Gelprint cards

All eight of the following cards were made using gelprint. it was my first attempt - very fun. The ink was Distress Oxide; the paper was Neennah Solar white.

Stacked Cowl

 When the pandemic started - or close to the middle beginning of it - Stephanie Pearl McPhee started a Patreon page.  I've never followed anyone on Patreon, but decided to subscribe to  her feed.  It's been a great decision - I've learned lots about knitting.

One of the projects she created for us to knit "along" was a stacked cowl. I'm not going to say much about it - the pattern, etc - because Patreon is a paid site, and I don't want to betray that.  But the yarn I'm using is from River City Yarns in Edmonton, Canada.  It's called Eden.  It's a light worsted (or so it says - I'm not sure it's that heavy.  It is knit in a cowl in a certain way Stephanie teaches that allows the hand-dyed colors to stack.  Mine is the Galilea colorway - lots of blues and greens.  I'm knitting it a small needle - maybe a 5? I'll have to check.

Of course, I made a mistake, and it was too far back to Tink, so I had to take it of the needles to fix it - all while riding on a train, which was fun.

The Project off the needles - scary

The yarn, and the train window

Project in train window - check out those tiny needles

Bullet Journal Palette for September

 

The palette for September includes Tombows 991, 946,  and 899

September Bullet Journal - Monthly pages

The following two images are from my monthly setup for my September bullet journal.  These are the usual monthly pages I use.

On the left - calendar.  One the right - goal setting

On the right - monthly tracking.  One the left - gratitude log.

 

Parker the Bear

Once upon a time there lived a very small bear.  One clear morning, he found himself on a shelf in what he later learned was a gift shop at Great Smoky Mountain National Park.  The trek there had been long and arduous, and he had felt a little sick and a whole lot scared..  He had been packed in boxes with other bears - big ones that elbowed him out of the way, and small ones that were as frightened as he was.  When his box was unceremoniously dropped on the floor, he quickly ducked his head to avoid the sharp box opener that ripped through the tape keeping the box closed.  The young college-aged clerk grabbed handfuls of his companions and pulled them out of the box - he kept doing that until it was finally the bear's turn to be lifted up and dumped on a shelf with the other stuffed animals.  What would happen next?  Is this where he would be forever?

Later that day, a very tall man and a short woman with dark hair walked by his shelf.  They stopped and looked at all of the stuffed animals.  He knew he wasn't very special, that he looked just like the other small bears, but he liked these two people, and he hoped they noticed him.  Amazingly, the woman picked him up.  "Isn't he cute?: she told the man.  The bear's heart dropped when she sat him gently back on the shelf, and walked away.  He didn't know why, but he felt his heart break a little.  "Come back!" he thought.

And then they did.  The woman picked him up again, and said, "Let's get him.  We'll take him with us, and take pictures with him in the park..

"Sounds good,"  said the man.

"Do you like this one?"  she asked.  Please, please please like me! the bear thought.

"Yes, he has personality."  The bear's heart leapt.  He had personality!  He didn't know what that meant, but he was happy about it.

The college kid scanned the bear's tag at the check-out counter, and dropped him into a plastic bag.  The world began to bounce as he was carried out of the store and outside.  Outside!

The next thing he knew, the woman had pulled him out of the bag and sat him in a planter.  She took his picture with a large camera and with her phone.  When the man walked up, she said, "I think his name is Parker.  Parker the Bear.  Because he's from a national park."

He had a name!  He had personality (whatever that was)!  He was outside!

They walked to the car, and the woman sat him on the dashboard.  Full of excitement, he watched the trees go by as they drove.  There was sunshine, and shadows, Everything was green and beautiful.  That very day, he stood on the Appalachian Trail, he climbed a mountain, and he saw a hotel room for the first time ever.  He sat with the couple by the pool that evening, while the woman colored what she called card fronts, and the man listened to music.  They talked to each other, and seemed to be very close.  

He found out as he listened to them, that their names were Steve (the tall one) and Kim (the short one).  A day or two before, they had been at the beach, but had had to leave quickly because  a hurricane was coming to shore.  He didn't know what that was, but it sounded large and mean.  They had been disappointed to "lose their beach vacation" as Kim said, but he was happy they had.  He had been adopted!

In the couple of years after that momentous day, he had traveled with them everywhere, and he was in countless pictures.  He saw more of Tennessee, a whole lot of West Virginia, lighthouses in Ohio.  He flew on a plane to Orlando, and got to see where Mickey Mouse lives.  He went to a place called Tuscaloosa several times, and learned to say "Roll Tide!" with Steve.  A time came when there wasn't much travel, but he still went with Kim and Steve to what they called State Parks on day trips, walking on beautiful paths with them.  One summer, he road in a caravan of cars to move their son Josh to a place called Henderson.  Along they way, he saw mountains, deserts, prairies, windmills and fields.  He got to ride in the moving van with Steve, and in the regular van with Kim.  A cat named Percy, who seemed nicer than the cat who lived in their house (Sprocket) came with them on the long journey.  The next year, he road in another caravan, moving their other son, Grant, to Lexington.  It was a shorter trip, but just as exciting (this time with two cats). 

