Category Archives: Uncategorized

10 Minute Fingerless Mitts

10 Min Fingerless Mitts

Despite these beauties, my smugness is gone.

I used to get all superior when either my dad, brother or husband said, “This is an easy (computer) problem to fix.  It’ll take just a few minutes”.  I’d roll my eyes and continue about my business, knowing in my heart they’d still be scratching their heads for at least another couple of hours.

I found an easy tutorial for these super cute mitts online, bought my fleece and jumped right in thinking it would be a quick, instant gratification project.

What would likely take the average beginner just a bit of time took me a smidge longer, and here’s why:

  • Make pattern, no problem.
  • Cut fabric, no problem.
  • Get excited because everything is on a roll.
  • I may have (cough) even taken a few moments to show off here.
  • Start stitching, realize zigzag is not quite right.
  • After about 3rd time of stitching, finally realize the basic zigzag was just fine and I really shouldn’t have been scrolling through the fancy schmancy options on my machine.
  • Check the finished mitt and realize it won’t fit anyone in my family.
  • Say a few curse words.
  • Get up and walk away.
  • Double check the directions and realize should have used 1/4 inch seams instead of 1/2 inch.
  • “Think” on it for a couple of days.
  • Rip it all out in the presence of others so I stay civilized about it.
  • Finish it up, again.
  • Check the newly finished mitt and realize it fits the one person in the family who has the most narrow hands.
  • Sew up second narrow mitt so said family member can at least have a pair.  (Bless his heart, he’s worn them nearly every day for about a week now.  Love that boy!!!)
  • Screw up courage a few days later and make 3rd mitt (with some minor adjustments for size).
  • Realize I needed to only increase the fabric in most but not all areas.  Whaaaat?!  I have a custom hand?!  Sheesh!
  • Stew for another couple of days.
  • Rip back the area that now needs decreasing.  (This step is becoming disturbingly easy now.)
  • Re-stitch.
  • Check sizing.
  • Score!!!
  • Make second mitt.
  • Admire its super cuteness… 7 days later.

photo

So, these same mitts my daughter wants me to make for her in sunny yellow really should take about 10 minutes now, right?  Right?!  (Give or take a couple of days?)

Art, Craft, Music, Volunteering and A Whole Lot Of Fun

Reblogged from Fiberdazed:

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What does art, craft, music, volunteering and fun have to do with fiber? Well, directly, not much. But because it has a whole lot to do with me, and what's going on in my life right now, it has everything to do with Ms. Fiberdazed.

June 16th & 17th is coming up quick and that is when our annual La Honda Fair and Music Festival happens.

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Had to share this from Fiberdazed! Heartily recommend this to other Bay Area locals. We've been going since my almost teen was a baby (where we bought him his first tie dye onesie)!

Taking art classes…

Peggy Osterkamp gave a speech at the CNCH 2012 gathering this past weekend, and one of the quotes she posted during the talk was:

“Fortune favors the prepared mind.”
by Louis Pasteur

It’s been bouncing around in my head like mad, even though I’m fairly certain this is not the first time I’ve heard it.  Maybe it’s just the first time I listened.
One way of looking at this in today’s society is perhaps by thinking of commercial success that might happen your way if you are totally on top of your craft.  Certainly, taking classes in your artistic focus to improve your skills will make you more marketable long-term.
But what if by taking those art classes you open yourself up to new artistic expressions.  Having loads of skills in your artistic toolbox would let you try more things, push boundaries, take more risks… or simply say “hmmm, maybe this will work” more often.

Peggy said she didn’t consider herself a risk taker.  I chuckled to myself when I heard this because my very first thought after viewing her work was “Wow!  Now here’s an artist comfortable with risk.”
So what if what if “risk” to an outsider was simply a very prepared mind.  Risk doesn’t sound quite so intimidating then.  It sounds as easy as taking art classes and playing with fiber.

Sometimes it’s fun to set the stage for crafting.

