The Integrated Martha

Oh Dear

2009-03-03T16:11:00.000-08:00

Oh, I'm so embarassed...has it truly been this long?

I'm working on two projects that need to be finished right NOW. Soon as they are done I'll put up the finished pictures.

getting ready for Skeinology

2008-08-24T15:09:00.000-07:00

Did some dying a few weeks back and finally started working on getting pictures and then knitting up some different swatches. Just dying and winding the skeins started my thought process, how are these colors going to look, how will the colors appear in the different swatches, I don't have an idea!

These 4 studies are dyed from KnitPicks Bare Superwash Worsted Weight yarn. The first three were dyed with Jaquard dyes.

Here's the two color skein:

Here's the three color skein:

Here's the four color skein:

All balled up......there is something satisfying about the rocking motion of rolling up a ball of yarn, and the way they look, you just want to touch them. I love the way the addition of black as the fourth color changes the way the other colors appear.

This is a Skein I dyed with Wilton Icing Dye, the colors appear random, and not as stripes across the width of the yarn, so there shouldn't be any pooling or "bolts" of color.

Here is the random color skein:

And all balled up:

So now to finish knitting them up, I've got the circular swatches done, the small flat swatches done, just need to finish up the wide flat swatches, not what I expected at all! I'll get some pictures up soon, now to really study what is happening.

The hummingbirds are having a grand time with the new feeder, they really are remarkable.

skeinology

2008-08-23T18:50:00.000-07:00

The study and art of understanding a skein of yarn. Ann thought I need to come up with a catchy name for reading a skein of yarn, there it is.

I've got the yarn dyed, balled up and started knitting, pictures soon.

Oh, speaking of pictures, here is wonderfull Marshall, Amy's new baby, he's wearing his little puppy scarf!

Reading a Skein of Yarn

2008-08-10T06:30:00.000-07:00

I started venturing out beyond scarves about two years ago, don’t get me wrong, scarves are a great project, fast, easy, cheap and a great way to practice a new technique or patterns. Never mind the fact that I would be tarred and feathered if the girls in my life didn’t get their yearly Christmas scarf fix. But, it was time to move on.

I researched (and researched) knitting socks. I made many pairs and many different heels until I came across Mary Ann Beatie’s book. Now that I was able to knit the perfect heel I started concentrating on the yarn and patterns for the socks. That’s when I got stuck, eeegads, some yarn knit up something awful. It was the colors all mixed up in a small pattern or pooling with that darned lightning bolt.

That’s when a new yarn shop opened up, I had some cash burning a hole in my pocket from selling my old sewing machine table and thought I’d splurge on a big purchase, maybe a sweater, who knows. I found a most beautiful skein of hand dyed yarn with mustard and turquoise and maroon, I’ve lost the ball band so I can’t tell you what it was, but I fell in love. (I’ve learned since that you always save the ball band with your knitting journal) Took me about a month to finally decide on the pattern for a sleeveless shell and I started swatching. Wow, that wasn’t working, how about this, no, what the heck. Once knit in any length the colors all ran together and looked like mud, ugly mud.

I finally realized I should try this in the round, yep, looked great, but no socks this time, I made a pair of gauntlets (my very first design), there it is. This was really intriguing.
Well, that’s when I stopped buying “purty” yarn and really started thinking about what a skein was going to look like all knit up. That’s what I call Reading a Skein of Yarn. Then I realized that I could dye my own yarn, ya, that's the ticket. I've dyed and painted fabric, this can't be much different. Boy, I love to dye yarn, I will never be able to knit all those skeins up!

Now that I really am going to be an empty nester I thought I’d start a study of just how to read a skein of yarn, I’ve dyed a few skeins of yarn for the Ravelympics that will work.
Keep watching and I’ll post my progress and pictures.

Ravelympics

2008-08-10T06:26:00.000-07:00

I signed up, I did it, now to follow through. I've posted that I will crochet an amigurumi Pomeranian in the Amigurumi n Toy Toss and dye or overdye 17 skeins of yarn for the Hand Dyed Hurdles.

Finished 13 skeins yesterday, they are posted as FO's and I feel great. Sometimes you just need a goal!

