Taking Stock

As we near the end of the month of January I have taken stock of...well everything!  Sometimes that is a scary thing to do (grins).  As far as my goal to felt something every day...and I think I must revise my goal.  Out of the first 27 days of the year I have only met my goal 10 times.  This really cannot be considered success no matter how you analyze it.  I have managed to do some type of felting each week.  So I think my new goal should be to felt 2-3 days out of every week and see how I do on meeting that goal.

For my goal to knit some lace project, I selected a simple lace stole.  It has one Estonian lace stitch in the pattern and the author states that if you have never knitted lace, this is a good first project.  I now have some sharp, pointy rosewood circular needles made by Lantern Moon, and modified by my dear husband to my specifications.  I think I may have a selected a yarn that is iffy.  The silk will help the stole keep its shape, but the mohair can make it difficult to take stitches out if a mistake has been made. (Like my first five rows!) However, today I had to take a row out and that mohair worked to my advantage.  It didn't tangle so fiercely this time and I was able to pull the whole thing off the needles without any unraveling.  Then I pulled out an inch or two at a time and the remaining stitches stayed right there waiting for me to put them back on my needle - which I did!  I'm now up to row 4 - for the second time. ;)  Making headway...even if slowly.

As far as business goes...things are moving along at a steady, if minimal, rate.  I have a set of custom pillows to make in the next few weeks.  I still have a couple pair of custom felt earrings to make.  And two people asked me to contact them in January about custom felt drapes...another wants me to call her in May.  I have my stuff in one brick and mortar shop in north Idaho and at our site online.  Unfortunately, I needed to remove my things from the other shop because of some financial issues...don't want to get into that tangle.  And Farmer's Market opens on May 12th and I have new lines of products I want to have ready...which brings me back to the top of this post and my original goal to felt every single day...sure wish I could!

Tomorrow we are off to Sandpoint to refresh our stock at Blue Flag Hand Weaving Studio.

Take care and have a great weekend!
Janet

We Go For an Adventure Today

Hello,

So today was a very interesting day.  It started out so well...one of those days you can just feel are going to be good.  After all hubby and I had spent numerous hours these past weeks getting ready for it...so it just had to be a good day, right?!  I was well rested having finally gotten a full 8 hours of sleep and everything for the shop Blue Flag Handweaving Studio, in Sandpoint was tagged and ready to be loaded.  Whew!!

So after a leisurely breakfast and loading of merchandise and dog (yes, the puppy got to go for a ride today) we were off!  It is about 40 miles from home to Kristie's shop.  And about 5 miles from there this crazy truck driver tried to run us down...only he wasn't crazy he was trying to let us know we had a flat rear tire.  Wished I could thank him.  For some reason neither of us had been able to feel it - rather strange - never happened before.  Anyway an hour later and we had our spare tire - The Dreaded Donut Tire - on and we were back on the road to deliver all the cool felted stuff I had made.  And on the plus side all the time sitting and waiting allowed me to get some knitting done!

This is one of the small, fun-loving bags we took up there today.  I made the beads out of tyvek, paint and wire.  Almost too cute to part with!  Hope you enjoy seeing it.  And if you want to purchase it you can do so through Kristie at http://www.blueflagweaving.com/

Now we are back home and I am off to devour some of the yummy brownies I just baked...from scratch!  Yum...I'll try to save some for you :)
Janet

Pretty Pink Scarf

Well Happy Halloween Everyone!

Hope everyone saw the link in my last post to make these cuties for your families!  If not, go check it out!!!

I was still seeing those amazing * because of the sheer mass of them * spider threads all over lawns in our neighborhood this morning.  Those tiny threads don't come out in photos or I would post it...you'll have to take my word on this.

Since they inspired me with their beauty I got to work on a scarf to represent them.  My 'spider threads' are made of metallic yarns but are still shiny and shimmery.  I added freshwater pearls and seed beads as an accent at the top.  I also plan to make a brooch as a closure for this.




Can't figure it out!  I've uploaded this over and over and it keeps turning my photo upside down.  Technology gets me again!!!



The fibers are embedded inside the silk chiffon with the puffs of merino.

Detail for pearl and seed beads...looks grainy here...much more beautiful in person.  This wrap is going to Blue Flag Handweaving Studio in Sandpoint, Idaho later this week.

Well got a phone call and my dress form is in...so ta ta for now - I'm off to pick it up,

Janet

A Time to Play

Well it's Sunday...a day of rest and play.  And I did play today.  First I spent some time puttering in the garden harvesting herbs and late blooming flowers.  Then I came indoors and made a yummy pie to take and share at dinner with friends.  But all this was the play of an adult and I want to walk you back in time to when you were about eight years old...full of imagination and wonder at all the wonders of the world...remember?

To that end I want to tell you about another cute shop in Sandpoint, Idaho called A Child's Dream Come True  http://www.achildsdream.com/ .  It is located at 214 Cedar Street, right next to Blue Flag Hand Weaving Studio.  http://www.blueflagweaving.com/

I bet the owner of this store had a wonderful childhood like mine!  This delightful little shop is stuffed to the ceiling with things to create with.  When I was growing up my mother was always working on one project or another and my sisters and I loved watching and getting involved once we were old enough.  Still I don't think my Mom ever had access to some of the wonderful items that are carried in A Child's Dream.  Stepping into this shop made me wish that I could click my heels together and go back though, just so I could play again using Pocket Gnomes,  a Game of Ogres and Elves, Plant Dyed Play Silks, Rainbow Angels Kit, and a Choroi Pentatonic Flute.  Alas it is not to be for me...but maybe someone you know?







Pocket Knomes (They're felted!)



Instead, I will be playing with my felt again starting tomorrow. I have four felting projects laid out: two purses and two pillows.  I can't wait to get started!  But for tonight I am going to let my mind wander back some more to those days of discovery and play...while I knit.

Janet