I had big plans for a productive weekend, but then I decided to do some knitting and the laundry is not done, the chicken coop is still in need of cleaning, and we won't even discuss the state of the bathroom. It was necessary, you see, when I went in search of some new pants the other night, and found a cute little jacket on the sale rack at Macy's. Regularly $89, marked down to $19.99! So I had to get it, but it only has 3/4 sleeves, and it's chilly up here in the mountains, and in my air conditioned office, so I thought some arm warmers were called for. I used this easy-peasy pattern, but made a few adjustments. I know my arms are a little larger than average, so I cast on 42 instead of 34. I never did check my gauge, but that ended up working well for my arms. I also made them pretty long, because I have gangly monkey arms, and I wanted them to go nearly to my elbow. Then I finished off the finger-tip edge with a little scalloped crochet border. I think they are quite cozy, and they were super easy and fast. If you haven't knit in the round before, they're a great little project to learn with, since there's no shaping, just straight knitting.

Here's the scallop edge pattern, in case you want to try it: single crochet all the way around the edge. On the next round slip one and in the next stitch, single crochet, double crochet and single crochet. Repeat these two stitches all the way around. I am probably not using the correct crochet lingo, but I'm still a novice, and probably the world's slowest crocheter. I'm getting the hang of it though.

Oh, and I did manage to find one pair of pants. They're a size smaller than I've been wearing, and fit pretty well, so that made me a happy shopper. And they were also on sale.

Since I blew off all my other responsibilities I decided to play around with my macro filters again. I can't get the 10+ one to work, but the 4+ is nice. Here is a tiny, 2" tall meerkat:

He reminds my of a trip to the zoo with my sister and brother-in-law at the beginning of the year. We had our new cameras and took a lot of pictures of the meerkats, because they were so darn cute. I've watched Meerkat Manor a time or two, but they were kind of mean to each other, so I prefer to think of them as the cute little critters we watched that day at the zoo.

And how cute are these tiny mushroom dishes?


They were a Re-ment purchase, and I got pretty lucky to get this little set. Re-ment are the Japanese version of Cracker Jacks, except with these you get one tiny piece of candy, and a really great prize, such as a set of mushroom dished, complete with 1/2" tall salt and pepper shakers.

What is it about tiny things that makes them so endearing? I loved doll houses and miniatures since I was little. I even got a doll house kit one year for Christmas or my birthday. It had all the pieces stamped into thin plywood, and theoretically you would just pop them out and glue them together. My dad helped me with it, and I did my best, but inevitably the pieces would splinter when you popped them out, and they never fit together quite right. I don't think we ever finished it. I still think it would be fun to decorate and furnish a doll house.

No, I'm not trying to imply that I think I am a fox in my socks, that was just my favorite Dr. Suess book that I never owned. I remember checking it out of the elementary school library multiple times, along with a book of jokes and an origami book. It was so popular that you had to get on the waiting list to check it out.

I actually forgot that I had this tasty yarn, hand dyed by Yarnchef. I'm trying not to have a yarn stash, so I figured I'd better cast on a new pair of socks, and use it up. I'm knitting the Go with the Flow socks from Favorite Socks, but I think the pattern might be too busy for the yarn. It's a lacy rib, but maybe I should just do a plain ribbed sock to show off the beautiful colors. What do you think?

I was playing with my macro filters again.
They are kind of fun, and much less expensive than buying an actual macro lens. Here's the exact one I bought:

Digital Concepts +1 +2 +4 +10 Close-Up Macro Filter Set with Pouch (52mm)

If you happen to order it by using that link, I think I'll get a little kickback. I haven't tried this Amazon Associates thing before, so I'm going to give it a shot and see what happens.

I also did a little Fall decorating this week. Please note Petey perched on the windowsill. He ate my orchids from last week. I'd like to see him try to mess with my pumpkins.

I got my first ever unfriendly comment today. At least I think it was unfriendly, because it was in ALL CAPS and the commenter seemed to be accusing me of hypocrisy because I have chickens, and I eat chicken, but I only eat chickens I don't know and that are killed by someone else. Interesting. I might delete it, but I might leave it there, just so I can feel like a real blogger, stirring up controversy.

