12 Days of Christmas

I've been missing from blog posts for nearly a month, but even though the gift opening for the Byhand Artists 12 Days of Christmas is long past I want to show you some of the cuff bracelets that I made for my Day 9 gifts. I showed the wrapped packages is my last post and so now here are the gifts that were inside.This is a selection of some of the cuff bracelets that I stitched up from fabric samples, hand knit pieces and fabric binding. Some have beading and rubber stamped pieces stitched on.
This group shows some more of the cuff bracelets including one that has a needle felted heart and beads.Close-up of one of the bracelets with a fabric mesh and buttons added.
This one is a fabric sample with a knit lace edging and flower added to the front along with some fun beads.
And the rubber stamped back, all rubber stamps from Quietfire Design.

Creative Escape Journal Page Aug 31

Creative Escape Journal Page Aug 31
Originally uploaded by okanagan_spirit

This page in my Creative Escape Journal evolved this morning with inspiration from a link on the MmarioKknits Yahoo group. One of the members posted about this Erika Knight baby hat pattern which has a lovely edging on the bottom that the member is using for other projects. I saw the flower and edging and thought it just had to be done in my journal. This is done on one of the coffee dyed watercolour pages. I converted an old black and white photo to sepia and layered it over a kraft and dark brown cardstock. The lace flower and edging are knitted with 2.25 mm needles and a light brown cotton thread. I used some of the same thread to sew the edging to the edge of the page and to sew a button to the centre of the flower. The words are rubber stamped with a clear alphabet set and Versafine Vintage Sepia ink. I am very pleased with how it turned out.

April 5 Little Book

April 5 Little Book
Originally uploaded by okanagan_spirit

Another purse style book for ATCs made from paper from a gift bag. The trim on the bottom I knit from Red Heart Twinkle yarn and 5.00 mm needles. The pages are double-sided scrapbooking cardstock and there is a beaded handle and buttons and heavy thread for a closure on the bottom. The trim on the top is a labels 4 Nestabilities die folded over the top to the back. This one also holds ATC "hockey cards" and will probably go to my niece. I like the contrast of a girly purse book holding hockey photos.

Finished - What's On My Needles

Finished - What's On My Needles
Originally uploaded by okanagan_spirit

Hooray, they are done, the spa washcloths I showed you a few days ago are off the needles, they turned out nice. They are a little smaller than I would like, but that is easily fixed by casting on more stitches at the beginning, I think 4 more stitches might do. These ones measure 7 inches down the centre panel not including the hanging loop and 5 inches on the sides. This is an enjoyable pattern to knit, I will be doing more. I used Bernat cotton, but I think the linen would be even more elegant.

Knit Spa Washcloth

Knit Spa Washcloth
Originally uploaded by okanagan_spirit

This washcloth I finished in time to give to my son for Christmas and just grabbed it back long enough for a photo before he starts using it. This one has 4 different tree images knitted in, too bad they don't show up as well with this yarn as they would have with plain colour yarn. This was knit with Bernat cotton and 4.50 mm needles. It takes a bit of concentration, but is not too difficult a pattern to knit, the next time I do this it will be with a plain colour yarn. This pattern was offered to the members of holidaymysterygiftknitalong Yahoo group in 2008 and now can be purchased from the designer at Knitwits Alley

What's On My Needles

What's On My Needles
Originally uploaded by okanagan_spirit

Well lots of other projects are on various needles, I always have several things on the go so I can choose whether I want a simple or challenging project. For now I'll show you this project.
I started this work in progress a few days ago and am getting close to done. These spa washcloths are a pattern by Tina Hilton adapted from Jill Wilcott Y2Knit pattern. I am knitting 2 at a time with my treasured ebony needles. This is knit with Bernat worsted weight cotton on 5.oo mm needles. They should be done soon, as long as I can continue to avoid getting the yarns tangled.

Knit Scarf

Knit Scarf
Originally uploaded by okanagan_spirit

This scarf is knit with a very rustic thick and thin yarn, not what I would usually pick, but it seemed to call to me this time. I knit most of it in 2 days, then took about 2 weeks to finish the last bit off, so it would be a quick knit if I stayed focused. I knit this on 12mm. needles and used approx. 2 and one third 50gr balls of yarn and measure 5.5 in by 57 in long.

