Star Charm Necklace and other encounters

I made this using a Swarovski crystal star, silver ceramic star and pearls on a silver chain. I wanted to use charm on a necklace instead of a bracelet. I've seen designs where the charms are strung directly unto the chain. I like the dangle/Y look. I string the items in groups of threes. It feels completely wrong otherwise. I think it's fung shuish or something. Anyway, I've made a few more with heart and key charms. I'm making another using a cherry charm with a mother of pearl shell fetish bird dangling from it and a crystal butterfly. I think it'll turn out nice.



I sold three girlie beanies at FirstFridays. People didn't hessitate to take them home. The black and white beanie it the only one that got to come back with me. I hope my beanies will be happy with their new owners. I feel so alone without them. I'm making more of them as fast as I can. I was googleling for the southwest trading company turqouise colored yarn, when I came across Al's picture at an Ebay auction for Karaoke. I couldn't stop laughing! Al, you are too cool! Do you even know this person?

Vroom! Ach Ach! Hairball

A knitted Ferrari was shown at the London Car show and that's the gal that did it. Can you see the seems? I can't imagine patterning this without a computer. I hate sewing pieces together. Maybe I wouldn't be so bad if I was as good as Lauren here. Gees! I found this link to an article on another blog.

This is my 4-wool drive

Goodwill Hat

I made this hat useing yarns that I got from Goodwill. It came in a bag of mixed acrylic balls. I also added a few rows of Dale of Norway. It was to much fun to make. I'll make another mixed color hat for myself soon. This one makes me look like a Conehead.

Slinky Cut-out Tank

Amimono Slinky tank
I really like Plymouth yarns but Wildflowers is hard to knit. The fibers split and create ratty loops. I have to stop and fix it. So it's no wonder that this tank is slow going. I rib for about 13 inches. I'm not used to Addi's chrome yet either. I can really get going if I sit in a quiet room and concentrate. If I'm undisturbed, "disturbed" being relative, then I can fall into a trance. Yeah, a trance. I get a few rows done this way. I feel positively refreshed and productive afterward. Then hungry in that order. Kidding! I'm always hungry.

I haven't blogged in like forever!

I've been working on a lot of jewelry making. I upload as many pics as I can. I store them at Photobucket. I knit every chance that I get, but I'm slow to finish anything. I completed the Ipod cozy. I used Noro and a pattern from Grumperina. I read somewhere that another knitter used the Grumperina pattern but added a back pocket. I added a pocket too. It's slighty crocked but sturdy. I used a pack of Bubbalicous to keep the shape. I don't own an Ipod. I cut a piece of shower curtain liner for the protective cover. The plastic, as expected, gave me problems. I changed the presser foot on my sewing machine to reduce the friction between the plastic and the face plate. I used brass buttons and an adjustable strap.

better late than never

I'm finally back on my diet. It's a little late for the Summer season, but I need to get back in shape. I'm absolutely commited to eating correctly and working out. My plan is to regain flexibilty and reduce my body fat ratio. I'll eat a low sugar, low salt, low carb, high protien diet. That's the easy part. The hard part is to stay away from fast food and Cokes. I need a Coke right now. Eat to live and not live to eat. Right!

Sample breakfast:

This month I started my Etsy store. It's really cheap to list and sell your handmade goods. So far a few visitors have come by to see my stuff, but no sales yet. I Googled some of my items and they didn't show up on the search. Then I Yahoo searched my stuff and didn't get any hits at all. I'm shocked! My items should be reached by search engine. I'm so discouraged. I don't know what to do about it. I need to fix it in a hurry!

Here's a few bracelet's that I made for gifts.

Charms from Disney World

Magnetic Hematite and Garnet Bracelet

Drugde

Today at work (I'm still here), I became the extra person. I hate being the extra person, because my sups try to find dumb things for me to do. It's as if they think I shouldn't be allowed to do get paid doing nothing. It's not my fault that the schedule overlaps on Tuesday mornings. So thank goodness I brought my scarf project. I surfed the internet looking at local bead stores. Then the firewall failed to keep me from accessing Myspace. I messaged my friend Tina a coupla times. I discovered Victoria's Secrets bra and panty sale. It was another firewall lapse. I also read a few book reviews. By this time coffee was failing me, so I got out my scarf and started knitting it. I got a few rows done before I started falling asleep. I managed to add one stitch and drop another. Big warning! Don't knit at work while falling asleep. I'm spending the last hour of my shift, ribbing the last five inches of rows. *SIGH*

Mosiac knitting

I got a tip from an anonymous blogger. Schoolhouse Press is publishing Mosiac Knitting by Barbara Walker in April. It's more afforadable than the 1976 copies. They even offer free shipping with a pre-order. It sounds like my knitting library will be greatly enriched. I'm very happy for the opportunity to own a copy.

