Manic Monday #136

What is the most useful gift you’ve ever been given? My kitchenaid mixer that I'd been wanting for years and finally got as a gift about 5 years ago. Mine is white, not this lovely tangerine color.

Name the most terrifying moment of your life so far. Probably the time about 20 years ago when my car slid on the icy freeway and I did a 360, narrowly missing another car.

One hot summer afternoon, while walking through a parking lot at a large shopping center, you notice a dog suffering badly from the heat inside a locked car. What would you do?
I would go to customer service inside the shopping center and ask them to try to locate the owner of the car. I might contact someone else (humane society?)if I thought the dog was in danger.

CPH hoodie #2 finished!

CPH hoodie #2 finished, originally uploaded by homemadeoriginals.

Today, I sewed on the buttons for CPH #2, so it's officially finished. I started it August 9, actually finished knitting on September 6. I made this one for my daughter, don't know if I can/will wait until Christmas to give it to her though (that was the original plan).

Here's a photo of the back:

Too Late Post, Goodbye Summer

Here are the topic choices for the recent Etsy Blogger's Blog Carnival.

Topic one:Autumn. Blog about the season, memories of the past, plans for this fall. Fall decorations, fall crafts. Apple picking, back to school, foliage, as examples.

Topic two:"In summery" :-) get it? Instead of summary... Sum up what you did this summer. Highlights, activities, vacations. Things you accomplished.



Unfortunately, I wrote this post a while back an then forgot to post it by the deadline to be included in this week's Blog Carnival. However, I wanted to post it anyway, because I love the photo above (taken near Jackson Hole, Wyoming). I think Autumn is probably my favorite time of year here in Idaho, but it never seems to last very long. I like the cool crisp mornings, warm afternoons, and gorgeous colors in the trees. We've been talking about taking a drive up into the hills and we really must do it before all the leaves are gone.

I wrote an autumn poem years ago and still like to look back at it now and then. In fact, I was surprised how many times I have posted about autumn when I did this search on my blog.

And almost too late for this as well, please do check out the Etsy Blogger of the Month, Joey and Althea. Too cute baby items and baby/kid pictures as well.

I love this little jumper, and I am sooo envious because she has a waiting list for items from her shop. How would that be?

Two Treasuries

Thursday, Traveling, Treasury

I'm out of town on a short business trip and posting a screenshot is just too much work without my usual software and hardware, but here is a link to a lovely treasury I am (or rather my striped bag is) in on Etsy. It will be up until sometime Saturday.


Also, I got my second CPH all sewn together. Here's a quick photo taken in my hotel room. All I have left to do is sewing on the buttons my daughter picked out:


Want a little non knitting inspiration. Visit the website of this former foster youth turned inspirational speaker, Josh Shipp. I had the pleasure of hearing him speak today.

Wednesday Wordle

Poem by K.Gibran

from Wordle.net
Click to see larger!
Here is the original poem.

Manic Monday #135

Pick out the most important item you have in your purse/wallet and tell me why it's important to you. The sentimental answer is pictures of my family and BF. The pragmatic answer is my credit cards and id.

What would you take from your house if you knew it would be flooded tomorrow? my CPU/hard drive, photo albums, and my cat.

If you were stuck in a room for an hour with a chalk board, what would you draw on it? Ideas for new creations for my Etsy shop.

Sunday --Day 9 of my new Challenge

I've been so successful with my Crafting 365 efforts (365 days of consecutive crafting and posting photos to Flickr to document my efforts), I'm on day 327 and can see the end in sight.

