Photos of the Day: Cape Cod Cottage

October 2013, Wellfleet, MA

Artists Cottage/Gallery/Display of the Prettiest Mermaid's Purse EVER

Auntie Nettie's Attic Merchandise 2011 - November

Another month gone, and suddenly November is over too. A brief look at the calendar reveals that I was busy:

~ Dealing with too much work, work-related events, and other issues too boring to mention;
~ Fighting various allergies, office colds, or flus that are a result of commuting and the bizarre weather cycles that make it snow before Halloween and then 65 degrees a month before Christmas;
~ Catching up on hours of television viewing either thanks to On-Demand cable or programs on-line;
~ Busily crafting, working on Christmas cards, blogging, baking, or out and about doing social things like dining with friends or attending the following:
- A viewing of the documentary "Pianomania" at the Film Society, which made me realized, once again, that I never did have the temperament to be a solo pianist;
- A special evening of music at Carnegie Hall with Jane, watching Joshua Bell coax some incredible sounds of out his fiddle, and envying his pianist his technique and score on an iPad;
- A viewing of "Being Elmo," also at the Film Society, which brought grown men and women to tears in one moment and laughter the next;
- The ritual known as Pre-Thanksgiving shopping at a CostCo in the suburbs the Sunday before Thanksgiving; and then
- Enjoying a glorious Black Friday at the New York Botanical Garden with Christine.

Speaking of Thanksgiving, I was graciously invited to partake in many Thanksgiving gatherings this year, but was able to take part in my new tradition of Chinese Food and an afternoon of Skyping friends and family.

But by FAR, the highlight of the month was getting two letters in one week from Drew, along with special school pictures from Amber and Elle.

In the meantime, these are the few things I managed to make with yarn this month:

ANA 2011-64: Rainbow Tie-died Bear
(Combination of mystery tie-died yarn and left-over white sport weight yarn, and fiber fill)
(no longer available, Toys for Tots donation)
ANA 2011-65: Maroon Scarf
(3 skeins of Mimosa Merino Superfine boucle, polyamide and virgin wool merino superfine)
(as of 11/2012, no longer available, donated to Hats for the Homeless)

in close-up

ANA 2011-66: Rainbow Tie-died Bear
(Combination of donated mystery tie-die yarn and Caron Simply Soft white, and fiber fill)
(no longer available, Toys for Tots donation)
ANA 2011-67: Forest Green ribbed scarf
(2 skeins Lambs Pride Worsted, wool and mohair)
(as of 11/2012, no longer available, donated to Hats for the Homeless)

in close-up

ANA 2011-68: Mini Grey Owl
(various leftover yarns and fiber fill)
(as of 12/2011, no longer available)
ANA 2011-69: Mini Yellow Birdie
(mystery leftover yarn and fiber fill)
ANA 2011-70: Mini Maroon Birdie
(various leftover yarns and fiber fill) (no longer available, gifted)
ANA 2011-71 & 72: Mini Maroon and Gold Holiday Stocking, trimmed in White
(various leftover mystery yarns)
(no longer available, holiday gifts)
ANA 2011-73 & 74: Mini White Holiday Stocking: Trimmed in Maroon and Gold
(various leftover mystery yarns)
(no longer available, holiday gifts)ANA 2011-75: Variegated Purple Pullover Hat - Child Size
(mystery yarn)
(as of 11/2012, no longer available, donated to Hats for the Homeless)
ANA 2011-76: Mini Blue Bird
(various leftover mystery yarn and fiber fill)
(as of 12/2011, no longer available)
ANA 2011-77: Variegated Purple Pullover - Adult Size
(mystery yarn)
(as of 11/2012, no longer available, donated to Hats for the Homeless)

Seen together

ANA 2011-78: Mini Cream Owl
(various leftover mystery yarns and fiber fill)
(as of 12/2011, no longer available, gifted)
ANA 2011-79: Mini Blue-flecked Bird with Blue Eyes
(leftover mystery yarn and fiber fill)
(as of 12/13 no longer available, gifted)
ANA 2011-80: Mini Blue-flecked Bird with White Eyes
(leftover mystery yarn and fiber fill)
(as of 12/13 no longer available, gifted)
ANA 2011-81: Brown and Black Color-Blocked Purse
(2 skeins Lion Brand wool and a handles from Joannes, Purse n-alize it brand)
Still in Progress:
2010: Multi-colored, multi-fiber chevron blanket
2011: Next Valentine's Day Secret Cupid gifts (shhhh, 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 on hiatus until after I get back from my holiday vacation.
I'm just too busy with all my salaried jobs to run it right now.

Auntie Nettie's Attic Merchandise 2011 - September

I don't know where September went! I know that I did the August round-up late, but ... Let me flip my books to see if I can figure this out:

September wasn't all that busy, was it? MMM.

There was:

~ Labor Day weekend: a haze of cleaning, watching tv; and the final season of The Tudors;
~ RIP, my old Nikon when trying to document August's output;
~ Convocation/back to the school year activities;
~ writing the epically long tenth anniversary of September 11th post;
~ an overnight with Christine;
~ up in CT for a three-day weekend dealing with the homestead, with its Tropical Storm damage (spider webs taking over the house, fuzzy mold in the basement, and "horizontal lawn art"), and seeing Jess and Jenn;
~ career services for a bunch of "clients," including friends and family;
~ lunch with friends who have escaped NYC for other areas (*sniff, Ironic Mother, sniff*)
~ Maker Faire 2011 visit with Jane;
~ settling in the new roommate - the airhead Maxxie;
~ the flu/stress/malaise/preventative/necessary sick days;
~ and then the quicky road trip, a return to Cape Cod with the Caramoor crew (pix at right from 2010's trip).

