Well, I was right. I am not a 'knitter' by any stretch of the imagination. My lavender scarf that I just love so much has been done and undone so many times now. I would start working on it and Bam! something would go wrong again. I'd lay it down, thinking to come back later and it would all fall into place. How dumb can I be?! No, it was always still a wreck and I finally gave up each time and pulled the whole wad out, starting over from scratch yet again.
Well, right now I have a nice little start on it again. I'm holding my breath things will go smoothly and hope that by writing this I'm not jinxing myself. I only do a few rows at a time before I start getting antsie and worrying that I'll get slap-happy and carried away with my own delirious progress, thus making an error while I grin myself to death at my own accomplishment. I'll try to keep a check of my emotions and earn a 'job well done' eventually.
I'm on a variegated kick these days. It seems that every thrift store I go into lately has a cache of off-loaded variegated yarn somewhere in the store. Their loss is my gain. I do manage to hold myself back to about a three skein maximum when purchasing. If not, I'd have more yarn than I do items in my Eccentric Thrifter store by now! So, barring getting hung up with that knitting stuff, I'd be watching the store for more handmade crocheted toboggan hats to appear soon if I were you!
2/16/12
2/8/12
Glutton
I said I'd never do this again. I must be a glutton for punishment. What am I thinking?!
I have started not one but TWO knitting projects! After I'd finished my green scarf that seemed to take forever I swore I'd never attempt this ever again. I'm going crazy, folks! I tell ya - that must be it.
But I saw this lovely yarn and it just kinda spoke to me. I tried making a hat out of the lavender and it just wasn't right. The hat was going well and all, but it just wasn't what it was supposed to be. Do you ever get like that? Do you ever have your yarn speak to you?
Yep, crazy! I'll let you know how it goes...more than likely this will take a while.
But I saw this lovely yarn and it just kinda spoke to me. I tried making a hat out of the lavender and it just wasn't right. The hat was going well and all, but it just wasn't what it was supposed to be. Do you ever get like that? Do you ever have your yarn speak to you?
Yep, crazy! I'll let you know how it goes...more than likely this will take a while.
2/1/12
Seems So
It seems like I finished a project recently, but I'm having a brain-fart and can't even remember what it was. I have so many on-going projects laying around everywhere - on the coffee tables, dressers, nightstands, in tote bags, and several stuck in my yarn bag for quick work in any NAPA parking lot he can find. Plus the big shelf unit has a ton of untouched yarn.
It now comes to mind....
We hit up a thrift store the other day (again) with a ton of mult-colored yarn. We couldn't find a price anywhere so I just grabbed these few. Little did I know they were going for just 79¢ apiece or I think I might have gotten the whole basket of them.
Gosh, a mind is a terrible thing to lose.
It now comes to mind....
Gosh, a mind is a terrible thing to lose.
1/22/12
Cold Projects
On a recent thrift store excursion I came across one of those famous blue tubs full of yarn; in fact there were two tubs. I quickly scouted them out, selecting a couple of really soft skeins, a couple of gray skeins, and a few colorful skeins of yarn. In all, I ended up with a lot of burgundy and gray. It wasn't planned that way, it just happened.
Now, as we get closer to Virginia Beach's 'cold' season I feel fully stocked and ready to take on some cold projects...you know, the ones that keep your lap warm! As if I was yarn-poor to begin with - Ha! No, I had plenty of yarn on my shelves before I found my last goodies.
Out of this fresh stock I have already created a lovely crocheted mauve short scarf. (I love short scarves because they are warm without a lot of fussy bulk when stuffed under your coat). It's simply row upon row of double-crochet. I must be getting pretty good at judging distance now; the scarf ended up exactly 5 inches wide! It's also 52 inches long - a perfect coat accessory!
And I found oatmeal colored yarn. I don't have a clue what kind of yarn it is. I found two short fat skeins with no paper sleeve on them. But when I touched them, oh, my! I don't remember the last time I found yarn this soft!
I briefly thought of making a scarf out of one skein, but instead I made a crocheted toboggan hat with a turned up brim. Good decision...this is one of the softest, warmest, comforting hats I've ever made! This one is made with rows of double-crochet to make it as pliable as possible. The brim can be turned up or left down. It's color makes this hat idea for anyone, male or female to wear. As shown in the photo the head opening is 11 inches across; the hat is 7½ inches high and it's sporting about about a 1¾ inch brim.
