Any Hero Card

I haven't posted in months, but I wanted to quickly share this Any Hero card I made for Operation Write Home. I used washi tape on a card for the first time! And my new Fiskars star punch (with little gold star stickers in the center of each). Tag was made using an old Close to my Heart template. I used OWH Sketch #67. Big thanks sentiment is by Printworks, small thank you by CTMH.

Washcloth Therapy

In the midst of all the turmoil here (bathroom renovation) and trying to work when your computer is hiding under a shower curtain dropcloth, I decided I needed a simple project that could be finished quickly. I already have plenty of things on the needles, including three different pairs of socks, a blanket and a sweater, but I wanted something very small and mindless. I had just organized my stash of cotton yarn, so I decided to make some washcloths. Anyway, Liat needs new washcloths when she goes off to college, right? I used my go-to pattern, Grandmother's Favorite Dishcloth, for three of them,  but tried something new for the fourth - a mitered square. It made for a nice change, but I am not wild about the yarn over increases going through the middle of the cloth, and Liat has advised me not to "mess with success". So it's back to grandmother's house I go.

Mobile Blogging

Ever since I got my iPad last summer I have spent a lot of time accessing all of my social networks via applications instead of on my desktop computer. I also use the iPad's camera instead of our regular camera. And let's face it, once you've uploaded photos on Facebook and Instagram, who has the energy to write a blog post? (Well okay, I'm lazier than most).

But today I discovered the Blogger app, and I am hopeful it will make blogging easier and simpler. 

I have been doing a lot of knitting lately, and have quite a few projects on needles: three socks, a blanket, a sweater and a washcloth to be precise. Not to mention all of my projects that are in hibernation.

We are having work done in the house, which means that everything is jumbled and dusty. I have started a major de-acquisition project, but I need to remove some of the books I want to donate in order to make room for reorganizing stuff.

Crazy times around here. 

Knitting Update

It has been awhile since I brought you up to date on all of the knitting I've been doing, so here we go. Above is a little set I made for a young man born on February 22. I suspect these items will be too big for him for a while yet.

This is another pair of size 18 men's socks for our dear friend. As you might imagine, it can be tricky finding socks that fit comfortably when you wear this size. I am planning to make several more pairs in the coming months. This is what was left of the grey yarn I used for the last pair I made for him. to avoid confusion between the two pairs, I added a single round of blue at the toe here.

Now that Liat has finished the army (after two years and 102 days), she is ready to have some fun! She and Avi will be going to Barcelona next week to see a Champions' League soccer game. Avi asked if I would make a hat for him, in case it is cold outside during the game.

I am currently working on another baby sweater and also trying to finish up the pair of socks I started for Meital months ago (in the hopes of giving them to her for Chanukah). I am nearly done with the second sock, and will be very glad to finally be able to give them to her.

Of course, I have plenty of other projects waiting in the wings! Including knitting up another scrap swatch to use as texture for my mono printing. What are you working on?

Gelli Plate Fun

At long last my Gelli Arts Gelli Plate has arrived! I got the smallest (6" x 6") size and while I love it, after only using it twice I am sure I want the medium (8" x 10") size. Maybe this summer I'll pick one up while we're in the States, along with some of the cool stencils I've seen online. All of the raves I've read online and heard on YouTube are true! This thing is so amazingly fun and addictive. I have only just barely gotten started using it and I can't wait to play some more. One of the things I was itching to try while I waited for the Gelli Plate to arrive was to use knitting as a texture...I knit up a 7" x 7" piece of 1 x 1 ribbing using up scrap yarn and as you can see in the above photo, the background on the right uses the knitting as a texture. How fun! Now of course I'm dying to knit up all kind of other patterns to try them out on the Gelli Plate. I love the idea of combining two of my favorite hobbies into one project.

One of the other textures I tried and loved was some of that rubber shelf liner. I happened to spot some on a trip to the hardware store with Avi (who of course couldn't figure out why I wanted it, lol).  Part of the challenge is going to be figuring out ways to use these backgrounds...some might get made into cards, others will become backgrounds in my art journal. I have seen people cut up their backgrounds and make them into mosaics, which also looks really cool.

Off to do more mono printing...next post I will catch you up on some of the knitting I've done lately.

Sidney Seligson 1895 - 1976

Today is the start of the Family History Writing Challenge. I decided to write about my paternal grandfather, Sidney Seligson 24 June 1895 - 24 March 1976.

Sidney was born to Kalman and Sutcha Seligson in or near Montreal, Canada on 24 June 1895. He was their third child and the first son. His older sisters were named Hannah and Marion. His family had emigrated to Canada sometime after 1890, but they didn't stay there long. By 1900  the family had moved to New York City. A second son, Philip, was born in New York. The third son and last child, Harold, was born in 1901.

The 1900 US Census shows Sidney, age 4, living with his parents, sisters and brother at 1326 5th Avenue near W. 111th Street. Kalman's occupation is listed as foreman in a factory. The census indicates that Kalman and Sutcha had been married for ten years, which matches with other findings. Also noted on the census is that the family arrived in the United States in 1896. I don't have positive confirmation of that yet.

I know all of this is very dry; unfortunately I don't have a lot of details for this far back in time. I am hoping that this project will motivate me to learn more, dig deeper, and fill in these gaps. The thing about genealogy, for me anyway, has been that I tend to think, "Oh, yeah I knew my grandparents, let's see how much farther back in time I can go." Now I realize that I need to take the time and learn as much as I can about the people who lived closer in time to me, especially since I am lucky enough to still be able to ask my father, and his brother, questions.

Care Package

 This week I sent off a package to a cousin in the U.S. It should have gone out weeks ago, but...well, I wasn't as efficient with my knitting as I should have been. This is more of a lap blanket; it is only about 42" long, but it should do the job. Yarn is Plymouth Encore Bulky, and the pattern is just a simple Harris Tweed stitch (for those who are interested, there are more details on my Ravelry project page).

And this is the card that went with the blanket. My cousin is a big UCLA fan, so I tried to use the school colors. The yellow plaid paper is from Keeping Memories Alive (circa 1999?) and the stamp is a long-retired Close to My Heart stamp.

Right now I am busy working on socks and more socks, plus some fun baby items. I've got two sets of young friends expecting their first baby, so there will be lots of cute little projects on my needles for the next while. I am itching to make some cards, so I will need to carve out some time for that, too. I hope everyone has a great weekend!