You all are awesome! I am so surprised how quickly people on Raverly found my pattern, and such encouraging, lovely comments about it! Merci Merci to all of you!
P.S. I've changed the blog's address to www.tanglesandmud.blogspot.com, instead of the old orangeknittycat, so please update your lists if I'm on any of them! I'm hoping that by making my etsy shop and blog match, I'll be motivated to post things in my shop soon!
Now, off to the store, for we have NO food!
Have a wonderful night!
February 1, 2010
January 29, 2010
First Pattern EVER
Well, first that I've written and shared with you that is I've finally gotten off my bum and have decided that since it is typed up, made twice, and I still like it, you should have it too!
So here it is, the Merci Beaucoup Shawl
I designed this pattern with my mom in mind, she wears shawls all the time, and it made sense that after helping me move from VA to NC, she needed one. And it might have been mother's day. Can't remember, the important part was helping me move. Not the easiest, not the worst, but I think the most exhausting move I've done so far. She's a brilliant woman, my momma. Hers is the shawl below in the grass, hopefully someday we will remember to take a proper photo shoot with her in it.
Hope you enjoy the pattern, and if you have questions, please leave a comment and I'll try my best to answer it. Please remember that I've made this shawl twice, but no one else has tried it, so be gentle if I've missed something! It's easy to knit through you own pattern and not notice glaring mistakes.
And a close up: 
Edited to apologize for the weird html crapola that was appearing throughout the pattern. I will try to figure that out and will put it back up in its rightful place on this page soon. For now though, it is available on Ravelry.com as a free downloadable pdf. Right here, in fact. If you don't know what Ravelry is, it is SO worth signing up for. It's a vast pattern library, community, project journal... and an hour eater :)So here it is, the Merci Beaucoup Shawl
I designed this pattern with my mom in mind, she wears shawls all the time, and it made sense that after helping me move from VA to NC, she needed one. And it might have been mother's day. Can't remember, the important part was helping me move. Not the easiest, not the worst, but I think the most exhausting move I've done so far. She's a brilliant woman, my momma. Hers is the shawl below in the grass, hopefully someday we will remember to take a proper photo shoot with her in it.
Hope you enjoy the pattern, and if you have questions, please leave a comment and I'll try my best to answer it. Please remember that I've made this shawl twice, but no one else has tried it, so be gentle if I've missed something! It's easy to knit through you own pattern and not notice glaring mistakes.
And a close up: 
***** Edited to add a correction to Row 3. It should read as follows:
5 stitches in Seed st, P9, K2, * P1, purl into front of first YO, purl into back of 2nd YO, P1, K2* Repeat from * to last 14 stitches, K2, P9, 5 stitches in Seed st.
************
xoxox
January 26, 2010
“It is written: He who makes the best egg salad shall rule the heaven and earth.”
Have you ever seen What's Up Tiger Lily? No?!? Well, if you want to learn the importance of a really good Egg Salad (yes, it IS a proper noun), and what role it can play in Japanese gangs, I highly recommend it. Oh, and Woody Allen is involved. Need I say more?
Yes. I did just make some Egg Salad. It will be perfect tomorrow. Not that I want to rule the heavens and earth, too much to do!
Anyways. I've just become involved in a MOST exciting project, which I'll tell you about later when more is firmed up and sketched out.
( I mean, wet yer pants whilst doing the happiest of dances kind of exciting here, people.)
.
.
.
More importantly, I have also realized that I'd forgotten to give the artist part of me the attention it deserves. I've always been one, but damn is it easier when you're a kid and your mom gives you her seed catalogs to cut up and paste on to cardboard, or to be completely satisfied with a swath of watercolor paint across a page with a single, precious, velvety white rabbit sticker leaping across it. If I had it with me, I'd tell you what I dictated to my mom as the title. Maybe next time I'll grab that giant portfolio and start taking photos of it. I realized this the other day, and there was probably little I could have done about it if I had realized it sooner... I mean, I bought a house (eeep!), then the holiday daze kicked in full swing and work was CRAZY with trade show prep. My poor little brain had no room to stretch out, and I aim to fix that. To make solid times that are for drawing, doodling, photographing, writing, whatever I please, as long as I'm using that artist side of me. I need to let that bird fly wild and high! She's been perched on her... erm, perch too long!
