January 24, 2017

 

     I have a confession to make!  I'm addicted to yarn!  You know, how some folks are addicted to buying shoes?  Ya, I have that with yarn.  It's not that I don't use it.  I have a project in mind for most every ball, skein, hank and cake that I buy.  The real problem is that I sometimes buy yarn faster then I have time to make the planned project.    But this love of yarn, or anything fiber related for that matter has come in handy in the last few months since I've been heading up the craft committee for the TCS Girls Craft Group, especially since this years theme is fiber and textiles.  I was able to share some hands on samples of handspun yarn with the girls. 

     This bit of handspun yarn is made with a mix of wool and silk that I bought at Fiber West a few years ago.  I'd previously used some of it in a wet felting project, but hadn't tried spinning with it until I got my spinning wheel this past October.    

 

      Last week we had a class were we taught the girls to weave.  A variety of yarn sure added some fun and texture to the different weaving.  This is the first sample I made, but the loom wasn't sturdy enough.

      So I did a bit more research and I came up with this square loom.  Each girl got one to keep.  This one is Angela's project.  Even though she is no longer in GCC, she loved the project, and wanted to have a go at it as well.  It now sits on her desk and every day she's been adding a few rows.

      This hanger was made from some yarn that was left over from a rug I made last year. 

     I love the simplicity of these baby hats.  I've made several in autumn colours, so I think I need to find some spring coloured yarn to make some for the upcoming season.  (another visit to the yarn shop perhaps ;)    

 

    This hat is an idea I had in my head.  Not sure yet if it'll work once all the components are put together, but so far I love it.  And it's been a stash buster, so that also good!  (left over yarn from the elf hats I made over Christmas)

      I love when the mail drops off a huge bag of yarn!  Seriously, what's not to love!?!  30 gorgeous balls of cotton, all the way from Israel.  I've ordered a few balls before, but this time I wanted the whole colour wheel.  You can find a link to her store here. https://www.etsy.com/shop/CrochetObjet

      I'm currently working on making a bunting banner from all the brighter colours.

      Recently I made 2 waffle stitch lap blankets.  Everyone in the family wants to use them because they are so soft, squishy and warm.  So last week I bought this yarn to make one for my hubby.
      And of course, crochet hooks. You can never have to many!!  It may seem strange to a non crocheter, but not all hooks and yarns go together.  Some yarns work better with a bamboo hook, others with a plastic or metal.



     I've been asked several times over the years, since my kids are all in school, or working now, am I bored?!?  Between my yarn stash, gardening, baking, house cleaning, photography...etc...etc... all I can say is BORED???  What's that?

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to all of you! 
We've had unusually cold and snowy weather in our valley this winter.  For the first time in quiet a few years, we've had snow on the ground for all of our Christmas and New Years events.  As I'm writing this, the sun is shining bright and warm through my sunroom window, but outside there is snow and ice on the ground, and the wind is howling around the corners of the house.  With the below freezing temperatures, combined with the wind chill factor, it's just a little to cold to take the dog for a walk. 
This past Christmas holiday I finally went snowshoeing for the first time.  While the guys were up at the skiing resort, the girls and I decided to try snowshoeing.  After an hour or so of walking the trails behind the lodge we went for lunch, then spent 2 hours snowshoeing around Lightening Lake.  It was absolutely an amazing experience.  It was mostly quiet on the trail, with very few other folks around, so it was only the 3 of us in the snow covered forest.  My son Jeremy had gone snowshoeing with his scout troop a few years ago, and he warned me that even with the -6 C temperature, I was going to get hot, and not to over dress.  I didn't really believe him, but boy, was he ever right.  It wasn't long before, off came the hat, mittens and scarf.  We definitely hope to go snowshoeing again!

 

 

Most people make resolutions at New Year's, but I've found that since I'm no good at keeping them, it's easier to avoid them altogether.  Rather, I made a mental list of things I hope to accomplish.  You see, I have a confession to make.  I'm a bit of a pack rat and hoarder, and add to that the fact that I'm also a procrastinator and you have a house full of way to much stuff!  So my goal for this coming year is to minimalize all this stuff.  There is a saying that a messy space is a sign of a creative mind, but I find that the more clutter there is about, the less I seem to see my way through creating.  So this week I started throwing out things we no longer needed.  I'm learning to stop being sentimental about things, and if I no longer need it, pass it on to goodwill or recycle.  So far I have 2 big bags and a large box of stuff ready to drop off at a goodwill store, not to mention what went into the recycling today.

As for what I'm working on as far as crafting, I've been busy crocheting some waffle stitch blankets.  I was only going to make one, but that one has become a favorite, with everyone wanting to use it, so I'll be making a few more.  It's no surprise really, as the waffle stitch makes for a super soft and warm blanket.  I've also made a few pretty crochet collars.  I have a few things up my sleeve for my next project, and I'll share those with you as I get working on them.  
So for now, stay warm and be careful out there!