Sunday, April 27, 2008

Καλό Πάσχα!

Easter for one is still Easter, despite the lack of egg contestants. So this year I skipped the red eggs, and went straight for the lamb roast (very yummy!)


In regards to knitting, the crochet part of the Beachcomber Tunic is still in progress - why is it taking me so long!?!?!?!?!?!?!? I 'd have nothing craftworthy to mention, but thankfully I made a super-quick project to fit the bill.

When I want to use a recipe more than once, I tend to write down the basics and keep it in the kitchen for quick reference. So far, my habit of using post-it notes and sticking them on the wall has been handy, but an eyesore.

After several hours of searching in vain in various stores for something more catching, I decided to make something with whatever I could find in the house. Using a round cork mat (from IKEA), I stapled tightly some bright and cheerful fabric (again from IKEA). I transfered the recipes to some Chinese paper I had bought years ago in Chinatown, stapled a loop of seam binding tape at the back for a hanger, and got my mini bulletin-board in under 10 min.


Although not very interested in Easter, the kitties were nonetheless happy with their present: fresh catnip!

Saturday, April 26, 2008

Spring cleaning

Spring cleaning can be so unrewarding. Even after spending an entire day cleaning in the kitchen, things still appear with little difference. At least they are clean, easier to find, and some stuff was thrown away. I took pictures to see the difference, and the comparison kind of disappointed me. sigh!

BEFORE
AFTER




































Thankfully, I had help

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Eyes bigger than stomach

I am swamped! And it is all my own fault. I have the tendency to want to do everything and not miss out on anything, especially if it involves learning. So, in the last 10 days I have managed to add about 6-7 hours of work in my weekly schedule, spread over 3 projects. All work related, but fun and interesting. Unfortunately, over the weekend I also went to the Strand and came back with a new pile of books, that I added to my old pile of books waiting to be read. Fearing that I would get even more swamped and never get to them, I decided to put them in some kind of order, and make sure to read them in that order.


My New Year's resolution for 2007 was to finish at least the fiction books that I started, and that indeed did the trick and it cured me from leaving things unfinished. So I don't actually have to read the non-fiction books in the pile cover to cover, but I hope to give them at least an honest chance.

I gave these two enormous pillow cases to L., as the handmade part of his birthday present. They are 25"x25" with a zipper and a very soft, plain blue fabric for backing. The pillows and about half of the fabric were purchased at Jo-Ann Fabrics. The rest is from my stash. They make watching t.v. in bed just a little bit more fun, and that's enough for me.

A couple of weeks ago I was walking down Broadway and 10th (I think), when I noticed these really impressive crocheted corals. I am not sure if there was any more information about them, I was kind of in a hurry, so I snapped a couple of pictures and run off. I think they are a wonderful example of true fiber arts, elevated from the humble but not a bit less enjoyable fiber crafts.


Saturday, April 19, 2008

Green things

Today was the first really warm day that I could take advantage of. Inspired by a conversation with a friend, I decided to start my indoors garden early this year - or should I say on time. I tend to put it off, and when I eventually buy the herbs I want it seems to be too warm, and they don't last very long. I went to the Farmer's Market at Union Square, and came back with lettuce, dill, mint, basil and coriander.


Another change for this year is that I decided to keep them on top of the refrigerator, where they get the setting sun, which is milder. I hope this will do the trick. Of course, it is also close to the area where I cook, and I enjoy fluffing the leaves of mint or basil every time I feel like, and take in the scents.

The little pink elephant is very happy to be back in action!

I seem to be in a green mood today. I finished the avocado-coloured wrist warmers. Just in time for the evil air conditioning, which I anticipate will be turned on any day now. Ugh!

These wrist warmers are based on the pattern of the notorious Monkey socks, which I modified slightly to make it a 14-st. repeat instead of the original 16. My favourite number is 56, which works fine with sock yarn! The yarn is Lorna's Laces in envy, and I used my usual 2.75 circular Inox needles. I used about 4/5 of a skein.

Monkey fore paws

For taking this photo, I wanted to play with my tripod and the camera timer. Of course anywhere my attention is focused for more than a few seconds, Seven has to check it out. This is the third attempt. The previous two were all a grey blur.

Sunday, April 06, 2008

Spring blues turned productive

March was a month of preparation and stashing. I feel well-equipped for several projects coming ahead. The books, fabrics and yarns are all in place, waiting patiently to be reach the opt of the queue. O.k., my queue is a list of ideas, but not in order of priority, so it's always a surprise which project I will start next.

Often little ideas, especially quick ones, take precedence to fulfill a need. Such as this little booklet I collaged out of a publisher's catalog that came in the mail.


Other items, however, remain in the list for months, perhaps years, before inspiration strikes. In principle they are good ideas, but I am not sure about the final shape. Until the right fabric comes along, begging to be turned into this or that.


I also had a few birthday and (long) overdue Christmas gifts to make, but some of them I still can't post about as they have not been delivered yet, and I don't want to ruin the surprise.


In addition, when everyone else has winter blues, I skipped that and went straight to spring blues. In the end of the days all I feel like doing is comfort knitting. But with only an irritating crochet project that I am stubbornly trying to finish before I start anything new, comfort knitting actually meant swatching. So I am in the process of making swatches for all my sweater-quantity yarns. Ravelry really helps here, making the rest of the steps automatically, such as calculating yardage etc.


Meanwhile, the kitties have been up to something secret. I could not hear what they were plotting about, but I managed to take a photo...


They seem to be serious about it...
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