IT MUST BE SPRING FEVER!

Change is in the air... I have been buying new quilts and sheets for our beds & moving furniture around... (hopefully, next weekend, I get my "craft house" organized!)... the signs of spring are everywhere!

And I am also playing around with new craftiness:

Not only do I want to learn knitting (see post below) ...
I want to learn how to spin...
so I bought this little baby to try out:I bought this from the FancyKitty Shop on Etsy ( fancykitty.etsy.com ).

And this to go with it: This is a Merino Superwash... bought from (you guessed it, Etsy):
http://www.theranch.etsy.com/

I am a repeat customer of Ron's Fiber tools... I own a wooden G hook... sorry no picture... and a set of these pretty hooks: And Ron has his own site... http://www.fancykitty.com/ also.

And then I ordered this:

This is a weaving loom and the companion book, ZATI.

From my reading, a kind of spiritual approach to weaving... of course, I find that all of my crafting is part of my spiritual and emotional life... I just can't wait to try this! I ordered it on the 25th... so surely it will be here soon!

To check out this loom & philosophy, go to: http://www.weavingalife.com/ and also check out the Earth Loom... I want one of these too!

Also, for my ever-expanding crochet hook collection: I ordered these Japanese double-ended hooks:
and yes, they are coming from another Etsy shop: http://www.saucylouise.etsy.com/

I guess now you can see why I have to get my craft area tidied up!

Have a great weekend!

KNITTING FOR DUMMIES -- Hey! Is that some kind of insult?

Well, this looks like the right book for me... as I attempt to straddle the great divide between hook and needles.

I have always wanted to knit... but so far, just havent been able to make it happen.

But now I have the book and these tools: a ball of Red Heart SuperSaver... and a brand-spanking-new pair of Clover Takumi Bamboo Knitting Needles (9" - 8 - 5mm).

Oh my Gosh! It's my first little stitch! Woo Hoo! And then there were 28 (just like the instructions said there would be!)
woot, w00t, w007!

But now I have come to a dilemma... should I attempt English or Continental?
hmmmm....

to be continued...

This is a new painting that my sister is working on:

Gabriel thinks he can be a good lap dog ... NOT!

Crochet Instead of Flowers...

Unfortunately, yesterday's events included a visit to a funeral home. A dear family friend's 80-year-old mother passed away.

When we went to pay our respects, I noticed that instead of flowers draped over the casket, there was a beautiful, spring-colored (yellows and purples and white were the predominant colors), granny-square afghan.

As we had never seen that done before, my husband asked our friend about the significance of the afghan; and she replied that the funeral home had recommended the use of a quilt or blanket instead of the expense of flowers since the body was to be cremated. This particular afghan had been chosen because her mother's mother had crocheted it.

What a touching link between the generations... although, I am sure that when the mother originally created it; she never imagined that it would cover her daughter at life's end...
And then this artifact can be passed down to our Friend... I am sure that it will be a comforting object to have in the days to come... and who may pass it down to her granddaughter (whom she is raising)...

Like I said, I have never thought of using an afghan in that way... but it has definitely opened my mind to look at how crochet... or any craft... can play a part in our lives...

-------------------------------
Please pray for our Friend (and her two grandchildren)... who has lost both her mother and her daughter in such a short time..

-------------------------------
Also please pray for my FIL... who had to be taken to the hospital yesterday because of the flu... he got to come last night... but is far from well...

---------------------------
A "shout-out" to B3: I love you...it will all be ok.

WOO HOO! It's Friday! (Sharing pictures)

Just wanted to share a drawing that my younger son drew for me. He is trying to come up with a "logo" for me... I think this is an excellent first suggestion! Love it! I love the crochet hooks and how he put in an afghan hook... he is not totally pleased with it; and is going to do another... he wants to put "Fiber Deviant" in actual chain stitches and add a ball of yarn to the chain stitches dripping off the hooks!

I think I will go to http://www.zazzle.com/ and have some T-shirts made with this picture when he finalizes it!

------------------------------------

I bought a Nintendo Wii for the family (yeah, right! heh heh heh) and I have to say that I am impressed. It's a game that everyone can play... makes for a lot of fun when we have a crowd over! My 83-year-old father-in-law even bought one... he really kicks ass in bowling!

(If only I could get my elder son to make a complete fool out of himself and play Wario Smooth Moves in front of everyone -- that woud be "hoooooo-larious!)

Anyhoo... most weekdays, Sugar Daddy comes home for lunch & I have to crush him in Wii golf. I have to say that is our favorite game so far! (of course... i dont crush him everyday... he's a damn good Wii golfer!)


