Coming Up For Air

Sorry, it has been so long since my last post...life and all you know. :)

I crocheted this granny square blanket for mindless crafting. I like the way it came out. I mixed the glittery yarn in for a festive touch.

Here is a slip stitch baby blanket I am making. It called for two strands and it really hurts my hands. I tried a single strand version and it still looks as nice. So next time I won't use two strands. It is a fun pattern in which you carry the yarn in the back when you are on the front and in the front when you are on the back. This way the front stays all pretty.

The amazing John was having a sale and I scored some luscious Malabrigo. The pic does it no justice and you can't feel how soft it is either. But it is the most amazing merino I have ever touched and I just can't wait to find something worthy of its amazing texture.

And...of course, there are socks. I want 10 pair for the Fall Fest and here are 3 done and one on the needles. And I started them last week on Monday...so I feel that this is a possible goal.

Well, that's it. DH has to go back in for knee surgery 'cuz they missed something so keep him in your thoughts, please.

Happy crafting everyone,

Ruinwen
:)

More Socks...

Some random silliness. Here are the Snowcat socks with the black light.

So true to my word I made four socks this week. These are made with Sheep Shop Wool and I am in love with them.

I've gotten really fast at making these socks. And I really enjoy the ease of them.

Sheep Shop has some awesome colors. They really know how to dye with really rich hues.

I hope you have a nice weekend!

Ruinwen
:)

Princess of the Sea

Here is Sea Witch modeled by the one it was intended for. It was a perfect fit and the little princess loves it. I'm hoping to write up this pattern sometime soon.

Happy Crafting,

Ruinwen
:)

Just Because...

I love thistles...even though they have some rough edges they are so beautiful! A thistle is the symbol I use for my healing center. :)

Fox...Socks...

Sorry, the pic is so dark...but they are cammo of the ice and snow variety. I’ve been working on finalizing this scaredy sock class and I’m finally done. I made two socks in two days and I think that I could make these with my eyes closed now.

We are selling socks for Fall Fest to go with our save the Earth theme. ‘Cuz putting on a pair of socks can save a lot of energy instead of raising your thermostat. I’m making myself a pair in Sheep Shop wool and should be done on Thursday night.

I’m hoping this class will encourage some people who are currently intimidated by double points.

Happy Crafting,

Ruinwen
:)

Oh and the title...a Vixen is a female fox...get it... :)

Mama's Got a Brand New Bag!

I first saw this Market Bag here at knitorious and fell in love.

I started one the next day and by Friday night it was done. This bag can really hold a lot more then I imagined!

It didn't even take two balls of Sierra Quatro so I have enough to make another one. My DH wants me to come up with a pattern of my own that we can sell after reading this news article . I'm going to keep on in each of our cars so that when the need arises we have a bag and don't have to use plastic ones from the store.



As you can see I, like so many others, have my Harry Potter book. I will not be saying a word...I hate people who spoil it for others...but I did want you to see how big this bag really is. And it is strong too 'cuz this tome is mighty heavy!

Happy crafting,

Ruinwen
:)

Miss Ewe so Far

Here is her entire upper side. I am working on her face now and hope to have it done by the weekend...but I fear that my late-night Harry Potter viewing will prevent much more work getting done...

I'm so excited. The tickets are in my purse...the book is coming to me on the 21st...I wanted to go in costume...but I never got my scarf done *surprise...surprise*

So...if you get a chance give knitnana a shout 'cuz her birthday is tomorrow...she makes the most awesome knitting bags you have ever seen. I love mine...all four of them! :)

Happy crafting!

Ruinwen
:)

And the Winner is....

I can't pull the wool over your eyes...it is the fabulous Miss Ewe!

Thanks for your support. I know everyone says it all the time, but you guys are the best. I can always count on you to cheer me up and to stop me when I'm being too hard on myself. Some days I don't know what I'd do without you....really. :)

So the camera died or I would show you the top of Miss Ewe which, is complete. This is a pattern from the same book as the Pablo the Penguin and I'm having just as much trouble...but I will persevere because EWE have spoken!

All puns aside...you guys really do rock!

Hopefully, I'll have some pics tomorrow...

Stay cool and craft happy,

Ruinwen
:)

WIP (Why I Procrastinate)

“Don't water your weeds.”

