Day of Awesome Surprises

 

Last night I went to our local fabric shop which has tons of exciting magazines on everything from needlework to yarn and more....such as this magazine Mollie Makes, issue 22. This has clearly become my favorite magazine of all time.

Although it's from the UK, I was surprised that our local book store doesn't carry it, nor does any other store in my area. When I ask the whole staff  at "Books A Million" they looked totally confused said, they had never heard of Mollie Makes. So... I put in a request to have them try and add it to there store. This magazine is just amazing in so many ways, from the articles to the projects, right down to the photographs. I am in love!

 

After my lovely magazine... today I went to the mailbox and look what was waiting for me. Yes, my Cascade 220 Heathers yarn. Finally, I am working with an awesome yarn. Isn't it just yummy!

But that wasn't all, nope.

  

 

Not one, but two packages of Cascade 220 Heathers was waiting. I just love the colors, of course, inspired by Little Cotton Rabbits, a blog I have come to adore. Julie is so incredibly talented, I wish I lived in England, I would gladly pay her to teach me everything she knows about knitting and crocheting.

I have a few more colors to order and I will have all the colors Julie posted on her blog. I am so excited to begin making grannie squares and my first grannie square blanket. I have crocheted a lot of blankets and knitted them, but grannie squares, look out here I come!

  

 

Look at those gorgeous labels...I am so use to working with Patons Yarn, and Caron Simply Soft, this is sure to be a treat!

 

Knitting Days of Winter - Pattern Added

 

 

 

Wow, I didn't realize I haven't put up a post in a few days. I've been so busy working many different projects, actually working mostly with cotton. I am currently waiting for a large order of Cascade 220 Heathers in jewel tones. In the meantime, I'd like to introduce you to one of my latest creations, it's my "Country Lace Dish Cloth" I'm not big on fancy lace or things with fringes and frills, but I don't mind a touch, as long as it has a classic farm feel.

 

 

 As do these tiny face cloths my mother use to make when I was a teen, only I added a stripe like the dish cloth under it. It really gave me the idea to use different colors on the stripes so someone doesn't mistake theirs for yours.

They are so nice...and just the right size for washing your face before bed time. Just put your finger through the loop and grab the rest with your finger tips...walla! Add a bit of your favorite face soap and your good to go. Great thing...they wash out so easily by hand then hang to dry. There're terrific for washing cups too...getting down inside without all the bulk of a full dish cloth. Athough, I can't recall my mom ever using them for dishes.

 

 

 

With all that said, out of all the wash cloths or if you want use this on the table under your teapot, it really doesn't matter. I think it's too pretty to use as a dish cloth...dont' you?

I designed it with both knitting and crocheting techniques. What's great after your done knitting it goes right into crocheting without cutting the thread.

The back looks just as nice as the front. Gosh, I should have taken a pick. I kept notes while making it I just have to go back and put them together. As soon as I do I will post it for you to create your own. You'll love making this one!

 

"Lil Facial Scrub Pattern"

 

Materials

US size 5 knitting needles

Lilys Sugar n Cream Cotton Yarn

1 Ball Soft Ecru - Main Color

1 Ball Color - Stripe

Crochet Hook US 5

 

Stitch Pattern - Garter - Knitting all rows

 

With main color cast on 20 stitches

 

                                      Row 1 thu 14 work Garter Stitch knitting all rows.

                                      Row 15 - change to color knit row.

                                      Row 16 - knit color.

                                      Row 17 - pick up main color knit

                                      Row 18 - knit in main color

                                      Row 19 - change to color knit row.

                                      Row 20 - knit color

                                      Row 21 thru 34 knit in main color

                                      Bind off....leaving enough thread length for chain.

         Using US 5 (F) crochet hook chain 9 pull tight making loop attach to corner weave in threads.

If you tend to cast on and knit loosely on first two row change to smaller needles.

 Then on 3rd row begin using US size 5 knitting needles.

 I always knit loose after casting on so I drop down two needle sizes for first two rows.

 

<3 Pamela

 

What Should You Do...

What should you do when your suppose to be doing something else, but, can't seem to focus to get it done? A day when it's a gray, very cold day, and this just looks oh so cozy! Like it's calling your name...saying hey you.. come lay down on the sheepskin rug and relax in front of the warm heat.

 

Well I didn't get that far, had I, it would have all been over, nothing would have gotten done, for days!! Once I get comfortable I am like a bear in a winter cave. Just leave me a diet Pepsi, some chocolate....ha ha, a diet Pepsi and chocolate funny isn't it! Like what's the point of the diet part of the pop!  Who's caring not me....had I laid down I would have been there for days, seriously, only to get up and go to the louve. So British isn't it, which I am not...but it does sound better than bathroom.
But did I lay down? Not!

