Friday, August 31, 2012

Life and Living

Weather in NW NM:
Hot, and not terribly dry. Not terribly hot either. I consider occasional rain showers and temps below 35 C all of those things. Lucky because our irrigation ditch was under repair for two weeks because of a rock slide. No lawn mowing!

Really? ...
I hung up all of my necklaces! I might wear them now!

Something from the kitchen ...
Nothing from the kitchen. Too busy to make food. Sandwiches with tomatoes from the garden.

I am creating...
A sweater with yummy yarn and lovely stitch pattern.

I am procrastinating ...
Weeding. Won't they just go away if I ignore them?

I am reading...
Blogs. I don't read books...Those to the right and many more.

I am hearing...
The fan and ringing in my ears. Two days ago it stopped, but it started again with a vengeance.

Outdoors ...
There's a skunk tonight. I can tell...

A few plans for the next few days
Sewing projects. Great plans, little time... lots of ideas.  Funny how that goes in cycles... the longer I sit at the museum, the more ideas I have for home-time.

Giving thanks for ...
Good health and beautiful people around me.

And ...
Putting it all together, a lovely setting sun, and friends. 
 Happy birthday, my little one!


Thursday, August 30, 2012

What a Wonderful World

Sorry, if you don't like these sorts of things... but if you like Planet Earth, you'll like this (2 minutes):  Click here
A Wonderful World

OR view below:

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Jewelry

Crazy... I like jewelry.  I like to look at it.  I like to... look at it.
For the past month, I've been sorting, evaluating, photographing, and selling someone else's jewelry.  It's amazing what others collect, and why.  I wish I knew the story of each piece, but I didn't.  An acquaintance died recently and left no indication what to do with her possessions.  I had no idea that she owned so much, and that I would find it in a box and a drawer, in a jumble.
At the last minute, poised ready to sell much of it in an estate sale, I thought how I would like to have some of those pieces, and how much I would offer for them.  But then, what about the jewelry I have?
All of this sorting made me realize that I have plenty and don't wear it.  So why do I want more... to not wear?
I justified the whole thing by assembling my jewelry, sorting through it, putting some in the estate sale, and displaying it so it has a chance of finding its way out of the house.  I have several boxes, but so much that I can't see it properly.  After much deliberation I concluded I don't wear it because I don't see it.  I don't know what I have!! It may as well be in a jumble in a drawer.  My solution:  Display it.
At first I thought I would buy a simple jewelry tree, then I counted up my necklaces...  It was scary... as I counted and realized that no one sells something that would display 40+ necklaces.  I took it into my own creative hands, and decided to go buy a board to fasten to the wall, and add nails.  Then I thought that I might find something ready made... and here it is.
A ready-made shelf.  I sanded and painted it, and nailed tons of little nails into it.  Now I can see lots of necklaces that I spent hours pondering, and untangling.  (Mostly untangling.)

Monday, August 27, 2012

Bags o' Bags

I've been busy, and we all know that begets busy-ness!  My mind has been churning, how to make less clutter... never mind the yarn stash... but the fabric stash, and the jewelry, and books, and tea cups, and...
Inspired by someone else's sewing of bags that are for sale at the museum gift shop, I thought, "I can do that!  And I have the fabric, too."  What I don't have is the time, and the imagination, and sometimes I need interfacing or fleece backing.  So it isn't ALL stored in the house.
I found a great pattern, and I've begun the task of using scraps, and stashed fabric.  As I started looking at it all, I wished I had taken the time for a color class.  It would definitely step up the visual appeal, but instead, I went ahead and made the first proto-type of what I hope is a long line of bags.
 There's little pocket center front and back.  And when you turn it around, you get a different view!
 Looking inside, you'll see pockets and a nifty label that says I knitted it... oops!
Maybe it means it will be full of knitting!

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Museum Sitting

For the next few months, I'll be watching an exhibit at the museum. Every few days, I get to knit between sitting, wandering, observing and imparting my limited knowledge. It's titled New Mexico: 100 Years of Art. As everyone knows, this is a centennial year for New Mexico statehood, and this is a traveling exhibit in celebration of the event.
It's pretty awesome and I feel I'm doing my little part to help make it possible to exhibit, and it furthers my knowledge. There's no photography allowed so I had to fix the paintings to allow you to see the environment. The tour de force is an oil on canvas from 1964 by Georgia O'Keeffe. Although it's the most highly prized, I love the others. I'm all into satire and like "The Powers that Be".
I like to point that one out, but I really don't want to start a political discussion!



Friday, August 24, 2012

Crafty Celina

During her kid-free evenings offshore Celina made this book with a set of watercolors and a determination to learn to draw a dragon.


The new way to make a photo album: photo books by Shutterfly.

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Summertime

An the livin is easy!
Let me count the ways:

  1. Hot temps, love that bit of wind. 
  2. Backyard chaise under the trees, knitting, watching a show at the same time on iPad.
  3. Hummingbirds squeaking, geese trying to be quiet, but rushing through the air without a flap of wings. The in-between birds are missing.
  4. Tomatoes!!!!!!!
  5. Light clothing.
  6. Night time: opening the windows, hearing insect noise.. 
  7. I really have to listen to hear distant traffic, barking dogs, rumble of gas pump jack.
  8. Silky sheets, light cover, good night.
  9. Summertime at its best in the Southwest. Back to school, but it's still summer.