-- Harvey Mackay

Although I believe a weed is a plant who is a victim of prejudice, I also see the folly of giving all your nourishment to life’s weeds and not watering the metaphorical plants that have sprouted from my Ostra seeds.

It is hard not to look at one’s to-do list without shuddering over all the things still left undone. Yet it is the moving forward in goals and such that allow us to grow as a person.

Finding the balance between making time for the things that need to be done and not fainting from my own expectations seems to plague me lately. I feel tired before I begin and yet I keep trying to get it all done.

But what else can one do? I guess after looking at my life I’ve realized that I tend to “water my weeds” way too much. When I originally posted the goals that I wanted to meet it was so I could be accountable but I’ve realized that it only drives me slowly insane not meeting them all.

It is not due to laziness that I don’t meet my goals it is due to the very nature of life itself. Suddenly a baby blankets needs to be completed for a new member of the family or a terrible tragedy brings about the need for charity items. A turn of events at the LYS makes way for having to get in projects before a deadline that previously did not exist on my list of goals.

I find my self pulled suddenly in so many directions and my list suffers. So what can I do? I feel without goals my life will be void of direction and I will find my projects languishing somewhere between a WIP and an FO for so much longer than necessary.

Is choosing one goal a way to cop out of my responsibilities? Because to me, it seems the safe option. Pick a WIP to work on for the month and let it be the filler project that I work on instead of starting something new when one of my “other” projects are completed. And it will remain my goal until it is complete.

So this is where I ask your help Dear Readers to decide what WIP I should focus on. Please and thank you. :)



I will leave this poll up until Sunday and whatever WIP has the most votes will not leave my side for the duration of the month.

I hope you all have a safe and Happy 4th of July.

Ruinwen
:)

Sea Witch is Complete

Cross-posted to Create Along

Once I got going with this knit I couldn't stop. Making the pieces in the round left nothing to seam and it seemed to knit up really quick. Both pieces are made pretty much the same except for the casing. I used yarn overs to allow for an I-cord waist tie on the skirt. I only used one yarn over on the inside of the top casing which I pulled elastic through. Not trusting that elastic could keep up with the bonny lass I sewed in some I-cord shoulder ties for good measure.

I definitely will use the Cotton Classic again and I have enough to make something else. Maybe a top for me?

Happy crafting!

Ruinwen
)

Sea Witch

Cross-posted to Create Along

Sorry I couldn't get this any clearer.


So I joined this fun KAL weeks ago and I just really got a block of time where I could swatch over and over until I found something that I liked this weekend.

Here is a scribble of my idea. This is an outfit for my niece consisting of a drawstring skirt with a ruffle edging and a matching top with elastic to hold it up and shoulder ties. I found a stitch pattern that was simple but eye-catching. All you do is P3, K3, P3 into the same stitch every 10 stitches and switch the orientation of the clusters every 5 rows. Kind of a super trinity stitch.

I am using the Cotton Classic in the purple and pink. The skirt will be made with purple and accented in pink and the top will be in pink and accented in purple. These happen to be the color choices of my niece and I actually think they complement each other nicely.

I really like this yarn. The pattern has little eyelets and makes a kind of mock lace. The cotton has good stitch definition and will be cool for summer.

I’ve named this outfit Sea Witch because it is the translation of my niece’s name and she loves the water.

I’m starting each piece with a simple casing. The skirt will have eyelets on it for pulling the I-cording through. The top will have one hole hidden in the back for the elastic cord to go through but it will be hidden on the wrong side and sewn up after the lace is inserted.

The goal here is no seams. I hate seams and having to match up sides and stuff. So there will be no seams on either piece. At the end of both the top and bottom I’m going to increase with yarn overs to make a place where another cord can go through and then knit for an inch or so to allow a nice ruffle to form. Finally, I will knit off in picot edging to make a cute curly ruffle. My goal here is princess feminine.

So that is where I am. Sorry, it took me so long to get going but hopefully I will have this finished by 4th of July…since I just missed my nieces’ B-Day. :(

Happy crafting,

Ruinwen
:)

On the Day I Was Born…

I've been tagged again by Kimberly and this is one I hadn't done yet!

The rules are to go to Wikipedia and type in your birthday month and day only. Then post 3 events, 2 births and one holiday that occurred on your birthday, then tag 5 friends.

Events

1865 - American Civil War: A day after his surrender to Union forces, Confederate General Robert E. Lee addresses his troops for the last time.

