~Yarn Along~

Joining Jenny for her Yarn Along. I love to check out all of the post’s to see what everyone is making. I am always looking for new inspiration, aren’t you ??

This week I am still working on my little blue sweater, see previous post as to what I’ve been doing.. there is only so much time in a day, you know?

I can’t wait to finish this sweater, it is so soft, but I want to share a few other things.

Like this Bunny, it’s a Barbara Prime Patten,the Well Dressed Bunny.  I have made quite a few of these, you can see some more on my my Ravelry page. She is so generous, you can sell them, give them to charity, which is what I did for Bama Bound Quilts. I made the Bunny, Tabby Kitty and the Lamb. These patterns are really, really cute. Anyway, you can find more information on her page. I used a very very soft alpaca, I wish I could remember the brand, it was on sale at Webs. Ugh. It’s not coming to me right now. For the dress, it’s also a Barbara Prime pattern..Girl Monkey Dress. I used Brooklyn Tweed’s new yarn.. Loft. It is so very fine, yet rugged. I love the colors..

Lastly, if you knit for dolls, you might like this. I have made several different ones of this patter, A Simple Shrug Pattern,
it’s also quick and easy. It’s for personal use only and I really like it. Here is my latest, minus the button and unblocked~
I have some pretty pink and green fabric, maybe for a dress and ruffled jeans, or a peasant dress.  I think it will be cute. This is leftover Spud and Chloe Sweater yarn. Love that yarn.  What have you been working on?

For reading, I am on Marry Higgins Clark, Nighttime is my Time a guy named “Owl” is about to do some bad things. Also, re-reading The Art of Simple Food by Alice Waters. I really like this book, I checked it out from the library as many times as was allowed, and I think I incurred a late fee for it, but it was so worth it. I went ahead and purchased it. I have made many recipes from it, pasta noodles, pizza dough, Minestrone (has seasonal versions), potato and leek soup. YUM.

~Doll eyes, doll legs, doll parts~

Do you remember that song? I used to like Hole. Don’t laugh.

I am up to my eyeballs in doll.  My favorite new hobby is making dolls, this is a newer hobby to me, but I really love making these dolls. My favorite parts are embroidering the face and then making the hair. Love it.  It takes wool, interlock, and yarn and magically a little girl appears. It’s so cool and the funny thing is that no doll ever looks like one I made before. They are like children as in that each one is a different, with a different personality.

Making a doll takes much patience.  Sometimes you must stop and walk away.  It’s only later that you see everything is just fine.

Now, I am onto wardrobe planning I have a little sweater on to keep her decent.  Oh the possibilities are just endless…

~Yarn Along~

I’m excited again to join Jenny again for her  Yarn Along. So fun looking at all of the projects.  This week I read The Shop on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber I loved this one. I love to read about knitting and there is plenty in this book! On my nightstand you will also find this Remembering Adelia: Quilts Inspired by her Diary.

As far knitting, I’m done with the little yellow vest. It’s cute. Too big.. I should have gone a few needle size’s. I knew that, but didn’t do it. Ugh. Cotton is not my favorite yarn. Too stretchy. I love the pattern, it is so quick and easy. I will try again in wool.

This week I am working on this Acadia pattern I love it so far. So cute!I am using a wool bamboo yarn. It’s so soft.

Can’t wait to see all the other projects!

Happy New Year’s~

Happy New Year’s~, originally uploaded by jennbennstar.

If it’s New Year’s day you will find this on my plate. Every year without fail. It’s just what you do.  Black eye pea’s, cornbread, greens and cabbage. Yum.

~Handmade 2011 and a goodbye 2011~

Handmade 2011, originally uploaded by jennbennstar.

 

~Goodbye 2011~

Good bye 2011. I am happy to say goodbye.  Not the worst year by any means yet not the best either. I am so thankful for my health, my family, my job, and the abundance of choices I have here in this country.  I am thankful to be moving forward into the new year. I want to spend a little bit of each day working on finding and expressing my true self.  I want to honor my past and in the same breath lay the bad parts down and walk away. I don’t want to hold onto the “yucky” parts anymore.  I will treasure my happy memories and work hard to make many more.  I will work on having empathy and compassion for those who need it most.  I want to be a better person and to be able to offer help when I can. I want to give freely what I can and expect nothing in return.  I want to stay in my happy place. Peace be with you and Happy New Year!

~Joining in~

Ginny’s Yarn Along.  I have been enjoying her blog for quite some time now.. I love to knit, I love to read each night before bed. Actually I get all my books from my grandmother, she will be 99 in March.  Whatever she gets, she passes to me, and vice versa.  We have done this for years. We used to go the library every other week, her legs got tired and it became to much, but we still read.  She always said she loves to loose herself in a book, a book will take you anywhere you want to go. She is so right.

This week, let’s see, I am reading Debbie Macomber, 6 Rainer Drive.    It’s snippets of many people’s lives that all live in a single community. It seems as if everyone is working towards a happy ending. Who doesn’t love that?

This week my project is this lovely little doll sweater vest from Blue Skies Dragonflies.  I am using an organic cotton it seems to match some  fabric I want to use for a doll dress. I think of daffodils when I look at this yarn and fabric. . I know it is still Christmas, but my thoughts seem to be creeping towards Spring.   Just a little bit. Winter in the south settles upon us in January. The long months are ahead (January & February.)  So, thoughts of spring keep me happy.