I will post pics later, maybe it's time to start that Etsy store.

2008-07-30T08:05:00.000-07:00

The Akron SnB has come up with a badge of the year club. For every year you are a member, you get a home made pin to show your support. My job was to make the 4 year badges....a bowl full of socks.

A local gal is going through Chemo, made a few hats, the little one is for a doll. I love to crochet, these each took less than an hour to complete. MnM, we are praying for you!

2008-07-30T07:59:00.000-07:00

Well, oldest is off and living his own life now...nobody told me how hard it was going to be to say goodbye!

She's a doll, they are crazy in love, a wonderful life ahead of them.....

goodbye, you've croaked

2008-07-16T07:17:00.000-07:00

Here's a salute to my friend Froggy. A big ole hawk has been hanging around, even in the bird bath, I think Froggy was lunch. So long, I'll miss you!

2008-07-09T08:52:00.000-07:00

Finally started my butterfly/hummingbird garden, it's been brewing in my mind for many years now. Bee Balm, Coneflower, Russian Sage, Balloon Flower and many more. My baby boy Max helped and spread the mulch, I love it now but can't wait for a few years, it should fill in beautifully! (ya, he's 19, not so much a baby)

The view from our patio, I just love the pond, it is constantly changing. The bonfire pit is full, too bad it has been so hot, now the nights aren't cooling down as much.

Now the birdies have a place for a bath and dinner. That's the Oriole feeder, haven't seen one on it just yet, they are flying around though.

Summer Critters

2008-07-09T08:41:00.000-07:00

Fred and I were sipping some nice wine out on the patio and found a little friend joined us. Look closely in the middle of the picture and you can see a spider. Double click on the pic to get a closer look.

There are so many woodpeckers now, they are so much fun to watch and listen to. We can hear them pecking away in the distance. We finally got an Oriole, but not at the feeder, he was flying around in the tall trees. Goldfinches are flying by so fast, none of them at the feeder either though. The hummingbirds have gotten so bold, they are flying past our heads all the time now.

The little tadpoles are finally out of the water, our little friend Michael caught one for me to photgraph, where did they all go?

OTN ADD

2008-07-09T08:19:00.000-07:00

So, my SnB had another tech meeting, this time Stacey taught entrelac, here is the start of a bag to be felted in Noro. I've finished the second side last night and started sewing them together, but I don't want to post a pic. I think this will be one of the gifts for our birthday swap. I'm not sure how it will turn out, that's half the fun of felting, the other half is it hides all sorts of mistakes. Oh, me? Mistakes? Ha

I finally got past the first 10 rows on the Muir lace shawl, after, count them, 22 starts. I've even asked the great yahoo knitlist for help, and of course I got several ideas and recommendations, Thank You!
I've decided to use the little girl hair rubber bands as markers, any of the other markers I have were slipping under the yarn overs and I kept on losing count. I'm also using a dental floss life line, haven't had to use it, but maybe just the thought that I have it helps me to relax a bit. This is a beautiful butter yellow merino lace weight I got at the Sewing and Quiling Expo from French Creek Fibers in Avon. Because I really need to pay attention to what I'm doing, it's hard to sit down and work on it, this may be a year long project!

Sock Wars End

2008-07-09T08:09:00.000-07:00

These are the weapons that "killed" me. At least I made it half way through the war!

Sock, Sock Wars, Socks

2008-05-27T11:26:00.000-07:00

Sent off the first pair of socks for Sock Wars. Didn't much care for the way the pattern was written, I finished them before the new/better pattern was posted. Still turned out OK and my target called to say she loved them. They are in Tofutsies at 8sts/inch, a little loose and the toe's aren't my favorite, but I wanted to follow the pattern as much as possible.

Sent off my targets finished SIP's, waiting to see if my target's target is declared dead and waiting in the mail for her SIP's to work on. Still waiting every day to see if I'm dead. No hurry MissM. The lifted increase in the pattern has been quite a bone of contention, I didn't have a problem because it's the same increase used in the Crazy Toes and Heels book.

