Auntie Nettie's Attic Merchandise 2012 - October/November

I have previously stated that this entire year has has some warp-speed/worm-hole/timey-whimey issues, and that should be fairly apparent by the  (lack of consistent) blogging for the last few months.

I did manage to do the following in the last two months, when I
~ Worked too much;
~ Considered quitting;
~ Started networking;
~ Booked my tickets for vacation as a way to cope with the stress;
~ Barely rode out some of the job-related hoo-hah at the office;
~ Caught up on lots of television programs/past seasons of certain shows in marathon viewing sessions;
~ Got to see Casey for a few hours when she came to town;
~Went to a craft fair/street fair/spent the day with Jane;
~ Took a few days off to go up to Connecticut to see;
- Dad;
- Do some shopping/stocking up;
- Got my hair hacked off;
- Saw Wendy and Emily and picked up some holiday goods from my local small artisanal organic farmer;
- Saw Jess, Kel, 'little' Victor and Ms. Ro;
- Had dinner with Jenn and the family;
- wandered around and took lots of pictures of the olde family homestead; and
- booked out early before the hurricane;
~ Had lunch with Christine; 
~ Had "fun" with Sandy, so had time off/worked from home/had Halloween;
~ Talked to the Ironic Mother on the phone to catch her up on aforementioned hoo-hah;
~ Got a raise/promotion;
~ Made some charitable contributions;
~ The Twins arrived;
~ Had dinner with my friend Michelle, formerly of the Caramoor years, in town from Miami; 
~ Gave blood at Lincoln Center;
~ Went to a WNET/Great Performances taping at Lincoln Center;
~ Went to a Juilliard Orchestra concert at Lincoln Center;
~ Got sick;
~ Had a long Thanksgiving break; and FINALLY
~ Started the countdown for Christmas and my vacation trips West.

Crafting also took a back-burner for a little bit, but I did finish a few little things. Maybe the output reflects my state of mind/theme of the season: Bird-brained ... A bird in the hand ... Flying to warmer climates ... Partridge in a pear tree ... Canary in a Coalmine ... etc. etc. etc.

ANA 2012-83: Snowy Owlie

(Mixed yarns, chenille and acrylics, plus batting)
(as of 1/2013 no longer available, gifted)

ANA 2012-84: Snowy Owlie with button beak

(Mixed yarns, chenille and acrylics, plus batting and button beak)
(as of 09/2013, no longer available, gifted)

ANA 2012-85: Snowy Owlie

(Mixed yarns, chenille and acrylics, plus batting and buttons)
(as of 09/2013, no longer available, gifted)

ANA 2012-86: Snowy Owlie

(Mixed yarns, chenille and acrylics, plus batting and buttons) 

(as of 4/14, no longer available, sold)

ANA 2012-87: Snowy Owlie

(Mixed yarns, chenille and acrylics, plus batting and buttons)
(as of 4/14, no longer available, sold)

ANA 2012-88: Red-flecked Birdie

(Partial Big Lots skein mystery yarn, acrylic mix, plus batting and buttons)
(as of 12/13 no longer available, gifted)

ANA 2012-89: Yellow-winged Blackbird

(Caron black sport acrylic yarn, with partial Big Lots skein mystery yarn, plus batting)
(as of June 2013, no longer available, gifted)

ANA 2012-90: Yellow-winged Blackbird

(Caron black sport acrylic yarn, with partial Big Lots skein mystery yarn, plus batting)
(as of June 2013, no longer available, gifted)

ANA 2012-91: Canary with button beak

(Partial Big Lots mystery acrylic skein, with batting and button)
(as of 09/2013, no longer available, gifted)

ANA 2012-92: Canary

(Partial Big Lots mystery acrylic skien, with buttons and batting)
(as of 09/2013, no longer available, gifted)

ANA 2012-93: Canary

(Partial Big Lots mystery acrylic skein, with buttons and batting)
(as of 09/2013, no longer available, gifted)

ANA 2012-94: Red-flecked Owlie

(Partial Big Lots mystery acrylic skein with Caron black sport yarn with batting)
(as of 12/13, no longer available, gifted)

ANA 2012-95: Red Birdie

(Partial Big Lots mystery acrylic skein, with buttons and batting)
(as of 12/13 no longer available, gifted)

ANA 2012-96: Red Birdie with Button Beak

(Partial Big Lots mystery acrylic skein, with button and batting)
(as of 12/13 no longer available, gifted)

ANA 2012-97, 98, 99: Brown Sparrows

(Partial Big Lots mystery acrylic skeins, with buttons and batting)
(as of May 2013, no longer available, gifted)

ANA 2012-100: Brown Sparrow with button beak

(Partial Big Lots mystery skein, with buttons and batting)
(as of May 2013, no longer available, gifted)

Still in progress

2012:

UFO 1: Pink Blankie: needs final rows, edgings, and label

UFO 2: Green Holiday Stocking for Cannon

2010:

 UFO 1: Serbert Waves AKA the Bane of my Existence

Unfortunately, I am still very busy, so the esty.com shop is still shuttered for the foreseeable future (or until I really only have one job and finish traveling to see adorable nieces and nephews). 

