Showing posts with label blues. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blues. Show all posts

What's Happening Wednesday- Joining a Knitting project

What's happening this Wednesday? Well, Ohio is slowly thawing from the latest deep freeze, and I managed to get out this past Sunday afternoon to purchase some beautiful yarn. I am just fascinated by the "homespun" style of Lion brand yarn. It is soft and the colors are variegated. Oh, I guess I should start with the reason I ventured out in the first place, Lion brand yarn company is having a knit along! They first asked newsletter recipients to vote on their choice for this years project. Aside from the winning project, the sweater hoodie pictured to the left, there was a modern shrug type of sweater for women, and a womens pullover type sweater. The hoodie sweater is unisex, and is the one that I voted for. Although I am not that experienced of a knitter, it is listed as a beginner level pattern. Still, it may be more than I should take on, especially since I really don't  have anyone around to ask for help, should I need it. But, between the new on-line group that I found, Ravelry (a social site for knitters and crocheters), and all of the other people doing the sweater and following along with the Lion brand notebook posts, I am willing to  brave it, and actually, very excited to get the needles going!  So, as I said, I purchased my yarn this past Sunday afternoon. I think I am going to make this sweater for myself, but I may make it a gift, I am just not decided yet. Either way, it is going to be for a female. I chose the Homespun color called Tudor, which is a creamy base, with spurts of muted greens, rose pink, and grays, with dollops of a vibrant turquoise and purple (but for some reason 2 of the skeins have less color than the others, even though they all have the same number?).


Don't you think this will make a gorgeous sweater?

For buttons, I chose some antiqued silver colored Celtic knots.  I almost got some wooden flowers that I loved, but in the end I felt that the Celtic knot ones were a bit more dressy and elevated the sweater.....if I can make it well, that is! lol.    




                                                      I made my Mother a prayer shawl for Christmas, and it too was made with the homespun yarn. It was done with the color nouveau. I am not sure if you can see all of the colors in this photo, but it is truly gorgeous. The picture doesn't even show the true dark brown of the shawl, but you at least get the idea of the multiple colors. While I am not generally a "brown" type of person, the brown background really shows off the additional colors so well (in person anyway). I see turquoise, teal, blue, green, yellow and gold amidst the brown. It actually is quite stunning, if I do say so myself. Of course I was proud of it because I made it, but mostly because I was so worried that it would turn out looking just "plain". You see, this wasn't made with the fancy pattern that I originally chose. I couldn't seem to get the pattern down as it was a little lacy, and I kept missing stitches. I think...or rather I have decided to blame it on the texture of the yarn. At any rate, for whatever reason, I wasn't getting it consistently right, so I switched to a plain garter stitch pattern. Of course it took me extra time to do the garter stitch one because I got so bored, so easily. I could only do a few rows at a time before the boredom set in, but it did keep me busy during some terrible times, and through lots of waiting at  appointments and such. So actually, I guess it all worked out well, otherwise I may have whizzed through it, and had nothing to occupy me when I needed it!  When I finished it, I really had a hard time wrapping it up. The colors were just so beautiful.

I am also using the homespun color of "windsor" to do some scarfs now, so I have a shorter project to go along with the longer one.  Windsor is a combination of beautiful blues, lavender, green and teals, and almost became my sweater. I actually purchased this skein a few weeks ago, and I love it, but ultimately I chose the other because it was different. I like different! Oh, and can you tell that I really like the homespun  yarn line?  If you knit or crochet, and are unfamiliar with it, take a look the next time you need some yarn, you just may find a color combination meant for you! But try to find it in the store because the pictures on the link just don't do it justice in my opinion (not to mention that I paid less for what I got from that big store....sorry LB!).

Of course, in keeping with my Craftor's ADHD, besides the knitted scarf, I am also working on some scrap book pages, a new Unique Garden Essences product, taking photographs of products for uniqueXpression listings which need to go on the net, as well as a whole list of other boring things, such as revamping shop policies and old pictures, completing inventory, and cleaning up the crafting spaces. As you can see, I have not only have plenty going on this Wednesday, but enough to last several Wednesdays!  So what are you up to?

