What a Hoot!

It's a dreary Monday, we're just waiting for more rain. That's kind of hard to even imagine right now, with so many people still struggling with post-hurricane clean-up. Instead of sitting around waiting for the next downpour, I decided I needed a new project to get my mind off the weather.

So here's a little look at what's on my sewing table -- I bet some of you can guess why I have tiny owls on my mind!


That's right, like so many members of the knitting community, I've started hexipuffing.

No, that's not some weird and obscure druggie thing!

 It means I've started in on a Tiny Owl Knits pattern, "The Beekeeper's Quilt." I'm not really aspiring to a quilt, but we have a beautiful twig chair made by my lovely MIL, and I think a seat cushion and side pillows would be perfect.



This will be a long-term project; it's designed to use up odd bits of fingering weight yarn, and is perfect for when you just have a few minutes to knit, and need something simple and portable.

Here's where I am so far; use your imagination, stir in several dozen (hundred?) more puffs of all colors, some striped, some embroidered. Will eventually make fun pillows, no?And what a good use of all those small-yardage scraps!

For more info on the quilt, or any of Stephanie's other patterns (did I mention her deer-with-atlers hat, or her hopsalot slippers -- oh my bob!) check out her Ravelry page http://www.ravelry.com/designers/tiny-owl-knits-2 or blog: http://tinyowlknits.wordpress.com/

Labor Day, Oh Labor Day!

"Labors of Love," isn't that what it's all about? Well, make no mistake, art IS work ... it just looks like play!

I have deep respect and regard for all the working artists, musicians, and dancers I know; in fact, very shortly we're heading out to Brunch-and-Tunes, a monthly get together. Good food, fine friends, more music than you can shake a stick at ... sometimes I wonder how I got so lucky in life, this time around?

But first, there are a couple of pix I want to show you!

For the Multi-Color Project KAL on Ravelry's MadTosh board, here's proof that I have actually started my Catkin Shawl. Yes, I had originally planned to cast on for a May KAL. So ... yes ... I am just a tad bit late on that. Whoopsie!

So in the "better late than never" category, here's the 1st section, completed last night. I love the colors; Norway Spruce & Chambray, in MadelineTosh http://madelinetosh.com/ merino light (aka "tml.") Do you see how the chambray is a good bit fuzzier than the dark yarn? That is going to make this so cool!















Both skeins came from Knitty City:  http://www.knittycity.com/blog/home. On my last trip to NYC, I discovered these skeins lurking on the shelves. Both are quite a bit different from other skeins bearing their same colorway names, so they caught my eye ... and seemed destined for each other

The "scary" part comes next ... this shawl is not "mindless knitting." Fingers crossed that I can stay on track!

(Psst: The Catkin Shawl is by Carina Spencer, "Sweet Mama  Small Sugar". You may recognize her name, or the names of some of her other wildly popular patterns, including Whipporwill, and the uber-adorable Convertible Baby Bloomers.)

I've also done a wee small update at http://www.etsy.com/shop/ThatCleverClementine. Four new Snappy Snapdragon Pouches are now in stock!

Stormy Weather ... in More Ways than One!

I know, I know.

This week, I was hoping to show you some of my "experiments" in making itty bitty bags.

But the week kind of got away from me; most of my sewing time this week was spent doing special orders ... and ... well, ok ...  gifts for special friends.

And then, there was all that time that I should have been sewing, instead spent preparing for the impending hurricane. All the outside furniture had to be moved in, or secured to railings. Everything had to be moved up off the basement floor.

Like people all up and down the coast, the anxiety just kept building. An earthquake and a hurricane in one week? Yippee for us!!

So instead of a sneak peek at what's going up new in the Etsy Shop, here's one of my favorite movie clips ever. With the hurricane rains beating down on us, it's particularly apropos. The first few lines break my heart every time -- the pureness of Lena Horne's voice, the look on her face.

 

Honestly, it just don't get much better than this!

I'll check back in a couple of days, assuming we have electricity. And give you a little peek at whatever's new at http://www.etsy.com/shop/ThatCleverClementine.

What's Shaking Here?

I'm glad to report the shaking has stopped! Most of you have no doubt heard about the 5.8 earthquake here in the DC area yesterday. It was scary, I can tell you.

We had lots of minor mess, but no serious damage -- a medicine cabinet popped open and spilled forth a selection of health and beauty aids, several framed photos were jiggled off shelves and dressers, wall-hung prints went askew, etc. A couple of vases were tipped from their shelves, spilling water and generally making a bit of mess.

