In Time for Winter

Daniel requested a new scarf since the one he currently has is now a ratty brown thing that I crocheted a couple of years ago. I'm knitting this cowl using fisherman's wool and a herringbone pattern. My new love is herringbone, though I still fall head over heals over anything striped or chevron patterned.

A couple more podcasts and Ted Talks and this cowl will be done!!

Craft for Comfort

I'm almost done! Well, I shouldn't be so proud. I've been working on this thing for a couple months now; off and on I should say. But, one has to admit it's looking pretty good. The pattern is from a book titled, Comfort Knitting and Crochet: Afghans, which I borrowed from my wonderful library, of course. (If you have something against libraries you can also find the pattern on Ravelry.)
Speaking of comfort knitting and crochet, I think I can include comfort crafting in that category. As I've gone along on this journey of craft, I've concluded a couple things about myself...

1. I love making things!
2. I never finish anything I make...oops.

These are the cold facts. Over the past couple of months since the last time I've written, I've come to accept this about myself. Maybe what I make isn't as important to me, but it's the process that gives me joy whether I finish anything or not. I find comfort in working with my hands. It's more of a task that helps me think and appreciate the quiet and stillness of life.

I used to feel guilty for not using my skills for making crafts to sell. But worrying about making money sucks the joy out and so does having mental deadlines. Now, I just make. This blanket will be finished sometime, it doesn't matter when.

A Crafter's Dilema

I'm a craft schizophrenic. It is both a good and bad thing. One day I'm cutting out a vintage dress pattern I found at an estate sale, the next I'm tatting a doily out of yarn, and then I switch to making a banana piñata. Random, I know. My downfall is I enjoy crafting too much for my own good, and the variety out there is overwhelming. I want to delve in and learn every new and forgotten craft in this diverse world.

I want to kumihimo! I'm not sure if "kumihimo" is a verb or a noun in the Japanese language, but in English it is Japanese braid making. The result of kumihimo is beautiful and intricate rope for ornamental purposes, like jewelry. I had no idea this existed until I found it on Amazon.com while browsing tatting books.

(via Knotty Notions)

(via Tampa Bead Cafe)

(via Bead Q!)

Beautiful! I'm especially attracted to the pieces incorporated with beads. Oooo, shiny shiny! This is like my experience at a Chinese buffet; I want to try everything I see. But sadly, I don't get to finish everything on my plate. Maybe I will be able to do kumihimo someday after I finish the dozens of projects I'm already currently working on...

Big Banana

Earlier this month my craft room housed some pretty nifty installation art. Unfortunately, it is no longer there, because it was viewable for a limited time only. But had you been there, you would have seen it was a funky shape made of wire and red foam hanging in mid air.



Okay, so it wasn't really installation art but more of the skeleton of a big banana, a big piñata banana, to be exact. I later covered the structure with paper mâché, painted it, and mod podged it to give it a shiny luster.



The big banana met it's terrible fate on Thursday, August 11, 2011 at a King Kong themed birthday party for my friend, Lizzy. I didn't even stick around to see it smashed to pieces by a group of college and post college kids dressed like flappers, safari travelers, and one snow leopard (that's you, Helen). Before I left, the banana was still winning and was putting up a good fight. Go Banana!!! May you rest in peace...

Fall Ready Knits

Is Fall coming, or what? Well, whatever. I went ahead and knitted a scarf anyway. The pattern I used for this super easy, chic scarf is on Ravelry.com. You can click here for it, but you might need to sign in and make an account, which you should because it's free. Besides, when do you think you're going to learn how to knit? When you're old and gnarled?



I'm telling you it was easy to knit this thing! And if you need help, I am here to help you with your knitting pattern conundrums.



Look! I even made it into a turban. Wala! I pulled the bow back and pinned it against the sides of the band with safety pins.

I Beat the Heat

Despite the heat this weekend I accomplished two things: finishing my metal bin and harvesting a bunch of veggies from our garden.



This bin is ready to party! I stenciled our name on the side with the same bright orange Rustoleum spray paint. The letters didn't come out as crisp as I wanted it, but eh...it's okay!



And look at these beauties...just one cherry tomato today! But there are plenty of them turning orange and will be ready for harvesting this week or next. The cucumber plants, however, are going nuts. Waaaay too many cucumbers this summer to know what to do with. I must conjure up more recipes...


'Til I craft again,
Myrill

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Me vs. Rust

This is what I'm currently scheming: how to remove rust from this metal bin. At an estate sale a couple weeks back, I had lofty imaginations of the ice-filled bin surrounded by friends at a hot barbecue as it chilled their choice bottled beverages. That dream and the five dollar price tag is what sold me. Into the pick-up truck it went! And onto my porch, where it sat a couple of weeks, forlorn and forgotten. I've never grown out of procrastination...


Alas, here the bin sits with a rusty bottom, and me with a guilty conscience. I'm sorry little bin! I'll do whatever I can!


I am well armed...sort of. I'm no handy man, but instead, a chick with fervor. I will destroy you, rust!


That is my face protection, by the way. I couldn't find a face mask or goggles to protect me from the rust dust. But this stylish scarf and slick sun glasses will suffice.

Here are a couple of DIY instructions I checked out before starting: http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2010/12/make-an-old-toolbox-new-again.html
http://www.instructables.com/id/Remove-Rust-from-a-Bicycle-Chain/

This war against rust is to be continued...

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone