Work in Progress

I've started working on the items I want to have ready in time for fall/winter. I have a few new items I want to add and the first on my list are fingerless mittens. I like gloves but hate the inconvenience of having to take them off everytime I need to use my iPhone or dig for change or a million other little things that you need your actual fingertips for. So, since that's what I prefer, that's what I'm gonna make for the shop!

Of course, coming up great ones that are just the right size is an exercise in patient knitting and reknitting.


Cute, right? However, a little too big for my small hands.


And this was the second "sample" I made! Supposedly customized for my chubby hands and stubby fingers! I really thought I'd nailed it, which is why I went ahead and made the pair. But, alas, just a mite too big still. No real loss, I'm sure they'll fit medium size hands and at least this tells me there really is no "one size fits all" for mits. At least not the ones I knit. I am now working on another pair and truthfully, despite the sizing frustrations, these are really fun to make! They knit up pretty quickly and I like the way they look and feel. I'll probably never get a chance to wear them myself while living in Miami, but I like the idea that they might bring a little fun and color to hands in colder climates.

Currently on the tube as I craft: All About Steve. I was prepared for this to be a bad movie, which is why I waited to watch it on cable, but it's really not that bad. Decent enough as a background distraction, anyway. I Hate Valentine's Day? - now THAT'S an awful movie.

Non-Shop Crafting

In the interlude of not crafting for the shop, I started playing around with various buttons and doodads to see what trinkets I could come up with. I don't know that I have any intention of selling these, but they're fun to make. And I love pretty colors!


The blue and yellow one is definitely for me since, in trying a new adhesive out, I managed to glue the star a bit off-center. I figured I'd have at least one second to adjust it but boy does that adhesive adhere! No sooner did I put the star down than -bam!- it was stuck. No budging. Makes it a great glue but I just have to be extra careful when I place things. I think I did a better job with the pink one. Big and simple, I know, but that's how I like my accessories.


These are the only two I've managed make, though I have at least six others waiting patiently to be glued. I have to live with things for awhile before I can fully commit to them - I'd feel like I'm wasting pretty resources if they turn out badly, even though I know it's just for fun.

Currently shuffling through my soundsystem: Don't Fear the Reaper - Blue Oyster Cult; Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin' - Journey; Over The Hills And Far Away - Led Zeppelin

Knitting...finally!

So, I think it's no secret that I haven't been super-inspired about knitting lately. However, I remembered that I've been meaning to whip up some preemie baby beanies to donate to different charities and hospitals and I figured now was a great time to do that. In the last couple of weeks I came up with these:


I'm really happy with the way these turned out and wish I had a baby doll or - novelty!- a real baby to model these on so you could see how teeny these are. They're just a bit larger than my palm and if you know me, you know I have small hands. They knit up so fast and totally served at least one purpose of motivating me to get back to crafting for the shop again. I haven't decided yet if I'm going to send these to one particular place or divide them up into smaller batches to hit more places at once. Actually, I think I'm gonna make these a monthly project - or at least an in-between-inspirations project - and pick a different place to send them to each time. Wanna know where to send your own charity knitting to? Click this and this for an array of links.

Currently on the tube while crafting: reruns of Clean House. I don't know why I can't get enough of this show.

Good Deeds

This weekend I went to Miami Dade Animal Services for a volunteers orientation. I was first introduced to Animal Services when watching Animal Planet for hours on end when I first moved here. They had repeats of Miami Animal Police playing constantly and I became addicted, watching and learning but mainly crying at the abuse of animals they showed. A few months later I was determined and excited to get my very first dog ever, so we saved up (since I love to do research I researched EVERYTHING I could about owning a dog and learned that they definitely come with expenses) and trecked out to Animal Services to pick him out. I was forewarned that I either wouldn't find a dog I wanted the first time out or that I would want EVERY dog I saw, but I had my list of breeds that would suit our lifestyle and was primed to choose responsibly. As soon as we saw the little bugger in the above picture, though, all that went out the window.

He was the only dog in that section not barking and just trotted happily over to us when we approached the gate. He was so cute and sweet and hairy, I felt certain he was the one for us. A few days later we brought him home, named him Moondoggie and he's been an intregal part of our little family ever since. He's so loving and lovable, well-behaved, and blended in so well with us that I can't imagine not having him. Let alone that the shelter could've euthanized him just because they run out of space and funds. So, after legally becoming a Miamian a few weeks ago, I followed up on my promise to myself to go volunteer at the shelter and do whatever I can to get as many deserving little creatures a home.

I've never volunteered anywhere before so I'm excited to see how that'll be and was encouraged to see that there were at least 20 other people at the orientation with me. They seem to be especially in need of volunteers during the summertime as that is when they receive the most pets so I'm happy with my timing (delayed though it may be since I should've become a legal Miamian ages ago). I went to get my criminal background check done today and I'll know in a couple of days if I've been accepted. Wouldn't it be awful if I couldn't 'cause I'm a criminal and didn't even know it? Also, the ensuing jail time wouldn't be so great either.

On the crafting front, not much knitting has been 'round these parts in quite a few days. All this heat just doesn't inspire working with yarn. So I'm looking for other outlets! I've dusted off my beading bins and have started playing with some new jewelry creations. It's been a while since I've beaded so the creative noggin's a little rusty but I'll get there. I also intend on working on my sewing skills since I consider them mediocre at best. For a little extra motivation I'm going to my first craft night in Miami, hosted by local crafters. I've been looking forward to making local craft connections and am so happy to have my first tonight.

But before good-time outtings comes chores so I'm off to do some laundry now!

Currently shuffling through the sound system: Ok Go - Million Ways; Estelle - Come Over; Miss Li - Bourgeois Shangri-La; Them Two - Am I A Good Man; Estelle - American Boy; Phoenix - Fences; The Brothers Johnson - Strawberry Letter No. 23

Hee!

Wax On, F*ck Off with Ralph Macchio from Ralph Macchio

This cracked my funny bone up. I did always love the original Karate Kid (the sequels? - not so much). And he has stayed impressibly young looking - 48 years old? Who knew?!