UFO Finished

Every crafter know UFO=Unfinished objects. These tend to multiply around the house. A first I made attempts to hide these so that comments such as "What is that?", "Aren't you done with that?" didn't make me feel shame. It all started when I was 6 and started a sweater for my grandmother. I even had my picture in the newspaper knitting that sweater. To make a long story short it was never done. The pattern was more intricate then I was capable of and I discoveded I did not like the purl side of stockinette stitch.

For a time I could no longer hide them as there were just too gall darned many of them! Now that I'm in the cleaning phase, I just throw some of them out.

And every once in a while I actually finish one.

This pink and blue necklace was one of them. It's for someone with a very dainty, thin neck, maybe a child.

Music to Match my Mood

Alison Krauss is a very accomplished woman with the voice of an angel. I don't profess to know how angels sound, and it may well be I'll never hear one, but if angels sing they must sound like her. According to a short biography I read on her, she started off with classical violin and by six had jumped to bluegrass fiddle. It wasn't until later that her voice became as popular as her fiddle playing. She was part of the group of people that made the soundtrack to O Brother Where Art Thou? such a big hit.

I would love to hear her live, and I hope she comes to Hawaii one of these days.

She gets 5 really spendid acorns! (Not that there are any other kind)

Lost in the Creative Wasteland

Creating anything these days is a real challenge for me. I'm looking at nature, websites, magazine ads, stores, and everywhere for inspirations, but my energies seem to be directed elsewhere.

I've even tried reading that book, "The book who's name is never mentioned" apparently, cuz the title escapes my mind.

I know there is someone out there who will find this necklace creative, so my lack of creativity is just a symptom of my current situation. So I'm just throwing it out there for all the world to see anyway.

Sunrise Haiku

Grey dawn on the sky.
Silver streak on the shoreline
portends a great day.

Crafting on the Road

Darn, I really was resolved to not craft on the road, so I didn't bring any needles. It only took me 4 days to lust after a project to have in hand. I found this store"
Black Sheep Yarn & Knitting Machines
222 N. Binkley St.
Soldotna, AK 99669
And, a cute little store it was. I could tell just by peering in the window. I went back and admired the other crafts such as stained glass and FO (finished objects). I got some real wool yarn, which is scarce in Honolulu and some double pointed needles and cast on 99 stitches with size 7 needles, knit for 7 inches then started decreasing. K7 K2tog around, K next row, K6 K2tog around and so fourth until I couldn't knit any more on the double pointed needles. Then I had to get home before finishing the hat with the roll brim and knot on top. Mindless! I may have enough yarn to knit the matching gauntlets :)

BTW, to finish, I kept decreasing around until I had 8 stitches left and kept knitting around until it was long enough to tie in a knot, aboug 4 inches. It can also be finished using the I-cord technique.

Working On

http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/khs-prettyPoncho.html-This is what I am knitting now. I know I wasn't supposed to add yarn to the stash, but, oh well :) I wanted this rose color but Ben Franklin was out. I had to settle for the blues. Sigh, my "rut" color. It's half way done. 

Crochet Luggage Tag 2, Pompom Variation

Crochet Luggage Tag 2, Pompom Variation
Size G or H crochet hook
1. Ch 5. Join.
2. (Sc in ring, ch 3) 12 times. Join.
3. Ch 3*, 7 dc in lst loop. (8 dc in ch 3 loop) 12 times. Join.
4. With contrast color, sc in every space or dc around. Join.
5. Make a pompom with contrasting color and join middle sc loop to flute the flower.
6. For string--Ch 60, then go backwards and sl st in every ch. Thread this string through 12 holes in above.
* Counted as first dc. 

Victorian Needle Case

This wonderful Walnut sewing kit is Victorian I am told, because the lining is made out of leather. It is quite light weight, so it isn't pure brass, but a nice brass color. 

Recent crystal projects. I'll have to figure out how to make a better scanned background one of these days. 

Crochet Luggage Tag 1

LUGGAGE TAG-Pattern from Grace
Size G or H crochet hook
1. Ch 5. Join.
2. (Sc in ring, ch 3) 6 times. Join.
3. Ch 3*, 7 dc in lst loop. (8 dc in ch 3 loop) 5 times. Join.
4. Ch 3*, dc in first st. 2 dc in next st and continue around. Join.
5. With contrast color, sc, ch 2 in every space or dc around. Join.
6. For string--Ch 60, then go backwards and sl st in every ch. Thread this string through 6 holes in above.
* Counted as first dc.

Tie this to your bag and when all the other black bags come rolling off the baggage claim belt, yours will call out to you and away you go!

I want to make this in nicer colors but I'm trying not to add to my stash right now. I am not much of a crocheter so this is my first one. Grace's are much prettier.