BAD: WASPS!
TROUBLE:  The irrigation ditch is blocked by a rock slide...might get REALLY dry.

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Some things...

Some things, in the past 6 months, have been just too depressing, and therefore not blog worthy.  The past week has been full of "work", cleaning out a house, wondering what, if anything, is worth the work.
When I get back to reporting about my down time = knitting time, I find that knitting an adult sized sweater... well, it takes awhile.  I'm motivated to get it done or mostly done by early September, and realize that it's going to take me that long.  Have I made any progress? Let's see:  I started in February, but have finished 11 little and big projects in the meantime.  That's how I am!
It's a fun pattern, and if I can convince myself that it's moving along, I'm contented.  Knitting in the round, I'm farther along than I think!  There is a small hem which I turned under at bottom right (in the picture).  And one sleeve is finished.  This is my go-to project for the next month while I carry a sock around in my bag.
The pattern is in Norwegian: "Mademoiselle", and has a big beaded collar.  I love the feel of DROPS Baby Alpaca Silk (fingering).  So smooth to the touch! Much nicer than the keyboard...

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Prizes!

Went to the Fair.  Went to see how my goods were judged.  I'm not ashamed.  I looked at the goats and rabbits, too.
I did OK.
Seven items:
Sweater, First Place, Best of Show
 Same here with Kitty Pants
 Turkish Socks weren't so lucky, only First Place, and I saw NO other socks displayed... (They ARE odd.)
 Baby item: Dress, First Place and Best of Show
 Scarf, First Place
 Shawl, First Place, Best of Show
 Mini Bag (in category "Other"):  Second place
 And there were chickens,
 And goats.
I am disappointed that there were so few entries in the knitting categories.  Heavy on crocheted afghans...  Maybe I'll be alert enough next year to encourage all of us to submit something.

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Black Tomatoes This Year!

Not very big yet, but YUMMY!
Variety:  Black Prince.  Not really black but extra dark!

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

One Sock

Started in March, just to look at those pretty stripes... Had a bright blue toe to begin with, so I frogged it.  Started again with fewer stitches and a neutral colored toe.  Boring. Then a fellow blogger posted her finished socks with the neatest little curvy stitch pattern, still showing off the stripes, and I frogged back, this time leaving the toe.
Yay!! I love yarn.  It forgave me - twice!  One sock in 4 months...

Monday, August 6, 2012

Humble Paay!

OK, everyone get ready to shake your heads knowingly/in disbelief/in sympathy, whatever...
The good news?  I have a new iPad.  The bad news?  I tried to kill my old iPad.
It is my constant companion...  doesn't talk back, sits quietly until someone rings in on FaceTime.  A great companion, who remembers things (notes), reminds me of things (Reminder), keeps me in touch (Message, Mail), entertains me (KenKen) and organizes my days (Calendar).  These are just a few of the attributes of my companion.
So a few days ago, when I saw it teetering in the 40 mph wind on the hood of my car...
I don't remember much more... maybe I "hit" the brakes...  I backed up and found it resting on the shoulder of the road.  How could this happen?  Well, I put it there. Thought there was NO WAY I could drive off with it.  I did.  One mile.  The back of it is bent, the glass shattered all the way across, with most damage around the edges.  But it WORKS!  Everything works.  As long as I don't mind turning it so the key I want to hit, or the icon I want to click isn't under the broken bits... very depressing.
But I guess I was so miserable that my hubs went out shopping today. (Big Smile Here!)  I don't deserve it him!

Friday, August 3, 2012

Motivation

Back in March I was in love with Turkish socks.  I loved the patterns, the colors, the shape... but not so much the tassels.
In fact, I couldn't make toe nor heel of the instructions in the pattern for the tassel.  I skipped it.  And I never wore them, either.
My motivation?  Today, I realized that TOMORROW is the day to turn items in to the San Juan County Fair, and, although I rarely submit things, this year I happen to have a few items just sitting around, finished.  Usually I've sent them off, or have worn them to beyond show worthiness.  And I was appalled that I didn't have any decent socks to show off!  Except my Turks.
I bit the bullet, and decided that no stupid tassel was going to get the best of me, so I re-read, and re-read the instructions, making a tiny bit more sense, and voilá!
I put them on, and feel like kicking up my heels! (again) Those little tassels bounce around, making my legs feel happy!  I wonder what category they will be in for the fair?  "Other"????

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Good Bye, Kitty!

Fine! (As in Italian...)
I can't believe the face turned out acceptable!  I only had to do an eye, an ear, the bow and the nose twice!
No embellishment on the front.  Just a tie of twisted yarn.

Pattern: Kitty pants / bukse by Kristine Jorskogen from Smoochie
 Yarn: DROPS Baby Merino by GarnstudioFingering / 4 ply 100% Merino, 191 yards / 50 grams

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