Current WIPs

My plans to post last Wednesday were overruled by life, so I will do it now. I have two WIPs to present today. First is the sock I'm working on . 

It's been going a little slow, partly because I'm not in a hurry, partly because I'm writing down every step as I go along so it will be easy to write up as a pattern when I'm done. I'm using the Mock Short Row Heel in this pair and found that no one has actually written up instructions on how to do it. Just video tutorials, so that will be part of my pattern. I might publish the heel instructions separately as a tutorial here too. In the meantime, the prototype will be a Christmas present. I'm starting extra early this year.

The second project is a Christmas stocking for Zoey. 

I'm not sure why I chose this one for her. The snowman is just so cute. I am having a problem with it. The ink is bleeding on the white pieces. I've never had that happen before.

 This kit is fairly old and out of print. I found it on Ebay for a very reasonable price. Apparently they used this brown ink way back when and it is known to run. It's all over the thread as well as on the white felt. I've done some Googling and found out this is "normal" and I can easily wash it out when the stocking is done. I found washing instructions on the Bucilla web site too. I'm happy to say they don't use the brown ink anymore.

I did not notice there's a fold in the middle of the stocking until I saw this picture. I will steam it out before going any further.

So that's what I'm working on.

I had an excellent Mothers Day. We went to Giorgi's for lunch, then took a nice drive. Usually we go up into the National forest to see the wild flowers, but I didn't want to do that because it was supposed to be a rainy day. My husband wanted to drive the Prius. I said "No off-roading". We decided to go over Thompson Pass. We took a northern route to highway 202, then east to a small town in Montana, then turned for home and drove over the pass. I've never been on that drive in the spring. It was incredibly beautiful! The fields in Montana were so green. The grass is short too. It looked like all of the state had just been freshly mowed, and the wildflowers! They were fantastic! On our way home, we stopped at a convenience store to use the restroom. When we got back in the car, hubby pushed the Start button and all hell broke loose. Warning bells rang and messages flashed on the screens, accompanied by the Check Engine light. There was a message that told us the hybrid system was malfunctioning and to contact our Toyota dealer immediately. Well, they weren't open at that time, so we chose to go ahead and try driving home, stopping at Applebee's for dinner on the way. We made it just fine with no problems.

This morning I woke up and there was a new text from Toyota on my phone. My car had texted them that something was wrong with the hybrid system and would I like to schedule an appointment? I called them. My appointment is on the 20th. I've been reassured it's okay to drive the car, so it can't be too serious. I am feeling a little bit weirded out that my car is sending texts to Toyota without consulting with me first though.

Live long and prosper. \\//

Under The Tree - Bucilla

 I have finished the current felt applique stocking! Hurray! It's titled Under the Tree and is from Bucilla. I think they have the cutest felt applique stocking kits.

I made it for me. You're supposed to put the name on the back of the big ornament hanging on the upper left corner, but I didn't like that, so I put it on the stocking itself.

Here's a close up of the toys at the bottom.

I lined it. I used some cotton quilting fabric I found in my stash. I used the stocking itself to make a pattern. I traced around the outside edge onto a piece of newsprint paper. Then I drew a quarter inch seam allowance around that.

I cut two pieces, sewed them together on my sewing machine, then installed the lining in the stocking, carefully hand stitching around the top edge. I am very very happy with this stocking!

While I was stitching the lining into the stocking I had a thought. I got to wondering if there are people who enjoy doing this as much as I do and if they've created a group. I decided to look on Facebook and I found one! Actually, there is more than one, but I just joined one of them. It's been fun looking at all their finished projects. Someone asked the group to tell us all how many kits they have and whatnot. I have 6 kits in my stash. I thought I was a bad girl for having so many! I'm an amateur! Some of the group members have over 200 of them. I feel so much better about myself now. Heh heh.

I already started another one. It has a snowman on it. I plan to put Zoey's name on it. I've also ordered another kit to make for Opal. It has Santa driving a train on it. 

