Oh My!

It's been a while since I posted with actual crafty content, but today I will not disappoint. I have been knitting away on Clapotis and on Casey's sweater (I'll finish the back tonight) but a couple of weeks ago we needed shop samples so I took a break for about 4 days and made these:




From the top: A crocheted and felted bowl from Conjoined Creations yarn (wool & soy silk)
A quick and easy baby hat from Cascade's Fixation
A felted tote made from paintbox (K1C2) and Galway (Plymouth) - both held double
Another felted tote made from Miss Priss (Schaefer) and Cascade 220 - both held double

I'm still cleaning out my stash and getting organized all over the house. It feels good to get all the excess out of my home. I've got a long way to go, but I keep plugging along.

I finally added a "Bloglines" button to my sidebar - so you can subscribe at will!

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

Quick Note:

Guys watch Uncommon Threads today on HGTV - "Crafty Helpers" - My friend Caro is on! Very cool!

I'll keep You Posted!

AmyDe

Only 6?...

I was tagged by Alicia for the 6 weird things about me Meme. I am in general weird so I'll just give you the top six:

Disclaimer: None of the following oddities may be used against said "odd one" at any point in the future!

1. I give GREAT directions unless I am actually in the car trying to navigate. Don't let me navigate (right girls)! I will sound certain - I AM certain - I am also WRONG!

2. I will watch The Fifth Element everytime I catch it on TV. It's almost compulsive - I MUST stop and watch it - even though I own the DVD and have seen the movie about 20 times.

3. I won't eat blue food! Not candy or kool-aid, not jello or M & M's(I don't like the red ones either) - the only exception I ever make is for Electric Lemonade @ 50's Prime Time Cafe in Disney's MGM Studios - rum and vodka make all the difference.

4. I get crazy when Casey (husband) eats Kit Kats without breaking them into individual sticks first - or he eats an oreo without opening it up, or he doesn't seperate the jellybeans by color and/or flavor (and he says I'm the weird one).

5. Speaking of Jelly beans, I once won a costume contest for being a bag of jelly beans. I wore a plastic bag with holes cut in it for my feet and arms and filled it with balloons. I was in 7th grade.

6. I watch Crossing Jordan, CSI 3 times/week, and Law and order more than that - through all the blood and gore I'm fine, but that animated toenail fungus commercial just makes me want to crawl under the couch and hide. It completely grosses me out!

Thanks Alicia for tagging me - this was fun.

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

Etsy...a Few Notes

I LOVE Etsy! I get a small thrill watching the "recently listed items" pop up and scroll across the homepage. It is so much fun to see what others are crafting and to see what they are selling, etc. I have to tear myself away so that otherthings actually get done - like making new things, or you know, feeding my children. It makes me feel good to see crafters selling their items and making money at something they love; It's Good! I meet many neat people through Etsy and what's more fun than expanding your crafting community and creating friendships along the way?

It makes me feel GREAT when someone buys something I make. I hope that they will enjoy the item as much as I enjoyed making it. The whole process is a thrill for me from the conception of an idea, gathering of materials, construction, listing, advertising, answering questions, the sales transaction and finally shipping an item off to it's new home. I especially love it when someone buys something from me that they are giving as a gift - when you see an item and say "hey I know someone who will LOVE that!" That's good stuff!

WARNING: Shameless Self Promotion:

I have several sock knitting (or any other small knitting) totes listed and some other items that expire soon so get them while you can. I'll be listing more items over the next few weeks also. Hey maybe you'll see my items run across the "recently listed items" bar (because it really is fun to watch). Check Etsy out (if you haven't already) and have some fun looking around at what everyone's making. You'll be inspired.

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

Spinning

So I bought a spinning wheel Saturday. The local spinning guild had it's "Garage Sale" day and I found what I wanted there - a Louet S10 for CHEAP. Two of my good friends, Katey and blogless Laurie (happy birthday btw), have wheels and now so do I.

Spinning is something I have been fascinated with since I was a little girl. Maybe it's a Little House on The Prairie thing, or maybe it was the girlscout trip o Historic Charlestowne when I was about 11 - I'm not sure, but I have always wanted to do it - so now I am going to.

I was worried about learning to spin on the wheel as I have coordination issues. In college they made me stand in the back of our aerobics class because I was cracking everyone else up. I have trouble getting my hands AND feet to cooperate. I was right - I was a bit of a spaz and Katey was enjoying that she knew something I didn't (maybe enjoying it a little too much *grin*). After a few minutes I got it and Katey's evil plans were thwarted - though she's still much better at spinning than I am mind you!

I'm still working on Clapotis and Casey's sweater and both are coming along nicely. I've cleared through most of my yarn and fabric bins and have LOTS and LOTS of give away - and it's all really GOOD stuff, but it's yarn and fabric I'm never going to get to so... out it must go! My local friends are going to have a very good "Happy New Year to Amy's Clean Craft Room Day" as they get surprise gift bags full of yarny goodness.

I was brutal on the stash and I still have some more to get through - I did yarn and some of the fabric - I haven't even gotten to scrapbooking or miscellaneous crafts. More to come - rather, more to go.

Meanwhile sign up for Project Spectrum 2.0 - it's going to be GREAT!

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

The Aftermath of a Crafty Christmas

I made many lovely things for family and friends this year and my craft room (ok the whole house) is showing it. It's time for a PURGE! I am going to pull everything out of the craft room and sort it by categaory - then PURGE like crazy. (I haven't taken "before" pictures - can't risk them being around forever.)

THEN I will decide what storage solutions I need and reset the room. I figure (with some help) that I can get through the sort/purge in two full days. It will take another two days to shop for and assemble any pieces I need and reset the room. Then my goal is to actually craft everyday. I have two entire bins (big ones) of UFOs (That's UnFinished Objects) that I want to FINISH before the end of January.

I've got LOTS of work ahead of me! Anyone want to join me in the January Clean Out? You can purge your craft rooms/areas/stashes too.

Any of my local girlfriends who love to purge and organize things (you all know who you are) want to give me a hand?

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

What a Bore...

I've been lately! I haven't updated in forever, I haven't even replied to much email...snore! Life is good here. Christmas came and went and New Year's couldn't get here soon enough.

That week of "nothing" in between was hard for me. It was quiet and still, which I normally love, but I found it just plain empty this year. 2006 was truly a roller coaster year and I am looking forward to 2007.

I usually like roller coasters literally and figuratively, but sometimes you get off of one that gives you a sick headache or worse and this year has been one of those; like riding Mission Space 2 times in a row and then ordering a Margarita - let's just say I wouldn't recommend it - even for those of us with strong stomachs! Maybe I'll wait on-line for the carousel this year?

I have been knitting this week though. I started a Clapotis (for me!) in Lorna's Laces Lion and Lamb color: Rainbow - it's going to be very loud (like me)! This yarn is yummy to knit with and I can't wait to be finished so I can wear it. I just started today and I'm almost to the straight sections. I am also knitting a sweater for Casey in Jo Sharp Silkroad Tweed DK - a dark green & size 6 needles - it's going faster than I thought and is also very yummy to work with.

Steph - you asked me if I still like the camera - the only thing I don't like about it is that we had to give it to my Daddy for Christmas. The Nikon D-40 is very nice indeed and you can't beat the price!

I'd have pictures, but like I said - we had to give the good camera to my dad so...

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe