What a great excuse to start a new project - VACATION!  The Cloud Chaser relaxed cable vest has been in my wish file for some time and figured that being on a trip and staying in hotels is the perfect excuse to get it started.  The problem was finding the perfect yarn for the project.  Before we left on our trip, I went to our LYS to see what they had to offer.  Found gorgeous things and of course the yarn that would have been perfect and gorgeous would have ended up being close to $100.  Left that gorgeous hunk on the shelf but purchased some top of the line knitting needles.  It's all about the tools.  Proceeded to Hobby Lobby, and honestly wasn't sure what I purchased would work or not.  The picture really doesn't do the richness of this color justice.  

So here is the beginning of the bottom back portion of the vest.  The more I work with the yarn chosen, the more I'm thinking that it will work just fine for 1/5 of the cost of my dream yarn.  It's really all about this fantastic pattern from Amy Swenson - Indigirl.  
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It's funny, but I like to remember the special TV shows that are on when working on special projects.  This first part shown was done while watching "The Notebook" and listening to Bill gently snore when he fell asleep during the movie.  
 
Still working on getting my groove back and decided that I'd better take my husband's advice.  When things get a little too much he says, "Now Karen, how do you eat an elephant?"  To which we all know the answer is:  one bite at a time.  Yeah, yeah.  OK.
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I did finish the 2nd of the dishcloth trio.  The square one has soooooo much texture to it that it should be able to scrub a million germs off dishes, or bodies!  HA!  These are great projects for that quick, I need a little FAST gratification, since most things take more like days, weeks, or months to finish.

The Celebrity Apprentice is on tonight, so #3 should get started, if not finished.  Then to the PO they shall go.  :)

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Wanted to try my hand at putting quilt blocks together, and believe you me, I am NOT my mother!  Darn it anyway.  If she were alive to see what I did, she'd be horrified!  This block is way below my personal expectations of myself.  But the colors and theme were working, so I kept on going with it.  One day it will be a large portfolio journal cover for a blogging friend.  Really, who doesn't like sunflowers and pinwheels and bright yellows/greens?!?!  This is called Pinwheel #9, for what reason I have no idea, but pattern is free - just click.

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This journal 'vest' was a project I did last weekend when I decided to stay in the depths of the dungeon of the basement.  Watched old movies.  Mother's Day.  Just wanted to be alone I guess.  But anyway, this little purple tweed gem came out of that weekend and just needed to be sewn into a journal cover.   So that was accomplished and posted on Three Sisters' Marketplace for sale.

The back and insides are a pretty neat butterfly batik fabric that I'd, yes, been hoarding.  DO NOT MAKE A TV SHOW ABOUT MY HOARDING FABRICS!  I'm definitely not as bad as the fabric cutter at Joann's.  (yes, she spilled that little secret the last time I was there)

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And to end the weekend, this was the sunset that I got to enjoy last evening off our duplex deck.  If those houses weren't in the way across the road, it would have been perfect.  But still, it was very pretty.  The camera (as usual) didn't pick up all the colors that were really there.  But you get the point, right?  :)

 
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There is nothing new to report as far as accomplishing anything creatively.  It seems that 90% of what I've started there either isn't enough to finish it, or my idea just didn't work.  It's disheartening to say the least.  There are dry spells in everyone's creative life and I guess you just have to work through it.

There are three Special Olympic 2012 scarves completed.

There is a commissioned bag that needs more supplies before I can even sit down to sew it.

There are four hats that need to get done, but not real motivated as there hasn't been payment for the last three yet, even though I know it will come.

A three-ring binder sits with everything ready to cut and sew for a friend.

There is a journal sweater that I started out of slub cotton yarn, but that will get frogged as it's not meeting my vision.

There is a box of wonderful fabrics from a blogging friend that sits by my sewing machine, waiting for inspiration to hit and complete.  Want this right, and worthy of sending back out.


So off I go, celebrating mother's day with my memories and maybe some yarn.  We'll see.

Something's gotta give!  Right?  :)
 
I have uploaded 5 products to the "Three Sisters' Marketplace".  Now it has all been sent off to their jury to see if it is all worthy of their market.  Time will tell, right?

