Knitting Dragonflies

Spring is here, along with the rain, I have begun my traditional spring cleaning/organization quest. In addition to that, I’m working on a baby and a wedding present. Both handmade. Can’t blog about those right now. So I’ll have to be happy with sharing my eternal hope that I can become the organized person with a simplified life and house. Always looking for a successful system to try, the few things that I have kept from various organizational/shows/books etc.…. When my home is not organized, neither is my life, the most chaos I have, the more I need to get organized. 1-OK, not in the mood, just call up a Hoarders episode, 5 min in top, I started tossing things. This is one of the scariest shows I have ever seen. (it also makes anyone feel tremendously in control of things, no matter how messy your house it) 2)-Use the 3 box/bag system, toss, donate and put away. I also like the “can’t get rid of it yet box”, have something you know you need to get rid of my can’t, stick it in...

Sometimes you just need some cuteness! This is a baby Penguin “Cookie” from the Cincinnati Zoo and it’s handler! Smile today!

Oh Yes we sure do! (“This is definitely a Top 10 event, if not a Top 5 event in many places,” ) according to the paper. When did we start calling weather an “event”? We have had several small power outages and some backup of water. My husband and I have trenched around our house. We are calling ourselves honorary civil engineers, ha! (Not my house, thank goodness) Weather service: 'Catastrophic flash flooding possible' , see article Schools and business's are closed due to flooded streets. People are sandbagging and the national guard is here. More raining coming up to 9 inches for some areas. Steve bought an extra sump pump, in case this one goes out, why do things always stop working when you really need them? Keep your feet dry and your hands knitting! I’m inside, cleaning the house and hoping to get some knitting done.

I’m still tweaking my flat slouchy hat pattern. Here is the next in the series. This is a slouchy hat pattern, knitted flat. It is easy for a beginning knitter! Super slouchy hat, pattern below…. I originally started making this pattern when I didn’t have access to my circular needles. It was fast and fun. With cuff turned up (below) Super Slouchy Knitted Flat Hat Pattern (bulky yarn) Pattern: Flat Slouchy Hat (SuperBulky Yarn) Slouchy hat knitted flat and sewn together, suitable for beginning knitter Yarn Used: Super Bulky Lion Brand Hometown USA, I used 1 and a third skeins which is about 110-120 yds of  super bulky yarn Gauge: 13 stitches x 9 rows, 4x4 inches Needles: US 13 or size to get gauge Cast On: 42 Stitches Ribbing: Row 1: K1, P1, repeat to end Row 2: Repeat row 1 until, your ribbing is as long as you desire, mine is approx. 5 inches long. Body: Row1: (Knit 3, Inc 1)* repeat until end of row (total 55 stitches) (see link here, for all types of increas...

I haven't done any watercolors since I’ve moved all of my “stuff” into my front bedroom. I did get it out and go outside and attempt a “plein air ” painting. I had fun, and it warmed me up to get back into sketching. This is part of one of my flower beds, a little wild and blooming! The first photo is just water colors Then I added some ink into the painting, I think I went too far, and like the original better, what do you think? We have been busy replacing all of the windows in the house, still at it. After the initial estimate,*gasp*, we decided to buy them and do the work ourselves. So far, pretty good. I’ve learned it is pretty hard to get a window out of it’s hole! May your needles fly as fast as Dragonflies.

April’s Etsy Blogger is Linda B’s Jewelry Mauve Pearl Wire Wrap Necklace $22.60 From her bio: Hi, my name is Linda and I'm passionate about using bright colors and gemstone characteristics in my unique beaded jewelry designs. Most of my items are one-of-a-kind. My Judaica line of jewelry and accessories is very popular and I enjoy coming up with new designs for it. I've been beading for about 6 years now. I work full-time and find beading to be relaxing and fun. Visit my shop at lindab142.etsy.com I love color and what the gemstones and colors symbolize and create one-of-a-kind, unusual designs of handbeaded gemstone and glass pendants, bracelets, earrings, beaded bookmarks, rings, beaded keychains and car mirror jewelry. Also, I enjoy working with clients on more conventional custom orders... I love to buy jewelry, so had trouble picking out some of my favorites from her shop: Amethyst Healing Silver Wire Wrapped Pendant $24.30 Blue Glass Beaded Bracelet $22.32 I ...

For the 19th consecutive year, April 2011 has been designated StressAwareness Month. During this thirty day period, health care professionals and health promotion experts across the country will join forces to increase public awareness about both the causes and cures for our modern stress epidemic. Sponsored by The Health Resource Network (HRN), a non-profit health education organization, Stress Awareness Month is a national, cooperative effort to inform people about the dangers of stress, successful coping strategies, and harmful misconceptions about stress that are prevalent in our society. Some signs of stress: Loss of hair, forgetful, teeth grinding, irritability, skin conditions, unable to sleep, sleeping too much, etc..I’m sure we all have one or more of these signs!  In this busy world, it is all too easy to keep going and not take enough time to stop for a few seconds. How to relieve stress: Knitting (of course), painting, breathing, meditation, muscle relaxation, mu...

I was so surprised when I woke up one morning and found my cactus blooming in my kitchen window! Years of ignoring it and occasionally watering resulted in growth but nothing exciting. Last year I must have over watered it, and the bottom started to rot. It got so bad I almost threw it out, but I couldn’t bring myself to. I hacked off the bottom and stuck the top part of the remaining plant in dirt. And then pretty much ignored it. Ha.. If you want some real info on cactus and how to make them bloom I found the cactus expert! I have had tremendous luck with Christmas cactus! Easy to grow and a delight to see the blooms every year (although not near the holidays for me, it flowers when it wants to). I found info on my brown thumb if you need help getting your Christmas cactus to flower . I showed my husband the Lucet video from Strings n Things , (he is a carpenter) and he came home with this for me! You can make some great looking friendship bracelets, shoe strings, and those mis...