the "blocks your uncle" is done

as a few of you asked

I made it this morning

it took all of

a few minutes

wish so many other things did

Annie...you should be able to do this easily!!!!!

the pattern is up on the top of the home page

today I'm sending you off to more than one place

I missed a few

weeks back there somewhere

so let's play catchup

by just going hither and yon through my list

here's 'Nilla...she lives in Sweden and she loves to knit and crochet and do things with her children

I wish I could remember how I found her or maybe she found me!!!

...but I'm so glad I did.  Now if we ever need a recipe or pattern translated...we have an expert because I don't know if you have ever tried to read a translated Swedish Pattern.... oh boy what a laugh...

Google needs to hire some Swedes!!!

sticks in air his husbands wife

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

that's my favourite saying!!!

Elaine is an artist

a true artist

she knits up a vision

and I drool

she dyes her own wool and does all sorts of other artsy things

wow I should become a reviewer!!!!

Her blog is full of all that she has created

and her colours

make me swoon

so before I pass out completely

I have linked you to a page that has one of Elaine's creations

 that when I see it

makes me put my chin in my hands and just

follow the circles

round and round

make sure you go to the home page too

to see all her other lovelies

OK one more

Tammy

who  lives in the land of sand

I visit her nearly everyday

she is always busy doing something

 and

she gets to travel with her husband and sons

and takes us with her

so to speak

they just came back from

Paris...

France!!!!

she is a sweet heart

always positive always a bright outlook

even when the dust blows in and covers everything

she has a cat too

Jingles

who lives the life of Riley

she sits and watches the birds outside

or sits in the flower pots on the balcony when it isn't too hot

the cat

not Tammy

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

my brain isn't working very well today

so this doesn't do their blogs justice

I'll do some more next week

and you'll see how many wonderful places I go

I know you do too

coz I found some of mine on yours

!!!!!!

see you later

:)

yes...

..... we've discussed this before
but

I still can't get over people wanting to charge

to show how to do a stitch

be creative and design something different

with all the stitches there are

come up with something that isn't out there

and we'll gladly

pay you

but don't ask for

$5/?

for a granny square

or how to do a

double crochet stitch

geese

what a cheek

!!!

it makes me want to throw up a tut

just to get over it!!!!!

the "crocodile" stitch has made a

re-appearance

it's popping up everywhere again

it was spotted last year on

Flickr

and

a couple of us went to work

and after a few hours we'd cracked the code so to speak

then the lady who had posted the photo that started the kerfuffle

I think

gave us a site to go to

but Daniella and I had already done our own versions

but it's good to watch someone else and you learn to count in

Portuguese

While I was talking to my basket wearing friendthe other day
she requested a new hat

for winter

so I went a lookin' this morning

didn't like any

never do

and I don't want to make her the same thing again

even though it would be OK if I did

but I don't want to

I found a picture from one of those books

you know

 the ones we can't

 read them but we love the pictures

(eyebrows raised up and down)

and we work the charts

hm mmm???

well I saw the sweetest hat made with blocks

so
I
sat

stared

magnified until it pixelated

and

picked up some yarn

a hook

and

blocks your uncle

(groan if you want)

nothing difficult or terrifically terrific
but it works up really fast
and I think I may make a go with these
I'll make a tut if you need to make them too

looking at it it isn't very clear in this colour
sorry
I'll do another colour and put it up on flickr
if it's better

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

things around here are getting to be the way they'll be, I suppose
I haven't cried for about two days
I think we are rid of all the reminders
and that can consist of little dust bunnies in the corners
I will forever miss her
but I know she's gone now
and please know how much I have appreciated all your little kindnesses

yes, I've said this before
but I will never stop saying it
I have the best friends and readers
in all of blogdom and real life
thank you all

:)

the herringbone stitch...