Both items are now available through my LadieAnn Toboggans Plus store.
LATP is hosted on Weebly. Get your own store today by clicking http://www.weebly.com/link/5Fdamg
Now, as we get closer to Virginia Beach's 'cold' season I feel fully stocked and ready to take on some cold projects...you know, the ones that keep your lap warm! As if I was yarn-poor to begin with - Ha! No, I had plenty of yarn on my shelves before I found my last goodies.
And I found oatmeal colored yarn. I don't have a clue what kind of yarn it is. I found two short fat skeins with no paper sleeve on them. But when I touched them, oh, my! I don't remember the last time I found yarn this soft!
I briefly thought of making a scarf out of one skein, but instead I made a crocheted toboggan hat with a turned up brim. Good decision...this is one of the softest, warmest, comforting hats I've ever made! This one is made with rows of double-crochet to make it as pliable as possible. The brim can be turned up or left down. It's color makes this hat idea for anyone, male or female to wear. As shown in the photo the head opening is 11 inches across; the hat is 7½ inches high and it's sporting about about a 1¾ inch brim.
Both items are now available through my LadieAnn Toboggans Plus store.
LATP is hosted on Weebly. Get your own store today by clicking http://www.weebly.com/link/5Fdamg
1/15/12
2nd Time Around Weebly Style
Hello Sale! Yes, I'm pleased to report that I have had my 2nd sale from my LadieAnn Toboggans Plus store on Weebly! This is really something, especially when I stop to think that unlike pre-fab venues my store is flying solo. It's not attached to Twitter or Facebook, there are no testimonies or recommendations lining the sidebar. The social interaction is not there at all...unless I make it happen myself.
This is having a store almost from the ground up. I say almost because with Weebly you do have elements to use, a few tools in your arsenal. If you know how to drag and drop then Weebly is a piece of cake. Ecrater, Bonanza, Addoway - all pre-fab. Just list and load. You don't have to do much more except throw in a logo and banner and you have a store.
On Weebly there are a couple ofdrawbacks challenges to over come. You get drag and drop for only one payment element. To add a second or third you have to manually create a buy button using html. Not a real biggie, but more of a time eater.
The other problem, if you will, is that you have to be responsible for uploading your own items to Google. There are a zillion people who do it everyday so it's not impossible, just a learning curve. Actually I found this to be a challenge that I enjoyed. I was determined to not have it 'kick my butt' and eventually figured it out. I think of it as an asset to be able to do my own uploads, or at least to know how.
But other than that I really like using Weebly. They have tons of templates, lots of tools, the staff is quick to respond to questions and take the time to answer you fully so you understand.
Now here's a real plus - there are no fees unless you decide to get the Pro package. Yes, I went Pro. And Weebly Pro gives you 2 years for the price of 1 Pro year on Addoway. I really like that! I highly recommend Weebly to anyone who wants to try their hand at doing their own site, whether it's a store, a family site with photos and videos, or just a blog. They have taken the 'difficult' out of everything! Do stop by LadieAnn Toboggans Plus to see what I mean!
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| Orange Knit Toboggan - Sold! |
On Weebly there are a couple of
The other problem, if you will, is that you have to be responsible for uploading your own items to Google. There are a zillion people who do it everyday so it's not impossible, just a learning curve. Actually I found this to be a challenge that I enjoyed. I was determined to not have it 'kick my butt' and eventually figured it out. I think of it as an asset to be able to do my own uploads, or at least to know how.
But other than that I really like using Weebly. They have tons of templates, lots of tools, the staff is quick to respond to questions and take the time to answer you fully so you understand.
Now here's a real plus - there are no fees unless you decide to get the Pro package. Yes, I went Pro. And Weebly Pro gives you 2 years for the price of 1 Pro year on Addoway. I really like that! I highly recommend Weebly to anyone who wants to try their hand at doing their own site, whether it's a store, a family site with photos and videos, or just a blog. They have taken the 'difficult' out of everything! Do stop by LadieAnn Toboggans Plus to see what I mean!
