Bear : Under construction

Bear in pieces

 Logan's birthday bear is coming along nicely!

ultra suede paws and soles

Logan on the left and Emily, oh, and Grami's hand

 

I just have to sew the ears in by hand and then turn the head right side out and all the pieces will be ready to join. Stay tuned for more pictures

Needles from another dimension....

Although I am a knitter and crocheter I first started with embroidery. When "back in my day" (lord, I sound like my Scottish Nana) young girls were taught the fine art of embroidery and how to hem an apron. There is another word lost to the archives, who wears an apron any more? I digress, as usual.
Anyway, I was having a think, always dangerous, and decided it was time the grand girls (4 oldest) had a new wall hanging for their room or bedroom door. For years I have been collecting mother of pearl buttons with the idea of making something "pearly" inspired. My great grandmother, Mathilda, "Tilly," was a true cockney, born within the sounds of "Bow Bells," in London England.

No relation, just added for enlightenment, remember them in Mary Poppins?

 I wanted to remember that Pearly tradition and pass something down to the Girls that would last.
In all fairness, this time the recipients are in reverse order from the last gifting. The last shall be the first to receive. Meaghan's went out in the mail this week and is awaiting her arrival. Ryleigh's went out next and should be at her home today.
Now, I have to have a hiatus as The Bear is next on the list of "to-do's." Logan's first birthday is on the 20th. we are getting together on the 18th. I have less than 10 days. Love the pressure. Sewing with a "hot" needle again...sigh ...I never learn.
So here are my latest accomplishments. Personalized with embellishments: Click on pictures to see the detail.

Meaghan's  wings to fly.

Ryleigh is all about the fairies.

The hangings are about 16x24.  Now I have to get sewing on the bear......................

Knitting in Mexico and other stuff

The crochet beaded rope was an ideal project to take on holiday. I worked on it on the flight down and carried it around the resort with me. I was crocheting down on the beach when the beach vendors came by and I ended up giving a quick lesson. The women called me "Amiga" and even with the language barrier they seemed to enjoy themselves. Unfortunately we didn't think about taking a picture until afterward.

Crochet beaded rope - finished!

I met one other knitter by the pool. She was working on socks. We had a nice chat.

Knitting on the beach

I am using the Little Dragon Sock pattern from Laura Neel, found on Ravelry. This colour way is a hand dyed sock yarn from the Knitman's Kitchen. I have named this project "Dragonfire Socks."

Knitting on the balcony

Knitting with the Tequila dude

See, I am wearing the crochet rope!! Very happy with how it turned out. Click on the picture for a better look. My friend Sandy gave me the project bag (see dude's lap) it was perfect for this trip.

Knitting on the plane home.

Crochet rope all finished.

The rope is 51 inches long + caps + fringe. It is 1/4" in diameter. I will definitely make another one. Lord knows I have enough beads... *smile*

Coral fringe.

Meg's Wormy Apple hat

It is actually a slouchy hat the rest is folded up underneath for picture taking!

"In Dreams" update

Finished chart 3. I am going to have to get a longer needle. This is just a fraction of the work. The rest of the shawl is jammed up on the needle. There will be a better picture after Chart 4. Promise ;-)

Nouveau Beaded Capelet

A year + ago I purchased some silk from Earthfaire for a KAL. Loved the silk yarn, still do, but it just didn't sit right with me for that particular pattern. So, into the stash it went. The colour is Dragon Fire. Which was enough to catch my attention right there. It is a gradiance colour way which means it goes from dk reds to red yellow. To - die- for. It is gorgeous.
One of my most favourite periods in style and design is the Art Noveau Period dominated, inspired by Alphonse Mucha. See picture above.
Along comes an e mail from Earthfaire, and if you have never visited their site, click on the link, I can wait.
So now they tell me about the KAL for a Nouveau Beaded Capelet.
I am in serious trouble as I am closing on on the end of Chart three for the In Dreams beaded shawl.
I stop to do a check. Why should I knit this pattern? It is Art Nouveau, it has beads, lots of beads, 6000 beads, I have the silk, I have the skill. I do not have the beads, no problem Ellen at Earthfaire to the rescue. I do not have the time, who needs to eat. I am sunk. I am weak.
Sometimes I think that if knitters were painters or  jewelers society would have more respect for their accomplishments.
This is way beyond socks and toques. This is wearable art.
I am going to be the best dressed Centenarian in the "Old Folks Home."

I can't believe I did that.......

My arrogance know no bounds. I have been knitting lace for years and poo-pooed the use of a "life line" Ha, I said, "I don't need that. I can pick a stitch back ... I always count...blah blah blah."
So, six rows later and a gazillion beads I discovered a yarn over to many.,,.which had morphed into about 3 stitches to many, right smack in the middle of a beaded lace motif. I would call this a "cluster of magnitudinous proportions."

The booboo

Inserting a life line AFTER the fact

Picking back, discover , so called life line is not straight.

Pull out thread, pick up with needle, pick out life line...sigh

What a mess, nothing is more fun than tangled silk..snort

Back to normal five rows less than I had this morning..snifff

 Did I learn anything? ...probably not, theory being it won't happen again....I live in hope.

UFO sited!

OMG I found another one...

 Crochet rope, 1.25 mm hook, #8 perle cotton, 5 colours of #10 glass seed beads arranged in a repeat of six, sterling silver caps. The rope is one quarter inch in diameter and at present about 27 inches long. Took me about a half and hour to remember how to do this and get my tension back. Very portable project. Going to finish this for spring! Once, back in the early 80's, I had a striped dress that had this colour repeat. What can I say, it was the 80's and yes I had BIG hair too...lol

Dropped off the face of the earth for a while...

Julia and her sweet Emily

 Emily Grace arrived in November. She is a sweet little soul snuggled in here Snuggly Bag knit with Knitman' Yarn in the "Scrumptious" colourway.

Marc's Bear Claw Sweater finished!

Remember that wee 3 pound baby? Mr Logan will be 1 in March!

Made a load of these over Christmas. Some were gift favours for a reunion lunch with school chums I had not seen in 20-30 years.

I think I knit about 6 sets of these Moc a Socs.   ...AND.... I am almost finished chart three on the "In Dreams" Shawl.

Chipping away at the UFO's

Where the heck have I been???

Four months later and my grand son is a blooming 15 pounds plus not bad considering his size at birth.
I am back to work full time and let me tell you THAT took some getting used to. More about that later.
In an effort to rein in my shattered concentration I have joined the Delusional Knitter's call to "War on WIP"
Here follows my dastardly mess: In no particular order...

Limerick shawl

Marc's bear claw sweater

I have knit this front about three times and keep ripping it back the claws looked arthritic to me..dam.

I have a lot of grafting to do before I can move on

 

Feyrhi's Wings silk beaded shawl

In my defense I have finished up the following in the last four months:

baby kimono jacket with Knitman's hand dyed

crochet star baby blanket

Back to confession time......the following await attention

Adult tomten jacket

Aran coat

double knitted scarf 548 rows... I am on row 16

Oh yes and I just bought some chunky "Dreams" for a winter all in one for the new baby and 3 colours of DK for a fair isle vest for baby Logan and some Snuggly DK for a small reversible baby blanket...
...and... I have a baby sleep sack on the needles, no picture.
So there we go. I think that is everything. Now let's see what I can finish by Labour Day. Stay tuned!