Whirlwind Weekend

The weekend was a blur of baking for various activities, future feeding of IT boys, and party flavors. Yes, you read that correctly, flavors, not favors. From apple bread loaves, to zucchini chocolate cake, to Bamboolzer brownies, and home-made crackers, I may have overdone it with the flour and arm power. Some of these treats got packed up for work, some for the party (more on that in a moment), and somehow some of these little packages ended up around the neighbors (and my door) with this little poem.

A surprise gift for the entire X Floor
For neighbors as closely packed as can be-
left late one night in secret outside your door
A little cake that’s quite sweet and healthy.
A kitchen elf mixed the apples in the cake 

Which you’re (hopefully) sure to find a treat-
One was super easy for the elf to make, 
Just so you they could welcome--nay Greet!   
As we pass each other on the stairs or halls,
Or see each other out on the busy streets,
Let’s take a moment to this gift recall:
Happy neighbors might leave more treats.

Someone is not a poet, and they for sure know it.

After a day of literally slaving over a hot stove, I packed myself and my bags onto the train up to Christine's for a party. Not just any party, but a party with a purpose. I love intriguing Paperless Post invites from friends, like this one: 

Clean out the closet for a jewelry and accessories exchange party.

Great chance to relieve your wardrobe of stuff you don’t want. Bring jewelry, scarves, pocketbooks, belts (no damaged items, please). For each item you bring, you’ll be able to exchange it for a new-to-you item. High end items may be sold for a modest price, too. Remaining items will be returned or donated to charity.

Christine has a knack for making any space and party special. Not only is it her livelihood, but it seems to be a gift.

I have seriously seen boutiques with less merchandise than all the items a bunch of us purged from our closets. Most of us found a few trinkets and scarves and odds and ends to exchange, but I have a feeling a sizable donation will be being made to Dress for Success, My Sister's Place, or another similar womens' charity.

As a bonus, I also sold a few hats from the Attic stash, caught up with friends, and stuffed my face with some of Christine's deliciously, scrumptious nibbles. As the two of us will be having a non-traditional Thanksgiving, I better start losing some weight so I can put it back on while eating her pasta and other cooking!

Thanks for hosting Christine. I had a blast and will enjoy wearing my new accessories.

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 - June

June ...

How is it the last day of June already?

Well, I know I was at work for some of it. A few days a week anyway because there were the various Summer Fridays activities and the Miscellaneous Monday meanderings and meditations, but, I know I did other things, like:


~ errands and chores;
~ bills and blogging; 
~ train trips hither thither and yon;
~ annual reviews to talk about the white board of doom and my constant state of self-imposed stress/other issues;

~ dinner with the Ironic Mother  to catch up, discuss all her new ventures, her new book, and to trek to Levain bakery for some ridiculously yummy cookies;

~ there was the evening at Symphony Space with Neil Gaiman and the readings and realizations (a very good wrap-up was done by writer for Tor.com) ; and

 ~ the annual trek to Brooklyn for the staff staff party, which this introvert somehow survived--although the trip back from the borough with the new VP bosslady ALONE on the 2 was slightly painful for me, if also not for her.

It's actually amazing, given all that, that I had any time left to craft.

 But I did!

This month's crafting was inspired by something I saw about two years ago during Summer Streets. In the window of a boutique in Soho(?) I saw a shrug/cardigan made out of these spirals. I wanted to learn how to to do them. I'm still stash-busting, so I worked my way through a skein to figure it out.

  

 ANA 2013-21: Solo Spiral

(Part of skein of Bernat sparkly baby sport, acrylic)

 One strand could be worn a variety of ways:

 ANA 2013-20: Trio of Connected Spirals

(Part of skein of Bernat sparkly baby sport, acrylic)

I don't quite have the trick of connecting them up, like my inspiration shots, so I'll have to research a pattern, but this one could be worn "regular" or as a slip knot too. 

 Mint green might only work for a kid, or with the right outfit, but it was a practice piece. To be revisited later.

Now that my stash is being reduced, the afghan collection re-bagged for truck/train sales, and my shelves are re-organized, I have very few excuses not to tackle ... you know what ...

This little beauty of a multi-fibred, multi-colored, project that I only started three summer ago.

If I leave it in this position in the middle of my floor long enough, and I have to step over it at least three times a day when I go to and from the air conditioner and t.v., do you think I'll actually start working to finish it?

Only 7 more Summer Fridays to go.

I should deal with the etsy.com shop too, at some point....

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