What would you consider the perfect amount of stash?

Another secret pal question....this is hard really...because of course stash is SO important. I find that now that I can afford a bit more yarn, I'm buying a lot. I've decided that I'm stocking up for the time when I can't buy anymore....which has worked for a bit. But now I've decided to only buy for projects...which is a bit better...but I've got a lot of projects in the plans also!!!! So the money is still being spent!!!! Especially at my not so LYS Ippikins!

Hello Kitty fun

Here are a couple of presents I've made recently. I love the top pattern book the most. But I like the way you stitch on the face on the bottom picture. My Niece Paige got the Kitty and her mom told me she took it to a sleep over the next night. I had to make something for her, when we visited last everything that was knitted in my suitcase she would ask..."Did you make this?" Her brother is getting a doggie, and possibly more from the easily found book below. It uses a type of chart for the directions which is handy.
Off on vacation now. Taking a bag and a basket full of crafting goodness. Wonder if I'll get any of it done?

What is my favorite summer drink....

My hostess for SP12 has asked us to post our favorite summer drink. I have to admit that I miss Ice Tea so badly since I moved to the UK. I'm hopeless at making it. I have tried, but it just isn't the same, so I have to wait until I'm able to go to London and have a couple at the Texas Embassy...my fav restaurant over here!

So what do I drink here??? Water, water and occasionally a Fanta Lemon with lots of ice.

So what have I been working on???

This.....Rowan Joy, Rowan Handknit cotton

And this.....
The first and second pictures are of a sweater I started a few months ago. The crocheting has been easy, but I had to work to make the sleeves large enough for my huge arms....no it isn't muscle. Anyway, the first picture is closer to the real color of the green then the second.

The third picture is an experiment I'm doing. I've been wanting to make some rugs...don't know why...just did. Well in July I have been asked to do a quick lesson on luceting with the gals at the guild. So I thought it would be good to actually have something sort of made for it. I love the square braid this makes and it sews together very easy. I'm making this out of Peaches and Cream cotton I bought in the States when I was home for Thanksgiving!

Secret Pal 12

I took a little break, but then decided I really wanted to have another go at being a Secret Pal. I really enjoy the shopping for someone else for a change. So here is my answers....

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I’m kind of a yarn snob…though I do use Collinette acrylic. During the summer I really like cottons.
2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I have a few different ways to store my needles, the one I like the most is my wicker vase with my wood and bamboo straight needles in. I could use something to help me organize my circular needles by size.
3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I would consider my self an intermediate. I’ve been knitting for 10 years now, but only this year did I make myself a sweater! I use to make things for others all the time, but have become a bit selfish lately…though I still have my niece and nephews to make things for.
4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Yes, I have an Amazon wish list.
5. What's your favorite scent?
Lavender or vanilla
6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
Yes!!!! Anything but licorice
7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I do about everything you can think of, though I’m doing a lot of beading at the moment. Well, and I’m also busy making rugs with a couple different techniques that I will talk about in future posts. I drop spin, though I need more practice.
8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I like new music (that isn’t to Pop).
9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
I’m in to strong rainbow colors at the moment.
10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
Married with two cats and a guinea pig!
11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
No ponchos….but yes to the rest
12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
At the moment I doing a lot of sweaters, but I like knitting anything really.

13. What are you knitting right now?
Finishing a crocheted summer sweater and knitting a t-shirt type shirt.
14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Absolutely!!!!!!
15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I use more circular because I travel with my knitting a lot. No plastic though.
16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
No, though I can see the benefit after spending a bunch of time needing to undo knots in a sock weight yarn that caught on itself all the time I was trying to hand wind!
17. How old is your oldest UFO?
Hmmm…..10 years???
18. What is your favorite holiday?
Going to the States to visit my family.
19. Is there anything that you collect?
Books
20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
I don’t subscribe to any knitting mags at the moment, I do get Selvedge which is a wonderful textile book. I really like to learn about all kinds of textile technigues.
21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
Rug hooking
22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
Yes, I do…though I’m a tight knitter so I find it hard to fit my foot…I have a high arch and no ankles
23. When is your birthday?
Nov 15
24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID?