I've been working on the ripple afghan! I've got the first set of stripes done. I'm using 3 shades of purple and white. I'll take a pic later as I progress more on it.

We have had sunshine the last couple days. It's been so nice to see, even though it's friggin' cold outside. They're predicting snow for the coming weekend. 

Finally got all the Christmas decorations down and put away. I feel pretty good about getting that done. I haven't been feeling all that well the last few days. I've been coughing a lot. This cough feels like a possible lung infection. I should go see a doctor before it turns into pneumonia. Ugh. I hate winter.

Live long and prosper. \\//

Snowman Row

It's about time I blogged about this. I finished, blocked, and framed Snowman Row, the counted cross stitch project I've been working on for several years now. Yes, it's DONE! It's been done for awhile. I just hadn't got around to blogging it.

I apologize in advance for the quality of the pictures here. It's dark around here of late (especially outside where I usually like to take my FO photos) and I don't have any cool lighting for doing large photography projects. You can click on the pics to embiggen them.

I finished the stitching last February, then it was pushed out of my mind by life I guess. I had intended to get it framed and whatnot so I could enter it in the fair. I guess I will enter it next year. After the fair, I got about the task of framing it.

I ordered the frame and mat from Frames by Mail. I learned an important lesson from this. Let me pass it on to you. I washed my project (soaked it in hot water with a scoop of Oxyclean-came out gorgeous) and let it dry. Then I measured it, still all wrinkled and stuff, and got a measurement of 33 inches wide by 5 inches high. So that is what I based the size of my mat and frame on. They arrived the week before I went to Michigan.

That was a big mistake. Should have ironed and blocked the thing before measuring, because after I did that, the picture was three inches longer and one inch wider! So the frame and mat I bought was way too small. Insert big frowny face here.

I had to reorder the whole framing kit and kaboodle. Rats. Money wasted. I suppose I could have returned the not fitting frame, but I didn't feel right about that because it's my mistake, not theirs. So I've squirreled it away in storage.

Learn from my mistake. Press and block your picture before measuring for framing.

By the way, Frames by Mail is a great company to do business with. I am quite happy with them. The frame I bought is Pecan wood and the mat is a dark green. It's a beautiful frame. Very nice quality. I love how it enhances my snowmen.

Our weather has warmed up. We actually got rain last night. There I was with daughter Ruth, sitting in the hot tub, getting pelted by a big fat downpour. I enjoyed it anyway. Still luvin' my hot tub. Anyway, rain is predicted for the next few days, so that is good. I'd rather have that than snow while we're away.

This is my last post before my trip. We're leaving in the morning. You'll hear again from me after we get back.

Live long and prosper. \\//

Cat By the River

Last year my daughter Ruth talked me into purchasing a kit for a Shibori ribbon bracelet from bead artist Jody Young. Jody had a booth at a bead show we went to. I started it a few months ago and have been working on it off and on since. I got to spend the day at home today and I was in a finishing mood, so I finished it. I got to work on it out on the deck because the weather was beautiful and the air has cleared up quite a bit.

I call this Cat By the River.

It is my very first bead embroidered bracelet.

The kit consists of a piece of Shibori ribbon, a cabochon, and an assortment of beads. This particular kit had quite a few pearls. The seed beads are black, a silvery grey, and a green lined blue-all size 11's.

 I supplied the backing, clasp, and some imagination. I love this clasp. It goes perfect with the bracelet. I wish I could remember where I got it and what it's made of. I want to say Bali silver, but I'm not sure.

I gave it to Ruth when she got home from work. She loves it. I'm so glad.

I put a lot of hours into this project. It feels very good to have it done.

Our weather has cooled off considerably. Cool enough to shut off the air conditioner. The rain we got earlier this week knocked some of the smoke down, and the wind changed direction yesterday so it is blowing the smoke from the Cape Horn fire away from us. It's nice to be able to breath again. I should mention the fire is over 60% contained. They should have it out in a few more days, assuming the weather cooperates.

