Monday, September 30, 2013

Slower than expected

I was on vacation last week, and I intended to take pictures of my craft stuff.  Really, I did.  Instead, I took some pictures of my children playing on a playground and I played a little with some of the lenses I have.  I'm still not great with it all, and have issues from time to time, but it wasn't bad.  I'll post those pictures later.  Now, since tomorrow is October 1st, I have 30 days to make my children's Halloween costumes.  I had thought I would get by with them just wanting to wear last year's, but no - I'm not that lucky.  So, my son decided to be a knight, and I will finally use the pattern I bought about 2 years ago.  My daughter, of course, wants to be a princess.  But not just any princess will do.

Courtesy of Disney Junior

She wants to be Sofia.  So, what's a mother to do?  Make the costume, of course.  First order of business is the fabric.  I'm going to hit the cheap spots first - the thrift stores.  Let's see what I can find.


Thursday, September 19, 2013

Lazy blogger, busy crocheter

I've been working on the Alchemilla.


It's slow progress, but it's progress.  For whatever reason, I'm just not feeling the knitting these days.  Then again, I'm not really feeling the crochet either.  I'm still in a blah mode.  Maybe it'll break soon.  In a few weeks, I should be sharing some really great news.  Hopefully I won't be quite as lazy this next week in blogging.  There are a lot of things going on, and I'm trying to get on top of everything.

Friday, September 13, 2013

Doldrums

Ever get the doldrums?  You know, when you have a lot of stuff going on, but nothing really entertains you?  I'm there.  So here's what I've got going on:



I have the Numma Numma sock yarn in Cupcakes! working up in a Vanilla Latte pattern.  They're really rather lovely, but ho-hum right now.


I have my Grace cardi on the needles, and it's in a lovely alpaca blend, but again, just ho-hum for me at the moment.


I'm working on squares for this afghan, which is a class over at The Whole Nine Yarns, starting this Saturday.  The squares are easy and fun, and most take about an hour to work up.  But again, just ho-hum for me.


I just found some yarn in my stash that would be lovely as this shawl, but I don't know that I'm really that excited about winding the yarn and getting started.

These are just the projects that I've touched in the past few days that I have going on, and doesn't count some of the others that have been sitting patiently for me.  I'm not sure what it is yet.  Maybe I'm just tired of having to think and be on all the time.  Or maybe it's that I want to do what I want to do for a little bit, and let everything else go hang.  In any case, the projects that were exciting are now just okay.  I guess it's the "seven year slump" for me.  That's rather odd, because this time of year is usually invigorating for me.  I love fall, and it's in the air.  New plan - start whatever I want, even if it's 10 new projects.  Just start something - and maybe some excitement will burst back on the scene.  How do you deal with the doldrums?

Monday, September 09, 2013

Working on it

Guess what?



This is my Grace.  Not too shabby, huh?  It's not as far along as I'd like it, but then, what project ever is as far along as you'd like it?  I rarely have those that knit up as fast as I'd like them to, but part of the joy of knitting is the time.  I did manage to work on a sock today as well.  I'm now at the heel flap.  That should make it go a little faster.  Here's the odd part - I was going to give this pair to my mother, but I decided to change what I was going to give her, so now who do these socks go to?  


The Numma Numma sock yarn is lovely to knit.  It has very little twist in it, so it's almost like knitting with a thin roving.  It also is self-striping.  I was talking with another lady at church this weekend about self-striping sock yarn, and how it makes you look so smart because of all the color changes.  It looks like you put in WAY more effort than you did, all because it stripes.  

In other news, this weekend was wonderful.  I went to a women's retreat with some ladies from my church, and it was terrific.  

Thursday, September 05, 2013

Quandry

I've been busy - playing single mom for a weekend while hubby visited friends and crocheting.  I finished these:


A two simple crocheted washcloths and a heating pad scented with lavender.  I made two sets, and they're for the women's retreat at my church this next weekend.

I found it difficult over the past few months *cough, couple of years, cough* to be content.  It has little to nothing to do with my home life - I really love that aspect of my life.  This lack of contentment usually has to do with work.  This in turn projects itself onto me, and I project it onto others (usually the hubby who is a wonderful understanding man and helps me see this regularly).  So, in an effort to put the discontentment back where it belongs, I'm going to start working on clothes for myself.  No sense waiting until I'm the "perfect size", is there?  The perfect size is right where I am.  And the best part is, if I make them, and get into a smaller size later, I can always REMAKE them.  Novel idea, huh? *grin*  So, first up:


This is to be accompanied by a top and skirt.  Socks are still on the horizon as well, for Christmas.  I think I just need a big project to keep momentum.  Wish me luck!