Sort of Crafting . . .

I meant to pull out my hook and work on more grannies for my bedspread (which will look awesome in my room against the grey walls--if I ever finish it!).  But I didn't.

Instead I attacked a group of boxes left in my room (Ugh!  More boxes!).  Notice the lovely mess of boxes in front of the closet below:

Before: the mess in front of the closet

It made getting to the closet very difficult--to say the least.  Thankfully the mess was diminished--if not completely eliminated.  Baby steps, right?

After: more organized . . . 

The number of boxes continues to decline as I slowly find a home for my stuff--and toss the things that are no longer needed--no easy task, but it's getting done.

The corner by my bed had turned into a mess of bins and baskets filled with miscellaneous crafting stuff:

Before: poster board, bins & baskets

Now it's more organized.  Remember that colourful drawer unit I assembled a few weeks ago?  It now contains many of my scrapbooking supplies (stamps, ribbons, embellishments--a modest stash at best.  My papers are on the bookshelf across the room next the larger closet). 

After: organized space

And then this got me thinking about my craft closet and the baskets of yarn scattered 'round the house.  So I gathered all the odds and ends 'round the house and consolidated everything so that it all fit nicely into the bins--with the necessary skeins left accessible.  I've got photos, paints and embroidery floss on the top shelf (yeah, those are the photos I need to get into albums).

Photos, paints and embroidery floss 

Yarn and some leftover fabric in drawers and bins on the floor.  The large bins are labelled on the outside.  The drawers are clear so it's easy to see what's in there.  A lot of my special yarns are in the drawers--special one or two skeins of pretty colours or interesting fibres.

Bins and drawers filled with yarn.

It's a work-in-progress for sure.  And in my organizing, I found a big ball of cotton.  Isn't  the colour yummy? Perfect for a baby, right?

Colourful cotton yarn for upcoming projects

Someone in the family is due soon.  Time to cast on for some booties, a hat and maybe a few bibs . . . Holiday break is fast approaching and my needles will be clicking away--at long last!  ;)

Still Unpacking . . .

If you've ever moved, then you can empathize with my pain . . . all the boxes!!  The never-ending boxes . . . 

Before

After

At least I found a place for most of my yarn (although there are yarn baskets in my closet and a couple in the basement.  I'm not sure where they will end up but hopefully everything will eventually fit in the closet). 

New yarn closet

Not sure how to re-organize for optimal storage . . . Somewhere on the interwebs, there is a solution.  Needless to say I miss my lovely craft closet in the farmhouse (but I miss neither the farmhouse nor the nasty winter drive to and from the farmhouse).

As for my scrapbook supplies, I wasn't sure what to do with them (they too were stored in the craft closet at the farmhouse).  My papers and books found a place on a new bookshelf.  As for my other supplies, I purchased a rolling cart.  Of course, some assembly was required.  It took some time to connect the pieces, but the final product looks pretty (even if it is smaller than I had hoped).

Assembled rolling cart with rainbow shelves

With yarn and books finally accessible, I can think about crafting . . . but not until I finish the last two projects due in my course--two weeks left before classes end for the holidays--although this is not to say that there has been no crafting.  Some grannies were made and some were attached . . . it's all good!   ;)  

Knittin' Stuff

There's no shortage of knittin' projects over at casa d'acrylic.  Hubby's slippers are almost done.  They just need some seaming--and none too soon as his old ones are almost disintegrating as I write this . . . eeek! Must sew post haste!

Man-sized Non-Felted Slippers

And I started another lovely ballband dishcloth.  I've made this pattern before.  It's easy, looks great and works much better than the ol' traditional garter stitch dishcloth (doesn't stretch out too much when wet, yet still has scruffy surface for scrubbing).  My old dishcloths are fading fast.  Living in the country with hard water can take a toll on one's laundry, especially the linens that go in and out of the water.  

Ballband Dishcloth in progress

Since there`s plenty of Bernat Handicrafter Cotton in the stash, I'm makin' more of these dishcloths.  Think 5 to 6 would suffice?  Maybe I should make more?  Let's see how quickly I get bored with the pattern . . . . 

Finished Avocado

Oh, and I mustn't forget:  Avocado is complete!  Buttons and ends sewn into place.  I think it looks very cute with the wooden buttons--very rustic feel to it.  Hubby is set to bring home a box so I can mail it off to my sister.  Hopefully my niece will be able to wear it before the weather gets too warm or she outgrows it (Ya gotta know I'm already planning another cardigan for the fall--hope 12 months will work for sizing).

Have a great week!

Just a Little Bit Country . . .

