Auntie Nettie's Attic Merchandise 2012 - February

February is a short month, which is all to the good - except for when you are trying to see people, do things, and would like to also spend time at home crafting.

This month, somehow, I managed to:
~survive my birthday -- and yes, survive is the correct adjective. It's a big birthday, as you'll have been reading, and why I don't mind the tributes that are being posted on the blog, having to be up, functional, and at work, while trying to get through it like it was just another day was tricky. Luckily most of my family and friends know how I get, so we had our phone and Skype time prior to the day. My colleagues at work were also clued in/warned, and so, thankfully, kept the fuss to a bare minimum;
~ have lots of meals with friends, i.e.:
-brunch with Poopeh,
-lunch with Christine and Tammy,
-lunch with Jane,
-lunch with Susan, and
-lunch with Ed and Arsi;
as well as:
~get my taxes done,
~work late FAR too many days;
~catch up on television programs, including Downton Abbey;
~and to attend a recital or two.

Oh, and I got sick. AGAIN. Darn stress.

One of the things I did NOT get done this month was to take advantage of the Lion Brand Yarn specials. During the week of your birthday, if you head down to their Studio space on 15th Street in NYC and show proof, you get 20% of your entire purchase. Now, I really need to stock up on some stuff, like gender specific baby blanket materials, but the universe conspired against me, with work appointments, conference calls, and 10-12 hour work days. I suppose it's just as well. (Right? It saved me money, didn't it?)

One of the resolutions I made LAST year was not to buy any more yarn until I used up the stash I already had lurking around, hiding in closets, stuffed between books on the shelves, and between furniture. Aside from a few slip-ups, I've been holding firm to that resolution. I've prodigiously been turning out blankets from the stash I had, as well as scarves, and hats. I have so much inventory for the etsy.com shop! SO MUCH.

The other unfortunate side effect? Stuffed animals are breeding like, well ... rabbits up in here. Not only that, they are trying to find ways to escape the Attic to find new homes. Help me out, please. Make an offer in the comments, or DM, or e-mail me for prices and availability, or head over to the shop where I've got the bunnies, birdies, and bears listed. I'd even trade. A bunny for a skein of certain types of yarn .... *

ANA 2012-13: Purple Bunny
(mystery acrylic yarn, batting, and buttons)
(as of 4/2012 no longer available, gifted)

ANA 2012-14: Rose Bunny
(mystery acrylic yarn, batting, and button)

ANA 2012-15: Maroon Bunny
(mystery acrylic yarn, batting, and buttons)
(as of 2014, no longer available, gifted)

ANA 2012-16: Pink Bunny
(part of a skein of Caron Simply Soft yarn, batting, and button)
(as of 05/2012, no longer available)

ANA 2012-17: Halloween Hare
(part of skeins of Caron Simply Soft and Lion Brand Micro Spun yarns, batting, and button)
(as of 12/13 no longer available, Toys for Tots)

ANA 2012-18: Orange Bunny
(part of skein of Lion Brand Micro Spun, batting, and buttons)
(as of 4/2012, no longer available, gifted)

ANA 2012-19: Out-of-this-world Roving Rabbit
(part of skein of Caron Simply Soft, ball of mystery acrylic novelty yarn, batting, and buttons)
(as of 8/2012, no longer available, to be a Toy Society toy)

ANA 2012-20: Mint Green bunny
(part of skein of Red Heart Baby Sport Pompadour yarn, batting, and button)
(as of 2014, no longer available, gifted)

Still in Progress:

2012 UFO 1: A bird? A bunny? Parts of 2 birds? I don't know yet. I'll have to see.

2010: Multi-fiber, multi-colored blanket aka the bane of my existence

Hi. I'm Auntie Nettie, and not only am I a workaholic, a biblioholic, a chocoholic,
I'm a yarnoholic.Yes. The shop is open. Please help me out. Shop and clear things out of my studio.

Auntie Nettie's Attic Merchandise 2012 - January

I am in complete and utter disbelief on how quickly this month passed. Of course, you do have to factor in that I was on vacation, traveling, out of the office, sick and/or recuperating from the aforementioned for the first half of the month.

This month, I:
~rang in the New Year with family;
~went hiking in Snow Canyon with family;
~went kayaking at Sand Hollow with family;
~went shooting on BLM land with family;
~flew to Chicago to reunite with my college friend Kari after 16 years, and
- we talked, walked, talked, ate, and talked;
-explored Millennium Park and the Art Institute of Chicago;
-hung out with her family including;
soccer practice
music lessons/practice
EYSO concert/rehearsal
had birthday celebrations and song,
and a whole lot more;
~was in 4 time zones, 4 airplanes, 3 hotels, a rental car, and too many other conveyances like commuter trains and subways;
~met with work consultants;
~unpacked, did laundry, put the house to rights, caught up on t.v., and
~ oh yeah, did I mention I got sick? But couldn't take anytime off because I had JUST gotten back from 3 weeks off?

