Color challenged

I love color.
One of my favorite gifts when I was younger-o.k still is- was a box of Crayola crayons.
I used to organize the colors for hours and pretend they were people(!?!) I've probably mentioned this before. I probably shouldn't anymore ; )

The picture up there, is mainly for the color. I had another picture, or two I could have used, that were not blurry, but the colors weren't all that pretty in them and this one looks like the yarn is moving. Color in motion.

Under the skein are some paint chips because I need to get some painting done around here and as much as I love color, I always have a hard time choosing one for the walls. I've said that before too.

I have just finished a hat I made for someone I know with breast cancer. This is the second close relative that has been diagnosed in less than a year.
I'll post a picture of it when I'm done making up a little flower embellishment for it. It just needs a little extra something....I have made a lot of hats this year.
So last night I decided to make socks.



I think I have made 1 pair before and 1 here and there (non matching, if you knit, you know how it is with the 'second sock syndrome'). One day I'll get smart and knit them both on different needles at the same time or something.
Meanwhile this pattern called for a contrasting color. I decided to challenge myself-mainly because my mess is so challenging to dig through-and find a contrasting color by choosing the first one I saw in the stash. It looked o.k, though, very Christmasy,and that wasn't the look I was necessarily going for.


As I began to knit them together, I realized these colors are just not doing it for me. I don't know-not the same hue? What is the technical word? Value? I don't know....

So I went and bought another skein (see way above) to start over with.
I shouldn't have...


As you can see, I have a lot of sock yarn around here!

Wooden Spool of ribbon and thread

My Mom bought me this wooden spool for my birthday~I'm always admiring them and have never gotten around to getting one for myself.
For awhile it has been sitting on my cutting table and I keep looking at it, wondering what it used to hold and what I can make it hold~

So I came up with this idea...
A ribbon storage thingy. One of my favorite places to buy ribbon and trim is ....at the scrapbook store. I buy them buy the yard and usually throw them into a flowery hatbox or french basket to get all tangled...

Can you see the raindrops?

Now for a few more wooden spools ! I have boxloads of embellishments ; )

I really really really wanted to redo all of my pictures for my shop today~ but it's started to rain. Can you see the little raindrops in the above picture?

While outside, I also took a picture of my threads in shades of greens.I am organizing as I sew/go...Can you believe I have this many~just in greens?! I can't either. O.k , don't mind those 2 blue ones on the end.

These pictures turned out so dark, even outside. I guess I'll leave the shop shoot for another day

I have been working on a new design for a coffee cozy. The designing process is always the longest. I have been trying to do something a little differently, that just isn't working out no matter how much I want it to, so I think I'll go with the tried and true. Lots of ideas, so little time.
Of course as soon as I sit down to the sewing machine-unexpected errands call...off I go....

Shorter post, shorter title ; )

O.k... today I will just post the goodies I got at the Fair...pictures with fewer words...

From Jennifer Murphy...If you haven't seen her work , you absolutely must go and check it out click on the little link above)...her work is amazing. I am really liking the squirrel...but he's sold :(
She also has a blog.

I got these little goodies from McMaster and Storm. I visited their wonderful store last year, alas now they 'only' have an online shop. And what a beautiful 'shop' it is. I could buy 1 of everything.

Some millinery flowers, some chartreusy~ yellow, and red and white trims (you can't see the red and white one very well, but I assure you it's lovely) a few mushrooms and french 'handmade' labels. I know I won't be able to part with those ; )

Country Living Fair weekend, some finished projetcs, Ikea find, new stash

What long crazy post title! I can explain...
Last weekend my Mom, my 2 girls and I, went to the Country Living Fair. Something I've been wanting to do for a few years and now that we live nearby-I really wanted to go...It was quite fun. I'm sorry I didn't take too many pictures-
The highlights for me were visiting the booths of Earth Angels Toys...what talented artists... I bought a little blue bird from Jennifer Murphy and I think my Mom bought all of the ones they had left!
We also visited the booth of McMaster and Storm ...I bought a few goodies there too...I'll try and get some pictures of those up soon.

