fun with color

After creating the first two scarflettes last week I decided to keep going. I went to a conference at the end of the week where there happened to be an informal artist's market that I was able to participate in. I've never done anything like that before but it was a lot of fun, I did not have a huge inventory...probably only 15 scarves, but it was fun and has inspired me to set up an etsy shop. The scarves above are examples of what I have been making, simple crocheted scarflettes with a button hole, but my favorite part is the button. I have been wet felting organic discs of fiber and stitching and beading them into little works of art...so much fun. I have attached pin backs to the "buttons" so that they can be used as a brooch or a button. Everyone seems to really like them, and I really like making them!
So my goal this week is to make a few more scarves/buttons and set up shop. There. I said it. So now I have to do it, right?
Have a wonderful week!

Another One...

Bloom

Long time no post:) Fall is actually my favorite season but it is quickly escaping me. I have been continuing to make progress on two hexagon throws that must be completed before Christmas, but I got the itch to make something of the instant gratification variety and this is what happened. I used yarn from my stash and buttons that I had bought a few weeks ago which were actually meant for hanging dishtowels....the green yarn is either cascade 220 or lambs pride. I am thinking that it is probably lambs pride because it doesn't have quite the twist that 22o does and the funky fuzzy yarn is something I grabbed out of a clearance bin probably two years ago:)

Pattern: (if you can call it that)
size 15 needles
cast on 20 stitches
knit 4 or 5 rows
knit 1 (yo, knit 2tog)to end,and k1 (this makes holes for buttons to go through)
knit every row until it is long enough to go around your neck!

I used three buttons, but you could use two or even just one. I needed something warm and colorful to take me into the grayness of Ohio winters and this should do nicely.

savoring summer

Well, this is it. Exactly two weeks before we all go back to school. There are things that I do love about the start to a new year, but really nothing beats all of us being home together all the time. This is my little porch tomato plant that my husband assured me would not live when I bought it from a local big chain store (it did look pretty miserable at the time) and look at it now! It probably should be bigger by now and turning red, but it looks healthy and is growing so I am holding out hope.

It has three tomatoes growing and this is papa, and there is a mama, and a teeny tiny baby. The ominous leggy character below was on the car a few days ago when we were leaving the house. His head is slightly out of focus because I was a big chicken and wouldn't get up under it to get my shot, so I had my husband do it, and really he must have been a little scared because he didn't put his face down there or anything. He just held the camera down there and clicked, but I really like this photo, good job honey.

Time Check

This past week I have been busy finishing up my application to graduate school. I am the perpetual procrastinator so I had a lot to finish including my portfolio. It was an experience that was a mixture of stress and inspiration. I love taking photographs, trying to see the details that most people don't ever notice, hidden treasures of color, form, texture....I like that when I take pictures on a regular basis my mind starts seeing pictures even when I don't have my camera. My sons football helmet lying in the grass...click...my daughter wearing cowboy boots to eat at Chipoltle...click...

We are in the last few weeks of summer vacation here and as usual it is moving from a leisurely slow moving time to a super busy fast paced one. My little guy has begun football (oh dear), and my little lady is beginning dance and soccer. We are soaking up all the free time we can in these few weeks because once school starts I'm afraid there won't be any to be found. It is amazing how fast the summer is going, I'm afraid if I blink it will be time to bake Christmas cookies:). Hope everyone out there has a wonderful week!

kitchen accessories

Since I am currently on hold with my hexagon blanket (the closest yarn shop is an hour from where I live), I decided to play with some quick kitchen accessorizing. I have an assortment of peaches and creme cotton yarn on hand, so that is what I used. It met the criteria of being washable, sturdy, and cheap. The color inspiration came from one of my bags, I like the orange/blue combination a lot.

The pattern for the bobble scrubby came from Crochet Today (March/April '09). It was really quick and fun to make, I mean really fast. It consists of two crocheted discs that are then crocheted together. The double thickness makes it act almost like a sponge when you are using it, really sturdy. The pattern called for two strands of yarn held together, I only used one strand for the entire thing and it turned out perfectly well.

The circle stripes one I just made up based on the bobble one, it is slightly larger and has no bobbles. It also is double thickness and if I had thought to make it a little bigger it would make a nice hot pad.

I think that they would make great gifts, especially paired with some Mrs. Meyers dish washing liquid.

marble magnets

I love marble magnets. They are so fast and easy to make, there are so many possibilities to play with....These were a little set that I made for an art teacher friend of mine.

I am currently out of the blue and the yellow/green yarn for my hexagon blanket so it is on hold until I can get more. I only bought a few balls of each color to begin with to make financing the throw a little easier since dye lot would not matter. Apparently I am using blue and yellow quite a bit more than the other colors, but that's OK, I like it.

Have a wonderful weekend!