Here we are facing off!
Happy Friday! I hope everyone has a great weekend!

COTTON CANDY PURSE - FELTED

Just wanted to post the photos of the small purse that I finished last week.






It is now felted and drying.







Here is a close-up of the bobble & spike stitch detail.


<----- close-up of handle attachment





I think it turned out well? what do you think?

SUGAR DADDY'S NEW BLANKIE

Here is the "throw" that I made for Sugar Daddy for Christmas. Throw is in quotation marks because it is 6 feet long... Sugar Daddy is very tall & most throws aren't long enough to cover him while he is in his recliner... either his feet or his chest gets cold... so I made him a TV Blankie... although lately he has been sleeping with it too.

I made this free style... using my ever-favorite motif, the handprint... after completing the handprint, I "circled" it and rounded it around and then added corners to "square" it (does that even make sense?)
I used Lion Brand Wool Ease Yarn ... for warmth and washability... in green, gold, black, cream, blue and tan... i don't remember the exact names for the colorways. I also dont know how many skeins I used... I am so bad about keeping up with that... although I will say that I spent about $125 on yarn for this project.
It's mostly worked in sc, dc and hdc - - - - - with a P hook (...ha ha ha... she said "P hook!")
It's a very HEAVY blanket... but Sugar Daddy says that it is perfect... and he certainly has used it every day since I made it... so I consider that a successful project!
This blanket gets the Jubal Seal-of-Approval!

REFLECTING ON LOVE & A BIRTHDAY

Wow... last week was a doozy! First, there was the Day of Love, Valentine's Day.
I know, a lot of folks don't like Valentine's Day... but I enjoy it.

For me, it's not about roses or fancy gifts. Sometimes we don't even go out for dinner. Or if we do, it's not the traditional romantic venue... this year, for instance, Sugar Daddy & I went to a little hole-in-the-wall Colombian restaurant and had avocado, rice, beans & fried pork skin.

For us, it was about holding hands and spending a little alone time... no kids or doggies... no answering the cell phone for a couple of hours. It was just a little time to celebrate spending another year with my soul mate... of course, I am lucky... I am truly married to my best friend!

<------- this is the small "token" gift that I gave Sugar Daddy .... the wording is French (oooo la la!) for: "I love you more than yesterday less than tomorrow".

This phrase has special meaning for us... for our first wedding anniversary, Sugar Daddy took my wedding band to be cleaned... when it was returned, there was engraving inside: " More Today Than Yesterday" --- same meaning... different phrasing.

I bought the keychain from the Etsy website (http://www.etsy.com/), if you haven't been, you really should check it out... I love some of the very unique things you can get from there... and most people you meet are very nice!

I was in the Jewelry by Tara Shop (http://www.jewelrybytara.etsy.com/) (whom i recommend... I have bought from her before... Excellent customer service... all items are packaged prettily...and she is glad to do custom orders!), when i saw this necklace:
i loved the pendant... and convo'd her to see if there was anyway to get the pendant in a more masculine form.

The keyring was perfect... something he can keep nearby ... a visual token of my love for him, my Prince Charming!

Below is another necklace using the same pendant... LOVE IT!
Check her out... AWESOME!

-------------------------------------------------------------------

And then I celebrated my 39th Birthday (where does the time go?) on the 17th.

I had a very nice day... surrounded by family and friends... it was perfect!

Sugar Daddy gave me a very interesting gift:
a 13 week subscription (mon-fri) of USA TODAY
a 13 week subscription (sunday edition) of the NEW YORK TIMES
a 13 week subscription (sunday edition) of the WASHINGTON POST
a 13 week subscription (sunday edition) of the CHICAGO TRIBUNE
a 13 week subscription (sunday edition) of the LOS ANGELES TIMES
a 13 week subscription (sunday edition) of the MIAMI HERALD

I admit it... I am a dork! I looooove to read newspapers (and magazines)... i will be in newspaper heaven... from all angles of the country... I always read the ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUION when we are at our place in Temple, Ga.

There is nothing like sprawling out on the living room floor with the Sunday paper all spread out.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT!

My younger son got me season 4 of Northern Exposure (I now have seasons 1, 2, 3. 4 & 6... only one more to go).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Exposure

Below are the gifts from my elder son & daughter-in-law: a beautiful wood canister set covered in tin... and a gorgeous wrought iron cross which I hung on our front porch.
<--- sorry about the pic quality... havent learned all of the ins and outs of my new camera yet... oops!

