Fiber Festival of New England

As promised in my last post, here is my haul from the festival today! Not much but I love the yarn I got.

Lael Cowl

The other weekend was Rhinebeck/NY Sheep and Wool. I did not post my haul pictures from that like I usually do, so here is some shots.

It was hard choosing what I wanted when I had limited funds. The only plan I had was to get yarn for a project I was going to be starting. That is the red yarn in the front on the top photo. Everything else (aside from the Rhinebeck stuff I pre-ordered) I picked up what interested me.

I saw a really pretty cowl/scarf knit up in one of the booths in a super soft yarn. I immediately bought the yarn for it and wrote down the pattern name, Lael, free on Ravelry.  I cast on the cowl on Oct 27 and I just bound off this morning. There were two or three days I did not knit at all, so this was something I actually knit up pretty fast! It’s a really easy, and nice, pattern. I’m sure I’ll do it again.

The yarn for this cowl I used is Shalimar Yarns Breathless in Bees Knees colorway. It is so soft and squishy! I just found out my LYS carries this brand so I’ll be looking into getting more of it sometime in the future.

Tomorrow I’m heading to the Fiber Festival of New England. I was going to go today, but my mother is watching my niece who is sick. I’ll post my haul from that tomorrow night. Or sometime soon. Pending distractions, ha!

Recent projects

I have not updated in awhile but wanted to share my most recent projects.

I wove up this cowl for my mother using the TurtleLoom fine gauge hexagon pin loom. I  have her other ones and they are really fun to use. This fine gauge one is meant for sock yarns, which I have lots of .

I then used a loom to knit up a headband for myself using some of my handspun. I bound off a bit tight, but it helps keep the band from sliding down too far. The colors don’t pop on the red background, but they are oranges, some yellow, reds, and a tiny bit of black and white scattered in.

This is another project woven on a pin loom (Zoom Loom for this one). I wore this to Rhinebeck on Saturday and got lots of nice compliments on it.

Another loom knit project is this cowl I made for myself, again using my own handspun. I have it pinned out but I need to finish blocking it.

I also have another weaving project in progress, plus a knitting project I will be starting very soon. Hopefully today when I get home from work!

Adding to a painting

I’ve been a bit nervous about adding something to any of the paintings that I’ve done, but I really wanted to try it. I purposely have poured some with the intentions of using them as backgrounds. Last night, I finally gave it a shot.

This is an idea I’ve had to do for awhile. I don’t have any drawing skills, so the balloons are a bit wonky. I used Posca paint pends to add them. They work pretty well. I think I’ll be picking up some stencils to use for other designs.

Just a few more

I went to Michaels this weekend to hit the sale on canvas so I have a bunch more to play with. I did a few new paintings this weekend.

These two I did to use as background pieces. I’m still planing what I’m going to paint in the red or sky one, but the green will be a forest.

This one is kinda crazy. I think painting something on it would make it too busy. I am still undecided.

I was not trying to make a rose in this one but that is what I got and I’m thrilled. I will be doing some more work on this one once it is dry. I hope I don’t mess it up!

I started playing with the paint skins. Here are the start of some pendants. I did not have any bezels but had a bunch of these washers that I had before for a similar project. I have many plans for them.

Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop!

I have been painting like CRAZY! I am really in love with this style of painting because it is fun, easy, and you never get the same thing twice. So many different techniques and looks you can get. I haven’t tried them all yet, but I’m far from done doing these.

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Some more pours

I got some more pours done. I really can’t stop. Well, I had to now because I’m out of canvases. I do have more coming in the mail with some paint. part of my order should be here tomorrow. I need to get to the store and pick up a drying rack.

Learning Acrylic Pouring

Acrylic Pouring is something that I have been interested in since I first saw a video of it years ago. Last month while on Youtube, I came across Mixed Media Girl’s channel and started watching her videos. I think I eventually watched them all, and it took awhile.

