Saturday, September 30, 2006

the Magic Loop - *indeed*




My first two iPod cozies. I wasn't going to picture them until I had my final version ready for pattern posting, however...I am in the midst of knitting my first socks knit in Magic Loop - as soon as I saw these directions for 2 socks on one circular - I stopped everything and cast on! (Turkish cast-on tutorial. From MisoCrafty
http://www.misocrafty.squarespace.com/journal/2006/1/30/turkish-cast-on-tutorial.html and http://autoscopia.com/amelia/assets/elfinesocks.pdf)

I am thrilled! I really like the lace-y pattern. I'm a fairly tight knitter, so the lace really only shows when stretched on the foot...more details as I finish the heels and try them on. I'm nearly out of yarn though...so I'm going to have to rip out the first iPod cozy in order to add to the socks. I'm hoping to get past the heel to start with the blue yarn -- I am *in*love* with the blue and red combination right now -- that blue of the tablecloth in the picture preferably, though I don't think the yarn I have is quite that hue.

Friday, September 29, 2006

on tea and vitamin c

One of my favorite new collages. I've been so inspired by Half Moon Bay and all the birds, I started adding a lot of birds to my art lately. Here's one of my sandpipers. My scanning session wasn't great - I'm going to have to re-take the collages with my camera sometime.

Feeling a bit under the weather...maybe hanging around a couple of sick folks at work and play has taken it's toll. i've got to figure out how to get books on tape on to my ipod, because sometimes I just get *bored* with sleeping when i'm sick and yet, the burning hot eyes keep me from an actual page turning book.

*anyway* i won't be at the super *Art in the Yard* event on Saturday because of the tea and vitamin c i'll be downing again all day (yes, plenty of water too). Please go to the event though (and remember handcrafted things have special powers, so buy up!), there are many beautiful items available. (www.ConcordCARotary.org/ArtInTheYard.htm)

Thursday, September 28, 2006

a stone soup kind of story

with the best of intentions:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vr3x_RRJdd4

give someone a hug. ask first. blessings.

Saturday, September 23, 2006

collage a day pendants


Spent the better part of the day knitting another ipod cozy -- the design is getting closer to professional enough to publish on the blog -- stay tuned. No pictures yet, I will one day show the evolution of the design. I did take loads and loads of pictures for the collage a day pendants to go into the *soon*to*be*etsy store.

I also fiddled around enough to figure out how to upload clickable links with images! (note to self, be a little careful about what you put up...so many cool KALs to join, podcasts and more...)

Tomorrow, after church, i'll be settling in to the etsy store design.

Thursday, September 21, 2006

etsy, workshops and kits, oh my!


more big news...this weekend i'm setting up my etsy shop! with kits and art. stay tuned. also, will have my class and event schedules posted, so get your calendars ready!

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

oh yeah, I'm finally going to Artfest

Yippee! I received my confirmation book in the mail today! cute little spiral bound journal with my classes and housing assignment. I am thrilled about the classes I am in...I had sort of a hard time signing up, so many I was interested in. In the end I decided to sign up for processes I really wanted more experience in....sculpture, bookbinding, and encaustic. I plan to sculpt some birds, houses and bridges - oh and hands... a couple of folks in a recent art class I took sculpted their hands and feet.

Monday, September 18, 2006

what a celebration!


joyful, joyful! the worship service was wonderful, the music glorious, the sermon, the reception..it was all so beautiful.
there were so many people there with cameras (and one with video equipment) that I didn't carry my camera with me, so I'm posting these roses as representative of all the scrumptious bouquets and baskets present. (These are roses from an earlier birthday celebration) I'll post the rest when we get all the photos from the other cameras.

Saturday, September 16, 2006

Mason Dixon KAL



family and friends are in town for a big celebration. of course we went to Half Moon Bay to show off our favorite area beach. I've been knitting away on one of the Mason Dixon rugs...
We're off to the Farmer's Market for some treats for today and tomorrow, maybe a few more photos for you all too.

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

party in the yard



I was invited to participate in this great event -- such a wonderful idea, to transform a beautiful backyard into a dream -- a glorious abundance of handcrafted goodies. White pop-up booths, all manner of interesting display items - a lot of buddhas (I'm a fan from way back), flowers, smooth stones, this very cool display for necklaces that a glass bead artists husband created for her - I'm totally borrowing this idea one day... There are individually etched wine glasses for the first 200 guests, a free flowing wine and non-alcholic drinks bar going all day, and yummy goodies all around the artists booths. A great day. *However*, the weather was *so* hot! 112-118 depending on the report - gallons of water downed, ice packs on my feet, ice on my head, those awesome cooler kerchifs around my neck. So, afterward we all thought - "hey, maybe we should try this great event in cooler times!" So....

if you are in the east bay area September 30th, stop by http://www.concordcarotary.org/artintheyard.htm. It really is a great time. I'll have my
silver jewelry, soldered collage pendants and a few of my mixed media collage pieces for the wall.

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

but wait, that's not all



scanning. took down all the two(ish) dimensional pieces of my art in the house to scan, oh and the pieces small enough to fit on the scanning bed. next up, the camera for the three dimensional and larger items. this little gem is great, it faxes, copies, scans, connects to my camera directly, and of course prints. all in such a sweet little footprint. soon, i will get those scanned images on the blog, it the meantime, here are some silver handcrafted goodies....

Monday, September 11, 2006

the greatest nephews


- a couple of commissioned pieces. the center one is for my sister-in-law. lovely though my photography is...it's time to post a little something that I handcrafted, so here are a couple pieces of jewelry. In October (maybe earlier, we'll see) I'll begin a collage a day posting.

Saturday, September 09, 2006

last weekend in cambria...





we had a wonderful time exploring "the ranchland", feeding the ground squirrels peanuts, and going on long walks. the sunsets were beautiful, sunrises spectacular, and the weather was great - perfect in the morning for bundling up and sipping coffee on the front balcony and watching the waves!

yarn harlot visit




yes. i finally started the much anticipated blog!
i was going to take pictures at the yarn harlot event, but, neglected to bring my camera...maybe i'll borrow some from cordelia. Stephanie Pearl-McPhee was great, I *love* that she calls non knitters muggles. Great stories. I bought 6 skeins of sock yarn!
Cherry Tree Hill sock yarn - gorgeous colourways! i couldn't decide, so splurged on all three (old rose - far left, on top of the yarn harlot postcard - is already spoken for, get your bids in early for the other choices -- socks for everyone this Christmas!) in the meantime, here's a photo of four and twenty black birds in this bush by the beach. these birds have *intense* eyes! i love the soaring seagull too.