Yes, dlad2002

Let the fun begin!!!

Wednesday craft day

Hey! I did it! With some distractions.....

as this in my face as I try and make this:

I like this, but decided it wasn't long enough....and of course I didn't have enough of the tiny beads...so off for more. I used waxed linen and I've learned that using beeswax and letting the end get hard a bit makes it go through the holes much easier. Stuff like that you can't learn from a book!

Next I took apart a necklace I bought at a charity shop to make one that I've been inspired from Instyle Mag. Of course, again not enough beads. I was going to make it out of wood beads, but didn't like that they are dyed and can't be guaranteed not too bleed. Then I thought of glass beads, but that was going to be very heavy. The necklace in the mag was made of resin...so I thought it would be ok. Especially when I walk into the only charity shop I went in that day and found this necklace! So I just need to find a few more small plastic beads and I'll have that one made. I'm not sure if I'm going to keep either of these necklaces. I like them, but the colors aren't really me. I've been tempted to open an Etsy shop....but not too sure.....what do you guys think...and give me your real opinion....you won't hurt my feelings.



I started working on this box then...again don't have what I need. I used some cool double stick tape I bought that is suppose to be really good. But I still think it needs some glue to fill in the wholes and make the whole thing more stable. I've had this mix of beads for ever. I think it looks cute on here. It is just a box that I got with some jewelry I bought. Thought it would be cool to recycle some more!There...so I finally did something! Now I'm going to watch telly with hubby and maybe fool around....with my blog layout....fooled ya!

Lucinda Wilby

Wow did I have fun at Wonderwools Wales. My sis-n-law went with me and we both really enjoyed the day. I bought lots of fun stuff, including these wonderful paintings done by Lucinda Wilby. I'm going to hang them in my craft room...whenever I get it redone.....hmm......well...I might have to hang them somewhere else to begin with! They are so cute though! She makes all different sizes. These are 6x6, I think. I will probably have to keep tabs on her and buy one of the bigger ones to go with these. She had four of the pictures hung on a board and it looked so cool!



I also finally got myself an inkle loom, made or Welsh wood of course. I bought a banner that I'll have to take a picture of when the light is better outside (it is raining at the moment). It is a "Hen party". I love chickens that aren't too country and this one is great.

Added later: talked to Lucinda so I got her blog. She is talking now about getting on Etsy hopefully....so if you like her stuff and would like to have one too....contact her and encourage her to do so!!!!

I'm having a bit of a crisis in craftiness. I feel a fraud sometimes, mainly because I have so many ideas...but not the time or skill to pull them off. I need to get to know people we wouldn't mind working with me on projects. So far this Wed off business has meant me sleeping all day....which is what I need....but I'm not getting the house caught up or the crafting done. I don't know if I've mentioned it here, but I have depression and it has taken a lot out of me. I've been trying to live with it for a few years now. It is slowly getting better, but I can get so frustrated with how slow. I want to create, play with my cats, have fun with my husband.....but instead I sleep and work. Ok, done blabbing....I have a wet cat walking on the desk in front of me and I'm taking that as a sign I should go play...since I can no longer see the screen!!!

Tomorrow.....

anticipation. I'm off tomorrow for the first time without being sick or at a meeting...lets see if I actually get some crafty goodness done.....and POSTED!

Change in my life...

I've become on of those part-time workers....and I'm so glad. I took a chance with my boss at work and we decided that I should have one day off during the week. So now Wednesday can be catchup and....wait for it.......CRAFTING DAY!!!! Well, that was the theory...until I came down with a killer cold and spent all of Wednesday moaning around the house...house...I mean BED. Anyway, next week I hope will be better and I can do some posting! I've got a really cool couple of necklaces I'm working on, and I'm really close to getting another sweater done....if I can just get the arms right.

Anyway...HAPPY CRAFTING!