Knitting Knitting Knitting

Did you know that last Saturday was World Wide Knitting In Public Day?  No?!  Well, I did and invited Tammy along to find somewhere interesting to knit.  We decided on a favorite haunt, Inspirational Home in Galloway Village.  We found a cool and cozy little bench by the creek, and the lovely proprietor, Debra, was so kind to take our picture.

We didn't get much knitting done, but had a fun day drinking tea, some knitting, and browsing a bit in this lovely little eclectic shop by the creek.

I finally finished my "forever" log cabin knitted throw.

I love the fact that all the colors were made with leftover yarn from my shawls.  So, lots of pretty Noro color.  The border is an acrylic I bought that was pretty cheap, but the color works well.  I'm happy with the results, and glad it's done.  These large projects seem fun at first, but get to be a bit of a drag after awhile.

Knitting some socks for hubby with this gorgeous sunny gold yarn

ordered from my friend Dag.  She spins and dyes gorgeous yarns.  This is my husbands favorite color, and it's very modeled with lovely striations of shades of yellow and gold.  Very soft too, so nice to work with.

Excited to begin another little knitting project.  I ordered a pattern from Ravelry to make one of these super cute little croft houses.

I just love little houses!  Also looks pretty easy and a great use of small yarn bundles.  Cute gifts!

Very very hot here..... gardening only in the mornings, outings and projects in the cool indoors.

xo
dulcy

Wool, Yarn, and Harry

It seems I'm feeling a bit pink lately!  I spent an afternoon with one of my favorite besties, Tammy.  We had fun going through all her accumulated stash of wool, and I stocked up on colors that made me happy and excited.  I took my pile home with the intention of sorting them into their proper color piles and shelving them in my wool cabinet, but got off track with the joy from seeing them all jumbled up together.  So.... I decided to hook a new piece using just my new wool and nothing else.  This mat is 30" long and about 12" wide.  A nice summer challenge!

I call this rug my Midnight Poppy.  I loved working with these brights!  I particularly liked the wool (actually, not sure what it is) that makes the vase.  It's very textured with lots of sparkly gold.

Can you see the pretty gold thread running through?  This piece won't stay with me, but will be a silent auction donation.

I've been knitting away on a cardigan, that I became a bit bored with and put away.  I will finish it and post later.  But.... I must have a little hand project going at all time.  So, I dug out some lovely sock yarn in shades of pink with a bits of other colors tucked in.  It's a nice cashmere blend that I've had stuck away.  So soft!

I got a new order of gorgeous Noro yarns from Webs, and couldn't resist taking this shot of Willow tucked in among the jumbled skeins in the spare bedroom.  She thinks it's her room since she stayed in there a bit after I first found her.  But she does let me share her space from time to time.

These yarns are for weaving shawls.  I've so enjoyed working on my triloom, and will soon have a display of shawls at a little shop with some of my small hooked bags.  I'll post a shot when we have the display set up.

Oh, and one more thing.  I have a very exciting new life experience.  I'm learning to horseback ride!  The instruction is English, and it takes every muscle (and then some) I've got when I'm up there on Harry.  Harry is a doll, and the perfect guy for me! More on this later, if I don't break major bones first.....

Happy Trails!

dulcy

A Hodge Podge of Fiber

I've been finishing up projects and dreaming of new ones.

Hooking project..........

Our grandson, Graham is in a new house, and I wanted to make a little rug for his room.  I haven't been there yet, but know his room colors are red and navy.  I wanted to have something a bit rustic, and with his name.  Something simple.

I really enjoyed working with these pleasing colors in a hit n' miss fashion.

This makes me want to hook something like this for myself.  I'm thinking of doing a little bag for summer.  Something soft and old fashioned looking.

Weaving shawls..........

I'll be heading north soon up to Grand Rapids and onward from there.  I'm taking two shawls I made using my triloom for friends I'll be traveling with.

This is a super light weight Noro yarn.  Perfect for summer evenings!

On to knitting...........

