Knitting Dragonflies

I’ve always wanted to try some toe up socks. I found this wonderful, step by step tutorial from Silver on Toe up socks . You can knit a basic sock or design your own socks. What drew me to this tutorial was how in-depth it is.A video' and step by step diagrams, I thought “yes I can do this”. Each page is a separate step in the sock, broken down into little bits that make it clear and concise. Very detailed! So I’m off to find my sock yarn and needles. I had bought some Trekking XXL sock yarn a long time ago in color 135 Circus, it is a self patterning yarn. I took my instructions and yarn to work and actually cast on at lunch, while talking! It was that easy, I got several rows done, and was then off. Here I’m at home checking out the progress, Penny is not impressed with it. She would rather be running in the yard.   The tutorial recommends to watch a one sock on two circular video on You Tube, once I did that, I understood the concept, and didn’t have any problems. It

I have recently been captivated by watercolors. This is the last thing I thought I would ever try! But, upon reading Theresa’s blog Blueberries, Art and Life , I was sucked into the world of watercolors. (I’m getting a little looser with my brush) I’m amazed at how the colors blend and run, creating a  lightness that is theirs alone. For a reasonable price you can get a basic set of brushes, paint and paper, and get hooked. I found a website that has info on watercolors, Handprint.com by Bruce MacEvoy. Of course, like knitting, water color painting comes with a language all of it’s own. I like this site, lots of tutorials, there is a big learning curve in learning the strokes and how to be loose and free with them. I also tend to want to fill in every speck of the page with color. Unlike knitting there is no frogging! It is fun to search for watercolors on You Tube and watch some artists paint. Below is an example of “wet on wet” from Anders Andersson   So I p

  Twice a month the Etsy Bloggers participate in a blog carnival, the topics are the choice of the host of the carnival. They never fail to make me think or amuse me. And of course I enjoy reading everyone’s view on the subject.   Welcome to the better-late-than-never edition of the EtsyBloggers Blog Carnival from July 5th. Linda B presents Let Freedom Ring! July 4 Blog Carnival posted at Linda B's Blog . Lois presents Come on, Baby, Light My Fi-yah posted at Foxy G's Den of i-KNIT-quity . gilliauna presents Immortalizing Yourself for Future Generations posted at The Meandering Musings of a Consummate Shopper . Megan Smolich presents Handmade Jewelry from Etsy posted at Glue Gun Crafts . Jessica presents Blog Carnival: What 4th of July Means To Me posted at Cut Your Heart Out . sexyhandmade presents Moodboard: Ruby love! posted at SexyHandmade . Betty Mathers presents 4th of July Weekend posted at The ReFORMatory . BunnyKissd p

After knitting several Big Bags. I decided to try a crochet one. I’m not an advanced in the crochet world. And have trouble following crochet patterns. I thought that maybe it would be faster to crochet a big bag than knit it. I was inspired by a girlfriends purse, one of those crochet ones out of the shiny cord. I wanted the bag to be simple and fast. Sturdy and fun. My first attempt was with a single crochet stitch, later I frogged this and used a half double crochet. I like this stitch as it seems to be sturdier and quicker. This is what I came up with . Any combo of yarn can be used, be creative! The colors and size of the bag are up to you!    Size 14 L x 11 W inches          Size 11 L x 11 W inches Both of my bags shrank about 1.5 to 2 inches on each side after felting in a top loader Crochet Hook: I used a size K, look at the recommended size on your yarn label and use that size or close to it. Yarn: Any kind of yarn, if you are mixing yarns, and they are of different

The Etsy seller for July is Sykin, who has two etsy shops, graphic design, and web design! Sykin Twilight Shop , (the first etsy shop to exclusively carry Twilight inspired items, who knew that vampires would ever become so popular??) and Sykin’s NW Wonders , (handcrafted items & photography from the Pacific Northwest) She blogs at http://sykin-at-etsy.blogspot.com/ Bio I'm a 26 year old wife, full time worker, and mother to a little boy named Kyler and a little girl named Emma. I design jewelry (inspired by books, music, etc) and hope to start designing clothes and other miscellaneous sewing items as well. Please feel free to browse through my shop and send me a message if you have any questions. I do take personal requests on jewelry, graphic design, web design, etsy design, etc. Don't be shy! My graphic work can be viewed at http://www.fraying-fabric.net/ A varied and creative woman! Twilight inspired Cullen Eyes Long Necklace $15.00 Bella Twilight Hat made by A

I didn’t get all of my fleece spun up. But I made good headway. I foolishly thought I would be able to return to work and spin up over a pound of fleece! Well a girl can dream. Dogs sleep, I spin… I finished the Parrot Fish BLF 4.6 oz, approx 260 yds, yellow and turquoise mix. I like the colors, this is the first roving that I have spun that was bi-colored, and I am pleased with the result! The BFL from Orion 4.4 oz, ? yds, I have approx 11.6 more oz of this fleece to spin up, but the good news is that it is lovely to spin and I will have enough of it to knit something with, I’m hoping a sweater. I think  the deep brown of his fleece is unusual. Not much else to report, a visit from family this weekend, so we were all busy. My brother’s new girlfriend knits! Say no more!! Get the preacher! I have been playing around with watercolors a little, having some fun. Here is a sample of colored pencils with a bit of watercolor wash.  I really have been wooed by watercolors. I

Both of the photos used here are from the gluebook group on Flickr from petalthrow Exercises to unleash creativity and get your mind flowing are plentiful. I try to keep a list of them to use when I feel like I’m in a rut, and need a new perspective on things. -Read some new blogs, some that are not in your area of interest, I never fail to come up with something to add to my list of things I want to try when reading blogs. Bloggers are tremendously creative people. Likewise with podcasters. 1-Start a journal! Sit down and write nonstop for 15-20 minutes per day, about anything, as fast as you can, don’t think and see what happens. You will be surprised. 2-Start a gluebook, Yahoo gluebook group , gluebooks ideas , more on gluebooks , Flickr gluebook group 3-Turn OFF the TV, seriously, it is a big time and brain suck. Turn it off and you will be surprised what happens, with your children also. - The Creative Habit by Twyla Tharp , I highly recommend this book! - Pikaland