The Simple Woman's Daybook for February 10, 2018

Outside my window...  Brilliant sunshine and blue sky. However, it's only 32F degrees out, so I won't be going out on the deck to knit for awhile.

I am thinking...  that I've not been very good at getting the doll outfits I've made into my Etsy store. My heart doesn't seem to be in it. Sigh.

I am thankful for...  our house being paid for. We'd be having a very hard time with Doug not working if it wasn't. So far we're managing okay.

From the kitchen... I made Spaghetti Pie for dinner last night. It was so good. I should make it more often. It's not difficult to make.

I am wearing... blue jeans and a navy blue and white print t-shirt. I've had the shirt for ages. It has a crochet lace embellishment around the neck.

I am creating...   the Entrelac baby cardigan. It's going very well. I forgot how fun Entrelac is, and it's knitting up fast too because I'm using worsted weight yarn. As i've been working on it, I've been thinking about ways to make it seamless. Might try it on the next one.

I am going... nowhere today. I was going to go to the drug store, but it isn't open today. Urg. It recently acquired a new owner and the place is in chaos now. The transition from the old owner to the new one is like watching a clown show. I've been down there 3 times this week in an attempt to get a refill and they've had 3 different excuses why they don't have it for me. I hope things get shaken out soon, or I'll have to find another pharmacy.

I am reading... Agatha Christie right now, A Pocket Full of Rye. I just started it a couple nights ago. I was reading a novel written by an acquaintenance before it. I've finish that and now I have to figure out what I'm going to tell her as to how I liked it, etc.

 

I am listening… to the television. Sweet hubby is watching a movie on Amazon Prime. One of those gratuitive violence movies with a lousy plot but lots of fighting and dead bodies.

I am hoping… we might get an early spring this year. It would be so nice if we do. Not counting on it though. The weather could change pretty drastically.

Around the house... the living room is a mess. I gave Zoey a new toy from the dollar store and now there's clumps of polyester fiberfill all over the place. Zoey is exhausted from doing the mayhem and is now sleeping on Sweet hubby's lap.

One of my favorite things...  Old Fred Astaire movies. He was a fantastic dancer. The way he moves makes it all look so easy. I especially love the movies he made with Ginger Rogers.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Just get through the week. Sunday is the Inland Northwest Freethought Society meeting. I'll try again at the drug store on Monday. Tuesday I have Rathdrum Knitalong. Wednesday I get to stay home so house cleaning. Thursday is Yarnies. Friday home again-so I'll probably get the grocery shopping done. But, mostly, I'm going to watch the Olympics this week.

Here is a picture for thought I am sharing...   A beaded bead I made years ago.

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Live long and prosper. \\//

Rose Licorice

I have been beading like crazy the past few days. North Idaho fair time has arrived and I decided I wanted to finish a necklace I started quite some time ago and enter it this year. I finished it late this afternoon. I present Rose Licorice.

I made the pendant in July of last year. The pattern for it is from a Russian web site called Black Lily, and it's free:  Twisted Beam Star Pendant. It's done in peyote stitch, using different size beads to get the twist in it.

I decided I wanted to enter this project in the Beaded Peyote Necklace category, so I made some tubular beaded beads and combined them with 6mm Rose Pink Swarovski bicones, some 6mm round Onyx, some sterling silver 4mm round beads, and some interesting silver bead caps. I made 2 types of peyote tubular beads. First are 6 of these black ones. I used delicas in matte black as the main color with shiny black for a 'barely there' diamond on the front and back.

In keeping with the diamond pattern, I did 4 tubular beads in shiny black and the bright pink silver lined delicas used in the pendant.

I strung everything on wire and used crimp beads on the ends. The edges of the holes in the round silver beads are super sharp, plus I've got those crystals in there. I didn't think my usual Fireline thread would be able to stand up to either of those for very long.

The tube beads are hollow, so I stabilized them to make them hang correctly. I inserted pieces of plastic drinking straw inside to firm up the sides, then strung them over top some size 6 seed beads in black. They are nicely hidden by the bead caps.

The finished length is 24 inches.