I was working at the Master Gardener's Hot Line with my buddy Ann, and she happened to be knitting a great little sock in the most luscious colors.  Loved the yarn, and she told me she got it at Michael's.  I popped over there and picked up some for myself!

I ADORE this color pattern!  This is a cheaper yarn, but feels very nice.  It's a merino, nylon, cashmere blend.  We'll have to see how well it holds it's shape and washes up.  But anytime I can find a good alternative to pricey yarn is fine by me.  But......... texture, color and quality are so important when I knit.  I'm working on a practice sweater out of some acrylic that I just had to put down.  The color is very nice, but I really just couldn't stand the texture any longer.  I hate that "acrylic sheen"!  I may redo it in a cheap cotton before I move on to anything more $$.

Too weird?.........

Okay, this may be really a bit much, but I've had this little hooked piece forever that I've been trying to figure out what to do with.  It was just an experiment using some needle felting with the hooking, and using scraps of this and that.  I decided to mount it on a painted canvas just for something different.

 I sort of have a like/hate feeling about it.  Maybe I'll just set it aside for awhile........... it could end up a pillow................

Have a lovely and creative weekend!

xo

dulcy

Christmas On The Mantle!

My "Two Friends" little hooked piece is mounted on canvas.  I thought this would be the most interesting way to finish it off, actually, a lot easier than binding, covering cord, etc.  This way I can easily hang it on the wall.  I'm a sucker for red and gold, and thought it set this little winter wonderland off nicely.

I had a bestie date with pal Jessy the other day.  We exchanged holiday happy's and I just have to share the "Christmas Card" she created for hubby and me.........

 

It's a foundry mold that Jessy, so CREATIVELY, embellished with all kinds of lovelies.  Notice the leather trees, and there's little holiday wonders and words on the front and back.  I put it on the fireplace mantle with a some of my favorite holiday things.

I also have my paper mache Santas that my mom made.  She sculpted each one and they're very detailed.  I also have my little feather tree that she gave me many years ago.  She ordered it from llbean with the tiny glass ornaments.

Of course I'm knitting socks.  This pair is a gift for a certain person that resides here with me.  Hope he doesn't read this.........

And here's a pretty new yarn I picked up to make another pair.  I'm loving the bits of teal that keep popping up as I knit.

 It may seem like I'm a bit obsessed with socks, but really, I don't think I can have too many.  They have, so far, been wearing like iron.  But eventually I'll either be sick of knitting them, my hands many give in, or maybe I'll just forget how!  So, they're like money in the bank for me.

Have a lovely week, and I sooooo envy those that have snow right now.  We've been having never ending days of sun and temps. in the 50's.  I know that may sound like gorgeous weather, and it sort of is.  But, I LOVE the change of seasons, and am anxiously awaiting some real winter!

xo
dulcy

Wool, Weaving, and Livestock

I'm home from a most fabulous trip to upstate New York and into Massachusetts.  The main goal of this little vacation was to attend the Dutchess County Wool and Sheep Festival in Rhinebeck, NY with my bestie, Ann.  Such luscious wool everywhere!

And check out theses little sweeties.

I was thrilled to find this lovely wool to make a shawl on my recently finished triloom.

It's a combo of wool, mohair, and silk.  I love the color, and it's name, "bloodroot".

Here's a peek at my triloom in the studio.  I'm currently working on a practice shawl in a slate blue with just a bit of teal in the color.  It's wool from Joanne's.  Saving my nice bloodroot for the next piece.  It's my first whirl at triloom weaving.  I'm loving it so far.  So exciting to learn some new fiber fun!

While in Massachusetts, I found the most gorgeous yarn in a lovely knit shop.  It was tucked away in one of the many villages we passed through.

I bought a pretty soft Italian extra fine merino wool.  That is the sock on the left below.

And let me point out that the color is not at all that blue..... my camera apparently decided it should be.  It's actually far more neutral with lots of gray and taupe.

There, much better.  The sock on the right is one I took to knit on the trip, but once I had the new yarn in my hands...... plans changed.  Oh dear, one of each!  More sock knitting ahead.

Hopes for a lovely beautiful fall weekend!
xo
dulcy

Mini Projects!

