Let’s Give Thanks!

 Here we are—day before our Thanksgiving in United States. Although it’s a national holiday, we like to give thanks Every day!  Even the small things are worth thanks!  

There are so many “thin” yarns in my stash.  I’ve learned to pair yarns together—little thanks here—my brain is still working!

I had a small amount of handspun angora, which I used in the first few rows.  I dropped that yarn off after four rows. Still had three yarns together.  Loved the handle of this hat!  My brain thought maybe it can be used in a pair of socks.

The pattern is from Purl Soho—several free patterns offered. 

Another free pattern—The Simple Thing!

Using a ball of handspun silk/woolblend—easy pattern to knit! 

Finished neck scarf. 

Here we go!  I’ve had this yarn forever!  It’s time to begin another Clapotis.  I knit this pattern when it was first revealed.  It was a beach coverup for daughter—somewhere along its life, it wandered off.  Certainly hope whomever has this Clapotis now—that

 you’re enjoying!  

This another free pattern—just giving thanks for the small things!

It's Time--

 It’s time to think about greeting cards I’ll send out this year.  Most years, if I’m not feeling pressed, I’ll create my own cards.  One year I used my rubber stamp to emboss on velvet—another time I did ribbon weaving to decorate my cards.  This year I’ll use woven samples as my theme. 

Over the years, I’ve participated in several weaving study groups which created hundreds of samples, which I’ve saved—naturally. 

Here are some cards I’ve received from other weavers.  These will give you an idea of how to make your own greeting cards. 

One friend loved weaving with inlay (Krokbragd) 

I have several over the years—always different

Cutouts

Quilted, strips of woven braid, off loom weaving

More cutouts

Ribbon weaving

This year I’ll use photo cards, which I purchased last year during clearance sale

Almost ready to mail to my very closest friends!!

Warm Heads

All year long, there is time to knit and a hat is my go to.  There are so many different techniques to try with an outcome of a useful item.

There stash bin is loaded with various yarns; along with a variety of colors.  Learning the basic concept and construction of a hat, your hands can wander with needles and yarn.  Hat above is a “ wing” it hat—a wide brim leads into plain knit.  Continue till the appropriate length deserved, begin decreases.  La La La you have a perfect pull on warm clothing piece. 

This hat is shaped to be a beret—short brim with burgling knit style.  

Another finish!  

Stack of finished hats—well, not all finished; that last bit of weaving in ends is a chore in my book!

This free pattern will keep you occupied for a few hours

Cookie Cutter Hat

Here is another free pattern from Twin Stitches

Ok, you ask— what to do with all these hats?  Easy!  Gift a hat or two to a friend; give to homeless; seek out children groups in need; look to disaster areas—

I send mine to 

Or needed here

Ready, set, knit!  There is always an outlet for your craft.  

 

Surface Design Issues

There is a box filled with surface designed fabrics—these fabrics date several years—well aged now.  I have been using some of the fabrics for quilt backs

There are rust, sprinkled, scrunched, brunched, etc ones— why were they were not they being used?!  I’ve even cut pieces for quilt tops; but the pile isn’t diminishing any—

At one time I was involved with a surface design group and we would exchange different techniques or I would take a workshop, so the fabrics continue to grow. 

I pulled a few out the other day and decided on a project to showcase this variety.  

Dyeing and stamping on moirés silk was a pleasure—the hand so soft—this will be the back for a pillow!

I found this photo transfer (middle) for center, added other manipulated pieces to the sides, top and bottom—perfect!!  The making of pillow top—

Sewed the backing, stuffed with poly fill and 

You have a nice display of my art work from ages ago!  I’m quite satisfied!!

More forthcoming for sure!!

Repurposing!

 Still cleaning out closets; finding all sorts of interesting things I had forgotten about.  Years ago, I had spun cotton and wove on indigo dyed warp yardage to make a costume to wear while I did demos at the local plantation.  The plantation grew both cotton and indigo--so it was perfect to show case their crops.  Fast forward---- there is yardage in the closet bin.  Why not do something with it?  

