the Great Cover Up

OK so Y'all have noticed the fixation with shawls, I think they are so pretty, lacy, floaty, and usable..or at least I think so...alas , I keep picking increasingly  more detailed and complicated designs., I like the challenge of learning a new pattern..and it keeps my hands busy while catching up on Desperate Housewives!

The Blue shawl above is one of my endless projects, it was pretty and fun to do , but my the last 2 inches of the project I was getting ancy to start the next project ! You can see from the slightly blurry photo above that Lilly cat was quite taken with it and decided to use it as a blankie!

I started on another shawl right after, with a pattern I saw in the book "crochet so fine" it had a flower border that I didn't like ...so I left it off..another pic where my flash washed out the beautiful color and it has a metallic sparkle behind it ..I made this one as a gift for my boss ( Lisa if you read my blog... act surprised !)

I thought I had posted the pic for Michael's pillow , but didn't see it ..this is just the top ..

I have 2 more projects in the works at the moment , another smaller pop top bag..and a vase made of paper..both of them are almost done ! ..

I started a pink mohair shawl last night also.....so many projects ..so little time!  

Pot holders

This week I tried a new pattern for a really pretty potholder!

OK so it kinda looks like something a grandma would make..I get that its not in every ones taste ..but heck its a potholder and not a piece of art work ..but I do think its kinda pretty and was really fun to make

 I also tried to make paper beads, I saw this at the destination art event, and saw some paper beads that Alex had made .I mean this was simple... just rolled up glued paper right? ...well I ended up with more glue on my hands and paper beads that would not behave ..I had the best intention of making a bunch of them to send to my mom..but they are so ....well lets just say... the pretty pack of paper I bought is being sent to basil to make cards with and I will go back to making fimo beads..but it was a good try!

 I had a bit of cotton yarn left from the pot holder ( and not enough to make another one of the same ) so I thought I would make a fancy dishcloth .....I love the silly looping chain st that runs from the center ,,but the silly thing will not stay flat...but it was fun to make anyway....

if anyone reading ever wants the link to any of the projects that I make I am glad to share ...just let me know !

the fascinator !

I am not sure if anyone else seemed as focused on hats from the royal wedding as I was ..
I love hats
my mom loved hats
and I have hats all over ..I usually wear my hats just for sun protection but I love them nonetheless

but I noticed a trend for small silly useless fascinator hats ..so I made one of my own, my friend David was working on a full size felted top hat, and I used the same concept to make a mini felted bowler..
before anyone asks, no I don't intend to wear it ..it is just art for arts sake ..but it is cute! 
I hand felted using microwaved hot water and a wooden spoon, and blocked over a vase

I also worked on a pillow for my Michael..I make stuff for everyone else but never for him so I found this pretty pillow and made him one ...the top was done in noro silver thaw..so all the pretty colors are part of the yarn..the back ( that I was still working on when I took the pic.) .is purple and olive....and its pretty too..alas I forgot to take a pic of the completed pillow ....

Happy Easter

so I couldn't resist making something for Easter

8 little eggs and a basket!....and our lillycat is so excited to show them off!

Kelley made some sure cute little bunnys that I will add a pic of later

from Kelley

The original pattern called for sock/fingering yarn, but I didn't have any in the colors that I wanted and I wanted to use yarn from my stash.  My bunnies are made out of Sugar 'n Cream cotton, I have LOTS of that hanging around in various colors.  I used size 6 DPN's.  I also made my ears longer, because 10 stitches just didn't look long enough.

I just like to add my bit of spring pep talk
the cycle of the seasons, and of renewal is continual..I get so exited about the miracle of plants coming to life ..of beautiful flowers and all the riot of colors ...may all of you have a chance to take a  sec this spring to look at all the beauty around you!
cheers!