I made a new project bag, pattern is from Jenni In Color Order Oh my, love this pattern. She has a smaller size on her blog that’s free, and then she made a pattern for multiple sizes and a recipe for a custom size bag. I love this bag, so clever.  *not the best picture* but trust me, it’s cute!

 

My little friend, always near by.

~Let’s spin~

~I have always wanted to spin yarn. I finally took the plunge. I started with a drop spindle.  So fun and relaxing, but what I really wanted to learn was how to spin on a wheel. My gosh, they are not cheap. I can’t spend a ton of money without knowing if it would even be something I really enjoyed.  I don’t know anyone who spins yarn here where I live.  I don’t know anywhere local that even sells spinning wheels. I had to take a leap of faith and after much research, I found Fidelis. Faithful. You have to have faith using this wheel. I am not sure it is the very best wheel for a brand new beginner, but I had faith I could do it. I think I am doing just fine.

I love her. I don’t know her name yet, but it will come to me I’m sure.

Fiber is from Becoming Art this is a Superwash Merino/cashmere/silk blended fiber. Called Winter’s Silence. It is so soft, so muted. Lovely just so lovely.

I love thick and thin art yarn, this is what really sparked my interest in spinning. I love this type of yarn. It’s not perfect by any means, in fact this is straight off the wheel, not yet set.

So pretty. It’s Rumpelstiltskin From Magnolia Handspun I can’t say enough good things about Camilla. She has been a huge inspiration to me.

Rosie loves to watch and help. Must keep a close eye on this little one.

~What’s been going on round here~

Well y’all… I love Pandora. I really love it. You pick a song and it builds a  ”station” around the songs you like. Love that. Imagine a little rock, a little country, a little folk. Foo Fighters, Nirvana, Kid Rock, Dixie Chicks, the Band Perry. Daughtry, Paul Simon and everything in-between. Cool.

My cat ate some roving.. I am freaking out. I don’t know if you remember our Kitty but he ate yarn– we think… the next thing you know he was gone from a horrible intestinal blockage. He didn’t make it. Oh, it was bad so, so bad. Scratch that, I think she is ok, this was yesterday and she hasn’t missed a beat. I don’t know. We’ve had a bad run with cats.. I might be a little paranoid.

It wasn’t this, it was gray roving. This is an art batt. So pretty. It’s from my My friend and inspiration Camilla.  So pretty and sparkly.

Hello Charlotte~I have Charlotte on my mind. I love the name Charlotte. I didn’t use to, but I really do now.

I love her little outfit~

I am about to start a project for a friend. I so hope I don’t muck it up.

~Hello pretty face~

I have just realized my blog is outdated, old stuff on here. Ugh. I need a makeover. Deep sigh.

I am excited about Christmas. It is shaping up to be a good one this year. This is me praying for no problems, no drama, Lord please keep us all safe. Please.

Trying to find a Christmas service for my daughter and I to go to. My husband is working on Christmas, but I want to go to church. I really do. Must get on that.

Also, need to get teacher gifts.. not so prepared this year.. what to do ??

What’s new with you??

~You can call her Hermione~

According to my daughter, this little one looks like Hermione in the first and second Harry Potter movies. Bushy brown hair with natural highlights. Funny. That girl is funny.

I love making these dolls. I just love the whole process.

I think I am getting a little better with each doll. I love the yarn mix I used for her hair. I love her knitted dress and booties.  I love this  Dress pattern.  I love the little shoe pattern.  I am working on a little sweater. I will have to show you when it is complete.

The holidays are coming fast. Can you believe it?
I am trying to get my thoughts organized.  I have to admit there is not much time left.  I am hopeful this will be a lovely and quiet holiday season for my family. We have had a few rough ones here of late.  This year I am working towards keeping stress very low and finding joy in the simple things, and focusing on the beauty of the season.

 

How are  you doing this holiday season? What are you working on?

~ You gotta have Faith~

Meet my new little friend Faith.

I love her.  Her picture is blurry, but I still think she is beautiful.

So hard to get a good picture.

She loves to be outside, barefoot with the wind blowing her long hair. Her mom made her put it up in ponytails.

She loves the Autumn light.

She loves to smell the flowers.

Details:

Waldorf Inspired Doll pattern from:: Growing up Sew Liberated. So cute!

Hair from::  my FAVORITE yarn lady, Camilla.

Mixed with a blonde mix from Dancing Rain Dolls, which unfortunately is no longer in business

Peasant dress, my own pattern.

Leggings, I modified with 2 layers of ruffles from this pattern.

Sweater is::  Little Kina   I modified the pattern a bit by knitting a long sleeve version.

I named my Waldorf Inspired doll Faith because I made her at the same time we were facing personal challenges at home.  Through prayer and faith, today things are much improved. I have George Michael singing in my head, but it’s true, You Gotta Have Faith, Faith, Faith.

I really loved making this doll, she is my 2nd Waldorf Inspired doll. The first was from a kit from Dancing Rain dolls, the kit came with a pre-formed head. This time I bought my supplies from Weir Dolls. The head was a challenge but I think it came out just fine.  I foresee making more little friends, oh yes I do.