A looong time

A scarf , loosely based on a similar one in the book "Scarf Style" was found lingering in my UFO's. I lost interest many months ago, probably more than a year ago. Very bright, the pattern was close to "freeform", but how can something be freeform if there is a pattern written for it?

Anyway here it is finished, I completely abandoned the pattern , threw in some crochet, and voila! Done.

Oh .........it's mostly Lamb's Pride worsted weight, with little Noro Kureyon.

Fickle

Many customers and friends come into my shop for help or guidance with their projects.


Let me tell you, it is a giant ego boost when the answer to the question is an easy one. This is one of the perks of my job.


After my assistance, I often hear " You make it look so easy!". I thank the person for the kind remark, but really, it is my job, I should know what I am doing. The knowledge does not come by instinct, it is just that I have made EVERY mistake that could possibly be made in knitting and other fiber arts. I learn by messing it up, ripping it out (or not), and starting over.



This week I learned another lesson, although I am not yet sure what that lesson is .

I saw a photo of a lovely crocheted scarf on Ravelry. Drawn to it immediately, I thought, "I know that stitch, I can make that." I was ready to start, right then, all excited about the project, picturing the scarf with my winter coat, imaging the compliments I would receive.

Two hand dyed yarns were used , I decided to do the same. Except, I used one hand dyed and a solid. That should have been my first clue. Starting with this yarn, for the hand dye, and silky wool in a rust color for the solid, my hook started flying,,,
I came up with this

Okay, pretty, but not what I wanted. Can you see a definite pattern of circles or wheels? No, I can't either. So I ripped it out. Change the rust color to a more contrasting green and came up with this

Still, the wheels are not distinct, the green in the hand dyed yarn blends with the solid green and the pattern is lost.

Still,,,, I want to make that lovely scarf, I need that scarf....... a little pouting and some grumbling,,,,,,,,,,,, the light went on!

The original scarf must have long color runs......... and my hand dyed has short repeats of color. Grabbing some yarn from my home stash ( I have home stash and shop stash)..... I tried it with a solid single ply and a long repeat single ply.... similar to Noro Silk Garden. Here is the result:

Yes!!! Subtle variations of color, distinct circles...............this is what I had envisioned!

But sadly, after three attempts, all the wind is out of my sails.

That's right, I no longer really want to make the scarf, the magic is gone, it's over.......the novelty has worn off.... On to something else,,, what will it be?

It's a good thing I am not this fickle with husbands, I am still working on the second try in that category.

Holiday Cards

AHH, almost November 1st already. It sneaks up on my every year. Summer is over, kids are back in school, and BAM! It's time for my annual "Christmas Card ANGUISH"


I am not a scrooge.
I love to send holiday cards, the act of writing the greetings to friends and family is a joy, The ritual of sealing envelopes, writing addresses, I love it, this is not the part that causes the annual anguish.




You see, my family has a tradition of "special holiday cards". I blame my mom. She started it., with her personalized cards from the Miles Kimballcompany. A card shaped like a mailbox, that opened to reveal letters inside. And the handmade greetings! Before the days of digital cameras and fancy rubber stamps, my Mom's Christmas cards were often made of construction paper, glitter and photos. Sometime there was that fake, flocked "snow". Photo greetings when I was just baby, so many decades ago.




I carried on the tradition. When my children were young, the whole process was relatively easy, if I planned ahead. Usually around mid September, I would dress up the kids and plunk them down in front of the fireplace, cajole some fake smiles from them, and that was that. Kids grow every year, and they provided an acceptable photo almost every Christmas. One year we took a photo of all of us crossing the wooden bridge in our yard... Oh, and there was that wonderful year when we had a huge snowfall in October, and I got an almost magical candid shot of the three of them tunneling into a sparkling snowbank. A once in a lifetime chance........





Now that it's just adults in the house, photo cards do not hold the same appeal. I don't want to show off my spreading waistline and no one wants to look at the new wrinkles and graying hair annually. Knee replacement photos do not promote Yuletide JOY.



So here is where the Annual Anguish comes into play. Coming up with a creative, clever idea to spread holiday cheer without breaking the budget, and/or consuming every bit of spare time I have. That is anguish. It must be quick, easy and cheap!!

Remember, I do not do the "rubber stamping "thing. I knit. I sew. I blog. I do not stamp.


Most times, I think I have a good idea, and then immediately dismiss it because it is:

Too time consuming.