 

Nope not me, I picked up some knitting needles and proceeded to knit, of all things, a wash cloth. Why one might ask...because I could, maybe it was my way of avoiding the tasks needed done, or was it simply the call of a new pattern I found here, saying, "try me, come try me." Nope, it was those darn knitting needles that had to be in my hands working yarn, doing whatever pattern available, because they take me away. Away from things I don't want to do, anyway from the world both inside and out. Nothing difficult did I want to do, just something mundane, comforting.

 

 

So I began knitting the little wash cloth, which went quite quickly. A wash cloth pattern that made me smile when completed.  A petite lightweight wash cloth, became one of my favorite of all time. Meant to be in my day, of avoiding all the other everyday tasks, made my day. It was truly well worth it all. A small achievement, but one, never the less. Isn't it a gorgeous?

As for the sheepskin...eventually I laid down in it's fluffy, deep fur, and napped for hours. Isn't life grand!





It's Nearly Done...

 

 So it's nearly done, the blanket I started awhile back, is finally getting the border. It's been, oh so cold here, somewhere around 16 degrees just right for knitting. The wind has been blowing, dropping the temperature even further around 6 degrees. It's kind of nice though, I love the sound of the wind rattling things outside. Soothing for me. Just as I like the sound of the rain. It's cloudy here today, gray outside not quite conducive for taking photographs. Yet they didn't turn out too bad!

  

 

I have to say this blanket has been a challenge in many ways. I've learned so many things I didn't know, which turned out to be a very good thing. I have the book, Sitch' N Bitch Super Star Knitting, by Debbie Stroller, which I love...it's a great reference book. It helped in making this blanket.

 

 

 Let's just say it helped a lot in adding a border to a stockinette stitched item, which is not easy.  It's a lot of trial, and error, counting stitches before one gets it right. I almost thought, if I have to rip out one more row on making the border lay flat, I was done. At least for awhile, let's say months, but, I am not a quitter and forged through...

 

 

 It's not the Tah-Dah moment just a peek at where I am on the blanket. I have a plan to use more of the colors incorporated so far in the blanket, into the border. When done it will just be as I imagined. I must admit working with color in the winter sure brightens up ones day.

 

Hope you have a good day!

<3 Pamela

Inspiring Crochet Project

I've been browsing the Internet the last few days looking for a unique project that combined yarn and fabric. And...look what I found!! I haven't seen anything like this before...

 

I found it on a site through google called Craft. I thought it was such a unique spin to a basic quilt. If you take a trip over to Sewing Daisies, you'll see how Heidi created the blanket. Heidi gave it the name...Kaffe 'Fusion Blanket' I just love it! It's just a day of color and, I know, I could use some with the winter weather.

 

 

 

Which leads me to another place I've been, working with color.

Yup, little old me working color.

I think I did pretty good. It's not done yet, so you'll  have to wait a bit for the tah-dah moment.

I have a lot of ends to weave in and then a border. Currently it's 5' and 3/4 inches long, just nearly the right length for my son, however, I fear the grand babies are going to take over this blanket. They love my handmade blankies and the colors are going to "wow" them.

  

 

I have a really neat idea for a border that I hope to have finished by this weekend. Yeah right, okay!

I have to tell you working with doubled yarn and a smaller set of needles to get the knitting tighter was not fun. Let's just say I really know how to pick up dropped stitches, although, I did miss one that caused me to rip out all the rows from the orange one up. I couldn't believe it when I found the error, all that work gone. But, I didn't let it stop me and forged through...and I am proud...not only did I continue, I used color!!!

 

                                                              Enjoy your day....

                                                                  ♥ Pamela ♥

 

Would You?

Questions everyone always has questions...why did you do this, how did you do that, can you show me...and they go on and on...and if you have little ones... well good luck.

 But this is not about little ones, nope, this is about the adults that constantly ask the same questions over and over all through life.

What do I want to be in life, will I ever find love, will I ever own a car, a home, what is my passion, what do I do best? I can't tell you how many times I have heard these questions, even still, at my age.

One confused person after another trying to make sense of it all....

But there is one question as you grow that everyone seems to ask over and over...

 

WOULD YOU GO BACK IN TIME IF YOU COULD?

and if you could what would you change in your life?

  

 

I've ponder this question a few time in the woods that I spend a lot of time walking through.