I will be turning it in at the fair for entry Tuesday afternoon, along with all the other entries I have. As usual, I am taking care of the Knit Wits entries this year. I have a few other things I'm entering myself too, but I'll do a separate post about that later.

Now I need something new in my wardrobe to go with it. Hmm...

Live long and prosper. \\//

Bitty Beaded Beads

I've finished the bitty beads for this months Seadbeadersters group challenge.

They were all done in odd count flat peyote, then zipped up into tubes. I know exactly what I want to do with them too. That's why I haven't finished off the threads. I've got a necklace idea. Just need to acquire the right beads for the job.

We got 6 inches of new snow yesterday. It snowed all day long. Sometime during the night, though, it cleared up because I had to visit the little girls room and the moon was shining very brightly through the window. Right now it's sunny and the snow is melting.

That's all for now.

Live long and prosper.

Weekend Beading

Twas a busy weekend. Despite that, I managed to whip up this baby.

It's the third in a series of 5 beaded bead patterns being featured in Beadwork magazine this year. It's in the current June-July issue.

There are some 4mm blue druks, 4mm fire polished amber crystals, and seed beads. I like that this bead is hollow.

They're having a contest. After the last pattern is published, participants (like me) will be making a necklace and submitting it to Beadwork. I've decided to try it out. I've never entered a beading contest before so this will be interesting. I haven't made the first two beaded beads yet. I wanted to decide on a color scheme, then get the beads for it, first. Now that I know what I'm gonna do, I will make the rest. Still not sure how I'm gonna make them into a necklace yet, but I've got an idea niggling in my mind. With any luck, I'll figure out how to do it.

Live long and prosper. \\//

The Week Before Christmas

I have had an interesting week. I've been sick most of it. As soon as I'd get rid of one bug and start feeling good again, I'd catch another bug. I see pictures in my mind of us walking off the plane upon returning from Hawaii and a whole crowd of nasty germs yelling "Hurray!!!" and leaping on us. I say us because all 3 of us have been sick since we got home.

Wednesday was the worst one. It was a stomach virus of some sort. I did quite a bit of throwing up and I ached all over so bad. I spent the day in bed.

Being sick made it extra hard to get ready for Christmas. I was behind as it was. This made it worse! But somehow, I managed to catch up. Partly with help, partly with chucking the things that were lowest on the priority list.

So, what did I manage to do? Well, first of all, last weekend, on Saturday, we drove all the way into north Spokane to the Spokane Humane Society to check out a dog. Yes, we are looking for a new fur kid. I can't stand being dogless any more. I really miss that wagging tail and bouncing body of joy greeting me when I get home from somewhere. And I have no one to eat the left over crust of my pizza, or share my lunch with, or take walks with on the Parkaosa.

I'm looking for a German Shepherd mix, less than 2 years old, female, puppy okay. There was one in Spokane that sounded perfect. However, someone adopted her and left literally seconds before we walked in the door, so I guess it wasn't meant to be.

Later that evening, at home, we had a visitor and I managed to get photos of her, though not very good ones. It was getting dark. A moose! She munched in the back yard for close on to half an hour.

It was odd, because it was so quiet out, except for the sound of her munching. There was, every so often, the sound of twigs and branches cracking somewhere in the brush to her right. I couldn't see anything, but I knew it was there.

As she started to leave, a little one came bounding out to follow her.

Awww, so cute! I wish it had come out sooner, but it was more interested in minding it's mother.

Monday I took care of Ruth. She was very sick, doing the throw up thing (she was the first of us to succumb to that particularly vile virus.). I was feeling so so. Not much energy, but I spent some time wrapping the gifts and getting it all under the Christmas tree and doing some much needed house work.

Tuesday was Rathdrum Knitalong day. I was feeling very tired, but not sick. (Daughter Ruth was human again, but not up to much.) I went anyway cuz I hadn't seen the gals in 3 weeks. I'm glad I did because I had a very nice time. After the meeting I went shopping for the Christmas food items I needed.

Wednesday, as I said above, I didn't do anything but moan and spend a great deal of time in the bathroom. Ugh! Since Ruth was feeling better, I sent her out with a list and my debit card. She finished my Christmas shopping for me and did a fantastic job of it. I will always be forever thankful to her for that.

