July 2016

Well, my monogamous knitting is going very poorly indeed. As I need knitting for all sorts of occasions, which makes things far more complicated. Knitting to do while I:

• Talk/knitting with a group
• Watch TV
• Am able to focus on exactly the task at hand

I have also decided I need to read more, currently my goodreads tells me I have read 11 of my pledged 12 books this year, 23 are graphic novels, so do those count? I think that as they are in a series they should count as 1 book.

As far as the books go should I start reviewing them as I read them? Or review what I have read in the past? Not 100% sure really, could be a plan. 

FO's:

1. Reverie Hat - I find these easier than a pair of socks and they use sock yarn, so that is a win win. 
• Sea Tutle Fibre Arts - Dark Side of the Moon - Ridley Sock
2. Catamaran Shawl - Thank you Knit Picks and SeaTurtleFibre Arts
1. I started this three times. Ah well, it will be amazing. 
• Concrete - Ridley Sock
• Charcoal - Ridley Sock
3. Mina's Vanilla Socks
4. Mina's Vanilla Socks

Knitting I have on the go:

1. Illuminated Lines Blanket: Thank you Knit Picks
2. Circlet Cardigan: Thank you Knit Picks - so pretty! I cannot wait to see this finished.
3. Feather and Fan Blanket - This really is if I am desperate for a change.
4. Banana Bunches - YOU ARE NEXT.....
5. Hue shift in 5 colours not 10
6. DragonStole: 

Spinning:

1. 2 Ply of Poppy Seed (fibre spun into lace weight) and Charcoal Lace

Oh and this happened! It looks so god, I am super pleased with the result.

Books:

1. Moll Flanders
2. Call of the Midwife Book 3
3. Me Before You
4. Worlds of Ink and Shadow
5. DragonFly in Amber
• I read some reviews on GoodReads and it appears that people are not too taken with this, I am actually quite enjoying it, it is a good simply easy going read that is fairly easy to pick up and put down. 

Other (Lifestyle);

I don't really want to get into this too much on here, but it is part of my life, and as much as I prefer crafting in the general terms I need to find the same joy in working out. So I downloaded a 5km running app, and I started this month. Just thought I would share some progress.
Alas, I have given myself a stress fracture in my right foot.... so the progress here has been less than stellar.

Yarn Crush July 2016

Yarn Crush July is here! I want to cast on RIGHT NOW. But then again I need to finish some things. The Medusa Nebula colourway is delightful, also just want to cake it to see what it looks like caked. 

The only thing that is stopping me from casting on is that the cast on is 631 stitches..... :( that worries me a little bit. Off to finish a shawl as if it is not finished today I will be behind. 

Did Someone Say Chrome?

This is a picture from their site. 

All the rage right now are the chrome powders to mirror finish nail application systems, which means of course I had to get a set.

In your little box, you get 6 colourful chrome powders a base gel, a top gel, and a fancy crystal filled applicator.  See below. I also purchased an extra chrome powder in silver, as the silver does not come part of the standard kit.



My overall impression is that this is so much fun, they look gorgeous, and I am so pleased. Application takes some time to perfect and patience, but it is worth in the end as the results are gorgeous.

And because I like to experiment I have some tricks for you.  These kits all recommend using a base of black gel, no rub polish. Which I did not have.
I started out using my OPI Nail Envy base coat, with a coat of OPI black (non gel) polish. I painted all of my nails then did some with the base gel and some without. Nail Gel Test 1 (this link may or may not work for you), this is a video of my first experiment.

It worked GREAT on a couple of fingers, but sadly as we have learnt before gel topcoat on regular polish results in crinkling, you can see a bit if the video. I wore them for a day, it was a long day, the house was painted, and my nails SUFFERED. If you are going to stick to regular polish, remember my golden rule wait at least 12 hours before applying gel top coat, it will save you some grief. I also tried one nail with Seche Viete UV top coat, and it crinkled as well, will it crinkle a day afterwards? I have yet to try this. My pinky nail is still in perfect condition, it did not crinkle either, but I think it is the nail that gets the most time to dry.

I then tested with Gel. I used Gelish Uno, and a Finger Paints Gel. The Uno cures without without the sticky layer, FingerPaints has a sticky layer, but I got that off and moved on.

Make sure the layers are thin, and are applied smoothly, any ridges, bumps from either the nail polish or the nail will show up when you come to put the chrome on.

After your base colour is applied you apply the base gel.

Left Hand

On my Left hand, I applied to the ring finger the base gel, and to the other 3 fingers I did not. I honestly cannot see any difference, and having worn them for 2 days I cannot see much of a difference at all as to how it wears.
Not sure if you can tell, but I blended about 4 different chrome powders on my ring finger, I wanted to see if I could get an oil slick appearance.

Right Hand

On the right hand the only one that has base gel on it was my thumb, and again it made no difference to application. Actually I might go so far to say that application was easier without it.

