So I’m packing up my knitting bag for tomorrow trying to decide what projects I should be taking. DH has to go to work early tomorrow, so I have to catch the early bus, which is just fine as the weather looks like it may be ugly. I just hope the storms hold off until I get on my way. I already sent my wheel and clothes last week, so I don’t have to worry about that… did I mention I’m the world’s worse traveler?

I did finish the slippers.

I had a question about what I was using on the backs to make them non-slippery. It’s Saf-T-Bak, rug backing that is available at craft stores. I found it at Michaels in the rug hooking section. It’s extremely easy to apply with a little sponge brush. I used a newspaper to lay them out on and also put on an a pair of gloves, as I always manage to get some on myself. Anyway, two coats and you should be good. Let them dry 24 hours between. You also can wash them after they cure in 2 weeks.

I also finished the tea towels.

And finally along with those the dishcloths went into her package with these lovely goodies. My Mom is a total coffee fanatic, so she will love these.

Well wish me luck that I have a safe an uneventful trip tomorrow. I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

This weekend started off with a busy and stayed that way the whole time. First off Sears was having a sale and we really needed a new grill. Ours was just on it’s last legs after several moves and seasons. When I can push the button and it doesn’t light the first time, makes me nervous, so it was time.

Then I got down to embroidering the slippers and then putting backing on. I have to do a second coat today.

Finally, I got onto embroidering some tea towels for Mom’s gift. I got one done and have two butterflies left to go. I feel like I’m stitching at the speed of light.

Maybe things just feel like they’re moving fast, because I’m leaving on Wednesday to head up to see Julie and the gang and go to the NH sheep and wool. Yeah! A little vacation is always nice.

So in the interest of giving my wrist a break, I picked up some embroidery to practice on. My friend Jackie gave me a set of these wonderful pillowcases and I thought what a great place to practice some stitches.

I also recently joined a new online group - CyberStitchers EGA - it’s an online group for the Embroiders’ Guild of America. I love the EGA’s group classes and when I found the online chapter I thought how perfect for me. My new fascination along with everything else is Stumpwork. So, I’m hoping to do at least one project of that next year. As always, so much to do, so little time.

So this is the first of let me just say many tea towels. This was way too much fun. This is the project I finished up and I’m very happy with the results. I ripped the tail out and used a bit darker tan. The cats are dark brown and tan.

So ever since I saw Julie’s lovely tea towels, I knew I had to make these. Last night I put the pattern down on Sulky and found a too small hoop - must pick a large one of those up today - and then went to work. After I found a stitch I liked for the body it worked out well. It’s a back-stitch. The tail is in stem stitch and I like how that gives it a little flick. Quick and fun.

Ok, so I think I’m done now with these mitts.  The plain mitts weren’t going to cut it - too plain, so I happened to get the the treads out and just did a stylized - no pattern design.  I like the way they turned out.  Much more interesting now.

So I want to talk bundt, but I had a big day and am too tired, so tomorrow well talk bundt. In the mean time, not too tired for a little surfing. While on a browsing trip through the book store, which other than fiber is my other chief weakness, I spotted a few new free style embroidery books. I didn’t pick up, but added to my list. When I was adding to my list, you know how they suggest more books… well, I had a browse when one of the bios on the back caught my attention. After a super brief Google search I happened upon a super cool embroidery site - Sublime Stitching. This is vintage and mod all wrapped up in one… makes me think of the UFO tea towels that were being whipped up by a super crafty lady.

What was so cool - when I was browsing the blog portion - I found a trailer for a new movie about the indie craft movement, called Handmade Nation. Make sure to check this out. I think I have always been in the indie craft mindset, so I really didn’t realize it was a movement. With the shear numbers on Esty - movement maybe an understatement? Obviously others love the indie movement as well.

I loved the trailer and can’t wait to see the whole movie. To me it was more like ‘indie crafters get respect as artists and actually can make a living.’ Who knew? Gives us all hope to ditch the day job and make a life as an artist, which is actually so funny… because just this evening Monsieur Purl sent over an article he picked up that talked about the new generational “in word” - Grups. It’s actually a recycled word from Star Trek, but I can so see it tying in… one of the things that is specific to the Grup and fits me is “The Grup Career, or Take This Job and Allow Me to Do It From Home, With Occasional Snowboarding Trips.” Replace Snowboarding Trips with Fiber Adventures and I fit the bill. Serendipitous? Maybe? I’m thinking hmmm… another ‘hey’ from the Universe… I need to work on my craftiness and add it to the wonderful world of crafty. (lol)

And if all this isn’t enough to make you crafty - check out this neat website - the Craft Mafia.