I finally tried out the Edgerydoo. I am not impressed. It punches holes so small I can hardly see them and I definitely can't get a crochet hook through them. I will keep it because it's wonderful for cutting the rounded corners on the fabric with a rotary cutter. But I won't use it for punching holes in fleece. I've been punching the holes in one at a time as I put the base row of the edging on. I'm using a size 6 steel crochet hook and just forcing it through, I was measuring every half inch before punching, but I got tired of that and decided it doesn't need to be that perfect. I went o eyeballing it today. I've got 3 edges punched. One left to go.

In the meantime I have found another device for making holes in fleece. I think this one will actually work. It's a rotary cutter slit edge blade called Kay's Crochet CroEdge . I watched a video on how to use it and I'm quite impressed. (Btw, I was unable to find any video showing the Edgerydoo. I should have done more research before buying it.) It makes holes big enough for a size G crochet hook. I've ordered one from Amazon and looking forward to trying it out. Should be here in a few days. I really need to find a quick and easy way to make edged fleece blankets if I'm going to make quite a few of them.

I have cast on for another baby sweater. Set 2 has begun. This time I'm doing a cardigan.

Live long and prosper. \\//

Update

I have a WIP update. I've been putting most of my crafting energy and time into Hummdog. I can't believe how many hours I've gone through on this background so far.

It's looking good though. I am about halfway done.

In knitting, I've been perfecting my doll hat pattern. I've made two black hats. Here's one of them.

I sewed a band of lace that has pearl beads on it. I think it turned out so cute.

The other hat is the same, except no embellishment. Just plain.

Most of my time went into creating an Etsy store for my doll clothes. After hours of work, Wool in the Wilde is now open for business. Now the hard part, getting the right people to visit it. Here is one of the outfits I've got available in it.

We had a beautiful weekend weather-wise. Especially on Sunday. It was sunny and in the 50's. I planted Orange and Purple Violas in the deck boxes.

Sweet Hubby even got out the lawn mower and gave the yard it's first haircut for the year.

Looked fantastic! Then yesterday, which was the next morning, I got up and it looked like this.

It snowed all day long. We got almost 3 inches. It was kind of depressing.

The birch tree was really pretty covered in fresh snow though.

Today, it looks like this.

You'd never know it snowed. The Violas came through it all just fine too. The cold didn't seem to bother than. Spring in north Idaho. Never a dull moment.

Here's a fun pic for you. Moose butt!

Over the weekend we had visitors. A pair of young moose wandered by munching on shrubs as they went. I got pics of just one butt. Couldn't get anything else.They were very shy with me around. Eventually they ran off.

Because of the snow, I filled the bird feeders on Monday. A Red Crossbill took advantage of the opportunity.

Another busy week bites the dust. On to the next one!

Live long and prosper. \\//

Cross Stitch WIPs

The replacement pattern for Hummingbirds and Dogwood by Sue Coleman finally arrived this week. Before that, though, I decided to start something new to keep up the enthusiasm so I wouldn't abandon it all while waiting. I'm not going to say what the pattern is. Just watch it develop over the next several months and see if you'll be able to guess.

 I found this on someones blog completely by accident and fell in love with it. I admit I've made some modifications. I've actually combined two of this persons patterns together. I'm looking forward to when it's finished.

I've made some new progress on HumDog.

The background is all one color, one strand, half stitches, and there's a LOT of it. I also need to do the outline back stitching. Waiting until the background is done will motivate me. I love doing the back stitching.

We've had a rainy week. We needed it though. The crocuses in the yard are blooming. There are even some blooming in places I never planted them! The seeds on the plants from last year must have blown around.

I've been having computer frustrations this week. The problem I had last January that I got fixed on my birthday has come back. I'm getting "Windows is not Genuine" messages. In frustration I contacted Microsoft via their web chat service. I was told my verification key has been disabled and blocked. When I asked why, the answer was because certain hardware numbers didn't match my registration. I explained that Sweet Hubby put in a bigger hard drive and upgraded the memory, but the computer is still the same one I've been using for five years.