1865 - The last photograph of Abraham Lincoln alive was taken.

1912 - The RMS Titanic leaves port in Southampton, England for her first and only voyage

Seems like a bad day for a bunch of folks.

Births
1932 - Omar Sharif, Egyptian actor
1941 - Paul Theroux, American author

Love both of them

Holiday

Feast for Three Days - Third Day (Thelema)

I looked this up. It is a feast for three days celebrating the transcribing of The Book of the Law.

If you want to know more go here.

So there you go. I’m not tagging anyone. If you want to do it, then be my guest.

Have a great weekend!

Ruinwen
:)

Catching Up

With Mercury in Retrograde my life has been crazy. But here is a little update.

WARNING PARTIAL NUDITY......



…I tried to blur it as much as possible. This is a bikini top I made and I loved every minute of it. You can find the pattern on Knitty Gritty . I love the Cascade fixation and I love the way this looks. A very fun knit which could be easily accomplished in a day.







My little boy has been away and I miss him so much! My car is in the shop for a very expensive overhaul...both oil and steering fluid are leaking. DH just had an operation on his knee. He fared much better than my car (thank the Goddess!) The cats just take it all in stride. They have been sleeping more than usual. Here is a rare shot of them together.

Here is a moth that graced our window. She was so lovely. Nature is just amazing.

I love the way this ponchette came out. I used a wool/hemp blend that was wonderful to work with and I really like the way it worked up. This is my 2nd ponchette and I think the lattice of the lace is really pretty…I had to make a second one!

I have to be brutally honest, I hate to seam. I avoid it at all costs and redesign projects so I don’t have to pick up a needle. So since there is so much seaming at the end of this I kept the stitches on the needle and picked up a stitch at a time from the other side of the seam and did a three-needle bind off. I can’t tell you the joy that I experienced as a lovely little seam was created that was so beautiful I wept tears of joy at the simplicity of it.

So as much as I loved this simple pattern before…I adore it now! I look at my other one and want to rip it out and re-seam it with another 3-needle bind off…but I will resist. It was good enough for me once and I don’t want to be totally fickle about it.

I’ve been trying to find ways to stop having to weave in ends by spit joining or Russian joining. My philosophy is having a beginning and ending yarn end to weave in is more than enough. LOL

I spent the weekend at the frog pond and I could photograph a BIG ball of yarn that is really two hanks spit joined but it really would do nothing but depress me. I’ve swatched and ripped this project more than any other and it should be stuck on stupid easy but alas it is not.

Yarn - 6 : Ruinwen – 0

I have a few more things to try, one of which is a provisional cast-on in huge bulky yarn…it is like Manos on steroids. And my DH suggested going up to a 17…which will mean more swatching and pulling of the hair as totals need to be recalculated.

But I’m a stubborn Aries and I’m not down for the count yet. My niece will have a nice little dress if I have to spend every free moment conquering this yarn!

If you happen by the frog pond look me up I’ve got a little lean-to down on the East end…rip it, rip it….

Happy crafting,

Ruinwen
:)

Spinning For the First Time

See I'm spinning! My amazing friend who can spin, weave, knit and do almost anything was so kind and patient with me! She rocks!

She worked with me until I could do each of the steps and I'm so thankful! :)

She gave me tons of this white fluff to practice on. I really am addicted!

Happy crafting,

Ruinwen
:)

My First Handspun

Tada! I actually spun...okay I know it looks like a mess...but it's my first and I did it and I'm proud!

The tension was all kind of wonky for the 2nd bobbin and it took three of us to get it back. But we finally did and now I can't wait to spin with correct tension!

Happy everything,

Ruinwen
:)

Meet the New Addition to our Family! :)

Despite my poor camera skills, you can still see how sleek and beautiful Serenity is. I haven't spun anything yet...but I have worked the wheel to get the feel of spinning like the book recommends.

On Monday I hope to get together with the only spinner I know within a 50-mile radius and actually spin some yarn! :) I'm so excited! :)

A big shout of thanks goes out to the wonderful Kim who helped me with my newbie questions. :)

Happy crafting!

Ruinwen
:)

Picot edge shawl

I finally finished this little shawl. It actually is much bigger then I thought it would be. It is from Victorian Lace Today. I really love this little picot beaded edging. It is a nice mindless project and I was very happy with the results.

