New device idea

Complete!

 

 

I am pretty happy with my latest knitterly item.  I finally made something for myself and it's a bit lacy, a bit sparkly and a whole lot of merino, silk, and bamboo yum-ness!

Another Secret Pal Package

I got a cool Valentine's package from my Secret Pal awhile ago...but I have been bad and have not had time to post a pic...so here it is!!

And here are the girls making Valentines for their friends.  Thank you so much!!!

Secret Pal Package!

     I was having a really crap day today...kids, hubby, being depressed....but there was a little something in my mailbox to pick me up!  

     My Secret Pal (a silly, but wonderful internet swap between knitting freaks) sent me my first surprise package - and it was full of yummy loveliness.  There was an insanely soft skein of Cascade Yarn (Eco Duo) of undyed baby alpaca and merino...I have plans already for it!  As well, a copy of the Candleflame Cowl that was on my list of patterns that I have been wanting to make.  

     Thank you soooooo much!  Not just for the beautiful yarn, but for saving me from the winter-time blues :D

Finally getting time to do some Makin'

     Well, I thought it would be a good idea to take up the "Last Minute Challenge" at the Septentrian 12th night event this past Saturday.  We had to make a project starting Thursday night, using things we already had and had not previously researched.   So, I seized the opportunity to try my hand at making something that I have loved for quite awhile....13th century inlaid earthenware floor tiles.

     I had seen them in my travels in England and I loved the designs and the contrast between the white and red clay bodies.  I knew that they were stamped and had a clay slip poured into the impression and then scraped smooth to reveal the design.  Other than that...I knew nothing.  

     But, in this day and age, this is something that can be quickly remedied with the inter-weeb!  Well, it turned out that I needed to carve the stamp from wood - which I guess makes sense, but silly me thought that I would be cutting the image out with a fret saw and then using that as my stamp.  Nope!  We gotta do this the hard way, especially since all I had in the house wood-wise was pine.  GRRRRR!

     So, after fighting with Luna's dull dollar store carving tools, I remembered that I had my own set...which made for easier going, but even bringing my work to the event and carving there, I never managed to get to stick it into the clay.

     However, I do not see this as a failure....I have now an almost complete stamp and more time to leisurely experiment with the clay.  I can research more in depth (some of the key tomes were not available online) and find more compatible clays.  As long as I don't leave it by the wayside and get distracted with other things (which I have been known to do).

     Maybe I'll re-tile the bathroom while I'm at it ;)

2011 - Looking Forward to a Great Year!

    We spent a lovely NYE at my parents' house having a traditional Japanese celebration...sukiyaki, sake, mochi, sake, kameboko, sake...it was great and the kids loved having that experience.  Maybe next year we'll do it with all our friends!

     I've been spending so much time on holiday preparations that I am so happy to finally have life get back to normal.  Today was spent in the attic, sanding the last of the drywall and getting it ready for paint.  I've begun planning out the studio and temple areas - I can't wait to start moving up there.

     I also took advantage of the nice weather last week to go out into the yard and measure everything so that we can make a master plan as to what we want to go where....I'm excited about building the raised veggie garden and I am hoping that I can convince everyone that a stone circle would be cool!

     I've been busy knitting too!  I've taken up the 12 in 2011 challenge (to knit at least 12 things in the next year) as well as the Stashdown challenge - using up my stash to make projects...we'll see how that goes LOL!  I did manage to cast on and finish a pair of mittens on New Years' Day!  Now the trick is to match the yarn that I have with the right project.  I've cast on and frogged at least 3 now - a silk and merino shawl that I decided needs to have stitch markers so that I don't lose my mind and some handpainted merino that I just can't figure out the right thing to make with. GRRRRR!

 

I'm just not a hat girl