I just wanted to tell you

those of you who have made comments

that you don't need

gigantic needles to make the herringbone stitch

I used those needles because of the yarn

it's thick and hairy and it gets tangled up with smaller needles

!!!!!

so use smaller ones and thinner yarn

and you'll see how lovely it is

I also came across another way of doing the stitch

which is a little whole lot more cumbersome

this one is as easy as it gets

knit 1 slip a stitch yo psso

then

purl 2tog don't remove stitches and purl into first one again and remove

the end

promise

you know me

I don't do complicated

I still can't make the

Queen Annes Lace

scarf

...............................................................

yes it is!!!!!!!



bad memory...

I tried to remember a pattern

I found some time ago for a very simple lace stitch

can't find it so I tried to do what I remembered

didn't work

and I ended up with this

almost like the

knot stitch

but not quite!!!!

the light is once again really bad so the colour of the yarn is not correct

think

berry

purpley watermelony

really pretty

believe me

!!!!

there's a very short and to the point tut on the top of the page

 just in case you can't remember the stitch

!!!!!

and then we have the

herringbone stitch

on steroids

and the popcorn flowers

are

too

the yarn is chunky funky mohair

I'm still working on the doily

got eight more rows to go

I have to do it in short spans of time

the hook is really small and the pattern repetitive

doilies are like that!!!!

Yeah Ruth....

it isn't Friday

but we're going on a visit anyway

we're going to England

to see

Ruth

she has something new to show

and I think we'll all be visiting often

it's so exciting when someone tries something new

so let's all wish her

well

and

good luck

tell her I said Hi!!!

found on Pinterest

I couldn't help myself

but I will return soon

in the mean time

take care

be good

and if you can't be good

be excellent

!!!!

my prize

even in the depths of  sadness  right now

we musn't ignore or miss the

good things that happen

I received my prize from the giveaway on Lisa's blog

Lisa is the most amazing artist

her art is with

felting

her blog is called

Lilfishstudios

and it's in the big woods up north

and out of those woods come

art and knowledge and whimsy

and a huge talent and imagination that mustn't be missed

I know it isn't

Friday

but for those of you who haven't ventured up to the

big north woods yet

today is a really good day to go

there you will find

a little pixie

a little wood elf

dressed in her finest

vest

that her mummy made her

just wait till you see her

!!!!!

now you have to understand that this is all made by Lisa

she felts the wool

makes  the dye herself

in this case from actual mushrooms she finds in her woods

she dyes the wool

 and the thread that she embroiders with

she cuts the little wood chunks

the woman does it all

 and she has a family too

four little wood chucks and a hubby

I tell her she has magic fingers

well

because

she does

she of course didn't know when this would arrive

but it arrived at a good time

because it made me smile

and will continue to do so

thank you all for your kind words

it's going to take a long time for this to stop hurting so much

I'll try really hard to be up and positive in my posts

I didn't talk about it before because I didn't want it all to be a downer coming here

I know I have posted some negative things lately

but that's life and the way a blog works

I guess

if it's real

so we'll go on with the stitches and sillyness

and we'll smile when we can

and be greateful for

little mushrooms that find their way to us

and kind readers

:)

(and to that person who doesn't understand how one can be so sad over the loss of a pet

...get a heart)



farewell little one

the sooner I write this
 the sooner it will sink in

that today

there are just

two of us in the house

this morning we had to call the vet to come

and now we are two

she lived with us for 17 years

almost as long as the boys

and she  took their place when they both left

she kept me company when the husband was still working

and he adored her just as much as I

he is the one who found the strength this morning to call

and he is the one who oh so gently wrapped her in a big fluffy yellow towel

that he insisted I give him

even though he's had pain in his feet recently

he managed to make a place for her outside

and he bid her farewell

as he covered her up
it already feels so strange with out her
and it's going to take a long time to get over this

bye bye baby girl
we loved you so much
and we are so sad to have to let you go

'nother toot....

I made a tutorial for the

cross stitch

stitch

for those of you who asked

it's up on the top of the page

I will now have to figure out how to combine a few patterns so I have room to put more tuts

help?

 :o

I ended up on a page the other day where they were discussing what this stitch was

no one seemed to know

so I thought it might be nice to share it

I did say on the page what it was

don't know if anyone paid attention

!!!!!!!!!