Speaking of Crazy Toes and Heels, I thought I'd work on these, oh how I hate to wait. Turned the heels last night.
I really like the techniques in the book, I'm getting great fitting socks, look at the beautiful heel. I started the slip stitch below the heel, they are nice and snug. Here's a link to Mary Ann Beattie's site. http://www.queenkahuna-creations.com/

This is the split rib, really stretchy and fitting, Can't wait to get these finished, hopefully before the weather turns HOT. I'm really liking the TrekkingXXL, using a 000 needle, slow going!

Summer will be on us

2008-05-27T11:05:00.000-07:00

The Fire bushes and Forsithia are taking over, we had a lot of rain this spring, they must have loved it!

I was worried the Arum was not going to make it, but it is bigger than ever, can't wait to see the blooms

Come on Peonies, how come they take so long, every day I go out and expect them to be blooming.

Even the Cornflowers are happy, I do love this time of year!

Color Everywhere

2008-05-27T11:01:00.000-07:00

Poppies

Corral Bells

Lily of the Valley

Bleeding Hearts are on their way out.

2008-05-27T10:56:00.000-07:00

Another sign of Spring is the toads maknig babies

LOTS of babies, the little black spots are eggs

We now have thousands of little toad-poles swimming around in the pond. In a few weeks we'll have tiny little toads everywhere, Fred holds off mowing until they hop away.

Spring is Here!

2008-05-27T10:51:00.000-07:00

The next sign of spring is the arrival of the Hummingbirds, lots of them this year.

And of course the blimp over the house, on it's way to the Indians game. So close!

Freddy's new job has taken him to many places, I made him a "kitty" to keep him company.

The Birds

2008-05-27T10:48:00.000-07:00

First sign of spring, lots of birdies, we sure do enjoy their visits.

The woodpeckers have been around all winter, can't seem to get any pics of them.
We've got 5 different kinds, but not the ellusive Pileated.

Winter Storms

2008-05-27T10:43:00.000-07:00

Been awhile, thought I'd post some of the pics from the last few months.....we had a warm up then ice covered everything! It was beautiful.

Then it snowed, and snowed, over 13 inches over two days, it was so quiet!

Phew, a new year

2008-01-17T07:54:00.001-08:00

What? It's January???? How did that happen? The kids are back at school and I'm ready for the new year. Looks like I'll be teaching some classes and selling some hand dyed yarn, how did I ever find time to work?

I'm working on pics and posting, soon..........

keep on knitting

2007-11-27T06:49:00.000-08:00

OMG too cute, saw this pattern on Saartje's site and had to try them, yes, those are wine bottle corks! http://www.saartjeknits.nl/patterns/Korknisse.html

Our SNB spent a long weekend up in New York at a memebers condo, just beautiful, what a wonderful time, we have some GREAT members, we just laughed and knitted for 3 days! I left one of these guys for the kitchen.

Finished up at the last minute this little sweater Sunday morning, the shower was at noon. I didn't get to block it, but I think it's OK...... I had a lot of trouble with this pattern so I'm not going to mention it, thanks to Andi for helping and encouraging me to finish it up. It turned out really cute. The lighting wasn't too good, it's been pretty overcast, so the true colors are brighter, the cuff and collar are more of a bright yellow.

Been working on a scarf for our SNB scarf swap, don't know who it is for, hope they like it. This is a worsted weight yarn I hand dyed and the pattern is from my new favorite book Knitting New Scarves by Lynne Barr. Holy Cow, it is a fabulous book, making me see that I can manipulate yarn like I can fabric.

This is a panel from a bag I'm knitting with our SNB, one of our members came up with this great design. This was the first time I knitted cables and used two colors, so it was a slooooow start, lots of frogging, but I had lots of encouragement from Andi, the designer. I'm just about finished with the second panel, This is a KnitPicks black and another one of the hand dyes. I have a great mustard and a bright turquise to knit the sides, top and bottom with. I'll post more pics as I work on it. Thanks Andi!!!

fall foliage

2007-11-27T06:22:00.000-08:00

Whew, what a month!! Freddy had 4 days of surprises for me for my 50th. It started with flying in my BFF and ended with a party. Here are the last remnants, birthday confetti strewn in the yard. I am so blessed!

Took some pics a few weeks ago, the fire bush was outstanding, it almost glowed.