My Mom made me a batch of homemade caramel fudge... true decadence & a silverware windchime... She was antiquing and found a set of silverware that was exactly the same pattern as her maternal grandparents... so she bought it and made me a windchime...AWESOME!

From my Sis-in-law and her family, I got an awesome "bowling bag" to carry my Wii & the Ultimate Board Game disc for the Wii,
and a gift certificate to my favorite yarn shop in Georgia, Ewe Knit in Carrollton!
http://www.eweknit.net/

Then my Father-in-Law and his companion... gave me a cook book from the Blue Willow Inn (in Social Circle, Ga) http://www.bluewillowinn.com/
and what?!? a gift certificate to Ewe Knit! WOO HOO... does life get any better?

As much as I love the gifts, I loved the fact that I was able to spend it with the people that I love the most!

I thank GOD for allowing me to spend another year with them!
I truly lead a blessed life!

JUBAL'S NEW SPRING CUT!

Isn't he just the cutest?

A NEW PURSE -- prefelting

Here is a new purse (purslet?) that I am making.

It is made of wool (handcrafted); and will be felted. I am interested to see how the bobbles and spike stitches will turn out during the felting process... I guess I should say "fulled" instead of felted... since it is a crocheted piece.

The color is called Cotton Candy... isnt it just beautiful?
I added plastic rings and some glass beads.

I will post pics postfelting!

Have a Great weekend! We are headed to Temple for a long weekend... Thanks to Presidents Day!!

This is a shot of Gabriel in the snow (January 17, 2008).

LOTS OF SKULLYs

Here are some earrings that I made from cool skully beads!!!

WOW! Ravelry is ALL that - - - & a bag of chips!!!

ok... so I have spent a massive amount of time on Ravelry this week... nothing much has been done here in the way of domestic chores... but thankfully, I have a hubby that is OK with that... as long as it doesnt last forever! lol

I can see why so many people were complaining about the time spent on Ravelry... It is like the Black Hole Of Free Time... but that could be because it is so very Awesome!

You have a tab called "My Notebook" where you can list your projects (both completed and WIPs)... you post pictures and all kinds of details about your project... date started/completed...size.... made for...hook or needle size... type of yarn... amount of yarn... WPI... whether project is pattern... if so, where to get pattern (book, pamphlet, web, etc), or if you modified the pattern, or if you improvised... then there is a notes section where you can put in info that doesnt fit.... one of the cutest features is you can use different emoticons to show how happy you are with the project!

then you can link your blog entries that deal with that project...

there is also places to keep an inventory of hooks and needles (and you can print out a little card for your pocket/purse) so you don't have to run out and buy duplicate sizes.

you can look up future projects by pattern or by yarn.

you can keep an inventory... along with pictures of your yarn stash!

yarn porn, anyone?

your Ravelry profile allows you to have a feed from your blog.

i think it is a great tool for organization, if nothing else...

but wait, i am not done yet... you get access to pics of all other members' projects & notes.

and then there is the social networking aspect of it... there are friends & groups to join, if you wish.
i have met some new friends... and plenty of "old " ones (although sometimes they have different names over in ravelry land) that i have made through blogging & flickr & even myspace.com!

i think it is a great tool and lots of fun! (you gotta love a place where, in your profile, it asks what your favorite curse word is!)

FO Alert: or How I Finally Finished My Skullerific Tote Bag; and I Want to Felt Again

This is a post pulled from my previous blog that I have disbanded... but as I am putting projects on Ravelry for perusal, I thought I would repost it here... with all of the non-project Information deleted ... the date of original post is: Friday May 12, 2006 - 09:53am (EDT)








Woo Hoo!

I finally finished my first (but not last) felted/ fulled project!
(which is it felted or fulled? i think that it is fulled because it was crocheted first... not loose wool... does anybody know?)

This was crocheted with a J hook using Bernat Lana 100% Merino Wool.




I did the entire bag free-style after looking at this skull tote: http://www.helloyarn.com/bigskulltote.htm

I have a hard time following a pattern; so I just looked at the picture for inspiration... and this is what I came up with.







I don't know if you can read the words on the strap; but here is what it says: " caution: I use hooks & pointy sticks x x x joanna"

It was felted by placing it in a pillowcase (which was secured by a rubber band) and put in the washing machine along with an old pair of jeans & 2 tablespoons of baking soda... i turned the the cycle on small and hot/cold and ran it through the wash & rinse cycle (regular not heavy duty).

I am fairly pleased with how it came out... except that I tried to make the crossbones in the shape of crochet hooks ... i dont think they came out too good... oh well... for the most part, I like it. It's very roomy and the strap is long enough that i can wear it messenger style.