No, I'm not really a fan of country music--always preferred alternative rock.  Actually referring to country life.  Thus far, all is good.  Waiting to close the deal on the sale of our old home, but the place has been emptied and cleaned (not perfectly, but she's done).

Pooh Bear Keeping Watch on Our Front Porch

This is the first weekend we've been able to spend in our new home--no traveling, no moving, no cleaning.  Have I mentioned how much I dislike moving?  Talk about stressful!  And it sure leaves a body feeling out-of-place and out-of-sorts.  Hoping I don't have to move again for a long, long time.  There's still quite a bit of unpacking to do (as evidenced by the number of boxes in and 'round the house), but we're slowly getting through them.

Piles of Boxes in Back Porch Area

The day greeted me with a bright sun in a clear blue sky.  So I got the clothes out on the line (I need one of those do-hickeys that keep the clothesline from drooping to the ground).  

There's nothing like being outside whilst hanging fresh, clean clothes: the warm sun beating on your face; the clean air fragranced by pine trees, wildflowers and damp grass; the quiet interrupted by the sing-song of birds.  I just love it! 


Even mindless, ordinary tasks become soothing and relaxing.  Since I can't walk to work anymore, I've taken to mowing the lawn with my handy-dandy push mower in the evenings before supper.

Handy-Dandy Push Mower

Funny thing about push mowers: I was just reading in the latest issue of Hobby Farms that a push mower is a great green option for lawn care if you've got less than a 1/4 acre.  It beats going to the gym!  And its cheaper too.  Lucky for me, I've got just about 1/4 acres of cleared green space (although I'm gonna need a small, used tractor to clear off the little used fields that will become my garden space come spring--hoping to do that before too long)

By the way, thought I'd mention that I'm still without internet connection (I'm writing this at the local university campus while the kids go to swim class).  Suffering a wee bit of internet withdrawal 'cuz I use the internet for so much.  And I'm soooooo missing my beloved Restaurant City game on Facebook . . . .maybe this week will see me back online.

Later,
:)

Paint 'n Stuff

Yup, still packing.  This weekend is "D-Day" (although it should really be called M-Day--M for moving).  We've already started moving stuff into the new house (I use the word "new" loosely as the house is about 125 years old--hee, hee).  So most of my precious time has been spent packing and/or painting.

Paint Stuff

I managed a wee bit of knitting--and I do mean wee 'cuz I'd knit a row or two each day and that would be it.  At the very least, my Bohus Redux is ready for the sleeves to be separated from the body.  And if the weather would cooperate, I could post an updated photo . . . maybe next time.

Too Much Stuff!

You don't realize how much stuff you have until its time to move it.  Right now, I'm up to my eyeballs in cardboard.  Boxes, that is.  Everywhere I look, there are heaps and heaps of boxes: filled boxes, empty boxes and folded boxes.  And I've only just begun packing, tackling a few bookcases or cupboards each night . . . .my heavens but we've got loads of stuff!

Folded Cardboard Waiting to Become Boxes

Next weekend will be Thanksgiving in Canada.  That'll give us three days to move all our stuff into the farmhouse.  I'm feeling a wee bit over-whelmed (one of us is a hoarder collector and I'm guessing its not me--unless its craft related). 

Boxes Filled With Stuff

The hard part, of course, will come after the move: all that stuff will need to be unpacked! Eeek! And we'll also have to super-clean our old place before the buyers take possession . . . so much work!  Sadly, no time for knitting. :S

Rockin' the Swiffer

Yeah, ya read that right!  Forget about the cushion cover or the second sock (or any other number of projects on my ever-expanding list of WIPs awaiting some finishing work).  I'm rockin' the swiffer!

Crocheted Duster for my Swiffer Mop

My quest was simple: how to dust my walls and ceiling without killing myself with the vacuum.  The solution was simple, yet elegant: a custom-made duster that I can pop into the washer and dryer.  As an added bonus, I used up bits of leftover acrylic and saved money too (no more wet or dry cloths to buy for my swiffer mop).

I found the pattern link over at Ravelry.  And the swiffer "sock" is reversible, so you could use the smooth side to quickly mop your floor (after you've dusted it with the fuzzy side). 


Smooth Side of Swiffer Sock

In fact, you could make a few of them and use one exclusively for your kitchen, another for your bathroom . . . well, you get the picture.  In fact, I'm already working on a second one.  Don't ya just love quick, easy practical projects?

Later,
:)

Cushions and Frogs

Don't get it?  Think "ripit, ripit, ripit".  Ah yes, the frog pond.  Buoyant with my recent FO, I decided to tackle some WIPs that had been piling up, in particular my beloved sofa cushion cover.  The chesterfield is looking mighty, mighty sad--at least the cushions are.