Which leads me to my next mission: to build a mini light box and start taking photos of the art that I have managed to squeeze out over the past year. I need to finish most of them, well, no, they're done, but I need to get them ready for the public's eyes. I can't keep these pieces of fabric folded up forever, that wouldn't be fair! These stitches need some room to breath! To be seen!
So. That's what's that for now. I think that this blog will be taking a turn from the knitting blog it was born as, and I'll try to use it as my artist statement. There will probably be some strange, twisty thoughts. But I am willing to let you see them. They're art too.
Anyways. I've just become involved in a MOST exciting project, which I'll tell you about later when more is firmed up and sketched out.
( I mean, wet yer pants whilst doing the happiest of dances kind of exciting here, people.)
.
.
.
More importantly, I have also realized that I'd forgotten to give the artist part of me the attention it deserves. I've always been one, but damn is it easier when you're a kid and your mom gives you her seed catalogs to cut up and paste on to cardboard, or to be completely satisfied with a swath of watercolor paint across a page with a single, precious, velvety white rabbit sticker leaping across it. If I had it with me, I'd tell you what I dictated to my mom as the title. Maybe next time I'll grab that giant portfolio and start taking photos of it. I realized this the other day, and there was probably little I could have done about it if I had realized it sooner... I mean, I bought a house (eeep!), then the holiday daze kicked in full swing and work was CRAZY with trade show prep. My poor little brain had no room to stretch out, and I aim to fix that. To make solid times that are for drawing, doodling, photographing, writing, whatever I please, as long as I'm using that artist side of me. I need to let that bird fly wild and high! She's been perched on her... erm, perch too long!
Which leads me to my next mission: to build a mini light box and start taking photos of the art that I have managed to squeeze out over the past year. I need to finish most of them, well, no, they're done, but I need to get them ready for the public's eyes. I can't keep these pieces of fabric folded up forever, that wouldn't be fair! These stitches need some room to breath! To be seen!
So. That's what's that for now. I think that this blog will be taking a turn from the knitting blog it was born as, and I'll try to use it as my artist statement. There will probably be some strange, twisty thoughts. But I am willing to let you see them. They're art too.
January 18, 2010
Pondering again
I've been wondering if I should close this blog and start fresh. I have so many new ideas and think about the world in such a different way than when I started this blog... I want to start a new beginning, but I don't know if the blog-o-sphere is where I need my thoughts to be. There's so many things to think and talk about, I'm just not sure if these pages are where I want to be.
For now, though, I'll change the layout and template, see if that helps shake the dust off this poor thing.
Yarn is good, yarn you make (from almost scratch) is better.
For now, though, I'll change the layout and template, see if that helps shake the dust off this poor thing.
Yarn is good, yarn you make (from almost scratch) is better.
November 22, 2009
Living in a Home
We raked. and raked and raked. And then the next day (today) we raked some more... Now that it's raining, I'm glad we did finish this morning, or else we'd be stuck with little mounds of mold-breading, damp leaves. ick. But in a while, all the leaves we dumped in our back yard (no leaves in plastic bags to go rot in the landfill, thank you!) will become a lovely addition to our gardens. I can't wait to see what sprouts up in the spring, and then make my own list of necessary plants. Which will include as many bulbs as possible. I love them. Daffodils, hyacinths, crocus, tulips, oh, and lilies, don't forget the lilies!