Thursday I awoke feeling half human again. So we started cooking. I decided this year I was going to bake Panettone for the family. Panettone is an Italian Christmas bread with dried fruit in it. Kind of like a fruit cake, but much lighter, fluffier, and eatable. I'd never tried making it before, but I am very good at baking bread (when I do it) so I leapt in with full confidence.

I found a simple recipe on the internet. I also found out it requires a special pan. A coffee can will work, but I don't have any. So I did a bit of googling and found instructions for making your own paper panettone pans with brown paper, scissors, and a few staples. The idea is a good one. It works pretty well. Here are some of the pans I made:

The instructions say to use large paper grocery bags as your paper source, but I used parchment baking paper instead. Didn't have to grease the pans that way. Here are five of the nine Panettone's Ruth and I made over Thursday and Friday.

They turned out so beautiful. I started out planning to make seven. Burnt one of the first ones on the bottom, so we ate it. I needed to make sure it was gonna taste good anyway. Don't want to give a gift that tastes awful. Believe me, it's good. It's VERY good! If the good ones taste even half as good as the burnt one did, they are fantastic.

Well, then I had to make another one for myself that wasn't burnt. So we made nine.

If you make this, and you decide to do the do-it-yourself paper pans, do not use a black cookie sheet underneath when you bake them. It causes the bottoms to burn. I have one black cookie sheet and 2 shiny aluminum ones. Using aluminum worked much better.

We made four Panettone's on Thursday, and five on Friday. I had no energy, and was coughing, but the nose stopped running-Yay!

Around about Tuesday I got the low down on the family Christmas Eve party plans. Mostly, who is gonna be there. My sister-in-law is gonna be in town and at the party. I had not made plans for a gift for her. I didn't think she'd want a Panettone all for herself (I could be wrong about that though) but I know she likes my beading so I decided to make her a necklace. I spent a good part of Thursday-between bread risings and long into the night, and most of Friday morning, working on it until it was finished. As it turns out, I love it! I hope she does too.

It's fairly simple. I made an Octahedral Cluster beaded bead for the focal point. I used some 6mm Hematite beads for the core, and glass seed beads for the lace overlay.

I strung some matching glass, Hematite, and Silver beads on either side for a total of 5 inches, and finished off the rest with spiral rope stitch.

I did something a little different with the rope. I did an alternating pattern of one matte black and one silver metallic for the core beads. The outside beads are shiny black. It's made for a very interesting look. I used a sterling silver Lobster Claw clasp.
.

I decided to go with black and silver cuz it goes with a lot of things my sister-in-law wears. I ended up with a necklace with a total length of 20 inches.

Now, last, but not least. I did manage to knit a couple rows this week. I think, considering how sick I felt and how busy I was, I did darned good at getting that much done. I finished the first of the fingerless mitts I'm making to go with the lace cowl and started the second one.

Now, obviously, I didn't get this done to send out in time for Christmas, so it will be a Happy New Years present for the recipient instead. I know she'll understand.

By the way, all the other Christmas gifts I knit did get in the mail on time and have arrived at their destinations.

Today I will be wrapping the Panettone's and getting them all ready to go. Tonight is the family Christmas Eve party. I am looking forward to it, though I really wish I had more energy and the cough would give up already. I take comfort in knowing that everyone else there will be coughing too.

Hey! It's snowing! Looks like we're gonna have a white Christmas after all.

Live long and prosper. \\//

Italian Class Begins

Had a great weekend. We went to our favorite hot springs resort and spent an evening soaking in the pools and eating really good food. It was very relaxing. We got home Saturday afternoon. I worked some on the felt Christmas stocking, but mostly I slept after getting home. As relaxing as things were, I did not get much sleep. Tommy woke me up about a thousand times because we were in a strange place. That, and sweet hubbies snoring. I never sleep well in hotels anyway.

Sunday was the 23rd Anniversary of my 29th birthday. Didn't do anything special. I spent the day working on the first installment of the Italian beading class I signed up for last month. It has begun. I did get to eat out for dinner (NO way do I cook on my birthday!), but only after nagging the sweet hubby about it first. He's just not good at birthdays. Most of the time he doesn't even remember when mine is.We went to the Chinese restaurant in Rathdrum. Best Chinese food ever is prepared there. I don't know how we got so lucky to have them come to our town, but I'm sure glad we did.