The success inspired me to set a new goal a couple of weeks ago that I hadn't shared yet because I wasn't sure I could really do it (I'm still not, honestly) but now I've managed to follow through for two weeks and so I feel like I can declare it to the blogging world. I am calling it my "Fitness 150" project. No photos to post for this one (thankfully) but I am going to try to engage in regular physical exercise at least 3 days a week for the next year. One day a week will hopefully involve playing tennis for a couple of hours(which hardly seems like work) but the others will be spent in my exercise room, on the treadmill, with my weights and/or the exercise bike. I can't depend on outdoor exercise for the next 6 months or so since I live in Idaho and I feel determined to do better with this than I did last winter. Today is actually day 9 as I started my challenge back on the 7th of September. I've signed up with Fitlink , a free webiste, and am using it to track my days as well as hours/minutes of exercise.

So, I officially challenge myself to exercise 3 times a week and make the goal of 150 days by September 7 next year. The photo above shows my exercise room (formerly guest bedroom). You can see the treadmill reflected in the gaudy, old family mirror on the wall. I'll save the story of the mirror for another day.

I've also started reading a book, Open House, by Elizabeth Berg. It's been on a shelf gathering dust since I bought it for $2 a thrift store. I'm embarrassed to think how long it has been since I a book just for pleasure, and me an English major! This year I've been so preoccupied with my crafting, starting a local Etsy team, and work, that my reading has been pretty much confined to the local newspaper, on-line news, and Sunset and Stanford magazines. So far, I'm loving Elizabeth Berg's style of writing and her novel in which she "re-creates her life after divorce" resonates with me. And now, I need to go do the work that allows me to chalk off "Day 9" of my new challenge. Happy Sunday!

I put together this treasury of items from Southeast Idaho Etsy members. It will be available on Etsy for the next two days...stop by and check it out here.

I had three people for my first knitting class today plus a number of others who stopped by and said they might like to take a class in the future. I finished a neck warmer in lovely aqua Alpaca (still needs butons) and also finished a small bag that I plan to felt.




It's also Day 326 of my Crafting 365. So, it was a very productive Saturday. I'm starting on the next bag tonight. These are part of the inventory I'm planning for the holiday season.

Thursday Thoughts

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mareen/

I have a confession to make. I rarely stay home from work sick. I'm pretty healthy and I think I have a higher tolerance than some for dealing with minor aches and pains while pushing through my day. In fact, I have over 1300 hours of sick leave on the "books". However, every once in a long while, when I maybe just don't feel up to par, I take a day to recharge and refresh.

Today is one of those days. I feel slightly guilty because although I woke up with a scratchy throat (and something has been going around the office) I don't feel terrible. Isn't sick time for when you feel just terrible? Not everyone has that belief, I know, but I was raised to think so. Today, though, I've convinced myself that I'll be doing everyone a favor by not showing up and passing on my germs.

I did a Google search for "sick day" and found these interesting links:
How to Call in Sick When You Just Need a Day Off
Sickday Excuse Generator
Sick Day Calendar
How to Take a Sick Day When You're Not Sick

I think I'll just take it easy today, maybe respond to a few work emails that come through and need attention and try to be prepared to go back full bore tomorrow (or if heaven forbid, if I get worse, Monday). I think I'll make myself a cup of tea with honey and do some knitting until I'm ready for a nap....nothing too ambitious. And hopefully I can keep from feeling really terrible. Have a great day yourself!

PS I got a nice feature today

The Market's Down, My Sales are Up

These are frightening financial times, indeed. So far, my sales haven't been effected negatively, in fact business is better than ever. I have a couple of custom orders and sales of my pattern seem to be picking up. I've now sold 78 copies! If you follow this link and find a message that the item has been sold, don't despair, just look in my shop for another one. I relist each time it sells and try to have two in my shop at all times. It's also available on Ravelry.

Also, today, I'm in three treasuries on Etsy:

Craft Fair Build Up

Crafting 365, Day 321, Neck warmer, acrylic, originally uploaded by homemadeoriginals.

I'm participating in two craft shows in early November so I decided it was time to focus on making new product. Since my neck warmer has been my most popular item, by far, I plan to make a number of them. Here is #1 of the new set.

