Knit and Crochet Blog Week - Day 5

Day Five (Friday 15th May): Something A Bit Different
It’s the annual challenge to blog in a way different to how you normally blog. You may choose to create a podcast, or vlog, create a wordless post, a beautiful infographic or write in verse. You can post on any topic you like, but be sure to post in a style different from your usual blog presentation. There’s not too much guidance for this one simply because the more varied the posts are on this day, the wider the sources of information for other bloggers will be.

So this one is always a challenge for me.....this year I am doing a video post....in the next few years, the Hubs and I will be moving out to his parent's place...I call it the Homestead....and we have talked about possibly raising alpacas when we do....he raised goats back in high school....so I am taking you on a tour of the Homestead...and where our possible future fiber adventures will begin......

The driveway leading to the house....

If you watched them all...thank you..there were a few more....and it wouldn't let me load the biggest one...I also didn't take video of the area that the alpacas will be in...the Hubs showed it to me later...it's along the driveway.....there is a large open area that would be fenced in....right now it's all....in the future...and we don't know how long into the future....but...it's a pleasant dream...

Knit and Crochet Blog Week - Day 4

Day Four (Thursday 14th May): Bags Of Fun.
Time to delve into that most treasured collection of tools, notions and oddments as you are asked to spill the contents of your knitting or crochet bag, caddy or other method of organisation and put your crafting unmentionables on display.

I have so many bags!!!  I recently posted this picture...

which has many of my project bags in it...and yes they all have ongoing projects...

The bag I have been using most recently is this one...

It was made for me by a swap partner and it represents the Wizard of Oz...it's all kinds of wonderful...

and what does it hold right now?

4 ongoing projects...1 skein of yarn for a possible project...a pattern that was picked up recently..a new needle...the green thing on the bottom holds crochet hooks....the green thing on the left top holds stitch markers....and then the little black bag....this black bag goes everywhere with me...

I bought it many years ago at a Joanne's Fabric store....it's my doo-dad bag...I was going to put one in all of my "on the go" bags....but I just tend to grab this one and throw it in whatever bag I am using...the tin holds yarn needles...the green thing is a row or stitch counter...post-its and a pen...2 different kinds of stitch markers...very sharp little yarn needles (in the black thing with a blue top), a measuring tape and a very sharp pair of scissors....oh and you can barely see it..it's a clear heart to the right of the measuring tape is a needle sizer thingamajig....

That's my bag...how about yours?

Stitch Along Week 19 and KCBW6Day3

Day Three (Wednesday 13th May): Experimental Photography And Image Handling For Bloggers.
Every Year Knitting & Crochet Blog Week tries to feature at least one day where photography takes a key role, because it has been proven many times that what captures reader’s attention for the first few seconds to hopefully hold them long enough to invest the time to read your words is your pictures, and so this topic crops up each year, but every year it yields such different results!

and it is....

I thought of doing two separate posts....but decided I could combine today's topic with my SAW project...

So I have been trying to take better pictures...however I ran over my better camera with my car (it was an accident), so I'm back to my quick point and shoot...(my "better" one is also mostly a point and shoot, but better quality..I can't be hassled with lens changes, etc..)

And I thought this was the experimental day...so by the time I got home...there was not much time to take pictures...but we have been buying lots of flowers to plant this week...so I decided to go outside and use those...

This was my first shot.....

A more artistic shot???  The sun was fading by then....so I called it a day....

My Far Side of the Moon socks are almost done..I'm on the foot of the second sock...in time for wool socks to be put away....sigh......

So if you are here for 6KCBWDay3....feel free to hook up with Stitch Along too...and come back if you want next Wednesday....

As always, please try to link back or post a link on your blog...thanks!

Knit and Crochet Blog Week - Day 2

Day Two (Tuesday 12th May): It’s All About You.
Cast your hooks and needles aside!
This year you are challenged with one of those tasks that some bloggers can find quite daunting: but there’s never a better time then when we’re all in it together, so let’s shift the focus and turn the attention from the things we make to the things that make us.
The important thing here is to remember that you don’t have to go into great personal detail and certainly do not have to reveal anything too personal. You can be as candid or as private as you like, but you can also give your readers a feel for those things that you like to do outside of your crafting.

• Do you like to walk or keep fit
• Do you read or enjoy movies – are there any personal favourite books or films that you would recommend?
• What is your dream holiday destination, job, dinner party guest list?

This post can be about your reality, your aspirations, past, present or future. Enjoy talking about you. If you really don’t want to write about yourself, though, use your creative license and invent yourself an alternative persona, whether you are a spy, deep-sea diver or astronaut (who just happens to love yarn).

