Been So Long

Things have been pretty crazy around Bag of Chocolates lately, and I want to apologize for the dearth of posts. All kinds of things have been happening, and among the good things is the acquisition of a new client for our translation business. It's a very large company, internationally known. Not sure if I should name it or not, so while I apologize for being coy, I'd better not say more. But trust me, if this client gives us more business, we will be extremely happy!

Here is a peek at the cabled bolero (called a shrug on the pattern website) that I am making for Liat. The yarn is Peruvian Highland Chunky from Elann. Lovely soft yarn, and the pattern is actually fairly easy. There are no written instructions for the cabled section, only a chart. You'd think with my history of cross stitching, charts would make more sense for me, but for some reason when it comes to knitting I find them confusing. But as I said, this pattern makes sense and after a while, it's not so hard to keep track of things. Well, especially if you've got a row counter on your needle and are making little tick marks on a piece of paper as well! Hmmmm...

I've changed two things in the pattern: Liat said 'no thanks' to the bobbles, and I decided to make the cables on either side of the main area both twist towards the middle, instead of both twisting to the same direction.

I also started a fun new project this week, an altered book. I will share photos of that as it progresses. It's a combination of words and art journal I decided to start recently, to process and chronicle things that are happening in my life. Even though I'm only at the beginning, it's been a wonderful form of therapy for me; yesterday I had a terrible headache, but while I worked on the book I felt peaceful and content, and didn't notice my headache at all. I've suggested to Liat that maybe a couple of her friends (who seem to be going through some difficult times, themselves) might like to join in for a little fun and art therapy, and she already has one friend interested. It would be such a pleasure to share this kind of creativity with Liat and her friends.

We still have one more document (of a whole mess of things that came in over the past two weeks) to translate, then perhaps we'll have some time to relax. I'd love to spend more time on my hobbies, and less time working! But then, wouldn't we all?

Keeping Busy

I had a lot of fun making this row house for a new challenge at Club Posh. We were given a size range, not hard-and-fast size rules like for Artist Trading Cards. My row house is 2.5" x 4". The theme was flowers, and we were supposed to name our houses. Mine is called the House of Posh Blessings. Of course, all stamps are by Dee Gruenig.


I went into town today to return the leftover fuzz from Liat's scarf (two unused balls). I bought a skein of yarn, at Liat's request, for a friend of hers who wants to learn to knit. And then I saw this yarn, and figured one or both of my girls would love the color. They only had these two skeins, so I ordered three more. I have a feeling I will need even more, because they both like it and want sweaters from it. I have been trying to knit from my stash, but I just don't have enough of anything to knit either of them a whole sweater. And while I would really rather not knit with 100% acrylic anymore, this shop doesn't carry much of anything else and the prices, as compared to yarn in the U.S., are unbeatable. These 100 gram skeins have over 200 yards of yarn and cost me somewhere around $2.50 each. Plus, I didn't have to pay for shipping. I guess I will splurge on wool on our next trip to the U.S.

Today we continued to work on one of the large translation projects we received last week. It's pretty technical, and the Hebrew is convoluted enough to lead me to believe it was written by a lawyer, so the going is slow. It's for a new client, and we really want to do an outstanding job.

I found a few minutes to do some cross stitching today on Fred (Frederick the Literate), which was fun. It was lovely sitting by the open window, in the mild winter sunshine with a cool breeze wafting in. Unfortunately, our weather is much more spring-like than wintry, and we are not getting the rain we so desperately need. But I am trying to enjoy the pleasure to be found in what we do have.

I've accomplished a fair amount on Liat's cabled bolero, and really must take a progress photo for you soon. The Peruvian Highland yarn I am using (from Elann) is soft and lovely, and the pattern is just challenging enough to keep me on my toes without overwhelming me. My Better Than Vanilla sock is growing and the pattern is as much fun as I'd remembered from the last time I made these socks. And the yarn is just yummy, an Opal Magic in minty green. I've done a little more on my sister's wristwarmers, but my sweater hasn't been out of the closet in a while. Maybe later this week...

