Monday, April 30, 2012

My Handmade Life

Over the past few days I've finished a couple of smallish projects that I'm really pleased with.  The first is my hooked spiral that I showed you in my last post.  I crocheted a dark border (which is quite a bit darker in this photo).


My original plan was for this spiral was to go in the center of my old round dining table (which is where all kinds of mail, clutter, you name it ends up).  It would disappear in a manner of days!..... but...... after seeing it done and hung as a wall piece, I decided mine would grace the wall next to my wool cabinet.  I think it has a lot more impact on the wall than a table.  Although, I'm sure over time, I'll move it from place to place around the house.

And speaking of my wool cabinet, here's a quick shot of it's rather bare shelves.


Kind of pitiful isn't it?  I'm starting a new piece, and am making a concentrated effort to work within my stash.  I managed to dig out these pinks for the pillow I hope to start this week.


Of course there's always my worm baskets out in the studio to grab from..........

Now, on to my knitting!  Exciting, isn't it?!  I finished my mini poncho, and am absolutely in love with it!  I'm soooo relieved because I had to rip and restart more than once.  I couldn't seem to get my gauge right, and changed needles a couple of times.  I finally went back to my original needles and knitted tighter than I usually do.  That seemed to do the trick.


It drapes nicely over my shoulders and has this sweet little edge all around.  You can slightly see through it, which is a great weight for spring and summer.  Thanks Karen for helping me with this!

The little brooch is a punch needle pattern from Primitive Spirit that I made last year.  It resembles a sweet miniature old hooked rug.


I wear it with a couple of other sweaters that it's just darling on.  I'm turning into "Handmade Harriet".  The other evening, when we were going out, I realized my bag, gloves, socks, and brooch were all made by me.  My handmade life makes my happy!

xo
dulcy 

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Spirals + Color = Happiness!

I saw this nifty spiral tutorial on Karen's Primitive Spirit blog.  When I first saw it, I liked it but didn't think that it was something I wanted to do at that time.  Well, I kept seeing it popping up on other wonderful hooking blogs that I love.  The more I saw this pretty swirly spiral evolve, the more I wanted one of my own.  I love it's hit and miss simplicity..........




At first I kept going back to other blogs to see if I was doing mine "right".  Isn't that just the most insecure stupid thing?!  Although I'm constantly in a state of learning, I need to trust my own instincts.  I've been hooking for years,  I know what I like, and what works for me.  So... I cut that out, and proceeded to hook my colors my way.  I'm very happy with the results.  I plan on crocheting the edge as suggested by Karen.  I'm saving that job for a hook-in this weekend.  I find that the border project will involve a lot less hooking paraphernalia to be dragged along. 

I'm still knitting away on my little shrug/mini poncho.  I have my doubts about how it will turn out, but with blocking I'm hoping for the best.  Almost done with the knitting, then I'll block, then overlap and stitch.  I have a very sweet little punch needle brooch I made that should look smashing with this piece!  Must keep fingers crossed on this one.


This evening I'm attending a very small birthday dinner with a couple of friends.  I really never know what to gift these days.  Everyone seems to have everything!  I've given many handmade goodies over the years, but not always sure that's the best choice.  So..... In this case I bought a couple of little gifties, a cute bookmark and folk art blank book.  But, never happy unless I prim things up a bit.  I wrapped the gifties in some scrap linen and tied with this pretty aqua blue ribbon.  The ribbon had been a tad too baby blue, so I coffee dyed it.  Then I topped the package with a little fabric flower brooch I made.


And now, out to the flowers.  I may need to drop by my favorite nursery for a couple more cone flowers to fill in.  Gorgeous day here in the Ozarks!

xo
dulcy

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Fiber Love

I get so inspired by the change in seasons..... and ...... blogs ..... and .....  Pinterest.  There's so much wonderful fiber art out there that I hippity hop from one project to the next.  Then...... I clean up my mess, and assume I'm done for awhile...... then....... I see something that inspires me and almost immediately I'm wanting to make something new!  EXHAUSTING!  But fun.

Over at my sweet friend Pixie's blog she had this post about making lovely fiber flower brooches.  They are just the cutest!  So..... with upcoming gifty situations ahead, I thought I'd try and make a few myself.  As usual, I turned this project into something way harder than it should have been.  I was coffee dyeing fabric, ripping, picking sticks from the garden.... I wanted a bit of a shabby look to them.  Well, just to make two of these little flowers took me all afternoon!  I think I'm done with fabric flowers........


Another new project is a knitting piece.  I'm making a little shrug/mini poncho to drop over my shoulders when wearing tanks and on cool days when in something sleeveless.  I found this lovely blue cotton yarn which I think will work nicely with about anything I wear.


I'm embarrassed to tell you that I had more than a foot of this knitted, and then ripped it all out!  I thought my count was off by about five stitches (obviously was not taking time to periodically stop and count).  As I got most of it ripped out I found I was off by only ONE STITCH!  I was soooo mad, ripped it out completely, and have just started over.  Breath.......... there is nothing crucial about getting this done soon.  I saw Karen from Primitive Spirit wearing something like this at a workshop almost five years ago.  I've wanted my own ever since, and she kindly helped me find the pattern.  So...... if I've waited five years to find the right pattern, I can wait a bit longer to finish knitting it.


I found this luscious sock yarn a couple of weeks ago.........




These socks will most likely be a gift for someone next fall or Christmas.  LOVE these colors!


Enjoy your spring day!
xo
dulcy

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Meet Rosie



I've been itching to hook and construct some kind of doll for my hubby's
(I highlighted the link because, if time, you can take a peek at his marvelous new website) granddaughter, Ava.  She is always asking about our dear, passed away kitty, Rosie.  We continue to show her where Rosie is now permanently residing in the backyard...... but when she gets here, Ava still asks, "Where's Rosie?"  So...... I made her a Rosie of her own.  Rosie has a little posy pouch similar to the one I made for Ava and our dear friend Emma.


Rosie's has a couple of lavender sprigs tucked in hers.  Such fun.........

xo
dulcy

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

I had no intention of posting anything today, but hubby called me out back to take a look in the pond.  These three froggies were sitting on the lily pads.  Husband took a photo, and later and I found it on my computer screen.  I just had to share this with you.  Happy Spring from the Ozarks!

xo
dulcy


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