Thank goodness the Arum came back, not as big as before. It will stay green until the spring, die off and then come back

Of course the lace leaf japanese maple was fabulous, the warm weather gave us a beautiful fall. I'm looking out right now, and all the trees are bald, probably one more time for the leaf pick up. The pin oaks hold on to their leaves till the spring. phew.

busy busy weeks

2007-10-17T06:02:00.000-07:00

Can't even remember what I've been doing.... but I haven't had much time to knit or post. Happy to report that the backyard is still green, only the neighbors dogwoods are turning! Leaving for Rhinebeck Friday, I better get some pics posted before then and empty the card in my camera.

Home finally

2007-10-02T09:23:00.000-07:00

Spent the last few days gone, I'm so happy to be home, in our own bed. The rain was torrential yesterday, but today is the most beautiful day, again. I am happy to report that the leaves aren't turning in the back yard, everywhere else, but not in my limited world, so I can pretend a bit longer. I do so miss all of the comotion from the kids, trying to fiture out how to get used to it.

The Arum is starting to come back up, I love this because it is green until the end of January, I hope there will be more leaves, I have to transfer it in the spring, it must be too shady where it is.

The fire bush in the front yard is turning, lots more sun there, so they always are first.

The Japanese Anemone are in full bloom - I LOVE THEM!!!

Weird critters

2007-10-02T09:15:00.000-07:00

Found this guy behind the mailbox, sprayed and sprayed and it just dropped to the ground and started running towards me, couldn't get a good shot, I was a bit freaked out, it was bigger than my thumb!

Have a few new baby squirrels in the yard, finally have a black one - don't know what to name him just yet, he is really a cutie.

Stitch Markers

2007-10-02T09:09:00.000-07:00

Having way too much fun, found some great beads and thought I'd make some markers. I'm having some problems finding double or split rings any bigger than 8mm, still looking

sock confessions

2007-10-02T08:53:00.000-07:00

Started another new pair, why oh why, wanted to try out this yarn I dyed with Wilton, and of course, Andi's new pattern "Toad in the Hole" it is so much fun, easy to remember but still challenging. These colors are looking really great with this pattern, the teal color is almost luminescent. These are the great Sox Stix I got as a gift from our trip to Columbus, thanks gals! So lucious!!!!

Almost finished with this pair, not sure if I like the Addi bamboo, the join isn't as smooth as the turbo's but I'm actually knitting looser so it isn't so bad. These are generic Crazy Toes and Heels just at the toe decrease. For a Christmas gift so I better get crackin'.

This is a toe up from the Crazy Toes and Heels using the self striping yarn I dyed a few months ago, I ticked them out so many times, I finally like the way that they are turning out, using a pattern from Charlene Schurch's More Sensational Socks, not so sure which one just yet.

Mom's 90th B-day celebration

2007-10-02T08:40:00.000-07:00

Here are a few pics of our great party for mom, Thanksbirthdaygiving.

Group pics

2007-10-02T08:24:00.000-07:00

These are the best of the group pics, the little girl that took them was pretty shakey, not many in focus.

more group pics

2007-10-02T08:20:00.000-07:00

trip to Buffalo

2007-10-02T08:11:00.000-07:00

Took a road trip, saw Maggie's team play Friday night and Saturday, Yahoo, they won both Matches. Maggie has imporoved soo much!

2 new projects

2007-09-25T18:48:00.000-07:00

This is one of the Knit Picks bare yarns I dyed with Wilton, hat finished for Max

Scarf knit up for Maggie, of course school colors.

fingering weight Wilton dye day

2007-09-25T18:45:00.000-07:00

This one looks very cool in the sunlight, almost glowing, Wilton dye leaf green, teal and royal blue

Royal blue, violet and Teal

Brown, copper and red

Yellow, orange red and brown

gauntlets and great night

2007-09-23T07:27:00.000-07:00

Max came home for the weekend, had a last horrah out back, tikki lights and bonfire, another wonderful night, the weather was great. I spent the day cleaning and dying, will post pics later.

Oh, my first pattern design for gauntlets, I thought I was some sort of knitting genious until I googled "free knit fingerless gloves pattern" and found a bunch of them, just like it. Oh well, ya gotta start somewhere.

