Awesome Week

I'm happy to write that this week I was able to keep focused on completing a couple of my projects.

First on my list...... my husband's entertainment center.

 

before painting

Finished

My original plan was to do some sanding on the edges to give it a Shabby Chic look.  When I asked Jim his thoughts on sanding the edges, he told me he liked it just the way it was.  Good news for me.....first finished piece using Annie Sloan chalk paint.

 

His 50" flat screen was delivered yesterday and I must admit.....it looks pretty cool.  Now to just get rid of our huge sleeper sofa which is taking up so much room I can't get a decent picture.  The house is slowly getting a "new look" and we're very happy with the way it's all turning out.

 

Second finished project ......my Elf Clobbers

 

I love, love, love how these turned out.  My friend Jill and I checked out a couple new stores in Hastings on Tuesday and the owner of a clothing store thought they were awesome.  She had to try them on and show them to a several other customers.  Then she asked if I would make a pair for her.  Wow.....what a compliment.

 

On the knitting front.....still working on my Palette of Color shrug but did get started on my next furniture project.

 

 

I've been using this cabinet in my studio to hold all my dying equipment but thought it would make an awesome island in my new kitchen.  On Tuesday I emptied it out and after quite a bit of struggle, we managed to get it up the stairs so I could get it washed and ready to paint.

 

When I started washing it down, I realized it had been painted with an oil base paint and Anne Sloan paint is latex.  Problem.......or so I thought.  I was planning on having to sand it down and prime it with Kilz but I was told that wouldn't be necessary.  Just to go right ahead and paint it with the chalk paint.

 

First coat applied on yesterday.....

 

 

Yikes.......pretty rough looking.  I left it to dry over night and today I'll be putting on the second coat.  Sure hope it looks better!.....keep your fingers crossed.

 

That's it for me, now it's time to head over to Wisdom Begins In Wonder to see what everyone else has been doing......then  back to painting.

 

Happy Fiber Arts Friday everyone!

 

 

  

 

I've Lost My Focus!

For those of you who have spent any time with me can testify,  I'm usually very focused on just working on one project at a time.  Well I guess maybe some of my friends have rubbed off on me or my life has just been taking me in many different directions.

Whatever the cause, I just can't seem to focus on any one project right now.  I'm jumping around like Mexican jumping beans.

I'm still working on my Palette of Colors shrug.  Almost done with this section then I can block it and do the cuffs.  Must stay focused......must stay focused!

Well so much for staying focused.......I was surfing around Ravelry (I know, I know, what was I doing surfing Ravelry?...should have been knitting on my shrug) and found these cuffs and just had to give them a try....their called Elf Clobbers.

 

Of course the cuffs knit up quickly and then I realized the next part was crochet.  Oops.....I don't crochet!  Luckily I have a friend that does.  I talked to her last Wednesday when I saw her at Your Local Yarn Shop knit night and she was so nice she didn't even make me whine.  She just said "sure I'll do them for you". What a sweetie.....thanks so much Sue.  Now I just have to knit the ruffle and they will be done.  I love them so far.....now my focus will have to switch from the Palette of Colors to these since she just returned them yesterday.

 

On a non fiber note, I decided to try my hand at painting and re purposing some furniture pieces.  My husband found a buffet that he wants to use as an entertainment center for his new 50" flat screen and he asked if I would paint it red for him.  What the heck....RED......well why not!  I'd just recently found out about Annie Sloan Chalk paint......so in I jumped.



Buffet before painting

Inside painted Old White
 

Outside painted with 1 coat of Graphite

Since I don't know what I'm doing, I'm still trying to decide if I will give it another coat of Graphite or just start in on Emperors Silk.  Once I have the red coat on, I will do some sanding because I want to have some places where the original color shows and some with the graphite color with the red being the focus. This is a very bold red color so I'll be using Annie Sloan dark wax to finish the project and this will tone down the red quite a bit.  I think I'll need to spend some more time on YouTube to help me make up my mind.

Maybe losing my focus was just what I needed to open up my creativeness!






Knitting Progress

Wow, it's been a couple of months since my last blog.....life just sometimes takes over. The last two months of 2012 were not the best for us so we're looking forward to good things in 2013.

I've been working on the Palette of Colors Shrug.  I bought this kit from KellyJ at our annual "stash sale" at Your Local Yarn Shop.  I thought it would work up quickly but have been surprised at the length of time I've been working on it.  Hmmm....that could be because the bulk of it is worked with lace weight, I've just been lazy and not knitting that much or cause I took the time to work on a hat for my son's girlfriend.  Whatever my problem has been, I'm  now determined to get it done.

This knit is actually going to be mine......

When we went to Vermont in October to visit our son and his girlfriend, Ashley asked if I would knit her a hat.  I told her, "no problem".  She picked out a pattern from Ravelry but when I decided to start kniting it, I just couldn't get into the pattern.  So after doing some searching on my own I found inspiration from my favorite designer and started Raxtur by Stephen West.  

This was an interesting and fun knit.  You start on the ear flaps and when you get to the body of the hat you turn it wrong side out to knit the color work on the top.  You use slip stitches to make the vertical stripes in this area and I must admit, even though it was easy, sometimes I messed up during this part and had to take out a few times due to my lack of concentration.   I thought I had every thing fixed.  Finished the hat and turned it around only to find an error about half way down the color work.  Wished I'd only said "drat" but actually had to use some strong language!

The error is on the back of the hat so if you wear it with the ear flaps down the hat is slouchy enough it doesn't show.  Ear flaps up and it sticks out like a sore thumb.  I was so bummed I put it away and haven't looked at it again until today.  Now I have to decided if I'm going to rip it all back or leave it alone.  DRAT!!!....since writing this, I really think I have to rib it out.  

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!