Author: beverly

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The Balmoral Bag

The Balmoral Market Bag from designbcb

 

The Balmoral Market Bag from designbcbThe Balmoral bag is done! Several of them are done! This is a pretty fast project. The project is so quick that all these bags were done before the pattern was finished.

I took step by step photos and they will be included in the pattern. The pattern for the bag spawned another pattern. There was a tiny bit of leftover yarn for each of the bags and since the body of the bag is white, I made a white spa or dishcloth rimmed in the contrasting color. I did it using a play on the Suzette stitch so the Cozy Suzette washcloth and pattern will make their debut soon.

Can you guess how many balls of yarn are in that bag? And it still isn’t heavy and was easy to carry. Fifteen. Fifteen balls of Sugar and Cream and some from Hobby Lobby. But 15. That’s not bad at all.

These are going into GoImagine shop while the pattern will be going in the Etsy and Ravelry stores.

Doing the pattern was something of a challenge because I had to translate actions into words. That’s where photos come in. You can show something and hopefully the words will make more sense. Hopefully, the words make sense on their own and the photos enhance. See? Not easy.

Be on the lookout for the pattern(s). They are both quick and cute. Start it in the morning. You can elevate your market vibe by the afternoon.

 

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The Aalborg Cowl

 

 

 

The Aalborg Cowl pattern is done. The view from the desk this morning. 

Yep. It reflects my mind. For the past few days, I’ve been waking up with the intention of doing a perfect day and it has fallen apart within the first few minutes. That cranberry red spot in upper middle is the cowl. It is the high spot within the clutter bomb.

There’s also the making of another pattern with the camo cotton yarn. That pattern isn’t going to work out because it’s taking too much of the yarn. I will have to rework the bottom. Still think it will take about three skeins of yarn which isn’t really bad – except I bought two skeins of each color. But then, the original thought was I was going to make two toned bags. So, that could still happen.

See what I mean about the state of my mind?

So, the Aalborg Cowl pattern is done and it’s in the shop.

These were taken when the desk had a bit more order. The Aalborg Cowl from designbcb I do like the way it came out. It has a very interesting texture.

I have a how coming up next month and Mr. Honey and I borrowed a tent from a friend and had a time practicing getting it all set up. They both assured me I wouldn’t need stakes to hold it to the ground but I am not that confident and am leaning towards getting some cuz it’s better to have them and not need them than the other way around.

What’s on the agenda for today? Some more knitting and crocheting. The next French lesson from Mango and some cleaning. Currently, I’m cleaning/organizing kitchen cabinets. I hate doing it but I love it when it’s done.

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Authenticity

Authenticity. I just started reading The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley and it has me feeling all the feels. I then decided instead of always trying to take photos of projectsI’m working on, it would be neat to take a photo of my work space as it is at the moment I start to write the blog post. I find it funny and alarming how my desk seems to reflect how my mind is working at the moment.

Cluttered. Not as bad as it has been but there is a lot going on all at the same time and sometimes that’s fun. Just not at this present moment.

I am still to obsessive about my diet. (Protein drink), concerned about my literal skin (lotion), designing a new cowl (yarn) and a whole bunch of other things. 

The good news is I believe I have the design down and it is going to look really good. Only took three days and a completely new design direction. I suppose the other good news is I have made my own variation of the Catherine wheel stitch which will show up in something one day.

OK, the book. The book is about this guy who starts something lie a diary and it’s left in various places for people to add their own story to. They add their passage and then leave it for someone to find. Each entry ends with a line that says what happens to the diary next is up to the person reading it. They can add to it or not, leave it or not; heck they can chuck it and end it for everyone who had it before and all the no ones after.

I’m taking 10 days to read it and right now, the ones who have found it seem to be miserable in their choices. And I found something in each of their miseries I can relate to. I suppose misery does love company. I am hoping there is someone who is more hopeful and I wonder if these folks know how not random the randomness of leaving and finding the diary really is. Only one day into reading the book and I want to start one not knowing where it may end up – if anywhere. I cannot believe how excited the idea is to me. I will never know the outcome and that’s part of the excitement. If I do this, will it have a life?

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How Fast?

How fast does time fly? Well, my last blog post was talking about how fast March got here and now it’s April. That’s how fast. Last month it seemed I had some time to get myself ready for the craft show that’s coming in under two weeks and now I don’t feel ready at all. Luckily, I do have spa cloths, scrubbies, baby hats and market bags – not a lot – but there are some. And I have begun the push towards making more. I am adding some new items and looking forward to the show.

I am also looking forward to this coming May and season 3 of Bridgerton. Yep, I was reluctant to start it when it came out but Queen Charlotte made me a real fan. To prepare, I have my list of things to knit and will start over with Season 1, then 2, then Queen Charlotte and that should take me up to the new season. 

In the meantime, I don’t think I have shared the new items I’ve been designing for Abbey & Lincoln. I have moved the digital shop to include POD items. What you see on the left is one of the blanket designs. There are four and it can be personalized with a name. The quote is from Desiderata: You are a child of the universe. No less than the trees and the stars, you have a right to be here. It will be printed on a velveteen blanket. You can see all four here.  

the view of my desk april 4, 2024 The view from the desk shows me about to make some fur pom-poms to go on top of that teal hat on the left. The space looks so huge when it’s nice and tidy. (I remember that day.)

I have no idea how I waited to this stage in my life to do all the things. But I embrace it as my truth. I am surrounded by yarn and I believe it is my calling. Yeah, I can make that work.

 

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How in the World?

How in the world did we get to March already? Time is marching, marching, marching and I just can’t keep up. I had plans, I tell you, plans!! 

yarn goddess png to go on tees and sweatshirtsThis is one of the new graphics going on my yarn goddess tees and sweatshirts. The tee shirts have been launched. There are four of them. I honestly expected to launch them and to have them take off. That has not happened yet. Bummer. But I am confident the prayer has been answered with a ‘not yet’ and not a ‘no.’

I’ve also added a new page…it needs a password to access the freebies that will be there. All kinds of freebies from all the shops: patterns, graphics, even clothes and accessories. It’s a work in progress.

Prep is happening for spring craft shows. There’s one in April and I think one in May or June and have already been accepted to one in November. I have to get my Instagram game going. There’s a craft show I want to get in and they jury by Instagram. My insta-game ain’t set up for that. So I have some work to do if I ever hope of getting in there. And I want to get in there.

It’s time to spring forward this week-so that loss of sleep will hit hard but now the wall clock will be right again. I never bother to change it.

Hope your days are going well. The streets are strewn with blessings. Gather yours up.

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A Mild Obsession

I have a mild obsession going on. I know that yarn is in abundance over here. The purchase of yarn must be curtailed. But I do have the touch of the obsessionist. (Did I just create a new word?) So, when I inherited a sharp pair of scissors from a person who can no longer craft, it released a desire to have sharp scissors. Sharp, cute scissors.

A sharp scissors is one that can cut through the yarn on a Pom-Pom maker. If it can get through that without me feeling like I’m cutting through a NORAD defense shield, then that is a scissors I will love.

All of these will do that but in certain degrees. Some will complain about and slug through but there are a few of them that slice through it with a ‘what else you go’ vibe. It’s the smaller ones that come up big. I got most of these from companies who sell on the Evil Empire.

Because I cannot think of anyone who needs 13 pairs of scissors and because I have other scissors that are not so cute, this is a mild obsession at best. It is not likely to grow any bigger. Then again, I say that about yarn and books. We’ll see how it goes.

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The Aachen Beanie Pattern

, The Aachen Beanie pattern by designbcb

My new year starts with the Aachen Beanie pattern! I have goals for this year and I am going to make them. I am going to make them so well that I am going to make them early! Yes! I said it, wrote it, placed in the atmosphere for God to bless!

I wanted to create a simple crochet beanie pattern and this one is it. There are no increases, no decreases and if you play your cards right, nothing to weave in. What could be simpler than that.

It also features a different stitch technique that’s a play on the half double crochet (hdc). The sizes range from preemie to adult.

