Well, crazy that it is August!
Not sure what to say, embarking on some top secret bigger projects. Exciting but just details to figure out. Also still reflecting on where I’ve been. Dug through some printmaking stuff (Copper plate etching above - No. 44 aka Bus 44 which is an Upsidedown Cat song I wrote.) Currently making plans to do band shirts for my friend’s band. A good excuse to start thinking more about my cd covers for the Soon Fall Will Be Here album (3rd version of the cover). Bought ink etc! Caught up with some old friends, made a new friend, need to catch up with others too. Grateful we have just a few friends we have seen during the lockdown. It felt like a big risk at first but I think it is important to not be so isolated and for my kids to see people too! Still feeling pretty isolated but yeah, such is life with small kiddos sometimes. Alternating between productive and feeling overwhelmed. But that is sort of normal, at least for now. Overall life is good but then I am still (mostly) avoiding news and FB. Just really grateful for my family and friends I guess. Now that it is August I think I need to take my yearly yarn stash photos! This year I have definitely acquired more (bday presents etc) butI also have lots in progress so it will be interesting to see! Plus I finished at least two projects, right? More on that later! Hopefully I won’t forget to take photos.
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Finished the last ornament for my Felt Advent Calendar 100 Day Project yesterday. Today I got the buttons sewn in the tree and contemplated sequins on the garland. There is still more work to do but I am getting closer and it is starting to feel like someday it will be finished. The kit is on Etsy, seller is The Lullaby Loft. She has several kits and several ways to buy them, ie: Just the pattern, Pattern and some items cut out or Pattern and all items cut out. I am so glad I splurged for the cut outs because a lot of the pieces are teeny tiny and would be hard to cut out. Plus I may never have started it. I decided to mostly hand sew instead of gluing. I just like the way it looks even though it takes a lot longer. There is some machine sewing on the pockets. I will share more when I am all done and you can keep track of my progress under the Sewing page on here.
It is AMAZING what you can get done in 5-10 (sometimes more) minutes a day. Plus realizing it is a good break in the day to allow myself some creative time. I think it will take less than 100 days to finish this project so I may pick up a languishing cross stitch project or darn socks for the remaining days. We’ll see. -LC Blanket stitch ( one place called it blind stitch) darning with re-inforcing stitches surrounding: Of course we have heard of darning socks. People have done it for generations. I have the book Never Done by Susan Strasser- all about housework history. Turning shirt cuffs inside out, cutting down the middle and resewing bed sheets so the worn spot in the middle of the sheet was now on the outer edges of the sheet. Cutting mold off the cake before you serve it (not a lot of refrigeration) etc. This reminds me I should read it again and see what darning tips there are. Over the last few years mending in general seems to be more popular. I am currently following Bookhou and Millie_and_the_Bee on Instagram. I am sure there are a lot more mending tutorials out there. Also the book Mending Matters which I have not read yet. I think visible mending is good because it doesn’t have to match or be perfect and allows more creativity. As a knitter I have seen many posts about strong sock heels and darning. Heels that are knit in different colors so they are more easily removable to reknit the whole heel. I currently have 2 pairs of hand knit socks and maybe two dozen pairs of storebought socks. I like Sock It To Me’s cat socks, so I have several pairs of those. I also bought Zkano socks and some other organic cotton socks that are made in the USA because I wanted to try them out. I like that they are a bit thicker as I am noticing better quality stuff is more easily mendable. Some of the cheapo socks are so thin to begin with. A while back I dug through my rag rug bin. I had several pairs of socks that were not cut up yet for rugs. So now I am trying to learn mending in order to save most of them for a little longer. Woven style (I’m still don’t know all the names...) with reinforcement stitches on the side: This style seems better maybe for wool socks, thicker socks. I like the idea of weaving but it seems trickier. Depending on the hole style I think different mending ways are better than others. I have done a small amount of experimentation with Heat transfer vinyl (HTV) flock (fuzzy) kind. Found that out on Instructables (a post by Sun.) searching for “mending storebought socks.” Also there is an easily found post about patching heels with other storebought sock fabric. Search Stale Bread into French Toast (sorry, no links today). I may try that eventually too. by I still need to do some wash & wear tests but for worn spots it might be a good idea. I am not sure if the area right around the patch will wear more quickly. I also just realized most of my mending wool is 100% wool. So a few socks I have done I will have to wash and check if it shrinks... I have about 4 colors that are nylon based and are marked as washable. Anyway, I sorted my sock drawer for socks with worn areas hoping to reinforce them either with the HTV or reinforcement stitching. I have probably 10+ socks that need holes patched too. So it will be great to mend when I can and then occasionally buy a fun new pair. (Or knit some!) Heat transfer vinyl doesn’t seem to work for big holes, so I did a blanket stitch darn to mend the hole: I am deciding I prefer to fix stuff if I can and save a bit of money and reduce reuse recycle etc. Also there is so much in the world I can’t personally fix so I may as well fix the occasional sock or two while I stress out about it and/or pray.