1/13/12
Yarn Bombers
You will have to translate this page, but the pictures are worth a thousand words.
http://madeculture.wordpress.com/2011/12/30/e-i-lavori-a-maglia-riempirono-le-citta/
When and how do they do it? I'd love to be there and see a transformation!
How can we use this for inspiration? Flower pot covers is the first thing that comes to mind and I'm sure it's nothing new. There must be something. If you have a brainstorm and have a great idea please let me know.
1/7/12
Lucy
I have been meaning to share this link with you. I believe this blog is one of the most delightful I have ever seen. Because the author does a lot of crochet work I decided to let you in on this fabulous site:
Attic24 is written by Lucy, a lovely lady, mother and wife in the northern part of jolly old England. I must say that, in addition to doing terrific and inspiring crochet projects on a regular basis, I almost feel a get-away vacation spirit when I read her posts.
Lucy's view of her little corner of the world and life in general is exactly what I wish I did in my life. It's like putting on the proverbial rosé-colored glasses. I'm sure, like Jimmi Hendrix's song says, when she sees a rainstorm she must think, 'just let the sun take a holiday.' No matter what her circumstances, good or bad, it seems as if the sun shines brighter by her observation of it wherever she and her little brood go.
I get a kick out of stopping by her house through her words to see what the latest project is, where she has taken her little peeps to explore, or if the snow is falling. Lucy has surrounded herself with color and by her blog, shares it with others.
She's on typepad, so I keep up with her with updates through my Google Reader feeds.
If you haven't met Lucy yet, you really should. Learning to see the world as she has shown me to be possible is on my To-Do list for 2012.
Attic24 is written by Lucy, a lovely lady, mother and wife in the northern part of jolly old England. I must say that, in addition to doing terrific and inspiring crochet projects on a regular basis, I almost feel a get-away vacation spirit when I read her posts.
Lucy's view of her little corner of the world and life in general is exactly what I wish I did in my life. It's like putting on the proverbial rosé-colored glasses. I'm sure, like Jimmi Hendrix's song says, when she sees a rainstorm she must think, 'just let the sun take a holiday.' No matter what her circumstances, good or bad, it seems as if the sun shines brighter by her observation of it wherever she and her little brood go.
I get a kick out of stopping by her house through her words to see what the latest project is, where she has taken her little peeps to explore, or if the snow is falling. Lucy has surrounded herself with color and by her blog, shares it with others.
She's on typepad, so I keep up with her with updates through my Google Reader feeds.
If you haven't met Lucy yet, you really should. Learning to see the world as she has shown me to be possible is on my To-Do list for 2012.
12/24/11
Starting Fresh
With the new year comes that new beginning feeling. I am pumped for the next 3 months when it is the coldest here. On my last thrift store excursion I found a new skein of lavender yarn. Gosh I love lavender. Someone once told me that lavender is the one color that looks great on EVERY body! I think it's true too. No matter who they are, their skin tone, hair color, whatever...lavender looks great.
I recently sold my short lavender scarf and now I'm ready to make another or two, or a hat, or I don't know. I just know it will look cool in lavender.
I like short scarves. I'm short so there's not a lot of room in my coat or around my neck for one of those fancy 'long-as-as-fence-post' scarves people make these days. So when I make a short scarf I figure I'm serving all those people who have similar needs as I do. My shorties tuck nicely into my coat, keep me warm and stylish, without looking like I've stuffed a sausage casing.
So that's my plan. Get through Christmas, get through New Year (we don't go anywhere anyway), and settle myself down somewhere with my pjs on, my hot chocolate close by, my lovely yarn and favorite crochet hook...turn on a nice movie I can follow without a lot of looking and enjoy my moment.
I hope you have plenty of good moments in the weeks ahead too!
I like short scarves. I'm short so there's not a lot of room in my coat or around my neck for one of those fancy 'long-as-as-fence-post' scarves people make these days. So when I make a short scarf I figure I'm serving all those people who have similar needs as I do. My shorties tuck nicely into my coat, keep me warm and stylish, without looking like I've stuffed a sausage casing.
So that's my plan. Get through Christmas, get through New Year (we don't go anywhere anyway), and settle myself down somewhere with my pjs on, my hot chocolate close by, my lovely yarn and favorite crochet hook...turn on a nice movie I can follow without a lot of looking and enjoy my moment.
I hope you have plenty of good moments in the weeks ahead too!
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