Pleated Ballet Slippers

Between dramatic health issues with a friend, my own eye issues, and computer problems, the knitting has been sparse over the last few days.

The good news is that I got some punctal plugs yesterday for dry eye.  The jury is out if it will help, but I am crossing fingers.

And since it is Friday, Fiber Arts Friday, here is something I started yesterday:

Ballet slippers!  Well, actually not for dance, but to look nicer on the feet than slouching around in my old LL Bean moose footwear.  Don't even try to picture it.  Not a pretty sight.

The feminine footwear pattern by Julie Weisenberger can be found here.  Slippers on her site look this this:

Mine are used from these yarns, mixtures of wools and acrylics, held double and are in progress.  I plan on making several pairs.

Foot bottoms will be painted with puffy paint I found on Amazon, but it is available at any craft store as well.  The puffy paint helps keep the slippers from sliding on hardwood floors.

 

Update: 10.22.13

 

First pair frogged.  Second pair much better and finished.  Fun making the little pleats.  Here is the yarn and also the finished product:

 

 

 

 



Crocktober: Crock Pot Cashew Chicken and Soup

Now how can you say you don't like crock pot food?  If that is your mantra, you may have not tried this recipe:

Crock Pot Cashew Chicken:

2 lbs boneless & skinless chicken breast tenders

1/2 cup cashews

1 garlic clove, minced

4 tbsps rice wine vinegar

2 tbsp brown sugar

1 tbsp canola oil

1 tsp grated fresh ginger

1/4 cup all purpose flour

1/2 cup soy sauce

1 tsp black pepper

1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

4 tbsps ketchup

 

Go here for the directions to assemble and cook.  And perhaps change your mind about crock pots.

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And not just another soup:

Garth Williams, illustrator

Zuppa Toscana

1 lb. Italian sausages (use spicy to get that signature Olive Garden flavor)

4-6 russet potatoes, chopped

1 onion, chopped
1/4 c. REAL bacon pieces (optional)
2 Tbsp. minced garlic (about 3-4 cloves)
32 oz. chicken broth
1 c. kale or Swiss chard, chopped
1 c. heavy whipping cream
2 Tbsp. flour

1. Brown sausage links in a sauté pan.
2. Cut links in half lengthwise, then cut slices.
3. Place sausage, chicken broth, garlic, potatoes and onion in slow cooker. Add just enough water to cover the vegetables and meat.
4. Cook on high 3-4 hours (low 5-6 hours) until potatoes are soft.

30 minutes before serving:
5. Mix flour into cream removing lumps.
6. Add cream and kale to the crock pot, stir.
7. Cook on high 30 minutes or until broth thickens slightly.
8. Add salt, pepper, and cayenne to taste

 

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Show Your Halloween Stuff!

This week, Inspiration Avenue challenges you to post Halloween photographs, recipes, costumes, altered art: anything Halloweeny. 

This is the time to get creative with your stuff, be it scary skeletons or sweet pumpkin smiling faces.  Go here to join in the fun!   Post one or several of your favs and see blogs of others who have taken the challenge. 

To get you started on altered art and/or photographs about Halloween, here are a few faces and items from Etsy and Pinterest that may pique your interest.

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from Attic Clutter

 

And of course, Charlie Brown wishes you a Happy Thanksgiving!

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Fair Isle Slouch Hat Finished

Taking the Hydrangea Fair Isle Slouch Hat:

Modifying the colors with these Jamieson wools:

And one wool hank dyed with marigolds:

This is the finished tam:

It is a bit slouchy on the manny head.  I played around with colors using the color wheel, and it proved to be a good exercise in knitting with differing strands of colored yarn.  It will be a warm hat and a labor of love.

Linking with Fiber Arts Friday and Finished Objects Friday.

Dangerous Knitting

Check out this link sent by my husband.  Who knew we knitters could be such a hazardous group to the safety and welfare of the general public?

A knitting group said it was no longer allowed to meet at a library because its needles are "dangerous" and its members are too noisy ...more

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Disregarding the hazards of knitting with sharp needles, I've started another pair of socks from a hot new pattern, Caffee Macchiato.

 

 

 

Hand dyed sock yarn by MustStash.  It is called Jump & Jive, a Tribute to the 70's.  Makes me happy.

 



Faces

Inspiration Avenue challenges you this week with a theme of "faces". Look here to read about the challenge and join in.

 

above photograhs by Edwin S. Curtis

 Ralph on his 100th Birthday

 

 Source: Gold Panner (Summit County, CO, Historical Society

 

 (A Study -Limbo ID:374 from 2006 Lilly Oncology On Canvas 2006 competition)

It doesn’t interest me to know what you do for a living.
I want to know what you ache for,
And if you dare to dream of meeting your heart’s longing.
It doesn’t interest me how old you are.
I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love,
For the adventure of being alive.
It doesn’t interest me what planets are squaring your moon.
I want to know if you have touched the centre of your own sorrows,
If you have been opened by life’s betrayals or have become
shrivelled and closed from fear of further pain.
I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own,
Without moving to hide it, or fade it or fix it.
I want to know if you can be with joy, mine or your own,
If you can dance with wildness and let ecstasy fill you
to the tips of your fingers and toes
Without cautioning us to be careful, to be realistic,
to remember the limitations of being human.
It doesn’t interest me if the story you are telling me is true.
I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to your self,
If you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul,
If you can be faithless and therefore trustworthy.
I want to know if you can see beauty, even when it is not pretty, every day,
And if you can source your own life from its presence.
I want to know if you can live with failure,
Yours and mine, and still stand on the edge of the lake
and shout to the silver of the full moon, “Yes!”
It doesn’t interest me to know where you live or how much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up, after the night of grief and despair,
Weary and bruised to the bone,
And do what needs to be done for the children.
It doesn’t interest me who you know or how you came to be here.
I want to know if you will stand in the centre of the fire with me
and not shrink back.
It doesn’t interest me where or what or with whom you have studied.
I want to know what sustains you, from the inside, when all else falls away.
I want to know if you can be alone with yourself
And if you truly like the company you keep in empty moments.

(The Invitation) by Oriah

Embroidery and Silk Ribbon Embroidery

Back in the day, embroidery was used as a past time by ladies with leisure.  It was a beautiful way to gussy up clothing or even, shall we say, a tea towel?

c. 1900 source

 

Embroidery today is definitely not your grandmother's.  Such great pieces I found on Pinterest.

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Silk Ribbon Embroidery and Silk Ribbon: 

 

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by Natalie

Machine Embroidery:

 

 by Dottie

And linking with Inspiration Avenue's Weekly Challenge Day of the Dead 

 

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from Lou Anne at Inspiration Avenue's Weekly Challenge Day of the Dead:

In Mexico, this holiday takes place on the first and second of November.   People take two days out of the year in order to pay their respect to their dead family members and friends.  During this celebration, skulls and altars are made, food is placed on graves, and families and friends celebrate the lives of departed children and adults. I really hope that you'll create something this week as a response to El Dia de los Muertos.  Whether it's the holiday itself, the Halloween-like feel of the skeletons, or the bright colors that inspire you, I'm looking forward to seeing your creations.   



  Linking with Fiber Art Friday