They told me there is nothing they can do. I have to buy Windows 8.1 to get everything 'genuine' again. Here's the problem. First, my laptop is not Windows 8 compatible. So that ends that right there. But even if it were compatible, Microsoft's web site won't let me buy it. I have to have a genuine copy of Windows 7 (or lower) on my machine and since they've rendered mine blocked, it won't let me buy anything. I am very PISSED, to say the least. We spent a LOT of money on that hard drive and ram. If I'd known this was gonna happen, we wouldn't have done it.

I'm debating whether to call them up and escalate up to a supervisor, if possible, until I get satisfaction. I would think if they can un-validate my Windows key, they should be able to re-validate it, shouldn't they? Or I might just go ahead and use it as is. It's annoying to deal with the pop-ups that keep popping up telling me my Windows is not genuine (AAAAAAARRRGGHH!!!!). I've turned off as many as I can, but I can't get rid of all of them. I also miss having pictures on my desktop. All I get now is a solid black background. Sigh. I also can't download any MS updates. But my office program is so old it probably doesn't matter any more.

I feel like I've been royally ripped off. I have a genuine copy of Windows 7 running on the original machine it was installed on and they've screwed me over because we upgraded some hardware. Sigh.

There's a new doll in my future. Tonner Dolls released a pic of their new male doll for the Ellowyne Wilde line that is coming out later this year. His name is Penn.

I adore him! He's cute as a button. I love the inset blue eyes and the brown hair. So much nicer than Rufus. I am so excited! I am saving up my class money so I can purchase him. I am thinking of making him a Star Trek uniform. Perhaps the Red Shirt one. I need to find out what body style he has. I'm hoping it's the same one Rufus has.

I've been feeling domestic today. I actually made, from scratch, a Banana Cream pie with Meringue topping. I haven't done that in ages. Years, actually. It's a lot of work making a cream pie from scratch. It came out beautiful and if it tastes half as good as it looks, it will be awesome.

I attribute the perfection of this pie to a very happy cook. I discovered Pandora is on our Roku so I was able to listen to my Star Trek Movie Soundtrack channel while working. It's AWESOME!

Live long and prosper. \\//

Snowman Row Is Done

I can't believe I've finally finished Snowman Row. And it's adorable! I love it.

Click to embiggen

I started this project 8 years ago. I worked on it a little bit each year. I'd get all charged up to finish it, get one or two snowmen done and lose enthusiasm. But now it's finished! YAY! The pic above is after I washed and dried it, but I haven't pressed it yet. It was SO dirty from my hands and other little stains on it. The white stitches of the first three snowmen I stitched had actually yellowed. I soaked it in a bowl of hot water with a scoop of Oxyclean for half an hour and it came out perfectly clean. YAY!

Now, to get it framed. I've decided to have it done professionally cuz I don't want to mess it up after all this work.

Since I'm in a finishing mood, I decided to finish my Dogwood and Hummingbird too. All I have left is about two thirds of the background. However, I can't find my pattern. It was not stored with the project. Daughter Ruth and I have searched everywhere. So I've ordered another copy. I found one on Ebay, Should be here next week. I can hardly wait!

My knee is finally starting to feel better. I can stand without feeling like I'm gonna throw up. The swelling is going down and the bruises are fading. Hurray! I went out Tuesday and Wednesday. On Tuesday I went to Rathdrum Knitalong. I just had to get out! I'd been cooped up too long, and since it's only 5 minutes from my house... I was exhausted and in a ton of pain when I got home, but happy that I went.