When they were home, he lived in a tree - he was pretty sure it wasn't a real tree - high in the air.  He was glad he was high up because the cat who lived there looked like he could eat Parker.  

His heart was full.  He loved Kim and Steve, and he thinks they love him, too.  He helped them when they were a little sad because, they said, he reminded them to have fun.  He hadn't felt special at all on the day he met them, but now he had a name, he had personality, and went with them almost everywhere they traveled.  He even liked the cat from a distance.  He was home and loved.  He was Parker the Bear.

Color Palettes for Bullet Journal

For each month in my bullet journal, I select a color palette.  I pull pens I will do headers with - usually Staedtler triplus fineliners, but sometimes also a fountain pen with appropriately colored ink.  I pull a selection of Tombow dual brush markers, as well.  Those join my Delde pen pouch, along with the pens and equipment I use every month in my journal.  Here are images of January's pens and March's pens.  I think I got so tired of pink and red, that I didn't photograph February's.  

January

January was a deep green with lighter aquas.  The Tombows were 291, 346, and 403.  I used a fountain pen with De Atramentis Petrol along with a couple of green Staedtlers.

February

I stuck with reds and pinks for this month, but leaned heavily on the pinks.  Tombows were 723, 847, and 817.  I stuck with one particular duskier pink Staedtler for writing. 

March

I veered away from my usual kelly green for March and went with a much more sage green along with purple.  The Tombows are 192 (using it a lot), 158, and 620.  I'm using a dark purple and a dark green Staedtler.

PS:  This post has a list of the supplies that I use every month in my bullet journal.

St. Patrick's Day Cards

 I love St. Patrick's Day.  I'm not sure why - except that it means spring, daffodils, and relief from winter.  Plus, we have some Irish heritage, so it seems fitting.  And because of all of that, I like to make St. Patrick's Day cards - not many - just a total of five.  

Two of this one...

Two of this one...

And one of this one, similar to the first one, but with a different sentiment.

The stamp set used was this one.  It's by Colorado Craft Company, called 4 Leaf Clover.  The illustrator is Anita Jeram.  She's a children's book illustrator.  It's the second set like this I've purchased, and I'm loving the cards I make with them.  I used Neenah Solar White paper, and colored the images with copic markers.  A couple of elements were stamped a second time, fussy cut, and attached with foam squares for some interest.  Credit for that idea goes to Yana Smakula.

Bullet Journal Cover Pages

 I had some fun in my bullet journal during October and November of 2020 by using doodles throughout the pages.  I usually use washi tape and stickers - and I did go back to that in December, but October and November were all doodles.  

I picked up on that habit in the 2021 bullet journal.  So far, for January, February, and March, it's been doodles all the way.  I have also added a cover page to each month - I've never used a cover page before. These are designed with a large doodle and a quote.  They are inspired by doodles I see on the internet (so know that).  

I can't draw, but I enjoy this.

Christmas Tags

For many Christmases, we have been using hand-made tags on our gifts.  Steve, the boys, and my mom always return their tags to me, and I use them again and again.  Still, I do run out of them eventually, so every few years, I make more.  This year I added 22 more to our tin of tags (the image is missing one)  I'll be happy about it next Christmas.

Foiling on Cards

 

For the past month, I've been using a laminator to do foiling on cards.  For these, I used pieces of acetate printed with toner along with foil.  I like the way they look.

2021 Crafty Goals

Years and years ago - maybe in 2004 - I made a New Year's Resolution to learn how to knit.  I had crocheted since I was in elementary school, learning how to do it in Girl Scouts.  In fifth grade, I asked my teacher to teach me how to knit.  She did - but she really didn't know how to cast on, so that didn't last long.

Anyway, new year's resolution 17 years ago was to learn how to knit.  I started researching on the internet, and I bought a book or two and taught myself.  And I've been knitting ever since. And in some years following, I made new crafting resolutions.

So what about this year?  Here are my crafty goals:

• Plan and begin the Yarn Harlot striping cowl - This is a project from her Patreon page.
• Spend some time playing with card making supplies with no outcome goals.
• Choose a few underused craft supplies for card making and use them
• Make some Christmas cards before the end of the year.
• Attempt to create a watercolor painting for the dining room.

By the way, the image on this page is Bald Head Island Lighthouse from our vacation in 2020.

Watercolor Christmas Cards

At the end of last year, I participated in an Online Card Class called Simply Watercolor Christmas.  It was lead by Kristina Werner, and it was great.  Many of our cards this year were projects I made from this class. Here are five of my favorites.  The pictures aren't great - I took them at night right before we addresses and signed cards to send them out.  Maybe next year, the images will be better!