Knit Star Mini Mystery Knit-a-long

I knit these stars with a pattern from Holiday Mystery Gift Along with no photo or clue what the finished project would be. They are a very quick to knit project and for the first star I used Patons SWS (soy wool silk) and 5 mm needI knit these stars with a les. This turned out pretty good so I tried another one. This time I used Patons Koy sock yarn and 6/0 seed beads and 2.25 mm needles.

Knit Gem Scarf

Knit Gem Scarf
Originally uploaded by okanagan_spirit

I started the little scarf on Wed and finished it yesterday. This little triangular scarf measures approx. 8 inches and the point and approx 32 inches at the slightly curved long edge. This was knit with Red Heart Kiss in Gem colour on 9mm needles.

Knit Scarf

I've been working on this scarf for about 2 weeks in between working on the 9th Anniversary projects and the 12 Days of Christmas Gift Swap gifts. I finished a few days ago and thought it was about time I got it posted to my blog. It measures 5 inches by 60 inches and is knit with Red Heart Kiss yarn in Flame colour on 6.5mm needles.

Here is a closeup detail of the scarf with a little more accurate colour representation.

Knit Amulet Bags

Knit Amulet Bags
Originally uploaded by okanagan_spirit

I've been doing a bit more knitting lately and have gotten a little addicted to these little knit amulet bags, and getting quite a lot of this and other knitting done while listening to the cd Donna sent to me. I've been experimenting knitting with sock yarn, novelty yarns and have included beads on some. The centre bag on the table is waiting to have the chain added and I have several others in various stages of completion. You'll probably see more in a later post, but for now I need to get back to making gifts for a 12 Days of Christmas swap. I can't show you those, they have to remain secret until they are swapped and opened.

Blog Candy and Amulet Bags

Well I seem to get a flurry of stuff done, then it takes me awhile to get something more finished. I finally assembled "Blue Waters" bead knit amulet bag and I had started another little bag and it is also finished. So here they are. You can see the work in progress Of "Blue Waters" here. I finished this amulet bag off with a 3 strand chain and added little beaded tassels on each side.

For the new amulet bag, I didn't take photos until it was finished. I used up a bunch of assorted sizes and colours of beads left over from other projects, I love doing that. I again used a 3 strand beaded chain but this time I made a beaded pendant on the point of the flap.

Now to the blog candy. My visit counter is fast approaching the 3000 mark so I think a celebration is in order. Between now and reaching the 3000 mark (I may go over that a little since my injured foot keeps me off the computer sometimes) anyone who leaves a comment on this post telling me why they would like to win their choice of either one of the amulet bags will be entered in a random draw. For an extra entry become a follower of my blog or let me know if you already are a follower.
Remember you will have your choice of one of the amulet bags pictured in this post, I want you to be happy with your prize.

Knit Bead Amulet Bag "Blue Waters"

Knit Bead Amulet Bag
Originally uploaded by okanagan_spirit

I showed you the first bit, now the knitting is done now on with sewing it into a bag and adding the strap.

Bead Knit Amulet Bag "Blue Waters"

Bead Knit Amulet Bag
Originally uploaded by okanagan_spirit

This work in progress is another of my bead knit amulet bags. This is a pre-mixed aquamarine size 10/0 seed beads and a denim colour cotton thread knit on 1.25mm needles.

Exploring Waves

Exploring Waves
Originally uploaded by okanagan_spirit

It's taking me awhile to finish this bag, not so much knitting while it was so hot, but I'm moving along again. I'm probably about 85% done now. I can't wait to get this one finished, then start on Exploring Swirls bag.

Exploring Waves Bag

Exploring Waves Bag
Originally uploaded by okanagan_spirit

This is the first bit of knitting I started June 29 on the Exploring Waves Bag. I am using Araucania yarn on 3.00mm needles and size 6/0 silver lined matt amethyst seed beeds.
I’m enjoying knitting this project. The yarn is easy to knit, the pattern has just enough pattern to be interesting without being complicated and I love the gentle shading of the yarn.

