Very cool Zentangle doodle..........

Happy Mother's Day (a little early)!

Hope everyone is having a great week.  This is a picture of my late mother, I don't know exactly when it was taken but I believe circa 1946-1947, she would have been about 26 or 27 years old.  She hated the picture, but it has always been one of my favourites. However you spend it, hope you all have a wonderful Mother's Day!

Pottery pendants!

I picked up these pendants 3/$10 at the arts and crafts festival on Saturday, and yesterday got around to making them into necklaces.  I braided the cord for the green pendant in the center, the purple and teal ones I just used a leather cord with silver end caps and a barrel style clasp.  Fun summer jewelry!

A great weekend!

Half of the fun of my little adventure last weekend was that I didn't even know I was going to HAVE an adventure until the last minute!

I've known for a while that Barry Manilow (go ahead and laugh, but he was hot when I was a teenager) was in concert in Raleigh.  Hard for me to get tickets for something like that way ahead of time, never know if my back will be able to handle it, and it's a lot of money to lose out on if I can't go.  For whatever reason, Wednesday I decided to take a peek and see if/what tickets were still available, and low and behold, a single seat in the 6th row! I took it as a sign, got the ticket, and decided to stay right next to the venue so I could walk over and back (I don't know the Raleigh area very well, so fighting traffic, night time, and unfamiliar roads was not a set of stresses I wished to experience after a fun evening!)  Drove up to Raleigh on Friday, it's about a 2 1/2 hour drive straight through but I stopped along the way several times to stretch my back (and make a stop at Hamricks, which is kind of like Kohl's but it's a local chain).  Checked into the hotel about 3 pm, and rested until it was time to get ready.

The lights on stage and an iPhone camera did not cooperate to get pictures of Barry in concert, but it was a great, fun, high energy show.  Did get this shot before the show so you can see how close I was:

So much fun.  While I was resting in the hotel on Friday, I happened to read the paper and saw where there was an arts and crafts festival in Cary (next town over, about a 10 minute drive).  I thought I might be there an hour or so, the show was much bigger than I thought, and I was there over 3 hours! Great crafts (I will take pictures of some of the things I got an post them later this week-----right now I am making pendants out of some pottery pieces I bought), a beautiful, shady, tree filled park, and I had a blast. This festival is held every year the last Saturday in April, and I plan to be there next year!

Lots of folks and lots of vendors (over 180):

This person statute was fascinating, when someone dropped coins into the bucket in front of her, she played the drums. It was so much fun watching the little kids watch her:

And of course, singing pirates!

All in all, a great weekend! I rested my back yesterday, but it was absolutely worth it-------after a long, dreary winter, this was a great pick me up.  There is lots to see and do in Raleigh, and I need to make a plan to get up there a few times a year.

Have a great week!

New Zentangle Cards-----

I think I may be a one person scientific study that there is a link between thyroid function and creativity.  We (my hormone doctor and I -----I never forget that I am blessed that my doctor works with me, not on me, to  get my thyroid and hormone levels to optimal!)  have been playing around with my thyroid meds to get me feeling better. I was just exhausted last fall and winter, to the point of feeling like I had no creative mojo whatsoever. Upped one of my thyroid meds last week, and I think I am starting to feel the effects.  

Got my Zentangle pens out last night-----and finished up about 2 dozen new notecards (and how fortuitous that Jo Ann Fabrics has cardstock on sale this week!):

Dreary and dark here in NC today, we are expecting severe thunderstorms later this afternoon.  I skipped the gym to give my back a little rest, I am doing stretches today in about 5 minute intervals (hey, whatever works!)  In between, I just used Print Shop to make a page of quotes (non knitting) to Zentangle, and I have two knitting projects to work on this afternoon.

Hope whatever you have planned, it's a great weekend!

The First Cell Phone Call (this is fascinating!)

Mayberry ---- aka Mount Airy, NC

I think spring is finally here, we've been able to string together several days of seasonable weather, and have already had one bout of nasty thunderstorms (severe thunderstorms and tornadoes are pretty common here in the spring).  I took a little road trip on Friday to Mount Airy, NC, this is the town that was the basis for the fictional town of Mayberry in the Andy Griffith Show.  The town really plays up the connection, I watched the show as a child but now only occasionally catch it on TV Land.  

