Sneak Peak

Handwork Bags on the Line

So, it wasn't supposed to be such a pitiful sneak peak. I actually have several pictures of different things I got done today. 

Since Blogger keeps eating my photos.....this is all you get.:o)

Tons of stuff going into the shop over the next few days. 

I am so jazzed over the Grand Opening and the Talent Show. 

I hear there are going to be some wicked good ukulele players.;o)

 

Kiska's Vest

 

 Rainbow Dyed

Last week I knew I had to get started on a vest for Kissy. She watched me make Ronan's vest and was sad sad sad that it wasn't for her. When we put it on him she looked at me and said, "Now you have to make MY heart warm like Ronan." How could I refuse that? I wanted to tell her that she would get one for Christmas, but not only does that kill the suprise, she's only 3 and doesn't quite get waiting like that.:o)

I didn't like how wide the shoulders are on Ronan's vest. I tried to make my own pattern for the first time and it went about as well as one could expect. I adapted his from Georgie Hallam's Rainbow Dress pattern that I bought for Kiska's birthday dress a couple of years ago. Back then I think it was the only pattern Georgie Hallam had out on Ravelry. Now she has tons! I'd seen a lot of Milo's which is what I was shooting for with Ronan's. But then I saw Eden's Adam and thought that the straps looked closer together. 

 

 Auriana has already placed the leftovers in her basket.

I don't know if the straps actually ARE closer together, but I do like this pattern. It has a nice fit, and I like the underarm detail. I'm going to make Ronan and Kiska each one for Christmas, and hopefully one for Auriana too. 

(Somehow, I don't think Tyler would appreciate one, even if they came in his size.)

But until then, Kissy has her wooly goodness. 

Oh, I'm also not thrilled with how it patterned. I think this yarn would have been much nicer in a pair of socks. It doesn't really matter what I think though. Kiska loves the pattern and Ronan has requested that I make him a rainbow one too.:o)

That's the nice thing about knitting for children. They don't see the places I messed up. They aren't critical of my color choices. They just see that I spent a few days making something just for them.

And I get to see them wearing my time and love.

Kiska in her "sweater for ME!"

What I've been up to...

I finally took the leap. The siren song of the Alley Cat Collective was too loud to ignore any longer. I'm SO excited! 
The Alley Cat Collective is the lovely project of Julie Ressell, the owner of Three Dog Books in downtown Wichita Falls.  When I first walked into her shop I was both captivated and insanely jealous.:o) I HAD been hoping to open a yarn and toy store downtown within the next year but she beat me to it.:o) I was ready to cry. Until she told me about the craft collective she was starting. 

So let me get this straight....I can pay you a commission or booth rental....get to sell my stuff and teach in an awesome space......but not have any real responsibility? Hey, I think I kinda like the sound of that!

It's taken me a long while to get up the confidence to offer classes. It's strange when I think about that, because I teach all the time.

I have several things I'm working on for the Collective and my new etsy shop. I'll get pictures to post over the next few days.

So watch out Wichita Falls!! The Wild and Wooly Waldorf Woman has come to lazure the town!

Or Something.:o)

Kettle Dyed I put in the shop yesterday.

Handwork Monday II

Class Yarn Hanging to dry.

Today we got our hands dirty as we played with food coloring and wool. Each child chose two colors to work with when we begin weaving next week. I think the color choices are BEAUTIFUL!! They did great!

My "low mess method" was not as low mess as I'd have liked. I should have taken glass jars. Instead I used plastic baggies and several of them leaked. The colors didn't seem to be affected, thankfully. I wouldn't have wanted to take muddy colored yarn back to the children next monday!

We didn't take notes as carefully as I intended. I did end up with accurate notes, but the children weren't the ones who took them. Perhaps my expectations were too high. I think it had more to do with my dye method/organization/time limit. But it was an excellent learning experience all around. 

Next week we start weaving bookmarks with the wool we dyed. It should prove entertaining!

Handwork Blessings!

 

WIP "Wednesday"

The progress

It is taking me forever to finish this hat and I'm not sure why. I get frustrated with knitting at night because I'm often so tired my fingers don't want to work properly. I finally gave up on being frustrated at the pace yesterday. I decided that I would just knit a row when I had a chance and not try to "finish" it every time I picked it up.

So far that's been a great strategy. If I stick with that I think I will finish it before this week is up.

Our first try at Kool Aid dyeing our cotton handwork bags

The children wanted their handwork bags to be rainbow like the ones we saw here. Colour Bazaar does some lovely work. We didn't know that Kool Aid wouldn't take to cotton the same way it does to wool. I kept the pink and orange bags for myself and we decided today that we are going to try food coloring this Friday on our handwork day. I hope it works.