The first lesson arrived in my email in English, rather than Italian, which was a nice surprise. Not a perfect translation, but adequate enough for me to figure it out. I learned how to make this hollow beaded bead.

It's done in peyote using size 11 delicas, and some 4mm bicone crystals.

I am surprised at how stiff and sturdy it has turned out. I can squeeze it quite hard without it collapsing. I really didn't think a peyote beaded bead could be made this way without some sort of support inside.

I love the colors I chose for it. A lavender with shiny gold metallic, and a cream color that is a satin finish.

The satin beads are kind of hard to work with. They are easy to break. I broke several before I figured out how to treat them. I was so worried about keeping my tension tight I overdid it a bit. I don't need to strangle them to death.

I need to make 3 more of these beads before the 2nd lesson comes (scheduled for mid February).

Live long and prosper. \\//

Cenotes and Beaded Beads

I have come up with a name for my new sock pattern. I will call it Cenotes. Cenotes are small lakes formed by caves collapsing underground and filling up with ground water. There are lots of them on the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. When we took our trip down to Tulum, Mexico a couple years ago I swam in a couple different Cenotes. They usually have very clear, deep, fresh water in them and are the color of blue that is my socks. Some of them have beautiful tropical fish in them too.

Picture of a Mexican Cenote

Another Mexican Cenote

Over the weekend I did some beading. I have this huge pile of peach colored 10mm Chinese crystals that I just love. I've been trying to think of something to do with them. I have tried all kinds of ideas that did not work out, so I finally gave in to my usual, the Octahedral Cluster.

I've been wanting to do something in peach, white, and teal/aqua. After making that bead, I thought I'd try an Octahedra in size 8 and 15 seed beads. I got this tiny little beaded bead.

What has been on my mind most, though, is the pesky peyote covered beaded beads. I started doing a bit with them last year, but got sidetracked. I'm back to doing them. I want to get proficient at them.

I covered two 12mm plastic beads with size 11 seed beads. They are a bit harder than they look. The number of beads used has to be adjusted depending on their specific size. For instance, the above beads are both done in size 11 Japanese seed beads made by the same company. However, I had to increase to 30 beads around to cover the peach one, but only 24 beads around on the teal one. The peach beads are just a tiny bit smaller in height.

I had a hard time figuring out how many rounds to go up before I start decreasing too. I tried over and over to start at one end and work my way to the other all in one piece, but I just can't get it to look right that way. If I make two pieces starting at the end and working toward the middle, and then zip the two pieces together I have much more success. Oddly enough, both these beads needed a total of 18 rounds, so even though the peach ones are a tiny bit shorter, they are the same size in width to the teal beads. Weird, huh?

I think I have this figured out now, at least for me. I got pretty frustrated working on those two little beads because it seemed like I was having  to take apart and put together way too much, but I'm glad I worked it out. Sometimes it pays to be stubborn.

I did work on the first Lobster Cardi sleeve last night. It's about a third done.

The day started out with fluffy snow falling, and has ended with big gloppy rain drops. Fun fun!

Live long and prosper. \\//

Icosahedron

Today I'm posting my very first Icosahedron beaded bead. To give you an idea of it's size, it's in the bottom of a Margarita glass. I guess it's about the same as a quarter in diameter.

3 weeks ago I needed a little break from the knitting. I've been wanting to try making one of these for a long time.

 It's made with 4mm crystals, purple lined size 11 seed beads, and size 15 metallic silver seed beads.

It's right angle weave done with 2 needles. Also called cross weaving, it's something I've not done in a long time, and then it was only once. If you want to try making one of these there are two patterns that I recommend. I used them both.

Icosahedron Bead Ball

Disco Ball Beaded Bead

These patterns are both for purchase, but reasonably priced, and well written. To the best of my knowledge, there isn't one available for free on the web.

It's been cloudy and snowing off and on today. I was hoping the sky would clear so I could see the lunar eclipse tonight. :-( Rats!