Then I applied the supplied top gel and away I went. To bed.

I do want to try Sech Vite's UV top coat with the Uno gel to see where that leads me, and see if you must use their UV top coat.

I know that using a normal top coat is a NO NO. As it makes the chrome powders cloudy and there is no mirror finish, which defeats the purpose.

I am super happy with the finish, and really glad I own them. I cannot wait to start playing. As it is micro powder, they are a bit messy, but you just need to lay down a cloth before you start and wash your hands afterwards. Lets see how long I can wear them before a) chipping b) peeling c) tip wear (this is my curse).

As for removal, I will continue to recommend the bowl of boiling water, with a bowl of acetone set in it, then soak your nails in the acetone and rub the polish off with a remover pad, or an orange stick depending on how stubborn it is.

HedgeHog Fibre July Club Installment

These came! They are beautiful, no regrets and no looking back from 'investing' in this club. I have no idea, what I am going to make, but I am going to wait for the last installment to come before I make any final decisions.
The next major consideration is do I subscribe again for about the rest of the year? Probably going too :)

So from left to right we have: Harissa, Agave, Candy Floss, July 1, July 2, July 3. 

Picking a favourite out of these would be like picking a favourite cheese (that is an odd reference I realize, but one that does make sense). 

. 

I want to cake one just to see what it will look like but I will wait and save that joy for another day.

Yarn Storage Make Over

So my yarn storage was starting too look less then appealing. Subsequently a trip to Ikea was necessary. Ah Ikea, you provide us with space organization, a work out (having to walk around the entire store to get out), and the pleasure of a jigsaw puzzle when assembling our treasures. Needless to say I got to use my electric screw driver so I was happy.
There are no before pictures really, as it was all just plastic containers, and now it looks so pretty. I also put rope lights along the top, they change colours, not a necessary feature, but something I have always wanted, ergo I got them. To see them in action check out my instagram account of the same name.
The boxes along the top contain my finished blankets...anyone want a blanket? hehe.

                                                                    Finally we have a little chocolate Chef, we got him in Jasper on the Canada Day long weekend, I have 'framed' him and now he will keep my company as I craft. Also a view of my mini skeins in a lovely glass jar just behind.

Yarn Crush June 2016

June's box. So last month we got a kit for making a fruit/vegetable carry bag, either knit or crochet, the yarn is not bad...its REALLY soft, and the buttons (pins) and the notebook are super cute, I am going to pin them onto my bag that has my other buttons on it. 

I am going to be a huge disappointment, but I have not even begun to think what I am going to do with the may yarn, do I make the jewelry? Or do I turn the 4 mini skeins into a baby shawl? I am feeling something more substantial must be knit with these three adorable colours, but I do so want to test out the jewelry. I will keep you all posted. 

June 2016

I feel as though I have come to a knitting standstill. I still enjoy knitting, but I think it is the things I am knitting that I feel I am getting no joy out of. Might be time to take a step back, maybe I am overwhelmed, I should take a look at what yarn I have lying around, see what it was planned for and make notes and actually stick to a plan, instead of just going crazy buying yarn left and right..

I think as a result of this I should try knitting monogamously for a while. I very much feel as though I keep starting things but never finish things. I will see if 1 item at a time gives me a better sense of accomplishment until I have finished a good portion of my WIPs.

I also feel I am in for a challenge, I would love to succeed at knitting a pair of socks, but then again why should I feel the need to knit a pair of socks when really I have no desire to wear them or even feel I need them. It could be the feeling of instant gratification that I am after that is not occurring with some larger projects.

What else is going on? Well I would love to post on here more than once a month, I am watching youtube Knitting Podcasts right now like crazy, and well it makes me want to start my own podcast but I really do not feel I am ready especially with everything else I have on my plate do I really need something else??? I am also trying to make a commitment to taking more pictures of my knitting and posting them here for you all to see.

FO's:

1. Muse Top
2. Happy Spring Leaves
1. I modified a pattern again, I AM SORRY. I just feel that it needed it, and I also had so much yarn left that I didn't want it to sit around forever, and so you have some extra leaves and a few other extra bits and pieces going on. 
   

Knitting I have on the go:

1. Illuminated Lines Blanket: Thank you Knit Picks
2. Circlet Cardigan: Thank you Knit Picks - so pretty! I cannot wait to see this finished.
3. Feather and Fan Blanket - This really is if I am desperate for a change.
4. Banana Bunches - Eager to finish this sucker! about 50% complete
5. Hue shift in 5 colours not 10
6. Dragon Stole: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dragon-stole



The Feather and Fan blanket, started in 2013

7. Reverie Hat - this is going to be my 'sock' knitting. It uses about the same amount of yarn as a pair of socks, but it is far more mindless than a sock, for me right now anyway. 

Books:

1. Moll Flanders
2. Call of the Midwife Book 3
3. Me Before You
4. Worlds of Ink and Shadow