I pulled it out and cut into tea towels!  Great gifts for sure!  interesting to see my spinning then and now.  I can spin a fine thread now; then, it was a nice yarn but little thicker and bumpy.

I can see how to use this yardage.  Some things I'm just placing in the give away bin--off it will go to someone who can  maybe make use of it.

I also found a bag of  leather pieces (why did I have this bag)  I don't know--it had a price of $5 so must have been my bargain mind thinking I could do something with this!!

Also, found a bag of fur pieces!  Go figure!  I still have a longing to sew the pieces together for a pillow. , I love running my fingers through these small fur pieces—yes, a pillow would be fun!

In one bin I found this yard of woven fabric and one booster pillow. 

The woven fabric is from 1/4” strips laid in the warp one piece at a time, in order to keep the pattern.  It’s time consuming to cut and place in order. 

 

Wrap the pillow and sew in the ends.  Ta da!  More items repurposed!

Back to the see what else is in the closet bin!

Memories!!!

 Guess it’s my age—I’ve been sorting through boxes of photos, recipes, patterns, fabrics, quilts, etc.  when I had a pile of  photos from a series of group meeting, I ask my friend “what should I do with all these pictures collected over 35 years?”  She said, I’ve been doing the same thing—I know my kids would not know any of these people in the photos.  It was sad thrumbing through, so many of these friends have gone to the heaven of happiness.  

Memories always flood back when you view them.  Oh, remember when that happen! But, I have no one to reminisce with over those times.  I pulled out several photos to put them aside--maybe, someone would like these, I said to myself.  The rest went into File13--then I immediately regret what I did---so many recorded memories gone, just like that!!

This was one of the photos I found--date is 1979, place is New Orleans--that I could summarize as the sign says "Happy Mardi Gras".  Photo is my two brothers, their wives plus another couple on the left--wasn't too sure who it was; contacted my brother, emailed him the photo and he replied it was his friend and girlfriend.  Yes, we were parked in Superdome parking lot, drove in that green/white van, loaded with food and drinks--ready to walk to St.Charles Avenue for truck parade.  

Memories are intersting--I don't remember this occassion at all!  But, My brother did!  His memory kicked in (of course, my brother was one for 'remembering wrong too'!)  Then what he told me was unbelievable to me.

My brother said before he came to NO, a friend said, if you go to the French Quarter and to Al Hirt's club, ask for so and so and she'll get you in--right there I didn't believe him!  But, he continued, atter the parades, we walked into Quarter by Al Hirt's club and remarkable, we ask for so and so and we were emitted at no charge and received a table up front!  

We were given free drinks! Turned around to see Henry Winkler (the Fonz) sitting behind us (he was the King of Bacchus Parade), in walked Pete Fountain, who also had a club in the Quarter; comedian Rodney Dangerfield was there also.

Boy, this story sounded so good but I have no memory of all that!  I thought my brother has really gone off the deep end with his story!

When I said something to my husband--"yes, that's true!"  No way!  He validated my brother's memory!!

What memories are you harboring that others will not believe?  

Things That Make Me Happy!

 Fall weather is approaching!  I mean real cooooool temps!  That makes me happy!

This makes me happy also!  I can pull out my fall quilts and this makes me so happy!  we hang this one at the landing of the staircase.  

It's such a fun quilt!  It made me happy to work each block!

These two great grandsons make me happy!

They came for dinner the other night and  the oldest wanted to go upstairs, but said "there's monsters up there!"  pointing to the quilt!  He went up with his Oma though.   She was picking out quilts from the pile on the guest bed.  W came down with his quilt--he said "I like this one!"  It was flags quilt.  I was surprised he knew what a flag is!  But, they do surprise you all the time with the 'stuff' they learn.

That makes me happy too!

had this hat  pattern and had the orange yarn too!

and I finished the hat!!  good for me!  This makes me happy!!