Holiday Activities

I have been missing from blog posts because of a three week visit in the Okanagan with family and friends, and it's taken me awhile to get caught up with things at home. The bus trip home was quite an experience with a 2 hour delay waiting for an accident to be cleared. No knitting handy, so reading was the activity of choice while waiting, but I did get some knitting done in quiet moments in between visiting and shopping.
Here are some projects just waiting for a trip to the washer for felting and finishing so I'll post the completed projects when that is done.
The shopping involved a visit to a quilt store in Armstrong, Scrapbooking stores in Vernon and Kelowna, a bead store, secondhand book store and a yarn shop with treasures found in each. The yarn store revealed some odd balls of yarn and a Louisa Harding drawstring bag pattern, which was finished knitting in a couple of days and now is just waiting for the drawstring cord to be completed.

"Tea" Fat Book Page

I recently finished my contribution to a collaberative book project with members of the Vancouver ATC Group on the theme of tea. For my pages I used tea dyed Distress ink on the paper, then glued images from paper napkins with matt medium. I added a bit of rubber stamping and a small piece of knit lace. There is also a few beads glued to the Lavender napkin image. I made an extra copy just in case so I was able to use it to tip into my assorted paper Zutter Journal. The holes were pre-punched so I wove some ribbon and used brads to hold the page to a cardstock tab in my journal.


This is the back of the page with more rubber stamping and an old coupon from coffee and tea products. The page forms a pocket for a "tea bag" tag with the other "T" technique used.
You can see this journal in my Flickr Photos.

100th Blog Post and Blog Candy

Post has been edited and the rest of the blog candy photos added.





Before I get started, just a reminder that Lisa Volrath at Ten Two Studio is running a St. Patrick's Day countdown so do go check out the free images there after you finish reading my post.
Well this is finally it, my 100th post, well part of it anyway. I've had to keep quiet here for awhile because I wanted the 100th post to be about my latest prizes and they are not quite ready yet but I just can't keep quiet any more and I just can't wait to show you the third place blog candy. I will edit and add the first and 2nd. prize in a day or two. Now how's that for putting pressure or motivation on myself? In the meantime go ahead and post a comment on this post to be in the draw if you don't mind risking what first and 2nd prize will be.
This journal for third place is the third assignment for my course. The project was to use old book paper and a chipboard flower or other shape and paint with stamp pad ink and a wet paint brush. The ink is stamped onto freezer paper used as a palette and then painted on the book paper which is glued to the chipboard;, but instead of a flower, I decided to do the journal covers. This little Zutter bound journal is 4.25 inches by 5 inches with 12 blank watercolour pages just waiting for your art to be added. For the inside covers, I added some green cardstock that I had mono-printed with gold and pearl gel paint. The chipboard and wires are small pieces leftover from the 12 Days of Christmas Gift Journals. I used brads to add a decorated chipboard shape stamped with "Friends" in green Stazon ink. There is also a Quietfire Design quote stamp which was stamped on the blank white sheet from a paper napkin and glued over the old book paper and a bunch of ribbons tied onto the wires. This was a fun project, I hope you like it.

Well the pressure I put on myself worked, the prizes were finished in a few days. It has just taken me more time to get online to post them. Well here they are. Second prize is a 5X5.5 inch knit felted bag. It is bias knit in garter stitch with a self striping wool and soy yarn and then machine felted. This little bag will arrive empty just waiting for you to fill with tresures.
Now for the first prize, a 5.5X6 inch felt bag which I designed with a diaganal flap. This is again bias knit garter stitch from a 100% wool yarn and machine felted. Next I needed just the right button, so I checked out my collection and could not find just the right one, so I went to a jar of vintage buttons my Mom had given me and this one seemed perfect. This little bag comes with a 4X4 inch journal tucked inside and you can read more about it in my next post. Of course you could remove the jouranal and fill the bag with whatever treasures you would like. Now to win one of these prizes leave a comment on this post by March 28, 2009 and I'll draw 3 names on March 29, 2009. Please check back after Mar. 29 to see if you are a winner, I will then have instructions for claiming your prize. Good luck to all of you, I hope you have as much fun as I did.

Geometric Faroese Shawl Knit-Along

This is another shawl knit-along I am working on with a Yahoo group which is moderated by Agnes Argan. It is her design for the Geometric Faroese Shawl and she posts another part of the pattern at somewhat regular intervals. I am quite far behind right now as 5 clues have been posted and I have just gotten started on clue 2, but I am progressing at a steady pace. I am using a dark green fingering weight yarn with 3.25 mm. needles. I think the pattern is quite lovely so far and I am enjoying knitting this shawl. This style of shawl is one of my favourites as it is so easy to wear.