Fairy Friday

Ahhh, it's Friday! I didn't post too much this week but, I've been catching up on all of your blogs and my knitting and crocheting. I'll be joining a knit along starting in March at By Gum, By Golly. We'll be knitting a vintage sweater! I'm kind of excited about this as I haven't knitted a sweater before and she'll be going into details about fit which is really important as these 40's style sweaters are quite fitted in all the right places!

Anyhoo, here is a little Friday Fairy for you from Paulina Cassidy. Her link is to the right. Have a lovely weekend everyone!!!



Lunamagick



Work in Progress....

Here are a couple of pics of the shawl I'm working on. It's coming along pretty well. I'm at the point now where I'm repeating the rows and just need to determine how long I want it. The pattern is by Lyn Robinson and you can find it on Ravelry here. It's free too!

It isn't as fine as the photo of the green one. I believe that one was done with silk and mine is done with Red Heart Shimmer in black and it's a thicker acrylic yarn. I didn't want to spend a lot of money on this one yet since it's my first crochet project, other than a scarf. I'll be attending Stitches West next month and when I'm there I'll invest in some really nice yarn to make this shawl in color. Not sure what color yet and, am open to suggestions!

What is Stitches West you ask? It's a feast for the fiber lover! If you knit, crochet, spin, weave, whatever this is the event for you! They have classes and presentations but, my favorite is the market place. Aisles and aisles and aisles of yarn, roving, needles and every accessory that a fiber nut needs. If anyone of my blog friends lives on the west coast and is attending let me know and maybe we can meet!

What's New and Re-Newed at Ivory Pumpkin

Here are some items that are up for sale in my shop on Etsy. I had Valentine's Day in mind when I made these and, I have more coming soon!

Here are some items I've recently re-newed:

I love the lavender earrings and, they really are one of a kind. The fabric I used only had a bit of the lavender in it and I used it for the earrings. I may have enough for a matching ring if anyone is interested but, that would be it. I need to get back to making some of the fabric jewelry that I started making. I would love to find some vintage fabrics to work with. Sigh. Too many projects, too little time!
Here the link to my shop. Thanks for stopping by!
Ivory Pumpkin

Which Beatrix Potter Character Are You?

I'm Mrs. TiggyWinkle!

That's so funny because in my previous post I mentioned that I think hedgehogs are cute and my friend Wendy at Year of the Cats responded if I had ever read that particular story. I love all of the Beatrix Potter characters and her books. I may have to do more blogging on the characters.

If you'd like to find out which Beatrix Potter character you are here is the link to a little quiz and you'll get a little treat at the end! Please respond back and let me know who you are.

Which Beatrix Potter Character Are You?

Carlos and the Scary Chihuahua.......

Last night I was sitting on the couch with my chihuahua Carlos on my lap. I had my laptop on the couch next to me. I turn on the computer and I hear a low growl from Carlos. No one else was in the room or at the door. I looked down at him and realized he was barking at the image I have of him as my screen saver! My husband was able to catch a bit of it on camera. It's pretty funny......

I Got an Award!

Thank you Jennifer at Confessions of a Kitchen Witch! She gave me this cool award!

Now I need to tell seven things about myself. Hmmmmm, ok here goes:

1) I don't mind getting older. I just get better!

2) I'm grateful I have my job but, it's hecka boring! (I'm an admin assistant) I would love to be able to knit, crochet and craft full time and be able to make a living doing it.

3) I think I would like to live in the 1950's for a little while. There isn't much about the 50's I don't like.

4) I would love to live in New England. In a quaint little cottage somewhere, maybe in Cape Cod.

5) I think hedgehogs are cute. (Is there anyone that doesn't think that?)

6) I would like to have a tea party someday.

7) Someday I would like to get published. A pattern, a childrens story, a poem, it doesn't matter. I'd like to leave my mark somewhere!

There are too many blogs that I'd like to give this award too. Sooo, everyone gets the......

I think you're all awesome too! Have a lovely weekend!

Be Well,

Joane





Etsy Treasury: Child's Play - Wooden Toys

I love hand made wooden toys. There is a timeless beauty about them, I guess because they are timeless! They can take the beating of childhood and will look worn but much loved and can still be handed down to the next generation. My son is in his 20's now and I still have his wooden train set, blocks, some puzzles and even a few baby toys are tucked away. Sigh, I miss the days my son played with his wooden toys. The days when he would cuddle with me and smell of the outdoors, milk, playdough or whatever else he was into that day. Funny, when he was little I would know exactly what he did at pre-school that day by looking at his clothes - "Well, it looks like you painted, had some chocolate milk for lunch and judging by the sand in your shoes you played in the sandbox!"