See if you can see my shop there by clicking:  Three Sisters Marketplace

Wish me luck, folks!  :)

OK, now I'm off to get this last baby blanket done and delivered tomorrow.  The boards for Bill's leather idea have been cut by the local Home Depot and now it's up to him to round those corners for me.  This was HIS idea, so HE can sand those corners, don't ya think?  :)

Here are the projects I submitted (if you'd like to see).
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And so they're done - finished - no more of these to be had.  Too many other things on the plate around here.  But I think they came out great, and it just closes another chapter on a previous life of mine.

I even located some Tinkerbell satin and fleece - must have thought I was going to make blankets or something out of it.  Well, so I cut them out and sewed one up.  They are so simple that it's probably not going to be something offered in my store.  But they will make super baby gifts for all those babies coming at work.  Just hope one of them is a girl!  :)

As I'm taking pics of these, Bill asks if I'd had a chance to work on any of the leather ideas yet.  Nope.  Can't lie.  Not happening today, because I feel the end of the commissioned baby lace edged blanket coming along this evening...... ahhhhhhhh, that will feel good.

Thankful for the triple treasure today.  But I know there were really more than that.  

 
The sun came out this morning and so did the iron, but that's another story.
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After the two week pile of ironing was finished (shame on me) I finished up the packages that need to ship out tomorrow and got all THIS done!  Every t-shirt is bagged and sized, just ready for whenever and/or whoever.  So at least now they are off the dining room table!

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Our package of leather scraps came yesterday and just the smell that came out of the package when we opened it was faaaaaaantastic!  Don't think I'll get to trying out the idea for these today, but soon, very very soon.  The sizes that were sent are just perfect.  YEAH!!!

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So while I'm digging through some things that still had not been opened since we moved over two years ago, I find these three knitted pieces.  Knowing exactly what these were made for, I stopped and thanked God for such a treasure find.....  These could possibly be the last of such items that helped me get through a lot of anger and depression in years past. 
PLUS I came up with a HUGE box of things that are getting shipped to someone quite deserving of them.

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So here is what these knitted 'swatches' were intended for....... knitted journal covers.  Something I had not visited or entertained for over 3 years.  The color in this picture isn't very good, but this is the completed version of the middle one pictured above.

The black one is sitting on my ironing board along with fabric cut and interfaced, ready to sew up (whenever I feel the drive).

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Blessings - and USE that creativity you've been given!
 
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For some reason, I enjoy following The Crochet Dude, just because it's so different that a guy enjoys working with yarn.  But his designs and creations are over the top COOL, even though I've never tried working one of his designs.  But I noticed that one of his venues was Lulu.com for self-publishing his stuff.

So the "Wishbone" has made its way over there now for purchase.  Yeah, I'm just trying to keep up with "The Dude".  
 
Love it when good news comes in the mornings.  AnneMarie from the Netherlands has put my Wishbone Cable Handbag into one of her treasuries on Etsy today!  I adore free advertising.  So I visit her blog and she is quite the crafter!  Her blog today is call "Link Your Stuff" where you can put your own items into her blog post to show off.  Yes, more FREE advertising!  It's amazing how such an old art of using yarns has come back with such zest and creativity.  Check out her blog post and "LINK YOUR STUFF"!!

ANNEMARIE'S BREIBLOG to LINK YOUR STUFF

I linked the "Love Me or Leaf Me" bag.......
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     So the weekend BEGINS!  My computer desk is actually looking much better after the last two hours of paying bills, balancing a very thin checkbook, and filing the mountain of a pile of paperwork that's been building up.  If you watch me on Facebook, you'll know that I've requested a maid.  tee hee  But this is what I see every morning when I check emails, FB and my favorite blogs.  Now that this picture is posted, the camera can get charged back up for a weekend of crafting.
     Maybe you can see in the picture all the journals I've done over in the wicker basket and on the side cabinet.  Bill's antique clock has sat in that very position for over 10 years on this desk, but he never winds it, so ignore the time it's telling because it's way earlier than that.  :)  .....a calendar, my Bible, an extra ethernet cord (we don't have wi-fi), an old pair of glasses that are at least 10 years old (for emergencies) and of course my coffee - what more could a gal want?  Oh, I KNOW!  I want two days of blissful crafting, sewing, knitting or crocheting!  
     The checkbook shook it's gnarly head at me today and said NO to the Shark floor steamer we so need.  But another time, right?  God gave me hands and knees to use, so we'll see if I can use Bill's.  HA!!!!!!
The camera is now going to go get charged, and it's time to put on my weekend uniform (fat pants and sweatshirt) and get this MADNESS party started!  Keep watching - it could be a lot of fun.