Cute little downtown area of about three blocks:

There is actually both a Snappy Lunch (I didn't eat here, but did poke my head in for a look---one of the shopkeepers told me Leon's was the place to go for a burger, and she was right) and a Floyd's Barbershop:

I love old clocks in small towns, this one caught my eye:

Ah, yes, Sheriff Taylor's desk, check out the old typewriter!

The town "jail" (boy, I have a list of a few people I would like to put in here, lock the door and throw away the key!)

I had a lovely day of wandering in and out of the stores, enjoying a glass bottle of Coke (yum!), lunch at the counter of an old fashioned diner, and some great people watching and chatting with other visitors. I spent a little time in the yarn shop chatting with the owner.  All in all, a very nice day in Mayberry!

Fiber Fest purchases!

I had a wonderful time at the NC Fiber Fest in Sanford, NC (about 2 hours from me) today.  Beautiful and sunny weather, and I went by myself so I could have some "me" time to think, listen to music, and do what I wanted on my schedule.  I've been looking forward to the show all winter, but was only planning to go if the weather (and my back) cooperated.  Both did, my back is very tired now and I need to take it easy the rest of the day, but well worth it!

I bought six skeins of yarn today.  I always say I buy yarn when it "speaks to me" ----- and today the vendors had yarn that was very chatty.    First, a merino wool sock yarn (shawl---all of my purchases today are for shawls for me), just love these colours.

I initially passed this yarn by, but it kept coming back to my mind. I love the gentleness of the Southwest colours.  This yarn is cotton/cottina, 490 yard so it will make a good sized shawl:

These two yarns are both alpaca, 660 yards each, and DK weight, so they will make a bit heavier shawls, for late fall into winter.  The picture does not do justice to the colours, the brown is a lovely medium cocoa brown, and the blue is much bluer than shown (think blue jeans, I wanted a shawl to match my dark blue jeans and this is perfect):

I've bought several skeins of yarn over the last couple years from The Unplanned Peacock, and I was so happy she was at the event.  This yarn is called "Winter" and is merino/cashmere/nylon.  434 yards:

Also from The Unplanned Peacock a lace weight silk and wool blend, 850 yards (very lightweight shawl):

I've been wanting a yarn bowl for some time, but knew I wanted to wait and purchase one that "spoke" to me.  Found it! Very nice young couple had this booth, I got very good vibes from them.  L'Eeyore (who is decked out in his orange ribbon tie to cheer on Syracuse University tonight) wanted to try it out, he thinks it would be a great seat to watch the game from:

All in all, a great day------spring has been so slow to come to NC this year (as it has in much of the country) that I think the really nice days like today mean a little bit more.

We're all excited Syracuse University made it to the Final Four in the NCAA Basketball tournament...

And the furries are all decked out in orange to cheer on the team! I'm off to the NC Fiber Festival/Yarn Show tomorrow, so I will have pictures to post on Sunday......you can see what purchases I just couldn't resist!  Enjoy your weekend!

Happy Easter Weekend!

 Finally, almost a touch of spring in the air. For a couple days. Then it gets cold again. Which sucks.

Got to catch up with the Saturday Lunch Bunch today!  Easter gifts for Andrea-----these ladies rock and spoil me rotten.  From Joy, a beautiful miniature hand painted flower pot (with chocolate!).  The box is hand painted too. I'm going to put the little pot right on my bedside table to hold my ever present lip balm:

 From Karen (Eeyore's girlfriend), a beautiful summer top (I love flamingos, so does Eeyore as you can see!):

And a handmade basket with candy (I will be having chocolate for breakfast tomorrow!):

And from Connie, a beautiful handmade gift bag (with chocolate, these ladies know me so well!):

And (ohhhhhhh), a beautiful red inkwell, which will hold a place of honour on my desk!

I am absolutely one blessed puppy.  I also had a long, lovely visit with a friend yesterday, I hadn't seen her in a while so we needed to catch up.  My weekend so far is going extraordinarily well!