Rare Knitting Book?

Mosaic Knitting
By Barbara G. Walker
Could this be the most expensive knitting book currently for sale? While searching the internet for book written by Barbara G. Walker, I came accross a copy of Mosaic Knitting on E-bay. Part of the money gets donated to charity, so that may explain the $627 asking price. Biblio is selling a copy for a book store called Ventura Pacific Ltd. It's priced at $494 and it's a second addition reprint. Amazon sellers have copies available for about $150. I've only reviewed one of Barbara's books, A Fourth treasury of Knitting patterns, and I'm impressed. I about fell over when I saw a picture of a cabled tote knitted in the round. The instructional charts are written in plain, uncomplicated terms and are easy to follow. She also makes references to Elizabeth Zimmerman's style of knitting. After further internet searching I realized that all of Barbara's books are expensive and the prices are highly competative. It may be impossible to find any of her books at a discount price. I think they're worth every penny. I'd be willing to purchase her knitting book for $150. I've spent that much at one time buying yarn. I'll add it to my Amazon.com wishlist.

busy bee

Last night, I stayed up late to watch Project Runway. When I went to sleep, I dreamed that I was in a jewelry making competition. I had to make a necklace out of beads and other stuff. They gave me until midnight to come up with a design. I was concentrating hard and working furiosly to put my design together. It was too weird. It was just like the show. Now If I can just dream of myself as a competetor on the Iron Chef's of America show.  Especially if cheese is on the menu.

I've been busy knitting and making jewelry. It's been so much fun. I started making earring like these using paillettes. I got tired of constructing the heart themed ones so I took a detour and made a pair with green stars.

Stripes!

I finally made myself a striped scarf. I've been wanting it for a long time. I could never figure out how I wanted to knit it. One day I decided to cast-on 210 stitches and go for it. I love the results. It blocked nicely, but Brown Sheep tends to come out right. Later, while digging through my belt drawer, I realized that I almost copied my striped web belt from Old Navy. HUH!

Ski hat and scarf

I knit this for my nephew. I told him That I'd make a hat for him two years ago. He'd been asking me the whole time if I'd made it yet. Well I finally shipped it to him just when it started to get cold in Kansas City. He was very excited when it cam in the mail and he likes it very much. I used Brown Sheep Bulky and two strands of worsted doubled. It was a lot of fun to make. The burgandy color is a worsted superwash that was made by I-can't- remember-who. I can't wait to make another one.

Vintage beaded choker/bracelet

I've I just finished trying to post this blog using http://www.photobucket.com/ , but it lost my entry after I it asked me to log in again. I'll add more coments later. After I've calmed down.

Craft Fair/Christmas 05

During the first week of December 05, America West Airlines held their annual craft fairs. This picture is taken at the airport. They also had a craft fair at 52nd ST in the vacations workplace. I started out over at vacations. There were a lot of women with a lot of stuff. I learned a few tips from jewelry makers. I was fascinated by the volume of merchandise. They were heavy on the Thai Silver and Swarvosky Crystals. Some vendors made food to sell. I ate a Manwhich, chips and cookies. It was pretty good especially since I was so crazy with excitement ,that I forgot to bring my lunch. They scoped some of my pieces too. It was very enlightening to socialize with the other vendors. I received a lot of info on how to save money on jewelry making materials. Everyone was very helpful.

I made the wooded ladder specifically for displaying scarves. Illanna gave me the idea. I have to say that it should've been easy to make, but my drill decided to quit working. I had to tighten all of the screws by hand. It was hard to turn the screws without a pilot hole. When it was finished, I was so proud of my ladder, that I didn't mind the extra closes. They were hard earned. YEP! I didn't sell anything at the airport. I got there too late. Foot traffic had slowed down and no one had any money left to. This year, I'll setup at the airport first. Later that night. I went to First Friday's. Mel and I surprised each other when she came to hang with her friends. She found me set up at the table next to them. We sung Christmas Carols and cavorted with passerby's. I sold two scarves and had a blast!

Kate gave me this adorable knitted sweater and several other mini ornaments for Christmas 05. I have to be honest and tell you that these were the cutest things on my tree. Everyone just loved them. They zoomed in on the little dress, then got excited when they spotted another one, like the little stocking. My other ornaments must've been chopped liver they only earned a disinterested glances. That's OK because these mini knitted gifts are on my "best Christmas gift ever" list. They didn't seem to make much of my tree topper. I don't care what anybody thinks. I love my "L!" (for Letoya) This year I'll learn to make mini knitted ornaments, so I can give away the gift of happiness for Christmas.

See the little dress? Unfufu made an appearance. I coolant pack her away for the season. The tree skirt is pink flurry fleece with silver threads. That was fun to make. OK, not really.

Photobucket

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