I have an ABOUT ME page that tells you quite a bit...I am a pretty open person...

But in the spirit of this week...I will share a biographical poem....I've written several versions of this poem...but they are in a notebook in my classroom....so this is the version I had on my computer...I did this as a writing activity and it stems from here

I Am From

I am from the many places I’ve lived, from my grandparent’s basement apartment to Army housing in Germany.

I am from a blended, chaotic home of stepsisters coming and going and a sports obsessed younger brother.

I am from Jessie’s, Scovilles’s,  LaChappelle’s, and Martin’s.

I am from strong French Canadians and a mixed lineage that makes me a true “American Mutt.”

I am from great-grandma’s lollipop box, Meme’s rocking chair, “don’t jump on the well!” and Pepe’s old station wagon.

I am from crochet lessons, loud family gatherings, beautiful smiles and short statures…

I am the family repository of lineage.  I keep the births and deaths.  I’ve trooped through cemeteries, squinted at microfiche and thumbed through hundreds of record books.

I am strong and resilient.

I am who I am from all that I came from and those who came before me.

Knitting and Crochet Blog Week - Day 1

Day One (Monday 11th May): If You Were Yarn.
If you were a type or brand of yarn, which would you be? Are you a classic pure wool? Is there extra tension but a bit of bounce in you because of your high twist? Would you be more like a high-maintainance, strictly hand-wash fluffy angora or a ‘bring it on’ acrylic, bravely heading into the world of possible baby-sick laundering disasters knowing that you will always come out bright and unharmed?

So I thought about this...and did a bit of research....

 Sadly, I don't have The Book of Wool, which I think would have gone into a  more in depth explanation than any of these...but Clara Parkes did write something I liked....about 3 ply yarn...

"the resulting yarn will be much stronger and springier. It will display more spunk and personality on the needles...."  

that's me...I'm strong...I can spring back when I'm knocked down..and I have lots of spunk and personality....I have a very strong personality....someone told me I was genuine the other day....and I've been told...you see what you get....I don't pretend to be something I'm not...

I did take two yarn quizzes and was told I was this....



and....

 You are a strong and sturdy yarn that people can always depend on to help create something quickly and efficiently.  You are decisive, self-confident, and a born leader.  However, you can sometimes take on too much at one time, and work too quickly.  Just like Super Bulky yarn isn’t perfect for every project out there, you sometimes need to be reminded that you are only one person.  When working on the right project and given the needed support, though, you are an un-stoppable force.

I agree with the first one fully....if I had the money...I would travel all over....the second one is true until the take too much on part.....I do my part....but to be truthful..I can be very lazy and am a procrastinator....

If you want to take these...the first is here..and you need to put in an email address....the second one is here

I hope you join us for this week....go to Eskimimi's site to find out more information...

Year of Projects - Week #19

Early Sunday morning to you.....

and 

to all those out there who are mothers of any kind (I know it's not a global one, but happy, happy anyway)

We will be spending the day at the Homestead.....with the MIL and the FIL....it's the MIL's birthday this week...

That's my Mom and me.....she lives in Florida, so I won't see her....

So onto what we are all here about..Renee Anne was kind enough to inform me that last week was the 18...she and I are on a different schedule than everyone else....so I'm back on track....

2015 Completed Projects:
White mittens - 1/10/15
Quick Crochet Cowl - 1/12/15
Stripes Cowl - 1/22/15
Frosty, the Snowman - 1/24/15
Head Wrap - 1/24/15
H's Everyday Socks 2/7/2015
Stepping Stones 2/17/15
Ita's Shawl 2/18/15
Speckled Eggs 4/11/15
Stitch's Rock Collection Hat 4/16/15


So nothing new has been added....(I'm gonna try some color!) I still haven's done much crafting, although I have done some stashing, if you want to check out yesterday's post..whew!




WIPS: Crochet:
Mission Falls Poncho: (Started 2006)
Round Ripple: (Started 2006 (?) Aiden)
Around the World Afghan: (April 2010): about ¼ done
Betty Shrug: I don’t know how long I’ve been working on this, but it only has an arm and a border to go.

Sunrise Sunset Afghan: this has been hibernating awhile, 6 squares done.

Tis the Season (11/10/13)
Tabard Tunic (NW Diss 2/1/14)

Knit:

Learn to Knit Afghan: (started 2010): 3 squares done

Light in Shadows (1/14/14)
Garter Path (6/1/14) 

Turtleneck Capelet #2 (8/12/14)
Willow Fields (9/6/14)  
Shark in the Woods (11/27/14)

Olivia Owl (12/14/14)
Hawk Baktus  (1/19/15)

Bedrock (2/23/15)
Owligan (5/3/15)

I've added a few rows to my Owligan....and I think I worked on my Baktus....I took out the Garter Path...and I have no idea where I left off....so that will be frogged.....and restarted....I'll be taking a few projects with me today...as the Hubs and the MIL will disappear for awhile....they walk around the property and do stuff..... 

