Granny Squares, Crafty Books and Robots

Yay, it is time for another Yarn Along !

For the last couple of weeks I have spent some of my spare time looking at fun crochet projects that can be found out there in Blog Land. Everything looked so fun and colorful that I decided to break out my crochet hooks. I found a few free dish cloth patterns and got to work. It was not long before I realized how limited my knowledge of crochet really was.

When I was little my Mom taught me to crochet chains and single crochet. Over the years I learned how to make the Half Double Chain, the Double Chain and the Treble Chain, but I really never went beyond very simple scarves, purses and  hats.

I decided to start with Granny Squares. They are fun and easy and playing with color is great! I plan to try more challenging  patterns in the future. That goes for knitting as well. I have always played it safe and have chosen simple projects, but I think I am ready for some challenge. 

Okay, Granny Squares are not super difficult, but it was new to me. I look forward to trying new things!

I am reading two books right now. I am just finishing Handmade Marketplace, How to Sell Your Crafts Locally, Globally and Online. It is a handy little book if you are just making your way into the crafting business. Lots of good advise can be found in this book. I would recommend it to folks who were brand new to the crafting biz. I found the chapters about online marketing really interesting! 

I am also reading more Isaac Asimov. The Robots of Dawn has my favorite robot, R. Daneel Olivaw and his human friend and plainclothes investigator, Elijah Bailey. They are heading out into the galaxy once more to investigate a crime. The crime involves the destruction, or is that murder, of a robot - the only other robot as close to human as Daneel himself! I am hoping to find more time to put into reading this one because I cannot wait to find out who dunnit!

  Lots of Hooky Fun!

There is a photo happening here? Why then, Mr Snuffkins wants to be a part of this!

So what are you reading and knitting (or hooking)?

Reading and Knitting - The Perfect Thing for a Gloomy Day

I`m joining Ginny

I started working on this sweater for our dog in the fall but then work and family and holidays consumed me in a swirl of activity and I haven't picked up a set of needles until this week. Beans is a miniature dachshund and it is impossible to find clothes that fit her. But she has really short fur and a sweater would be so useful! She really loves to be warm and snug. With the exception of the hottest summer weather she spends her days and her nights sleeping under piles of blankets. I just need to piece the sweater together, sew, and do some work around the leg openings and it will be all done. I bought the pattern from an Etsy artist - I can't wait to take some photos of Beans in her new sweater.

In the summer and fall, I usually want to read fantasy like Tolkein or Lewis or Rowling, but in winter I love science and science fiction!!! My mother loaned me this book, The Robot Novels by Isaac Asimov at least 10 years ago! I can't believe it took me so long to get around to reading it. I LOVE it! R. Daneel is my new favorite robot! Seriously, I have favorite robots - I keep a separate blog for my nerdiness, but it may ooze over here occasionally. I've already ordered the next book in the series and I just might be reading about Asimov's world of C/Fe culture (humans and robots - humans being Carbon based and robots being Iron based) for the rest of the winter!

And with all this gray gloomy weather, snuggling up with a weiner dog and a good book or some knitting seems like the most perfect way to spend a morning (or an afternoon, or an evening!)

I would love to hear about what you have on your bookshelf and on your knitting needles!

Yarn Along - Finished Projects

 

  Today I am joining Ginny's Yarn Along, a day to share what we are knitting and reading.

 I'm still reading The Mists of Avalon (aaaah, what a great book!!!) so I though I might just add some pictures of my latest knitting projects now that they are finished.

I made this pixie hat for Willow and she requested a matching pink flower attached to the top of her hat - pretty cute, I think!

Can't take a picture outside around this farm without a cat or two joining in. Willow named this kitten Ice Cream.

And my leg warmers are all finished. They are sooooo warm and cozy. I wore them on a chilly day last week and they were just so comfortable! I have a second pair that I just need to finish up, I will share pictures when they are done.

I can't wait to share my latest project that I am working on right now, but I think I will save that for next week. What are you reading and knitting this week?

Yarn Along

Today I'm joining Ginny for Yarn Along, a time to share what we are knitting and reading.

I am starting a pixie hat for my 7 year old daughter. She is loving the pink yarn and is very much looking forward to adding this to her hat collection. She wants a flower on this hat so I might add a knit or crochet or maybe even a felted flower once I am finished.

I really do read new books, but I guess I've been feeling a bit nostalgic, so I am rereading The Mists of Avalon which as you can probably tell from the tattered cover that I have read this many times before. I am so in love with this story!!!

And I am also reading Ask And It Is Given The Teachings of Abraham. It is a wonderful reminder of how to "go with the positive flow of life". I am really needing this message right now as I've found myself trapped in such negative thinking lately. I use Getting Into The Vortex guided meditation by Abraham-Hicks as well and I just love it! It's so comforting!

So what are you knitting and reading today?

Yarn Along

So the legwarmers are almost done! Just a few more rows, weaving in those loose ends and then I will have cozy warm legs this winter. I want to try making the next pair on my knitting machine, flat knit and sewn.

Now to find my next project - not sure about that yet! Perhaps mittens or wrist warmers will be next? I need to take another trip to Michael's this weekend. I am also working on some handspun at the moment, but it will be a while before I have it ready for a knitting project.

In the future I might include spinning projects for Yarn Along Wednesdays. I do more spinning than any other fibre arts and I'm really excited about my new adventures in wool dyeing!!!

The cooler weather had me feeling all cozy and happily nostalgic so I got out my Little House books. I don't think I am going to go through the whole series right now (or maybe I will - who knows), I've read them so many times, but I was really in the mood for these lovely pioneer tales - I love them utterly and completely!

What have you been reading and knitting?

Yarn Along

Yay! My first Yarn Along post! I hope to participate in this each week.

This week I am starting to knit a nice warm pair of leg warmers since I like to wear skirts and that can get a bit chilly in the winter months. It's not hand spun this week. Wool Ease Chunky was on sale at Michael's this week and it was just so thick and soft and the colours are lovely autumn. I think they are going to be lovely!

Excuse Mr Zombie Kitty's foot in the picture (He was given the name zombie eye cat when he had a terrible eye infection. He is one of our barn kitties) He is always right in the center of the action when I'm outside.

I'm reading The Tale of the Body Thief by Anne Rice which is part of the Vampire Chronicles. I love them! Lestat is the all time best vampire ever. He always lands himself in terrible trouble but he has a way of getting out of those jams because he is just so darn lovable and people and other vampires are tripping over each other to help him. I'm almost done this book - I took it with me last week on a camping trip and it was perfect beach reading!

Another thing that is going on around here is that my oldest daughter is turning 18 next week!!! Zoinks!!! How did that happen? I did a little shopping today for her birthday and I got her some super kool gifts - I can't wait until next Tuesday, hee-hee!!!