Bet You Thought I Forgot

Okay, it's understandable. I haven't blogged about cross stitching in a long time. I also haven't done much cross stitching in a long time. But my friend Tama is currently working on a project I also happen to have in my unfinished objects (UFO) drawer, and she has inspired me to pull it out. I first started working on "Frederick the Literate" a long time ago, in a stitch along with some friends on the About.com cross stitching board. Their Freds are long since finished, framed and hung - most likely in a place of honor. Mine, meanwhile, languishes in the abovementioned drawer. But Tama has encouraged and inspired me, so I pulled Fred out today and took a photo before getting back to work on him. I haven't done much, mind you. We're very busy with translation work and I've got stuff coming up next week that needs to be dealt with, so I really only put in a few minutes' work today. But after I've done more, I will post a progress photo.

Of course, I still haven't worked on Mother's Arms in a long time... In fact, I have at least three works in progress (WIPs) - sounds better than UFOs, doesn't it? - that need attention. But just because I'm not stitching doesn't mean I don't think about these projects, not to mention all the other gorgeous charts I purchased because I absolutely knew I must make them! It's the same malady no matter what the medium; whether you're a knitter, stamper, stitcher or whatever.


The other thing I got done today (aside from translation work, of which we suddenly have an abundance) is to finish up these toddler-sized socks, made from Knit Picks Simple Stripe yarn leftover from a pair of socks I made for my mother-in-law quite a while ago. I have since cast on for a pair of Better than Vanilla socks for me, using Opal Magic yarn given to me by the pattern designer, the incomparable Judy Sumner. What a wonderful lady! It is thanks to her that I knit socks at all, and I had the great pleasure of lunching with her and spending some time in the yarn shop where she teaches and assists knitters. She gifted me with some lovely yarn while we were together, and I immediately knew I would knit it up in one of her many fabulous patterns. I very much enjoyed making the Better Than Vanilla socks for my niece several months ago, so I decided to make a pair for myself.

Tomorrow will be spent (at least partially) working. Luckily, the three projects that came in this week are not rush jobs, but we will do our best to get them done as quickly as possible, since next week is rather full.

Right on Time

A few days ago I went through the pain and trauma of blocking, then sewing together Meital's Starsky Jr. sweater. Here you can see it pinned out on the floor. I used steam from my iron to block it. Not that it did much good; Plymouth Encore yarn is something like 75% acrylic, 25% wool. Still, at least I felt like I went the extra mile. This is the first time I've ever blocked a sweater, and I rather hope it will be the last! The two front pieces are not pinned out in the correct positions relative to one another, in case you're trying to puzzle out how it all comes together.


The day before yesterday I knit on the collar/button bands, and today I wove in the last ends of yarn and sewed on the buttons. It fits Meital perfectly! Except for the sleeves, which are longer than we wanted. But that's what folded cuffs are for, right?


You can't see the leaf pattern too well in these photos (nighttime photos are never as good as daytime), so be sure to look at the pattern photos at the link above to see the design. I made a bunch of mistakes here and there (a purl stitch where there should be a knit stitch) throughout the sweater, and of course didn't notice until the pieces were all done. I hope I can be more careful with my next project, a cabled bolero for Liat, which I started today.

I am very happy to have finished up Meital's sweater today so she can wear it to school tomorrow (no uniforms required on Fridays).

Heart of Gold

There's a stamping challenge going on at Club Posh right now. Stamp something with a heart on it. Easy, and perfect for getting a head start on those valentines. The only catch: the heart can't be any shade of pink or red. I started thinking about all of my wonderful, caring friends, and the idea for this card evolved from there. My biggest problem now will be deciding which friend should get the card. I may have to make a few more!

This card has quite a story behind it! I started with a tan colored card. Stamped the saying ("It's all about the Journey and the friends you make along the way") all over the back with Versamark ink. Now, the idea with Versamark ink is that although it is clear, it leaves a nice image that will be slightly darker than the original color of the cardstock. The other thing about this ink is that it is very thick and slow drying, so it is perfect for heat embossing. When I stamped the card, I hadn't planned on embossing the background image (the saying). But when I went to stamp another saying at the bottom of the card, the Versamark wasn't dry enough yet, so it grabbed hold of the clear embossing powder, too! No problem, I'll just emboss everthing, I thought. Well. You could hardly read the saying I'd wanted emphasized at the bottom. So, I restamped the saying on black cardstock, and just covered up the earlier attempt. The saying at the bottom, and the heart, were stamped using a gold Cat's Eye ink pad, and covered with clear embossing powder. I have been struggling all day, trying to figure out a combination that would give me a brighter gold than what I usually get when I stamp with gold ink and emboss with gold powder. Liat suggested clear powder over the gold ink, and that's what gave me the best result. Thank goodness she was hanging out with me in my stamping room, instead of working on her English project upstairs! All stamps, of course, are by Dee Gruenig.

