Untangling Ear Bud Cords

When I saw various pictures on Pinterest showing cords of ear buds  crocheted, braided  and even knitted around claiming that this would keep them tangle free I thought (Yeah right).  Not every recipe, do it yourself project or craft featured on Pinterest or anywhere on the web always works when you try it.  But I did try it one day in spite of my misgivings, figured the most that could happen was I would waste some time and thread.  I crocheted around the cords with a heavier Crochet thread. You can use embroidery floss, would use all strands rather than splitting it..  It is the thickness once it is around the cords that apparently keeps it from tangling.  It is still flexible though it doesn't wind up quite as small as originally.  I am really happy with mine.  Try it and let me know what you think.

Knitting/Crocheting Tips

Since your tension is different on different days when you are making a garment and you get to the sleeves use 2 skeins of yarn and knit/crochet a row on one sleeve and then the other so you end up with sleeves that are the same length and tension.                                                                           When making a project with a large number of stitches place a marker every 20-25 stitches to make counting the # of stitches easier and if you aren't counting stitches each row you can easily tell if you have increased or decreased when you don't want to.                                                                                                       When finished with a project weave a length of yarn in so you will have it if you need to do repairs.  Not only will you have yarn of the same dye lot but as it will have been washed the same # of times as the project it will be of the same color/ texture.  Often it is years before a project needs to be repaired and finding a matching yarn can be a challenge.

Happy New Year

The new year is a time for reflection on the past year and time to plan the present year.  What went right, what didn't go as planned, what changes need to be made?  A new purse went over well, it is a small felted purse with a man's tie for the strap.  Will definitely be making more of these this year.  Didn't blog consistently this past year so that is something that didn't go as planned so it needs to go on my list of things to improve on.  To that end I went out today and bought a huge calendar to plan out some ideas for blog posts with specific dates they need to be posted.  No more procrastination.  Am putting monthly goals on a calendar and breaking those goals down into weekly goals so I am much more likely to get them done.  Sometimes a big goal just seems overwhelming but is much less daunting if broken down into smaller steps.  Figure as I am retiring this spring I need to be specific on what I want to accomplish each week or time will go by and I won't have gotten anything done for my fiber business.  Need to set goals for around the house too, flower beds are in desperate need of being tended, have a ton of photos to go thru, etc.  So what about you, what projects are on your list for this new year?

Wire Shawl Pins

I made large wire shawl pins (inner diameter about 2 1/4 " or so last year and was asked for smaller ones and again at SAFF there were requests for smaller ones.  So I made a few up the other day.  Like the large ones I made them in silver tones, gold tones and copper.  A few I combined metals for 2 toned ones.  Have not yet made any with beads like a few of the larger ones.  Here are a few pics.  Did not photo with the stick, only the pin.

Pictures from Am. Sewing Expo

The line behind me of people waiting to get in to the Am. Sewing Expo

                                              A beautiful art quilt.

                                           One of the outfits on display.

                                            
  Lost the space between the above 2 pics, one is an art quilt and the other is a cape.                                       

                  A very pretty gathered red top.

                 This dress was gorgeous, beautiful print and colors.

                               More art quilts.

American Sewing Expo

The Am. Sewing Expo was celebrating their 20th year this past weekend.  On Fri and Sat they gave away goodie bags to the first 200 people in line to get in the door.  And each of those days 2 lucky people of those first 200 got a free sewing machine.  I was #74 in line Fri. but no free sewing machine for me or anyone near me.  This show is wonderful for anyone who sews, quilts or works with fabric in anyway.  They have classes that start several days before the actual show and run thru the weekend.  Classes can be 1/2 day or full day and seminars are generally 1-2 hr.  there is also demos, talks, trunk shows, and fashion shows during the shows 3 days.  I took some pictures of some of the exhibits that I'll have to put up later as I'm having trouble getting them to post (I'm sure it's me and not the computer).  I found some embellishments that I want to use on bracelets.  Also picked up some stencils to try bleaching patterns on felt, will see if it works.  Was good and did not buy any fabric but did pick up a few buttons that were unique.  If you get a chance to go next year it's Sept 26, 27, & 28, 2014 aT Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, Mi.  Check them out on the web too.

Creating While Traveling

I bought this Omnigrid quilting case a few years ago on sale at Joann Fabrics.  I find it is perfect for not only quilting projects but to take beads,yarn, etc. along for projects.  On this trip I have beads, thread  ,needles,  pins, buttons,and  fabric for brooches..  The beads I have in tubes and round containers that fit into a covered box so I can take out what I need and set the rest aside while I work.  The beads are contained in the case if I should drop them while sewing.  The needles/pins I can put in the pin cushion (the rectangle of white/black/yellow in the upper corner of lid). It beats using pant leg or shirt to keep them in and sticking myself or loosing them. The case has a number of plastic pockets to store things, one of which is zippered.  It's nicer using this case  than juggling a tray, or having things loose on my lap or in a bag at my feet. If I'm only crocheting then the yarn can go in a bag at my feet and it is no problem but  I am often trying to finish up projects on the way to shows and this is a nice way to do that.  Happy traveling.  What ways do you carry your supplies to work on while traveling?