 

System for sending Birthday and Anniversary cards

So, this is a boring bullet journal spread, but it is the key to how I remember and plan to send out birthday and anniversary cards.  This is my process:

• I have a one-page spread in my journal for each month.  On those spreads, I list each person who has a birthday or anniversary in the month in chronological order.  So, if a person was born on the 10th of January, I list 10-person's name.
• I try to work at least a month ahead (sometimes two).  As I plan the cards I will send, I match cards to each person on the list.
• Working in month blocks, I sign the cards, address the envelope, and seal the card in the envelope.  I add a sticky note to the envelope with the birthdate / anniversary date.
• I then grab the stack of cards for the month and a calendar. I add the "mail date" to each sticky note, estimating how much time it will take for the card to arrive at the recipient. I add the stamp to the card.
• I leave this stack of cards on my desk at work.  I mark in my work planner on each day I need to mail a card.
• As I plan my day, I pull the cards that need mailed.  All I have to do is rip off the sticky note and drop the card in the mail.

All that said, I was late sending out my first card of the year. Oh, well. It works most of the time.

Masks

What have I been up to, craft wise?  Many things, but this is one.  My mom picked up a mask for me at her beauty shop (the beautician's neighber makes them, and she sells them in her shop).  I like then way it was made, and finally bit the bullet, dug out fabric, made a pattern, and started sewing.  I'm not a person who sews, but, apparently, I can make a mask.  Or a dozen.  Here are a few of them.

Camaleon Yarn

My closest local yarn store is this one: Kanahwa City Yarn Company.  Yesterday, I saw a post on their facebook page to this pattern: Hurricane Hat, with a suggested yarn of Malabrigo Worsted yarn.

We went for a hike at Coonskin Park, and, finishing a little earlier than expected, we went to the yarn store, and I bought three skiens of Malabrio Rios yarn in the color Camaleon.

I think it will become a hat and a scarf.  Looking forward to knitting it.

Doggie Birthday Card

The top picture is of a friend's dog.  The second one is my attempt to create a birthday card for said friend, featuring said dog.

Hard to be creative?

Have you noticed that during the pandemic, your normal urge to stretch and test your creativity is gone?  Or at least stunted?

I love to make cards, and yet, it took a month of pandemic to sit down and make a card.  The experience was joyful, and I wanted to make cards (even when I couldn't) but I didn't until that day.  Now, I'm making them, but not as often.  I miss it. 

I actually have two blogs, and while this one is lucky to see a post a month, I usually post about four times a week on the other one.  But from the middle of March until now, there is only a single post.

I hope I can settle into a new routine of posting and creating.  I'm working on it.  But if you are experiencing the same thing, I think we can both take comfort in the idea that this is a normal reaction to an abnormal time. 

Forest Green and Navy Tweed Scarf

I finished a scarf tonight.  The truth is, I should have finished it months ago - all that was left was the bind off.  I'm not sure why I didn't do the last row ages ago. but there you go.

Steve and I purchased the yarn at a store called Cast On Yarn Studio in Vermillion, Ohio.  We were taking a quick trip along Lake Erie in Ohio to look at lighthouses.  We turned the corner in Vermillion, and there was the store.  I hadn't even looked for one.

The yarn is from Cestari Sheep and Wool Company in Churchville, Virginia.  It is from their Traditional Collection, 100% Wool, Forest Green and Navy Tweed.  It is a worsted weight wool, but a little thicker than what I usually use as worsted weight.  I bought three skeins - you can read about the stash addition here.  I only used two of them for the scarf.

There is no pattern.  It is a 2x2 rib, 34 stitches wide.  It is over 5 feet long - taller than me, so maybe 5.5 feet?  I used Knitpicks needes, US number 8 - that is larger than usual, because of the thicker wool.
There are errors in the knitting.  I did some of it in movies theaters (back when we weren't avoiding a virus and went to movies.  I didn't always notice the errors and by the time I did, it was too late to fix them.

I'm sure with its squishy ribbing, and thick wool, it will be a very warm scarf next winter, made of my two favorite colors.

Christmas gift spread

This is a spread in my Bullet Journal from 2018 - I did a similar spread this year.  .  It is how I organize gift giving for Christmas. Each box or stocking is dedicated to one person (or a pair of people).  Names are written on the gift tags or on top of the stockings, As gifts are planned or purchased, they are added to that person's gift on the page

I could do exactly the same thing using a list, but I like creating this spread and filling it in.  Plus, I don't really know how many gifts each person will receive when I start, and that would be a drawback to a simple list.

Vermillion yarn

While we were traveling through Ohio, visiting Lake Erie Lighthouses, (see previous post), we walked through the town of Vermillion.  It was lovely - I recommend it.  As we turned the corner, we walked right up to a local yarn store.

It is the Cast On Yarn Studio, and you can read about it at this link.

I looked at lots of yarn there, and bought three skeins of Cestari Yarn.  It is a two-ply worsted weight in blue and green.  Each skein is 170 yards.

Go visit Vermillion.  Buy yarn and ice cream, visit the shore, and see the lighthouse.