I've started a Yahoo Group for a new weekly Craft/Hobby group I will be starting. The first meet is tonight!

http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/group/ottawacraft/





Click to join ottawacraft

Knitting is going so much better. I picked up some bulkier yarn and big needles.

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I wanted to go to a knit meet this afternoon, but I was too shy to go because I didn't know anyone. I had an idea to start a weekly hobby meet up where anyone could come along, regardless of what their hobby or craft was. There was even a location found. The problem is, the person who came up with the location is holding it on Mondays, the only night I work (other than Wednesdays). So, I'm sad because I really wanted to organize this myself, it's also at a pretty busy "cafe" downtown beside Ottawa University. I'm hoping I can find a better location on a day I can go.

I really have to stop going to bed at 1:30am. The sun wakes me up too early and I end up tired and grumpy all day. Either that, or I'm going to make an eye mask. Definitely in a different color.

http://www.craftbits.com/viewProject.do?projectID=887

Oh. My. God.

I'm knitting.

Not well, but it's getting done. I decided to stop ripping apart anything I'd start because I made so many mistakes. So here we have out lovely model Sparky showing my first stitches. The other stitches in the last week did not count. Well, maybe they did... but I ripped them. :P

I've been bad. I haven't been embroidering. Instead, I decided to learn how to knit. Thanks to Jasmine for helping me out! Now I just need to learn how to correct mistakes, bind off, and fix my gauge. I'm overwhelming myself by doing this, but I need to learn new things, or I get bored.

I've made the mistake of telling people I'm knitting now. They all want me to make them socks and scarves. :P

Here's is my week 2 sampler, so far. For the French knots I used some #5 perle cotton, acrylic wool mixes, crewel wool and some beads for the butterflies heads and body. Their wings are #5 perle cotton.

I plan on working on my stitch sampler some more today. For some reason, I started another post card sampler, but it's not really the things we are learning for week 2.

I'm not feeling so great today. Family things are NOT going well, but, I guess there is no surprise there. These people really discourage me and make me a miserable person to be around. I have been trying so hard for it not to effect me, but my tough skin is wearing down. I have no idea how I lived here for so long before moving out.

I regret having to come back.

What is more important to me? Paying down my debt, or my mental health?

Here's something odd I found. Narf.

Some more of sampler 1

wk1 009
Originally uploaded by neophyte282.

I'm a bit behind with finishing this, but I think I'm still going to wait until I move onto lesson 2 of Sharon B's stitch course.

Last night I had some fun! Jordan took me and Jazz, who I finally go to meet to the Yarn Harlot who had a nice, funny talk at Yarn Forward. She is definately a funny gal! It was great. :) It makes me want to learn how to knit even more!

Yay I can't wait to learn how!

Fishbone leaves

wk1 010
Originally uploaded by neophyte282.

I tried to do a rose type leaf on the left and a fern leaf on the right.

Sampler continued 3

Sampler continued 3
Originally uploaded by neophyte282.

Close up of left side.

Sampler continued 2
Originally uploaded by neophyte282.

Close up of right side.

Sampler continued

Sampler continued
Originally uploaded by neophyte282.

Here's where I'm at so far. I think I'm going to to do something else with the straight stitches at the botton. I tried to do a "chain fence" but I don't like how it looks.

Sampler now with french knots and shininess!

Sampler now with french knots and shininess!
Originally uploaded by neophyte282.

I'm just going to copy the pic caption: Used a strand of floss from Weeks Dye Works (over dyed fiber). I don't know if you can see, but I threaded some Kreinik (polyester metallic very fine braid) through the top straight stitches. It's a shiny pink colour.

I'm also getting some free perle cotton floss from a very generous person from the course. Thanks Shay! :)

New supplies!

New supplies!
Originally uploaded by neophyte282.

I hope I did a good job at somewhat matching colours to go well together on my samplers.

Sampler - Week 1

Sampler - Wk 1
Originally uploaded by neophyte282.

Off to a slow start, but here are the first stitches of my sampler for Sharon B's course "Personal Library of Stitches."

Saturday afternoon was Jordan's graduation ceremony. After that, we went to Montreal for a night. I did some shopping (bad). Winners, of course, was the best as usual. You can't find things in Ottawa there like you can in Montreal. I bought some nice sweaters, socks and a pink Matt & Nat purse. My fave purcahse though was a pair of Fox fur ear muffs. No, no, don't freak out. The designer who makes them, makes them from old fur coats. :) Pretty neat idea, me thinks.

Here's her site: http://www.harricana.qc.ca/

I still need to buy some stuff for the Embroidery course I signed up for, online. I have no idea where to go. We'll see what happens today.

Sublime Stitching Pattern - Kitty

Sublime Stitching Pattern - Kitty
Originally uploaded by neophyte282.

I finally did it, my first completed embroidery! Thanks to Jenny Hart and Sublime Stitching for her patterns.

Sorry for the wrinkles. I tried 4 times to iron them out...

Yay me! I brought some embroidery supplies to the hospital with me today for my specialist appointment and got started on a kitty pattern on a tea towel for my mom. Can't say the Dr's appointment was great. I'll spare the details and just say after they were done with me, I couldn't go to work.

So.Much.Pain.

Thank.You.Pain.Killers.

Off to embroider some more!

Here's a random cute pic of a mouse:

I feel so bad for my dog, Sparky. He is about 10 years old and doesn't seem to be well. Every time he drinks water, he brings up his food he just ate. :( I'm really sad because my parents won't spend money to bring him to the vet. It's up to me to take on another pet as a responsibility.

I skipped class to go home and embroider a bit, but I was stuck cleaning up Sparky's mess. Now, I'm tired. I have to leave soon for a Dr's appointment, then work 5-9pm. Hopefully, I can get a start tomorrow.