I have a feeling

I don't know for sure

but I think it's an old stitch

you know like

ancient

it would make very warm clothes

as it is almost double

I'm finishing something I made

using chunky mohair

and

 my biggest fattest clunkiest needles

and if all goes well

I'll post a little later

I'm also working on the doily

from a size 8 hook

'coz I can't find my 7 anywhere

to

size 19/15.0mm

knitting needles

well it's good flex exercise for the hands

:)

PS

Andi.. you can have the yarn, if I can have Don......(even though I think the guy might actually be a dud)

xxxxx

that day again...

the end of another week

I don't have much to say today

it's the first cool day of the season

you'd think it was snowing the way some are complaining about how

cold

it is

it isn't cold

it's refreshingly wonderful

if a bit cloudy and dark

but we're thinking positive here

I have four new balls for the

stash

no plans for it

just had to have it

I know the majority of you

understand that

you see it

you want it

you get it

the end

:)

the light is lousy so these are not

neon pink they are deep berry colours

I used the flash because not using the flash turned them

to mud!!!

:(

two are pima cotton and two are wool

yarn porn

:)

found this under a pile 

love love love this stitch

cross stitch

knitted

it's so textural

so squishy and squashy

yummmmm

if you want to know how

say and I'll act accordingly

:)

 now I know you think that I forgot about going

 to visit friends on friday

but I didn't
the last few fridays have stunk
so I didn't do it


but today all is well and wonderful
I'm in a good mood because the elephant has finally removed itself
 and hope you are all well too

 so today we are going to one of my very favourite people on the planet.....

 I adore this one....

if I had had a daughter....

well you know!!

  :) :) :)

this bit of lovliness is not mine
it belongs to
Andi
of
my sister's knitter

I met Andi on Flickr

I kept making smart comments on her photos

and she was always sweet about it

then I found her blog

and I was

smitten

don't remember how or when

  I just know I am so happy I did

I won't embarrass anyone here by going on about how sweet she is and how funny she is

or how talented she is and just how adorable and generous and big hearted.........

OK

:)

andi

has a lovely blog

she shows us what she's working on
 tells us about her day or her week

entertains us with videos
she finds

or music
 that gets stuck in your head for days

tempts us with food and drink

yum.... slurp.....

and she also sends us to wonderful places that she likes

so it's all good

lovely people going to lovely places and being sent on to more

lovliness'ss

hope you have a lovely time

all my lovlies

I better go now before I really annoy you!!!
have a good whatever it is where you are

:)

PS  Is anyone else getting big numbers in the stats??

Mine have jumped enormously

not complaining

just wondering if there is one of those web scanner thingymados happening

:)x

winning hoping helloing and hooking...

hello all

it's another day here in the

roomontheleft

who knows what it will be

I do know it has started out

really well

I won a giveaway

from one of my very very very favourite artists

I won't say who or what

until I get it

but I am one of those who can't keep the news a secret

and if you read her blog you will see who and what

but I won't say

for now

???????????????????????

I want to thank you for going to visit the

new blogger yesterday

I knew I had really special readers

and you showed it by hopping over and leaving her a message

you are all stars and I thank you

I guess now is a good time to welcome all the new followers too

who have been popping up over there on the right

I will get around to visiting you and getting to know you asap

welcome all to this little space

enjoy what you will and let us know who you are

it's always merrier with more

(I want to make this one sooooooooooo bad!!!)

and thanks for all the compliments on the

doily

I am actually enjoying the teeny tiny hook and thin thin yarn

it isn't as hard as I remembered

I made a ton of doilies years ago

when it was all the rage

and had one under everything I owned

I made them for friends and we glued them to things

and made bowls out of them with starch and sugar water

(which wasn't the smartest thing to do as it brought the ants and flies and wasps!!!!!)

we sewed them to our clothes

and now it seems

what goes around

comes around

again

but as is always the way

the doilies today are much prettier

(allertadele

do give it another try

there are so many free patterns on the net to choose from

and then you can use your new lens

to take us some pictures!!!!)

