dreams and possibilities

This morning I received an email from my daughter. A note to tell me that a job had been posted for Ravelry. Something that is so perfect for me that I dare not hope, but of course I will anyway. A job like one I loved and had to leave. But even better, because I could work from home! Maybe make a difference! So dream I will and I emailed my desire. Then I sent a little resume. I'm not experienced at resume, but what the heck, dreams can lead to possibilities so.......off it went into cyberspace. Now I will wait and hope and wait and...you get the idea. All of the little "sayings" roll around in your head. The ones that used to roll off your mother's tongue, and now you probably say yourself; "if it's meant to be, it will." "You'll never know unless you try." "Don't let the door hit you in the....."oops not that one. 

So now, of course, I can't sleep. I hate that! Why can't you just shut off your mind and close your eyes and drift off and stay that way for 8 whole hours? 

I got a lovely package today from a little swap group. Green beads on a hank (that's string) that I can easily move to perle cotton and knit with them. Green is one of my favorites and I am designing a little amulet in my mind as I sit here. (another reason why I'm not sleeping).

I have a little yellow spring bag on my needles right now and may get to felt it tomorrow along with the blue one and the pink one I finished this week. Then I will bead on all three of them. Flowers perhaps. It is time for spring, for summer, for bare feet and summer weight yarns. So much yarn, so little time. 

woeful inadequacy, did i even spell that right?

Have I mentioned that I just love Ravelry. I have become a true addict. I check my Ravelry messages before I check my email. I have joined groups, exchanged ideas and even swapped beads. I have become linked to other bloggers and enjoy their postings. I feel like such an amateur when I read these posts and hope that my wit is enjoyed by SOMEONE out there. I want to earn the MacGyver badges from iamtherforeiknit. So how do I do that?

Spring is due to spring any moment now. I have knit and beaded away the winter and still feel like there is so much more to do. But now, I would like to do it outside. I am  not alone, oh no! There are many others, so very many that feel just like I do. A long, dark, cold winter. We are ready for crocuses, lily of the valley and, yes, even Black flies. 

Because, after all, one can knit outdoors too.

I just loved making this one. It is a long winter necklace that is woven and embroidered over and around half inch cording. It makes me feel good to wear it and it goes with so much. Lots and lots of hours, but so much satisfaction. These remind me of a crazy quilt. So many beads, so little time. 

now where was I?

The last couple of weeks I find that I am truly sick of the cold. I don't mind winter, but the bone chilling cold has gone on for such a long time this year. I have been fairly productive though. My little Valentine necklace here was quite the success and I have enjoyed testing it out. It was so bright and happy that I forgot the cold for a bit. I finished another necklace and even made a third, all of which show up on my Etsy site. It is snowing here again and we may get a couple of inches. Enough to cover the old dirty snow and make things look Christmasy again. I even hit the slopes for a couple of  hours and was delighted to find that I could still "shush?" with the best of them. I think I may have to try that again tomorrow on the new stuff. New England skiing is not generally for the faint of heart as there tends to be more ice under the snow than snow, if you know what I mean. New England skiing means sharper edges and a helmet as a fashion statement. I have not skied in 3 years so I need a helmet. Everyone else has one and I am the Mom so tell them all to wear them. I suppose I have to practice all the preaching. 

Today, as I recuperate from those few runs, I am knitting and staying warm. I have some lovely new beads from a bead swap and will post them here. I am so excited and looking for ideas. A summer shell with beads in the hem may be just what I need to show off these lovely beads. 

Who knows? 

Too much time on my hands

Last week I was wandering around hating the cold weather and wishing for spring. It was so bad, I just could not seem to get anything done. In disgust I jumped online to see what other people were doing. I found a pattern for a sweet little Valentine heart to knit and felt. So off I went to find red yarn. If that wasn't enough I stumbled on to a blog showing some martini olives, also to knit and felt and low and behold! my day was complete. I happily set about knitting the little suckers and felting them in the bathroom sink. What fun! Then my husband came home and wondered aloud what I had been up to. Uh Oh! I had to show him the olives and hearts. He got quiet, but only for a moment; then he laughed and said they were so cool! I am just so lucky! and have way too much time on my hands. 

new year

Well, a new year will arrive in a couple of days. I think about resolutions every year and don't really make them as they never seem to work out. Trying to think of a crafting resolution  yields a list so long that I am not certain where to start. I want to bead the other foot of my pair of tap shoes in blacks and whites. So many hours, but the first shoe is sooooo much fun. Then there is the bead knitting. I want to add beads to some shawls and maybe a sweater, but in a very tasteful way. Have the books and ideas, just can't seem to get there. Ah! well!!!! I have bags to post on etsy and need photos. Now, photography is not my forte. That is my daughter's department. She is the one with the eye. The sale sign is out again at Webs, so off I go to stock up. I keep trying to find patterns I want to make and list the needed fibers, but then I walk in and it all flies out the window. We picked up an antique sock knitter and Larry is having a wonderful time trying to perfect the sock! They are interesting. Yards of tubes with heels full of holes. Today I see a pair that is pretty respectable on the machine so will finish them today for him. Wild! I wonder if I can add beads to the cuffs? Silly, of course I can......

didja ever?

Did you ever get the feeling that there is sooooo much to do that you can't seem to decide where to begin? Well, my friends. I feel that way, way too often. So many projects, I sometimes find myself wandering around and can't remember where I started. I did catch the mate to that tap shoe last week and began a set up row of beading. I'm almost afraid to begin because I will probably sit in one place for a loonngg time. The first shoe took so many hours that I am not sure when I started and if I will ever really finish it. I have been needle felting a foot; yes you heard correctly, a foot, complete with toes, toenails and perhaps even polish. A toe ring? They are all the rage. My daughter finds that a little creepy, but I can't seem to stop myself. If it ends up looking like a real foot, I may  have to keep it beside the shoe because I won't want to cover up the details. 

Needle felting is a strangely addictive activity. We took a class in March at (Webs...hooray!) and made dolls. Now you must know that I am not the drawing and sculpting type. I try and woefully fail so I tend to stay away from such things. But I found the craft to be so very forgiving that I actually finished the doll (complete with breasts and bottom I might add) and have been very pleased with her. She is in need of a tiny beaded necklace, earrings and purse, but those will come later. 

Anyway, the other night, what with it being October and all) I needed a pumpkin. So I sat down with that deadly little needle, (I use one and not a bobbin full) and started stabbing away. A short time later I had the form and then added the color and then a stem, leaf and vine and I was so happy with it. Needle felting makes me feel almost artistic. 

Today the sun is shining and the leaves are turning and it is only 37 degrees. I will be felting a bunch of things I have accumulated the last week or so; a couple of bags for halloween, (hey check out the candy corn felted pattern at lion brand; it is cute) and then a purse or two for a Christmas fair. I have a basket full of felted ornaments to embellish with beads and so it goes. I suppose fall cleaning of my home calls to me, but gosh, there is so much to do. Maybe next week.