One of my big goals for the weekend was to finish all the laundry and put it away. I don’t mind laundry, and there’s only two of us, so it’s not like there’s even that much to do, but somehow I always get caught on that last step, you know, the actual putting away of the clean clothes. I wonder what that says about me. Nothing flattering, I think. Honestly, right now I’m pooping out and I don’t think the clothes are going to be folded tonight, much less put away, but I did finish a lot of other things, so I’m not going to feel too bad about it. Actually, I mopped the kitchen floor on Saturday, so I’m not going to worry about the laundry at all. Mopping earns you a break from laundry, doesn’t it?

As I mentioned before, my Spring Forward socks were easily finished on Saturday. I’m finally getting the hang of the elusive kitchener stitch. The toes on these aren’t perfect, but they’re the best I’ve done so far.

I did go up a needle size, from one to two, so they would fit my big feet. I could tell within a couple inches of knitting on the ones that they wouldn’t fit, so it was simple enough to undo and start over.

I’ve also been working away at some items for the shop, and finally got a few done and listed. I’m having a little crisis of confidence. All week I’ve been thinking of all these great ideas, sketching, making lists and just planning and scheming, but when it comes down to actually adding a listing to etsy I get all nervous and doubtful of my once great ideas. This isn’t a pity post, fishing for compliments sort of thing, because I think the only thing that will reassure me are actual sales with positive feedback. Blergh. Okay, I will just act brave and confident, and keep plugging away here in the Hey Lucy workshop. If nothing else, I’m really enjoying myself, going from one activity to the next. A little bookbinding here, a little sewing there, a little drawing and stenciling, and even knitting a tiny hat for a tiny chick.

He’s in the shop, all by his lonesome, except for these pincushions, but now that I’ve worked out the pattern, I’ll be making a few more. I think. Or maybe not, maybe no one will like him and I should just go back to the drawing board.

Since the last post was about starting something new, I thought maybe I should try finishing some things for a change. All finished:


The pattern is Embossed Leaves, and this is the third pair I’ve made. I love this pattern, not only are they pretty and easy to knit, but they fit my big feet perfectly. This time I used some old Blue Sky Alpaca yarn that I had in my stash, and the gauge is probably a little big, but they’re so very soft and cozy. I’ll enjoy them a lot this Winter. As you can see, getting a picture outside without a dog in it is nearly impossible. Here’s what most of my shots looked like:


Winston finally got tired of posing and went to lay on the doormat.


His fur is growing back quickly. I hope it cools down soon, for his sake.

Next project, nearly finished:


I’m not even going to link to the post where I described starting this sweater, it was so long ago that I’m completely embarrassed. The pieces have all been knit for ages, but I needed to seam it, and it turns out I don’t really like seaming. Especially with this bulky cotton yarn. And then there was the crocheted edging. I want to like crochet, and I want to be good at it, but I think it’s going to take awhile before that happens. My hands feel all claw-like tonight after working on this. It’s just two rows, one of single crochet, and then one of crab stitch, which I didn’t think I was ever going to get the hang of doing. It is nice though, so it was worth the struggle.


I just have to sew in a zipper, which I am going to attempt tonight. This pattern is Blue Sky Alpaca’s Zip Cardigan (free!), and the yarn is Blue Sky Cotton. It’s lovely and soft.

One last nearly finished project, another bluebird pillowcase:


The first one I made for my Christmas swap with Yvonne. I was really tempted to keep it for myself, but I resisted. I still have to stitch up the hem and seams. I may even make one more, so I have a pair.

I hereby officially declare that this is the Summer of home improvement here at chez Lucy. A very long time ago, I ripped down the ugly wallpaper in the living room. And then I did nothing. The wallpaper had been pasted directly onto the dry wall, so that meant it had to be mudded, and to match the rest of the house, it needed a particular sort of plaster texture, and it was just all too much to deal with. So I didn’t, until I finally worked up the courage this week. I went to Lowe’s and bought a box of joint compound and a trowel, and did it all myself. I think I just pulled a muscle in my arm while patting myself of the back. You can sort of get the idea here:


Note to the guy at Lowe’s who I asked what I needed to complete this project: Please don’t tell me what I do or don’t want to do, I’m not a complete idiot, and when I say I want plaster, I mean I want plaster, and not orange peel texture. You’ve never been to my house, you don’t know anything about my taste, and most importantly, you don’t know what I am or am not capable of. I find that very irritating. I think I should bring him this picture and be all, "hey idiot, see, this is what I wanted, and this is what I got, because I’m not afraid to try and do it myself." but maybe that would be rude. Anyway, moving on…

I can only give you some previews of a couple corners of the room, because I have a few more projects to complete. Once I got the walls all looking how i wanted them to look, I primed and painted. As usual, the first color I picked wasn’t quite right, so I had to go back to the store with my paint-covered hands in my baggy painting pants and pick out another color, and the paint girl was quite surprised and impressed that I was doing my own painting, but at least she wasn’t all condescending like the Lowe’s guy. The new color was just right, and I happily finished painting and artfully arranging various pieces of art on the walls.


