New Photos

I have been photographing new stuff and rephotographing some old. I put these sets of images together and keep second guessing myself on which I like better. If you have an opinion please let me know and tell me why you picked the one you did.

Click on the images to see them larger.

Crochet mania

I finished the Noro Spring Ripple Scarf that I have been talking about since June. I bought the yarn in June and finally got started on it a couple of weeks ago. I LOVE this yarn! If you haven't ever used it or seen it in person you have to get your hands on some. I have heard people complain about working with it because of the thick and thin quality of the yarn, and the fact that it is a bit rough. Neither of those things bothered me, in fact they make me love it even more. It is a silk wool blend, and sock yarn thickness. The tonal variations are amazing. Just love it! By the way, this isn't for me, and I'm not telling who it's for. It is my secret, for now.

Speaking of crochet, I just discovered these new additions to my friend Kim's shop Tiny Hearts. I love the large, bold feel of the neck warmers, and how they can be worn as a capelet as well!

New pieces

These two pieces are going in the etsy shop today. I got a few items photographed as the sun was sinking yesterday. I have so much that still needs to be photographed, but today it is cloudy. I can work on shooting some of my gallery work in my lightbox though.

I didn't turn the Kabocha into soup last night. Frank got home late and I didn't feel like cooking. I'm doing it tonight though, along with making homemade Ciabatta Bread! I'll let you know how both go.

Time to get to work....

Feeling like fall

The weather around here is fluctuating between rainy and perfect. Today it is sunny, in the 60's and beautiful. I have been cooking a lot and trying out many new recipes. Most have been eaten too fast to photograph! I did take pictures of my Kabocha squash, before and after roasting. I got three cups of mashed roasted squash out of that. I'm either going to make Black Bean Kabocha Soup, or Roasted Kabocha Soup, both from La Fuji Mama. Either one will be delicious, I'm sure. The squash tasted nutty and sweet and I will surely be cooking with Kabocha squash again.

Another sign of cooler weather is Lucy cuddling again. She doesn't do much of that in the summer, but come fall she is ready and willing to cuddle up. I finished this scarf that I was working on last night. I'll take pictures soon.

If you can't find Lucy, check under the blankets!

I did it!

I made a garment for myself from start to finish! Granted, it is rated as an easy beginner pattern. I have made clothes for myself before, but had come to rely on my mom to do it for me. Getting this to fit properly, even being a non-fitted top was still difficult. I put the top together and it fit in the hips and hung off my shoulders. My mom showed me how to alter it to fit, but I did all the sewing! She also helped me alter the pattern so that I can make it again without the alteration issues and it will fit from the get go. I love the fit, the pattern, and the fabric. It is Simplicity 2593 by Cynthia Rowley and I used an Indian Cotton Ikat fabric. I'll have to get a better picture, it was wrinkled after wearing in the above one.

I'm working on another one to test the altered pattern. It is a yellow striped cotton with gray bias tape edging. No fancy neckline on this one. I am really digging yellow and gray together right now.

I bought fabric for another Cynthia Rowley pattern, this tunic. I got navy linen half off at Joann. I am going to do teal piping around the yoke and the teal fabric is for lining the yoke. I don't know when I will tackle this one. It looks significantly more complex, and I really hope the fit doesn't need alterations.

I found this cotton at Joann for $1.50/yard. I got enough to do this full skirt, just have to decide what I want to use as the contrasting fabric.

Driving home from Argyle on Saturday the sunset was amazing! If I would have had my camera with me I would have pulled to the side of the highway multiple times to take photos. Instead I caught the tail end of it when I got home. I also wished for a camera while Frank and I were walking in the Riverbend Nature area yesterday. My camera is too bulky and I was walking dogs and jogging some. There is no way I would have wanted to lug my camera along. I'm leaning more and more towards wanting an iphone. Frank said, you could have it on an arm strap like your ipod for jogging, then take it off to take a picture. I'm sold.

In case you are wondering, yes I am still making jewelry. I know I haven't been talking about it much lately. I have really been enjoying sewing, crocheting and other hobbies. I will be working on my etsy shop, adding new items all this week. I am also finishing up some orders that I got last week, so will try to make time for new designs as soon as possible.

Another World

One of our favorite activities here is Fort Worth is perusing the junk and searching for treasures at the Cattle Barn Flea Market. I think it is actually in the swine barn, but it is indeed in a barn. Doesn't that sound so very Texan? The booth above reminded me of my PawPaw and his rock collection, which made me really happy.
Right of the bat I found this cute little planter. It has a couple of hairline cracks, but is in pretty good shape and I couldn't pass it up. I had never seen one with polka dots! Ironically I saw another one, the same but larger, at the antique mall this weekend as well. It was 10 times what I paid for this one by the way!

It just so happened that our old family friends, April and Ronnie Baxter were in town this past week. April brought her horse Tia for the National Andalusian Horse show, which was held in the same compound as the cattle barns. There are lots of horse events held in Fort Worth, something that we know little about. It really is like a whole other world. I used to be a horse person, but haven't ridden in years. It was really nice to be around all the beautiful horses and brought back lots of memories for me. I never did any shows of this level, or even close.

April told us that there was a barn full of longhorns, which I had never seen up close. We walked over and this lady was in a trailer outside. Check out those horns!

Zinnias

I have been neglecting my zinnias for the last couple of months. I think it goes along with the whole too hot to go outside thing. They are still thriving despite my ignoring them, and have pretty much taken over the vegetable garden. In fact, I didn't plant winter veggies because I didn't want to pull out the zinnias yet, and now I fear it is too late. Maybe not though, I need to consult my books and charts.

I will most definitely grow zinnias in the vegetable garden again, however I may change a few things. I learned that thinning and pruning when the plants are young is a must. I would also stake them for sure. Right now they are laying every which way, except for one plant that I staked and it is at least six feet tall!

The ones that are my favorite are the cactus flowered zinnias. I think they were these seeds.

So Honored!

I feel so special and honored to be the recipient of this beautiful handmade quilt. This quilt was made for us by Sarah Schermerhorn, who is the mother of two of my closest friends. Sarah has been in my life for almost twenty years, since her daughter Gretchen and I became friends the summer of 1990. The quilt is made from batik fabrics in my favorite palette of blues and greens and is queen size. I will treasure this beautiful gift for years to come.

Thank you Sarah, I am so happy to own one of your beautiful creations.

A Very Special Day!

If you have been reading this blog for at least a few weeks you know that Frank and I celebrated 10 years of being together just a month ago. Well, today is the 5 year anniversary of the day we married. I pulled out the wedding album and thought I would share some of my favorite pictures from that day with you. We married in my parents' backyard and it was a wonderful evening. We worked on the garden for months, my mom made my dress, we arranged the flowers ourselves, and on and on. I was most definitely a handmade wedding!

I won't go on and on about how lucky I am since I did that here.

the embroidered album cover that I made

we married in front of a tree and under an arbor covered with handmade paper flowers

these are some of my favorite shots. we look so happy.

frank with his brother and me with my maid of honor

me and my girls

frank and his boys

with my family

the mariachis were a gift from frank's dad and step mom

the rings
unfortunately frank lost his in the llano river and I have yet to make another

cutting the cake

cheersthe end