ATC's

my new thing is artist trading cards
basically small works of art..in trading card size

now when I first looked into this I thought "oh how simple "
but getting images to grow and thrive in the small space is more than just shrinking down artwork
as I was creating the images I was thnking of the most impact with the shortest amount of visual scan time

so if ya didnt get all that I will take out all the jargon for you
the smaller the art the less time people look at it ...

so I wanted rich layered images..
alas there is no substance to them ...
they are just pretty
no story
no deeper visual meaning

I didnt really capture all the colors right with the photos ..
the last pic is the prototype of basils business card ..
but alas after scanning ..
it got wet..
Basil said it was maurice spilling the sambucca on it ..
I got one good scan for him and the cards were printed but I saved it just to show off

I double posted today to make up for my lack of posting this month!

Fearless Creating

This last weekend Michael and I wen to the SPCA book sale.. we met Kelly

( this is an annual outing for us !)

and found lots of books to add to our collection ..

I believe that books are a good investment ..

they don't go bad..and they have a life  past when you read them ..buy sharing with friends ..

or usually donating back to the SPCA....

I look for unusual reference books ..

I have acquired some nifty books of musicals, play writing, and art..

besides my cache of murder mystery books ....

in the assortment this time was a book called fearless creating ....

I love this kind of self empowering creative affirmation book ....

but mind you I just got it and haven't "read" it ..

just gave a skim....

I like the idea of not being afraid to be creative and not fearing mistakes ...

I have a whole bunch of items that I have started ..

and then just realised they they weren't working  the wrong hook ..

or needle..or the yarn just didn't looks right ..

usually they are frogged ( rip it..rip it ) ..

I took some photos of my WIPS..

that are just not working and are going to be undone ....

i think ...

I am pretty fearless in tying the wrong yarn ..

just to see how it looks ..but I like to give a project a chance ...

see if it come to life or grows on me

this pink yarn is really pretty and soft ..and I though that the pattern was fun ...

but this is just not working for me and it will be frogged ..but frogging mohair is a lesson in patience ..

this brown yarn has been tried in 3 other things ..

its so pretty but it just hasn't been right ..

and it kinda smells antiseptic ....

the rest of my kool aid dyed lace weight was going into this one ..

but it was testing my patience ..

and I have other yarn that I want to play with!

this teal project is super pretty ..

but the yarn is a pain to work with and this scarf is 3/4 done ..

i just need to buck up and work to the end..

but i do have 2 finished works that truly make up for my last of posting new things ..

OK this photo is not the best but it shows the color

this is a slightly fuzzy sparkly soft yarn ....

fun to look at ..a real pain to work with ..

but it made a pretty shawlette ..

and My new thing it has a half a row left..and blocking ..

( it will be "done " tonight)

I splurged and bought the yarn full price and it is sooooooooooooo pretty ......

It really was a silly project that took me a few weeks

( this yarn was bought on the art day with Alex and Elizabeth )....

This by far was the most ongoing  project for me ..

the lace weight take a bit longer and then the blocking ..

but I think it was worth it!

but It frees me up to work on some smaller projects !

Items from my Creative Friends

So I mention a lot about how creative all of my friends are ..and I love to get the chance to chow off their work!

I asked Kelley to send me some of her really cool items ...I want to add that I was there when Kelley started to learn ..and she has some serious knitting skills ..and a lot of Patience...as you can see from some of work the has no fear of small needles or projects that require a time commitment..and Kelly is allergic to wool..so only cotton or man made firers for her ..which limits what she can work with she spends a lot of time making sure she can sub out yarn types

the crab was an ode to "deadliest catch" and took her quite a while..it is a very pretty piece

The paint brush is of her own design! a lot of thought went into construction and colors !

and the hedgehog is really adorable!

One of our coworkers Megan ( she works in our building but not in our office) has a very cool desk area...the "wallpaper" is made up of postcards from student events ,concerts and lectures...Megan mentioned that is was a great way for her to connect with students and alumni in her office ...its very pretty and really cool!

I cannot say it often enough

I am so fortunate to be surrounded by sooooo may fun and creative people ..