Classic Mittens.

Just over a year ago I decided I wanted to try knitting a pair of socks. As a new knitter I wanted something challenging and cute - I just loved all the sock yarns out there. After finishing the year long scarf, and my not so slouchy, slouchy hat, I cast on my socks.

After finishing the heal and half the foot of the first sock, I just wasn't having it. I realized I knit the sock too small and since I wasn't enjoying the pattern, I dreaded the thought of ripping out all the stitches and starting again. I put the half sock and the yarn into my knitting basket, and there it stayed until this past week.

I had meant to rip out the stitches and start a new project a long time before, but I had a hard time letting go. I am such a slow knitter and had put so much time and effort into my little half sock. That's probably a silly reason, but I did eventually suck it up, unravel, and start fresh. I have to say it was at least a little exciting when I knit up all the curly yarn (curly from being in sock form for the past year) and moved on to the never before knit yarn.

I had a lot more fun with this pattern, Classic Mittens (available for free here), and it was the perfect quiet, stationary activity to get me through my illness this past weekend. Apparently I am a most excellent knitter when I'm sick!

Now for the real challenge - finishing the second mitten. I am feeling much better, so I imagine it'll be a much slower knit than the first!

Fabric Basket.

You got a little hint of this project in my last 365 post. I'm not sure how I like posting a collage like that once every 8 days, but for now it is working out okay.

A flickr friend made one of these and posted it on her photostream, along with a link to the pattern, and I was inspired. What better way to store odds and ends? It's so quick and easy, and so cute! I'm planning to make more of differing sizes that can nest into each other when empty.

The outer fabric is a Japanese cotton canvas that I bought on Etsy. The lining is from my local fabric shop, and I will update this post with the designer once I check the selvage. I used a heavy interfacing so the basket would keep its shape better. Most important - I ironed the edges like crazy to get the square shape! Without ironing it stays sort of round.

I filled it with some of my favourite yet-to-use craft supplies - cute wooden buttons, vintage trims, wooden thread spools, and pretty beads. For now it sits on my bed side table to inspire me each morning. The more I see my supplies, the more ideas I have for crafts, and that is always a good thing.

Another Week Goes By.

Days 18 through 25.

A week of birthdays, cats, friends, crafting, interesting 'finds', and colour.

Days 10 through 17.

A week in pictures.

01/03/10 - Day 3 of 365

Snowie and Lola keep warm by a heating vent, one of the favourite spots in this house, on a cold January day.

01/04/10 - Day 4 of 365

The winter semester begins.

01/05/10 - Day 5 of 365 A very snowy day. I had today off so I spent it shovelling driveways and playing in the snow with Lola.

01/06/10 - Day 6 of 365

The ornaments are put away. Some put theirs away by New Years, but in our family tradition we wait until January 6th.

01/07/10 - Day 7 of 365

Milo kitty asks for some belly rubs.

01/08/10 - Day 8 of 365

I spent most of my day with this beautiful mama, who is one of my closest friends, and her girls. Love them!

01/09/10 - Day 9 of 365

The second smallest bowl in this set had been sitting in the office at my mom's work for weeks. Someone had donated it to the Christmas Charity, but they were only collecting clothing and food so they couldn't include it. The secretary had been complaining that she didn't want it or know what to do with it, so my mom asked if she could have it. She knew I collected Pyrex, but she didn't know that this was the one bowl I was missing from the Butterfly Gold Cinderella Bowl set. It's in excellent shape too. A perfect example of the saying "one's trash is another's treasure". I was so excited that I had to take a picture for my 365 set.

Fleecey Tubes.

I really enjoy crafting for my animals. It makes me glad to be able to make something special for them that they use and favour. It's harder with the chinchillas because there are many limitations on what is safe for them to have. Polar Fleece is the one material, aside from wood, that I can use, but it is often hard to find cute patterns. I'm sure they don't actually care about what pattern is on the fleece, but if I use patterns I enjoy for myself, I want to do the same for them. On rare cases I find some cute fleece at my local fabric shop, like this polka dot pattern.

Last time I made them a fleece tube, Rory thought it was just for her. This time I made two! They both tend to favour the one on the left (maybe because it's infront of a hanging chew toy), but I do often find one girl in each tube.

This project is actually very simple to make. If you'd like to know how, leave your e-mail in the comments and I'll send you instructions.

Next - a matching hammock.

A New Year.

With this new year comes a new project. A few years ago I attempted Project 365, but gave up after only two months. I began the project to allow myself the opportunity to practice my photography. To experiment. At the end of two months I felt that I didn't have anything interesting to share and gave up. I now realize that wasn't in the spirit of the project. Part of what is so great is that it allows you to capture little bits of your day, regardless of how big or small. The photos don't have to be beautiful or perfect. As the year progresses you can go back and see what was important to you each day. That changes year to year. I do have many pictures from that same year, but it would be nice to have a day to day photo journal to look back on.

This year I am starting again! My close friend Janet is doing it too, so the plan is to keep each other motivated if we fall behind. I'm actually having a great time looking at all of her photos, and I look forward to them each day. If you decide to join in, please leave a link where I can follow you. I don't plan on sharing the photos here daily, but I might do a weekly post with all the photos from that week. For now, I am going to share my first two photos.

01/01/10 - Day 1 of 365

Jer serenading me on guitar.

01/02/10 - Day 2 of 365

Catching up on sewing projects (and I will be sharing some of those here soon).