ALL THAT and for the first 50 folks, the pattern is just $1.50 on Etsy!

mommy and me wearing the Aachen Beanie from designbcbIt’s a relatively quick crochet and the modified hdc is quick to learn. I’ve since seen the stitch used in other places and it’s called something else. I don’t remember what it was called and who did the video. Really doesn’t matter. After thinking I had stumbled on something new, I was reminded new is very rare to find.

Doing this pattern took a little longer than expected. It uses a magic circle and I had to make sure it would hold up to do what I needed it to. It does. I’m happy.

I am already working on the next pattern called the Backwoods Cowl. The pattern is done. The sample is taking longer to complete than the pattern itself. You can expect to see it in a few weeks.

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Outta Control

My stash is outta control.This isn’t even all of it. It’s a world gone mad. In one of my classes, the coaches point out that inventory is cash waiting to be converted into dollars. I have a lot of dollars sitting around.

Currently on the needles: a slouchy hat order, a cowl, a market bag and a scarf. While the first three will be done with minimal impact on the stash, the scarf is an homage to Dr. Who. It may not follow the same color scheme but it does have the same rows per color and it will be a really long scarf.

The truth is, it won’t have a HUGE impact. (Remember the stash is outta control.) But it should help clear space in one of the bags.

I have a goal of placing patterns a few times a month. Two of the WIPs have patterns attached to them and there are more to come. That will also assist in getting stash down. 
I haven’t heard if I am in the craft shows I applied to for March and April. In case I get in, I want to start on the spring and summer offerings – like the market pads and new designs for towels and skincare scrubbies. 

I know I am incredibly blessed and I didn’t go broke to feed my stash, but it really is bordering on obscene. I think it is spiritually healthy for me to create and give away as well as sell.

Its all part of the plan.

Yarn closet

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Knit and Chill

 

I can knit and chill. It’s one of the perks for knitting for a living. I can watch the t&v at the same time. Except, I don’t watch the t&v much anymore. Is Comcast still a thing? I ask because I haven’t had cable in years and I don’t miss it one bit. What I paid for in a month, I pay for in a year with everything I stream and I can watch it on my laptop and take it with me. So I can knit and chill anywhere and not be concerned because someone else in the house (or hotel room) wants to watch their own thing.

Isn’t technology wonderful? As much as it makes some folks cringe, I have to say my go to stream is here. I know, it’s part of the evil empire. But it’s already January and I can still count on Christmas movies for at least another few weeks and more if I do a search for them. 

There are rules to streaming: I only do one series at a time. So on Netflix, I am doing The First Wives Club, Discovery + is Vanity Fair Confidential and Disney+ is Andor because I am watching the Star Wars saga in order – minus the cartoon stuff. I have standards. 

There are other times when I binge quiet and silence. Every once in a while the noise of anything gets to be too much and only nothing will do. 

I know ‘they’ say we shouldn’t have too much screen time because it makes us less social and more isolated and I get that. I do have a real time, 3d life. But as far as work goes, there are worse gigs than being able to watch streaming programs as you work. I should look into whether I can write it off as a business expense.

 

 

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The Tangled Web

Tangled yarnsAh, the tangled web we weave…My friend, Melissa, loves detangling yarn. This would send her over the moon. I look at this and give myself a lecture on taking  better  care of my things. Click the links for tips on how to detangle.

I am going to have to deal with this. I need that cream yarn to finish my afghan. I also know I will breathe just that much easier when I resolve the issue of the tangled web of yarn. I now that somewhere within my freedom loving soul, I like order. I know that when I clear up the tangles and put the rest of the yarns in their prospective bins, I will look around the room, inhale and exhale deeply and love the open space that will be around me. 

I am beginning 2024 the same way I began 2023: the acknowledgment that I have too much yarn. I don’t recall – and I won’t look to see – if I had a plan to cull the herd. But I do have a plan for 2024. It is to design more and get more patterns out there. Then to sell at more live shows and to donate more finished items. The church ministry for crafts can be a vehicle for that.

All that is well and good. But I will have to deal with this entanglement. The longer I put it off, the more it will bug me. Better to end the year and start the year, unbugged.