A Little Fun With Kool Aid

Yesterday was a pretty day ~ and because sometimes you just need a play day ~ we spent some time learning how to dye yarn using Kool Aid drink packets ~ and these are all our final results :)

Abby and I packed up and went over to my friend Starlyn's backyard, and Mary showed us the process.

 I started out with this yarn, they are all natural wool fibers.

We mixed Kool Aid packets in water ~ we used about 3 packets in half a jar of water.  And since it's not toxic, Abby was able to pitch in and take part too.  She did a lot of stirring...

 ...and a little smushing...and stayed busy sorting our Kool Aid packets into piles by color :)

Some hanks we layed out in plastic boxes and drizzled, and some we dipped in jars. Zip Lock Baggies work too.  Here are some of them in progress...

After each color we added, we heat set them in the microwave for two minutes.

Or some were left out in the sun's heat to set.  Then rinsed and left out to dry.  It was all pretty easy and fun :)

Mary made these socks from Kool Aid yarn a while back.  Now I can't wait to get started on some projects with my new yarn creations and see how it knits up :)

Enjoy the day!
~ Dawn

The Littlest Things

I've been knitting a lot lately.  It's an easy carry-along that I can do as a passenger in a car, and in less than perfect light.  I always have a little knit project in progress tucked into my handbag for when I have time to kill.  I like to work on little things for that reason, and because I can also feel like I'm accomplishing finishes.  They are such little projects, but it's funny, when I visit my dad at the nursing home, he can't always have a coherent conversation, but he always recognizes my handwork projects that I'm working on and is interested in my progress :) 

So, as of lately I've been completing a bunch of little projects to give as gifts, and this one in particular sparked my dad's attention, I'm not really sure why.  This is a little scarf that I made for Elsie out of a fun polyester fleece yarn ~ and since I had more yarn, and it kept my dad's attention so much, I've made an extra one for sale here in my Etsy store for some other special little girl.  

Even though he doesn't go out side in the cold, I think I'll have to find some more "manly" colors and make one for my dad next.  Sometimes it's just the little things that make a difference :)

Enjoy the day!

Show and Tell & A Winner!

Just popping in with a quick show and tell ~ While traveling to and from Quilt Market last week, I was able to get some knitting done in the airports and planes.  Here is a pair of socks that I got finished (well I did have one of them done before the trip).   One more Christmas gift checked off the list!

 

And my other business of the day is to announce the winner of my Market Goodies Giveaway!  I ran the number of posts through Random.org and the lucky number is #21

Andee!

I'm sending you an email for your address to get your package out to you :)

I'll be back in the next couple of days with some show and tell from a quilt retreat I went on this past weekend with my quilting buddies ~ first I have to un-pack.  Two trips away in the course of two weeks is really a lot for me and I'm still recovering :)

Enjoy the day!

~ Dawn

Another Hive Autumn Creative Challenge Piece

Last week with all of my waiting room time, I was able to get a bit of knitting done and I got this shawl finished in these great Autumn colors.  I used one skein of Abstract Fibers painted wool, and a little over one skein of a Cascade 220 wool in brown. 

It's basically a large semi-circle.  The pattern is called Concentric Shawl by Melanie Dilworth published by the Black Trillium Fiber Studio.  I purchased the pattern as a download on Ravelry.

It's my second Autumn Creative Challenge piece on the Creating the Hive forum.  This one is going to be a gift, but I won't say for who because she might read this...so I'll just leave you guessing :)

Enjoy the day!
~ Dawn

Birdhouse Whimsy

 

Hershey Gardens had a fantastic display of birdhouses.  I have a thing for birdhouses, they look so peaceful in the garden, and add just a touch of whimsy ~ so I took a bunch of birdhouse pictures. I won't bore you with them all, but here are a few of our favorites. 

  

Many of them had themes ~ how cute is this! It was Heather's favorite.

  

 I took this little caboose picture because I knew my hubby would like this one.

  

This was my favorite.  It reminds me of a birdhouse that a friend just gave me that's similar to our house.

