06 janvier 2007
Happy New Year? Until now, that's not it!
What a beginning! Fighting a bad cold for already more than a week, we, as well as 1000 other families, had the bad news yesterday morning that the shop where my hubby is working will close shortly. Only 3 weeks ago they were hiring! Only last week employees were working overtime! What's best than feeling insecure to begin 2007?
I had little time to knit during the holidays as I taught my 8 years old niece to knit and well, to motivate her, I had to make something. So Fetching fingerless gloves it was. Still have to make the thumbs.
Then, I wanted to try a pair without the thumb, with a vertical slit instead of an horizontal one. To decorate a bit, I added a simple crocheted border. I like them a lot. They were made of Briggs & Little Heritage with 4mm double point needles. If there is interest in the very simple pattern, I'll write it on my next post.
If I can concentrate enough, I plan to continue my Kiri before beginning any other knitting project. Of course I have many projects as usual and one of them is destashing. I have a few nice yarns for shawls that are calling my name.
Talking of destashing, I got a visitor yesterday who brought me boxes of fabrics! 7 boxes. It's mostly thin poly-cotton solids in a few colors, mainly navy. Even though I sew a lot, I don't have much use for those but for lining of purses perhaps. Those were used to make kind of drapes to hide walls when a room was used for a ball.
I want to wish all my readers a wonderful 2007, filled with new projects, free time and lots of creative moments.
20 décembre 2006
No snow yet!
Have I been so buzy that I didn't post for almost 3 weeks? Looking back, I don't have much to report for such a long time.
We are still waiting for some snow so it will look like Christmas is coming. Outside lights look so sad without that white stuff. Shopping is done with so I can stay home and play.
Knitwise, I am completing a pair of Voodoo fingerless gloves for a X-mas gift so I won't show pictures right now. My bookcase got a new friend, another of Kaffe Fassett book. Eye candy!
I got another addition to my bookstash but this one is quite dissapointing...not the book but the state it reached me. A friend was coming from France to visit and each time, I have her get me some books that aren't available here. This time, I choose a folder of 50 boutis designs on single sheets which is costly but hey, it's Christmas after all. She ordered it and when it came, she didn't open the enveloppe and it traveled unopened. When I received it, I noticed that the folder was teared...hated it but well, it can happen in the mail; looking further, some sheets were upside down, some had coffee stain and there was even 2 missing. It's used!! They sent her a used and damaged folder for the priced of a brand new one. Of course, I can't send it back, imagine the postage as it's 11 x 17 inches. I will try to obtain the missing pages as well as a rebate but that French dealer was quite dishonest.
Also made a few little purses, from my own pattern of course, to be given as gifts but those I can show as the recipients are unaware of my blog.
Beside this, I lighted the torch a couple of times but I don't have much photo-worthy. I did those Christmas beads to participate in a contest, that's about it.
I want to wish every one of my visitors a wonderful Holiday season. May all your dreams come true!
03 décembre 2006
It smells Christmas...
...at least at the malls. No way you can go buy a bit of grocery or a magazine without being caught in traffic jams in and out the stores; as if December 1st rang a bell to tell everyone it was time to shop. As much as I can I am staying home but well, one have to eat.
Okay, there is not only negative parts in smelling Christmas... Santa came home early. He brought me a new digital camera so I could take pictures and won't have to wait during week-end or when my daughter is home. Of course, each camera is a bit different so I have lots of buttons to learn. I'll get to it!
As promised, all I worked on, needlewise, was my boutis. I also promised a little more information because it's not a technique seen much outside of France. As most of the site talking about it are in French, here is a link for a video where you can see a bit of the technique. Roughly, it's a quilt without batting and after quilting, you fill the shapes with cotton mesh witout cutting into the fabric, by just pushing the threads apart so they will close after you are done. That way, when you look at the work up to the light, you can see the transparency. Here are a couple pictures I took of my own work. I am still at the quilting part of course. You can see the front drawing on white batiste, the back of my work, the size of my stitches, the thread to be used to fill the shapes and a stiletto with which you push the mesh inside the channels.
I have, somewhere in my studio, a very nice stiletto handcrafted of precious wood I bought a few years back when I took some embroidery classes. Last week, I looked everywhere and couldn't find it. Yesterday, while doing a bit of shopping, there was antique dealers installed in the mall with their wares and well, even though I had no time to see them all, I looked rapidly at the ones on my way and found this antique bone stiletto. I wanted one for a long time so there it was, waiting for me.
I love antique sewing accessories. They tell love stories, not only about the work that was made with them but often, they were made by hand by somebody in the artist's family. I only have a few of those tools but cherish them a lot.
There was no knitting at all this past week. I had to work with beads as friends asked me for scissor fobs made with my own beads. We hang these little beauties to our embroidery scissors and we can see them at the first look in our sewing box. Here is this week's crop.
The one on my scissors is the first one I ever did and it was made with my first ever beads.
