Love of knitting

14 Apr

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Favorite cards

14 Apr

My first choice for sending cards is to make custom ones on Kodakgallery.com.  I have made over 60 different ones.  The accordion fold is perfect for “telling stories” given related photos.

My second choice is Hallmark cards designed by Marjolein Bastin.  I stopped after work today to buy sympathy, wedding and birthday cards.  The clerk said they are phasing out cards designed by MB, which have declined in popularity.  NOT with me!  I looked up her website.  We have other sources of Marjolein’s work.  I also learned she is Dutch and more….

http://www.marjoleinbastin.com/en

Imitation

10 Apr

“Purse Envy” is the subject of a recent post by Lara Rossignol on Piewacketblog.com.  Ahhh, inspiration for this post, because I have a couple of special crafty purses too.

circa 1975 purses

Both of these projects are classic examples of expensive do-it-myself projects.  For example, the hardware of the wooden purse and the contracted assembly of the needlepoint were relatively costly.  Lesson learned.

Check out this link to Piewacket!  The lovely young woman is my niece Claire.

http://www.piewacketblog.com/journal/2012/4/4/purse-envy.html

Clean Freaks

1 Apr

“Clean Freaks” an hour-long show hosted by Sabrina Soto on HGTV last night.  Sabrina effectively “crowd sourced” the content of her show by asking for tips from viewers on their best organizing ideas.

As I thought about the show this morning, it was one of the best shows I have seen.  My first choice for shows on organizing has been TLC’s “Clean Sweep” with HGTV’s “Mission Organization” coming in second.  Sabrina’s show turned the tables by allowing viewers to show and prove their best work.

As an informal challenge, one segment of the show reorganized a friends closet in one hour.  They had clear boxes for shoes, new hangers and labels prepared in advance.  However, it was still a big job and they did it….very impressive.  Another segment featured a family that maximized iPad technology to run the home audio, video, lighting systems plus synchronized family calendars with alerts.  Many great ideas presented playfully with great humor.

The clean freak in our household will enjoy watching this when he gets a chance 🙂

http://www.HGTV.com/clean-freaks/show/index.html

Bold and beautiful

25 Mar

To quote a favorite hymn:

“For the beauty of the earth, for the glory of the skies,

For the love which from our birth, Over and around us lies:

Lord of all, to thee we raise This our hymn of grateful praise.”

Vernal Equinox 2012…a little late

22 Mar

Alas, I was out-of-town again.  However, this article is still interesting, very thorough and has great links.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/03/120320-spring-equinox-first-day-2012-vernal-science/

Great year for hyacinths

This has been the best spring ever for hyacinths.  These were so thick and heavy they were laying over.  Pink is my dominant variety.  Yellow and purple ones bloomed well, too.

WoooHooo! 100th post

17 Mar

I have posted 100 times between my Elfcroft and Kiheilife blogs since November 2010, wheeew!  My inspiration was and continues to be Lara Rossignol’s Piewacketblog.  As I dabbled and studied blogging, one memorable piece of advice was to be ready with 100 ideas for posts, which was in contrast to dive in and let the creative juices flow.  I did not have a 100 idea list for starters and therefore thrilled with this milestone.

This post features another evolving project inspired by an e-book Art Journal Ideas by ClothPaperScissors.com which includes a chapter by Tracie Lyn Huskcamp @ thereddoor-studio.com titled “A Year Captured in Fabric”.  What I have so far are 11″X12″ pieces of muslin with themed collages from remnants and fabric photos from Spoonflower.com.  This is a great opportunity to prepare custom “quilt squares” that do not have to stand washing and wear.  A few unfinished projects are getting closure and inclusion in the “journal”.  Beads, buttons and trim are embellishing layouts.  I have 11 squares completed and 11 squares with concepts.  My intended scope is 48 squares which will finish the bolt of muslin that Mam-ma Tuggle left with her sewing accessories.

Fabric Journal under construction

As much as I have enjoyed knitting and sewing lessons as a change of pace and producing “a product” (after all, I am a career Manufacturing Engineer.), this project is about the ideas and rules that I make up along the way.  Liberating:)  I’ll keep you posted!!

Oh what a beautiful day

11 Mar

Oh what a beautiful day!  Clear skies and cool temperature perfect for spring cleaning the yard.  I started with the dirtiest job first….compost bins.  I have three.  My first compost venture was the worm farm.  1000 worms work between 3 levels in a compost bin to decompose kitchen scraps.  Adding water occasionally steeps worm tea which is dispensed thru a spicket.  All this is wonderful until the temperatures drop and you cannot get approval to bring it into the garage for the winter.  Actually, I did the first winter and most of the worms died anyway.  😦  Plan B was the lowest cost.  Basic plastic garage can with holes drilled in the bottom.  Composting is a slow process and one bin could not keep up with all my trimmings.  Plan C was the mid-price with openings to “harvest” compost from the bottom of the bin.

B and C do not keep up with all trimmings, so today I had four bags full for the trash.  (Several years we burned trimmings, but we should have an official fire pit before burning anymore extra dry trimmings.)  Today’s dirty job was transferring the kitchen compost to the trimming compost to help it along.  That was about 150 pounds worth.

The crocus photos (taken today) go well with the blog banner 🙂

Prayer shawls

25 Feb

Last year I discovered the joys of knitting.  Relaxing.  Meditating. Prayerful.  I confess my intrigue with my iPad has consumed time I might have devoted to knitting this year.

Knitting is Shelby’s favorite pastime.  We have our chair and ottoman by the window within earshot of the TV.

Time to knit

This is my favorite shawl pattern.  It is less fussy (no fringe) and more functional with two pockets.  My first one was violet, second camel and third gray.

Pocket Shawl pattern by Lisa Carnahan

Reunion

18 Feb

My last two posts reminded me of friends and a very special day shopping for pottery. 

What a delightful reunion of high school friends at Mary’s home in Fayetteville, NC!

At Mary’s suggestion, we spent the day “shopping” like no other!

Potters of Seagrove, North Carolina.  “Experience a 200-year-old tradition as potters  create a lasting heritage.  Whether a setting for your table or an object of art….Seagrove has something for you.

Within a 15 mile radius of the village of Seagrove is one of the largest groups of working potters in the United States.

European settlers brought the traditions of pottery making to piedmont North Carolina in the late 1700s.  These potters used the abundant local clay deposits to supply their communities with utilitarian ware, such as jugs, crocks, pitchers and baking dishes, for daily household use.

Today the area remains a center for the production of pottery.  Potters with family ties to those early settlers, as well as newcomers drawn to the community, run the nearly 100 shops.  Their work ranges from traditional utilitarian forms to folk art and contemporary pieces that incorporate modern techniques.

Visitors to the Seagrove area have the unique opportunity to visit the artists and tour their workshops.”

Pam and Mary

Pam and Mary 2

We spent the day visiting Shelton’s,  Cagel Rd, Blue Moon Gallery, Dover, Cady Clay, Blue Stone, O’Quinn’s, Teagues Frogtown and had lunch at Westmore Family Restaurant.  I purchased a pitcher perfect for pancake batter, deviled egg plate, candle holders, Christmas ornaments and an apple baker.  The quality and variety of finishes are truly extraordinary.  It was a day of discovery of the countryside and rediscovery of school day memories.

Mary, ME and Pam

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