Auntie Nettie's Merchandise 2017 - Taking Heart cont'd

Sometimes it is okay to take a unfinished project that was started for a loved one, made with love, to show your love, and then use it to spread some love.

After three years as a UFO, it was time to unravel it and let it go. 🏳 of defeat. I surrender!

(Sorry baby niece who is no longer a baby niece.)

💞
💕
💝

~ photo by iPhone, some filters

Edging too Close: Making the Mail

There is nothing like cutting it so close on finishing a crafting project that you are literally putting the last stitches in the edging and the label in the morning and then rushing to the Post Office in the afternoon so you can two-day Priority Mail it with prayers to make it to a baby shower on the 5th, less than 4 days from now ... in California. 

Yeah. So maybe that was me. I THOUGHT I had plenty of time. I literally started this present as I sat in my plane seat on the tarmac, en route West-bound on the 18th, had hours of driving up and down the length of Utah, rock-and-talk time with the aunties and cousins and kin, but I MAY have made a tactical error by working on my Christmas cards during the two week break.

I was so rushed packaging this (and my other two big boxes), that I didn't get the dimensions. It was pretty big though. It could be a crib cover, a toddler bed blanket, and/or keep someone(s) in a nursing rocker warm.

As it was for a pair of gems upon the birth of their first child, I went with a diamond pattern - one that was heavy enough to provide warmth if there were ever any cold California nights, but airy enough at the same time.

The poor hostess. I emailed her today and informed her the gift was en route- but oy! Too close. I only knew about the shower for months.

POSTSCRIPT: It got there on time (WHEW!) - and can apparently keep 2.5 people covered. Whoops.

Photo courtesy of Claire and Jenny

 

Go big or go home.

Also note: I finally got new labels explaining, once again, that this is NOT KNITTING.

 


~ photos by iTouch/iPhone

Today was a weird day~ Grandmary

To quote Grandmary: Today was a weird day.

My vacation plans when I visit family are fairly loose because although it is my vacation, there are always external factors you can't account for. Since I travel in winter a lot, usually that is the biggest variable. Aside from that, and my hosts' often unspoken agendas, all I usually do is make a list of "it would be nice to" and hope it happens. Hope. Not plan.

Why?

Experience.

Given that Grandmary and Grumpa have an active social life down here, I anticipated/wondered if another list wouldn't be compiled too. Yesterday afternoon's plan for today was to involve a trip to Mount Vernon; not the one I live like 3 blocks from, but you know, the founding father one. The one I actually have never visited. So okay: plan it was.

Then we really looked at the weather   forecast: 1-2 inches of snow and mess in the morning and cold winds. Trip was off. Plan B or C involved area shopping and maybe a trip back into DC for some sights or Smithsonians.

What's the expression?

Best laid plans of mice and men often go astray.

This is why I don't PLAN.

My plans get banged up.

Like today.

This morning started with a bang. 

Literally. 

At 5:55am ... where somewhere in town the power failed, causing lights to flash, fans to stop, and white noise machines to fail. All of the stimuli woke up people enough to register when everything flicked back on about a minute later ... And then to stop with the sounds of exploding power transformers somewhere in the vicinity. No sirens, though, so we rolled over ... Thinking the power would be back on soon.

Please note: Exploding transformers do not usually mean SOON.

If I had been awake that might have registered faster.

Not soon.

The light of day revealed twice as much snow and ice as predicted, messy travel, pretty light, light that would prove important thanks to a western exposure window bank and eventual afternoon clearing and sun puddles.

But no power.

Thankfully water pressure, hot water, and flushing toilets, but no power, heat or for me, (gasp) NO internet wifi.

We eventually showered by candlelight, just to warm up, (light source moved when  shower in operation/extinguished when carbon monoxide detector started to go ballistic).

But there wasn't a lot of moving from sofas or loungers and layers of blankets, except to take down the Christmas cards since it was Three Kings Day and to eat, stretch, or check the slowly dropping thermometer and thermostat.

Mom was super tucked in. Up to her nose. Dad was in layers, as was I. I also had a lap full of yarn and or a book.

