Here There Be Dragons!

More potholders for my stash. We have an auction coming up at our church, and this is one of the items that will be available. 

A friendly, fire-breathing dragon is always a good way to protect your hands when removing your cookies from the over!

Herding Cats Done!!

I finished it and I love it! I could say it took me months and months, which it did, but the truth is weeks would go by and I would not work on it. It was a very fun project to work on. It is double knitted so a cat that appears white on one side is black on the other. It is easy to see this by looking at the cat at the very bottom of the scarf. I use the same method when making my potholders. 

This pattern was designed by Lisa Hannan Fox, and you can purchase it on Ravelry at www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/herding-cats-scarf. It is really a deal at $6.99. 

I can't wait for the weather to get cold so I can wear it every day!!

Elk Poholder

We have a large elk herd close by Roxborough. I have some neighbors who get up nearly every morning to go looking for them. I would rather sleep. The elk will be there later without me getting up before the sun. If not, I can just look at this potholder. By the way, I gave this potholder to that neighbor.

My Best Seller -- The Moose!

Yes, I do sell my potholders. I did a holiday table at a craft fair last December, and this is my best seller -- The Moose. Even now, I don't have any; I sold the last one last week.  I will have to make some more.

Cabin in the Woods potholder

I am trying to decide if I like the green or the white cabin better. The trees look better in green, but the white trees look like winter. I guess if I can't decide, it means it is a success, right?

My Wookie - update

Update: Wookie passed away on August 27. She died peacefully in my arms. I am crushed and broken-hearted. She was a very special cat, and she was very loved.

I will be losing my Wookie, and my heart is breaking. Wookie is a 9-year-old tortie with the most beautiful light green eyes. She is suffering from kidney failure. She is still eating and drinking, and seems to be in no pain, so we are going to just love her until the end. It may be days, or weeks, or even months. There is no way to know when. 

Wookie is a magic cat. During her lifetime with us, I have had three surgeries: two for female reasons ending with a hysterectomy, and the third was a compound fracture of my right leg. For the female problems, Wookie would lay her chin on my stomach and purr. Then last year, I broke my leg in six places by falling down some stairs on vacation and needing surgery. Once I got home from the hospital and was bed-ridden, Wookie took care of me. She would lay her head on the broken leg through the cast and purring for days on end. I rarely needed pain killers. I swear she was healing my injuries with her purring.

Wookie is truly my kitty. She rarely leaves my side. She is so affectionate and loving; I just don't know what I will do without her. I will still have my black kitty Omi, but it will hurt so bad. 

She has helped me through pain, but she will not be able to help me through the pain of losing her. 

 

 

How Now Brown Cow?

 I am not really happy with the colors in this pattern. The contrast is not enough to be very dramatic, although I like the pattern. I will probably do it again at some point, using a dark brown and cream, but this will have to be for now. Well, not everything is a success.

My Local Fawns are Growing So Fast!

I know the glare is bad, but it is a western window and the sun is bright. Our twin fawns were hanging out below the living room window, showing how much they trust our yard. They are getting so big!

 

More Room for Mushrooms

I love how this animated mushroom turned out. I used a maroon and cream for the colors. Once again, I found the pattern on Pinterest. There were several mushroom options to choose from, and I might make another using forest green and cream colors. Stay tuned.

Been busy with Scrubbies -- and I don't mean cleaning

I suddenly got on a scrubby kick. I can make one in a couple of hours. I give them away to my friends and suddenly, they want to purchase more as gifts for their friends, or they just want more for themselves. I even had one who accidently put one down her garbage disposal and needed another. 

I had a booth at a craft fair last Christmas and sold them for $5.00 each. I know that is really cheap for the time and effort. However, I am thinking that I knit them because I like making them, not to make money. So anything I make is gravy, right? I would be knitting them anyway, and I am not going to be using them all myself. (By the way, I hate cleaning) 

One skein can make three scrubbies with the leftover used to make scrapy ones. You need to use the specific yarns called scrubby. You can purchase them at Michaels or online in a variety of solid or variegated colors. There are some wonderful colors online that you can't find in the stores. I went wild last year and went wild with  buying scrubby yarns. 

The pattern I use is https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/garter-stitch-round-scrubby. However, there are several varieties on Ravelry. There is a square scrubby that you can probably make in a hour or less (https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/square-scrubbies). There are also some fun pattern in the face of an owl, a tomato, a puppy dog, a kitty cat, and a flower. I hope to make some of those one of these days, but this pattern is my "mindless" pattern.

In fact, I discovered that I can complete an entire scrubby on the drive from Littleton to Fort Collins Colorado. My son live in Fort Collins so it works out perfectly. By the time we finish our visit, I have two additional scrubbies, as well as any I knit while I am there. 

And don't forget all the patterns of scrubbies that you crocheters can use as well. I can crochet, but I prefer to knit. I learned to knit and crochet at the same time when I was a preschooler from my mom and grandma, but for some reason, I liked the look of knitting more. I learned to knit making Barbie clothes and knit clothes were less bulky.

You do have to use the specialty yarns made for dishcloths but there are lots of them out there. Michael's has lots of scrubby yarns, many in bright vibrant solid colors and several variegated ones too. You can also order many online as well. I really like the brand called Jubilee Yarn Scrubby Dish Yarn. It has wonderful colors in more muted colors. I don't like the 'sparkle' or 'eyelash' ones, but that is a personal preference. But I warn you. Searching for scrubby yarn is a big rabbit hole to fall into!

So dive in and enjoy yourself!