blah blah blah. I’m sure I will still be attracted to storebought cat socks forever! -LC It’s always so exciting to finish something! I finally finished my embroidered name tag the other day. I started making this name tag because we go to the biggest church I’ve ever attended in my life. I’m guessing it’s over 200 people- I’m bad at guessing numbers. So they have optional nametags which is really nice because it is hard to remember names and I haven’t met everyone yet. I’ve been to other smaller churches where I was there like three years and I still didn’t know certain peoples names. Or my husband knew the man’s name but didn’t know his wife’s name and I would ask him and he’d be like “I have no idea.” So yeah.
Anyway this was already in my head but with the lockdown I decided to work on a name tag. In hopes that someday we will be back together. Also because I will not waste so many stickers. I assume I will be home a long time watching the videos because I have young kids. Or maybe my husband and I can take turns going but anyway I’m glad my name tag is done. I guess I could wear other places too if I ever need a nametag! Currently working on several things:
Strawberry socks - My first two at a time project for a friend. About an inch of ribbing done for the cuff and so just started stockinette. Hitchhiker Beyond shawl - Sort of hibernating really, thought I would make it for my sister but color-wise it might be more for me. So now focusing on other stuff. Pattern by Martina Behm. Nametag- The embroidery part is all done, just have to figure out the magnet background. Cowl in green gradient - Knit Picks mini skein set I got for my birthday! Hoping to make for my sister. So far it is enjoyable and easy. Got to work on it during a movie so made a bit of progress yesterday. It is a pattern by Martina Behm called Lupino. The 100 day project: I mostly work on it when I can, don’t want to lose too much steam but posting less on Instagram I feel a little more relaxed about it. I need to glue the backs on the second batch of ornaments. Almost done with the numbers. Just needs to be done by Thanksgiving or so. Mending Socks: I really need more socks back in my drawer so trying darning and a few mending processes. I need some kid-free time to turn on the hot iron and do some reinforcements with the heat transfer vinyl flocking. Also researching for a large new project that is a surprise. I am pretty excited about it though the start has been delayed already for a few reasons and I fear it may take a while to complete. Hoping to focus on it and power through (not get distracted) so would be nice to finish at least one more project while I am stuck waiting longer for supplies to be in stock. In the back of my head is also a birthday present/painting I need to finish soon, partially knitted socks somewhere at my mom’s house, book mending, recording a song I’m working on, etc etc. Too much!!! But just grateful to be able to do anything creative at all even if it is 5 mins a day. Recently had a little extra time since my husband has had some staycation days. Downloaded a new audiobook so if naptime works out tomorrow looking forward to listening and working on something. And yes in the background, still lots of thoughts and emotions about the current state of things and my grandma and just trying to take things a day at a time really. My mom has reminded me lately that a lot of life is just life. “ We’ve had times in our lives when things seemed easier, more time for vacations and activities we enjoyed, children grown and taking care of themselves, parents healthy and independent. We look forward to those kinds of times and think that is normal life, but for many people, and all of us at times, what is normal is difficulties and struggles.“ Then the email went on to remind me of our close friends whose son is disabled and taking care of him (And coordinating helpers) was 24/7 for his family while he still lived at home. On my birthday she emailed: “You may feel that you are getting older so fast and haven’t done or become all you wanted to be, but you are just perfect now. As long as we keep living in God’s light and are walking on his path each day, trusting in him and his love specifically for us, repenting, confessing what we have misdone, accepting his forgiveness, taking his joy and peace, getting up again and again and again, we are becoming what we need to be.