Got through a book and a half, and made headway on the blanket I started on Sunday night during Downtown Abbey. 

Mom slept. 

Dad read, paced, talked to the neighbors, went to check on the transformer repair, and probably prayed a bit. The sun was starting to go down around 4, which is when things were really going to get dicey with no light or heat.

Not that I am counting too much, but 10 hours and about 40 minutes later, power came back, and then for me, wifi, and then the boilers kicked on.

I would fail as a pioneer.

Just because of the internet.

Or frankly, shampoo, indoor plumbing, and my hairdryer.

But there is something to be said that (grumble grumble) extra pounds and 20+ years kept me warmer than the parents. Mom is still chilled to the bone enough, and the polar vortex forecast for tomorrow is windchill factor-y bad enough, that all activities will be car related, local, and probably box store/shopping mall related. 

And I am okay with that too. I still sound like a seal. I don't need to be outside.

Like Grandmary said: it was a weird day.

I wonder what tomorrow will bring.

~post and photos via iTouch

Auntie Nettie's Attic Merchandise 2014

I probably will get another blanket done on my upcoming vacation (lots of time on planes and in cars), but given the fact that I can't seem to keep up with the blog, I thought I'd better post these now.

ANA 2014-1: Shades of Grey Chain Moebius

One (1) skein Red Heart Dash Graphite, acrylic

ANA 2014-2: Host of Hearts for Valentine's Day and Random Acts of Kindness Day

Left-over stash of miscellaneous yarns, mostly acrylic
(no longer available, gifted)

ANA 2014-3: Baby Pink Chevron Crib Cover

Three (3) skeins of Bernat Softee Baby (30301)

(as of 2/2014, not available, was a commission)

LATER UPDATES c. Sept. 2015:

ANA 2014-4: Denim blue blanket, bubble pattern

One (1) skein of Lion Brand Yarn, acrylic

(shown here on vacation, backseat passenger work-in-progress)

ANA 2014-5: Variegated Pink Bubble gum blankie

Three (3) skeins of loops & Threads, Snuggly Wuggly mini dots, acrylic

(no photo, as of 9/15 no longer available, gifted)

ANA 2014-6: Large Turquoise and chocolate blanket

Four (4) skeins of Red Heart Soft waterscapes, acrylic

(No photo, as of 7/14 no longer available)

ANA 2014-7: Large Pastel Open Shell afghan

One skein Loops & Threats Snuggly Wuggly, Big Baby yarn, acrylic

ANA 2014-8/9: Random long orange scarves

(no photos, mystery yarn from antiques store purchase late 2014)

Note to crafters; If you don't up date your project book/blogs in 2 years, 

you forget WHEN you made things. 

This one might have been from 2014 too. But I can't reconcile my notes.

ANA 201?-TBD: Light Blue bubble pattern blanket

One (1) Skein Lion Brand yarn, acrylic

Auntie Nettie's Attic 2013 - November/December

I am just a teeny tiny bit behind on documenting some of my projects. Vacation and life and professional changes got in the way. 

How is it February? How come I haven't been crafting? Oh yeah. Life.

So we get back on track, here are the remaining items that were created as part of Auntie Nettie's Attic for 2013.

ANA 2013-30: Little Bitty Blue-Flecked Blankie

Four (4) skeins of Plymouth Yarn, Dreambaby DK, acrylic and nylon
(as of 5/15, no longer available, gifted)

ANA 2013-31: Square Fuchsia Bubblegum Pink Bubble Blanket

One (1) pound ball Lion Brand, acrylic
(As of 3/15, no longer available)

ANA 2013-32: Light Pink Chevron Afghan

One (1) 14-oz. Jamie Baby Yarn, acrylic

(as of 12/2013 no longer available, gifted)

Auntie Nettie's Attic Merchandise 2013 - October

After a relatively quiet crafting period, I got four little blankies done in a very short period of time. It seems I can either craft, read, blog, have a social life, but I can't seem to do a combination of these things - unless I'm on a roadtrip and I can crochet while someone else is driving. Case in point, October's roadtrip to the Cape with Mom...