It was a busy month. It's taking a while to sort through the over 1000+ photos and video for posts. Good thing is, I have lots of material for future blog posts.

In spite, or despite, all of the above, these are the projects I managed to finish since the last update.

ANA 2012-1: Maroon Diamond Scarf
(Mystery acrylic yarn)
(as of 11/2012, no longer available, donated to Hats for the Homeless)

ANA 2012-2: Purple/grey Heather Infinity Scarf
(Skeins of mystery acrylic blends)
(as of 11/2012, no longer available, donated to Hats for the Homeless)

ANA 2012-3: Orange/grey Heather Ladder Infinity Scarf
(Skeins of mystery acrylic blends)
(as of 11/2012, no longer available, donated to Hats for the Homeless)

ANA 2012-4: Orange Mini Owlie
(leftover mystery acrylic blend and polyfil)
(as of 4/14, no longer available, sold)

2012-5 and 9: Red/tan Mini Owlies
(Combination of Lion Brand chenille and tapestry wool leftovers and polyfil)
(as of 05/2012, neither is available)

ANA 2012-6: Mini Sparrow with orange markings
(Combination of leftover tapestry wool and acrylic yarn, buttons, and polyfil)
(as of 11/2013 no longer available)

ANA 2012-7 and 8: Blue/tan Mini Owlies, parent and child
(Combination of leftovers of Lion Brand chenille and tapestry wool and polyfil)
(as of 05/2012, neither is available)

ANA 2012-10: Mini sparrow with green markings
(Combination of leftover tapestry wool, buttons, and polyfil)
(as of 12/13 no longer available, gifted)

ANA 2012-11: Mini Green Owlie
(Combination of leftover tapestry wool and polyfil)
(as of 05/2012, no longer available)

ANA 2012-12: Monster Bunny!
(Look, everyone has to make an ugly stuffy once in a while.)
(Combination of leftover mystery and novelty yarns and polyfil)
(as of 8/12, no longer available, to be a Toy Society toy)

Still in progress:

2012 UFO 1: Unfinished Bunny of the non-monster variety

2012 UFO 2: Some sort of stuffed animal yet to be determined

2010 UFO: Multicolored, multi-fibered chevron blanket

I swear I fill finish that thing this year. It's taking up space on my shelf. I just need a snow day or week to finish everything up.

The shop should go up again fairly soon, so please keep checking on etsy to see these creations and more. However, if you can't wait, please contact me for prices and availability.

Auntie Nettie's Attic Merchandise 2011 - December

December is a month that blurs - speeding faster and faster toward Christmas and vacations. Thank goodness I document these things these days, or I wouldn't remember any of it.

According to my records, and/or the best that I can recall, this month I:
~got lots and lots of holiday cards and packages out;
~ saw friends and went skating;
~attended a very cute pre-school bake/book sale;
~worked late for a variety of functions or/stayed late to catch up on work;
~attended a production of Noel Coward's Hay Fever (and then walked around with a horrendously posh faux British accent for days);
~baked at least:
- 9 loaves of fruitcake (aka applebread);
- a cookie cake;
- about 6 batches of various types of cookies;
- about 10-20 batches of nut brittle;
~ had open "studio" hours aka show-and-tell time at the office (in lieu of a crafters' boutique);
~ attended a holiday party/cookie exchange;
~ cleaned, filed, scrubbed, and did chores;
and
~ caught up on a lot of television/holiday movies.

I was also playing Santa Elf, so ...

No wonder I need a long, three week vacation. YIPPEEEE.

I had to stop making things, but here's what managed to come off the hooks, while I was doing everything else.

ANA 2011-82 through 92: Kitchen Elf Ornaments
(misc. donated mystery yarn, left-over holiday hooks, and pieces of a random glitter ornament)
(not available, gifted by the Kitchen Elf)

ANA 2011-93: Mini Orange Birdie with Button Nose and Beak
(mystery leftover yarn, fiber fill, and buttons)
(no longer available, gifted)

ANA 2011-94: Mini Orange Birdie with White Button Eyes
(mystery leftover yarn, fiber fill, and buttons)

ANA 2011-95: Mini Yellow Birdie with Black Button Eyes
(mystery leftover yarn, fiber fill, and buttons)
(no longer available)

ANA 2011-96: Mini Orange/Yellow Owlie
(mystery leftover yarn and fiber fill)

ANA 2011-97: Mini Orange Birdie with Black Button Eyes
(mystery leftover yarn, fiber fill, and buttons)

