MUDER MOST CRAFTY PROJECT

I am putting a project in for the Murder Most Crafty book project. I do have to admit I did it several years ago but I knit it myself when my eyes were better.

I have even used it several times. It is now on my ravelry project page.

Thank you Barbara!

Look what I found when I got home from the movies tonight????

My bottle! From Barbara in MN who sent me a lovely bunch of goodies!

Lots of teas - which is great - I love a variety and it is great to get new ones to try (like the Ginger Energizer!!! I will be needing that when I get back to work in a week and a half).

A book that I am looking forward to reading - by Charlaine Harris - one of the Aurora Teagarden mysteries - A Bone to Pick. I enjoy that series and havent read many of them so it is very nice to get a book I have never even heard of!

Tootsie rolls - are those gumballs Barbara? - some chocolates which are in ther refrig right now - it has been over 100 degrees here yesterday and today! Some mints in a nice little tin which whill make a great stitchmarker holder when it is empty! A great little purse which I have already put to use holding my clover tapestry needles.

See the cute little ducky? and the lovely GREEN yarn???? I hope I havent missed anything but I am melting right now....

BTW I highly recommend seeing Julie and Julia - Meryl Streep is awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bottle Swap received from Joan

As many of you know, I have packages delivered to my office. This is mostly because we aren't home most days AND our mailbox is out at the street.

So, it is great fun when I got my bottle yesterday. Actually, Lily who delivers our mail, had a parade of people following her wanting to know what it was that I was getting. My fun was that I didn't open it right away. The bottle was handled by several people all of whom were trying to figure out what exactly was in it, followed by how did the stuff get in there. Ha!

So, this morning, I opened the bottle from Joan in Texas! It is a great bottle jam packed with great stuff!

There were two skeins of Noro Silk Garden (Color No. 284, in blues and purples with touches of brown and green . . . all my favorites).

Also there were many wonderful other things best described in Joan's note which says:

"The bookmark is, of course, to keep your place in the latest WhoDuKnit. Thekeychain and emery board are souveniers of Texas. The Wise Little Owl timble is in recognition of your prowess in the Trivia Challenge. Keep your hands clean (soap) and soft (lotion) while you nibble on chocolate . . . ."

Plus there was a magnet, a tape measure and a little bag to hold many of the goodies.

Thank you Joan for all these wonderful things.

Ah, ha! I pulled the good straw AGAIN.

Thank you Nate. Can't say I mind a bit that you went to the puffy! The spoils have been divvied up.....and life is good. I love all of it. The sewing kit will go to work with me. There's been more than once I wish I had one with me. You wouldn't believe some of the things that I see getting worn...and broken, at school. Stapler repairs aren't always good. I look forward to listening to the Christmas CD. Looks to be a good one. The yarn I will stare at for awhile until the perfect project pops into my head (and it will). Katie took off with the gum, Dee with the candle (and both are as thrilled as can be for teens---I even got bear hugs...you ROCK). The hand sanitizer they explained they just couldn't live without (or, of course, they will die of h1n1.....not to be dramatic or anything) and the sunblock....well, I'm fair skinned and my hair isn't the thickest and always has a part, so my anti-lobsterness is very thankful.

thanks so much for brightening up my Monday!

Shelly

Two projects for August

Here are a couple of projects for this month. The first one is a tea cozy I made for my Mother. But I thought it would be good for The Ice House, which we read in May. This takes place in a little English village, and they are always drinking tea. And it's cold, so they need something to keep the tea warm.

The next project is a cashmere scarf, made from Ellie's Reclaimed Cashmere. Ellie scours thrift stores, flea markets, and other second-hand shops for cashmere sweaters. She then unravels the sweater, washes the yarn, and re-spins the yarn (two, three, or four plies, often all different colors) to make skeins of yarn to be knit into other lovely items. I made a scarf for my Father, who is a very elegant man, and who might wear it to the symphony. Except for how the character turns out in Interred With Their Bones (being the murderer), my Dad's personality in many ways reminds me of Sir Henry. I think both of them might enjoy wearing this scarf. At least I hope my Dad does!

A bottle in the mailbox!

Early last week I got this email:

Hi there, Barbara!
Just wanted to give you a heads up that I will be putting your bottle in the mail this evening.
But, I forgot to put the card in that tells you who I am . . . LOL . . . so, once you get your bottle, let me know and I will REVEAL ALL!!
Your whoduknit bottleswap person

A few days later I had a 2-liter bottle in my mailbox and was able to send this email:

I got my bottle in the mail today! It is really wonderful! Thank you, thank you , thank you!
(Now can I know who I am saying "Thank you " to?)
Barbara

 

Yesterday I got to learn the answer with this email:

Hi Barbara,

It is me . . . Mary Lynn . . . I am so glad you got the bottle! I didn't take pics before I sent it. It got sooooo confusing.
I hope you enjoy everything. I wanted to put lots of things in it and forgot the note . . . go figure.
Have a great day!
Mary Lynn

Now for all the wonderful stuff she sent me!

 

KnitPicks Imagination yarn, in Munchkin colorway (very pretty!), some Harmony cable needles, more Harmony needles to knit socks with (she has been paying attention to how much I like my Harmonies!), a summer sock pattern to knit, small scissors and a retractable tape measure, stitch markers and row counter bracelet (I have been wanting one of these!) from Jed Joy, a Knitter's Kit from Slipped Stitch Studios (also really cool and extra handy!), a double pointed needle case, and some Strawberry Rhubarb Soap from Smoky Mtns Apothecary.
What a wonderfully stuffed 2-liter bottle I got from Mary Lynn! Thanks again!

Murder Most Crafty - Crafts by Mary Lynn

Okay, to be honest, I get this craft habit from my Mom. Although I have to admit that she was definitely more of an artist than I!

I can tell you though, like my Mom, I am willing to try just about any craft and reading the book, I would have tried any of the crafts . . . well maybe not tying flies . . . but I assume if I fished, I might appreciate the craft of the thing.

After my Dad died (in 1985), I took my Mom shopping most Saturdays. Usually, the shopping consisted of groceries but often, we did other fun shopping. And, often went to craft shows or for workshops. We learned how to hook rugs (not latched . . . we did that as kids . . . but punch hook and regular rug hooking). We learned how to do pottery and uphostery and quilting.

Anyway, the tree of life is a punched needle rug that is in my son's bedroom. He loves the colors and textures.

The bag was designed by my 15 year old and made by me. She had seen a purse like it in Canada but refused to ante up the $80 for it (and I wouldn't either . . . LOL). She was surprised at the amount of work involved. She and I cut out the squares, I did all the sewing and she got to press all the seams. On the other hand, she has had several of her friends ask her were she got her bag.

Bottles

I sent my bottle on its way last week . . .

I am hoping it got there . . .

Where or where could it be . . .

Murder Most Crafty Project

In "M Word" the basket competition turned deadly (or did it?)






The competition. was intense...................

And the winners! (That's me on the left, in case you didn't guess).

Bonnie's Beaded Scarf

This is Bonnie's Murder Most Crafty KAL beaded scarf - isn't it gorgeous!

Beaded Scarf Murdery Most Crafty KAL

I finished my beaded scarf and love it! The yarn is

Zen Yarn Garden handpainted merino/bamboo/nylon and the beads are from Earthfaire. I loved doing the beading and if I knit this again I would add more beads than the 9 rows on each end called for in the pattern.

I decided it needed some fringe and added beads randomly to each strand. It took forever, but was very relaxing, stringing beads while listening to an audio book (Heart Sick by Chelsea Cain).

I haven't blocked it yet, and I'm not sure that I need to. Maybe just a little bit.