More Treasure

I forgot to post a photo of the serving platter we also found in the attic.  And took a shot of the shuttle for the person who wanted one.  Sheesh, I didn’t know anyone was reading besides Ruby and Joyce. I’m flattered.

Attic Treasure!

We cleaned out the attic a bit today and lookie what we found!  The previous owners left several boxes of junk they said they didn’t want.  We said we’d take care of them.   Wonder if they know what blasts from the past were inside?

teeny

Champ Clark (congressman from MO I believe) campaign button from 1912 election.  Worth about $10 on ebay.  Feh.

Also found was an old black (plastic?) tatting shuttle.  It’s work about $15 on ebay.  The fan is probably worth about the same.  I may keep the fan since I love old fans.  It’s a Master Craft brand if anyone is interested.  Didn’t strike it rich today, but what a history lesson!

Exit Capelet Hell

Finished this beast on Thursday last week. I think the yarn is lovely (Hempathy) and also love the color. The pattern, however, leaves much to be desired. The decreases didn’t work out and it was too large around the neck opening. Saggy, even. So I pulled my old standard knitter trick out of my notions bag and strung a long drawstring through the top and tucked the bow inside. Nope, it doesn’t really show. Yes, you’d probably have to be a knitter to notice the problem that is still quite obvious. Am I losing sleep over it? Nope. I’m wearing it, preferably to darkish outings, and enjoying the compliments. It has gotten noticed the one time I’ve worn it out. The lace is quite nice.
Pattern was a freebie from Crazy Girl Yarn Shop. Be sure to ask for the Hempathy one or they’ll give you one for DK yarn. Call me if you have questions. The chart was tricky, but mostly b/c it was missing the K2togs. Whatever. I’m amazed I didn’t throw the entire thing in the trash. I’m frugal and couldn’t waste the yarn.  So glad I didn’t!

Bees alive and well in SE Iowa

I have heard over the past year that bee populations all over the country have been in decline. I am here to report that on our property here in SE Iowa they seem to be thriving. This is the first time we’ve found a hive like this and are even a bit concerned that they will not be good neighbors. DH wanted to start up the mower and mow near the tree they’re in and has decided to ponder it a bit longer.

Crazy Comes in All Flavors

Picked up a floor loom this weekend. I woman in my knitting group was selling it. What a find!  I took the photo after getting it into the house.  I cleaned it up a bit and put it in my dining room.  We have a decent sized house, but for some reason the dining room seems to be the best location for it right now.  Hopefully we can finish a basement room for the kids’ play room and the current playroom on the main level can become my craft room!

I need to say that I know nothing about weaving, and until a year ago I hadn’t even any inclination.  Now I have a floor loom, a mighty nice one I think.  I feel as if my train as jumped the track a bit.  Every time I pass by it I think, “Is that thing big or what?”  And of course my family agrees that I have lost my mind.  Husband thinks he’s going to learn to weave.  I’d like the kids to learn also, I think that would be fun.

I know two women who have offered to come help me set up and get started.  I might try to dress the loom myself with some help from some books and online instructions. I think I might be too chicken to try though.  I don’t want to mess up and end up wasting my warp yarn.  I priced it last night online and found it’s going to cost about $30 for the warp yarn and I think I’m using stash yarn for the weft.  I would like the first project to be a wool hearth rug.  I’ll keep you posted!

Herky Bear

I made this little Hawkeye fan for a woman at work to give to her grandson. (Ruby, can you guess who?) I was stressing that she wouldn’t like it when it was done, but in fact she liked it so much she squealed. Go figure. That’s the second knitting gig for which I got paid real money. Cool, but I realized that when I’m knitting for others it takes time away from what I want to knit. I already feel like my knitting life is too short. Will I get to knit all I want to before I die? And you can’t take your stash with you when you go. Good thing I’ve this stash buster arriving soon:

Yes, I have lost my mind. I’ll let you know how it turns out. More photos coming soon.