I've been plodding along in the heat, hooking, some knitting, and a bit of pastel painting.  Last weekend we were invited to a little outdoor party.  I wanted a small over the shoulder bag just for lipstick and my sunglasses.... so I quickly dug through my wool and found a great combo of colors to make a posy pouch to wear with my dress for that evening.  Not modeling the dress here, but this little bag went perfectly and I was very pleased!

 Just a simple little prodded number.  The strap is from leather my bestie, Jessy, gave me rescued from an old belt.  Below is a shot of the back.

Again, very simple but funky and fun.  It can also hold my phone, keys and a twenty if needed....

I had started a pair of socks last fall, but didn't finish after the first one because I ended up not liking the yarn.  So.... A couple of weeks ago I picked the project back up and knitted the mate.  Then.... I crocheted this bit of slate blue to fem them up a bit.  I kind of love them now.... great with my clogs!

This week I decided I'd been away from my easel for too long.... I've been wanting to work a little more on painting glass, and here's my effort. 

Just a bit of fun practice using colors that I love.....

It's a wasteland here, and I don't mean just the heat.  Every SINGLE ONE of our yarn shops has closed!  It's just awful!  But...... there is the most wonderful shop called One City Market in a little town east of here.  It's in an old farmhouse that's stocked to the rafters with yarn and other goodies.  They also give mini classes, so I'm looking forward to taking one on intarsia.  I've sort of taught myself, but not with the greatest results.  While visiting this sweet shop today I picked up yarn for two new projects.

It's so nice to have a well stocked knitting basket again!

Stay cool!
xo
dulcy

Fiber Love

I get so inspired by the change in seasons..... and ...... blogs ..... and .....  Pinterest.  There's so much wonderful fiber art out there that I hippity hop from one project to the next.  Then...... I clean up my mess, and assume I'm done for awhile...... then....... I see something that inspires me and almost immediately I'm wanting to make something new!  EXHAUSTING!  But fun.

Over at my sweet friend Pixie's blog she had this post about making lovely fiber flower brooches.  They are just the cutest!  So..... with upcoming gifty situations ahead, I thought I'd try and make a few myself.  As usual, I turned this project into something way harder than it should have been.  I was coffee dyeing fabric, ripping, picking sticks from the garden.... I wanted a bit of a shabby look to them.  Well, just to make two of these little flowers took me all afternoon!  I think I'm done with fabric flowers........

Another new project is a knitting piece.  I'm making a little shrug/mini poncho to drop over my shoulders when wearing tanks and on cool days when in something sleeveless.  I found this lovely blue cotton yarn which I think will work nicely with about anything I wear.

I'm embarrassed to tell you that I had more than a foot of this knitted, and then ripped it all out!  I thought my count was off by about five stitches (obviously was not taking time to periodically stop and count).  As I got most of it ripped out I found I was off by only ONE STITCH!  I was soooo mad, ripped it out completely, and have just started over.  Breath.......... there is nothing crucial about getting this done soon.  I saw Karen from Primitive Spirit wearing something like this at a workshop almost five years ago.  I've wanted my own ever since, and she kindly helped me find the pattern.  So...... if I've waited five years to find the right pattern, I can wait a bit longer to finish knitting it.


I found this luscious sock yarn a couple of weeks ago.........

These socks will most likely be a gift for someone next fall or Christmas.  LOVE these colors!


Enjoy your spring day!
xo
dulcy

Fiber Loves and Frustrations....

I've been having sewing machine problems that result in just horrible language coming from that frustrated place deep inside me.  I was sharing my latest exasperations with my fabulous pal Jessy, and she said it sounded like ill fitting bobbins.  You may want to stop here because this bobbin talk could be getting a bit too boring.  Anyway, before I could even write "get new bobbins" on my to do list, Jessy had popped over to the sewing machine shop and got me just the right thing.  Problem solved!

Now Jessy can't just give them to me in a sack..... instead she sews up this darling little package with this lovely vintage Dutch girl to keep them in.  Soooo sweet!