Have a great week.
26 novembre 2006
Out of breath
I didn't post last week-end... I can barely keep up with everything. Too many different classes scheduled and I made myself available every thuesday afternoon in between so I ended up overbooked and overwhelmed. Good thing is that I learned a lesson. Less classes, more time between each and once the class is done with, it's over.
I promised myself that for December and most of January, all I am working on is a project for myself. I dreamed of doing a Boutis ( traditionnal French provençal art ) for quite a while so now that I need a little pampering, it's time for it. I'll explain in details at the beginning of December.
Christmas is coming; The first two signs were my husband's shop party which was a huge success and my own X-Mas full day workshop which was nice and appreciated. It's my 3rd year teaching this kind of workshop and I was thinking it would be the last one since it's so much work to prepare: had to find ideas, make samples, draw patterns, write instructions... When I am done I am so tired, I always wonder if it worth the trouble. After the workshop yesterday, the ladies were so happy and glad they came, I am thinking of making it again next year. In between other projects, I taught them how to make theses: a cone to hang on a door or wall to be filled with candies or pot-pourri as well as a little bag you can put in the tree, used to offer money or gift cards.
During the week, I finally received this:
For each month, there is a flameworker ( beadmaker ) who share a technique to make a perticular bead. My own bead is on the November page...or should I say I am Miss November?
Beadwise, not much more to share; still have a few beads in the kiln to cook but here is a single picture in which you can be lost for hours. There is so much happening in this bead. Even if I do say so myself, it worth enlarging it to look closely.
On the knitting front, I didn't have time to play. I started a new pair of socks so I could learn the short row heel and it doesn't work out as it makes too short a heel for me. I have to rip and try again. Then, on my flashy socks, I am still at the heel.
Have a great week
12 novembre 2006
Lots of rain, very little stitches
We've had it; the perfect November... rain, rain and rain again with some cold and wind. It's okay, I still prefer rain over snow and ice.
Not much knitting for me. I was too buzy with the class preparation to think of anything else. Even the torch didn't get to see me. In the past two weeks, I managed to make only those beads:
On Tuesday I went with some women from my quilt guild to shop for fabric. I have enough fabrics as it is so I won't buy anymore for quite a while but I couldn't resist some fat quarters so I came back home with 10 new ones. Then, one of the lady gave me 4 more as a thank you gift. For someone who is on a fabric diet, this week was pretty fullfilling!
I managed to do a handbag as a gift for a friend. All that's missing is an original button.
I began the leg of a sock as I am meeting with a lady tomorrow afternoon who'll show me a way to make short row heels so then I'll be able to finish my Jaywalker socks.
Then, haven't felt my Fuzzy Feet nor my roses as I am teaching a felting workshop on Monday, Nov. 20 and I need them as a sample to show the before-after of the process. I'll hurry to felt everything so I can finish as fast as possible for the Get Felted KA. I should have more stuff to show next week-end :-)
Have a great week
04 novembre 2006
I did it!
And, I didn't fall once! Boy, I didn't remember ice was that slippery. It wasn't that bad, my legs were shaky, I was scared but I could hold on for 15 minutes the first time, about 10 laps. Then, the next day I did 45 minutes. Of course, I had to rest from time to time but hey, I haven't put on skates for 20 years and I have a lot of weight to carry that I didn't have back then. I am proud of myself and will do it again next Wednesday.
The week was pretty buzy. I managed to finish all the blocks for an international quilt block swap that spread over a year and was to end this month. I forgot to scan a block so I could remember what I did as a block. I guess I should make one to keep....when I can find time again.
Knitwise, I finished the first sock of those very vivid Orange-Lime wool socks and the second one is half-way done. Sorry for the pic. DD forgot to bring her camera so it's a scan
.
For the Get Felted knitalong, I didn't have much time so my yellow Fuzzy Feet is still waiting for it's brother and I knitted those Roses that are still to be felted.
Today in the mail I had this book:
I love his patterns but am not sure I have the patience required to knit them. I will also have to look where I can get the needed yarn, the price and everything to see if I can even afford to knit one. Meanwhile, I still can dream about it.
Have a great week
01 novembre 2006
FIRST PLACE
Just a short post to announce that my DD won the first place with her pumpkin. I'll know more tomorrow as she is now celebrating Halloween with a many friends.
Happy Halloween
29 octobre 2006
The wind.
That's what I call a true Fall day. Since yesterday, all we hear from outside is the wind. Leaves everywhere, broken branches in the streets, the occasionnal trashcan passing in front of the house as if it was a car... It's in that temperature that I decided to go out to buy a new pair of skates....like in ice skating!
