Athena Dreams

The Year that was 2007

2007 was a year of 2 Firsts for me. Socks (Broadripples) and Crochet (Larger than Life and Babette). I finished my very first pair of socks in January and I completed my very first granny square in June.

2007 was the year of the fingerless mitt, blankets galore and not finishing as much as I put on my plate.

15 pairs of mitts were knit and gifted, and all the mitts (except Fetching) were designs of the lovely Anne Hanson, who I am sure I probably gushed overly much about at some point or another this fall.

Two baby blankets were started, one finished the other frogged due to technical (read: gauge) difficulties.

I learned to crochet and started the Larger than Life Bag AND the ubiquitous Babette, neither of which I finished as of yet, due to holiday knitting interruptus, but they will be back up in the headlines.

There is the Poetry Cardigan, ah yes, the Poetry Cardigan, which I have spent endless hours choosing colours for, and charting colours for, and test swatching for... and have not started the actual cardigan. It's on the list for 2008...

I also spent some time queuing projects in my Ravelery, in hopes of getting a grip on my plans and my over-enthusiasm for new projects and new skills. The queue is rather long. Very long, really. And there are some things that may not happen, but it was most helpful to put that list together, or at least start it, and see how delusional I may truly be.

So, 2008. I know not yet what, if any, firsts there will be, or what challenges I will set for myself, other than finishing more of the things that I have started. I am hoping to start and finish a few sweaters this year, and add to my sock experience, and perhaps learn a new corchet square or two. That's the limit of my ambition as of the second day of the year.

Hope all your holidays were wonderful. Hope the resolutions (if you do that) are written! And hope everyone's new year has had a great start to it. Here's to an abundance of fibre fun in 2008!

Please Ignore the Extension Cord and . . .

and all the other stuff . . . but Babette is all over the living room floor, in her little "groups". I was surveying this morning, and thought, wow, that would make a beautiful rug.

No, I don't think I would go that far, but it's a lovely dreamy thought.

My Perfect Bag: Or How She Began the Search

I have been looking for the Perfect Bag, pretty much my whole life. The needs change, but the basic want remains the same: Many interior and exterior pockets, some with zippers so things won't fall out, some open for easy access; good depth, but not too too deep or things just completely disappear, never to be seen again; some good width so I can get a book, a sketch book, a sock in progress, some papers and anything else I need to leave the house with on any given morning. And lastly, I want it to look beautiful and feel special, so when I gaze at my beautiful bag, I will smile. Too much to ask? I think not. But let's see how I did.

I decided this weekend I would find the bag I wanted/needed, and move on to new things to mull over and research... I started with Haiku a great messenger bag with some serious pockets, and lots of space. Love it, except I think I don't want to go messenger bag, and have the over flap.

So I then found Bloom Bags, and this gorgeous tote with lots of pockets on the outside, and a beautiful spot of embroidery. But no photo of the inside... need to see the inside.

I also looked at Lexie Barnes bags, the tote in particular, but not enough inside pockets. One is just not enough.

And suddenly, I am on to the top being a zip close or a magnet snap close, and off to Etsy to look around:

Marketa New York

There are 3 slip pockets inside, including a ”new and improved pocket design to hold bottles”. Ooo, someplace to keep my water bottle, now that's a cool thought.

Mackerilla Designs' Project Tote

They say it organizes a wide range of art and craft supplies , as well as folders, notebooks or a small laptop, for “on-the-go, project mobility”. Sounds good...

Now check out the inside of this baby from Sew Chic or Akberry by Ashley K.:

And that is when the realisation hit: My Perfect Bag is really a Diaper Bag.... not an artist's bag, not an "organizer" bag, not necessarily a messenger bag, but a Diaper Bag. Hmmm. Seems they have every pocket need covered AND an added bonus of sewn in elastic to hold a bottle (in my case water) now tht I know such a thing can exist. How cool, and since I don't have a baby, I just didn't know...

So now off to start the hunt again for more Diaper bags from which to choose.... I am accepting suggestions from near and far. Have you found that perfect bag that you want to keep with you forever?

THE Bag

I finished the squares for one side of the Larger than Life Bag.... after many trials and errors, I think I have the colour combos that will please me for a long time.

I am using Elann's Callista, a blend of Viscose, Cotton and Linen, I thought the fibre combo would be good and strong for a bag I hope to use a lot! Callista comes in 12 colours, and I bought one skein of each, and have been playing with all the possible combinations. [one of the fun-nest thing to do, ever]. I skipped the black and white, and have used at least a little of all the other 10 colours.

For the bottom of the bag, and the strap, I am planning to do what the ingeneous Rachel did, and stripe all the colours I used for the sides.

NOW, the big question is: do I make the other side, same as this one, OR, re-mix the colours and create a different flow? Opinions?

No Knitting, Just Squares

So, I haven't knit. Anything. In the last 10 days or so. I have been filled with colour thoughts and these little squares made from Elann Baby Silk and Baby Cashmere.

The crochet thing, hmmm, it's not like I'll never knit again, but I have to say I never thought I'd love this crochet thing so much.

The only square other than the basic Granny I know, is the one from the pattern from, you know, THE Bag. And I tried to start figuring out the pattern square for the Chantel, but it wasn't coming out right, so I thought, well, I guess I could make a shawl, but use that Willow square from the Bag.

Oh, and I DO, have progress on the bag, but that's another story...

SO, then the colour play began:

Yeah, well you get the idea here.

I need about 100 of these little babies... 24 and counting... hey, I am a quarter of the way done...

Shelves: The Beauty & The Utility - Take 2

The shelves they are up, and they have been "decorated". Oh how pleasing to look upon the lovely little shelves from my perch in front of my computer.

I plan to make this a revolving "Show" for myself. Things I want to look at, things that inspire me, things that make me happy.