Yesterday I got up and there was actually a marked improvement in the pain. So I decided to go to the monthly NISS meeting (North Idaho Secular Society). It was a very interesting meeting. My daughter had the day off so she went with me so I wouldn't have to drive. After the meeting we went grocery shopping. The cupboard was getting pretty bare with me being off my feet for 2 weeks. Again, I was able to hobble around and get the few things I needed using my trusty new cane
with the purple paisley pattern on it. Today I'm resting. I need to recover from yesterday. I'm glad I did it though. I think getting out is speeding up recovery a bit.

My blogiversary is coming up. I'm planning a contest. So stop by on March 1st to see what's happening.

Now, where is that ice pack?

Live long and prosper. \\//

Snowman 12

Keeping off my feet and elevating my knee has been kind of hard. I've got so much that needs to be done around the house, places to go, people to see. I've been a good girl, though, and made myself do it. Yesterday I decided to work on Snowman 12 the whole day, between little trips to walk around the house. I got quite a bit of him done while watching movies on Netflix.

All that is left is to fill in the white sparkly stitches, finish his face, and then my favorite part, the outlining! I can hardly wait. I did make a couple mistakes on him, but I left them in. It makes him unique. His mittens were supposed to be blue, but the symbols for dark green and dark blue look very much alike so I misread. The buttons are supposed to be green, but since I made the mittens green, I decided to make the buttons blue. I also managed to leave one row of stitches out at the belt area, so it's a little narrower than the pattern wants. It was easy to adjust the rest of the pattern around it so it looks good. I like it as it is. That red scarf is so cute!

I have a doctors appointment for this afternoon. It's a follow up to an appointment I had a month ago that resulted in a change in my anxiety meds. The Prozac was giving me horrible gas, so I was changed to Lexapro. I'm feeling much better. I will have my knee checked while I'm there too. It actually feels a tiny bit better today, and the bruising is starting to change yellow. Maybe I can get something for the pain. It's still excruciating.

Live long and prosper. \\//

Projects

I frogged the color work mitten. I got to the top decreases and it was going to be 3 inches longer than my hand. I was not happy with the workmanship either. Such sloppy tension. Urg! I decided to start it over. I've dropped down to size 0 needles and it looks much better, and is closer to proper gauge. I got this far over the weekend.

I've also been busily cross stitching Snowman Row. I finished Snowman 11. Yay!

Outlining the graphic pattern on that scarf was quite the challenge. I have started Snowman 12 too!

I am so close to having this project done, finally! I'm so excited! I'll be cross stitching like crazy over the next few evenings to finish it.

Today I did some sewing. I'm working on a quilted bag. It has a front pocket that is made of small pieces. My first real piecing project. I cut the pieces out last week and started sewing it together today. I got all the little bitty pieces put together.

While I was sewing my daughter took this photo of me.

It was kind of a rough weekend for me. Last Thursday I went out to check on the hot tub. While coming back up the steps to the upper deck I managed to trip and fall on my right knee rather hard. It is all swollen and black and blue and extremely painful. Fortunately, I didn't break anything. It hurts like heck. Worse than it did after the fall in Times Square last March. It's ice packs and taking it easy for a couple weeks for me. I really need to get into the habit of holding the rail when going up steps. I do it when going down. Why can't I do it going up? I'm glad I bought a cane earlier this year. It's coming in handy.

Live long and prosper. \\//

I Can See You or Snowman's Got Eyes

How about a WIP post today. Slow progress on the mittens. Back side.

Front side.

A certain Snowman number 11 got eyes and a face last night while I watched a Columbo marathon on Netflix.

I am at my favorite part, the outlining. This is when the picture comes to life. That is why I always start with the eyes first. I sort of imagine he can see me finishing him now that he's got eyes.

Have I mentioned I love Netflix? Wow! If anyone had told me 20 years ago that some day I would be able to watch complete seasons of my favorite tv shows anytime I wanted continuously and in episode order, I would have laughed at them. It's making winter livable.

I also started watching Downton Abbey on Amazon Prime. I know it's immensely popular and now I know why. It's fun! Sweet Hubby calls it my soap opera. To a degree, he's right.

