Wednesday, October 31, 2012

{small things}

I have been working on several small mixed media pieces over the last few days - such a fun endeavor!  Things are coming together as I wrap up each project - here is a sneak peek...



Today I'll be editing photos of each new piece for the shop, making a crock pot dinner, and going to the allergist for an allergy shot.  I started getting allergy shots last week because my fall allergies have become unbearable since moving down here - oh, the suffering. I will go for a shot once a week for the next year, then once a month for a few years after that.  But the good news is that I will have less severe allergies each year and when the shots are finished I will be cured of those allergies!!  It's amazing that such a thing is even possible!

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Monday, October 29, 2012

show and t e l l

I found three pieces of Hull pottery at the thrift store this afternoon ($2.50 for all three!).




And my newest pair of hand knit socks are finally finished!!  That was a lot of 2x2 ribbing : )


Now that the socks are off my tiny double pointed needles I've started using them on a pair of arm warmer/wrist warmer thingies.  Pattern in progress, being made up as I go.


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Friday, October 26, 2012

love. this.

Untitled (Silueta Series) by Ana Mendieta

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Thursday, October 25, 2012

{happy}

Today I am working on sock knitting, watching new colors appear in each stripe.


I'll also be doing some brainstorming for new projects,


and simmering a big batch of one of my favorite soups!  I can't wait to have it for dinner tonight.  Seriously. can't. wait.


p.s. I have a couple of new potted plants in the apartment!  I love them!


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Wednesday, October 24, 2012

some gorgeous yarn


I picked up a few gorgeous skeins of yarn yesterday... a few skeins that I just couldn't resist!  Araucania Liwen in the colors of a sunset, MadelineTosh in stunning yellow/green/gold (the color is hard to explain!), and Cascade Yarns Vail that is light as a feather in soft gray.  I just need to finish this last sock so I can use those tiny DPN's on a set of arm warmers (knit with the gray Vail).


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Tuesday, October 23, 2012

crochet pattern :: mason jar cozy


Mason jars are popping up everywhere these days - from picnics and cookouts to weddings!  The glass can be super cold (or hot) with a beverage inside, so I decided to crochet this little cozy to protect my delicate hands : )  This pattern fits wide mouth pint jars.

The special part of this simple pattern is definitely the yarn - I used Malabrigo Rasta yarn which is gorgeous, beautiful, colorful, and amazing.  It's also a super bulky yarn, so you can crochet this cozy in no time at all.  Of course, you can substitute any other super bulky yarn that you like.


Using a size L/8.0mm crochet hook, chain 5.  Join the stitches into a ring with a slip stitch.


Work 8 DC into the ring.  Use a slip stitch to join the first last stitch to the first stitch, completing the ring.


Round 1: CH 2.  Work 2 DC into each stitch.  Use a slip stitch to join the last stitch to the first stitch.


At this point your crochet circle is just about the perfects size for the bottom of a jar.


Round 2: CH 1.  1SC in each stitch.  Join at the end of the round as usual.


Rounds 3-9: Repeat round 2.


Knot off your yarn and weave in the loose ends.  You now have a little cozy that looks like this:


The cozy will be very snug, that's ok!  We'll be doing a form of blocking that makes the yarn conform perfectly to the shape of the jar.  (This way we know that we won't end up with a cozy that's a little too large and falls off all the time!)

Wrestle that slightly-too-small cozy onto the jar:


Run the jar and cozy under your kitchen faucet to dampen the yarn (evenly damp all over, it doesn't have to be soaking, though).  Shake off the excess water droplets, leave the cozy on the jar, and place it on your counter or shelf to dry.


Once the cozy is completely dry you will find that it is the perfect size for the jar - snug enough to stay on, but not too tight.  It will slip on and off easily.


Enjoy a drink with your new cozy!

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{work in progress}


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Monday, October 22, 2012

{plunder}

We had so much fun at a local art festival this weekend!  We brought home some fun pieces from a few of our favorite booths.





The weather was gorgeous, so we spent the afternoon browsing and admiring everyone's work!

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Saturday, October 20, 2012

library day!


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Friday, October 19, 2012

a cozy evening


I'm looking forward to a cozy evening of eating tacos, reading magazines, and watching 30 Rock.  Oh, and I'll be working on a new crochet pattern to post here on the blog, too!

Have a great weekend!

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Wednesday, October 17, 2012

{new!!}

Take a look at the new pieces I've made for the shop : )  I just finished listing them so you can see all the details (and many more photos) here.  Yay!














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Tuesday, October 16, 2012

weaving on a simple loom

On Sunday I began experimenting with a few weaving projects and I am having so much fun!  I love the idea of using simple tools and techniques an adding interest with beautiful fibers and a bit of embroidery.  I have a few pieces already finished and waiting to be photographed for the shop!


Have you ever made a cardboard loom?  They are the easiest thing in the world and the results (with a little practice) are surprisingly good!  While I was making the small weaving above I kept saying, "This is just like a real rug!"  : )  Here is a great tutorial if you'd like to try it for yourself.

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{doc}

I'm going to see the documentary Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry tonight!  

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Monday, October 15, 2012

oh y e s

There is nothing quite like bringing out the big knitting needles and trying some fantastically squishy yarn!



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Sunday, October 14, 2012

{a song for you}

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yaaaarn!




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Saturday, October 13, 2012

ahhhh saturday...








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Thursday, October 11, 2012

DIY Poetry Graffiti Project

Ever since I found this little cabinet being tossed out in the dumpster last summer I've been wanting to give it a crazy makeover.  The best thing about free furniture is that you can go a little wild : )


All I needed for this project was the cabinet and a Sharpie paint pen with a medium tip.  Since I use the cabinet to display books, I thought it would be really fun to graffiti poems and passages from favorite novels all over the front, top, and sides of the piece.  


I removed all the books, dusted the cabinet so I would have a perfectly clean surface, and turned it on it's side so I would be able to write comfortably.


Then I roughly planned out what would be written where and got to work!




This piece adds tons of personality to my living room - when you see it you know that a very interesting person lives here : )




I'm thrilled with the way it turned out!

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