I am feeling rushed to start creating again. but am fighting the urge to start ten new projects. I know, not so deep down, that the rooms I want to make in need to be put together or I will just end up frustrated and stressed. These are not things that help encourage creativity. I need to slowly put these rooms together, breath, make myself satisfied, and THEN. Then I should stitch and draw and spin and dye to my heart's content. I'm keeping myself busy until then by finishing projects, organizing the rooms and relaxing.
The rain outside right now is steady, and helps with all this relaxing I am cajoling into my head. Our bedroom is done being painted, I have fabric for the curtains (oh, these will make me so Happy!) And then all we will need are some bedside tables and some art up on the walls and it will be the sanctuary of sleepyness that we need. I am happy and warm. I think I will go wind up some yarn...
(what?? I said I was TRYING not to start more projects... didn't say it was working. And what else can you do when sweet smelling wool and silkblends are screaming at you from behind the closed door? What I ask?!?)
when you lay down in tall grass, this is what greets you.
I am feeling rushed to start creating again. but am fighting the urge to start ten new projects. I know, not so deep down, that the rooms I want to make in need to be put together or I will just end up frustrated and stressed. These are not things that help encourage creativity. I need to slowly put these rooms together, breath, make myself satisfied, and THEN. Then I should stitch and draw and spin and dye to my heart's content. I'm keeping myself busy until then by finishing projects, organizing the rooms and relaxing.
The rain outside right now is steady, and helps with all this relaxing I am cajoling into my head. Our bedroom is done being painted, I have fabric for the curtains (oh, these will make me so Happy!) And then all we will need are some bedside tables and some art up on the walls and it will be the sanctuary of sleepyness that we need. I am happy and warm. I think I will go wind up some yarn...
(what?? I said I was TRYING not to start more projects... didn't say it was working. And what else can you do when sweet smelling wool and silkblends are screaming at you from behind the closed door? What I ask?!?)
when you lay down in tall grass, this is what greets you.
November 16, 2009
Busy, thinking, doing, making.
Well, I had amped up some momentum on this blog, but then... Then I became neck deep in a project that will last a long time. One that I am in charge of, that will make me feel better and stress me out, probably at the same time. I bought a house. A REAL- live house, people!!!!!! You'll have to do with the kitchen and bedroom shots, I haven't been around the outside with a camera when it's still light out yet, but it will come. Oh, it will.
After we made serious headway yesterday I finally feel like this house is going to be a Home, my home! It is a magnificent 1916 Craftsmen bungalow, with slate blue siding and white trim. The inside colors are slowly being replaced with choices that make my mind happy. So far we have the celery green in the kitchen, which is accented with one small charcoal grey wall, and bright white trim. All of the trim, molding and wainscoting will eventually be bright white, the dingy looking off white has GOT to go!
The dining room is an icy aqua, the color name is "cool dip" and it certanly is. The bedroom is deep, twilight-almost-dark teal. I held my breath when this color was picked out, it could have very easily been too dark and drab. But it is vibrant and happy, hoooooray!
The cat is happy, the man is unpacking his records (which equals happy) and the books have found their way to the shelves, I can't wait to get my giant desk back from my mom's house and really organize the office room. I'm still suprised that this beautiful place is mine. I can't wait to dig up the garden and plant veggies this spring and summer... I am going to be able to do so much now! All those things that can't be done in an apartment, not properly at least. There will be many nights of knitting, sewing, drawing, movie watching and snuggling with friends and family (it's funny, how those two words have become so easily interchangable in the past year or so) in this house.
I'm off to make some tea... and to try to organize the fabric.
love!
After we made serious headway yesterday I finally feel like this house is going to be a Home, my home! It is a magnificent 1916 Craftsmen bungalow, with slate blue siding and white trim. The inside colors are slowly being replaced with choices that make my mind happy. So far we have the celery green in the kitchen, which is accented with one small charcoal grey wall, and bright white trim. All of the trim, molding and wainscoting will eventually be bright white, the dingy looking off white has GOT to go!
