Knitting Dragonflies

I have managed to squeeze  in a variety of things this week. A fast sketch and watercolor of one of my beds, and bird bath. Just having some fast fun. A little knitting….I’m using my Point Five Colinette yarn to knit this pattern, Iced from Knitty . I’m not sure I like the result, I had to use small needles to “get gauge” and the yarn is fairly bulky, this is resulting in a fairly dense knitted sweater. Too stiff? I’m still on the fence. If I frog it I need another pattern for this yarn, ideas?? I’m stumped… I have been spinning also, my pound of BFL is slowly getting smaller! Yay Happy fall! Enjoy the weather while it lasts! "Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass... it's about learning how to dance in the rain."

First it was my washer that decided to die, after being nursed along and babied for about a year. Then my range started heating with no limit, from cold to brimstone in 15 minutes. Now my refrigerator has gone kaput! So I’m off today, and my big plans are to buy a new one! Ugh! Decisions, top freezer, bottom, French door, or side by side? In view of that I have decided to start knitting again, finally! I’ve had this yarn for quite some time, I bought it to make this hoodie. I have never started it Now I’m thinking I’ll try to use the yarn for a Knitty pattern Iced by Carol Feller (of  http://www.stolenstitches.com/ ) I love the ease of this sweater and it is knit in one piece, I would rather do this than separate pieces. After a swatch and calculations for several modifications, I’m hoping to get my knitting mojo back! Thanks to Theresa at Blueberries, Art and Life for getting me back into a knitting mood. "Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass...

Another TMC for me, a potted flower in my back yard. Too soon I will empty all of the pots and store them away for the winter. I’m enjoying looking at them rebound from the hot dry summer, a few fresh blooms before the first frost. Petunias are always a good flower for pots, even in the hot dry summer they can survive and continue to bloom. Cut them back a little mid way through the growing season and you will get fresh flowers and the plants won’t get as leggy. Petunia growing tips here . Plant them in hanging baskets, pots or in mass in your flower beds and you won’t be sorry. They are a pest free riot of easy color to add to your area.

This Etsy seller has two shops and some items that made me go squeee.. Splendid Little Stars (from her shop notes) Artsyness and crafting have always been a part of my life. I love the outdoors, to travel to new and beautiful places, photographing all the while. Nature inspires me. I love making most anything with my hands. Inspired many years ago, by my daughter's first grade teacher, I began the study of tie dyeing. Learning something new while creating is a constant process. Discovery is a joy (mostly)! I have been selling hand~dyed and hand~painted clothing for about 20 years now. I have been making jewlery for much longer than that. For about 4 years, at the turn of the century, I owned a gift shop along with other artisians. We made and sold our own creations along with some "ready-mades." Truly, the most meaningful part of this was the relationships formed with our treasured customers. Sharing our creations with an appreciative audience was always heart-w

TMC ( The Twenty Minute Challenge from Katharine Cartwright) I have really gotten interested in sketching and then laying down some watercolor on top of the sketch. Limiting myself to 20 minutes has really been key to my realization of what the necessary lines are and a huge editing lesson. Not to mention, I can allow myself to “play” for 20 minutes. It is a lesson in organization also. With a 20 min limit, having everything ready is key. I like to start with the simplest of things, like pen and paper, and maybe some basic watercolors, and one brush. I enjoy looking at efforts of others also, and reading what they have learned, and seeing their choices. This is a quick pen sketch of some trees in my backyard, then I quickly used some watercolors to add some character! Time to rake leaves!

I have lots of handspun in small amounts, (less than 200-300 yards).  The question is; what to do with it? So I have been on a search of patterns, free if possible, from indie designers! (there are so many fellow bloggers that have wonderful patterns!) Some that have made my cue: Pattern/amount of yarn/type/blog - the Slouched Tuva Hat DK weight, ~120-130 yards (110 meter, 50 gram), from Give me a Purl; - Lace headband , 80-100 yards of leftover worsted weight wool, Blue Peninsula blog And while searching for patterns I found this great post from Simple Knits, 653 patterns to knit with 285 yards of yarn ! It is fabulous! She has found a wealth of wonderful patterns from inspiring bloggers. So I’m off to read some blogs and look at some patterns. From One Stitch after Another, her post quick texture patterns for last minute , all less than 300 yds of yarn. Take a look around on her blog, she has other posts with similar topics. Enjoy creating!

I found the 20 Minute Challenge by Katherine Cartwright from a fellow blogger Theresa of Blueberries, Art and Life , a fellow knitter than lured me into watercolor! It is a fun way to simplify your drawings! I tend to want to overdo it, so this has been a great tool for me. The first several times it was rather nerve racking with the timer counting down. Then something “clicked” and I realized I could edit out whatever I wanted to. I urge you to take a look and try it yourself. It is oddly liberating, despite or because of the time limits. Fall White Pine I’ve been playing around with the more portable ink and paper with a watercolor wash. Sitting in my yard after work, doing a bit of unwinding in these wonderful fall days, inspires me to sketch. The last of my roses. I love fall days with the clear air and crisp feel of autumn, football games and campfires! Do a little creating today!