some more knitting...

I finished up a bag I've been knitting on and off for over a year. I thought it would shrink more when felted but since it didn't, I cut off a section and made a little bag as well. They are both lined with a soft pink flannel and have an i-cord handle. I did put a cording within the i-cord so that the handle would not stretch. That little bag might wind up in a giveaway sometime soon.

click on the images for close-ups.

I've done a bit more work on the leaf scarf. I'm so anxious to get to the berry color in the variegation...maybe another leaf or two...

I finished up a small bobbin lace piece that didn't turn out great and I haven't yet decided how I'll finish it up....maybe a pin cushion.

the gray thread is a silk and stainless steel that's nice to lace with but not easy to stitch with needle and thread.

Karen Ruane has started up the Alchemy class again so I'm back to finishing my family memory album. I'm working on a page of my mom. The picture is of my mom modeling a bathrobe from the time she worked for Matsil Bros. (a bathrobe company) in NYC in the 1930s. I did some line marking on the image...something I learned from Lisa Congdon on Creativebug.com.

some line markings on an old image of my mom

Wishing all the moms out there a Happy Mother's Day. Hope it's a great weekend.

a week chock full of stuff...

I can always tell how much I've accomplished during the week by the mess in my craft's room. It is piled high right now with things I've pulled out and used during the week. Need to do some decluttering today before I do anything else.

click on the images for close-ups.

I was gifted some beautiful lace from my knitting teacher. One piece is more gorgeous than the next and that round doily up front has some turtle lace worked into the piece. You might remember that I bought some turtle lace on ebay awhile back. 

crocheted, tatted, hand and machine made...all so beautiful

I have already used one piece of lace on this piece I'm putting together with scraps from here and there and some pattern paper backed with interfacing.

it started out this way

grew into this with more scraps and hand stitching added

and now with a piece of lace. there is a compass penciled in but not yet stitched.

I led my quilting friends through Katie Davies' button tutorial on Thursday at quilt bee. I think they all enjoyed it as they immediately started making a second one after the first was finished. It really is fun and easy and there's always use for a fancy button.

some of the buttons made at quilt bee

I've started another knitting project that is a real challenge since the needles are a size 0000. The needles are so small that I'm able to use tiny beads as stitch holders on the ends. I do like the way it's turning out. It will be a pin ball when finished. They were made for friends way back when....

knitting a pin ball on size 0000 needles

and some more Line Drawing taught by Lisa Congdon over on creativebug.com. I started out with an old picture of Lena and Esther. Lena was my grandmother's best friend and Esther was Lena's daughter. This picture is probably from the 1930s. I printed off a copy of the picture and worked on the background with a black micron pen. I love the way it turned out. I'll definitely be doing more of these.

Lena and Esther

line drawing on the background

Well, there's also some crochet work and some pillow making in Karen Ruane's class Pillows and Pages, but I'll save that for next time.

The trees have all been trimmed and the gardening has started. We've moved into days of 70 - 90F degree temperatures with very little rain. It seems like Spring is passing us by and we're going right into Summer.

Hope you all have a great weekend.

a week of Saturdays....

this holiday week has made me feel like every day was Saturday, even though it's not a holiday I celebrate. no regular routine of classes and groups I generally meet with so had to keep checking the calendar to see what day it was. I did get quite a bit accomplished despite the confusion.

I took out some of my dad's ink pens and pencils and did a bit of sketching and line drawing with the help of a Craftsy class...Mixed Media Pen, Ink & Watercolor. I'm not following along exactly as the teacher suggests. just picking up hints here and there.

(remember to click on the images for close-ups)

sketching lunaria for a page in my Alchemy journal. my aunt sent me seeds, many years ago,  but i have never been able to get them to grow here in Texas.

I worked a bit on my Fun Times cloth this week and am finally working on the last panel. I also learned a new stitch that took some practice to get it right...the cast-on stitch. here's a video tutorial if you want to try it. I love the 3D effect.

the cast-on stitch worked over a seam

some bumpy bits with bullion and french knots and wrapped threads

and a hand seemed appropriate on this panel that has a triangular pocket

I've been wanting to make a cloth doll and just couldn't find my old pattern so i purchased one. it looks a bit complicated, but i'll give it a go.

a Mary Tressler doll pattern

I just finished reading a good book you might like...The Dinner by Herman Koch. you can read a bit about it on Amazon here. hope this link works for you.

I'm hoping to do a bit more reading this coming year. there are a bunch of books waiting to be read on my kindle. I spent lots of time stitching this year and want to find more time for reading. I love getting lost in a good book.

Wishing you all  the best for the New Year.