What's Happening Wednesday

Wednesday, hump day, so I have decided to dedicate Wednesdays to whatever is happening. This will not always be work related, rather, whatever I happen to be up to that day.
Today, as part of my new years' goals mandate, I have been working on organizing and executing my work, in particularly for my on-line shops. To that end, I finished a new pair of earrings the other day, as well as a pre-designed, mini scrapbook. I had not, however, taken the pictures to list them yet. Since both of these items need to go into my uniqueXpression shop, they would never make it there if I didn't get down to business and get those pictures. Soooooo, as of this posting, I have 3/4 of my task completed! The pictures are all taken (of course I allowed myself to get side-tracked and uploaded several holiday pictures and organized some folders) and I have completed the listing for the scrapbook, but the earrings listing is now pushed to the top of my Thursday to do list. I am so out of practice (and maybe a bit unfocused), it seemed to take me most of the day just to complete these few things, lol! Oh well, practice should make perfect, and I expect that I will soon be cranking out the on-line work again, I have confidence....deserved or not, I guess we will soon see!
Since the pictures are all done, even though they are not yet listed, I will share them with you.
These are 19g, sterling silver w/ ball, shepherds hooks, with a Swarovski crystal-studded chandelier. They have champaign and clear crystals and are about a 1 1/2" drop. They are quite lovely, and can be easily incorporated into a more dressy outfit or just used to dress up a casual look.
This is the front of the 8"x8", pre-designed scrap book that I did. The front has a picture frame, and it contains 24 more pages for pictures (for a minimum of 25 pictures, although the framework is set for additional ones). I made each page background either a winter or a Christmas theme, so it will be perfect for anyone who just wants to paste down their holiday and winter pictures and be done with it! Hmmm, maybe I should keep this! LOL Here are some more views of the earrings, as well as all of the individual page pictures of the scrapbook. I hope you enjoy them!
So what have you been up to this Wednesday? Comment and share, maybe you will inspire us all!

Snowtime Like Bathtime

Wind gusting to 60mph and temperatures dipping into the twenties has made me think a LOT about a nice HOT bath! Of course I cannot fathom just a plain water bath, so I have to add oils or salts or something! Today I steeped a while in some Raphael's Healing Garden Bath Soak to help get some arthritic relief, but the Cleo's Bath Soak from my last bath left me feeling quite queenly, I must say! Next bath I am going to use my Luxurious blend, but today I thought you might enjoy some recipes you can try at home, or even make as Christmas presents!
MILKY BATH MIX
1 cup powdered milk
1 cup corn starch
1 cup baking soda
3/4 cup oatmeal
1/2 cup powdered chamomile flowers *
1/4 cup patchouli powder *
1/2 cup powdered lavender buds *
**If you do not have the flowers, you may substitute 3-5 drops of Essential Oils in place of the powders, just make sure that you mix thoroughly. Sifting the mixture works best to ensure even mixing.
Mix all ingredients together, then package as desired. Use 1/2 cup per bath, allowing mixture to dissolve in running, warm water. Relax and soak in bath for 15-20 minutes.
FIZZY BATH SOAK MIXTURE
1 cup baking soda
1/2 cup corn starch
1/2 cup citric acid
2 tablespoons sweet almond oil (or sunflower oil)
1 -2 teaspoons of your choice of Essential Oil or Fragrance Oil
Combine the baking soda & corn starch in a bowl, you can even add a few drops of food coloring if you want (just be careful to not use too much, you don't want a ring around your tub!). Then add the liquid ingredients and mix well, using a wire whisk, until completely combined. Next add the citric acid and whisk again, until well blended. Once well blended you can press into small balls or into molds. Allow to dry for a few hours, then they will be ready to use or to wrap and package for gifts.
WINTER BLUES AWAY BATH OIL
2 oz Sweet Almond Oil
6 drops pink grapefruit essential oil
10 drops sweet orange essential oil
Mix together well, then use in bath of warm water. Soak for 15-20 minutes, as these essential oils help to chase your winter blues away while the oil softens and soothes your skin!