Up. It's the only way to get rid of the Canadian Thistle. The stuff is relentless. You yank it out, but if there's just one molecule of root left the darn stuff comes back-and brings friends. I'm stepping the war up a bit. I'm giving the little suckers a squirt as soon as they poke their heads above the beauty bark.

I worked on my book for a bit. Here's a picture from the most recent finished pattern.



Yes, a teaser. I've decided not to show the whole projects for my book. Just bits. Besides, I was playing with my camera's ability to take close ups, along with my new Photography for Dummies book. I did not do any editing of this photo, except to resize it smaller. Amazing, huh? Have I mentioned I love my camera?

On Sunday I vegged. Sweet Hubby ran in the Bloomsday Race. I stayed home and worried about him. I mean, he ain't the buff 20 year old he was the last time he ran the race. He arrived home about an hour earlier than I expected. He did okay. He ran the 7.5 miles in less than 2 hours, and he wasn't completely dead when he got home. He was even able to get up and go to work this morning. I am so very proud of him.

I did a bit of beading Sunday. Just a bit. I was trying to work on a pair of earrings for the swap, but the headache was interfering too much. I finally gave up. I decided to sit on the deck and watch the birds instead.

Oh, I did a bit of knitting too. Made some progress on Pomatomus.

Have a good day.

Sunday Ramblings

It is a gorgeous sunny day today, so Sweet Hubby, Ruthie, and 'the family' have all gone skiing. The SciFi channel is having a Tinman marathon. I didn't get to see the series when it was first shown, so I'm spending the day chillin' and knittin' and watchin'.

Yesterday Sweet Hubby dug out my bird feeders for me. The small one that was hanging in the tree is fine. I've filled it and hung it in the maple tree in the back yard. The feeder that was on a post though is toast. I spread the seed around on the snow by it and the birdies are eating it up.

I did see something this morning that I was not expecting. A Robin.


The first one. Needless to say, I got really excited! Seeing a Robin is a BIG deal around here. It means spring is very close. Wow, they're early this year. I'm gonna take that as a good omen.

I have a FO for this weekend. It's the latest design for my book.

I finished knitting the amulet last summer. I decided such a special bag deserved an extra special strap, so I took on the gradation challenge in tubular peyote. It took me a looooooooong time to make that strap. It's nice to have it done, and I'm really glad I chose it. It sets off the bag perfectly.

I guess I should have taken pics of WIP Ferdinan, but I think I'll finish him up first.

Have a great day!

Ain't Doin' It for Me

Last night I tried to make serious progress on the Baby Surprise sweater that I've been making for Knit Wits. I'm sorry, it just ain't doin' it for me. I am loathing this project. Absolutely loathing it! I don't know why either. It's not boring, it's got some interesting shaping to it, it's even what I'd consider a clever design. I'm using my favorite color-purple. I just don't like working on it. I am not really sure why I decided to knit another baby sweater for Knit Wits when I really wasn't in the mood for another baby sweater. Some sort of insane desire to put unnecessary stress on myself must have reared it's ugly head? Since I knit for MY enjoyment, and I'm clearly not enjoying this project, I've decided to frog the whole thing and forget it. Time to move on to something else.

GNOMES!

Ah, yes, that's the ticket. Knit Wits could use some Gnomes. That may be the whole reason for the loathing of the sweater. Deep inside I want to knit Gnomes.

Making progress on my book. I wrote up the pattern for the Trois Perles de Bugles. Now I need to have it test knitted. Today at bead group I worked on the strap for the next design. It's all knitted. Just needs to be written up and the strap finished and attached. I started the strap several months ago. The bag is so fancy looking I felt the need to make something special to hang it on so I've been doing tubular peyote with a somewhat complicated color pattern in it. I think I've gone a little overboard on it, but it sure will be pretty. Finishing and embellishing is just as important as the knitting part of a project.

Have a great day.

My Sock Blockers

My sock blockers are cool so I'm gonna show them off. They are hand made, of wood, with little shaped cutouts. I found them quite by accident. I was on Ebay looking for sock blockers and came upon Chappy's ebay shop. The blockers were a little bit on the pricey side, but they are so pretty. There are a lot of different styles. I chose the deer, in size Ladies.


This month I ordered some Mens size blockers. They have Pine trees on them.


There are lots of different cut out styles, including kitties and dogs, spinning wheels, yarn balls, palm trees, bunnies, birds of various types, acorns, rats, hearts, horses, lambs, sheep, and even a large mouth bass. The one thing they don't have, though, is Moose.

Sweet Hubby is cleaning the cords out from behind the entertainment stand. It's quite a rats next back there. For several years we've been putting cords back there to hook things up. TVs, DVD players ,VCRs, sound system components, several different satellite receivers, not to mention the Nintendo and Sony game stations and computer doo-hickeys. We'd get something new and the new cables would be installed, but none of the old cables were ever actually pulled out from behind. Just unhooked. So they've been piling up, breeding with each other, until there's a virtual metropolis of cables living back there. He's going to pull all that out and get things nice and organized. The fire hazard should be reduced considerably.

Have a great day.

In Transparent Pink

Okay, has anyone seen my glass of ice tea? I set it down somewhere in the house and can't remember where.

Oh, never mind. Found it.

I have finished another beading project. I started it last September when I did the cabochon. Yesterday I finished the necklace part. It's just simple 3-bead netting with a peyote toggle.


Here's a close up of the necklace part. I used seed beads in Czech size 11 pink transparent and Japanese size 15 pink with a red lining. I wore it yesterday and got lots of compliments. That helped to blow up my ego. Heh heh. By the way, that adorable little jewelry box in the above picture is a birthday gift from my friend Sally.



I also neglected to mention last week that I have posted a new bead knitting pattern on my Beadknitter Patterns site. It's called the Dragon Banner Necklace. Here's a pic.---->

It's a pretty simple pattern that I came up with cos it was easier than doing the same in peyote-at least, at the time. I could do it in peyote now with my hands tied behind my back-figuratively speaking. You'll have to visit the site to see what I'm talking about.

I am a bit lonely. Sweet Hubby left for Orlando, Florida yesterday on a business trip. He's gone to a kitchen show I think. Or is it a building show? I don't know-some kind of trade show architects are likely to be skulking around so they can try and sell their software to them. He took Frank with him (daughters boyfriend-that-I-want-for-a-son-in-law). His brother, Dan, is with them too. I don't know about the wisdom of sending those 3 to Orlando together. I hope there's a chaperon.

Sarah (daughter I want to marry Frank) left on a business trip to the University of Idaho/Washington State University the same day. She's attending their various job fairs being held this week to recruit possible new summer interns and employees.

So I'm eating dinner alone the rest of the week. Sigh. I miss them.

Have a good day.