Roses, Fern & Pearls

What do you get when you start with Roses, surround them by some Fern & throw in some Pearls?

A lovely, romantic Valentine gift? Well... sometimes... But this time what you get is a bowl full of scrumptious yarn!

Now ~ before I go any further ~ I must confess to everyone that I am a bona fide, unwavering, dyed in the wool {pun definitely intended here!} yarn snob!!! My girlfriend Karen is always amazed that I can usually tell the fiber content of her clothing from across the room! And on those rare occassions when I cannot be 100% certain, it only takes one little snif & voila'! ~ I usually know at least the top note. The fragrance of fine fiber is like sweet perfume to me.

So, all that being said, I am more shocked than anyone who knows me well could be {even my crochet/knitting students know me for the snob I am}, I have found an acrylic ~ Yes, I said ACRYLIC {and I mean 100% so}, yarn I have fallen head over heals in love with!

It's Vanna's Choice ~ put out, of course, by the lovely Vanna White, who is not only one of America's favorite sweethearts, but is also a Crochet Queen who has been Lion Brand's national spokesperson for 15 years. I mean ~~~ who doesn't love Vanna! So, I figured her yarn was worth a try, especially since the price is somewhat less than this fiber snob usually pays. Now, don't misunderstand me, I still have a natural, deep down abiding love & preference for NATURAL FIBERS {AND my "family" at my fabulous local yarn shop ~ Ewenique Yarns ~ where 99.9% of my yarn comes from}, however, I do like this yarn. It is unbelievably soft for an acrylic and has that wonderful added bonus of being completely machine washable & dryable. Plus, I really like the color choices.

Therefore, it will from time to time show up in my handwork from now on. As a matter of fact, it made its debut for me in that "Rambling Rose" poncho I just finished recently. The new project I've started with it is using the color ROSE MIST. It's pictured in the bowl along with color choices: FERN & PEARL MIST.

What a lovely bowl of Yarn Soup it makes!

May you all have a Happy Heart today!!!

Rainy Day Roses

On this rainy day I am staying inside where I am still working on scattering roses with my hooks and needles. I'm enjoying the different color combinations of the Debbie Bliss cotton washcloths and now have 4 roses completed. This yarn is nice to work with because it is so soft and comforting while it glides through my fingers. And before I know it another little rose has blossomed!

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The other project I have going {because I NEVER have just one at a time}, is more rosy slippers. There's a need for more PINK, of course, and then I must make a purple & off white pair. I sold a pink pair at the local yarn shop this week. So now I still need more for gift giving and selling.

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I really enjoy making both of these items because, well ... after all ... there are ROSES involved {and plenty of PINK}!

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Also, today's tea selection is, naturallly ~ Rose Petal ~ in my beautiful china cup and saucer set that Hilary gave me for Mother's Day a few years ago. Gotta love a daughter like that!:)

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~And last, but most certainly not least~ I leave you with a picture of my favorite rose covered Princess ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It's A Wrap!

After yesterday mornings necessary shopping trip to replace the glasses Phoebe ate, I got serious about finishing that poncho. As I started laying out and sewing on the roses with stems and leaves I got more and more excited to see it completed. Adding roses {or any flower} to an item ALWAYS gets my blood flowing!

The pictures make the crocheted poncho appear to be more of a true red than it actually is. The color is labeled "antique rose". Needless to say, I LOVE it. I knit the roses up in a pretty off white and the leaves and I-cord stems are knit from my favorite soft green baby alpaca. I'm pleased with the vintage look this color combination conjures.

Of course, I did require some feline assistance {all doggies were napping at this point}. Mercedes felt that she should oversee the final touches to make sure they were purr~fect!

As for the new glasses ~ they are too cute & I really like them. Sadly, however, they were fresh out of rose colored ones. So, I opted for a soft navy blue to match my baby blues! And really, looking at life through rose colored glasses is a state of mind nobody can take away from me anyway!

Without further ado, here's the finished garment. Hope you all like it. I'm glad it's FINALLY a wrap!

Creativity Blooms Afresh

I spent the weekend fighting a case of the sniffles that Gabby graciously shared with me. Well, actually... I didn't put up too much of a struggle. Mostly I succumbed by snuggling into my warm shawl I just recently crocheted for myself, with my feet {bedecked in my rosy pink slippers!} propped up and dogs {and a sea of tissues & plenty of hot tea} surrounding me while I pored through some pattern books looking for new inspiration. After knitting 5 pairs of slippers, I was ready to move onto something else.
So, I'm starting with the stitch pattern of a crocheted wrap from one book and reconstructing it to look like a knitted wrap from another book. Then I'll either crochet or knit up some roses to sprinkle across the top and possibly finish it off with a crocheted edge from yet another book. Whew! This creativity stuff uses up some of the little gray cells sometimes!

The three books I'm working with are some of my favorites:

"The Chicks with Sticks Guide to Crochet" by Nancy Queen & Mary Ellen O'Connell
"Knitted Flowers " by Nicky Epstein
"Crocheting on the Edge" by Nicky Epstein

* I really like Nicky Epstein. Does it show?

When the project is finished it's going to be a poncho. I'll show it off in a few days. Then put it in my Etsy shop. {No matter how much Chelsea begs for it!}

Happy Monday to all!