I'm learning so much about reading a skein, this is purchased hand dyed wool, didn't expect it to come out like this. I am trying to avoid the puddling effect when dying. This turned out beautiful, I like the way it is sort of striped then at the top makes little blocks of color.

last of the dying day

2007-09-20T08:21:00.000-07:00

I wanted to try painting next....this was fairly dry yarn and after the vinigar bath I diluted the dye with a bit of the vinigar water. Dapped it on, wrapped it with plastic and cooked it in the microwave in a bowl of water. I washed with Dawn and the water ran clear, so it worked.

I've been looking for some green yarn for a hat for Max, OU colors. This one is green with a bit of black on one end and brown on the other. I'm trying to get the color on so it won't puddle too much.

more dying day

2007-09-20T08:17:00.000-07:00

Here is a skein with golden yellow, brown and orange

One side lime green, the other side orange and lemon yellow

more Wilton Dying

2007-09-20T08:14:00.000-07:00

I decided to give the Wilton Icing Dyes another chance. I soaked the yarn in vinigar water for 20 minutes, in the mean time started a pot and brought the water to a simmer. Placed the yarn in, trying to keep the two sides seperate. Later on I placed a small jar full of water in the middle to keep them apart. I dropped teal on one side and burgandy on the other.

After about 15 minutes of steeping I tested the water with a white plastic spoon, the water was clear, so all of the dye was absorbed by the yarm. After drying out in the back, this is what is looks like

sun keeps on shining

2007-09-20T08:04:00.000-07:00

The water lettuce keeps on propegating....I love how they close up at night.

So, I'm putting together the lasagna for Frit'z 22nd birthday, I look out the kitchen window and there are 5 deer, eating the crab apples. I hope they eat them ALL.

We were just enjoying an adult beverage out on the patio and saw this hawk in the neighbors yard. Get those varments.

So, Froggy is sitting out with us tonight.

fall garden starting

2007-09-20T07:58:00.000-07:00

I do love the money tree, so delecate and airy. I love the way the sun goes through them. Time to cut them and make a bouquet

One lowley Glad, so pretty

Can't believe how beautiful the Japanese Anemone are....lots of them.

More dye fun!

2007-09-14T13:37:00.000-07:00

Spent a little more time with the Wilton icing dye....red and black mixed in the pot after the yarn was dropped in. I really wanted to create colors that will not "puddle" when knit up, so the back and the front of the skein are different along with the ends. This looks a bit pinker that it really is.

The variations are unbelievable from just two dye colors

This one is using green, yellow and blue, I dropped the dye in little bits after the yarn was in the boiling water.

I'm loving how vibrant the colors are. Different than the Jaquard but I can do it in my kitchen.

skeins of dyed yarn

2007-09-14T13:22:00.000-07:00

This is done with Procian dyes... black and brown with a little blue

This one is black red and orange....

This one is koolaid dyed worsted wool, very suble, I think this may be a pair of fingerless gloves.

another dye day yesterday

2007-09-14T13:13:00.000-07:00

So, I decided to go forward and try a self striping dye again, this time with the Wilton icing dye. I wanted a black and white stripe. Here is the yarn skeined out. I tied in between the colors very tight so that the black wouldn't seep over to the white. I soaked the whole thing in vinagar water.

Here is the pot of black, the undyed section is draped over the pot... looks good doesn't it? Well, I left it bublling till the water turned clear (about 15 mins) I took it out and rinsed it, and the black was a sick sort of mottled purplish color. Rats

So, I did an overdye, just blobbing in the violet color... looks good.

After rinsing, washing and drying it looks good, although I forgot about the part that I tied tight, so there is a white strip each side between the colors... oh well, should look good.

2007-09-10T13:26:00.000-07:00

Just a few pics of the garden...the Arum seeds are looking good, just wish there were more of them. The leaves should start coming up soon.

One lowley strawberry, Oh well.

the Sedum are starting to bloom, I love how strong and hardy these are. Got a new one this summer, we'll see what color it is soon.

another busy week

2007-09-10T13:16:00.000-07:00

Will post picks later.....got back from Columbus and haven't sat down yet. Had a great day Friday visiting yarn shops on the West side of Cleveland and Lakewood, then went to Chelsea's and spent way too much time browsing...very very cool.

