Stitched With Love

There are some problems you can't fix. Not yourself anyway. You have to sit back, understand that you cannot possibly understand how someone may feel, and only offer thoughts and prayers. It's humbling, not knowing how to help a loved one, but just trying your best to do the right thing. I think we've all been there, and will inevitably be there often over our lives.

In this case, when I felt like I couldn't do anything, I did know at least I could knit something. And stitch as much love and healing thoughts as possible. Just so that someone knows that they're loved by an extra person out there. Every bit helps.

The nice things about hats, is that they're small enough that you can afford to splurge on the quality yarns. I wanted something that was extremely soft, squishy, warm and gorgeous. A color that would also bring out someone's pretty blue eyes. The Fiber Company's Road to China yarn certainly fit the bill. It's a blend of baby alpaca, cashmere, soya fiber, camel and yak. The colors are nearly irridescent, with a lovely depth to them. It doesn't hurt that the lovely gals who distribute the yarn are also local friends.

I made a Pi Topper Cap for another friend last year, and she loved it. She said it was extremely comfortable, and looked good on as well. The pattern is quick and easy, so I made one more.

I had to make a hang tag, which is probably my favorite part about homemade gifts.

The button tab (sewn on, no button hole needed) really accents this cap nicely. I love the final result. It's adorable, cozy, and super soft. I hope my friend will think of it as a big hug.

Too Cold for Picnics

When walking home from the bus stop last Thursday, I was surprised to see a flock of birds and flashes of yellow in this dusty and trash strewn field. What was it? Oh, you know, just a bunch of birds having a picnic on dozens of corncobs.

My first thought went to figuring out where all of the neatly cut corncobs came from.



My second thought was, it's a bit cold for a picnic! Then I snickered to myself the block home and felt inspired to document it.



The red bandanna as a blanket was imagined. The empty can of Pabst Blue Ribbon was not.

Fishscales

Carving rubber stamps can be crossed of the list. It truly is like butter (buttah).




I didn't want to pull all my inks out, so messed around with inks and water briefly. A little tomfoolery if you will.



I like it though.



And then I printed some wrapping paper for a gift the other night.

Oh, February!

Oh, February, I don't think you're that bad. While everyone's been complaining, you've been working hard to make the sun stay out a few minutes later each day for when I get off work.

Keep it up. And I'll promise to try to stay motivated. But sheesh it's hard. I'm just sayin'...



Hmmm, maybe this birthday skein from Lisa will help.

A Bed that Requires a Ladder

I have that collector gene. I want to have all of the pieces to a set, especially if it's in a gorgeous palette. Of course I usually don't get it, since it's completely unfeasible and uneccesary (i.e. a full palette of MAC eyeshadows, Kitchen Aid Stand Mixers, tweed yarn or the entire Old Holland line of water colors), but the yearning for having all those pretty colors at my disposal has always been there. Is that strange, or does anyone else feel like that?


One of my bosses gave me a generous gift card for the holidays. I went right over to the art store and picked up a set of something that had been on my wish list for ages. One of the four sets of Dr. PH Martin's Concentrated Watercolor Inks!




They are brilliant. Amazingly brilliant. I put drops the size of a pin head on paper and played around here, and see how far the color goes. And blends and bleeds...ahhhh.




I finally whipped them out for the first time this year. I drew something that I would also love to have, but not quite yet! What is that, you may ask? A quality, fluffy, brand new bed! I still have one I got for free that was (new-ish) and left in a house I rented during the summer of 2001! It's fine, but someday, I'd love to have one that I need a ladder to climb on.


In trying to be more experimental, I just had fun filling in the color. I also didn't worry about making it pretty. The first photo shows just a little bit of ink.




The second picture shows just how far all of that ink went with a bit of water.




Concentrated for sure... and nearly fluorescent.




However, aren't the 80s back for the fifth or sixth time?!

I Heart Calaveras

Ever since I saw and purchased a Piddleloop bag in an Alexander Henry pattern, I've been enthralled by calavera images. Like their popular cousin (the regular skull), I find the calaveras much more festive.



I drew my own last year, and really need to draw some more soon!



So, when I saw this print from by my crafty-printing-blog pal Shona in her shop (LaLaDexpress), I had to order the last of this limited edition. It's a letterpress print with a traditional Day of the Dead poem, in Spanish and English side by side. She included her own art on the top and bottom. I love it!



Shona is one of my favorite people that I've met through blogging. I would have scoffed if you told me three years ago that I would become friends with people I had never actually met (in person). But there quite a few of you that I now consider my friends! When we do meet one day, we'll have a beer or a cup of coffee and it will totally be normal. I'm sure of it!

Yeah, I'm officially a complete nerd. But I think y'all knew that!

Looking for Parts

My cashmere Pi Shawl is looking for an organ donor. It needs one more skein of Myne in this particular color. There is one gal on Ravelry who may just sell me a skein. The company is all out, I don't want to substitute the yarn, and I'm willing to wait. If not, I'm ripping it out and making something else.



In the meantime, I'm just happy that I unraveled what I had been putting off for two months. So my shawl is all prepped just waiting for more parts...fingers crossed.

I'm also going to suck it up and finish a pair of socks for my beau. It's only been a year since I started them. Enough already, I'm going to finish...by the end of February.



Okay, I'm waiting for ink to dry, so I can finish some watercolors for a special project. Hopefully I can share that soon.

Edited to add that I am now practically stalking said owner of more yarn, and turned down her offer to buy a skein as she is recovering from surgery, the poor dear! I told her to think about it for a couple more months, and I'll bug her again at the end of March. And while I was at it, I emailed the vendor to see if they would be making any more, by any chance...(wink)

Retirement: Lace Ribbon Scarfs

Third time is a charm with this pattern. I enjoyed it all three times, and recommend it to anyone, but I am done! I'm sending this to Mike's mom tomorrow morning.

The color is more true here than in the finished result.

Here's a detail of the stitches.

And this baby got much bigger after some wool wash and gentle blocking. The perfect size for a lovely lady. I couldn't ask for a better family to become a part of someday.

I think that this finished project deserves a sweet treat. Don't you think?

P.S. That is half of my caramelized french toast with bananas, cream cheese and vanillabean syrup from Sabrina's. Half.