This plan goes along with keeping my studio clean as much of the time as I can... so I am taking this one step at a time....

but I have lovely shelves on my lovely wall.

Let the Rumpus {Swatching} Begin!

Let me start by saying that for someone who avoided swatching no matter the circumstances, I really have grown to love this step in the knitting process. Well, perhaps I should asjust that to say, I love it when there are multiple colours involved.

I present a swatch for Peony Sweater #1... just to remind you all, it would be this cardigan:

Now, colour adjustments: I did the leaves all in one colour green, but after looking at the overall, I think that I want to bring in a darker green for the bottom part of the leaf. Also, the pink at the top is too much of a shift, so am thinking to change that top colour to:

#473. Right now it is #4571, too much pink against the plum me thinks... Since I am going more for a tonal shade change, I want the colours to ease into each other rather than change sharply.

My green is #476 (this is a little darker than in real life)

and I am thinking to keep that and add 486 to the bottom part of the leaf.

Now, the little tree figures that form the top part of the body, I tried them in 2 different colours, and I think I am leaning towards the top colour, which is the same shade as the darker part of the peony.

OK, so moving on:

Peony the #2

I tried 2 different colour combinations for this one. The original cardigan has the Peonies changing colour 3 times, I am thinking to do it just twice with the darker mix making up the bottom row and the lighter mix making up the other 3 rows. (Again would switch out that pink with the light plum-ier one.

Also, as an added note: I am loving the Finullgarn to work with.

So, as ever, I am welcoming all thoughts from you Colour Knitters out there, AND then I have to decide, which cardigan do I do? I love the leaf design on Peony #1, but I love the Peony design more on Caridgan #2... hmmm, No, there will be no mixing and matching of flowers and leaves...

Finullgarn in its original habitat

Progress and Progress

So, firstly, I must make apologies for the garishly lit photos... these grey November days do not do well by the photography... BUT, I have 1 more colour to do and then the edging on this Baby Lizard. It has been a lot of fun to work on, the short rows stitching keeps things interesting and the colour changes are a lovely thing to watch develop. Baby shower on 9 December, and I do believe I will have this little baby lizard finished.

The insides of the Mosaic Mitts, and weaving in some ends and these are ready for gifting on the 26th. There is something so satisfying and happy feeling about getting the hand made gifts finished before the Gifting Event. I hate that feeling when I look up and realise that I will not be finishing in time, and have to gift an IOU. For myself, I lose all momentum on finishing, because the event has passed and I am disappointed that said item is not finished in time. There is a lot to be said for that deadline surge of adrenilin, and the urge to finish finish finish...

and then it's back to the Christmas sock knitting, because, you know more deadlines always await.

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And then it was onto some sketching. I got some more of these wonderfully wonderful watercolour pencils last week, while I was at one of my dangerously favorite art stores, Flax. These are non-wood watercolour pencils and they have the most exquisite weight and feel to them... I have to hold them and gaze at them for a while before using them, because they never look the same after the first use...

I am putting together some designs for cards and perhaps wrapping paper... and did I say I wanted to design some fabric ideas... mmm hmm. Updates with colour to come...

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And finally, to end the day's post. I have a bug for you... yeah, like as in icky bug. (i am not a fan of creepy crawlies) We have seen about 4 of these guys IN THE HOUSE in the last few weeks [Mr Athena has been busy with the cup and paper method to remove them from the house and back to the great outdoors]. This one I spotted on the front porch this morning. It is almost 3 inches long - VERY big in the creepy crawlie world... and I have never seen anything like this thing before...

Anyone out there know what it is, and why they are in our house?!?!?! Ick. They give me the violent ick shivers....

I actually am ashamed to say though that this guy met his end, I tried to get him in a glass so I could take him down the hill and put him in the grass, and he was more scared than I and tried to get away, and I was scared, and now I have atonements to make to the bug gods and goddesses. But seriously does anyone know what this thing is?

More Socks, a Foray onto Lizard Ridge, and some November Images

Father and Son Socks
Interweave Knits Fall 2006 by Mona Schmidt
Yarn: Brown Sheep Wildefoote in Blue and Red

The brother and nephew socks... both started, both progressing well, and I made it through another heel. So the current count is 3 socks started/none yet finished.

And a side-ways foray onto Lizard Ridge. I wanted to use this amazing pattern to make a baby blanket for a friend who is having her baby in February, but needed to find an alternate yarn, as the Noro is not machine washable, and anyone who has had a baby would probably concur that she doesn't want a blankie for the baby that can't go in the machine. SO, have been looking, have been experimenting with self striping machine washable items, AND, the fruits of experiment #1:

I did 3 squares with Lorna's Laces in 3 different colour palettes. Obviously it is not going to look like the Noro version because the colour repeats are shorter on the LL than the Noro, but the effect is kind of cool using the patterning that Laura developed for the Lizard Ridge.

Can anyone out there suggest a machine washable self striping yarn that has the long stretches of colour that the Kureyon does? I have seen a self striping one from Plymouth I think, but can't remember the name... I am gladly and gratefully taking suggestions for the next wee bit of time.... thoughts?

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And in November news: Deb over at Chappysmom is having a modified meme all about trying to find a calendar with a decent image for November. No dreary, grey, somnambulistic horrors. I am also a November baby and have spent an indecent amount of my life looking for calendars that have a good image for November. You know, when it's your birthday month you want to turn the page and look at "your" month and feel happy, feel honoured, feel like you can live with that image on your kitchen wall, or your desk wall, for the month where your birthday resides.

So I give you my studio calendar:

Imagine, artwork by Cynthia Louden, published by Brush Dance.

and our kitchen calendar

Simplicity, artwork by Deborah DeWit Marchant, published by Ronnie Sellers.