Still getting jags of saddness and loneliness. Going through all those old pics and posting them has been very depressing... should mention that those are for a scrapbook for my mom's 90th birthday. Very hard to look at the kids all cute and cuddly......

Just finishing up dying some yarn with Wiltons icing dye....not sure if the black is going to work out. The roofers are finished but their tools are still all over and the huge trash thingy is taking up the driveway.

end of summer

2007-09-06T12:57:00.000-07:00

I can't believe how sweet the concords are.....and lots of them

But..... we have to figure out what to do with all of them, some grapes are ready before the others and they fall off, not sure if that's normal....I'll have to research.

One silly strawberry, less and less every year now that the trees have gotten so big

The sedum are starting to bloom. Got a new one this year and I don't know how it's going to look when it blooms, another raising kids analogy. Ha

from last month

2007-09-06T12:42:00.000-07:00

Thought I’d post these pics from a few weeks ago to chronicle the garden. The white grapes were just about ready, but not the concords.

Lot's more lilies in the pond, only a few babies survived though. Can't seem to get a decent picture of them, elusive!

The lowly arum seeds, I hope they do their job.

I was watching time go by through the kids, how they grew, what they wanted for their birthday, how tall they measured on the wall every year. Maybe the garden has become so important to me because I can watch time go by; I’m not letting it slip by without notice. Still having bouts of complete sadness, jags of tears. How come I can’t go back into my new studio and create??????

Day at the Islands

2007-09-06T12:18:00.000-07:00

Spent the Day up in the Islands, saw the gazebo and the hotel for the reception.... oh, so pretty I forgot to take pictures. I did get one of the couple to be. We had a wonderful day, Lakeside is so beautiful. I really like seeing these two with each other, young love springs hope!

finally home

2007-09-01T11:45:00.000-07:00

Phew, finally home. Back from Scranton PA, taking Maggie back to school. Back from Rochester and Chitaugua for business. Back from Athens taking Max back to school. Baby gone and house is quiet. Well, except for the roofers starting at 7:30 this morning.

Stopped at a GREAT yarn shop in Chitaugua, the Yarn Barn, she was darling, the store was packed full of new to me stuff, and 50% off on Bamboo and Taio.... what fun. Will work on getting some new pics up.

short row heel/toe trials #2 again

2007-08-24T08:09:00.000-07:00

Thought this might be a better view of Cat Bordhi's short row, pulled tight. Pretty nice, Huh?

short row heel/toe trials #2

2007-08-24T07:08:00.000-07:00

This sample is from Cat Bordhi's videos on YouTube - do a search for Cat Bordhi - Little Sky Learning Sock, Part 1. This seems to have a jog in it, but I do not have the book and maybe there is a trick I didn't get.. I do like the look of the sides, and the inside is much smoother than the other. I guess I'm going to need to get that book!

By the way, Cat has a video for Judy's Magic Cast on, and she is wrapping the top needle incorrectly, well different than Judy's instructions...

http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEspring06/FEATmagiccaston.html

This is a very smooth short row.

short row tow/heel trials #1

2007-08-24T06:06:00.000-07:00

Cast on two circulars using Judy's Magic Cast on http://www.knitty.com/. Used the short row technique from Ann Budd's Better-Than-Booties http://www.interweave.com/. I like the way the knit stitch runs all the way around.

Oh my God, are those my hands? How did that happen, I still feel 18!

Nice round toe/heel

Oh, the concords are starting to turn... yum

Pics of the pups

2007-08-23T17:25:00.000-07:00

Thought I'd post a few........
This is Cookie, very cuddly and she likes to be held so she can wrap her front paw around your neck, but as long as she is close to you she is happy.

This is Baby, I know, the name is pretty lame, but it stuck when we brought him home at 1.5 pounds. He has to be touching you all of the time, if it is just sitting on your foot. He used to come to work with me, so loves when I pull out the laptop, he knows he'll get a lot of cuddling time with me.