Socks:
Kai-Mei: (April 2012)
Faces in Wallpaper (Sept 2013)
Adele Socks (April 2013)
Johnny's Socks (Jan 2013)

Irish Tea (Feb 2015)
Those Socks (2/27/15)   

Scarves/Shawls:
Splashy Flowers: (May 2011)
Larry Stashbuster Scarf (2012)

 

Bags:
Beach Bag: (started May 2010)  Just needs lining sewn in

KAL/CAL:  

Fire and Blood (5/4/14)
Outlander MKAL (8/8/14) 
Zuzu's Petals (1/1/15)
Downton Abbey (1/4/15)
Far Side of the Moon (1/16/15)

Misc: Sunflower: (August 2012) Need a back and to felt  

Projects in Mind - I have the pattern and the yarn  - this list is remaining about the same...I could add a ton to it...but I'm not going to at the moment...I think when I move one of these projects to the WIP category, I will add another project to this list...I like seeing it all laid out..and it is not overwhelming to me..because it's my list and I can follow it or not!

Gifts/Charity: 
Owl for Rose

Hats for friend's babies (ongoing)

Hats for students (ongoing)
Kimberly Skye's tunic
garter for Caitlin

Two Elsa doll/blanket things

Sweaters:
Test Pattern Sweater
Car Coat
Cowl Vest
 
Shawls/Scarves/Cowls 
Rockefeller
Wholehearted
West End Scarf 
Gathering Leaves
Alhambra
Petal Edge Scarf
Filippi Scarf 
Firefly Scarf 
Fraxinus 
Danube Cowl
Simple City
Fire and Ice
Multnomah
Leylines 
Holden Shawlette
Daybreak
Trellis Shawl
Bedford Springs Shawl   
 
Hats and Mitts
Hermione Hearts Ron
Nehalm Hat
Felicity
Stellar
Cabled Headband
Fetching  
Cayunga Hat and Mitts set
Preposterous
Ruffled hat and mitts
Evergreen Gloves
Sheepy Cuffs
Twisted Rib Mitts and Hat
 
Socks:
Memento Mori
Rubus
Siren Socks
Savory Lace Socks
Autumn Flame
Firebird

Rescue Me, Chin Boy and Show Me the Stars
Twin peaks
 
Bags:
Sarape Shopper
Pleated Purse
Circular Felted Bag

This week begins the 6th Annual Knitting and Crochet Blog Week....are you joining?  I have done it every years since the inception...although I haven't done every day...you don't need to participate every day....but I really like the topics this year....so I may...

Come and join us!

Stash Enhancement Saturday

Good morning!  This weekend, we will experience a warmup...it'll feel like the middle of the summer, supposedly.....I have no plans yet, except to visit the Homestead on Sunday to see my MIL...her birthday is this week, too...my Mom lives in Florida, so I won't see her....I've had a few acquisitions to the stash over the last couple of weeks....so let's get to it...

The newest MadColor club, Baker Street....this is A Study in Pink..love the shocking pink..

My first Desert Vista Dyeworks, Zomebody Go Bragh....OMG!  I love this!

I just loved this color, Lobster Pot, by  a new to me local dyer...

Bloomin' Color in Avacado Annie II....this will be fingerless gloves..

The top is Eye of the Tiger, the bottom is You Can't Distract Death With Fried Pickle Chips...seriously a Supernatural shawl....I'm planning on attending a Supernatural convention in the fall...

Quaere Fibre in Robin...not sure if I'm doing socks or fingerless gloves with it...

A local farm...just loved the color...it's a deep, deep red....

Because I'm into oranges lately....Lismi Knits in Orient

Stargate Atlantis, because how could I not?

Trenchcoat....and

Live Long and Prosper

Random Fandom...These Are Their Stories..inspired by Law and Order...Merino and silk

Tinsel Factory Fibers....this was inspired by a picture...it's called Vernal Equinox...I totally forgot I had purchased this awhile ago...when it came it, it had no invoice or shipping notice...I had to do some detective work to figure out where it had come from and when I'd ordered it....but it is beautiful!

People this was not a binge!  This was several weeks worth...one LYS visit, and two yarny festivals..I think this is pretty good!  Although I also just got notice that another online order is on it's way....