Okay, I haven't been on skates for a long time...long enough I don't remember when. I do remember though that I fell on my tummy while pregnant for my DD...which is 21 years ago. I didn't hurt myself nor the baby so I am not afraid to skate. I know I did it again after that but just can't remember when it was. The Dr. told me I have to get back on shape because I am sliding toward problems with my diabetes. So...No skiing for me, I am too old to get back on it while all those youngsters are flying on their snowboards; the only winter sport I was comfortable to do was iceskating. Oh, I need a new pair of wool socks to wear with my new skates of course.
Beside thinking of new ways to hurt myself this winter, I did knit. I entered Get Felted knitalong which begins in November but since the Sock Hop is not done with yet, I knitted this:
Fuzzy Feet. It's not cheating to begin early since it's a sock, it fits right in the Sock Hop and then, when the 2nd will be done, it will be time for the Get Felted.
Lately, I've been thinking almost exclusively about socks... each yarn I see I imagine a new pair of socks with. I began a new pair with the wool yarn I dyed with Kool-Aid. Let me tell you they are quite vivid! Took the picture on Friday and had a bit of time to knit a bit on it yesterday so I am mid-feet now.
My DD wanted Cleaves from Knitty. Mom offered to knit it for her so we 3 went to do a bit of shopping and while they choose the yarn for Cleaves, I got sock yarn, what else?
Since Halloween is around the corner, I'll leave you with a picture of the pumpkin my daughter decorated for a contest on the campus where she live. We'll know on Thuesday if she wins but meanwhile, here it is.
21 octobre 2006
A so-so week
I'll go quickly over the 400 miles drive in a day to go to funerals; quickly too over the overload of work and no time to play; even more quickly over the S***...you know, that white stuff falling from the sky!!! Let's say it's over and I hope the next one will be better.
After such a week, what can I have to show you? Well, 2 new skeins I dyed, same Fleur de Laine from Pingouin on which I used Cherry Kool-Aid and berries I believe. I intend to overdye with black cherry flavor if I can find some.
The good thing of the week was the receipt of my prize for the Sock Hop. A nice sock yarn I never tried before, mix of cotton-wool and nylon with which was an autographed book from Cindy Myers. Sure will read that sometimes next week.
Earlier today I visited a Church bazar. They mostly sell hand-made stuff, knitting, quilts, but also the leftover of their materials. I got antique lace, knitting needles and a bone crochet, all this for $2.
Finally got back to my torch to make a few beads. Nothing exciting and some I can't show yet because they are for markers and I don't want to spoil the surprise of Christy who'll receive them. Meanwhile I'll post only a couple of beads that are from my Deep Space serie, where I use silver foil inside the bead which give all kind of nice effects.
Lastly, a couple of years ago, I needle felted quite a few teddy bears. I'd like to sell or barter the 5 I have left. There is no glue, no sewing, nothing but the wool and a bit of lace or felt. I ask for $15. each or make me an offer of similar value. I will set an album especially for them but meanwhile, here they are.
Have a great week
15 octobre 2006
The very early snow falls in some areas of US and Canada had people running into stores to get winter coats and boots. We are no different; while DD is here for the week-end, we had to take her do some shopping so she won’t freeze. We braved the crowds and went to our favorite store, Winners. The best way to describe it is an outlet I believe. A big family store where they sell leftover from good brands like Liz Claiborne, Jones New York, Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren or for shoes Pajar, Clarks, Coach… Of course, even though it was for DD’s clothes, I couldn’t help but look for purses and shoes as I do each time I am there. I found the perfect purse to match my new red boots. Not leather but well, it’s cute anyway.
In my last post I just gave a hint about dyed yarn and knitting needles without adding pictures. Here they are. That yarn is Fleur de Laine from Pingouin, pale yellow skeins I have for quite a few years. The colors is too light and I didn’t know what to do with it. I decided to try dyeing it with Kool-Aid so I could at least use it for socks. I am glad I did. I am looking for a good pattern for that size yarn. I still have 3 or 4 more skeins of that yarn, not the same lot though. I will dye those with orange and red.
As for the skewers DPN, I’ve read about them as replacement needles for people traveling in planes and worrying that they would have their needles confiscated. Since I always feel like having many pair of socks on the needles at a time and the short bamboo needles I like are so expensive, I decided to give a try at those bamboo skewers. Two evenings after buying a pack of 100 skewers, I ended up with 70 knitting needles, sanded and ready to receive a coat of something to smooth them a bit more… some kind of wax or clear I guess. Any ideas welcome.
Lastly, I finished a pair of socks for the Sock Hop. They are nothing complicated but I like them. They helped me get rid of 3 balls of Pingouin France + and the little leftovers are going to my niece whom I am teaching to crochet.
Last week-end I went to visit a friend, Val, who work with Borosilicate glass instead of soft glass like me. I was very lucky to be gifted with this neat Wishing stone necklace that she made. She had me choose the glass *stone* and set it on this chinese necklace. Believe me, this is so nice to the touch, I feel like having the glass pendant in my hand instead of on a necklace. The colors are much nicer in person too.
Til next week-end...
