D is for Dying (Yarn)

Recently I gave dying yarn a try and I must admit I enjoy it very much!!  I have tried several techniques and various experiments and have been pleased with all the results.  It is always so much fun to wait and see just what happens!  And then wait until it dries to see exactly what the final product looks like!  The next plan is to list some for sale on Etsy (Monday's post will talk about that!)

C is for Crochet

I learned to crochet many years ago.  Both of my grandmothers crocheted and I was taught the basics by them when I was young.  When I was in my 20s I picked it up again and did a fair bit over the years.  My favorite things to crochet are quilt-ghans - quilt designs adapted for crochet.  These afghans are made with little mini two round granny squares and then stitched together.  Over the years I have made quite a few of them!  Two of my favorites to make are full size "Around the World" quilt-ghans and baby size "Nine Block" blankets.  Here is a sampling of a few I have made over the years:

B is for Balance

Finding a balance in life is important to me!  I love my hobbies but I also love my work (I am fortunate to have a job I love), so I strive to find a nice balance between both!  Work allows me to earn the income to enjoy the hobbies I have and my hobbies give me the down time to recharge and relax after (and before) work.  It's all about a nice balance between the two!

A is for Ambitious

Here we go!!!  I have joined along with an alphabet blogging challenge where, for the month of April, everyone writes a post corresponding to each letter of the alphabet (we get to take Sundays off).  I think I am being very ambitious to do this!!  I am hoping to make it through the entire month, but time will tell!

My focus will mostly be on crafting of various sorts - mostly knitting, designing, and dying yarn, with a few other random things I love thrown in for good measure!

I need to try to keep this short so that I will be able to keep on track (and so that people reading don't lose interest!).  Now - off to make myself an alphabet list and go visit a bunch of other blogs!

Come check us out over here!!

FO Friday (January 2nd 2015)

Finally back at blogging and have two finished objects to show off.  I had made up a bunch of saltines (two round grannies) several years ago with some left over yarn and finally about two months ago I started sewing them together.  I got the squares sewn together and then it sat some more.  I finally got the border done on both of them to close out 2014.

Baby blanket #1 (Caron Simply Soft scraps):

Before - all the squares waiting to be joined together

During - all the squares are joined and awaiting a border

After - all done!

Baby Blanket #2 (Red Heart Super Saver scraps):

Before - waiting to be joined

During - waiting for a border

After - all done!!

To see more FO Friday posts check this out!

Hand Surgery

I have been having problems with a trigger finger since the summer.  It has progressively gotten worse and worse over time - beginning with a bit of an ache in my hand to full on triggering in my finger (left hand pinkie finger).  I have had this trouble with my left thumb in the past and ended up having trigger release surgery for that.  My pinkie was following the same path...  First the aching, then conservative attempts to fix it - wearing a brace and taking ibuprofen,,,  That did not work.  So off to see an orthopedic specialist.  I got the referral on November 13th and have my consult on Monday November 17th.  Chatting with him we decided to forgo the cortisone shot (tried it on my thumb three years ago and it did not give me any long term relief) and go straight to surgery.  Surgery was scheduled for Friday November 21st!!  Holy smokes that was fast!!

Surgery went well.  I had it done with a local anesthetic with no sedation.  When I had my thumb done it was with a local and sedation - if I ever need a third finger done I want sedation again!!  This did not hurt but I did not enjoy the sensation of being wide awake during the procedure.  The procedure itself took only 30 minutes or so - including time for my hand to freeze up.  We arrived at the surgical center at 7:15am, surgery was scheduled for 8am and we were out eating breakfast before 10am.  Quite a quick procedure.

The pain is not too bad.  On Friday I was eating pain pills every four hours.  On Saturday I was taking ibuprofen every four hours and the heavy duty pain meds at bedtime.  Since then I have been taking less and less pain medication.  Typing is tricky!  I am able to use one or two fingers on my left hand to type.  I am still wearing the big wrap on my hand - it is not needed but I feel better having the extra protection on my hand to cushion against any bumps.  My finger is still a bit numb and tingly but the nurse at the surgical center tells me this is normal and that it will fade away as my finger heals up.  It is less numb than it was but still feels weird.  No knitting yet - I can't figure out how to hold the needles with the wrapping on my hand and I suspect it would be uncomfortable just yet.  I have been sewing together crochet squares that have been around for a long time!!

Here are some pictures:

November 21st - Day 1  This is the bandaging I was sent home in

November 23rd Sunday morning Day 3 - Bandaging is off and this is what it looks like

Day 3 close up - lots of bruising starting!!

November 25th Tuesday Day 5 - still looking bruised and sore

Day 5 - close up is looking nicer now but the bruising is darker and there is some swelling!!

NaBloPoMo Late start...

I am a bit late to the party and decided to join NaBloPoMo - National Blog Posting Month - where the goal is to write a blog post each and every day in the month of November - I missed the first four days...

Now - what to write each day for the month??  Lots of days to fill!

My current WIP list:

1) I have a secret design knit and need to write up the pattern and get it sent off.
2) Another secret knit pattern is about half knit and still needs to be written out (I may not keep this one secret though)
3) Scrap afghan - Knitted Patchwork Recipe - I am using up a bunch of my sock yarn scraps for this blanket.  So far I have only 22 little squares done.  It is a long way from completion!!

4) Double Flake Squirrel Socks - Tour de Sock 2014 - Stage 6 socks.  This is my last pair of socks to complete from TdS 2014.  I am getting closer to completing the first sock!  I have not done much on this one is a while now...

5) Advent Calendar Scarf I started this back in May 2013...  It is time to decide if I will ever finish it or if I should frog it.  I need to honestly consider if I will really ever get back to it!

So there we are!  I wonder where I will be on these WIPs by the end of November??

To check out more NaBloPoMo posts check here and here