Knitting: How to Bind Off

Knitting: Joining in a new ball of yarn

For years I've winged it when joining in a new ball of yarn. Today I found this video from Knit Picks that explains it quite clearly and in a really easy way. Take a peek:

Blast from the past posting...

I have been scanning iTunes for music all evening with my mother-in-law, which made me start to reminisce about music I listened to way back when... Rivulets and Violets came into my life with their Cocteau Twins vibe back when I was in high school. My sister was later in the band and I found this video. She's the one in red...love it!
Rivulets and Violets - I Hate You

Photoshop Phooling Around...

Thanks to Mike and Heather - my Photoshop HEROES! Mike figured out my mysterious "black screen" and Heather knows everything about making your pics look oh so pretty by using actions. Here are some of my experiments:

Black and White with Frame

Vintage with spatter-edge framing

Several other vintage effects...




This was all I had time to do - I was exhausted last night. I hope to edit some of my landscape pics with a special Ansel Adams "action". Until then...

Finally Home...

On Memorial Day Sunday (also my birthday this year), this video was played at church. It really touched me so I thought that I would share it. Make sure you turn off my playlist in the right hand of my blog page before viewing. :)

Me and My Shadow

My craftiness has come to a temporary hault. Two lines of knit or purl is about all I've been able to accomplish since Monday. This could be due to my "shadow"...my "shadow" follows me around, wants me to play, doesn't like it when I work on my computer and he doesn't like it when I knit. My "shadow" wants my attention.

This is my "shadow"...

...my "shadow" is two. His sisters are in vacation, so I'm his playmate. I have to say that I'm exhausted from constant play and then trying to get my work done at night. This picture is from our first full day playing together...we played in the backyard in the baby-pool. Yesterday we met friends and played at the park. Today we met up with friends to play again and then went to Grandma's house for a hair-cut. My "shadow" keeps me quite busy (and tired), BUT...I wouldn't change a thing! :)

Did you know shadows can talk? Mine can...he's calling me now...

Another Successful Sewing Project...

Taylor's halter top is finished. I used the same fabric as I did for Ashley's top, but in reverse. I'm really happy with the end result.

My mom used to my similar things for my sister and I when we were little, but they were wrap dresses. Hopefully I can figure a way to alter this pattern to make it into a cute dress.

An attempt at sewing...

...well this is not my first attempt. In fact, years ago I was pretty good at it. I've been meaning to make these little halter tops for the girls for their trip to CA, but I've been putting it off. Yesterday I realized that they leave on MONDAY! So, I made Ashley's top and here it is:

I think it is pretty cute - minus the little soccer t-shirt that she is wearing under it. My sewing ventures are going to take some time because I seriously cannot sew a straight line. I'm learning that I need to take my time and slow down a bit.

Hopefully I will only get better with practice.

This is a seriously easy pattern that I bought off of Etsy a few months back. http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=15096321 It took me 4 hours to make, but it should have only taken me 2 hours. I had some issues with my machine and the tension, but once it was fixed it went quite smoothly.

In the end, I'm happy with the final product. :)

Obsession - ob·ses·sion - Compulsive preoccupation with a fixed idea

Ok, so from earlier posts it is quite clear that I have an obsession with fiber and multiple projects going at once. I started pondering the things that make me happy (besides my Dear Husband and Darling Kids, of course :) and equal - my obsessions.

Reading - I'm currently reading Twilight, but it is going a bit slow since I have that looming WIP hanging over my head. Its been about two weeks and I'm only on chapter 3. I'm really enjoying it so far, though.

Craft Blogs - holy moly!!! I read a lot of craft blogs! Look at the list on my blog - YIKES! I do browse these each and every day to see what people are coming up with and I just really find so much inspiration whether I try new projects or not. If your looking for something to get you out of your creative rut, I encourage you take a peek at some of these.

Etsy - this is an avenue for crafters to sell their goods. I'm shopping all the time on their. I wish I was buying all the time, but I do try to search there first before buying a gift. Currently I'm searching for a present for my Grandma's 84th birthday - which is next week! I'm not sure if I have time, but here are a couple things that I've found so far.

This is an adorable hand stitch ready to frame print that would look so cute in my Grandma's new bedroom.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=27168938

This is an already framed print that would add a

little modern whimsy to her room. Love it!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25284187

For time sake, I might have to shop locally since I'm running out of time, but we will see.

Take a look at Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/