  

This is mine.  My best friend gave it to us for our wedding anniversary (which is tomorrow!), and right now I have it sitting on our hearth :)

  

And just so you know that I am working on things, I finished my second pair of knitted socks!  With traveling, I've been doing mostly handwork.  I have some knitting going, and I've been busy preparing some more hand applique to carry along.  I'm getting ready to head out again on a trip to Lisa's house to be there for her, and watch Elsie while she and Cory go to the hospital and deliver Abby.  Cory is a Marine, and we feel so blessed to have him home and not deployed for the birth of this daughter! Busy, busy exciting times :)

  

PS ~ Don't forget to hop on over to the Project Quilting blog and vote for Elsie's Growth Chart.  Voting ends today, and if you leave a comment, you're in the drawing for a give away!

Enjoy the day!

~ Dawn

Great American Afghan

I am finding that the easiest way to keep my hands and mind busy while sitting in hospital and nursing home rooms has been knitting. These are the first two blocks completed for my Great American Afghan. (Again I'm keeping with my one-block-at-a-time theme that I seem to have going here in 2010).

The first one has a cat worked in to it, and although I made some mistakes (they're there, so don't look too closely) I think it still looks like a cat, so it's a keeper.

The second block has some heart shapes layed out in a pattern, and was a little easier than the cat using just a combination of knit and purl stitches. Knitting is easier to do in less than perfect lighting, and is a little more portable than my hand applique because there are less tools to take along... just the two knitting needles, yarn and a pattern sheet ~ Simplicity. :)

Enjoy the day!
~ Dawn

Hopefully I'm Back

Hospital rooms, case workers, Medicare, rehab facility, another trip to the ER, back to the rehab facility, physical therapy, hospital food, some of the nicest nurses God has put on this earth, medical care plans...that was my week in a nutshell (hopefully yours was more fun). Dad is now settled into the rehab center and his hip is healing well.

So now I'm getting some computer time and trying to catch up on my email. Thank you for all of the sweet messages and emails that I received ~ during some of the really crumby moments my little Blackberry would bling and make me smile with a word of encouragement from one of my blogging friends. That meant so much!

Hopefully we'll be getting back into the swing of things here this week. I did get some good hospital-room-knitting-time/therapy in and finished my socks, and am working on my Great American Afghan blocks. (My Dad, who is not fully conscious of what is going on around him at all times, looked at me at one point and said, "Don't you ever get tired of doing that?") I guess I needed a lot of knitting therapy. I hope to get back in front of a sewing machine some time this week too, and maybe prepare some hand applique to work on as well...I think I'm starting to suffer from withdrawal symptoms :)

Enjoy the Day!
~ Dawn

A Sock That Fits and a New Pattern

Remember that sock class that I'm tackling as my New Year's thing to learn...well here's the progress that I'm making after restarting only three times. For some reason I find that I need to do something at least three times with the knitting before it starts sinking in.

Today I was feeling under the weather so I took a sick day and spent most of it in my comfy chair knitting, and I turned my first heel! Don't look at it too closely, it's far from perfect, but I'm happy with it so far ~ and it fits my foot (so I get to keep this pair Starlyn!). We have one more class next week where we learn to close the toe.

Also, I have had many requests for a pattern for the Quick Pre-Quilted Tote that I posted about earlier, so it's now available here in my Etsy Store. It's the first of my Make-It-Today pattern series which will include quick to make projects at a reduced pattern cost :)

And for the people who asked what fabric I used for the tote pocket: It's from a collection called "Close to My Heart" designed by Laundry Basket Quilts for Moda Fabrics.

Enjoy the day!
~ Dawn

Are You Resolute?

Do you make New Year's Resolutions? I find that during this annual period of reflection and self assessment I do better to commit to learn something in the new year, than to make a resolution to change a behavior (with resolutions I usually don't last through February). Last year I decided to really learn to knit, and I also learned some new techie skills on the computer ~ that resulted in new friends through this Blog, Facebook, Twitter, and my Etsy Group: pretty nice huh.