Too hokey.

Too expensive.


All of the above.







You are asking "Why doesn't she just buy a box of cards be done with it?" Dave asks that every year, too.

The year I had a major surgery in December, I did just that, boxed cards were sent out. In fact, I did that last year, too... But so many people told me that they were disappointed to open our card and find something NOT HANDMADE. And even though I sent out the ready made cards, I still went through the anguish of TRYING to come up with a great idea................. I might as well have made them.


I do have an idea for 2007 holiday greetings , but I am afraid it is:

Too time consuming.
Too hokey.
Too expensive.



Got ideas? Simple, cheap and creative are my criteria. I need to get cracking on this. Where are my elves when I need them?

Right around the corner

This road sign is just out of our town. They tell me that many years ago there was a wool processing factory on this road. A nearby bridge is known to the locals as "the wool factory bridge". I have no idea how long the factory has been gone. I love this sign!

Hard Frost

I don't know what is up with me . I have been anxiously awaiting our first hard frost, for some reason. I don't do much of the gardening, or even clipping grass in the fall, so it's not as if I want the work to end.

Our home is in a low area, we get frost when others don't. On average, we seem to get a killing frost in late September or early October. Last night was our first hard freeze.... October 28. With the cold comes that clear blue sky,,,,,,,,,, And still so many leaves on the trees.

As I get older, I crave the "routines" of life, the first hard frost, the hub-bub of hunting season(remember this IS Wisconsin), and then the holidays. Long nights of January provide lots of time to create. The rhythm of the seasons is soothing to me, like home. I know what to expect...

Summer is often full of surprises, mostly pleasant, but still.......... I like my routine. Getting old,, I guess.

Winter looms ahead,,,, I say, Bring it on!, my "glory days" are yet to come!

Credit or Debit, or what

Paperwork makes me crabby. I, delay, deny, postpone, intentionally misplace, anything resembling paperwork.

I will never be a true business owner because I hate the "business" end of it all. I love the creative parts of my job, dressing the window is fun,

but the details of invoices, and record keeping leaves me cold.

I spent today in the "backroom" of the shop, entering data into the computer and figuring quarterly sales taxes. Really, I whine about it, but the computer does make it fairly simple. Despite that, after three years of being in business, I still rely on my "cheat sheet" to identify a credit or debit..

........It all makes me feel like a Witchy Woman!

On the lighter side of things,

today, October 26

is the birthday of

Ghen (my nephew)

Gwen (my sister)

and Marlene (Dave's sister)

and a customer and friend, Sarah, gave birth to her second child, Delia, this very morning!
Congrats to all!


It is a milestone birthday for Delia , as well as Ghen.

Ghen is 18 !
Eighteen looks good on him!

Here is the birthday boy dressed as a vampire.

Exploration

I focused on my projects, and cut and sewed and cut and sewed. I made mittens. EIGHTEEN PAIR! That's 34 mittens !!! All different. The pairs coordinate but do not match. Like these mittens, that I made back in February, the new ones are cut from recycled wool sweaters. Better to make something useful than to end up in the landfill.

Too lazy to arrange them for a photo, they are going to Loose Ends tomorrow in a laundry basket. For sale , $20 a pair.

Today is Monday, my afternoon with Emili. As a treat, we stopped at Widmers Cheese in Theresa. Check out the website,,,,,,, a nice site done by my landlord, Aaron from SunAnt Technologies.

Many of you knitters have asked me "Just what does that guy in the back offices do?" , this is what he does.

Here is Emmi at the cheese shop. Something about the smell at the shop reminds me of my childhood and the farm, it must be all that milk. We had a good time, and bought mild brick, brie and string cheese.

Emili has decided that we should "explore Theresa" on Monday afternooons after school. So far, she has been to the candy shop and the cheese place, I hope Theresa does not dissapoint. It is a mighty small town! There is always the library.

History of the Village
Theresa is located in the rolling hills of northeast Dodge County, The small community was founded by a French trader named Solomon Juneau. His original home now stands on a hill overlooking the village and the west fork of the Rock River. Solomon Juneau also founded the city of Milwaukee and was its first mayor and postmaster.
About 10 miles west of Theresa is the famous Horicon Marsh. East of Theresa is the smaller Theresa Marsh and a short drive farther takes you to the beautiful northern Kettle Moraine State Forest area.