My most recent attempt at creating a cushion cover ended up in the frog pile.  It just wasn't working out on many levels:
1) scratchy yarn (think hot humid summer days, bare skin and scratchy wool--me thinks not a good combo).
2) also not enjoying the stitch pattern (and the wee boo-boos). 
So I frogged the whole thing--ripit, ripit, ripit.

Instead I found some acrylic that was softer in feel.  Also found a ripple stitch pattern that I'd used in a Bernat project (once memorized, the pattern was quite relaxing).  Psyched to make this project work, I actually did some math (I know!  How weird is that?) to figure how long to make my foundation chain. 

New and Improved Cushion Cover

Once started, the project grew fairly quickly. . . until I started a couple of new projects: another pair of socks and my next Bernat project.  Actually I need to finish the later ASAP (there's a baby involved and it would be nice to have the project completed before mom goes on maternity).  For now my cushion cover will have to wait--but not for long ('cuz the sofa is very, very sad).

So much to make.  So little time ('cuz I waste it over on Facebook playing in my wee virtual restaurant, but 'nuff 'bout that.  It's a healthy obsession, right?  Wait.  Don't answer).

Hope your weekend is a good one :)

Sewing Stuff

Well, sort of sewing.  I'm hemming pants for my boys.  My heavens the children grow quickly!  Often the sizes needed are too long in the leg, necessitating a few cuts and **gasp** some sewing . . .

Vroom, Vroom Goes the Sewing Machine

Have I mentioned how much I dislike sewing?  I dislike it so much that I often forgo any ironing-- just to get the job done quickly.  And often I don't even pin down the hem (I know it's crazy, but its true).  I just eyeball it 'cuz I wanna be done with the whole affair (although I will  mark off measurements on the wrong side so I know where to fold the fabric--and yes, I did just use permanent marker).  Its rather surprising how often my hems end up straight (must be in the genes as my mom worked as a seamstress for many, many years).

Another Completed Hem

Two pairs of pants hemmed.  Four more to go.  Maybe I'll save those for next weekend . . . my nerves are feeling a wee bit frayed.  Perhaps some nice crocheting or knitting can soothe away the tension . . . . 

Hope your weekend was full of crafting goodness. ;)

Laundry Love

I know: who truly loves laundry?  But its a necessary evil.  However, there is one thing 'bout laundry that I do love: hanging my clothes outside in the sunshine.  There's nothing like putting on a clean shirt that's dried outdoors: smells like sunshine and fresh air.

My Lovely Clothesline

Once the nice weather arrives, I use my clothesline as much as possible (and nice weather is notoriously short-lived in Nova Scotia).  The weather is not always cooperative, but this has been a good year thus far. 

Sadly there is one item that seriously impedes my joy: the ubiquitious grocery bag.

The Grocery Bag

The grocery bag holds my clothes pins.  I use the wooden ones (memories of childhood).  I never leave the bag outside.  Why?  One word: earwigs (ewww and double ewwww.  If you've never met an earwig, then consider yourself lucky).  Despite leaving my bag indoors, it eventually falls apart.  So I decided to make a clothes pin bag. 

Thank heavens for Ravelry where one can easily search for free patterns (there's a link some where on my sidebar).  Seriously, you can find everything from nice to naughty and everything in-between.

Check out this pretty bag from Sukigirl (who kindly gave permission for the use of her photo).  You can check out her blog for more crochet stuff.

Sukigirl's Lovely Clothes Pin Bag
(photo used with permission)

Isn't it pretty?  And ingenious: a bag with a hole that hangs from a sewn-in clothes hanger.  You can find the pattern for the clothesline bag here. 

Sukigirl also includes the patterns for the cute wee clothes on her bag. You can find the patterns for the wee clothes here.  My only other problem is whether to use Bernat's Cottontots or Handicrafter Cotton (as I've got both in my stash).

Decisions, decisions . . .

Busy Cleaning . . . Can't Blog

Who am I kidding?  I can spare a moment or two from the laundry, the scrubbing and the polishing . . .yuck!  Anyone else hate cleaning as much as I do?

Cleaning Supplies

Even managed to re-organize our kitchen cupboards where supplies were housed in a way that hindered meal prep.  Now all the canned goods, baking items and dried goods are more accessible and easier to find.  Sadly we had to toss lots of stuff--items that were out-dated and past their expiration dates.

Why the cleaning spurt?  After a month of household neglect due to dedicated knitting, I've finished my big project!  Yippee!  I'll post an updated pic to my flickr photostream once the ends are woven in and the buttons attached (and of course I'll post a link to Bernat Yarns once that post goes live).

Now back to cleaning before I lose all momentum  . . .

Happy cleaning :S