I'm settling in to watch the SU vs. Marquette basketball game in just a bit.  Good knitting time.  I'm also working on some more Zentangle cards, and will have pictures of those to share hopefully in the next couple days.

Whatever you do and however you celebrate, Happy Easter to all!

What a neat idea!

Source: dollarstorecrafts.com viaJulie on Pinterest

This spoke to me.

More Zen Doodling--------

I have finally gotten back to my Zen Doodling.  I love pretty quotes, so I decided to incorporate them into my designs.  I printed out some favourites (these are by Eleanor Roosevelt) and printed them out using Print Shop.

 I printed them out on digital copy paper, which is heavier and smoother than regular text weight paper, and it works well with the Micron pens I use for my Zen Doodles.  This is what the sheet looks like after I finish doodling:

Then I make copies of the finished "master sheet" onto coloured or white cardstock.  Next I cut apart the images, trim them down and make them into cards.  Below are some examples, tonight I am going to work on making some more of the knitting themed quotes and sayings that I started a few weeks ago.

It finally feels like spring here in NC, we hit 80 degrees today.  It's supposed to tank weather wise next week and be quite chilly.  This has been a long, drab winter, and I am so ready to get into capri pants and light tops............  Wherever you are, whatever you are doing, have a wonderful weekend and a happy St. Patrick's Day!

Zen Doodle Cards!

Last week I decided to play around with some Zen Doodles (I guess you're only supposed to refer to it as Zentangle if you are taking instruction from one of their certified instructors).  I printed out a few "yarny" sayings, as well as a clip art ball of yarn, onto good digital copy paper, and then went to work doodling.  I then copied my artwork onto cardstock, trimmed and layered, and voila------note cards.  I'm finding that enclosing my clip art or saying in a rectangle/square box makes it much easier to cut evenly post doodling.  

I am using Print Shop for my text.  I made another sheet, not yet doodled, that is Eleanor Roosevelt quotes.  I'm going to work on those tomorrow, and hopefully will have pics to share with you later this week.  I'm enjoying the doodling, but need to relax more with it ------ that's the Zen part.  Working on it :)

Quilt Show in Charlotte, NC

The Charlotte Quilt Guild held a show today down in Charlotte, and the number of absolutely beautiful, artistic, and meticulously constructed quilts absolutely overwhelmed me.  Below are just a few of the photos, you can see the entire album of pictures by clicking here.  I have done a very little bit of quilting in my life, but absolutely nothing that approaches this level of skill and expertise.  

These would also be good for those of us who sit to craft!

Source: blog.hiredmyway.com via Kristie on Pinterest

Papercrafting roll--------

I've been on a papercrafting roll the last few days.  Downoaded this great printable from The Pixel Boutique, and made some Downton Abbey doorhangers to share with my friends:  

 I've laminated some of them, and will do the rest when the mood strikes me, I think I made about 16 altogether.

My little woman friend, Ciera, is turning 5 this week (I don't know how the hell that happened, I feel like I went to her baby shower just last week!)  She is quite into the Disney Princess/Characters, and I found some  Snow White stickers at the $1 Store back a few months ago-------so I made her quite the fancy birthday card!

I've been doing some Zentangles, too, and making them into notecards.  Will post them soon, right now I am off to check another item off my "to do" list (posting to both blogs this weekend!)  Have a great week, and if it's warm where you are, send some here, it's 15 degrees below average right now. I'm not happy!

Truth in Packaging

Source: lolsnaps.com via Dale Ann on Pinterest

Another Downton Abbey Parody!

Downton Arby's

New shawl!

I finally finished my black shawl.  Pattern is ripple from Knitting Lace Triangles by Evelyn Clark. I used black fingering weight yarn by Knit Picks, and I added black beads (too subtle for you to see in the picture, but they are there!).  Wingspan is about 76 inches across.  I know I will get a lot of use out of this shawl, and this is the first time I have blocked a shawl with my new blocking wires.  Oh, why didn't I treat myself to a set of these sooner, makes getting the points on the shawl even so much easier!  Happy to have this done, I have already started a new shawl in white, can't remember the name of the pattern right now, but it is crescent shaped.

Sunny and chilly here today.  Going out for a stroll later this afternoon.  Make it a great day!