But anything that broke will be easy enough to replace ... the phones came back online relatively quickly ... and all in all, we were really very lucky and I am seriously grateful.

I was in my sewing room when the earthquake hit, so I thought I'd share a sneak peek at what's shakin' there:

Here's a cinch sack I'm working on, a study in black and white with a French Couture theme.

And here's a charming little dress I'm taking apart to upcycle; I love this vibrant purple and acid yellow Java print, and hope to get a couple of bags from it. It's slow going, the seamstress who made this garment was a fine technician, and very careful about backstitching seams, etc. But if I work on it a little each day, I hope to re-purpose the fabric so it can have renewed life.

And finally, because I can't get enough of 'em, more monkeys! This time, in red and black. And spots. And polka dots. And squiggles. I tell ya, these prints make me feel like I'm having more fun than a barrel of monkeys ...

I hope your day goes well, and that the only rockin' and rollin' you have to deal with is what's coming from you iPod!

Oh, No, Mr. Bill!

Oh, no.

Say it ain't so!

There I was, late last night, plugging along on my Different Lines(by Veera Välimäki.) Loving it, I tell you, just plain loving it. And the end was in sight! I was just going to do two more garter ridges, then switch to larger needles and bind off.

Look how purty! Sure, it needs some aggressive blocking and the edges are all cattywampus (from the ends not being woven in yet, just hidden for your viewing pleasure.) But, as I believe I might have mentioned ...

I. Love. It.

And then ... oh, no, Mr. Bill ... catastrophe hit.

Notice anything odd about my beloved Size #6 ChiaoGoo Red Lace Needles in the next pic?

Right. One end of the cable is sans needle.

And thus, I am sadly sans a finished shawl.

I was able to rescue everything that went kerflooey when the needle separated from the cable ... eventually.

And I will find a way to finish this ASAP, probably using a different needle. I truly love all my Chiaogoo needles, and have never had a problem before this.

And this project, slightly jinxed though it might be?

I. still. kind of love it.

As Promised, a Little Sneak Peek for Your Shopping Pleasure

Hot off the presses!

(Well, hot off the ironing board, anyhow ...)

Six nifty new Snapdragon Pouches will go live in the Etsy Shop on Saturday morning, 10am EST. Just $10 each, and so handy for notions, cosmetics, etc.

I usually end up with at least three in whatever purse I'm toting - one for make-up and a comb; another for candy, mints, and gum; one for my pen and mechanical pencil and (nerd alert) some post-it notes.

Next week, I'm setting aside some time to work on some new design ideas; I'm obsessed with little bitty bags -- like change purses, or glasses cases, or that perfect size for your cell phone, driver's license, and a $10 bill as you dash around town.

Lest you forget (tee hee), you can check out Snappy Snapdragon Pouches, Loopy Lulu Small Project Bags, and Cindy Sue Cinch Sacks at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/ThatCleverClementine. 

Coloring Outside the Different Lines

We've had a little break from the intense heat this week -- and with it, the rain came! We've really needed rain ... and we got plenty of it this time. There's been a good bit of flooding, and lots of power outages in the area, but we are safe and sound and (ahem) staying out of trouble. 

I've been busily knitting Veera Välimäk's "Different Lines" shawl, and I'm lovin' it. I always think her shawl patterns are exceptional - very contemporary and graphic, not at all like "fusty grandmother" shawls. You can find her patterns through Ravelry, so to learn more, treat yourself to a peek at http://www.ravelry.com/designers/veera-valimaki.

Her original design for this shawl was in two colors. As usual, I'm "coloring outside the (different) lines," so I'm using four colors and switching it up a bit.

Here's a pic of my work-in-progress, using one of my faves, Madelinetosh merino light yarn.  For this one, I picked jade, thyme, and antler, with the skinny stipes in hearth. I think jade and thyme are really interesting together - there's a tension between these two shades of green. Jade definitely incorporates some yellow in the colorway, so it's kind of "warm." (That's the top right color in this photo.)  Meanwhile, Thyme leans toward the "cool" greys. In general, I don't think they go together all that well -- but for colorwork, or a striped project like this, I find it a very interesting pairing.

If you aren't already a MadTosh fan,  check out: http://madelinetosh.com/.

If I get a nice sunny day tomorrow,  I'll be doing photos, and will post a Sneak Peek of Saturday's update. Watch for some new Snapdragon Pouches at http://www.etsy.com/shop/ThatCleverClementine on Saturday!