Speaking of livable, we had the most gorgeous day yesterday! It was mostly sunny, and warm. In the morning I decided, since I was feeling rather off due to waking up with an annoying cough, I needed to soak up some vitamin D while I could. So I donned my swim suit, made myself a large cup of Earl Grey tea, grabbed my Nook and sat in the hot tub, in the sunshine, reading. It was wonderful. It was so warm out we could go without jackets.

Later in the day I asked my sweet hubby if he would install the new LED motion sensor light out front. His answer was "I'll do it later" and then he went out to his shop to play with his lathe. I'd bought the light to replace the one that has stopped working. Unfortunately, I have learned over the years that later could mean in an hour or in 20 years. I don't like coming home in the dark and no light on out front. So I decided to teach myself how to install the new lamp. I did it! I installed a new front light on the house and I didn't start any fires or injure myself. It turned out to be pretty easy.

I also discovered he'd never hooked up the ground wire on the old malfunctioning one, which I scolded him for. That may have something to do with why it never worked right from the day he installed it. Also, please ignore the Christmas lights. They've been up for at least 3 years now. I plan to take them down soon cuz they've stopped working, I was hoping Sweet Hubby would do it, but, like I said, they've been up there at least 3 years, so clearly he has no interest in the task.

My birthday was Friday. I celebrated the 27th anniversary of my 29th birthday. My present to myself was calling Dell tech support and paying them to fix my computer. T'was not cheap! But it was worth it, and a fascinating experience. After extracting $129 from me, the tech guy directed me to a specific web site where I downloaded and installed a program that allowed him to work on my computer via the net. It was fascinating watching my cursor move around opening and closing things and mysterious fingers typing things in here and there. He fixed it right up, and also checked to make sure there was nothing else wrong with it. He downloaded and installed a couple different programs that cleaned up some problems I did not know about. Finally he uninstalled all the little programs and we were done. My computer is running like a dream. Like I said, worth the large amount of money extracted from me.

Well, I have a class to teach today, so I better sign off. It's the last session of a sock class that has been rather frustrating for me. Sometimes the classes go smoothly, and sometimes they don't. This one is a don't. I am still coughing a bit, but it's not nearly as bad as yesterday, so it shouldn't be much of a bother. Not contagious, but annoying as heck.

Live long and prosper. \\//

New WIPs

I can't believe it's been over a week since my last post. Time is flying by. Before I know it, we'll be starting 2016! Urg. Anyway, I've got some new WIP's I've been working on lately.

You can see the heart pattern on these mittens now. One would think I'd be much further along since the last pic I posted, but you don't know how many times I've frogged to get to this point. It's been a challenging project, and I've learned quite a bit.

This is a pair of mens mittens for Knitwits.

I had quite a bit of yarn leftover from nephews Christmas gift, so I'm making good use of it.

I started a pair of socks today.

I'm teaching a sock class at the shop this month and decided to knit along with the student.

I actually did a bit of beading!

I got an idea for a Christmas ornament cover and am figuring it out.

Last weekend I worked on this.

It's a very roughly made pair of flat pumps for my Josephine Lammily. I found some tutorials on the internet and decided I would learn to make doll shoes so Josephine could have some dressier shoes. It took me 2 days to get a pattern figured out and then make the shoes. It still needs some tweaking, but I'm going the right direction.

The vinyl I used is a bit too thick, and the glue I had in the drawer is inadequate, so I'm gonna try again with something thinner and better glue. The folks at Joann's are fascinated by my attempts. I guess I'm the first person they've met to make doll shoes?

Besides the sock class, I'm teaching 2 beginning knitting classes at the shop this month, so I'm very busy. By the end of the month I'll probably have been to the shop so many times I'll feel like I'm living there. Heh heh!

The last WIP I've got is cross stitch.

I got out the snowman cross stitch and finished up snowman #10. I've started #11 too. I'd forgotten how much I enjoy counted cross stitch.

Live long and prosper. \\//