The dining room is an icy aqua, the color name is "cool dip" and it certanly is. The bedroom is deep, twilight-almost-dark teal. I held my breath when this color was picked out, it could have very easily been too dark and drab. But it is vibrant and happy, hoooooray!
The cat is happy, the man is unpacking his records (which equals happy) and the books have found their way to the shelves, I can't wait to get my giant desk back from my mom's house and really organize the office room. I'm still suprised that this beautiful place is mine. I can't wait to dig up the garden and plant veggies this spring and summer... I am going to be able to do so much now! All those things that can't be done in an apartment, not properly at least. There will be many nights of knitting, sewing, drawing, movie watching and snuggling with friends and family (it's funny, how those two words have become so easily interchangable in the past year or so) in this house.
I'm off to make some tea... and to try to organize the fabric.
love!
August 22, 2009
Forgot some awesome
Back in April, I went to a small but lovely sheep farm on its shearing day. Shepherdess Alice is an amazing woman, lemme tell ya! She's got a great (and growing) flock of Shetlands and Icelandic and a pretty bunch of Finn sheep too, along with the money sheep (meat). I'm going to let the photos do the talking now...
First you have to herd the sheep (walk slowly with your arms out.) into a smaller and smaller pen, and as you shear, the big guy helping just picks up a sheep out of the waiting pen and plops her on the shearing table.
Shearing tables are awesome. Much less bending over, and the sheep can just stand there resting its head in the holder (it looks scary, but is not.)
This is Flynn, the Finn, the first bottle baby of the season, I can't remember if Alice had any more, but he is SO cute. She's kept him as a wether, and his fleece will be coming down to me in the fall after shearing!! YAY!
This is Harriet, the Icelandic. This was her first shearing, and she was somewhat of a rescue, which is why she is SO small. Icelandic sheep are small anyways, but she is just teeny-weeny!
See, wasn't kidding!!
Alice gets to look out her kitchen window to this... but usually with all the sheep on it too. Prett, no? I was so lucky to get up to the Shenandoah Valley again, I miss that place! And I had a great time too! All said, I came back with half of Harriet's fleece (which I just finished setting the twist on this week, photos soonish I hope), and a whole Shetland. The Shetland missed out on a photo shoot because when we put her on the table, she LAID DOWN. Would NOT GET UP. So I had to be a little more involved with that shearing, making sure she didn't try to get up and jump, or roll off. We named that yearling Noodle, and her fleece came home with me. I've washed, but not carded Noodle yet, but all that oatmeal-grey goodness is calling my name, so it will be next.
First you have to herd the sheep (walk slowly with your arms out.) into a smaller and smaller pen, and as you shear, the big guy helping just picks up a sheep out of the waiting pen and plops her on the shearing table.
Shearing tables are awesome. Much less bending over, and the sheep can just stand there resting its head in the holder (it looks scary, but is not.)
This is Flynn, the Finn, the first bottle baby of the season, I can't remember if Alice had any more, but he is SO cute. She's kept him as a wether, and his fleece will be coming down to me in the fall after shearing!! YAY!
This is Harriet, the Icelandic. This was her first shearing, and she was somewhat of a rescue, which is why she is SO small. Icelandic sheep are small anyways, but she is just teeny-weeny!
See, wasn't kidding!!
Alice gets to look out her kitchen window to this... but usually with all the sheep on it too. Prett, no? I was so lucky to get up to the Shenandoah Valley again, I miss that place! And I had a great time too! All said, I came back with half of Harriet's fleece (which I just finished setting the twist on this week, photos soonish I hope), and a whole Shetland. The Shetland missed out on a photo shoot because when we put her on the table, she LAID DOWN. Would NOT GET UP. So I had to be a little more involved with that shearing, making sure she didn't try to get up and jump, or roll off. We named that yearling Noodle, and her fleece came home with me. I've washed, but not carded Noodle yet, but all that oatmeal-grey goodness is calling my name, so it will be next.
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