Ruinwen
:)

The Empress

I did this for Sallee but I found it quite appropriate. :)

You are The Empress

Beauty, happiness, pleasure, success, luxury, dissipation.

The Empress is associated with Venus, the feminine planet, so it represents,
beauty, charm, pleasure, luxury, and delight. You may be good at home decorating, art or anything to do with making things beautiful.

The Empress is a creator, be it the creation of life, of romance, of art or business. While the Magician is the primal spark, the idea made real, and the High Priestess is the one who gives the idea a form, the Empress is the womb where it gestates and grows till it is ready to be born. This is why her symbol is Venus, the goddess of beautiful things as well as love. Even so, the Empress is more Demeter, goddess of abundance, then sensual Venus. She is the giver of Earthly gifts, yet at the same time, she can, in anger withhold, as Demeter did when her daughter, Persephone, was kidnapped. In fury and grief, she kept the Earth barren till her child was returned to her.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

Spring Fling

Here is the booth all set up.



Here is my meager display of knitted and crocheted items. But you know what I was happy to have that much done. DH made some lovely new chain mail pieces and combined metals too. I finally finished the drop stitch shawl and it turned out really nice...so all in all, I was very happy.

It was a s-l-o-w Fair. No one was buying. But as always we made back the fees and the food which makes us happy. My sister crocheted with us and she made some lovely pot scrubbies that have a sponge in them. My son and his cousins came to visit with Nana. Bless the Goddess for Nana who took care of the kids this weekend for all of us adults! She is a saint! :)

The tent behind us blew over and folded in half. The poor thing's legs were straight up in the air and it took quite a few of us to help get it down again. There was a lot of wind and we need to rethink some weight strategies since the wind moved our 25-pound ones!

But all in all, it was oodles of fun. And...I completed my goals for this month. I survived both Fairs! Yeah me! :)

Hope you all have an awesome day!

Ruinwen
:)

Oh, thank you so much for your support in the last post. You all are the best and the sweetest people on Earth! :)

You can't choose your battle grounds, the Gods do that for you. But you can plant a standard where a standard never flew.

Hi. Sorry I’ve been so silent. I started freaking out about Fair and lost a bunch of eye-lash in the process. The stuff didn’t frog it rather created the biggest knot you have ever seen. But I’m over it now. I always wait until the very last minute to really get organized. I wish I could stop being a procrastinator…maybe I’ll work on that next year? LOL

So I’ve got slim pickings this year and it will just have to be okay. I haven’t had a quiet time when I could work on the Masters. I haven’t designed stuff for a CAL. I haven’t designed a dog sweater for the LYS. I never even finished my dear Mother’s shawl. *big long sigh*

Something has to change. But the problem is I serve too many masters and I am adding another hobby as soon as the pieces come for my wheel...long story. I can manage to make sure our family gets everything that is necessary done. Why can’t I do it for myself?

I try to be healthy and work out and then it cuts into my knitting time. What is more important my health or fibery goodness? I’ve been cutting up fresh veggies and fruits in the morning and losing blogging and RSS time. But again what is more important?

Me. If I don’t take care of myself then my family will suffer. So for the last two weeks, I’ve been taking care of me. I’ve improved my diet, made time to work out, made time to meditate and breathe. I’ve been sleeping better and I have more energy then I’ve had in a while. But like any good relationship; it takes time and effort to maintain good health.

Next, I made a crafting schedule and if I follow it I should get a lot done. I decided on one night a week when I will shut myself away and knit for the Masters. Another night I will spin. Another I will work on a spiritual project I’ve wanted to do. Other projects will be worked on the weekends, downtime and at the LYS.

I took all those goals I planted at Ostra and found a time of day for them. All of them. I left Friday night, Saturday and Sunday free except for working out in the a.m. and spiritual time on Sunday in the a.m.

I really looked at what was important to me and found a place for it. I’ve tried to take baby steps and not take on too much. I always make these tight schedules with no free time. But I’ve even included our family night and no electronic devices night (that one kills the DH).

I’ve realized that blogging every day might be really pushing myself too hard. By making a time to blog once a week, then I know I have time to take the pictures, write something witty and get it up on the web before bed.

I’m trying to be realistic this time which is hard for a girl with her head in the clouds. I’m trying to balance my health, family, craft, and spirituality and I think if I can just get in a routine it just might be simpatico for once.

Thanks for listening to me babble.

Happy crafting,

Ruinwen
:)