However if you see something that you are interested in, contact me and I'll let you know prices and availability.

Retroblogging: Chicago Trip 2012, Reunion Roaming

It's been a year of incredible warp speed and I just haven't been able to keep up. I'm resorting to retroblogging about the events of January 2012, for goodness sake.

2012 started off on a wonderful note - re"k"onnecting with my friend Kari in Chicago. As I mentioned way back during the 40 Diamonds for 40 run in February, Kari is one of the first of the gang to hit the milestone and I colluded with her husband to surprise her with a visit in Chicago and then in her next of the woods. A present for both of our birthdays .. and turns out for Noel too. (Sorry Noel - thanks for letting me celebrate with you!)

It hadn't felt like 16 years. ... or didn't until January 2012 ... when down the dark, windy streets of Chicago walked my still-miraculously blond friend into a very long, overdue hug and tears. We just kept grinning like Cheshire Cats the whole first night.

We hit the streets to wander around and find dinner and it was the one evening on my trip when Chicago decided to show me what her winds were all about. It was windy and chilly, but not nearly as bad as it could have been. Or so I was told. It was still cold having coming from Southern Utah when it was 65 and I was kayaking not the day or two before.

See, they even have "warming" bells to alert you to the weather. The whole week was "warmer;" no snow, no ice, weather in the high 30s, low 40s - it was downright balmy for Chicago.

I got a hotel in the "theater" district and so got to see some of their famous lights, "corncob" landmarks, and modern art.

You never know what you're going to find along the way to sushi. You know, just a random giant Picasso sculpture.

Oh, framing up a giant Christmas tree. The Art Institute had a little version of what became this installation.

It was fun to wander and to use Mother Nature to keep me awake. That 3:00 a.m. wake up call for the airplane shuttle was too dang early.

One other observation - I thought New York pigeons were savvy - using the subway and MetroNorth to commute, but Chicago pigeons, they don't mess around.



Here's the Eternal Flame in Daley Plaza.

Location:
118 N. Clark St, Daley Plaza
Chicago, IL 60602

According to Explore Chicago:





"This is the heart of Chicago and I know the heart of Chicago is with us today."

With those words, Mayor Richard J. Daley dedicated an eternal flame in what was then called the Civic Center Plaza. At the time of its dedication on August 22, 1972, the eternal flame was Chicago's first memorial to honor the dead from four wars, World War I, World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

The Eternal Flame Memorial at Daley Plaza is a granite slab bearing a bronze circular disk containing a natural gas flame that burns perpetually. An inscription reads: "Eternal flame in memory of the men and women who have served in our armed forces." City officials created the Eternal Flame in response to veterans organization leaders' pleas for a memorial that would serve as a monument to deceased service personnel.

The flame was lit by Mrs. Albina Nance, the president of the Illinois Gold Star Mothers in 1972. The Eternal Flame is enclosed by a wrought iron fence near the Picasso sculpture on Daley Plaza.

Such a wonderful way to kick off that portion of the trip. Art, walking, talking ... which is what we did the next day when we also hit the aforementioned Art Institute.

Auntie Nettie's Attic Merchandise 2012 - September

May you live in interesting times:

I think someone "blessed" me so that as 2012 passed -- things have only gotten more "interesting." Life in September got very busy (as you probably have seen from the lack-of blog posts) and I have to look back a lot of pages in what passes for my diary to remember what the heck happened -- aside from my jobs totally taking over.

If I'm reading my scrawls correctly, September:

~ Started off on Labor Day weekend with me "laboring" - helping out my friend Cynthia tackle a garage cleaning assignment that was on a hot muggy day full of poopy natural surprises. (Though I have super fond memories of eating a delicious omelet with chorizo, cilantro, and tomatoes ... MMMM.) What is the incubation period for the hanta virus, because I know I ingested mouse poop in a few forms that day. Seriously. YUCK!

I also:

~ Crocheted some of the baby bibs you'll see below, while sitting in the dark during Convocation for work. I knew I was getting to the point where I didn't have to watch what I was doing while watching t.v.. But now I know I can also crochet simple things in the dark with the lights out.

