Getting More Exercise

But for a different reason than the usual.

When we re-carpeted and freshly painted our bedroom and bath, we changed up some things in the bath.  Much of the 'decor' (and I use the term loosely) did not return to that area, which left some bare wall space.

And when Wonderful Guy opted for landscapes over flowers for the photos in the bedroom, I decided that the empty wall spaces in the bathroom could be filled with flowers.  Well, photos of flowers...

There were spaces for 3-8x10s.  The task, as I saw it, was to purchase frames with mats, and choose three likely candidates, and print them off myself.  I choose printing myself so I will feel free to change them up as I feel the need, or choose others if first choices didn't work, or for any other reason that wouldn't leave me committed to the investment of having the photo lab paid to do it.

I had in mind one photo, a pinecone photo taken in Yellowstone, which drew a raise eyebrow from The Guy when I told him.  'Pinecone?'  He doesn't always see the 'big picture'.

I continued...undaunted.  Found the frames on sale.  Located my pinecone photo, and while ditzing around the Yellowstone folders, found several likely wild flower photos.

Hmmm...I was sort of thinking of my yard flowers....but I followed my instincts here.  One I liked needed some tweaking, being a bit washed out in color, but I was able to pull out my minimal Photoshop skilz and a presentable result was produced.

The chosen photos were printed, and amazingly, matched what I was seeing on my screen, and I didn't run out of ink halfway through any of them.  I was patient enough to let them dry before slapping them into the frames to see how they were going to look.

And (here's a big one) the frames had two hangers for the horizontal mode, so when hanging...I had to use thinking (!), measurements,  and a level to make sure they hung straight.

Here's where I am getting more exercise.  I am pleased with my efforts.  So pleased, in fact,  that I run upstairs to use that bathroom just to admire the results.

The Pinecone

The tweaked Sunflower

Polemonium

And more of a perspective...

This fills me with all sorts of joy at having figured something out that works.

Things Finished

Pretty Thing (The Yarn Harlot) out of Aarlen (a gift from Martha, the Quilter).

Linux, the Penguin, for Professor Niece, out of Brown Sheep Lambspride, Red Heart Wintuk, LionBrand MicroSpun.

Just A Little Under-Shirt, for Grandbebe The Fourth, by Robin Orm Hansen, out of Tahki Cotton Classic.  #2 is underway.

A closer shot of the crazy-making crochet...(clicky to biggy)

Calorimetry, by Kathryn Schoendorf (knitty, 2006), finishing up the last of Aarlen (the very last, with absolutely NONE leftover.) (None. Zero, Zip, Not. One. Inch...) (It was 40% cashmere after all.).

A close up of the button I used, from my 'tin of old buttons found in an old cellar', most of which are off of flannel workshirts, I think, but this one was not, and perfect for the job.

The little projects just keep coming, while the quilting and spinning progresses.

Lessons in Humble

The ‘Just A Little Under Shirt’ knitted up just swimmingly.  I loved the stripes.  I loved the cotton.  I love the teeny-ness of it.

I loved it all…until I hit the finishing up part of it.  Single crochet around the arm openings.  Double crochet around the neck.  I-cord or crochet chain for the tie.

(After observing the photos of the finished objects on Ravelry,I preferred the look of the crochet chain to the bulk of the i-cord.)

Ya’ know…I do lots of things well.  I can knit cables, lace, socks.  I can (most of the time) hit gauge.  I can cast on both provisionally and magically.  I can cast off half a dozen ways.  I can knit with the loops of magickness.  I can felt.  By hand even.  I can spin (intermediately!).  I can dye yarn and wool with out muddying the colors (too badly) (and if I do, I know how to overdye!).  I can clean raw fleece, and card it for spinning.

This does not mention talents outside the fibery realm, like gardening or baking chocolate chip cookies, or writing an understandable sentence.

But I do not crochet without much uncertain effort. And the finishing up of the 'Just A Little Undershirt' was truly a lesson in the humble.

Thirty minutes it took for the 26 inch crochet chain.  I claim slippy cotton yarn…partially...

Actually, the double crochet around the neck lies better than the single crochet around the armholes.  But I am not daunted.  I do not think my bebe girl will pass judgment on what her Grandmama knit for her (yet)and decline to wear it.  I have yarn for more and I feel that with practice will come progress. (Never give up!  Never surrender!)

More Little UnderShirts are in the works.  Come hell crochet or high water ribbing….which is an option I found that others have used while perusing those that have knitted the same...others that, no doubt, can crochet no better than I!