Lest you think that all I did today was get gold ink all over my hands and clothes (though you know that happened!), we went to Jerusalem today, and of course that means knitting in the car. I had originally thought to work on my sister's wristwarmers, but in order to do that I would have needed to bring along a book and a notebook (where all my notes are for increases, etc) and I just didn't want to hassle with it. Instead, I finished the first baby sock and got mostly done with the leg of the second sock. I have a huge ziplock bag full of yarn leftover from socks made over the last year or two, and I really want to convert all of that to baby and toddler sized socks, to either give to family, donate, or save for the future.

I am nearly done with the sleeve caps on Meital's Starsky Jr. cardigan. I hope to get those done tonight, then block all the pieces (back, both fronts and both sleeves) tomorrow. I just couldn't manage to get them done before we went out today, and I'd rather tackle the blocking in the morning. Maybe while that's drying, I will swatch for the bolero I am going to knit for Liat. Fun stuff!

I hope you're all keeping warm! Please send us some precipitation, if you have any to spare...

Thanks

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.
William Arthur Ward

I finally got around to taking photos of the cards I have been working on lately. In the first photo are three cards stamping on glossy cardstock using Dee Gruenig stamps and (mostly) Marvy Uchida inks. On the fish card, I took a piece of plastic mesh I'd saved from a bag of potatoes and sponged through it using Distress Ink (Broken China) and a wedge-shaped makeup sponge. I love the way it came out sort of wavy instead of perfectly straight. Of course, I hadn't planned it that way!


In the photo above are two more cards using Dee Gruenig stamps. The southwestern card was done on glossy cardstock (I trimmed about 1.25" off the edge so that the "Gracias" on the inside of the card shows when the card is closed). In the arctic themed card, the igloo, person and sun were stamped on glossy paper and added to patterned cardstock. The snow was cut from a piece of soft fluffy paper that someone gave me a very long time ago, and I'd never used! The border at the bottom with the snowflakes was inked with Radiant Pearls paints and embossed using clear embossing powder.


And finally, this card has a dark blue, matte cardstock base. On that is a piece of glossy cardstock that I colored using Adirondack Alcohol Inks. I bought those back in October and hadn't really used them yet. In an effort to start using more supplies (before they dry up or spoil in some other way), I am going to make more of an effort to use all those things I just had to have but have never (or barely ever) used. The background was done with the colors Wild Plum and Stream. The trim and snail were done on cardstock colored with Wild Plum and Butterscotch inks. I had fun and am pleased with the results, but I want to keep playing with these inks and see what other kinds of looks I can achieve.

I started out making thank you cards because the girls and I have people to thank for Chanukah gifts. I realized, though, that I want to make as many more cards as I can, because it turns out I have a lot of people I am very grateful to have in my life.

They Really Work

For the past two days, when the chill in our house turns my fingers to ice cubes, I have put on the simple pair of wristwarmers I knit for myself in 2004 out of very plain 100% acrylic yarn, and my hands - including fingers! - have warmed up completely. Now, these wristwarmers are so simple that not only are there no finger stubs to warm my individual fingers, but there isn't even a thumb gusset to warm up my thumb! Yet, within ten minutes of putting on these wristwarmers, my ice cube hands are cozy and warm. The power of knitted items should never be underestimated.

Above is a photo of the first in a pair of wristwarmers, or fingerless gloves/mitts if you prefer, that I started yesterday for my sister. Someone asked if this is the sister for whom I made the 50 birthday cards last year, the one who sent me the gorgeous cross stitch picture and Never Not Knitting calendar. Yes, I have only the one. And with a sister like that, why would I need another? She is wonderful. And so is this Schaefer Anne yarn (merino wool, mohair, and nylon). I am using the same make-it-up-as-I-go pattern I used for my niece Kim's fingerless gloves last month.

It makes me feel good to know that their hands will be warm because I love to knit!