Something else NEW

Yes, they do look like child's doodles!  They are supposed to.

In order to get "out of my box and do some child's play, I took an art journaling class at the Cocoa Beach Library.  It was fun,  freeing, unexpected.  

We scribbled with our non-dominant hand and colored ourside the lines.  Not sure what it says about me - but it was FUN!

PUMMELO!!

This big, juicy fruit is a pummelo!  It is pictured by a Persian Lime and a Meyers lemon to give an idea of it's size.  It's NEW to me, but not a new fruit.  A little research tells me it's an ancestor of the grapefruit.  It is sweet and doesn't seem a acidic as the grapefruit.  It's really big and made about four generous servings.  

NEW!

THAT's it - my "word" for the year! I've been thinking about since Deb posted her word here.

Today is a NEW day, early in a NEW year - so I resolve to try new things - a recipe, a craft or visit a new place. And to try to do all (well, most of) those things that will contribute to a NEW and better me!
Here are some pics a something I tried - Wire and bead crochet.

This one's not really"me", too sparkly.

This one might be my favorite - it's a nicer blue than shows up in the picture

A NEW ADDICTION

Like I needed a new addiction!  Tawashis!  They are little sponge replacements, scrubby things - to washie your dishie!  Actually they seem to be of Japanese origin.  Made from acrylic yarn, they are quick to make, great to use.  Just abrasive enough to clean stuck on food, gentle enough for cleaning counter tops, etc.

To make one:  Cast on about 12 - 15 stitches with two strands acrylic yarn using about a size nine needle, knit until approximately square.  Bind off.
OR - Crochet ( I like this best).  Use two strands of acrylic yarn and a F or G hook,  Chain about 12-15, turn & hdc in each stitch.  Continue in rows until approximately square.

The frost is on the pumpkin . . .

. . . well not really on a pumpkin, but it did cover my car and lawn yesterday AM

Happy Feet!

Wearing funky shoes.  Since it's too cold for flip flops and I am not supposed to go barefoot anymore (Doctor's orders), The next best thing is funky painted shoes.  One thrift shop pair, cans of spray on fabric paint - still too plain - so a few silver accents and polka dots.  Than't better.

DECK THE EARS . . .

. . . .with lots of earrings!

 
 
And the house with tropical christmas stockings.

These were made for a contest at the Weaver's Guild holiday party.  They won first place - easy to do with only one entry!

Maybe I'll leave them somewhere as part of the Flip Flop Drop.

Long time . . .

. . . no posts!  Two months!  And our beautiful Florida fall turned into a VERY COLD, for us, winter.

Here's a basket of pumpkins my daughter helped me make for Thanksgiving.

A pile of crocheted scrumbles - stay tuned to see what they become.

And a couple of hats.  Free form crochet over a commercially made hat.  I really like these!



And a pet bed that has been in the works for a long time.  It started to be a boxer sized bed - but I quit at chihuahua size.

More later - I wish I had a restart  option like on my computer.  Mine should be a restART option. 

It's Fall!

Just a few images captured around the yard this morning.  I love fall - the weather is perfect - low to mid 80's.  Time to plant and to enjoy the blossoms and critters around our house. 

LINT HAPPENS!

If you saw the shoe full of lint, maybe you wondered what became of it.  I finally decided to Kool Aid dye it, make it into beads.  Before I got to that, however, My husband threw out the lint!  That was a big surprise since he's as much of a pack rat as I am.  Oh, well, there will be more.  He carefully placed the shoe back on the dryer for a refill!

A Fiber Art Challenge

A swap and challenge that I just could not pass by was posted on Fiber Art Traders.  It was to create a Frankenstein type creature.  I already had a box of Body Parts! 

I gathered some wool scraps, the box of parts and my scrap bits and pieces of thread & fiber.  She has funky wild hair, perky bustline ( a girl can dream ) and of course - BARE FEET!  She was a bit modest, so I crocheted a teeny bikini for her.

Now she needs a name, maybe you can help.  And perhaps her wardrobe will grow before I send her off to her new home.

There was an old woman . . .

Who kept lint in a shoe,  And when it got full, she didn't know what to do!

Or more accurately:

There IS an old woman (me) with DRYER LINT, carefully stored in an old sneaker!

Why? I have no idea.  Because it was there, I guess.  Now do I toss out the whole thing?  Empty the shoe & start over? Needlefelt something with the lint?  Or maybe mix it with glue and roll into beads?

HANGIING AROUND

Just a few wire coathangers with "Random acts of Crochet".  The idea came from HERE.

MORE STASH BUSTING

These simple cuffs are made from recycled jeans, yarn and buttons I had on hand.   It's another idea from FAVECRAFTS.  You can find directions here.

STASH BUSTING - CHAPTER ONE!

My stashbusting September has begun:

Take a skirt, some T-shirts and a few empty water or soda bottles:

Turn them in to:

A really long scarf - just over fifteen feet long.

Lots of very cool, lightweight necklaces.

And  a bunch of fun bracelets.

The idea came from Fave Crafts (but I didn't use the flower cut-out)

All I added was thread

These last three are velvet, cotton print and candy wrappers and packing tape

Stash Busting September

As most of you that know me are aware - I've been on a de-stashing kick for a while.  So I've committed to the Stash Busting September. 

I have already started.  Yesterday I packed up fifty things for donating to a local thrift shop.  And last week I made several things from my stash.

A friend had de-stashed five or six skeins of this yarn.

From it I made:

A shawl.

Two Flower pinsAnd

A funky loop fringe choker.

MY HERO . . .

. . . WEARS CAMO.








My grandson, Kyle is home on leave from duty in Iraq. There he is a scuba diver, a sargeant in the US Army. Last week he was simply "Scooter". We enjoyed the beach, good food, friends and family.

Here he is pictured surrounded by the hands of his wife, Rachel; Mother, Deb; Step-mom, Stephanie; and his Grandmother, me. We are wearing the bracelets I made in his honor.

Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers

as he returns to duty next week.