I've sat on fallen trees, dangled my feet, and can't help but get lost in this gorgeous spot. A place where when I am there, the outside world doesn't exist. There are streams with the clearest water I have ever seen, sounds of nature that is beautiful to the ears, it's often better than anything any human could write, and all done so naturally. There are deer roaming all the time that just take your breathe away. Amazing how they stand so still, yet so graceful, listening, ears full stance, a golden coat groomed so perfectly, like an angel, they almost seem magical. They run with such an elegance, so soft, you can barely hear them.I think about how many people through history have passed through these woods, how many settlers in covered wagons, how many Indians, just how many people in general.  I look around and think if I could go back in time would I?

 

I suppose if I could go back to a time when I didn't exist, if I could pick a time then yes. I would like to the see the world so pure, untouched by man's hands. I would like to see New York before it became so industrial, so full of architect elements. I would just want to see the earth in all it's innocence. But, that's not the question now is it. The questions is always...if you could go back in time and change your life would you? What if you would have made different choices? Would your life have turned out differently? For me, nope, not ta, no way....why would I want to visit the same era I saw before and why would I want to change anything. There is a reason I chose the things I did, a reason my life turned out the way it did. I can't say it was always easy, yet without those choices, without those difficult times life brings. I would not be who I am today.Choices I strongly believe we are made to choose, based on maturity levels, that make us who we are as we move forward in life. Our own lessons, our own journals.Why do some have it tougher than others one might ask...My answer, I strongly believe they are the ones who learn the true value of life, and that for me, is something I would not want to change.

 

As in the end that true value of life is were happiness grows, it's were real love lingers, it's were you will find volunteers, helpful caring people. Those who step outside themselves without being ask or without having to tell there stories of helping another human. They just do. It's were you find those who understand when hope has been lost in a life, they reach out there hand.

 

I once heard a quote and right now I can't tell you who wrote it, but, it goes like this..

 

"It's not until we are lost, that we begin to understand ourselves"

 

That quote could never be more true, as if we look through time at all the people we know that are lost it isn't until they find help, do they really begin to understand who they are, do they understand what they are meant to do. I know as I was once one of them. So lost it was like being in a huge box with no opening. So what do I know....if we look upon those lost as unusual, strange, weird, mental, they are really just lost. Extend your hand and help them realize, there is light at the end of every tunnel, if we only help them with open arms can they see.

 

So in the end, the question for you is the same and will be ask time and again. Would you go back in time and change any part of your life? Would you?

 

Blessing to all...

<3 Pamela

 

Unique BeesWax and Bear

When I'm out and about see something unique it just says,

 Hey.. don't walk away..not without me!

One of those things is beeswax, I just love the stuff those tiny little bees create.

I worked with candle wax for along time in my younger years,

 (wow does that sound weird) in fact I loved it.

Of course, until I could no longer stand all the scents..yup...that's part of aging.

It's not all bad the wisdom gained is the bomb!

 

 

These were just too darn sweet to resist. Aren't they just the coolest!

  

 

The beeswax smells so good and the jars are just amazing in detail. Way to unique to burn.

I went ahead and got 3 of them two are the same size and of course the larger in back.

When the fragrances bothered me in the years I made candles I started purchasing beeswax and doing all kinds of things with it. In fact, I still have my beehive and little bear with bee's molds.

Yes, that's what I will do...dig them out of the supplies I kept!

  

 

While I was on my little trip I found this cute little guy called "Boofle" by American Greetings.

My fascination with words and when combined, say so much!

Like his heart, "I Love you very, very, very, much!"

Now... how can anyone resist this odd looking creature? He is for Valentine's day, do you believe it's almost another Holiday?

  

 

Well this little guy will be on his way in a few weeks to someone special to me.

 But before I close this post you have to read what's next!

 

Sweet-spirited,

kindhearted,

lovable you.

 

Smile-sharing,

joy-bringing,

sparkly you.

 

Bring-it-on,

never-stop,

look-out-world you.

 

Lots-of-love,

Valentine Wishes

for one-of-a-kind

you!

 

Have a great weekend!

 

 ♥ Pamela ♥

It's Color

HAPPY NEW YEAR

it's 2013

 

 

My first attempt at knitting with color has turned out to be something I really enjoy.  I've been knitting away so much so I have a callus on my thumb and the blanket is near done, with exception of the border. I am deciding on what I want to do. The colors are my son's favorites, I am sure you can guess where it's going. Learning to speed knit has truly been a test, not to say there aren't some errors on this bad boy, as there are...Luckily only one is visible. I thought about tearing it out and starting all over, then I thought, hey it's me, mistakes are made. I can proudly say I did it!

   Next time I pop in hopefully it will be for the Tah-Dah moment.

Hope everyone had a wonderful New Year ! Thank you so much for visiting my blog.

 

<3 Pamela