~ Had a lovely unexpected dinner with Christine in the City, to try and catch up with work/life before we got swamped by the incoming tide of change. So glad we did. October got WORSE - for both of us!; 

~ Cleaned out some of my kitchen stuff, including scrubbing decades of accumulated gook off pots and pans so to donate to the next generation of chefs (my work-study students); 

~ Missed brunch and baby shower plans due to illness, inclement weather, and geographic impossibilities; 

~ Cleaned, purged, watched television a lot on the weekends to catch-up, called to family/friends -- all necessary as I was about to be caught up in what we'll call "Hurricane H*******" aka the aftermath of an unexpected star-studded memorial/fund-raising event wherein it was "organized" by "amateurs" who had no idea how to coordinate guest lists and then it took over 22-different spreadsheets of data to be entered for over 700-1000 individuals, each with variations in proper spelling/contact information/relationships into my company's database into a coherent form. So. Yeah. That took weeks of research, 12-14 hour days, and juggling of deadlines, egos, priorities, and what I'm calling the 5-stages of frustration. There was anger, bitterness/resentment, denial, then grudging acceptance, and finally a horrible dose of gallows humor. (I kept track of hours, and OMH the comp and OT that I am owed -- if I only had TIME to take my comp time!) Then I had to interact with the oblivious, the obnoxious, the defensive, and the self-congratualory ... well ... 

Let's jut say GRRRR and that:

I also:

~ got sick during all this;

~ ate all wrong; 

~didn't sleep right;

~barely remembered to pay my bills on time; or

~send birthday/anniversary cards out; or to

~have the energy to go to Maker's Faire this year.

I felt the worst about missing friends and Maker's Faire. I bought a ticket and everything. But between the work stress, hours, and the sheer exhaustion, the one or two days I didn't have to work, I just didn't have the energy to muster up to head to Queens and be surrounded by people.

Little did I know that parts of October ... 

It's not just me ... is there some weird celestial misalignment going on? Is Mars in retro-grade? WHAT IS GOING ON?

It's good thing I have SOME sort of therapy outlet I can only imagine I would be WORSE off mentally, and that's saying something.

So -- yeah. Maybe you can see a theme to my crafts this month? It veers from being full of love for the new lights in the family that are due in a month or so, to be wildly optimistic and seeing love and hearts everywhere, to being bird-brained and thinking that every one is a monster.

Or something! 

In any event, here are the many creations from September including:

Baby Shower presents for Phineas and Ferbina

ANA 2012: 66 and  67: Pink and Blue square "ribbed" washcloths for the twins

(Lily Cotton Sugar 'n Cream 4-ply cotton) 

 ANA 2012-70 and 71: Pink and Blue bibs for the twins

(Lily Cotton Sugar 'n Cream 4-ply cotton and buttons)

Details of the fastenings: Two loops, depending on the size of their little heads/growing bodies 

ANA 2012-72 and 73: Pink and Blue round washcloths for the twins (in back of rounds)

(Lily Cotton Sugar 'n Cream 4-ply cotton)

ANA 2012-74 and 75: Mini camo owlies 

(left: 74, fledgling; right, 75, grey-eyed adult) 

(Miscellaneous mystery acrylic and left-over wool)

  ANA 2012-76: Maroon stripped mini owlie

(Miscellaneous left-over acrylic yarn and batting)

ANA 2012-77: Fuchsia pull-over with pink hearts and XOs 

(Red Heart and left-over miscellaneous acrylic yarn types) 
(as of 12/13 no longer available, gifted)

ANA 2012-78: Fuchsia pull-over with purple hearts and subtle accents 

(Red Heart and left-over miscellaneous acrylic yarn types) 
(as of 4/14, no longer available, sold)

ANA 2012-79: Fuchsia mini (or skull cap) with two hearts (pink/white)

(Red Heart and left-over miscellaneous acrylic yarn types) 
(as of 12/13 no longer available, gifted)

ANA 2012-80: Black Cyclops hat, with horns 

(Red Heart and left-over miscellaneous acrylic yarn types) 
(as of 4/14, no longer available, sold)

ANA 2012-81: Black Cylops hat, with horn and bulging dilated green eye - Rolled brim

(Red heart and left-over miscellaneous acrylic yarn types) 
(as of 11/2013, no longer available)

ANA 2012-82: Black Cyclops hat, with horns and bulging green eye

(Red Heart and left-over miscellaneous acrylic yarn types) 
(as of 11/2013, no longer available)

Alternatively, if you don't a bulging third-eye in the middle of your forehead, you could flip these around and have a Janus-head thing -- and freak out the people walking too close behind you.

Still in progress; 

2012: 
3 mini owlies
1 pink afghan

 2010: Yeah, Yeah, Yeah. Didn't you read all about the sagas of the last few months? It's amazing I got anything done ... at all!