If you want to see some of the cool books I was checking out for my inspiration… here they are…and on the top of my must have list.

I headed out to the local yarn shop today to meet up with my friend Jackie as a last daytime hurrah because of work starting next week. In celebration or consolation I picked out some new sock yarn that I guess is a local hand dyed favorite. I picked out Orchid Petals and Lagoon Nebula. I had to have Orchid Petals, but I really liked Lagoon Nebula too- well I decided what the heck I’ll just splurge on them both. I was happy to find their website because they have some other delightful colors that weren’t in the store. I’m really coveting the Iris one right now - which seems close to Lagoon Nebula, but maybe a bit lighter. Painted Desert is another one that is really delightful looking. It appears they also have fiber as well, which I need none of, but still delightful to look at. Frankly I know I don’t need no stinking sock yarn either, but I don’t really give a rats behind, when you find some colors that speak to you - you must have it.

Since I was at the yarn shop I whipped out some socks because I need the mindless knitting with the on-going commotion in the place. I worked some more on Monet’s Twist - delightful sock - love how it’s working up in these Koigu colors - don’t forget you can find the pattern at Julie’s blog.
The other sock I’m working on it my long overdue safari sock. Since I’m now at the heel of the second sock, I’ve decided it’s time to finish these babies up and get them on the feet.

Finally, my third attempt thread painting has been finished - here it is a stylised pansy. I’m pretty happy with it. I think my long and short stitch are really getting nice. The thing that always gets me is that they are a quite long stitch - 1/4 and 3/8 - it just seems long when your stitching, but it looks nice. The petal on the right is my favorite and then the petal on the left. I know it says to build in rows, but when the colors are close I like to go back and put in some accent colors to give it a more cohesive look.

Tonight it’s back to the mitten. I hate to tell you this, but I’m seriously considering mitten annihilation and starting over. It is snug, it was snug on Jackie’s totally skinny hand too - so I’m thinking if I don’t like it or if it’s tight on I won’t wear them anyway. I kinda feel like these mittens are kin to a pair of Jordach - this time though the tagline has to be ‘nothing get’s between me and my mitten.’

~ Madame Purl

Goodness gracious I’m having a hard time coming up with titles. (lol) Well, I decided that the hat was done. I want to wear it and after further contemplation about how large I did the first flower anything else will be - well small in comparison.

Last night I mentioned about how my head was hurting. I wanted something simple to work on and thought I would pick up the sock again. Well after three attempts at the pattern I still was coming up with the holes that I didn’t like, so I pulled out my book of sock patterns and picked out a new one. This one is Monet’s Twist that was written by Julie. Very nice pattern, well written and as you can see I’m off. For whatever reason I just couldn’t get my head around the other one or as I like to believe this yarn prefers to be made into this pattern. My book of sock patterns is underneath - it’s a 2.5 inch binder that is busting at the seams.
I also picked up my thread painting again really like how the bottom portion is coming. This could really get addicting.

~ Madame Purl

I would’ve added this to my list of crazy things about me if I had remembered, but you know here is the thing - I have the memory of a gnat. Two things triggered the idea - “oh yeah, I can embroidery the felted hat.” These are seeing my friend Jackie’s wonderful embroidery on felted pot holders at her blog - go visit her they are really nice and a comment from Julie about some beading she has to do for her hat. They happened nearly simulaneously and it was a light bulb moment.

I headed back to the embroidery shop and picked out some wool and here is my first stab at it - not too bad. The best thing is I’m trying not to beat myself up - I just want to have fun and see what happens. I think this flower will be the main one and then I will just do some vines and outline flowers in the background.

After that I headed over for a haircut, but I was really early so I headed into Barnes & Noble where I found Inspirations.
Now I’ve looked at this before, but thought kinda pricey, but now being a huge Jenny McWhinney fan, I had to have this issue. She has the cutest bunny with bluebirds in it. I found you can even buy the kit to make her. She is just the sweetest and since I have a niece that will be born this spring - I’m thinking maybe a good gift.

I also loved every other project. I thought this bag project was super cute.

Anyway the verdict is I think I have to have a subscription. It’s not much different than if you buy it in the store, but at least you know you will get one. I would love some of the back issues as well, but that will have to wait.

~ Madame Purl