September Launch into a New Crafting Season!

While searching for the autumn-themed crafts I knit a few years ago, I discovered I had just stuffed one pumpkin I knit with a big ball of yarn rather than finish it off properly.  Somehow the pumpkin also had two holes!  

A needle, yarn, and stuffing were found, and my rescue mission began...

Thankfully I was able to mend the holes, stuff the pumpkin, get it seamed and enjoy the process and result!

Unexpectedly, one September day on my doorstep, I found a wonderful box of gifts I had won from Camellia Fiber Co....a lovely card,

these beautiful mini skeins of yarn...

and this lovely handspun skein of yarn.  Now my mind is dreaming of what I may make with the yarn...

The gifts helped me resist the temptation of buying more yarn at the Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival in Canby, Oregon, a bit south of where I live.

My youngest daughter took this photo of me with our dear friends we arranged to meet at the festival.

We saw many quiet llamas.

We saw many beautiful quiet bunnies.

We saw many interesting sheep, but some were not quiet so their barn was lively with sometimes startling "Baaaas!"

The exhibit of felted entries contained a unique felted journal someone who had visited Scotland had made.

The journal did not win a ribbon, but I gave it my People's Choice Award!

On Thursday nights I am knitting a preemie blanket in a group of knitters I was invited to join. Wednesday mornings I am crocheting another preemie blanket, and I have a crocheted potholder project I carry around in the pocket of my purse to work on when I can. At the once a month art group I attend, the facilitator showed us a clever way to transfer a letter design we like onto art paper.

Have you launched into a new crafting season?


Gracie xx

February Finery

My youngest daughter took this photo and the next to show you what I made with the wonderful yarn I purchased from Camellia Fiber Co.'s Rebekka.

The yarn on the needle is all I had left of the 180 yards I bought!  Whew!

A view of Mt. Hood from Revenue Road near our home in Boring, OR.

Same view as above but zoomed in.

A zoomed in view of Mt. Hood from Orient Drive a few blocks south of our home in Boring, OR

An ocean view sunset from Lincoln City, OR, I saw with my oldest sister...neither of us pictured :-)

I finished knitting a dishcloth while in Lincoln City.  That is my sister Carolyn's right hand :-)

Down between our two ponds these Daffodils are already in bloom!!!

My oldest daughter took this photo of a mystery bush just starting to bloom, down by the brook.

Mr. and Mrs. Mallard are back on the front pond ready to welcome ducklings.

Our Forsythia bush and Daffodils in the front south yard are in early bloom.

My oldest daughter painted the picture of the cherry tree, sheep and mountains for my birthday <3

Illuminated manuscripts are among my favorite art works, and these books remind me of that style of art and encourage me to learn how to better combine colors and designs.  My art journal is under all the books :-)  I decorated the pitcher in this photo to remind me of  Psalm 56:8 NLT "You keep track of all my sorrows.  You have collected all my tears in your bottle.  You have recorded each one in your book." My little plastic snowman is in the picture because it looks like he is the only kind of snowman we will have down here in the valley below Mt. Hood this winter, and I am a bit sad that is so, although  I realize there are some who are snowbound or otherwise snow challenged who would gladly change places with me.  [Forgive me, please?]

This little flower is one I have drawn in my one-year-old granddaughter, Rosie's album I am putting together for her.

February 27th, I finished knitting the alpaca-silk cowl I started knitting on size 4 circular needles after Christmas.  I simply used garter stitch, then crocheted the cast on row in single crochet.  Even though it was on circular needles, I knit it flat and joined it with a row of single crochet.  Then I loosely basted along the join, gathered it and tied it off.  I had the heart pin which was given to me years ago by my good friend, Annie, and I decided to pin it on the cowl to finish it off.

Somehow, I am behind again on reading others' posts and posting anything myself.  I aim to post once a week, but I find that even though I am "retired"  there is much more I want to do than can be crammed into the time I have.  I so admire those whose creative output outshines mine, and rather than be discouraged, I am inspired by those who outshine me to enjoy what creative process I can, and cheer on at least some of those whose output so inspires me.

Did you enjoy February's Finery around you?

xx

Gracie