:)

or you can make those really really

horrendously ugly ones from the

30's  40's and 50's

with all the frills and froo froo

 I got two books with some really nice ones
I had added them to my wish list on Amazon that the husband keeps on his acct
so when he wants something to add to get free shipping on something he orders
he has something to choose from
(don't ask, that's the way we roll around here!!!!)
anyhoo I had forgotten  about them
of course....
 and he got both of them
and didn't say
so it was a nice surprise

I plan on making a few more

I need some pretty new cotton though

in all the lovely colours

that used to make me sick

but now make me happy
weird but true

hope you all have/had a great day

:)

all pictures from the two books!!!

from the fields of corn...to this patch of clay

sometimes things are just a

big black hole

you wonder why you even thought you could

whatever it is you want to do

or think you want to do

just remains out of your grasp

you try and try

but it just keeps slipping away

and then you  buckle down

put your whole..... um ...mind to it

and with the proper tools

and a little bit of help

you achieve what you want and it feels so good

now this could be about me making this

doily

that needs a teeny tiny hook and some thin cotton

that I haven't used for years

but it isn't

I got a call this morning

from a friend who

said she had tried and tried

but couldn't do it

and why should she

and what reason could there be to

who was she anyway

...................

after many many laughs

and pushing of buttons

 and

cursing the machines

we have a new

blogger among us

she is a friend of mine

the one who wears my baskets

on her head

she "made" a blog this morning

and I invite you to go and see her

it's new

it's still under construction

it's all strange and weird

but we remember that don't we

all those buttons to push

and pages to write

and photos to load

and and and

and now it's all second nature and we don't remember not knowing we could

and this time next week

if the printer ever stops printing

:) :) :) :)

a slight glitch occured

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

she won't remember not knowing how

and the big black hole

turns into

 a light at the end of a tunnel

or something like that!!!!!!!!

:) ): :) :) :) :) :) :)

welcome and enjoy

"KELLI"

kelli

kelli

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

nine eleven...

I found this on

 Tammy's blog

she is known for finding wonderful meaningful quotes

I thought this was

appropriate

for today

The moment we choose to love

 we begin to move against domination,

 against oppression.

The moment we choose to love

we begin to move towards freedom,

 to act in ways that liberate ourselves and others.

That action is the testimony of love as the practice of freedom.

 Bell Hooks

the rain train...

kept on chugging last night

it was our turn to get swamped

to the north of us it came down

to the east of us it bucketed

to the south thunderstorms blew up and it all came over us

at one point or another

this was after I posted yesterday

it just got deeper and deeper

and foggier and foggier

a tree fell in the woods across the street at one point

will have to go and check it out

and yes it did make a sound even though no one saw it fall

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

they said if all this water had fallen on Texas it wouldn't have been much

more than  a 1/2"

they need more than that to solve their problem

they forecast more for us for two or three days

Katia may visit the UK in a few days

she

is going past us at this moment

out at sea with the fish

thank goodness the skylight isn't leaking!!!!

but it makes for pretty patterns on the glass

then this morning

 for a while

the sky turned a very strange

forgotten colour

it was

um...err...ooooo

yeah

blue

and the reflections on the lake were pretty enough for me

 to put my shoes on

go outside

 into the

heat and humidity

mosquito infested back garden

and

take this

there were two rather large turtles sitting on a log that made me think about going out

but

of course

as always

it never ends

they slid into the water the second they saw me

curse them

so I turned blue around and saw this fine thing

another huge magnolia seed pod

with moth attached

I think it's a moth

I wasn't going to disturb it and ask

yuk!

and you'd think that with all this rain we'd have some fine specimens of these

but noooo

not one fine one to been had

just this little fellow

all curled up and tucked in beneath his blankie

oh well

maybe later

and this wonderful thing is what the husband bought a while ago

a hummingbird feeder

that looks like a hot air balllloooonnnn

he saw it and had to have it

but I have to make the nectar and clean the thing

!

and because he is one of those who must have it all

a

little

up

side

down

brolly

filled with water

to keep the ants from

invading

 HUH!!!!

ummmm

I think the hummers have left already

too much

rain

maybe

:)