Diandra posted this comment on my last post "if it's any consolation, i'm kind of afraid to make the purse ;)" So I decided to give her some pattern alternatives in the twisty cables get far too frustrating.
I went onto ravelry, did a pattern search for free knitting patterns using bulky weight yarn. It was super easy and I have no idea what I would have done in pre-ravelry times.
Di, here are some other ones you can choose from, most of them are way less yardage so you'll have yarn left for something for yourself:
1. Plaited Scarf
2. Russet
3. Serafine
4. Kaya Scarf
5. Felted Bag
And here's the original request: Cable Purse
I apologize to anyone reading this blog who is not a current member of ravelry. You won't be able to see these links. However, if you knit or crochet at all, you should sign up get an invite. It's awesome.
After Blim on Saturday Rhi and I went to Three Bags Full with Diandra
I bought two skeins of Blue Sky Alpacas Dyed Cotton in worsted weight. This is going to become another Cold Shoulders Capelet. Larger than my first one and in a more summer friendly fiber. 
Diandra bought three skeins of Louet Gems. I really liked her choice which is important because it's for me to use. She also bought some Cascade Ecological Wool to make me something in exchange. 
I was excited to use the louet gems so I started Doris Chan's Irish Mist Stole on Sunday. Last night I finished one full repeat. I have a feeling this project will end up boring me, but it will look very nice and feel very soft so it's worth it. 
Off I got to have some popcorn and then start another repeat.
The Blim fair on Sunday was full of sunshine and awesomeness. It wasn't crazy busy but when you're hanging out with your crafty friends in the sunshine (we've waited so long for sun here in Vancouver)... it's always good times.
Sometimes the creative bug bites me hard. I get an idea and can't stop thinking about it. Doesn't matter what I'm doing, thoughts related to the new idea will pop up and I'll get all distracted, mentally working out details, trying to figure out when I'll have time to sit down and play around, test things out. It's hard not to talk about it with everyone. I'm chatting with a coworker and suddenly have an urge to explain my idea so they can get excited with me. (Fortunately I am usually able to contain myself - most people wouldn't actually find these crafty ideas as thrilling as I do!)
I have one of those ideas now. It circles around and around in my head and I will the clock to move faster so I can finish my regular day and get home so I can craft! I don't want to spill the beans here yet, I want to test the idea out, work up some prototypes, see if it's as awesome as I think it will be.... then I'll share. But I know that other crafty people will totally understand the torment I'm in - being all abuzz with an idea and eager to work on it and having regular life get in the way!
Megan brought me back an awesome book from Japan - one that teaches you how to wrap everything ( and I mean everything) in beautiful fabric.
Forget carrying ugly bags around with you - carry a beautiful bit of fabric and apparently you'll be set to carry anything! It's awesome. And like most Japanese books, the instructions are visual so my inability to read Japanese won't matter. Though I do wonder what the title of this book is.... the subtitle awesomely says "The furoshiki is functional and stylish. Your life becomes happy if you use it every day."
Here's the cover:
Here's how you can wrap up your honey jar:
Your badminton rackets:
But really - there are some fantastic instructions in here on how to make beautiful packages that are easy to carry and look quite secure. I can't wait to try some out!
Visual instructions:
For those who are interested in trying to track down the book, its ISBN # is 978-4-416-80662-3 and the website on the book jacket is: http://www.seibundo-net.co.jp/
The 4th member of our group, Megan, has been off living in Japan for the past year. We've definately missed her crafty-genius self and are super happy now because.... she's BACK!
So this weekend I'm headed down to Portland with the hubby and some friends. This was already exciting because I haven't been to Portland in ages and it's so full of wonderful things. Hubs is especially looking forward to all the coffee and bike shops, all of us can't wait to get our grubby little paws on the books in Powell's, we're trying to figure out how to visit 12 brew pubs a night . . . but more than anything I'm looking forward to the crafty shopping. I mean yarnia anyone? How cool does this place look? Very cool. I'm actually quite overwhelmed. I even found a google map that just fills the whole city of Portland up with this little arrows pointing out all the fun places I'll never make it to. So, already I've decided I'll have to go back every weekend.
Then as I'm poking about the internet I start hearing about a quilt market/trade show thing.
Rhiannon's train of thought:
1.Oh, that sounds kind of neat, I should look into it.
2.HOLY CRAP this sounds awesome.
3. Boo, it's all officially trade and not open to the general public.
4. Wait a minute, I work for a company that deals in embroidery thread. Hmmmm....
So today at work I very casually bring it up with my boss.
Me:"Umm, Fran, any chance I could photocopy some credentially like stuff off of you to swindle my way into this trade show."
Boss/Fran: "Oh, our American division is a vendor at that show. I'll have them put aside a pass for you."
Me: "Yeah, sure, whatever, no worries."
Me in my head: Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!
I'm actually really nervous about posting this because I feel like it's a little to good to be true. So for now I'll just say that when I get back from Portland you will all at least get breakdown of how it all went horribly wrong.
We've started listing stuff in our etsy shop again!
Yay! Listings will increase once we get photos of more of our new products. In the meantime, to celebrate the awesomeness of etsy - here's a link to my latest etsy find:
This is the fabulous work of Sea Glass Designs - a fellow Dartmouthian who takes sea glass that washes up on shore and turns it into super stylish jewelry. Her work is stunning. The piece shown at left is unlike any seaglass I've ever seen before - I love it. My other favorite piece is this one.
We had a great time on Sunday at the Got Craft fair - hanging out with so many great crafty people and people who love to buy great crafty stuff (us included!)!
I have more pictures from our Crafty Sunday that I wanted to post but the internet has been down since Monday.
Monday is significant because it was monday at about 6:00 that the huge cedar tree in my front yard was hit but lightening. Seriously. my house and two others have broken windows from wood flying all over the place and we have three holes in our roof. Here's some pictures:
(Can you rotate pictures in html?)
But I saw this idea for using a quilt as a headboard in my Martha Stewart newsletter and I really quite like it. I just might adapt it for my own bed. 
Also, you might be able to see at at another craft fair this coming month. We'll post the details when it gets confirmed.
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