I was lucky enough to get one of Claire’s gocco prints, which I matted in bright turquoise, to go along with my little bird plate and Anthropologie hooks. The clock is from Urban Outfitters, but I don’t think they have it any more. The wall color is from Dunn Edwards, and it’s called Fly a Kite. It’s a nice periwinkle blue.  I especially like how it looks with the yellow in my kitchen and hallway, because you can see the two together in the archways:


Those are my beloved paint-by-numbers pictures that I found, framed, at an antique mall for $18 for the pair! What a bargain! And I also love my big pear. If you look closely, you can see that some ofbthe frames in the hall don’t actually have photos of anyone I know. Classy, no? But at least they’re hanging up, right? I better add finding photos for the frames to my to-do list.

I also got the curtain rods up and the two wall sconces, which are sort of ugly, painted. I’m hoping that my new paint job will make the sconces more bearable. Now I just have to make curtains, paint the door, re-install the sconces and slipcover the chairs. Not much at all. Heh.

I’m pooped and sore all over, I have more to share, but I think I better get some rest first. Thanks for all the nice comments about my skirt and weight. I really think that picture is just at a really good angle, and also, remember that you can’t see my bum, there’s plenty there to lose :o) I am behind on responding to comments, and my stupid e-mail is being stupid again, but I’ll do my best to reply this week!

And because I can’t do a post without a pet picture, here is a rare visit from Petey, who is either sleeping, as you see here, or bouncing around the house, from one windowsill to the next.

I said there would be sewing and knitting again on this little blog, and so, here you go! I’ve had this fabric for quite a while, it was an eBay find, and it’s old and I’m pretty sure it was originally intended for pillowcases. Doesn’t that just look like a pillowcase border?

And while it would, in fact make very charming pillowcases, I don’t currently have a room decorated in yellow and lavender in need of pillowcases. What else could I do? I had to make a skirt. So I just cut off a bit to use for the waistband, sewed a seam at the back with an invisible zipper, pleated it up, and stitched it to the waistband. Easy-peasy!

I did want to mention that I’m feeling pretty brave with this picture. I appreciate all the comments about the 20 pounds lost, but as you can see, I still have quite a ways to go. Not that I’m belittling those 20 (now 22!) pounds, I’m darn proud of myself for accomplishing that kind of weight loss, especially since I’m doing it in a healthy way, and very slowly, but it’s just the beginning, and I’m working on getting rid of another 40 pounds by the end of the year.

Oh, and I also had to mention, the long-sleeved t-shirt? In the exact same shade of yellow? I found it at Old Navy this past weekend for $1.99! And I also found a green one for $5, and the two together perfectly match my completed Lace Ribbon Scarf.

This was a fun scarf to knit, until the last third. At that point it seemed to stop getting longer, and the ball of remaining yarn stopped getting smaller, and the knitting just went on and on and I got irritated and then made a series of mistakes which required unknitting several rows. Of course it did end eventually, and I rather like it. Even though it’s wool, it’s rather light-weight, and perfect for this crazy Spring weather we’re having. I was so looking forward to this past long weekend, but it was cold and grey and rainy the whole time. Of course Tuesday morning, when I had to go back to work, was all bright and blue-sky-ed and lovely, which put me in a very cranky mood. We’re almost to the next weekend, and I’m still bugged about the whole thing.

I better add something cheery to end with. This is my dog Winston, who likes to snuggle. He gets in bed with me every morning around 5:00, and then doesn’t want to get up when I decide it’s time to get up. He won’t budge and I have to physically push him out of bed. Silly boy! Doesn’t he look comfortable?

He doesn’t have his Summer haircut yet, because of the yucky weather. I just can’t let it go.