This is Gin Gin, named after "I dream of Jenie's" little white dog. He is trained so well, I'm thinking of starting therapy with him. He loves Fred, and follows him around like a shadow. He waits for him at the door

One more of Baby, his coat is so thick but surprisingly easy to take care of. I comb him about once a week and he goes to the goomer a few times a year to get that undercoat cleaned out.

comments

2007-08-23T06:37:00.000-07:00

There was a comment for a pattern for the ittybitty socks and mittens. I made up the mittens, don't really have a pattern - but the socks are from http://www.socknitters.com/.

nostepine etc....

2007-08-09T07:28:00.000-07:00

This is the nostepine that we made from a chair leg....I'm still at the football stage though. I did download the instructions, and have tried several center pull balls, but I just can't get the hand of it. UGH....I do love a challange but sometimes you just want to have things work! Amy took a look and thought that maybe it was too big, that could be why I'm having some problems. I think we'll go back to Lowe's and get a smaller chair leg and try it out. For such little cost I can try several sizes. I guess I should start looking for antique legs. I was planning on painting Ivy vines up and around and then varnish, but I'll wait to see if the smaller one is a better fit.

The fish population is growing and growing, at least 2 dozen now, the biggest is about a foot from nose to tail tip.

Finally got the clog sock finished, I wish I would have used a smaller needle, they stretch out a bit too much. Maybe I'll frog and redo the toes, making them a little longer so they don'e stretch as much. I used the yarn I dyed with Jaquard dyes on the SNB's dye day, I really like the way the color pattern turned out.

These are Beatrix Clog socks, http://www.socktopia.net/patterns/beatrix.pdf. I love that the pattern runs up the back because I usually wear clogs in the winter. I think that this will be my go-to pattern from now on, it is very easy to calculate sizing because you can adjust the front stitch count to make gauge. I'm all for easy and simple.

I've got a studio!

2007-08-08T08:14:00.000-07:00

Thought I'd post a few pics of the new studio, ha - I'm an artist and I have a studio!!! I love my Pfaff, but haven't really done much embroidering lately. Now that I have my high table next to the machine it will be much easier. See those planes? I decided that I'm not going to take them down, for now at least. Since Fritz doesn't have a place for them now I'll just keep them up. I think they add a bit of, um, whimsy? I still have more embroidery thread to get up on these racks. Notice the yarn at the right, this is my collection of complete skeins, not touched yet..the top two are for socks. The WOP and odds and ends are in different places throughout. Too many to admit to.

Here is the great table with raised legs, and the chair has raised legs too. It has been difficult working on a regular table since I'm tall, my poor back. A perfect place for the serger, under the table, put away but close so I can pull it out when needed. The roller under the table has scraps of yarn, fabric and stuff for embelishements. I still have boxes of thread to put up on these thread racks.. Lots of work yet to be done. I love all of the sunshine in this room.

Here is the back wall, the closet holds all the fabric I've got. Well, not all, but most of it. I'm planning on using wire racks to hold and organize all of it, someday.... I'm still working on it so there are piles on the floor still. Geez, I didn't realize how much junk I have. Still piles of it in the basement.
The design wall needs some work, I need a bigger piece of felt to cover it, I think that will work just fine then.

I still have so much stuff to bring up, looking for some baskets or something to organize the stabilizer and backing here. The ones I want are so expensive, wondering how to do this. I guess I don't need everything out and available, but I'm finding that out of site, out of mind is true, I've got doubles of too many things to prove that!

muggy muggy

2007-08-08T07:33:00.000-07:00

UGh..... it's so muggy outside, staying inside again today. I worked all day yesterday in my new studio.....was oldest sons room, now it's mine, all mine MUHAHHAHAHAA. I've still got loads of stuff to bring up from my cavern in the basement, I think sewing with a view of the outside and using sunlight will really help to keep me motivated.

The one and only seed pod for the Arum is turning orange, I hope this is enough to propigate for next year.