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As promised, here's the 'secret' project I was working on.

Can you see the embroidery floss running through the vintage lace?

Fabric from Ballard designs' outlet~ I believe it's linen ...I used a lot of my vintage lace trims and buttons, velvet trim, embroidery floss...This tote is huge. I carried it around the Country Living Fair and it was great to stash flyers, cards and purchases in. For everyday though, it might be a little too big.
~For everyday and for the shop, I might make up a smaller size in another fabric that doesn't get too wrinkly. I have the hardest time taking pictures of things that are so big (it's about 22 inches tall by 18 inches wide and very long 18 inch drop straps) and still be able to fit in the little details...

vintage trims, buttons and scallop stitching
you can click on the picture to see it better

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To make a day of it we also stopped by a store in Columbus for fabric~a little birthday treat for myself~ here's what I got.



My fabric store finds usually have a common color scheme not done intentionally.This time, I 'm not sure how I chose this particular combination, but I do have plans for all of them.


I also got 2 patterns. I think the little wallets will be a quick fun Christmas present :)

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At Ikea yesterday, I noticed they have been getting in some of their new Christmas things...I thought these reusable shopping bags would make nice gift bags...

I also got some red and white polka dot gift wrap to go with them.

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Oh, and here's my flower pin all finished up~with the stitching around the edges:


That's it for now~I must go sit on the sofa with some iced tea before I get the kids and do homework!
Have a Happy Crafty Day : )

Color inspiration and a little something I'm working on

Chartreuse, apple green, aqua and candy pink raspberry

Wow, the weeks just seem to be flying by. I know as soon as school starts it always seems to be next week already. It feels like it takes me all week to get a project done.

Lately I have been inspired by some new colors I never would have really thought much about before. Chartreuse, apple greens, candy pink raspberry-is that a color? Olive.
I tried to take a picture of the trim outdoors for natural lighting but sometimes the sun is just too harsh-the colors looked all washed out so I played with them on picnik. Now, they're a little too strong but I thought they looked nice anyway.

I plan on going to the Country Living Fair this weekend~ so I thought I'd make a little something to go with me...I'll show you when it's all done.

a secret 'little' project

Can you guess what it is? It's something I used to make a lot of but now, I rarely do... I'm challenging myself to use up some supplies I have on hand (what an idea!) since I don't know where a lot of good supply places are here in our new location. If it turns out as planned ~I'll make some for the shop too : )

More piles of trim I seem to enjoy taking pictures of lately

It's my birthday !

Yep, it's my birthday today-and I don't feel like doing anything at all. I think I'll just sit down in front of the t.v, have some leftover tortellini and redo several rows of my next hat project. I know, boring, but it sounds relaxing to me...I always botch the 6th and 7th row on this pattern and I'm not sure why. I started one a while ago that I never finished for myself ...anyway, I have been told by my Mom , who says I don't look a day over 29 (o.k we'll go with that) that I should stop by and pick up my present. She's presently carless. So those are my big plans ... Update:Husband took last of tortellinis to work ;(...but my Mom took me out to lunch :)

I was going to work on some more of these-or at least finish this one up today. Flower pins. You can never have enough of those, right? I bought these fabrics the other day and just love the mustard and teal combo...I have all sorts of ideas for embellishing the centers...maybe they can wait 'til tomorrow?


I loved the little triangular words that got cut from the center circle and thought they would make a pretty picture~


I have some more photos up on flickr if you'd like to see them.

Have a happy creative day : )

Blog feature

I have been featured on a blog today, (update~yesterday, Blogger was giving me a hard time uploading pictures )~redredcompletelyred, or at least my Red Riding Hood Coffee Sleeve was ; )

Check out her great blog post full of all kinds of things in, what else?...red

I love using my coffee cozies at the local cafe. They make great little gifts too.