I decided to try them out pronto.... and grabbed this piece of scrap linen and sewed up the sides.  Smooth sailing, and no nasty language.

Well, we're going to some friends home tonight for dinner.  I like to take my favorite luscious and cheap wine, Mad Housewife!

It's a nice cabernet, and you've just got to love that label! 
I'll use my new somewhat shabby little linen bag as an alternative to a paper sack to deliver the wine in.

I think this is a much nicer presentation than a paper sack.  Don't you?

Yesterday I finished hooking my teapot welcome rug.  I haven't thought of anything cute to name it yet.  It's one of those projects that I wasn't just real excited about, but the colors worked out so beautifully that now I'm just thrilled with the results!  This combination is very much "my colors".

I got most of the wool for this project from my friend Tammy at Skip To My Ewe.

It's easy to get wool from Tammy because we live in the same town.  Lots of fun looking at wool, drinking coffee, and discussing upcoming projects and adventures.  I'm going to do my first crocheted border on this one.  I got a lovey print that blends nicely with the rug.  I don't want anything too strong that makes it look outlined.  Just a pretty soft crochet.  I'm so excited to do this!

Oh dear, I'm somewhat embarrassed to show you this, but I couldn't resist running out to get more sock yarn.

I was over at Primitive Spirit
reading Karen's blog and she had a picture of her hand knitted socks. Well, before the day was over, my friend Ann and I had driven out to this wonderful little knit shop outside of town and purchased some new yarn.  It's like just the picture puts this suggestion into my head and I HAVE to knit socks!  I know it's about keeping my hands busy when I'm not hooking or doing other things.  I can't just sit and visit or watch TV without doing something.  I do really like this color pattern.

Enough for now.  Enjoy this lovely weekend!
xo
dulcy

Spring Colors and Projects

I've been hooking, knitting, and straightening my studio area (that's for approaching grandchildren visit... they'll need a place to craft and create).  You may remember my recent post showing off my new candy colored sock yarn....

Well..... hubby seemed to take a shine to the first one I had done.  His birthday was this week, and  after knitting like a madwoman over the past few days this is how things turned out....

Yes.... they made a lovely birthday present.  Actually, I was so happy that I could finally knit him something he would wear.  I think they look smashing with his black slippers!

I've been working on another little posy pouch.  Such a fun way to use up small wool pieces and strips.

My friend Jessy made the leather button, and she also found a braided leather belt at a thrift store, took it apart, and gave me pieces to use for straps.

All week I've been itching to start a new hooking project, but couldn't come up with anything concrete.  Sooo.... I've been thinking about hooking my old copper tea kettle into a design for sometime now.   Don't really know where it's going from here.  The red bird showed up after watching them flit around the feeder this morning.  There may be a couple of rabbits that appear in the background and some flowers.  I feel like hooking something for spring.  Something that can lay in front of the fireplace or on the back of a chair.

As you can see, this piece of linen has had other incarnations that just didn't work out.  Maybe this one will be the last.  I really don't think it can take anymore drawings on top of drawings or empty hooking holes. 

Have a lovely and creative weekend...
xo
dulcy

Hooking Small...........

I'm in a hooking phase where I just want to hook small quick projects.  I've come off the end of two good sized rugs, and I'm just plain tired of something long and drawn out.  I'm sure some of you know exactly what I mean.  I've been playing with hooking little bags.  I like to scale way down in the spring and summer.  I usually have a larger bag that I work out of, but when I'm ready to head out the door for coffee with friends, a movie, or dinner out with hubby..... I like to go small and simple.

It's my little "posy pouch" perfect for a bit of cash, cards, lipstick, and keys.  Yes, sometimes the phone needs to be left behind.  And I feel better for it!

Easy back closure with vintage pearl button.

A nice long leather strap so it can be draped over my head and across my shoulder.  Don't have to think about "where's my purse?"

I've finished my first "Easter Candy Sock".

It's been a joy watching the candy colored yarn evolve into vibrant stripes as I hook.  These will be fun early spring sockies to wear!

Hopes to you for a joyful and creative weekend!
xo
dulcy