owl package for gumshoegal

Here's a 'behind the scenes' look at the making of the owl personal swap package for gumshoegal!



My swap partner was so kind to offer me a personal swap (as I am a craftster newbie, and thereby not eligible for swaps). Gumshoegal requested an orange tote with owlage, and a pair of fingerless gloves. I knew that somehow I could work the owl into the gloves, and lo and behold, I found a little owl cable-work dishcloth pattern. It took me about 30minutes to wrangle the owl pattern from the rest of the stockinette dishcloth nightmare, and turn it into a usable chart (will post later) that can be used for straight OR circular knitting!


The fingerless gloves came with me on my business trip to Salt Lake City, and I couldn't resist taking photos of them (in progress) with some of the local sites...

Here's the left glove with the flag from the Winter Olympic Games!


And here with the SLC temple:






The votive holder was sand-blasted during the wee hours of the morning (before work actually began). Thanks to the welders who gave me the little ladder so I could actually see into the sand-blaster while I was working ;)




The coin purse was made from a scrap of Pendleton blanket, the inspiration for this design being from one of my favorite owls, the Spedis owl from rock art on the Columbia river. I cannot tell you how thrilled I was to find a remnant from this blanket at the Pendleton Annex! This made my owllie year!




Most of the designs were inspired by the 'buba' jewelry designs of Lea Stein. This can be seen in the orange tote, the magnet, and the pendant.




I can't wait to receive from gumshoegal !!!

autumn leaves

Today I snapped a few shots during my mid-day bicycle ride through the park. The autumn colors were so beautiful, that I couldn't resist the temptation to extricate my camera from my sachel (while riding), to snap a few shots (without even looking thru the viewfinder), and these are my results:






I love the contrast between the evergreens, the reds and oranges, and the vibrant green of the trees whose leaves have yet to turn. This should be a source of inspiration for a knitting project. Seeing these photos, I cannot believe that the sky was so blue! And to think, it was raining a bit when I took these photos! Sadly, tomorrow's forcast looks bleak and rainy, so I have sworn off bicycling (for one day at least ;)

Thrift-store find!

I found these great dpn's at the St. Vincent thrift store today (98 cents):



Perfect for Socktoberfest (if only I were participating ;(

In other news, I finished my first Pendelton rug during weaving class today, Sorry no pics, I totally forgot that I had brought my camera due to weaver's exhaustion.....

Hey Knotty Knitters....
I got this blog today, and I thought we might want to use it to post projects and/or meetings??? Any takers?

Most amazing swap package EVER

Kelly D. sent me the most amazing swap package EVER!

This thing is massive! When it came in the mail I was sure it was something else, I mean, how could a box with tea and yarn be so heavy and sizeable?

I was totally blown away by Kelly’s generosity…..She sent me 3 tins of loose leaf tea (my fav) in Gunpowder Green, Kentucky Blend (Black), and Indian Chai.
Kelly also included a giant tin full of chocolates and sweets – all made in Kentucky! A tea cup and saucer (hey, who told her I’ve been drinking tea from a mug?!?), two Halloween stuffies, a Lantern Moon sheep tape measure, two beautiful hand-dyed skeins of lace-weight yarn and a pattern for lace weight scarves.



Kelly, I've never received such an amazingly generous swap package! Everything was so nicely wrapped and full of cheer! I can't wait to share the Jamieson's chocolates with my friend whose last name is Jamieson! The mints and sweets are delicious (my boyfriend can attest to that), and I've just brewed a cup of the Kentucky Blend!

Kelly, Thanks for everything!

Christmas @ Hogwarts!

Soon the Hogwarts at Christmas Swap will begin.

Don't you want to join in the fun!



I hope to knit a Hogwarts Christmas Stocking for someone!

Arrrrgh. Me pirate hat be all knit up!

Thar she blows:

Owl Swap: Sneak Peak!

The personal owl swap through crafster has been soooo much fun!
I've finished two small presents, and I'm almost finished with the fingerless gloves, the orange tote, and another surprise too!
Here's a sneak peak of the tote: