novamade

novakkah 2014, day 5

With the change of seasons comes a change in focus for me, particulalry when it comes to handcrafts.  I like to knit when it's cold.  I think this is by virtue of the fact that I don't knit with cotton, really.  I prefer to knit wool based yarns, and knitting that stuff in the summer can get sweaty and gross.  Just me?  In any case, I find that there are a few things that I do all year long, quilting being the primary thing, the other: embroidery and cross stitch (mostly embroidery, if we are being honest--I find cross stitch a bit tedious more often than not).  I really like the idea of drawing with floss.  And also, it's not terribly difficult to do basic designs; and, if you are considering economy, it's not a bad craft to commit one's self too.  All things being equal, I am pretty sure my family wishes that I only did one craft, and that it was embroidery/cross stitch.  Or maybe not? These are things we will never know, mostly because this is a question I don't really want to know the answer to.

I am working on a couple of embroidery projects at the moment.  Why aren't you?  The theme of today's gift is embroidery.  Just starting out?  Want to build skills?  I'd like to help you in that endeavor.  I am nothing if not helpful and accomodating.

To be considered for today's gift, please share a birthday disaster.  I am currently living with a birthday disaster.  Weep for me, friends.  I threw my back out last week, and in an amazing show of sympathy, Special K decided to do the same; but, you know, worse this week.  He is completely out of commission (it's really hard to celebrate when you are carefully rushing your spouse to the hospital for injection of pain medication in his back...in case you were wondering about this, now you know), which means that Novakkah celebrations have been hampered.  I mean, I am still celebrating, but the celebration is ringing hollow when K isn't around to roll his eyes and chuckle at the extremes of mycelebraory practices.  Honestly, I feel guilty even contemplating celebrating...well, not that guilty.  I mean he is asleep, might as well do something fun, right?

I will take comments for this post, and all Novakkah posts, until 11:59 EST (or 2359, should you prefer that), Monday, May 12th. Please leave your responses on the appropriate post.  One entry per post/person.  Giftees will be selected on the 13th and gifts sent out shortly thereafter.

second day of novakkah (2013)

I guess it can be said that I gave myself the gift of a new job for my birthday this year...or really, that's the way the timing worked out.  As some of you know, I used to be an archivist (with a random assortment of other responsibilities thrown in).  I am now a reference librarian (with the option of doing archives processing should I wish to do so, which I probably will--because archives are awesome).  It was the only the first day; but, if today was any indication, I will definitely like my new work place quite a bit.  And well, you know...books; libraries have them and I love them.

 I love books so  much, I bought myself some for my birthday--it's like the least imaginative gift I could ever get for myself really (kind of like fabric or yarn, "oh, what a surprise, how did I know I wanted these...." make no mistake, I bought myself fabric as well...hello, novakkah).  There's been lots of good buzz about these two books.  I don't usually go with buzz-y books--especially when said books are still only available in hardcover; but, I figured I would do something different this year.  Speaking of books, do you remember this?

I did these pieces of embroidery a while ago.  One was for Chawne (the red one--she's doing some interesting cross-stitchery right now, by the way); but, the multi-colory one I did for myself (it was the tester).  I loved it so much I framed it and popped it in my old office; but, I am going to take it to work tomorrow and pop it in the new one.

Today's prize is an embroidery kit.  I will package a pattern for this book embroidery design and a kit to stitch it up with (fabric, hoop, needle, floss) for today's winner.  Please tell me, what is the most practical or totally appropriate gift you have ever gotten for yourself?

I will take comments for this post, and all Novakkah posts, until 11:59 EST (or 2359, should you prefer that), Sunday, May 12th (also, Mother's Day).  Please leave your responses on the appropriate post.  One entry per post/person.  I will show you what I have to gift each day and let you know what you need to tell me to try to get it.  Giftees will be selected on the 13th and gifts sent out shortly thereafter.

hey, it's a new year!

I think I unintentionally started a new tradition last year. Instead of my first post of the year being about goals, hopes, dreams and what-have-you, it was all about the things that I did the year before that I forgot (or was too lazy) to blog about. So without further ado, this is the cool stuff that I did in 2011 that I never talked about.

knitting

Log cabin baby blanket. I had a ton of Mission Falls Cotton so I just started knitting with it. And I produced this really tiny baby blanket…but now I don’t have anymore MF Cotton taking up space on my shelves, so win.

February Baby Sweater. I originally started this in pink yarn, which was a knitted nightmare, and then realized that is was confining the creativity of my soul (or something akin to that). I had some Dream in Color Smooshy, I think it’s Candy Apple Red (I could be making that up, is that even a colorway?). I think it’s fabulous. It’s going to give it to a friend of mine scheduled to have a baby in three days. She asked for something knitted; and you know, I like to make wishes come true.

I also made some baby socks. I had a hank of Koigu yarn that I bought when I was pregnant with Little Mister…thinking I was going to have a girl. Yeah, not so much. The fact that I bought pink yarn should have been the first clue, really. Why would I want to look at pink baby feet? I wouldn't.

Stockinette Socks of awesome. So they are just plain and simple stockinette socks; but, they are awesome. I started knitting them last May when I hung out with some knitterly friends of mine, and they make me smile whenever I wear them. Yarn is from the Barefoot Spinner. There is no colorway on it, so let’s just call it “purple” shall we?

quilting & sewing

I sewed my kids some pillowcases. It wasn't rocket science, but easily, probably the highest impact gift I've made in a long time. Every time we pull one of them out of the linen cabinet, it's like Christmas! It's a fact, kids love ridiculous pillowcases.

 

Locked Squares. So I made this baby quilt. And then thought, it might be a nice quilt to try pattern writing. So... still doing the pattern writing bit, but the blanket was a huge hit. It was really fun to make (and quite easy), actually.

 Lilly’s Quilt. A friend of mine from library school asked if I could make a full sized quilt from her daughter’s baby bedding. Her daughter was moving up to a full-sized bed and she wanted to save the baby bedding. Because I don’t really think things through sometimes, I said “sure!”. Um, I have never made a bed-sized quilt before this quilt. In case you were under the impression that a full-sized quilt is “no big deal” let me dissuade you from this notion. Cramming a full-sized quilt into the throat of a domestic home sewing machine pretty much made me want to gouge my own eyes out with a dull pencil. But, it came out really nice and I was unspeakably proud of myself after I shipped the quilt off last month. I really was. I should probably get out more.

embroidery & x-stitch

Every summer I get interested in embroidery, because, well, it doesn't involve wool and it doesn’t make my hands sweaty. I was involved in various quilting bees last year (more on that later, this post is getting long) and when Chawne’s month rolled around for one of the bees (I honestly can’t remember which one since she and I were in three bees together, no, I am not kidding), she asked for redwork, we could do anything we wanted. Since I am bookish.... Well, yeah.

 

I did a little drawing, traced it onto some Kona cottong and then stitched it up.  I ended up doing a multi-color version and framed it because I liked it so much, so now I can look at my handi-work (ha…did you see what I did there, oh, nevermind) everyday at work.

I also did some cross stitch last fall.  I needed something for my dining room wall, so I stitched an appropriate eating area command.  I am a fan.

So that’s it. That was the hidden craftiness of 2011. I also went to the International Quilt Festival, but apparently, I was so overwhelmed by it, I never blogged about it (but here is a photo set in flickr). But, I am getting my blogging house in order now, because, well, I pay for this space, so I might as well get my money’s worth. I am all about getting my money’s worth.

In my next post, I will tell you all about my hopes, dreams, and goals (or whatever) for 2012. I just need to think of something to share with you first. While I think of an unfeasible list worthy of my frustrations and energies, check out my studio shot of the Littles that I foisted upon friends and family for Christmas last month.

Next year, the Christmas shot will feature knitted sweaters, I mean, the Littles in knitted sweaters (or course that’s what I meant). Oh, that’s a goal, right there!

novakkah 2011 :: day six

 
So my boss happened to pass by as I was snapping a picture of myself in the stacks with a party hat on, and my explanation was, "yay, party hat!"  And then we proceeded to discuss work business (scheduling for finals week) like librarians wear party hats in the stacks all the time.  Yep.

Moving on.  A long time ago (like, six or so months), I moved.  There was a great deal of me talking about my move before, and during, but I didn't really say much about the new place after we moved in.  Mostly because it is still a work in progress (or WIP, as it were).  We like the house and everything; but, honestly, it doesn't quite feel like home yet.  A huge part of  fixing this situation is putting stuff up on the walls and personalizing the spaces more, but apparently, we are lacking in "hanging things up" skills at the moment because our walls are bare (it could also be laziness--more likely).  Still.  So, operation "make  the house a home" has commenced.  In order to move things along, I started purchasing some artwork and random bits for our walls from etsy...and I laid them out in the dining room (surely this will drive some action--our laziness, staring us in the face...daily).  I am a huge supporter of etsy, and artists who sell their wares on the site (apparently, I am also fond of people who rip apart old books and sell the plates found therein as well).

 

In addition to the artwork and prints (if you are noticing a nautical or boat-y theme, that's a good thing (K has to live her too, after all) I have been purchasing on etsy, I am, of course, working on things to personalize the house myself as well.  There are quilts in the works (but with my track record of getting quilts done, it is going to be a while yet....let's be honest); but, there are more manageable projects (you can read that as "realistic" if you'd like, I won't be offended) in the works, mostly in the form or embroidery.  I have finished a few embroidery projects, that I don't mind telling you, are awesome (more about that later), so this modicum of success has somehow provided the catalyst for stitching a few pieces for my living room, dining room and maybe a guest room.  I guess you could say that these would be gifts that keep on giving.  And really, doesn't everyone want to make their house/dwelling a home--if not for one's self, then for the others who reside in said dwelling?

 
Since I am thinking about embroidery these days, it makes sense that others are too (sure).  While I don't consider myself a trendsetter, I don't mind telling you that embroidery is going to be big this summer (if you are in "the know", you know that this is not headline news, a lot of crafters pick up embroidery in the summer when hauling out wool seems disheartening--though I am not one of those people-- and portability is a must).  Today's gift is a copy of Enid Mason's Embroidery Design.  It's a fun book that  has some inspirational ideas for embroidery (but really anything textile in nature, when I was reading it, it put me more in the mind of quilting design, to be perfectly honest, but there you are).  As is the case when I come across awesome things, I acquired two copies (some would say this is a sickness). 

In addition to the book, I will also send you an embroidery kit (of sorts) to get you started.  I will send you some Osnaburg (because I love it), some muslin (because it's practical), and some white solid (could be Kona cotton, but I honestly have no idea, I have been embroidering on it with no problems), an embroidery needle, an embroidery hoop, a metal ring with plastic bobbins, and a rainbow of embroidery floss to get you started.  How's that?   I will make an already accessible craft extremely so for someone. 
If you are interested in this gift of embroidery, please tell me about the best gift you have either received or given that fits into the theme of "gift that keeps on giving".

I will take comments for this post, and all Novakkah posts, until 11:59 EST (or2359, should you prefer that), Thursday, May 12th.  Please leave your responses on the appropriate post.  One entry per post/person.  I will show you what I have to gift each day and let you know what you need to tell me to try to get it.  Giftees will be selected on the 13th and gifts sent out shortly thereafter.

 

gettin' stitchy

 
I am a doodler.  Do you doodle?  While drawing random pictures here and there are all well and good, sometimes you just want a little bit of permanence to a piece...or some color, or what have you.   And for whatever reason, as soon as I made these little doodles (of guess who!), I thought "Self, wouldn't it be a fine thing to see these pictures in color?  And wouldn't it be finer still to see them in a quilt or some such thing?" 

Obviously, Self agreed (she is clever that way) because she transferred the drawings onto fabric and pulled out some embroidery floss and got to work.  