ANA 2011-98: Mini Purple Birdie with Matching Button Eyes
(leftover "Vanna" Lion Brand yarn, fiber fill, and buttons)
(no longer available, gifted)

ANA 2011-99: Mini Turquoise Blue Bird
(mystery leftover yarn and fiber fill)
(no photo)
(as of 12/13 no longer available, gifted)

ANA 2011-100 through 103: Mini Blue Owlies
(mystery leftover yarn and fiber fill)
(no photos - but like ANA 2011-104/105, gifted)

ANA 2011-104: Mini Blue Owlie
(mystery leftover yarn and fiber fill)
(as of 1/2012, no longer available, gifted)

ANA 2011-105: Mini Blue Owlie
(mystery leftover yarn and fiber fill)
(as of 1/2012, no longer available, gifted)

ANA 2011-106: Mini Red Bird with Black Button Eyes and Beak
(leftover yarn, fiber fill, and buttons)
(as of 1/2012, no longer available, gifted)ANA 2011-107: Stuffed Bear
(mystery leftover yarn and fiber fill)
(as of 08/2012, to be a Toy Society Toy)
Still in Progress:

2010: Multi-colored, multi-fiber chevron blanket
2011: Next Valentine's Day Secret Cupid gifts (shhhhh, don't tell anyone!)
Maroon Diamond Scarf
As ever, if you see something that interests you, please let me know.

The on-line shop will be re-opening late in January 2012.

Auntie Nettie's Attic Merchandise 2011 - October

Another month down. Time still flying. Not so much time for crafting. Let's try and figure out why. Oh, yes. There was the:

~ Cape Cod Girls Weekend 2011;
~ recovering from injuries sustained while biking on the Road Trip;
~ so much work-related drama;
~ so much work-related pondering of job/personal issues;
~ so many work-related conversations with colleagues, friends, and a bosslady (to no avail, more on that later);
~ too many work-related farewell parties and late nights in the office and at events;
~ Auntie Nettie's Tour (patent pending) of New York on Columbus Day with Emily and Wendy;
~ Flu shots/Blood Drives - one made me sick, the stress of not eating got me rejected from the other;
~ so much baking to try and relieve work-related stress;
~ Sunday brunches with friends in the City and trips to Museums for Christmas presents;
~ and a planned long weekend in the "country" exploring museums, galleries, and attending Caramoor Rising Stars concerts with a houseguest -- which was curtailed DUE TO SNOW.

Seriously. If I didn't have that pesky work thing, I could blog, bake, craft, and enjoy life so much more. But as I've said for over a year, and in light of my friends' various employment (and non-employment) issues, I am grateful to be employed and to have any benefits.

In other news, Maxxie and RubyNikon 2.0 and I are still working to learn each other's quirks, but we're getting there. Like last month, these items may make it up on the shop at some point, but honestly, some of these are already spoken for.

ANA 2011-55: Citrus Orchard Scarf
(2 skeins of AlsanTrends: Litoral #1328: Citrus Orchard, acrylic/polyamide)
(as of 10/2011 not available, to be gifted)
Modeled by Christine during Cape Cod Girls Weekend 2011

ANA 2011-56: Ocean Blue Scarf(2 skein AslanTrends: Litoral, #1315 Ocean, acrylic/polyamide)(as of 10/2011 not available, to be gifted)
Appropriately, this scarf was started on the beach, at sunset, while looking at the ocean.

ANA 2011-56 & 57: Pink & Blue Pandas (II)
(leftover materials)(as of 10/2011, not available, gifted to the blogger behind Music Pink & Blue II)

ANA 2011-59: Black and Cream Kitty
(leftover scrap yarn, wool, acrylic, etc.)
(as of 08/2012, no longer available, to be a Toy Society toy)

ANA 2011-60: Button-Eyed Cream and Black Kitty
(leftover scrap yarn, wool and acrylic, with misc. buttons for the face)
(as of 8/2012, no longer available, to be a Toy Society toy)

ANA 2011-61: Multi-colored Bunny, green ears and nose
(leftover scrap yarn, Bernat Baby coordinates)
(as of 4/14, no longer available, sold)

ANA 2011-62: Multicolored Bunny, yellow ears
(leftover scrap yarn, Bernat Baby coordinates)

ANA 2011-63: Multicolored bunny, purple pastels
(leftover scrap yarns, Baby Bernat coordinates and other materials)
(as of 4/14, no longer available, sold)

Still in progress:
2011: Brown and Black handbag

Potential mobile of hearts - which frankly I may just use as Valentine's Day presents next year

2010: Multi-colored, multi-fiber chevron blanket

As ever, if you see something you'd like, please contact me for sizes, prices, and availability.