While I have been trying to limit how many things I do craft wise to try and save some money, I recently decided that if there is something I want to try, I’m going to try it. We only live once after all! So I bought some canvas and a couple other things I needed. I already had plenty of paints to play around with.

Last weekend I started pouring and have been absolutely loving it. Here are the ones that I have done so far (most are still wet in the pictures).

Ravellenics

This year I participated in the Ravellenics over on Ravelry for the first time. My goal was to only use my handspun yarn.  Most are just small bags since I was using small skeins made from the samples from SpinningBox’s. I also tried a bit of felting, but I did it by hand so it’s not too much. I may throw those items in the wash at some point to felt them up more.

Here are all the items I made!

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January Spin Crazy!

Since I got my Ashford eS3, I have been spinning daily. Right now I am still going through my fibers from SpinningBox’s so they are small skeins for the most part. I just found two more to spin up so I’m off to do that.

Right now I wanted to share the crazy amount that I have spun just in the two or so weeks since I have had my spinner. This is just for January alone. I have not set the twist yet so have not measured anything, but I wanted to show pictures of my new yarns.

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I am having so much fun with this. I am planning on weaving with the smaller amounts but I’ll have to think hard about what to make with the bigger skeins. Especially that last one. I love the Orion Nebula one so much!

A New Toy!

Last week my Ashford eSpinner 3 arrived and I have been spinning up a storm since. It only took a short bit to put together, and then I was off and spinning. I really like how you can adjust the speed, and love the start/stop ability of the foot pedal. It becomes a hand button when my cat wants my lap though, lol.

The fist one is the fiber that came with the spinner. The rest are from the December 2017  SpinningBox. The last one is from this months SpinningBox. I will be spinning the rest very soon.  Just to note, I have not set any of these yet so they are still a bit twisty in parts.

Having fun with Oxford Punch

I have been having fun doing punch needle and rug hooking. I found someone selling some Oxford punch needles for a really good deal, so bought them. They arrived awhile ago and I quickly did a project with them.

I made a simple design using some cookie cutters I got for needle felting. I am still using acrylic yarn in my stash while I get the hang of things. It was hard to punch at first, but soon I was whizzing along. I really like this needles!

This is what the project looks right now. I will be making it into a pillow as soon as I decide on how I want to do the back.

This hoop was not the best for this as I had to keep pulling it tight, but it was the biggest I have. My gripper frame is small and I was worried about the teeth ruining the already punched parts. I do have a bigger one on my wishlist that I hope to get soonish.

Smooshy Cowl

Last night I finished loom knitting up this cowl made from Mushishi yarn. it was my first time using this yarn and I really like it. Nice and soft!

I still need to figure out how to block this (assuming I do it) but it is otherwise finished. Just a basic 2×2 rib stitch.

Cozy, warm hat

Yesterday I loom knit myself a hat. I used my handspun yarn that is a blend of alpaca and angora. I wish you could touch it through the screen. It is so soft that I can’t stop petting it. I will be leaving shortly to go to a party, so will be wearing it. It is only 10* out right now so I definitely want a hat on!

I did not use a pattern and it was made using the green Knifty Knitter.

Christmas Gifts

I only made a few gifts this years since we now do a Yankee swap with one half of my family.  So it is just getting gifts for kids but I’m not making kids anything because they are too picky. The exception is for my two youngest nieces (2 and 4) I made them each a little bear with my Zoom Loom.

For my mother, I made her something that can be used as a trivet or a wall hanging. I still need to put the wool felt backing on, but otherwise it is done. It is rug hooked and the first one I’ve done binding on. It needs work but I don’t think it looks bad. I know my mom will love it anyway. Monogrammed with her initial.

I bought two Oxford needles off of someone on Ravelry so I am looking forward to playing with those when they show up. I am still having lots of fun doing rug hooking as well as more punch needle. More projects for those to come after Christmas.