The cleaning women were here today for a “deep” cleaning + full window treatment on my Eichler style home.  It was an army of women and I quickly retreated with my laptop to the outside patio.  I was a little worried I might get cleaned up and tidied away in all of the swirl of movement and noise.  Before they arrived I was running back and forth between rooms like a frenzied squirrel… picking up for the cleaning women.  Somehow it seems wrong, but there it is.

I worked on a backlog of computer things that I’d been procrastinating on.  Watered my 35 new plants (again).  Signed up for SOAR workshops (Spin Off Autumn Retreat).  Made plans to exercise with a friend at least twice this week.  Met hubbie for an impromptu lunch.  Filled up the car with gas since I was running on fumes by then.  Picked up the kids from school.  Returned some crafting books I borrowed (and got some lovely treats for the hamster in return).  Took Miss E out to the library for a book she must have for tomorrow (and I was just hearing about).  Fretted with Mstr. N over the fact that his Mockingbird has apparently found its true love just one day into his 3 days of observation, and can no longer be heard because it is “otherwise occupied”.  Plopped exhausted to the couch for a half hour to read, then fixed dinner.  And those are just the highlights.

It was a good day (as it always is when the house is clean), but I’m bushed.

So, I think I will set a soothing stage for this evening.

I have some soft gospel style music going on in the background to remind me of Sunday mornings in Tennessee.  My shoes are going to come off and be replaced by the cushiest socks ever.  The G&T is poured and sitting on one of my new coasters… right by my spinning wheel.  Ah, soothing evening.

Cheers, ya’ll!

A Kreativ Blogger award!!!

3/15/2012 Project 365 Kreativ Blogger Award

The same day I reached 1000 views on my blog was also the same day mydailycreativity thrilled me with this award.  It tickles me immensely that someone I enjoy following daily for positive, inspirational thoughts also enjoys my blog in return.  Many thanks!

In order to claim the Kreativ Blogger Award here’s what I and the next lucky recipients need to do:

1. Thank the blogger who gave you the award and provide a link.

2. List 7 things about yourself that your readers might find interesting

3. Nominate 7 other bloggers, provide links, and let them know!

7 things about me…

1. I’m always getting lost.  My kids just roll their eyes now when I tell them we are taking the scenic route.

2.  I have problems with rote memory… think street names.

3. Folks are always asking me for directions, it doesn’t even matter if I’m in a foreign country and don’t speak the language.

4.  I know a lot of back ways to get places… because I’ve been lost there before.

5. I have a knack for finding things that are lost… keys, kids, buildings.  I’ve actually found two different lost kids in the woods.  It balances out the “getting lost” thing.

6. I’m evil in the morning before I’ve had my coffee… sometimes even the second coffee.

7. I love walking by the ocean and in the forests; it brings me a sense of peace.

My 7 nominees are…

1.  Anette Grostad for her beautiful projects, musings and pictures.  I love seeing what she makes.

2.  Adine Storer for her beautiful photos.  She is just starting her blog, but I can tell you the photos she has posted daily on FB for her 365 day challenge have been lovely.  I’m putting hubbie on notice that I want a photo book from her for Xmas.

3.  Yarn, Paper, Sisters for their humor and variety of projects.  It’s always a fun read.

4.  Claire Shotter for her lovely illustrations.  I just really like her work and I like seeing the steps involved.

5.  365 Trinkets for his musings about clearing clutter and the insightful life implications associated with his clutter.

6.  Stillmindzen for such a soothing site.  I ruminate on the postings well after I read them.  Good stuff!

7. Melisa for being funny.  I want to be her when I grow up.

My acrylic matte medium is on order…

… and is due to arrive by Feb 3rd.  Going big has come to a grinding halt for the moment.  I’m not pleased, but I will practice some mindfulness in the moment and “let it be”.

I’m cooling my jets with knitting on that cowl, and other fibery goodness while I figure out what sounds inspiring for tomorrow.  If I finish anything by the end of the day, I’ll post a picture.  Grin!