Lace, Film, and Seagulls

Not too long ago these balls of lace thread resembled a bird's nest. This is the most dainty, soft, thin, alpaca lace yarn, and it was almost ruined. That's right, the dog grabbed it one evening while I wasn't looking. He only had it for 2 seconds or so, but had managed to tangle it so bad that I thought I'd never get it undone again. I wish I would have taken a picture for you, but I didn't. (It wasn't a pretty site).

Three months later it's all balled up and I keep it in a very safe place. Locked up tight, away from any dog or cat. From a far it's a lavender grayish color but when you look closely you can see a million different color strung through it, amazing.

Project #2:

See these? Yep, they're all mine (except the Minolta, it's my dad's, but has been in and out of my possession for the past 15 years or so) and I need to test them. I know, film is out like yesterday's news, but if you can still buy it, there's still a market. My plan is to test all four of these and select the best in terms of accuracy, sharpness, color and black & white. This is a great time of year for photo taking. You have great light in the morning and great light in the evening (and that has nothing to do with daylight saving time, I still think that suck), but once the green starts popping out everywhere it's going to be even better, for the color test anyway. Ever since we got this digital camera I haven't done much with 35mm, but I'm not always happy with the digital image. I have seen some really nice digital cameras though that take awesome pictures, but they're in the $1500 to $3000 range and that ain't going to happen. Hell, I have to wait until payday before I can even buy film for my test.

So, what inspired me to pull out the old SLR's? This morning while on my way to work, must have been 7:45 or so, I saw a great picture and caught myself thinking, "damn, I wish I had my camera," and it wasn't the digital one that I had in mind. The scene was off to the north side of the road in a field that had already turned green. It was slightly foggy but the sun was hitting the landscape here and there. Anyway, in the middle of this field was a flock of seagulls, (yes, in Kansas). There's a land field close by so I'm guessing that's why we have so many in that area. The white birds sitting on and flying around this green field was so pretty I almost pulled over just to look at it longer. That's when I decided I needed to test my cameras and maybe even start carrying one in the car with me. I also got to thinking that living out in the country I'm going to have a lot of photo opportunities and I want to be ready with a good camera. Maybe I can even talk the new hubby to building me a darkroom in the new house or barn (that's a ways off though).

Oh, and I have a scanner now too so I'll be able to show off my test photos.

Later,

Anna

Captain's log 3122007

How can changing the clocks ahead one lousy hour save on our electricity/power use? It’s still the same amount of daylight, just a little more in the evening, and a little less in the morning. I’m sure that by the time I hit my snooze for the sixth time this morning I had used the same amount of electricity that this early time change is suppose to save. Oh, and I heard that due to having more light in the evening we will all be driving more. Shhh, I think I just heard the price of gas go up, again!! I also used more light this morning than usual because when I opened my curtains it was pitch dark. I say we get rid of it all together, it seriously causes nothing but trouble, and it makes the Monday after a grumpy day for everyone.

In the mist of a busy weekend ruined by the nasty time change I was able to get some packing and sorting done, my laundry washed, the yard picked up some (thanks to Mark), and I took pictures of these…

The pink one’s neck is a little small so next time I’ll have to adjust that. These are just patterns I’m making up as I go along based on some other baby sweaters I’ve made.

Here's the next...

It's going to be tiny.

I started this blanket a couple months ago and only pulled it out here and there to work on it, I finally finished it last night. It’s crochet so it would come out when I got tired of knitting, or if my hand hurt from knitting, it only made the pain worse, but then it would make the knitting seem less painful. Pathetic, isn’t it?

I think this will have to go to the new little niece or nephew.

This is an old, thin, moth eaten little sweater that I found in my old doll clothes. It looks like it has seen better days, like really, really, better days. I envy it a little.

-Anna

Me again...

Hi there!
I made this sweater a couple weeks ago using some acrylic* yarn that was going in the "give-a-way" pile, unless I could find a good practice pattern for it, which I did. The sweater below is about 3 times too big, but it is going to be great for those cold nights sitting in front of the wood stove in our little cabin made of metal out on Buck Creek.

*acrylic is never my first choice, but I do like it for "practicing," and now that I know I can do the below pattern I can start saving for some nice wool that will truly keep me warm on those cold nights out in the country.












But this! This is the sweater that I have been waiting for. I have already worn it something like 4 times and I don't think anyone has noticed that it's handmade (which they either don't like it, or think it's just ordinary) whatever, I know I made it and if anyone ask where I got it I'll simply show them the label and say "gee, I forget, why don't you look at the label," which says Handmade by Anna...
I think it's beautiful and very warm, it's 100% wool.













And at last, my footstool. Just look at all the crap I can get into it. You'll see the pink baby sweater there on top which is just about done. I also have most of my tools and another project or two tucked inside. It's the best footstool ever, thanks Mark!!













Oh but look. I made matching pillows too! Yep, we had just enough fabric left over so I made these yesterday. One I had to kind of piece together, as you can see, but they match the couch great. I hope we have room for them and the footstool in our new house/shed.














Well that's a wrap. I'm off to finish the left front of the baby sweater then the sleeves. We won't know if it's a girl or boy until it's born so it looks like I'll be making a blue one too, just in case.

Later,
Anna

2 months and 2 weeks later...

To the few of you out there that actually read this thing -I'm back (at least for a little while).

I'll start with some photos...

These are my latest creations. Since my last post I have also finished two sweaters (for me!) a couple pairs of socks (also for ME!) a hat, an iPod case, a phone case (for Mark) and some other stuff I can't think of right now. What else???? I'm still adjusting to the new job, haven't set a wedding date yet, and we're in the long hard process of buying land, trying to build and move all the crap in our house. Fun? No, it really kind of sucks, luckily I have my knitting to occupy my time and mind, and when we're all done we should have enough material to write a good book.

We are getting ready for another baby in the family, on Mark's side, so I'm back to knitting baby stuff. Have a little sweater in the works and will probably have booties and a bonnet to match. Want to see a snap shot of the land we're looking to purchase?

That white spot in the center is me. The camera really does ad 10 pounds, doesn't it?

Enjoy the photos and I'll try to keep this updated better than I have these past few months. Knit on! -Anna

Holiday Time

At least I got the decorating done.


















Soon I'll post pictures of everything I didn't get done...
Anna

pictures

...Anna

Practice make perfect.

Me? Practice?
Yes, I've been practicing because my tension is off. What the hell? I don't remember it being this bad before. But, on a few of my last projects it was "far too predominant." So, I've been practicing, and damn it let me just say, I'm a good knitter, so why is this happening?
After a few experiments I realize that I have better control over the tension when I hold the yarn in my right hand. Now, I've always knit with the yarn in my left hand (I blame it on the fact that I learned crochet first). Anyway, I'm not as fast with it in my right hand, but it is looking better. This is my after shot. I'm way too embarrassed to shot you the before shot:)












I've made some progress on my sleeveless sweater. It was a challenge figuring out how to alter the lace neckline pattern to work with my gauge, but I did it and so far it looks like it is going to work. I hope to have the lace done by the weekend.













Here's a great little book I picked up.













...and the only thing I've done with this yarn (what I got at the Ren Fest) is ball it, by hand. I still don't know what I want to make with it. Maybe I'll make that a priority for this weekend.

Another project I'm working on are two shawls, or ponchos, for my nieces. I found a couple patterns,but ending up making up my own. I just couldn't find the pattern I was picturing in my head, so I started with a crochet pattern, and altered it a little, and now I'm knitting it instead of crocheting it. You use less yarn that way. I hope I get the tension right...

Later,

Anna