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.

I am in!!!

Can you believe that I got my Ravelry invite on Friday night... AFTER we headed out of town?!? I was checking email from my cell phone and saw it... Let me tell you, I was ready to have SugarDaddy turn the car around!!!

LOL... ok... so I am finally in... woo hoo!

My first look around is that this is going to be such a great tool!

AWESOME!!!

Ravelry Countdown

You signed up on January 15, 2008
You are #87960 on the list.
557 people are ahead of you in line.
6351 people are behind you in line.
92% of the list has been invited so far


----------------------------------------
--tapping my feet-- I can hardly wait.... next week, i should be surfing past the pearly gates of the paradise called RAVELRY!

i have heard alot about Ravelry... can't wait to see for myself...

---waiting patiently... well, as best as i can----


Check it out for yourself: http://www.ravelry.com/

KNIFTY KNITTER SOCKS

Here is a pair of socks that I made with the Blue Knifty Knitter!

They are made of Lion Brand Thick & Chunky Wool Ease yarn.

The pair took me about 4 - 5 hours to make - which makes this a definitely do-able weekend project.

I looked at several different patterns and websites and kind of came up with my own twist on these... I will post my "pattern" soon.





<---- here is a close-up of the stitches (sorry about the picture quality--my old sony digital camera gave up the ghost... and so i had to use my camera phone...thankfully, a new camera is on the way!)

<--- another view...

<---- my youngest son, Jordan, trying out his new socks

<--- stretched out on the coffeetable Hey! get those feet off the table!!!!

I know a lot of people who don't accept the Knifty Knitter --- "it's not real knitting!"; but I enjoy using them occasionally--- And have made some very useful items! As long as someone is creating things... I don't knock it!

VOTE 2008

Saturday, January 19, 2008 was the date of the Republican Primary here in South Carolina.



So even though it was rainy, cold, yucky and snow was in our forecast... the Head Family loaded up and went to the Polling Place.



Here are pictures of me and Sugar Daddy showing off our "I VOTED" stickers!


















And here is our son, Jordan... who voted for the first time! WOO HOO! He was really into the voting process... he did online research and really initiated a lot of conversation about the candidates!




He is not 18 yet.... but in South Carolina, if you are eligible to vote in the Presidential Election... then you are allowed to vote in the Primaries.

and here is Jubal... he too is showing off his sticker...

OK...OK ... you got me... he didn't get to vote... but he definitely had some ideas about the candidates!


And he really is a Cutie Pie... Don't you think?











The weather was so nasty and yucky that we stopped by our favorite Vietnamese Restaurant, Saigon Fast Food (on Pleasantburg Road), and ordered a veritable FEAST!

Pho, Springrolls, Steamed Dumplings, Squid & Crispy Duck on Curry Rice! YUMMY!!! And washed it down with Iced Vietnamese Coffee!

We took this Feast home & played Wii Golf well into the night!

(I think it was the Coffee that kept us up!)

Don't forget to vote!!!!
If you don't vote, then you have no right to complain...
and you get the government that you deserve!

WALLHANGING #10

Just wanted to post some pics of a wallhanging that I was working on before the holidays.



This piece is about 10 inches across and about 33 inches long.



I made a rod pocket and used a piece of red bamboo to hang it from.



This was a "stash buster"; and is made from commercially available wools and acrylics and novelty yarn mixes.



As you can see, I have used my favorite motif, the Hand Print and 3 ( "It's a magic number..." sing along with me! ) triangle motifs.



I added a little ruffle below the hand and above the triangle... for a layered effect.



The stitches mostly used were single, double and treble... with a few popcorn stitches and other assorted stitches thrown in here and there for interest.




As usual, I tried to put in lots of color.

LOOK WHAT I GOT ON ETSY!!!

Isn't this just the cutest little dog harness ever?!?
(Of course, it goes without saying, that Jubal is the cutest little doggie ever!)

I got this faboo doggie harness from the Etsy shop: 3POOCHYS

Here is a link to the shop: ( http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5289504 )

I had to order a custom-made one for Jubal (who is up to 16 pounds now... his vet says, "Enough!"). 3POOCHYS answered my request and made the harness and shipped it very quickly.

I was very pleased with the workmanship of the harness and I just love the fabric design! ( so much that i ordered a wristlet from another seller on Etsy: Smitten Originals ( http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5144003 )!

Actually, I am quite addicted to ETSY... if you haven't been by there... you should definitely check it out!!!

Buy Handmade!

EATING FOR GOOD LUCK (mobile blogging)

I had New Year's Dinner at BrendaBaby's (my mom)... we had the traditional greens for money & prosperity, black-eyed peas for luck, cornbread, coleslaw, squash & meatloaf.

But the best part was having the potliquor & cornbread afterwards. If you don't know what potliquor (or as some people spell it, potlikker) is, it's the juice left in the pot from the greens... it has all of the seasonings of the greens... and all of the nutrients that boil out from the greens! i like to soak my cornbread in the potliquor... almost like a porridge... nothing like it!

Hope you have properity & luck in 2008!!

How can that be comfortable? This is how Jubal brought in the new year!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! (mobile blogging)

Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year!

May Love, Joy & Prosperity reign forever!

We spent a quiet New Year's Eve at our little place in Temple, GA. Just Sugar Daddy, my brother, my nephew, Gabriel, Jubal & me... but everyone but Sugar Daddy & me conked out before 2008 rang in!!

We shared our midnight kissy-poo & sent New Year's text messages to our kids & then turned in ourselves!

Jubal wanted to stay up... but he just couldn't make it!