I know that this year I will be learning how to knit socks. I'm signed up for this class at our shop in January, and am looking forward to it because Mary Hull is a great, patient teacher! But you'll find no profound revelations here today, I'm still reflecting on what else will be in store for the start of this next decade. I'm open to suggestions...what are your plans and resolutions for 2010?

And for a little show and tell, this is a hat and scarf set that I just finished knitting. I made one for a gift for someone, and liked it so much I whipped a set up for the Etsy Store!

"Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man." ~ Benjamin Franklin

Enjoy the day ~ and the year!
~ Dawn

My New Wool Obsession

Lately I've been getting some knitted projects finished for the holidays. I've been making scarves. I won't say who they are for, just in case they happen to drop by my blog.

The wool for the first one was just beautiful, I loved working with it and seeing how it knitted out with the color changes.

This one is knitted in the same pattern as the first, but with the solid color you see the zig zag pattern much more distinctly.

This one is so soft, made with a blend of Marino wool and cashmere. I'm getting quite a stash of yarns, and I'm finding that half the fun of knitting is experimenting with the different colors and fibers and being thrilled with the outcome.

I get to stay home today, and can hopefully "hide" all day in my sewing room and bring a few sewing projects to completion :)

Enjoy the day!
~ Dawn

Knitting...Just Because

My latest little obsession...I'm taking a knitting class at our shop. We're working out of The Sweater Workshop book by Jacqueline Fee.

I'm making this contraption. Everyone asks what it is, and I have to explain that it's absolutely nothing. The author calls it a sweater sampler.

While working my way up the sampler, I'm learning different types of ribbing.

I've learned to change colors, add a little sweatshirt style pocket, and do different types of increases and decreases (all things I did not know how to do before this class).

This last week I learned to do two color work in a pattern. I don't know if I'll be making a sweater when I finish the class, but I do feel confident that I can do a wider variety of knitting projects than just the knit/purl scarves that I've made in the past.

Enjoy the day!
~ Dawn

Little Things?

Some days are just meant to be filled with lots of little tasks, instead of grand ones. Today is one of those days. Even my current projects are little and not very glamorous. The Baltimore Album block that I'm working on is made up of 32 little hearts, currently in the works.

I just finished this little dishrag that I took along on our weekend trip (I'm taking the beginning knitting class being held at our shop that started last Thursday evening). I'm pretty happy with it, but...

this little burp happened in the middle and I'm not really sure what exactly it was that I did to cause it. I also had some issues around the edges. So...

I'm making another one for more practice :) I think I'm finally getting the hang of it (I pulled apart several that I didn't photograph). Good thing too because this week we go beyond knit a row, purl a row, and we're jumping onto circular needles!

My agenda for the day also includes:
- weekly grocery shopping with my Dad
- cleaning toilets
- editing a paper for my son
- paying bills
- lots of filing
- regular daily tasks like keeping family and pets fed and happy

This puts me in mind of a quote that a good friend gave me years ago on a little plaque that I keep on my desk:

I long to accomplish great and noble tasks, but it is my chief duty and joy to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble. ~Helen Keller

Little things...maybe not so much.

Enjoy the day!
~ Dawn

An Elsie Post

Well, I learned to knit in 2008 ~ very basic knit & purl ~ so I of course made scarves! Here is the first little tiny scarf I knitted being "modelled" by my granddaughter Elsie (17 months old). Actually, she is taking it off. That's what she does, her mom puts it on ~ and she takes it off...Lisa has to snap the picture really quickly!

I plan to learn to do more with the knitting this year as we are now carrying Cascade yarns and knitting books and supplies at And Sew It Goes. The beginning knitting classes and Great American Afghan block of the month begins this Saturday at the shop. I think I'm going to take the beginning knitting because she is teaching how to increase and decrease and I don't do that yet. Who knows maybe later I can make a sweater for Elsie to take off :)

And for some extra eye candy, here is Elsie and her mom (my daughter Lisa) playing with the web cam. (You'll have to forgive me, I just can't get enough!)

Enjoy the day!
~ Dawn