Needed a Spot of Colour

Like a lot of people, I work in an office with boring walls.  Mine are light grey.  I had been putting off putting anything on the walls as we had been told that renovations would be coming soon.

Well, they're not.  We're hearing rumours that it will be February 2015 before anything starts.  So, I decided to heck with it.  I need colour!

So, I took a couple of my quilted wall hangings with me, and up on the walls they went.

I started this one while I was off on stress leave a few years ago.  I've always called it "I'm not a Basket Case!".  It was made using a Kansas Troubles charm pack. Kansas Troubles fabrics are a favourite of mine.

Even though this one is somewhat Valentines themed, it may stay up for a while.  The bright colours are badly needed in my windowless office.

Maureen

Socks Appeal

I love knitting socks.  I love the way you take what is basically a ball of string and make something that keeps your feet warm.

Socks don't care what your weight is.  They don't care if you put on a few pounds.  They'll fit you anyway.

Starting a sock begins the challenge.  I use double pointed needles, so I have to make sure that my cast on stitches don't twist when I join them in the circle.  And in the first few rounds the needles don't really co-operate...they want to go their own ways!

But after a few rounds, the needles settle down. And the knitting becomes contemplative.

Katie is overseeing the production!


Maureen

Friday Finishes

This is my first pair of socks both started and finished in 2014

One of my crafting goals this year is to finish 14 pairs of socks.  One pair done, 13 to go!

Maureen

Kumihimo!

Last night was the monthly meeting of the Regina Weaver and Spinner Guild.  It was a great meeting!  After the business portion of the meeting, we had a guest speaker who taught us how to do a Japanese braiding technique, kumihimo.

Kumihimo is done using a disk

and your floss (yarn, or whatever you want to use) wound onto bobbins

and by simply crossing the bobbins across the disk, you end up with a lovely cord.

So much fun!

Maureen

My First Finish for 2014!

I finished the socks I started in 2013.

I don't usually care if the stripes line up on my socks; I'm happy with fraternal twins.  But on this pair I really wanted the stripes to line up...and they did!

Loving it!!

This pair isn't counting towards the 2014 challenge, but I'm glad to finish them anyway.

Maureen

2014 Crafting Resolutions

Over on Ravelry, The Wacky Windmill is having a 2014 Crafting Resolutions Challenge.  She's challenging people to list out their crafting goals for 2014, and then to post pictures of their FO's (finished objects).  At the end of the year, anyone who has completed their entire goal list by December 31, 2014 will be entered into a draw for a $75.00 gift certificate from The Wacky Windmill.

Here's my list (so far):

1) knit 14 pairs of socks this year.  The ones I am working on right now do not count (since they were started in 2013).
2) finish the quilt I started in 2012.
3) get my cricket loom put together and weave something on it.

I have until January 31 to finalize my list, but I think just finishing the quilt will be a major project, since I don't even have all the strips sewn together yet!

I love knitting socks.  They're the perfect project for me right now, since I can pick them up and put them down as my attention span allows.

Maureen

I found this on Ravelry

10 Rules of Basic Etiquette for the non-Crafty:

1. Just because I am crafting in a public place does NOT mean I am fishing for compliments, comments, advice. etc…. I am minding my own business, how about you minding yours. Plus, before you decide to help yourself to my personal private space, from my crafting supplies, equipment etc. please pass me your wallet. If your gonna snoop in my personal belongings I get to snoop in yours.
2. Do not rubberneck my crafting project from two tables away or over my shoulder for 10 - 15 minutes watching me, then have the audacity to ask me “Did you do that?” You will get the “Nope. My invisible friend Matilda did it, but doesn’t like to feel like a freak so I fake it for her.” Plus do NOT crowd me, most crafts have sharp ended tools and I am not adverse to jabbing you with one so you get my point.
3. When gushing “I could never do that” be honest with yourself and the crafter in question, finish the sentence with “because I do not have the patience and I am a abject moron.”
4. All Family & friends, if I ever chose to create something for you it is an honor. It is NOT like going to the store and just picking something up. Creating the gift takes time, forethought, pre-planning, and time management. Keep in mind socks are NOT simple, neither is a scarf or a hat, they are basics where we learn and try new design and pattern ideas. Be very honored when we feel a practice piece is worthy of gifting to you.
5. NEVER EVER gift yarn, notions, patterns expecting it to be used for you. Do not hint that I make you something. Ask me simply and straightforward. I may or may not make it for free if you buy the yarn, or may charge you for my time… either way be proud and humble to think I would even consider doing it for you since you are too lazy to learn to do it for yourself.
6. If gifted with a handmade crafting item, thank the creator profusely even if you never want a hand made gift from them ever again, then state its beautiful and I’ll cherish it but handmade is really not your thing. This gets the giftee and the creator off the hook for more gifts that can be appreciated better by someone else on the creators list
7. If you are the recipient of a handcrafted item and decide within 2 years its not the thing for you, offer it back to its creator before selling it or regifting it to someone else. Its insulting to ask about a piece made for you to find out you donated it to goodwill, I got $5 at my garage sale for it, or hear from you “oh, that grey sweater. I gave it to my ex-boyfriends girlfriends best friend because it just wasn’t me.”
8. If the hand crafted item is wearable then WEAR it, if it is decorative USE it. If you are so overwhelmed that you want to take care of it so it won’t get destroyed FRAME it. If you choose to do none of these things give it back to the person that made the item because you do not deserve it.
9. Do not blame the creator if a thing you have bullied them into making for you does NOT turn out the way you want it. If you are so damned picky take the time to learn the craft and make it for yourself.
10. We craft because it relaxes us, we enjoy it, we can take our time and be proud of what we are doing. Selling our creativity for profit will stress us out, put us under deadlines, and generally make us want scream. That is why it is a hobby and not our JOB so quit pestering us by how much money we could make yadda yadda yadda.
    
    
    Maureen