New Years Crafty Resolutions

Each year, like so many others, I try to think of something admirable, constructive or weight-loss-ish with hopes of great achievement. Many things have gotten lost along the way due to life in general or just that perhaps my aspirations were a tad too unrealistic. I find every year I aspire to do something great I don't really enjoy doing, such as: running on a treadmill or finally stopping my nail biting, etc...
This year I'm hoping to create a New Year's resolution of something I enjoy doing- as well as crossing off some skills on my crafty bucket list. Since I'm a planner, of course I have outlined my bucket list and distributed the activities appropriately to be festive and therefore purposeful. However this plan does have an ulterior motive... I stink at blogging. I write about 2-4 a year. So for one year, once a month I will try to blog about my Crafty Bucket list of things "Mandy Made".

So here's the plan:

January! My birthday Month! This month's project is Tatting. Now, I know what you're thinking- You've never really envisioned me having or giving tattoos (and right you are!). Tatting in an old form of lace work! Not sure what it looks like? Just take a look in your Grandma's linen closet and you'll probably come across some. But just in case, here's some Wiki Facts: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tatting

This is a little sample of what I've learned. It's just a little practice chain. In tatting, one makes these little rings and then (when I learn how...) a series of picots that join the rings into a desired pattern making a shape. This project takes a tatting shuttle and crochet thread.
I'm not convinced I will make a whole lot of things with this craft, but I've always wanted to just know. You, know?
Over the years, I have threatened to raid a convalescent home to learn this skill (joking of course), but then, thankfully, one of my regular customers, at Starbucks, knows how and started teaching me! Awesome!

For the rest of the year I will attempt:

February: Candy making! I hoping to make Chocolate Truffles, hard ribbon candy and possibly peanut brittle or divinity (white chocolate fudge with walnuts).

March: Soap making using some of my Provence Lavender. I plan on signing up for this class at the Urban Craft Center with my Mom.

April: Learning Entrelac, a semi-advanced knitting technique.

May: Intro to sewing class(es). I'm hoping to acquire some basic skills and possibly learn how to install a zipper. Urban Craft Center

June:Quilting? I think there's a class for that at the Urban Craft Center.

July: Spinning Wool.

August: Canned Preserves of summer fruits

September: Dying yarn (natural fibers) with acid dyes.

October: Pumpkin Carving.

November: Paper Crafting- like a whole project with quilling or something like that.

December: DH and I are thinking of wood burning...

Whew, I'm overwhelmed just thinking about it... but I'm so dang excited to get started! I'm not exactly looking at mastering one of these crafts, I just want to be able to say, "Oh Yeah, I know how to do that!"

Sharing is Caring!

For those of you yarnies who do subscribe to Ysolda Teagues blog, this is old news from last week. I thought this blog post was not only beautiful (as much of her work is), but also informative. Although it's a million degrees out this week, take a look at some adorable sweaters and how to care for them properly!http://ysolda.com/2011/08/26/sweater-hospital/

We Did It!

I have officially started my own knitting group! Together, with my good friend, Lynne, we have made the group on ravelry and my husband is finishing our badge (logo). I can't wait to get this rolling!
I still love my West Hollywood group in the Original Farmer's Market and plan to continue my patronage there, but there isn't a stitch n' bitch in the SFV. I need my knitting group like oxygen. Recently, I just started going back after a long sabatical-- NEVER again! The sense of community and support I get from my group is something I want to share with more knitters. How could I pass up an opportunity to do just that?!?? I can't wait to spread the word see some knitters trickle in!
So, the question is, What are you doing Wednesday nights from 7-9pm? Come on down to Starbucks at the Sherman Oaks Galleria* and see me! Bring your yarn, needles and notions for some delicious Starbucks beverages and good company!

*Parking is available in the galleria. Two hour validation with purchase!

Neglect.

Yeah, this bloggy thing has not been happening lately... but I have something to blog about-- sort of. Taking advice from a friend of mine, I will be making monthly themed cowls and posting them! I've been knitting them up because of the instant gratification it gives me. So stay tuned for more!

Extreme Knitting!

This past week has been CRAZY. I finally  finished the Husband Sweater and the Husband is thrilled! It was definitely trying, and I sacrificed much sleep and sanity to finish. Why was this so terrible? Well, since I am teaching at the Urban Craft Center, I have to make some samples of what I am teaching. I wouldn't allow myself to continue with my sample knitting until I finished a very important project: the Husband Sweater. Pressed with my self-made deadlines, I worked into the night with my friend, Lynne. Bless her, she stayed up with me on Sunday and met me at a Starbucks the next day to help me finish for three hours!!! At Starbucks, we realized that I had mis-read the pattern and the sleeve cap decreases were wrong so we had to rip back about 4 inches of work. Plus, ripping out the seams I had worked on all afternoon to complete. At one point our conversation ceased as both our sets of knitting needles were smoking from knitting so fast! At this point, Lynne politely mentions that the sleeves look a bit too long, and I say that I have measured Pat's arms and that it's probably fine. Lynne sewed seams as I wove in many ends and we finished. I couldn't have finished without her. Then, exhausted and drained, I drove home to present my hard work to the Husband. He was sooooo excited and put it on immediately. He hugged me with the sweater still on and thanked me. I step back to look at my handy-work and gasp-- the sleeves are waaaay to long. Of course, in my delicate state, with the realization of possibly ripping it apart AGAIN, I put my head down on the kitchen bar counter and cry.

The next day, I had recovered from my break-down. I called Lynne to thank her for the millionth time or so for helping me and told her about the sleeves. Basically the next step is to pick up stitches, cut  off some of the sleeve and re-knit the ribbing. Ugh, another week...

So this past Monday I spent some time at the Urban Craft Center waiting out traffic after a trip to the chiropractor. I live in Sherman Oaks, so the drive home from Santa Monica is reasonably horrific during rush hour traffic. I was working on a baby blanket for My Cousin, Tracy, when I said hello to the owner, Angharid.  To make a long story short, the center needed a teacher for some knitting and crocheting classes and they asked me to do it based on this baby blanket! I said yes of course...

I'm really excited to have this opportunity to spread my passion for yarn and sticks with others, and actually get paid for my time and efforts.
The inspiration for this color combo came from a woman at my stitch and bitch, Ellen. She had made a potholder with similar colors and I fell in love with it. I went to Jo-Ann's in Porter Ranch, went straight to the Cotton-Ease and chose these colors.  I'm really happy with how it turned out-- and even more happy that it landed me a free-lance job knitting. woot. I will be giving this away October 9th at the baby shower. I hope my cousin likes it... I know I do. :)

Labor Day Weekend

My Labor Day weekend is coming to a close. It's been seriously uneventful. I got sick last Thursday and fought a cold the entire three days. Friday I went home early from work and took a nap. When I woke up, I took some medicine, felt a little better but didn't feel like watching TV. So instead, I went to my wall of yarn and began to do some non-commital crocheting. It felt good. I was a little inspired by this, so Sunday night I made two amigirumi owls for Patrick's friend Ron's daughter's first b-day party for next Sunday. It turned really soft and cuddly. Tonight, My Husband and I had dinner with his folks at a Restaurant near us, Blue Dog. My Husband raved about the burgers... I thought they were OK, and the service was slow and super disorganized. Anyway, when I got home I made espresso brownies fo work and cinnamon muffins for the hubby. Not to mention today we already did ALL the laundry and cleaned the whole apt. Whew! Now, time to wind down and prepare for the week