I am no expert embroiderer or anything, truth be told, these are maybe the third and fourth pieces (actually, maybe fifth) I have ever tried to embroider.  I like embroidery.  It's not overly difficult.  You can play around with color.  You produce something pretty (most times, maybe not the first thing you ever do).  And it's not that expensive of a hobby (because trust me, I know a thing or two about expensive hobbies, ahem). 

 
  
There are tons of free embroidery patterns available on the internets, and some really great ones on etsy (obviously, not free).  I have bought a few cute ones to stitch (probably this summer when the wool gets hot and heavy--literally).  If you heart the stitchies of Little Mister and Little Sir, I put the patterns up in my shoppe (please to see the new store link-a-dink in the margin, awesome, no?).  Should you want to make the Little Mister version into a curly red-haired lad with green eyes and a green shirt for St. Patrick's Day, you should because that would be pretty awesome. 

And just so you know, I think the kiddos like to see themselves all stitchified, well, mine do; and, I'd like to think that their charm and awesomeness is universal (because that is the kind of mom I am).

i was on hiatus, let's catch up!

 
Did you miss me?  Every now and again, I feel a little too wired and I take a break from blogging, from flickring, from, well, pretty much anything that I can (except work, well, it's work) to regroup and spend more time with my boys.  It always shocks me (and I realize this no profound statment) that one can accomplish a great deal in the way of productive crafting if one is not glued to the computer overly much.  Now I am catching up on bloglines and trying to de-buzz my profiles and etcetera, etcetera.  But there has been some crafty going on, of course.

 
Valentine's Day is a mere memory for most, and while we didn't get overly celebratory (it is rather a Hallmark-y day, is it not?), we did make a heart garland because Rae did, and I like everything she does.  Little Sir picked the colors for the hearts.  I wanted just red and pink (I know!); but, he wasn't having any of that monotonous ridiculousness (his favorite word right now = "ridiculous" as in, "Momma, you are so ridiculous." Sigh.).

 
Over President's weekend, we went to Vermont.  I discovered Nido, which, in my mind, is the happiest place on earth.  It's a fabric shop and yarn shop all in one.  The owner, Phiona, is really nice and will have a conversation with you if you are feeling chatty, or she will let you shop and she seems very good about figuring out how to read a customer, which is a skill, in my opinion. 

 
Also, Ashley from Film in the Fridge shops there, so it was very much a fun "six degrees" situation for me, and I like that sort of thing.  Kids were not only welcome, I felt it was almost encouraged, there were toys for the Littles to play with, so everyone was happy. Well, almost.

 

Should you find yourself in Burlington, Vermont and in need of a crafty fix, do yourself a favor and hie thee to Nido.
  
While in Vermont, Little Sir spent a day in an all day ski class for 3-4 year olds at Smuggler's Notch.  After falling the first time, his only concern was staying upright, with that as his goal, he didn't really care who he knocked down to accomplish his task. 

 
While I felt bad for the other children who were unfortunate enough to cross his path, it was pretty funny.  And the other kids weren't hurt at all, so there you are, if you want to see video footage go here.  We also took the boys to Ben and Jerry's for ice cream; because that is what one does when driving through Vermont when it's freezing outside, I guess.

 
And then, I closed up my little millinery by knitting two more hats. 

 I made the Aran Cable Watch Cap from Charlene Schurch's Hat's On! again.  It was made for a student who works at my library.  He mentioned that no one had ever knit him anything before, which seemed sort of unfortunate to me.  He mentioned that he liked the color red and cables, that seemed doable, so I did it.

 
And I also made myself a hat without a trace of possum in it.  I spun up some beautifully dyed merino from Funky Carolina a while ago, but had no idea what to do with it.  I ended up using it for a Felicity hat. 

 
I am not sure if it is "Boho Chic" or "Hobo-esque" but I love it.

 
 Have you been knitting Olympically?  I tried, but I end up watching the Olympics rather than knitting through the telecast.  So I will save my chit chat on my new cable-y vest project for another time.  I am able to do other crafts while watching the Olympics though. I have been doing a bit of stitching (as in embroidery)...but more about that tomorrow.  I wouldn't want to overwhelm you with my craftiness or anything.

finishes and starts

 
Hey there, Happy  New Year!  I hope 2010 is treating you all well, thus far.  My back went out just before Christmas (if you see it, please do send it back my way), so productivity was low; but, thanks to the power of pain management, sedation was high.  I hope the holidays had you merry.