I wanted to make some up too because I am teaching a class this weekend at my LYS and I wanted to re-familiarize myself with the pattern before then. The days are getting shorter and cooler and it will soon be neck warmer weather.

This one is 100% acrylic. I used a double strand of Bernat Softee Chunky. It didn't quite flow on the needles as well as the alpaca versions or the wool blends, but I like the sturdiness and weight of it and some people are allergic to or avoid wool. The model is my new "neck" cut from an unneeded branch of our backyard apple tree. It should make a great display at the craft fairs.

Oh, and speaking of neck warmers, my lime alpaca one is in the Etsy challenge this week if you'd care to take a look and vote for your favorites: http://etsychallenge.blogspot.com/2008/09/915-knittingcrochetneedlework.html

Manic Monday Again

I can't believe it's already Monday again. Ever notice how Saturdays and Sundays go by much faster than weekdays? Perhaps that is because they are so filled...this weekend I browsed thrift stores, made bread and cookies, had my DD and her BF for dinner, cleaned my craft area, had a meeting with a couple of my local Etsy team members to plan a craft show, did laundry, went to to the grocery store, cleaned the house, watched Northern Exposure on DVD, watched a really bad Clint Eastwood movie (I fell asleep) and knitted a couple of baby bibs. Sometimes I feel like I do so little on the weekend, but this seems like a pretty long list.

Manic Monday #134

What's worse, physical or mental cheating? Why? Everyone has thoughts they wouldn't want shared with the world, though not everyone thinks about cheating on a spouse or SO. In my book, physically cheating is worse because thoughts do not always translate into actions.

Do you think men and women can be just friends? Why or Why Not?

Yes, I do but I'm thinking of the famous line in the movie, "When Harry Met Sally" when Harry asserts that they can't. Actually, I've do have some male friends and I think it is possible though challenging to maintain them because people always make assumptions about relationships.

Check out this link with data on this topic: http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/news/release?id=123396

How do you feel about dating co-workers? I think it would be difficult to date someone I worked with, depending on how closely we worked together. On the other hand, I can imagine working (e.g. in our own business) with my boyfriend. Perhaps the difference is about whether the relationship comes first or the job (chronologicaly speaking).

Friday Flashback

This photo shows the detail of a blanket/throw I wove in the late 1970's (does that make it vintage?) when we first moved to Pocatello. The design is aptly titled "Cat's Paw and Snail's Trail". At the time I started my short weaving addiction, I wasn't employed yet and I took weaving classes at a local craft store and then at the local college. I launched into several years of weaving, even after I got a job, starting with a simple frame loom and then moving up to a small floor loom and later a beautiful 36" Leclerc. I still have the large loom, but it sits unused in my basement. To be honest, I'm sure I've forgotten how to warp the loom. When I get more time in retirement, perhaps I'll gravitate back to weaving, because I did derive real pleasure from the craft. These days, knitting and felting require a little less planning and energy, are much more portable, and seem to be occupying my creative pursuits.

9/11 Remembrance-Let There Be Peace

In 1955 a songwriter and actress named Jill Jackson Miller wrote the song “Let There Be Peace On Earth”, a song that begins with these words:

Let there be peace on earth,
and let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on Earth,
the peace that was meant to be.

Seven years ago today our world was irreparably changed by acts of violence so horrible we could never have imagined them.

Today of all days, I wish you peace.

9/11 Remembrance Video

Wednesday Wordle-Visiting Autumn

This is a "wordle" of my poem, Visiting Autumn. Here's the definition of wordle from the wordle.net web site.

Wordle is a toy for generating “word clouds” from text that you provide. The clouds give greater prominence to words that appear more frequently in the source text. You can tweak your clouds with different fonts, layouts, and color schemes. The images you create with Wordle are yours to use however you like. You can print them out, or save them to the Wordle gallery to share with your friends.

I wrote this poem eight years ago, but it is still my favorite.

Finished zipper!

Fiished zipper!, originally uploaded by homemadeoriginals.

