Still Alive and Crafting

Rumors of my departure have been greatly exagerated! I'm still here, just busier than ever. I haven't had a lot of free time to post here so now you get a big crafty update.

Since the last time I posted, I did finish the hat, but I don't really like it, so I think I'm going to rip out some of it and redo it. Haven't done it yet though. Maybe someday.

This was the spring and early summer of babies. I made 3 baby blankets. The first was for my dear friend Heather and her precious little one, Reese. The pattern is a simple fan and feather that I got from a magazine. So simple and it looks so hard!

This is the second blanket I made for a coworker. Same pattern as above, just a different color.

The third blanket was for a new little cousin. Same pattern, dark blue. Sorry, I didn't even think about taking a picture of it.

I also painted and decoupaged a wooden box for another friend from a web community I belong to. It's simple, but I think it turned out pretty nice.

But this is quite possibly the coolest thing I've done in the past little while.

Who would have ever thought that this wool yarn

plus a pot full of water mixed with Iced Blue Raspberry Lemonaid Koolaid

would make this beautiful shade when all mixed together?

I love it and can't wait to find something to do with it.

My only recommendation would be to wear gloves when dying yarn. I've sported a lovely blue hand all week. Michael thinks I might be turning into a Smurf.

I also am starting to work on a project for Christmas painting plates. Keep your fingers crossed that it works out.

Knit up the Old, Make Room for the New

I'm broke. I make more money at my job that I ever expected to as a state employee, but I bring home less than I ever have. Damn adulthood and bills! I'm not doing so badly though. I'm very appreciative for what I have. Anyway, since I'm trying to do my best at controlling and curbing my spending habits, I'm knitting from my yarn stash instead of just looking at it dreaming.

This is a hat that I'm making from Jaspe Wool by Ella Rae. I got it from In the Loop on Divine Street in Columbia, SC. It's some beautiful stuff. The picture just doesn't do it justice. The colors are just so rich. The richness of it kind of remind me of oil crayons.

Giveaway!

The lovely ladies at The Secret Is In The Sauce are hosting another fabulous giveaway!

Click here for a chance to win! (And meet some awesome new people)

http://www.thesitsgirls.com/2009/02/february-giveaway-bedroom-bliss.html

Left Handed Crafting in a Right Handed World

So I'm gathering from the comments on my last post that there are other left handers out there who craft who have problems with learning some crafts.

What kind of lefty are you? Do you do everything with your left hand? Are you somewhat ambidexterous and do things with both hands? Are there some things you can only do left handed and some things you can only do right handed? Let me reassure you that no matter what kind of lefty you are, you are not alone!

It's hard to learn things when you're left handed. I was a kid right before they stopped all that switching a kid from a lefty into a righty nonsense. When my first grade teacher asked my parents if they wanted her to teach me how to be a right hander, my mother told them right where they could stick that idea. Granted, learning to write was a torture, learning to use a pair of scissors was so awful I ended up learning right handed...I can go on and on. I'm sure you have stories of your own though. The end result is me; someone who can write and eat and do most crafty projects with her left hand, use scissors and knit right handed and is ambidextrous putting on make up. I have to set things up differently than right handers, but I get the job done. I have to go through a different learning process, but I usually figure it out (with a few more curse words).

I thin everyone, regardless of whether you are left or right handed can do any craft. We just have to find the way that works best for us. As long as you get the result you want who cares if you need to stand on your head or hop on one leg to do it (as long as you're ok with that). So left handers, if learning left handed isn't working, try right handed. And if that doesn't work, figure out a mixture of both. Craft without fear!!!!!!!!

Not quite what I planned

I had planned tonight, while my husband is watching Naruto on Cartoon Network, to post the finished pictures of my cable knit project. I finished the knitting Thursday night and the blocking was done by Friday night. I wove the ends in and sewed the bottom up.

And I forgot to take a before picture.

I tossed it in the wash to felt it and before I went to bed I shaped it and stuffed it with filling so it would dry in shape. This morning I sewed the snaps in, took some pictures and sent it on it's way to a yet undisclosed location. I'd love to show you those pictures, but alas, I am no photogapher. Foiled by a point and shoot! They were all blurry and unfocused. Hopefully I'll have better luck the next time I take pictures.

I've got lots of projects on the brain lately. I already have some big plans in motion for making things for the next holiday season and for birthday gifts for the girls on my list. The guys on the list, I'm still looking for ideas for. For the christmas season I'm thinking of making bath sets for the girls with a homemade shower cap, bath fizzies, sugar scrub and a wash cloth in the package. I also found great tutorial about making a ruffled shrug from a t-shirt. Now I have to follow through with the plans and not procrastinate.

Comment for a Chance to Win!

It's a bright, shining Saturday morning in the WC, so what better way to spend it than working on my grocery/coupon lists and entering giveaways? I haven't found any so here are some links for y'all. Enter away!



http://prayforroy.blogspot.com/2009/01/valentines-giveaway.html Great Valentine's giveaway!



http://cynthialovespictures.blogspot.com/2009/01/super-fab-organization-giveaway.html Awesome organizational giveaway!

It Looks Like a Big Fish Hook!

I've got two main projects on the needles right now. One is a baby blanket. This is one of several that I need to get working on. I know a lot of pregnant women right now!

And I learned something new this week! My co-worker, knitting buddy, Elizabeth was working on a simple beginner level cable knit scarf. She conviced me it was pretty simple, showed me how to do it and here's my first result! This is going to be a simple pouch with a flap. This opens up so many other opportunites! When my husband saw the cable needle he made the comment that it looked like a huge fish hook. It kind of does!

And yes, in case you're wondering, that is my desk. I've been trying to keep my knitting as cat fur-less as possible so I've been knitting at work only and keeping it separate from any knitting I do at home.