Nope. Not busy at all.

HA! It's surprising that ANYTHING got done.
Seriously.

Also ... I bought a new Nikon and we're still figuring each other out. The 14M resolution is great for showing off the beauty of some of the yarn I'm working with, but it's a battery-sucker. I was shooting in 7M on the old Nikon and managed fine, so I'm backing Nikon 2.0 down to 8M or 10M to see how I like the resolution. Learning curves.

These items will get up on etsy.com at some point. Or not. I'm pretty sure I'm keeping the first scarf down there for myself. Look at the shades. It's like all the colors of sea glass.

ANA 2011-47: Seaglass-hued Scarf
(2 skeins of AlsanTrends: Litoral #1344: Seabed, acrylic/polyamide)

ANA 2011-48: Black Shell/Mesh Infinity Scarf
(2 skeins Caron Simply Soft black, acrylic)
(as of Oct. 2011, no longer available)

ANA 2011-49: Fuzzy Multi-Colored Baby Blanket

(5 skeins, Lion Brand Imagine, #341 Summertime, acrylic/mohair - apparently discontinued)
(as of Oct. 2011, on hold for client approval)ANA 2011-50: Jade Green Scarf

(2 skeins of AlsanTrends: Litoral #1327: Jungle Green acrylic/polyamide)
(as of Oct. 2011, no longer available, gifted)

ANA 2011-51: Cream Purse with Round Rattan Handles
(1 skein discontinued Red Heart Sport-weight yarn, handles from Joannes, Purse n-alize it brand;
Detachable Pin, ANA 2011-18)

ANA 2011-52: Graciously Grey Scarf
(2 skeins of AlsanTrends: Litoral #1310: Nightfall, acrylic/polyamide)
(as of 01/2012 no longer available, gifted)

ANA 2011-53: Pretty in Pink Ruffles
(2 skeins of mystery acrylic yarn, bought from thrift shop with no label)

ANA 2011-54: Midnight Changes
(2 skeins Red Heart Boutique yarn, Changes in Onyx, wool, acrylic, other fibers)

Still in progress:

2010: Multi-colored, multi-fiber chevron blanket

2011: Potential mobile of hearts (part of ANA 2011-08 group)I think that AslanTrends: litoral is my new favorite yarn. It's pretty, but can be tricky to work with, and is a step up in price from my usual. But I'm, er, my friends, are worth it.

As ever, if you see something you like, please contact me for sizes, prices, and availability ...
or better yet -
please visit the shop to see what new things might have been added.

Auntie Nettie's Attic Merchandise 2011 - April

That monsterworkprojectfromhell was FINALLY dropped in the mail on March 31st, with an impromptu boogie session with my comrade-in-arms highlighting our glee (read her blog here.) While she gets to have baby, art, and relocation therapy, I have crafts therapy to help me decompress.

Although the Twitter can be a major distraction, it is also very helpful when major yarn companies send out free patterns and pictures of other projects to peak your interest. Lion Brand tweeted the Crochet Posey Purse a few times over the last few months, and I finally had time to try it, and then try it again, and then, oh, again.

I'm on a materials "fast" this year, which means I am not allowed to purchase new items. Luckily for me, I knew I had purse handles stashed away in another cache. I had to adapt the pattern to make them work, but I think I like the result better, especially after I used a bit of color-appropriated leftover velcro to keep ANA 2011-16 and -17 fastened closed.

I'm also going to try and keep better track of the types, brands, and plys of the materials used -- just for kicks.

ANA 2011-13: Cream Crochet Posey Purse
(Vintage Red Heart Sport Yarn*)
with ANA 2011-18: Detachable Flower
(Lion Brand Moonlight Mohair, color may be discontinued)
ANA 2011-14: Chenille Bear with long limbs
(maybe a discontinued Lion Brand chenille)
(as of Dec. 2011, no longer available, Toys for Tots donation)
ANA 2011-15: Chenille Bear
(forgotten parts discovered in another storage bin and reassembled)
(as of Dec. 2011, no longer available, Toys for Tots donation)
ANA 2011-16: White Crochet Posey Purse (largish)
(Red Heart Super Saver, 4 ply acrylic)
with ANA 2011-19: Detachable Flower
(Lion Brand Moonlight Mohair)
ANA 2011-17: Black Crochet Posey Purse (mediumish)
(Vintage wool from charity rummage sale - no label for brand)
(as of 08/2011, no longer available - nor is one of the flowers)
ANA 2011-20 and 21: Additional Flower Pins
(Lion Brand Moonlight Mohair)
In fuzzy close-up:

*So vintage, a colleague bought it at a Woolworth and those have been extinct for years

Still in progress:

2010: Stuffed Animal/Multi-fiber chevron blanket
2011: Potential Mobile of Hearts (created as part of ANA 2011-08 group),
Blue Scarf in Tapestry Wool Combo, in Diamond Pattern,
Fancy Blue Scarf

As ever, if you see anything you'd like, just contact me for sizes, availability, and costs.