Regarding the shop: I think I've come to the conclusion it ain't happening this year. I just can't see me finding extra time to dedicate to it this year, especially given my travel plans from now through ... well 2013! However, if you see something on here, let me know, so I can see if it's still in stock, and not somewhere else, and give you an idea of prices.

Auntie Nettie's Attic Merchandise 2012 - August

If you have happened to stumble across the blog, I'm .... well, shocked. I can't even get my family to read this thing, forget acquaintances, colleagues, friends, or cyber-stumbler-uponers/strangers. But welcome!

I'm Auntie Nettie, and this is my version of Jo (from Little Women) scribbling in the garret.

This blog has become a bit of an archive for me to try and keep track of some of my activities, readings, wonderings, and wanderings. It's also a bit of a therapy log - including an actual log of some of my craft therapy projects. Rather than eat my pain (I kid, but I don't), I try to keep my hands busy, to varying degrees of success.

To recap some of August, you could read through some of the archives to see that I:
~went on a lot of walks through New York City that month;
~did some Island Hopping;
~tried to meet some friends (sorry to miss you Casey and Poopeh), and did see some others, like Christine and Amelia (a bunch of times!), and the library gang;
~ saw off my summer intern with a long lunch with colleagues;
~ cleared out and organized more of the personal archives;
~ caught up on televisions programs;
~ went to the Botanical Garden;
~ took a couple of sick days, prior to the real "fun" beginning; and
~ had a week that I would prefer to forget, except that it resulted in a shiny new bathtub and quality up-close-and-personal time with Wendy and Emily.

It was a very, very, very "interesting" month, and I am just hoping that all the drama got out of my universe's orbit, so I can just deal with September.

Perhaps, in retrospect, that is actually why so many little birds hatched in my attic. Or, maybe, why there was so much POOP to deal with?

In any event, here are the many creations from August, including:

ANA 2012-55: Fuzzy Slouchy Hat
(mystery tag sale yarn, acrylic, as well as mystery chenille)
(as of 11/2012, no longer available, donated to Hats for the Homeless)

ANA 2012-56: Mini Purple Owlie

(assorted leftover mystery yarn and batting)ANA 2012-57 and 58: Red-winged Blackbird family, adult and child

(Assorted leftover yarns, acrylic, and batting)
(as of 12/13 no longer available, gifted)
ANA 2012-59: Black and White Owlie
(Assorted leftover yarn, chenille, acrylic, and batting)
(as of 4/14, no longer available, sold)

ANA 2012-60: Rainbow Rook

(Leftover mix of yarns, acrylic and chenille, batting, and button)
(as of 12/13, no longer available, gifted)
ANA 2012-61: Grey-flecked Owlie

(Assorted leftover yarns, chenille, acrylic, metallic, batting, and buttons)
(as of 2014, no longer available)

ANA 2012-62 and 63: Fuzzy-winged Birdies
(Assorted mystery acrylic yarns and batting)
(as of 12/13 no longer available, gifted)
ANA 2012-64: Light-blue Owlie

(Leftover mystery yarn and batting)
(as of 4/14, no longer available, sold)
ANA 2012-65: Dark-blue Owlie
(Leftover mystery acrylic yarn and batting)
(as of 2014, no longer available)

These two were completed during August, but I totally forgot to record them in my log, so the numbers are out of order!

ANA 2012-68: Mini two-toned boys hat
(Leftover mystery yarn)
(as of 11/2012, no longer available, donated to Hats for the Homeless)

ANA 2012-69: Exotic Pastel Sparrow
(Leftover mix of acrylic yarns and batting)
(as of 4/14, no longer available, sold)

Still in progress:

2012: Presents for Phineas and Ferbina, the nephew and niece to be. Not posted here as they were supposed to be a surprise for my sister-in-law's shower. Thanks to FedEx, they were scheduled to get to Nevada at 4:30 - and the shower was scheduled I believe for 5:30! That's cutting it a bit close, no?

2010: Yeah, Yeah, Yeah. Didn't you read all about the sagas of the month? It's amazing I got anything done ... at all!

So, about the etsy.com shop. Again, when have I had time? IF what was discussed by my friend Wendy actually happens, HOPEFULLY, I can pack a bunch of animals and/or scarfs off to her and she'll schlep them to a community-church craft bazaar. (Please, please, please!) If not, the animals will continue to run the asylum and threaten to choke me. (As of this weekend, the count was 37 birdies, 2 pandas, 1 polar bear family of three, 10 bunnies - and that's not counting the scarves, hats, bags, and blankies -- I need a shop keeper.)

HOWEVER, if you see something here that you must adopt, please contact me for prices and availability. You would be helping me clean out the Attic.

I have a stash of fabric, bits, and bobs that I would love to run through the sewing machine, but I'm trying to stick with one craft obsession at a time.