Enjoy the Treasury!

Garnet - The Color of January

An Etsy treasury I created. I love garnets. I hope you like this treasury.

Garnet - The Color of January

The Joy of......

Knitting!

I know I recently asked if there were any knitters out there in blog land. I had finished up all the projects I was working on and found myself with empty needles. I received many suggestions from friends on Ravelry and have decided to make my first pair of socks and crochet this shawl below.

If your interested the pattern can be found here. It was designed by Lyn Robinson.
Knitting is.....relaxing, meditative. Especially if I'm knitting or crocheting something that has a straight garter stitch or single crochet pattern, something repetitive like that where you don't have to think too much is very soothing. Something about the fibers moving through my fingers and creating something out of a long piece of yarn is soul satisfying. I especially love using my bamboo or rosewood needles and any luxury fiber.

Knitting has made a pretty big come back in the last few years. Even teenagers are picking it up. A couple of PBS craft shows have  popped up dedicated to fiber arts and there are hundreds if not thousands of artists that are spinning, dying and painting fibers of all kinds. Not only is yarn coming from the traditional source of sheep but, there is yarn from different kinds of sheep. Oh, yes sheep, goats, bunnies, yaks, alpaca's are all shedding their furs for us. Did you know that you can even have yarn made out of your pet's fur? Yep. You can brush your dog, save the hair, send it off to be cleaned, carded and spun into fiber. And, dog yarn or chiengora and it is sometimes called, is supposedly 80% warmer than sheep's wool! Here's a photo of yarn made from a Newfoundland.

I've been to several fiber events where these vendors have shown samples of yarn spun from dog hair. I saw some beautiful white yarn that was spun from a Samoyed and, it was sooo soft.

I realize fiber arts are not for everyone but, I think everyone should try it at least once. Almost everyone I talk to about knitting or crocheting has tried it when they were little. Their grandma or aunt showed them. I remember having one of those knitting mushrooms when I was little. You wound the yarn around the spokes and went over or under with a little hook and you ended making a long tube. I also, had a teeny weeny sewing machine. I had a little toy oven too. Geez, was I a homemaker in the making? But, I digress.

My mom showed me how to knit when I was a kid. I fiddled with it on a off over the years and only really got serious with it in the last 5 years. She learned when she was in kindergarten. She said all the girls had to learn when they were little. I guess the thing with that is that it is something that has stuck with me over the years.

So get yourself some needles or a hook and some yarn and go for it!

Changing up Joyful Monday a bit....

It's been difficult keeping up with Joyful Monday. Not finding joyful things but, keeping to the weekly schedule and finding the time. Work has been so busy with no sign of slowing down. Also, my family most likely will be moving in the next several months (out of state no less) so I'll be dealing with packing, cleaning, moving and pretty much starting a new life somewhere else.  I want to keep up with the focus on being positive but, I'm feeling bad because I can't find the time to devote to Mondays.

So......Joyful Monday will be changed to "The Joy of.......". It will be the same premise but, more random. If the joy of something strikes my fancy I'll blog about it as I find the time. I hope that anyone that wishes to will follow along on the joyful trip. I love to read about what brings other people joy.

Fairy Friday and Rambling......

There is something about winter after the holidays that I find mysterious and appealing. The hustle and bustle is gone, decorations come down and we are left with a silence that I find serene. The holdiays have passed and it really is the time to focus inward. Winter is a time for self reflection. I love this fairy picture by Paulina Cassidy of the tree in winter with bare branches. Bare branches. Baring ourselves to see what is really there? Our true structure uncovered? Come the Spring and Summer we can cover ourselves again with the beauty that is within.
There I go rambling, self-reflecting and being philosophical! Have a lovely weekend everyone!

Any knitters out there in blogland....

Any knitters out there? If so,  I have a small announcement that some knitters might appreciate.

I have nothing to knit! I have completed all of my WIP's and I have one UFO that I don't want to complete anyway as I don't like how it's turning out. I've been knitting for over 20 years now and, have always had something in the works.
What to knit now? I've taken up crocheting as well so a project there is an option. I have lots of yarn in my stash. A handbag maybe? Socks are something that I've never tried yet. I recently bought this pretty handdyed yarn from Penny Rose Yarns on Etsy

Any ideas?

The Whites of Winter.....

I love white. It's soothing, peaceful and calm. I've created my first Etsy Treasury dedicated to white. Please stop by and visit. I think there is something for everyone there.

The Whites of Winter