“ I know not everyone is a fan of God, but I am, and that was a really encouraging email. I know these times with little kiddos will go by too fast. Somedays I am annoyed because they won’t nap or something but that is just Life and maybe they just need more time reading books together or being held that day and that is ok! I’m grateful I am working less and I can spend more time with them. Anyway, I am (and you are) also a Work in Progress and that is ok! I love Angie Fadel’s (Soul Care Podcaster and old pastor & friend) recent post about “Tomorrow the sun will come up and I can start again.” -LC After finding that old photo of my shoes from 2007 on my old photo site I wanted to see what my shoes looked like today. (See the previous blog post). I did get rid of probably five pairs of flats and some old sneakers about 6 months ago since my feet did seem to change after two children. The front row are my most worn- speckled sanuks, black NB I wear to work, gifted Naots, and MadLove flip flops. Second row is pre-children high heels that do seem to still fit. Though who knows when I will wear them next, date nights (what are those?) and church still on hold. Black heels from payless. Wedding heels, blue heels (matching) that I wanted to wear to the wedding but decided white really looked better (or did it?). Navy blue clarks I don’t even remember but I like so will try to wear sometime. And the saddle shoes which seem to fit but also seem stained kind of. Man made uppers so not sure if they will clean up better. Might be nice to someday find some used leather ones, if they exist... (My only pair of shoes from the first photo!) Farthest row is old flip flops, saltwaters of course, black flats and the birthday surprise Rollerskates!!!! which I am so glad still fit and have yet to be worn on a rink because of the pandemic/being pregnant last year. Side view. Not pictured is one pair of flip flops I am deciding to pass on that I have never liked the color of.
I would like another pair of flats sometime so I have two (And then there’s always the red saltwater’s dream) but I definitely have more than enough shoes. I really like my sanuks so might want another pair of those if/when these wear out. A pair of shoes I wish I still had was my deep purple NB. I don’t usually go for purple but loved them and wore them forever until they were worn out and painty and no longer fit. I have also had a string of black sneakers bought for work over the years that have worn out in the heels etc. A lot of people love Danskos but somehow when I try them on they feel too rocky. Maybe I just need to try on more kinds? A long time ago I wanted to learn to make my own shoes and was researching about it. (Part of my non-sweatshop thing I focused on and still often have guilt about when buying clothes/shoes etc.) There are sandals of course and I had at one time saved a slipper pattern made out of denim that I assume you could glue a sole onto. My 2007 photo included flip flops where the sole was car tire. I forget the brand name. I also bought simples over the years and some No Sweat converse-like shoes. Speaking of slippers: This photo does not include my slippers, several pairs which I have knitted. Also I think I have rain boots and snow boots somewhere. -LC This was from 2007. Probably about time to take another shoe picture. I don’t own a single pair of converse now if you were wondering.
I have added more photos to the knitting & sewing pages and keeping up with the 100 day project too. (But totally at my own pace)... Basically adding things when I can. Way easier on the iPad and if I get my laptop up I will probably find more. So many fun memories! I need to get links better sometime too. Probably should do dishes/cleaning too today. Or something educational. Hope you are hanging in there. Mostly have been hanging out with a fussy baby today. -LC Tonight I cast on for two at a time socks! First time ever. Watched a youtube tutorial from Very Pink. Definitely the most fiddely thing I have done but now that I am a few rows in it seems fairly easy. Mostly have to make sure that I am using the right yarn ball. I am using two circular needles and some hand dyed yarn off Etsy that I bought at the beginning of the lockdown, you know to help support small businesses. I will look for the name. So far the yarn is a tiny bit splitty but I Love the strawberry color.