Here's the finished zipper installed in my Central Park Hoodie. I did have to take out one side and redo it since it was not even at the bottom when I finished. Now that it's done, I wonder why I avoided it for so long. Here's a photo of the finished sweater...poor light/night/indoor photo.

The Etsy Challenge

Here's something new I learned about recently, the Etsy Challenge Blog.

Each week there is an open challenge in twelve categories. The winner receives a badge for their blog/website showing that they won an The Etsy Challenge and after the challenge ends, there is a treasury on Etsy promoting the twelve winners. Winners will be automatically entered into the Weekly Grand Champion challenge.

So, I'm entered in the clothing/bags/purses category for this week. You can visit the Etsy Challenge site anytime before Monday, 9:00 am EST and vote for my bag and for items in the other 11 categories.

Here's a link directly to the category I'm posted in. You can also go to the website link above and scroll down through all the categories. There are some great items. Mine is the striped, felted bag that looks like this:

Manic Monday

Manic Monday #133
If you could choose only two movies to watch ever again, what would they be?

That's a tough choice. I haven't been watching movies much lately, however right now I would probably have to choose the Bucket List (I've seen it only once) and When Harry Met Sally (I've seen it many times).

What have you found to be the best way to relieve tension?

Knitting or going for a walk.

If you went to a beach and it turned out to be a nude beach, would you stay and go swimming? Would you swim nude?

I'm not much for swimming at the beach, the water is usually too cold. I'd rather walk along the beach and pick up seashells. When we went recently to Port Hueneme (near Ventura, CA--photo above) to visit my son and the new grand baby, we found an assortment of sand dollars that were awesome. I was on a beach in Europe that was topless. That being said, I am not sure I'd be all that comfortable at a totally nude beach. I'd probably just walk down the beach, looking for shells.

PS I'm flashing on the commercial for the cell phone company that takes place on the nude beach and the young boy's reaction, "Awesome".

Felt!

Felt!--ScreenHunter_01 Sep. 07 10.51, originally uploaded by homemadeoriginals.

Nice Treasury of fulled (felted) items includes my striped bag. Thanks sedgeworks for putting it together.

Zipper Fears

Even though I've put in many zippers in sewn garments (machine sewing) I was really nervous about the final step of completing Central Park Hoodie #1, installing the zipper. I m finally going to take the plunge and sew it in and I wanted to share these resources for you in case you are facing the same task. Watch for a photo of the finished product soon.

I finished the button bands on CPH#2 today too, just have to seam it together and it's DONE!

One of the easiest to read/see explanations:
http://www.knittingdaily.com/blogs/howto/archive/2008/05/15/zipper.aspx
http://getting-stitched-on-the-farm.blogspot.com/2006/10/separating-zipper-tutorial-handsewing.html

http://pickinandthrowin.blogspot.com/2007/02/sewing-zipper-into-cardigan.html

http://www.grumperina.com/knitblog/archives/2007/02/closing_the_bri.htm
If you are a Ravelry user, check out this thread:
http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/techniques/321219

I cord makes a nice edge when you are putting in a zipper. I used applied I-cord on my CPH. Here are some links that will help you with I-cord:

The first instructions I used (for the Moderne Baby Blanket) :
http://keyboardbiologist.net/Techniques/AppliedICordStart.htm

http://wendyknits.net/archives/297

http://www.knitting-and.com/knitting/patterns/stitches/icord.htm

This is so cool! You can see how to make I-cord as an animation HERE.

And finally, here's an online resource with a huge stock of zippers and you can even order a custom length separating zipper for $1 more:
http://www.zipperstop.com/
I've heard but haven't confirmed that you can send them a swatch and they will find their best match for you.

