Free Craftsy Class courtesy of JoAnn fabrics

imageYesterday, on a Facebook forum, I saw an ‘enabler alert’ for a free Craftsy class offered by JoAnn Fabrics. I logged onto JoAnn fabrics to see if it was valid and it was.

I’m already a Craftsy member and was able to pick up another class. I chose Spinning Stupendous Singles by Amy King. It looks like the freebie is good until June 29, so you better act fast!

I shared the free Craftsy link with members of a Facebook sewing forum, where I’m a member, and many leaped at the free class. I already have purchased numerous classes on Craftsy, mostly spinning, but there are a few sewing courses tossed in there also.

From fiber to tote bag

On my short list of items to make, I’ve decided to create a machine sewn tote bag.

Earlier today, I saw this challenge posted on a Facebook weaving forum. It sounds like a plan to me and I decided to add a twist by using some of my handspun yarn. There’s something completely satisfying to me about doing most of the process. The only thing left for me to try is shearing the sheep… and of course having some of my own. Perhaps someday.

It’s been very busy around here with gardening, a new fence going up around the garden, moving woodpiles, seeing snakes (garter and black snake) that are wonderful for culling the rodent population and a minor injury on my part… ouch! It happened when I was lifting wood. Well, that was a log and I attempted to just lift the top part and move it. It easily weighed over two hundred pounds. Well, I felt a tear. Thankfully, it will heal on its own. I would have been fine, but I forgot to lift with my legs and that caused the issue. Lesson learned, a bit too late. My “injury” didn’t stop me from cutting about an acre of our grass on Wednesday.

I’m hoping that I can start getting back into the virtual world of writing and visiting very soon. I hope all is well in your world. Wishing you all a fabulous Friday!

 

No crafting and food…

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The past few weeks have been extremely busy which has left me very little time for blogging here on Threadlover or doing anything crafty in the real world! Now, that’s shocking. I usually immerse myself in one of my beloved crafts, even if it’s just a few moments daily; however, that didn’t happen.

This past weekend, we went to visit my BF’s parents in Delaware and I DID bring along Ruth (Kromski Sonata) and early Saturday morning, you could find me spinning, before most of the house awakened.

Last weekend, I made a variety of juices, like what’s featured below and..

JuicingproduceTL_3 4.19.16
Apple, carrot & pineapple lemonade

I made wontons. The recipe to follow in a post later this week.

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Chicken and veggie filled wontons

The Art of Spinning and Weaving circa 1920, Boston Museum of Arts

Check out the video that I included below. It features spinning/weaving video from the 1920’s. Thinking back to the “olden days,” we can truly appreciate how much our crafting technology has advanced, but you know what? I do appreciate doing many of my handcrafts the “old way.” Because of that, you will find me regularly participating in crafts that connects me to the past.

Catwoman sewing

Sewing…

My boyfriend has been hinting about wedding rings. We’ve already talked about marriage, but waiting on God to lead us. He’s courted me for a little over a year, but I’ve known him since high school… so about 28 years. Last evening, when he called to do devotions, he asked me to send him pictures of  “rings that I like.”  I don’t want anything elaborate, something simple and non-traditional. I will design/create my own wedding gown if/when that occurs and do the same with the simple jewelry I wear. Now that I think about it… it would be nice to spin, weave part of the fabric for that dress… we’ll see.

Website shenanigans

Well… earlier this morning, I did something wonky and deleted my last post on this site and while I (usually) regularly back up my WordPress site, I didn’t back up my site last week, do that post is gone. Kaput! No worries, I’ll repost it again, and will include some additions.

 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Im9i2gmdPu0

Knitting Cables and rereading the Pride and Prejudice, illustrated version

Last evening, I pulled out one of my knitting projects.

Knitting Cabled Hat_Agathis_1 3.2.16

It’s a cabled knit hat that I’m making for my daughter. I wish I could say I’m using some of my handspun wool, but I’m not and that’s fine. My daughter loves this color combination! Too bad it’s almost Spring, she won’t be able to wear it too much before it’s tucked away for when it’s cold.

Pride and Prejudice and cable knitting
Pride and Prejudice and cable knitting

Do you see the book in the background? It’s an illustrated copy of Classics Reimagined, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. As a very young child, I read this book. However, I had no idea that an illustrated copy existed until Krisin wrote about it on Wool and Wheel. I talk about my excitement in discovering an illustrated copy of Pride and Prejudice in this post. Besides the few pictures that I’ve shown here and the ones I’ve seen on Kristin’s website. I have made an effort NOT to flip through the book since I want the beautiful illustrations to be a delightful surprise when I turn the pages. I’ve already started reading it and last evening, I read the first three chapters. I also purchased a copy for my lovely daughter. Hers should arrive tomorrow! I’ll be sure to inscribe that copy.

Later this evening, after she’s sleeping or tomorrow after my clients work are finished, I’m also going to sew her a cute little makeup bag to which I add machine embroidery. She has a musical coming up next week and the girls have to wear makeup. If I have more time, I’ll whip up a pair of leggings for her on my Serger machine. Those gifts will be a nice little surprise waiting for her at home after I pick her up from her Lutheran school.

You might not be able to see the stitch pattern that well with my above photo and so, below, I’m including a clearer version of the completed hat.

Agathis Hat
Agathis hat

I did not make the above hat. It’s a photo on the Ravelry project page. Aren’t those cables delightful? I love knitting cables. Guess what? Agathis is a free pattern that you can download on Ravelry. I have a combination of paid and free patterns on that website.

It’s supposed to snow in our area tonight. Not a lot… just enough to do some dusting. I love snow!  This evening, while hanging out with my daughter, I’m hoping to complete several rows of this delightful cable knit hat and of course… I’ll be spinning on Ruth. That’s what I’ve named my spinning wheel. Ruth… what an amazing person and a great example of a Proverbs 31 woman!