The pair of socks I just finished for my husband took sooo long, a year? And I managed to forget which pattern I was using. Hopefully I will be a little faster with this pair. Women’s pair, so that helps and also my friend wants them with a little bit shorter cuffs than I usually do. She lives in Japan so I have a while til she can visit or I guess I could mail them! Anyway, I am excited! I am not sure yet about heel etc but apparently it can be done. I will have to finish watching the tutorial. I have a feeling this could really change my sock knitting game! Also today I ordered HTV Flock Vinyl in a few colors to try it out for mending worn socks. I read a blog post about it by Sun on the Instructables site. Seems like a great idea. Basically it is fuzzy iron on decal type stuff that you can embellish t-shirts etc. So hopefully it will work for socks! Could also be a game changer. I also read a little bit today about minimalist wardrobes. The 333 project I think it’s called- having just 33 pieces of clothing including accessories, shoes etc and wearing that for 3 months before you switch stuff out for the next season. I like the idea of having clothes I actually like rather than just keeping what I have because it is free. If you look for the Clothing Book page on this website you can see a project I made in 2009(?) about my clothes. Maybe I can do another book in 2029? Anyway I will think more on that. I used to read Colette Patterns/Seamwork posts about sewing your own capsule collection wardrobe. Someday I would like to sew more clothes of course but there isn’t space in my life right now for that. The last few days I have made an effort of being off social media. It helps. It definitely helped when I took a break during Lent. I mean I love quilting photos etc but I can always look up something specific later if I want to learn how to do it vs picking my phone up 10 times a day and opening up Instagram. Reading my Bible helps too. Spending less time reading the news. I am checking it sometimes, listened to a podcast today and also reading a blog or two and mostly trying to read more to the kids. Library book on my phone: All Blood Runs Red about Eugene Bullard, Boxer, Pilot, Soldier, Spy. I just started it so am not very far, he is currently trying to leave the racist South USA in 1907 to go to France. Sometimes I wish I could alternate between reading and listening. Probably some program does that. -LC This year has been hard as we know for various reasons, a major one being the pandemic lockdown. Almost halfway through the year- lots of change in our nation and the world. Lots of personal changes with me. Life gets busy and I had pushed a few things on the back burner like writing music and even listening to music. Musically it’s been about 10 years since I’ve done anything. (I’ve done a lot of other good things in that time, of course).
A few events have happened in the last year: I had a second baby, so lots of time sitting and thinking in the wee hours of the morning. I ended up going down to part time at work. Daily struggles of being a parent/house chaos. I finally started reading my Bible again... I feel like I was running on fumes from K-8 Christian school. I had a few verses I would return back to in times of trouble (Philippians 4: 4-9) but no real hunger or at least faithfulness to read regularly. My grandma sadly declined and had to move etc, lots of family stress and memories and we still cannot visit her because of the lockdown. I got reconnected in January with my friend/teacher Todd who is basically the only reason Upsidedown Cat (my music) ever came to be, and at 19 I found my voice and that I had a story worth telling through song, etc. Since January I started digging for old tapes, songwriting journals and other diaries, church notes taken at The Bridge, etc. Mix tape lists. My friends Chris & Kaleb picked back up on their album/musical project Dr Wattley they have been working on for over a decade. They even let me sing some back up vox and just watching the songs develop in the studio is really inspiring. So, I got interested in music again. For a long time I didn’t listen to it much besides the workday radio. I chose Joy as a word for 2020 before the pandemic happened. I was having a rough time and realized I need to fight against the gloom that easily pops back up. So I have been collecting verses and trying to encourage others online. We cancelled Pandora and got Spotify and so I have been listening to old school Christian bands that my friends used to have cds for. Other bands too of course. I recently pulled out an old song I was working on in 2011. Upsidedown Cat still but it is sort of a worship song though not sure that it is meant for/singable for a group. Let’s just say it’s pretty minor key so far. It is interesting to know I am the same person but in a different/same place. I always am grateful that time marches on and I have gained a little confidence and finally learned to drive etc (haha). God is still working on me as the posters say. I just want to say here I am, not sure what God’s plan for me is but I am here to try to reflect light to the world. I feel my faith has recently been refreshed and with that my interest in music etc and even though the world is dark and full of hurt I am seeking Joy. I know God has a future for me and I am learning to trust more in Him. I’ve been wanting a better place to share my knitting & music and some rambling thoughts. I am deciding to share about my faith. I am tired of Endlessly scrolling on social media (and so is my family). There are a lot of good things on there but I took a break during Lent this year and am feeling like another break is due. I don’t want to feel compelled to post or not post by others. I enjoyed taking part in the 100 day project but I plan to continue on my own. I want to create and share for me and those who are interested. Maybe no one will read this blog and that’s okay. Maybe someone will read it and feel encouraged to be creative or crack open their Bible. (Honestly 99% of the time I read it on my phone... I like that I can search quickly for verses.) Anyway more about all this later if you want to listen in. -LC PS: Since everyone is talking about racism in the US -in case you wonder since I have not mentioned the issue, I urge you to check out GGmadeit on Instagram and listen to what she says about #standinthegap |