All of these are made of four (4) skeins of Plymouth Yarns, Dreambaby DK, acrylic and nylon.

In close-up

ANA 2013-26: Little Bitty Blankie, Pink Pastel (DK 0119)
(as of 9/15, no longer available,)

 ANA 2013-27: Little Bitty Blankie, Blueberry (DK 0136)

 ANA 2013-28: Little Bitty Blankie, White (DK 0100)
(as of 3/15, no longer available)

ANA 2013-29: Little Bitty Blankie, Cornflower (DK 0124)

Let me know if you want to give any of these a good home.

I seriously need to get selling stuff. The Attic is bursting again. I also have some commissions, so I need work on those soon. The clock is ticking on a delivery by a stork.

Auntie Nettie's Attic Merchandise 2013 - July, August, September

I've been flipping through my notes from the summer trying to remember what it was that kept me so busy. It was things that have no visible output on the blog; things like culling through closets, buckets, shelves, etc. Other items on the summer agenda were finishing "grown-up" life projects - like running and cleaning credit reports, shredding bills and documents, getting rid of old electronics, etc. etc. etc.

MOST importantly, at least to me, it was imperative to finally finish off crafting projects that I had laying around the Attic. 

To that end, here's the few projects from July through September.

ANA 2013-22: Purple Scarf 

(2 skeins of Cascade yarns Peruvian wool)

 

It's a miracle only 3 years in the making! HOLY COW.

Can I have a moment to savor the fact that the UFO/Bane of My Existence is FINALLY Finished.

ANA 2013-23: 

(Multiple skeins of white Caron sport yarn, arcylic; and Lion Brand Roma yarn, acrylic - Roma, discontinued)

BEFORE

 AFTER

 

Much like my life, I don't know why I was so "stuck" on this. I only needed a (three years and a) four-day weekend of no interruptions to power through it. And now, it's done. Whoo-hoo! (Though, fair warning - it is SUPER warm. Don't, like me, have a lap full of this stuff when it is over 80-100 degrees. It may look light, but it gets HOT fast.)

ANA 2013-24: Little Bitty Blankie, Fuchsia

(4 skeins of Plymouth Yarns, Dreambaby DK, 0306, Silly Spots, acrylic and nylon)

ANA 2013-25: Old-fashion Capelet

(Leftover skeins of Lion Brand ROMA acrylic, discontinued)

Now that the UFO is done .. I need to get cracking selling these things. Next project? Maybe more trunk sales. And getting the shop up and running. 

Maybe next year.

Auntie Nettie's Attic Merchandise 2013 - May

May was so chock full of stuff, that I had to separate the usual activities/merchandise/crafting log into two entries. I am trying to figure out when I got anything crafted, but the notes are there, as are the objects.

I did manage to finish two of April's UFOs.

ANA 2013-14: White diamond-pattern crib cover

(1 10.5 oz skein Bernat Baby sport yarn, white, acrylic)
(as of 9/15, no longer available)

ANA 2013-15: Camo colored scarf

(2 skeins Red Heart Camouflage multi-sport yarn, acrylic)

But then, in a fit of needing decorations for an event, limited funds, and a goal to work my way through the various stashes of skeins and remnants in my apartment, I started a chain reaction of color work.

Thanks to the blog, Cornflower Blue Studio, I  found a pattern for a simple chain garland, and went a little crazy.

Case in point:

ANA 2013-16, 17, 18, 18: Stash-busting Rainbow and Blue Chains/Scarves

(Misc. remnants of wool, acrylic, polyblends, and Caron White Sport skeins)

 There are actually four different chains there: 3 rainbow and 1 blue-hued.

Each vary slightly on the "ombre" effect depending on what remnants I had left. I think they would make cool scarves too.

So I'm all set if I ever have a party, party space, rainbow float, or a holiday tree that needs decorating-- because these are about 6 feet long - each. Sadly, these didn't use up all my stash ... not one bit. I keep finding balls of stuff. 

Also, sadly, I still haven't finished a certain afghan.There will be more leftover yarn to play with, if I ever finish this thing.

2010: UFO