Friday Flattery

Today, I got a message from SugarLoveHoney

You can also visit her blog here. She makes pillowcase dresses, tutus, and other cute items and sells them in her Etsy shop. I think I like this creation of hers best:

She let me know that she had nominated me for the "Brillante Blog award." Yay for me! I've had my blog for about 14 months and written over 300 posts. I'm honored to be noticed. I'm also thrilled each time I notice one more of you has subscribed to read my blog or takes the time to comment on it.

Since I was an English major in college, I want to point out that the term "Brillante" actually means brilliantly (I believe it's a music term like andante or allegro). I had to check that to be sure, it's been along time since I actually studied English.

Now it's my turn to pass this award onto some other lucky bloggers. And this was hard, I currently have 64 blogs on my blogroll. Here are my nominees. Realize though, there's no cash (or other tangible) reward that comes with this Brillante award, just know you have me reading and enjoying your blogs.
1) Berlin's Whimsy
2) Derfwad Manor
3) a Friend to knit with
4) Grumperina goes to local yarn shops and Home Depot
5) house on hill road
6) Freda's Hive
7) Winemakerssister
Most but not all of these are "crafty" blogs. On second thought, they are all "crafty" in their own way but many of them show you things that are created from yarn and fabric and such.

Here are the "how to's" for those who were nominated and who want to perpetuate the Brillante award...(totally your choice, I always hated chain letters myself.)

1) Add the logo of the award to your blog
2) Add a link to the person who awarded it to you
3) Nominate at least 7 other blogs
4) Add links to those blogs on your blog
5) Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs

Thursday Thoughts-Sleep Knitting

I am an admitted knitting fanatic. I had to laugh when my friend J said to me today (when he saw me knitting while watching the US Open and waiting for water to boil to make dinner) , "You know you'd get at lot more knitting done if you could knit in your sleep" . "You'd wake up and have a sweater done...but if you had a bad dream, you might end up tangled to the bed frame. " Sleep knitting, what a concept! Much more productive than sleep walking or sleep eating (something I hadn't heard of until I saw it on TV recently, people who sleep walk, eat large quantities of food, and go back to bed without remembering a thing).

I've managed to almost finish my second CPH (Central Park Hoodie) sweater. I'm working on the button band right now and then just have to seam it up. of course the button band is about 320 stitches on a 60" long needle so it may take a while. The first CPH sweater I knit didn't need buttonholes because I was planning on a zipper. I was excited to learn the three needle bind off with these sweaters, it makes a really nice seam. I used it to seam the hoods on these two sweaters. This technique is SO easy I am wondering why I hadn't used it before. The bind off in process is shown below on CPH #1 and the finished result is shown on CPH#2 below. Here is a link to Knitting Help's video of the technique.

Central Park Hoodie #1 is still sitting on my work table waiting for a zipper...maybe this weekend I will get it finished (or maybe tonight if I can will myself to sleep knit!) It's already getting cool here, the trees up in the hills above town are starting to turn, and it will be sweater wearing weather.

I'm happy to report that I sold my first Cabled Neck Warmer pattern on Ravelry today. I've sold 70 copies on Etsy and locally, but this was my first one on Ravelry.

Manic Monday, well it's Wednesday already

Heather over at Winemaker's Sister posts a weekly meme from Manic Monday . I've enjoyed reading her posts so I thought I would give it a try. So here it is along with my responses:

Manic Monday #132


If you were to name the one thing you have the most compassion for, what would it be?

Children (though I can think of many other things as well)

It's been said that, "The best things in life are free." Do you think this is true?
Definitely, you can't buy love, friendship, health, or happiness. I have a magnet on my fridge that says "The best things in life aren't things."
What is the most valuable thing you own?
My health, it's excellent.

Two new FOs and Day 307 and 308 of crafting 365

Crafting 365, Day 307, Alpaca Cowl closeup, originally uploaded by homemadeoriginals.

I'm happy to have two projects completed, one the brown felted purse I started months ago and just couldn't get motivated to finish.. The cowl was a quick knit (one day) and is not in my Etsy shop. It's 100% baby alpaca and SO soft.