 
I am loathe to throw all of the projects I finished at the end of the year in one post; but, that is exactly what I am going to do, because spreading them out now seems silly.  I did, indeed, finish Special K's vest (I am sure you were all wondering).

 
I am not going to lie, I hated knitting this thing.  I loved the yarn, butt he stitch pattern, I think, is completely lost.  It was not the prescribed yarn, but the one suggested was tweed too.  The pattern came from the Queensland Collection Book 9 pattern book, the designs are by Jane Ellison; and, there are, perhaps, some of the most interesting knit designs for men in this little gem of a book.  The pattern I knit is called Adam.  The book has tons of amazing sweater patterns, and that is why I bought the book...but Special K was all about the vests.  He picked out two other vests from the book.  Why do I even bother?

I also knit some socks.  Just plain and simple stockinette socks.  I made them for charity, which is a first for me.  I am not a selfish knitter by any means, I just usually have a particular recipient in mind. 

 
The Cherry Tree Hill Super Sock yarn was probably the first sock yarn I ever purchased, which means I have had it for years.  Years, people.  So I knit it.

 
And then I made some Christmas stockings. 

I actually started them in 2008 right after Christmas, I sewed the tops  on and stitched names in last year (2009!)... on Christmas Eve...while heavily medicated (the stitching leaves much to be desired, as you can probably imagine; but, I anticipate having to make new stockings for everyone when the boys start to either 1) think the fabric of the current stockings are uncool, or 2) think calling the 'rents "Mommy and Daddy" is totally gauche instead opting for "Mom or Dad" are dropping parental titles entirely and just refer to us by first names, as Little Sir is fond of doing now.  No, really.  He is.  

 

The stockings are the only things I actually made for Christmas this year, and I am okay with that .

So those were my finishes.  I have a lot of starts, but we will save my crafting starts for later.  Here is a teaser though.

 
I am pleased to report that last evening, at approximately 7:15 EST (or 1915, if you prefer), Little Mister took his first independent steps.  Four of them.  In a shocking turn of events his motivation had nothing to do with food; but instead, the boy was trying to get to his brother and a laundry basket.  Whatever works.  Jill guessed the exact day and will get to choose her prize.  Happy kick off to 2010, friends!

 

a day late, but with plenty of dollars

So I meant to post this yesterday, but, you know, one can get busy on a Saturday--especially when one is returning to work the following Monday after two months of maternity leave.  In any case, I have done some crafting and I have a contest winner. 

I like to knit (hi, I am a knitblogger), so I guess I need to own up to the tragicomedy that is my knitting procrastination of late.  A Lopi sweater.  A Lopi sweater that will need steeking when all the knitting is done. 

I am dragging the process out, because, as I have shared many times, the thought of cutting my knitting makes me want to vomit.  In any case, I have to finish the sweater to move on to something else (a self-imposed punishment strategy).  That's my new thing.  Finish one of the sweaters in process and then I can start something new.  I have a few sweaters in process. 

These are just my sweaters.  We won't talk about the sweaters for the men in my life--they don't count, right?  Right.

And since I couldn't start a new knitting project without lots of guilt attached.  I decided to delve into a new craft entirely, because that's what I do, craft capriciously.

I used Aimee Ray's Doodle Stitching.  The critter project (and many others) are in there.  I sort of love these little critters.  One (the raccoon) is a gift to go with a book(The Kissing Hand).  One (an owl) I will take to my office because it makes me smile and the other (owl) will go to the winner of my contest/giveaway.  I used one of those random number generators to pick a winner because I couldn't choose based on merit, everyone's goals seemed like good ones (like I am really going to tell anyone that he or she has crappy goals--not so nice).  The RNG chose Elli.  Elli, I will get in touch with you to discuss your prize.  For everyone else, I hope you learn your desired crafts, get healthy, blog more or what have you. Thanks for sharing your goals!