A few crafty bits and pieces

I thought I'd do a little blog post on the crafty things I've been busy with lately, which admittedly isn't that much, but I suppose it's better than nothing.  My writing work has been really busy for a while so I wasn't able to do much crafting for a few weeks, well...months really.  Things have quieted down a little on the writing front, so I've had a bit of time.

I've done some sporadic sock knitting.  First, I made a pair of "Aradena" socks in the "Bite Me" colourway of merino/silk blend yarn from Cherry Tree Hill.  You'll find the pattern here if you're a member of Ravelry.  You might remember I blogged about this yarn a long time ago - it was sent to me by Isobelle Golightly's lady, when I was having a particularly rotten time.  This was my second full pair of socks.  My very first pair of socks is still just a single sock.  My second pair, made with Lion Brand Thick-and-Quick yarn, was my first complete pair.  So these are my third pair, but technically my 4th and 5th sock.

I then moved on to the "Twinners" pattern from Avalon Fiber Arts (pattern is at the bottom of this page) and I did it in Universal Classic Worsted Tapestry yarn in a self-patterning red and grey mix, which is 80% acrylic and 20% wool - durable for hard-wearing socks, and washable.  I really like the pattern.  I decided to do the back of the leg plain, instead of patterned.  Here it is on my foot...

...and here's the pattern down the front of the leg in more detail.

I still have to do the second sock for this pair.

In the meantime, I started the sock from the "Socks that Rock" club that I'm in for this year - I get a sock pattern and a selected yarn every 2 months.  This pattern is called Petrosinella and it's definitely just my colours! I love the pattern but it's relatively complex and quite fiddly.  I'm working on it....slllooowwwwly.

I finally got around to listing some of the scarves I had in stock....they're now available in my Etsy store.  I know it's not winter, but it's good to be prepared!  I had some good weather so I took photographs outside and I had them all hanging on the short fence line - the fence has no real purpose other than to be decorative, and to be a good photo prop!

I also listed some of my felted and beaded pendants.  I love taking pictures of them using natural settings, like the stones and stumps in my yard.  I feel that brings out their charm in a way that an indoor setting just can't do.

Lucky Nickel tried to help with modelling a pendant for me but it didn't really work out.

I also sheared Maggie May, the bunny.  She was overdue for a fibre harvest and I took advantage of a breezy day to do it.  The wind keeps her fluff out of my nose!  She's a very pretty rabbit - sort of chocolate brown face and pale buff all over.  I will enjoy spinning her fibre.

Most of the "good fibre" is in the aqua coloured basket - the belly fur and the not-so-nice bits (otherwise known as a bunsplosion) are scattered to the winds for the birds to use in their nests.

Maggie looks a little bit naked but I'm sure she'll appreciate her summer cut when the temperatures really start to warm up.

For the past few weeks I've been enjoying the opportunity to go to "open studio" time at Deanne Fitzpatrick's rug hooking studio in Amherst.  It allows me the opportunity to chat with fellow fibre-folk, and it also gives me "permission" to spin some yarn, which I don't always allow myself at home because I'm too distracted by all the other things around here that need to be done.

Here's some variegated Jacob fleece with copper angelina in the "Earth Day" colourway from Desert Garden Farms in Idaho.

Here's some coiled art yarn that I made with some Blue-faced Leicester fibre in the "Alice in Wonderland" themed spin-along from BeesyBee Fiber.  I loved the vibrant colours and felt that the Alice theme lent itself to a fun interpretation full of unexpected texture and a touch of craziness.  I plied it with some hot pink crochet cotton.

Here is the yarn I made from some Polwarth fibre available as part of the Split Rock Ranch spring spin-along.  This was one definitely in my colours - I love lime greens!  This is a 3-ply (Navajo-ply) yarn and I haven't decided whether I'll sell it or not because I'm really fond of it!

And finally, I also did a bit of unravelling.  I bought a 100% wool sweater from the thrift shop that was particularly thick and chunky, and I decided that instead of felting it, I'd rather re-use the yarn in another project.  So, here's the original sweater...

 ...and here's what it looks like now.

So that's all from the crafting department for me!  What have you been up to?!