Live long and prosper.\\//

Christmas Party Necklace

Finally! I got some time to set up the light box and take some pics. Todays post will be about the necklace  and matching bracelet I made to wear to the annual company party at Chief Architect (where Sweet Hubby works). Click on the pics for a larger view.

Necklace and Bracelet

I made some octahedron beaded beads and assembled them into a necklace.

Main Focal Bead

I used 6mm Czech black firepolish crystals, 4mm Czech black firepolish crystals, 4mm Chinese round red crystals,  3mm Czech red opaque firepolish crystals, 10mm AB Bicone Swarovski crystals, 8mm AB Bicone Swarovski Crystals, size 8 Japanese opaque black seed beads, size 11 Japanese brass lined clear seed beads, size 15 Czech opaque red Charlotte seed beads, 15mm Japanese gold-lined crystal seed beads, 5mm Czech black glass spacers, gold toggle clasps.

Secondary Focal Bead

I did some simple stringing for the matching bracelet.

Matching bracelet

I made a pair of dangle loop earrings too but I lost one the night I wore them, so I took the other one apart and put the beads away to be used for some other project. I don't have pierced ears, so dangle earrings don't stay on me for long. One of these days I should get my ears pierced.

It has been a weekend of chilly temps and light snow. Just enough snow to muck things up. I have been knitting some, and doing laundry and whatnot. I got the first of the last set of mitts done and I'm about 2/3rds of the way through the second mitt. I hope to finish that tonight. Then the Christmas knitting will be done. My goodness, what will I knit next? There are so many choices!

Live long and prosper. \\//

Christmas Creativity Has Occured Here

One of the things I love most about Christmas is the opportunity it provides for me to be creative. With all of Sweet Hubby's family coming for dinner on Christmas Eve, I've been really decorating up a storm. This week I got into flower arranging mode. I needed a couple table centerpieces, so I took a visit to Michaels to purchase some greenery, and dug out the box of silk poinsettias and whatnot in the stash. Here are the results.

This one is for the main table in the dining room.

This one is going on the table we're setting up in the sun room.

There are going to be 23 of us for dinner. We don't have enough room in any one room to set up one table for that many, so I decided to set up a couple tables instead.I'll serve the food buffet style on the island in the kitchen. People can sit where they want.

This one I purchased. I wanted a potted Poinsettia just because. However, I have a knack for killing them just a few days after bringing them home. So this year I went with fake. I found this at Michaels and it was half off to boot. Can't complain about that.

It's still alive after a whole week. And I don't even have to water it!

Here, we have the necklace I've made for my niece Heidi. Pink is her favorite color.

It was inspired by the beaders on the French beading forum I inhabit, Ile Aux Perles. Even though I am hampered by a language barrier, I still have managed to learn a lot from them. Thank you, ladies, for all that you share with me.

Here's a closer view of the main attractions.

I used 10mm fresh water pearls dyed pale pink, size 8 seed beads in silver lined deep raspberry, and size 11 matte silver lined pink seed beads. I actually did some wire work too. Each bead is a wired link. As much as I would have liked to use sterling silver chain for this project, I had to settle for silver plate. The beautiful pink lampwork beads were found at Michaels.

Close up of the focal bead, which is the much loved Octahedral Cluster.

This is called the Bubochkis bead. I found the tutorial on a Russian site. (I think I mentioned it in an earlier post.)

I also managed to take a picture of the finished fingerless gloves I've made for my daughter.

Pattern: 93-8 Open Finger Mittens in Alpaca by DROPS Designs.

Yarn: Stitchjones Tribute Merino DK
Color: Angelica
Content: 100% Superwash Merino
Needles: Addi Turbo Circular size 3.
Size: Ladies Medium
Cast on: December 11, 2009
Bound off: December 19, 2009

Comments: I love the way this yarn pooled, and I'm very pleased that I managed to make the two gloves match, more or less. This yarn is nice to work with. The pattern is fairly well written, easy to knit. There is a basket weave pattern in the hand part. Although it doesn't show in the picture, it does show in real life.

Today I'm finishing up the gift wrapping and baking cookies. I'll let you know how that goes.

Have a nice day.