Another lily started blooming, a bumper crop this year. The pond has been a wonderful place for me to sit and relax and contemplate. I love the way the seasons move and change in the water. Watching the plants and wildlife in and around the pond is fascinting and reasurring. No matter what drama is happening, there is a constant, God brought to life.

extra yarn

2007-08-06T04:39:00.000-07:00

Having some fun with extra sock yarn, ittie bittie sock and mittens.

these colors are closer to what I dyed the other day.......seperated into two balls and started the toes last night. I really am jonesin' for a ball winder, I'll go on ebay once more to see if I can find one at a better price. I weighed the skein and split it in half.

Two pretty lillies from the pond, this weather has made the plants wonderful this year, best year ever. There are about a dozen 1/2 inch babies swimming around, I thought they were all black but saw a few white and gold ones. All of the last year babies survived, so we have lots.

busy day

2007-08-01T19:03:00.000-07:00

Busy day, first started witht he yarn I seperated yesterday, wish I had taken pictures of it strung throughout the living room. Mostly eggplant, with some dark green/olive and mustard... my first attempt at self stripe-ing yarn. I'm trying to decide which pattern to use for these socks, hmmmmmm.

beautiful day

2007-07-31T07:34:00.000-07:00

Cookie's loving the sun, her favorite thing is to sit and soak it up. What she's doing right now.

The sun was shining so strong last night, it got pretty hot but we decided to sit with Fred while he grilled the vege's, what a great evening, all 5 of us together for dinner. Saw this spider web, the colors reflected were unbelieveable, I just couldn't get them on camera

There's a quilt in there somewhere.

The sun was shining right through the leaves, so pretty. Last night will remain one of my all time favorites, we just laughed and laughed, Tom stopped by and sat for a while. Love it..

2007-07-30T09:57:00.000-07:00

Another sign Summer is coming to an end, the grapes are starting to bulge. Boy, there sure are a lot of them this year, it's been 5 years since we planted them..... maybe we'll get to taste more than 3 or 4. A few more weeks and Maggie and Max will be gone, still not sure if Max will be playing hockey instead of going to school. What ever should happen will, so I'm trying not to get too crazy.

I think these are the concords, a bit denser, they have been the sweetest grapes we've ever tasted.

I think these are the whites, maybe the reds, it's hard to tell because the vines keep on crossing around and I can't keep track.

At least Fritz will be home this last year..... I know I won't see him much, but just knowing we have one more year makes me feel better. Working on the basement, getting everything up to the sewing room is going to be a pain, and figuring out how to get organized is daunting, but will be worth it once it is all done.... can't wait to have all of my "stuff" together, and a cutting table again!!!!

2007-07-30T09:48:00.000-07:00

This is the time of the year I start dreading... the lillies are just about finished, the crickets and locusts are making noises, and the end of the summer is near. It used to be that the kids will start back at school and our summer fun is over. Now we have to get up, eat at a certain time, and they are gone all day long. Egads, I hate "having" to be somewhere or do something.

The Herbs are looking as healthy as can be expected, lots of sun, no rain. I've been trying to remember to water, well, trying.

The pond plants are very prolific again....I'm pulling a dozen out a day and putting them in the comopost.

Very worried, the Italian Arum only has one seed pod this year, and it is late in turning orange. Shoot, I hope that it is OK.... I may have to move it in the spring. I can't see the shoot I started at the other garden, rats.

Ugh... will I ever be happy

2007-07-30T09:38:00.000-07:00

Finally, Knitpicks yarn is dyed and dryed

First try with a Crosshatch pattern from Charlene Schurch's 2nd book, frogged and frogged, trying to figure out a way to keep track. I finally got this far and realized they are WAY too big, now I'm frustrated and decided to start again. Geez.

I found a great pattern online, Beatrix clog socks, the pattern runs down the back and over the heel. Since I wear clogs all winter long these seem perfect. I cast on 29 for the pattern as needed, but only 23 in the front to keep the gauge correct. I just didn't like the way this yarn knitted up with the 00 Hiya Hiya I have.
I enlarged and printed out the lace pattern, using the magnet thingy. I check mark in pencil when the row is finshed and just use the magnet to make it easy to find the row while I'm knitting. I can't tell you how many times the magnets fell off during transit!. I also highlighted every few stitched to help me keep track of which set I'm on. Ya, I think I'm getting it!

First Post

2007-07-27T10:50:00.000-07:00

Never had a diary or journal, so here goes.