Quilt Progress

When moving the hoop again, I assessed how many blocks have been quilted.  I am about halfway there.

With the blocks and inter-pieces.  After that, the sashing and binding will remain.  My hope is that Grandbebe The Third will have her quilt by her 2nd birthday, end of summer. I don't think that is so terrible.  It's not like it's her 21st birthday...

This time, instead of quilting til I drop, I am shaking it up a bit with some spinning in the evenings, and knitting at lunchtime.

Keeps Iron Needles from becoming a dull girl.  Or, at least, bored.

And I think that this is the crux of the matter...to feel that I am a knitter, a sewer, a quilter, and spinner.  All of that, equally...in no particular order.

Not that I am a knitter who sometimes sews, and has a quilting project that she is trying to finish.  When I think of it that way, it somehow is more burdensome.  It somehow takes time away from other things.

But really...the quilting doesn't.  I like the quilting.  I have some ideas for some projects.  I have another grandbebe quilt to work on, too.  And lawd knows, Dearest Sister is already making plans for quilt numero cinco.

Since the first of the year, I have been breaking up my evening down time with spinning or quilting, occasionally knitting (Remember, I knit over lunch..). It's not a marathon, nor a chore.

It's just part of what I do.  I quilt.  I sew.  I spin.  I knit. (and garden...and prep fiber...and felt wool...and dye yarn...)

Exercising My Shopping Talents

In preparation for the trip requiring a current passport later this year, I require a new swimsuit (that won’t be in danger of the spandex giving up the ghost upon hitting the chlorine of the pool…) and new dressy (sort of) shoes.

I thought I had the shoe thing already covered but alas, I was informed that my go-to strappy sandals had been 'judged' by those more in the know than I. Oh yes they had, and not in a good way.

A dress was also on the list.  When one has given birth to the bride, one must look…something.  And in this case, the something is described as ‘beach formal’.  I think I lived in a state that was not land-locked once, but that state was Texas, and I was living in the panhandle...which is a land-locked state, really.  I do not know this beach formal...

So shopping I went.  I first looked on the internet for likely targets of my suit shopping, as it has been umpteen years since last I ventured into a dressing room with full length mirrors, bad lighting, winter pale limbs, and an armful of the stuff of which nightmares are made, working their way off the hangars on which they were never meant to hang.  I was hoping to avoid the whole experience.

Then reality struck.  When have I ever bought a swimsuit sight unseen?  The answer would be never.  And for good reason…

And the suits I was looking at don’t seem to be carried in the brick and mortar stores for a look-see and a try-on, and also, very expensive.  Too many strikes, me thinks.

Girding my loins, I headed to the local shopping mall, took a deep breath and headed for the ladies swimwear.  I was almost overwhelmed immediately with first choice…which was size….I don’t know!?...and my word, it was the 2^nd week of March!  How can they be sold out of some sizes already?

Why must this be so ha-arrr-rd!

But being determined to ...pretty much just get this over with…I grabbed three suits I thought might work, and headed to the dreaded dressing room, where, believe it or not! I really liked the third one I tried on. It amazingly fit the bill…or the bod….the old, pale, flabby bod, in this case.

And upon checking out?  It was 20% off. I started flexing my shopping muscles, and headed to shoes.

Where I struck out.

But newly determined, I set my sights on the local DSW for Saturday.  I had been there once, and upon asking about narrow sizes (I have a very narrow foot) (a very narrow foot), was told that no…sorry, nothing but mediums, so I shrugged and left.  I thought I had a few other options, but my other options apparently have quit carrying anything by mediums as well.  I really hate shopping for shoes other than, you know, athletic shoes, or the outdoorsy type sandals we folk wear in Colorado...and sometimes that is a challenge.  One store did carry some narrow shoes.  But suffice it to say the dissed upon strappy sandals would be a better choice.  We are talking old lady shoes to the max!  I don’t need supah stylin’, but I still have some pride.

So I thought I needed to revisit DSW and actually…you know…try some on.  Some manufacturers run narrower, and I might find something.  And I did.  First thing I saw, first thing I tried on.  Problem was, I saw the shoe in blue, which I loved.  But then thought the camel would be far more practical, you know…but I loved me the blue ones, and kept coming back to them.  I looked through all the other sandal-y espadrille styles, found a pair of flat t-straps that will work, too.  Then came back to the big decision.  Blue? Or practical?

Well, I followed my instincts.

And they match a dress I already have just perfectly.

Totally awesome.

Shopping…done.  I am ready to go!