Stix on the Beach: Tales From The Happiest Hooker!

Spring into Action

Last spring when I was purling through panic attacks, I made a promise to myself that once we were back on our feet, I would begin knitting and crocheting for fun again. And I have totally kept to my word, for reals.

I have so many projects planned! Some I'll totally be picking up what they're putting down. Others might make it through a few rounds before accepting I'm just not feelin' them. But coming up with all these ideas is such a fun process in its own right! And just about everything I am plotting is portable. I can pack a project in my bag and kick back at the park or The Parks.

Right now I am quite content with sitting at my craft table, crocheting duplicate granny squares. However, this weekend I'm totally switching gears 'cause spring stitchin' is in full swing!

In the Spring Becomes the Rose :::Crafting with the Classics:::

Rose's chartreuse-ish dress accented with black & white diagonal stripes — what fun! What fun? I had a couple of cool ideas using this three-color combo, but none never clicked. I tried for days, realizing part of the problem was the weight difference between the Red Heart and Soft Fern Bernat Softee Baby yarn (which will easily be resolved with a trip to Wal-Mart, as are most things) but I still wasn't seeing Rose reflected in the square.

Then it hit me like an 8-track! What made that dress just freakin' rock on Rose? Her hair! Her red hair! I grabbed my Caron Simply Soft in Garnet (Autumn Red would work too) and the trio became a quartet and harmonized the hell outta that granny square! Now that I'm grooving on these colors, I'll give my other ideas another spin at some point.

And since we're all here, I would like to sing the praises of Caron Simply Soft and Bernat Softee Baby Yarn! They are, indeed, the softest acrylic yarn (and I absolutely love the sharp definition of the stitches that they make)! Every time I use Simply Soft (and now Softee too), I'm all, "Why am I not using Simply Soft for SIMPLY EVERYTHING?! I should redo EACH THING I ever made with Red Heart!" And the answer is all about comfort. But not the tactile kind.

Afghans made from Red Heart yarn just has that look which appeals to my heart. It could be because I am a sentimental child of the Seventies, when Red Heart decor was the Jonathan Adler of it's time. More likely it is because I was always hanging out with my Nana, and Nana and Red Heart were like Thelma & Louise. No wait, me and Nana were like Thelma & Louise. Nana and Red Heart were like Ron Howard and Brian Grazer, or Steven Spielberg and John Williams, or Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein — they made really great stuff together.

So when it comes to blankets, Red Heart has me covered. But for the fifty-billion other projects I plan to get down with, I'll be needing to stock up on Simply Soft.

What about you? Are you sentimentally attached to a particular brand of yarn, hooks, needles or other type of crafting supply?

Block Party

Still going at it with the granny squares!  I am the s-l-o-w-e-s-t crocheter this side of the Milky Way, though. I'll think I'm being so speedy — until an hour passes and I stop to admire my pile of two. Whatever, I'm having fun!

These granny squares aren't the only blocks I'm working on 'round here! Last weekend my daughter, Marissa, bought me the odd-color yarn needed for a Spirit of St. Louis costume-themed square! And there's an architectural-themed one planned too, but it's going to require coffee, chocolate and Pamprin to figure out the pattern.

I am also working on my first vintage potholder — and by working I mean: I've printed out the pattern. One of the ideas I gave over on A Burning Love For Potholders and Oven Mitts Ravelry Group is to crochet a potholder representing each one of the 12 months -- from holidays to zodiac signs! So I picked a decorative rose potholder for January, a symbol for the Rose Parade!

I'm so happy to have discovered how enjoyable it is working in squares! I love how portable it makes a project! And block ideas keep stacking up, one of which will be knitted, fer sure! That one will also debut yet another "inspired by" theme. I absolutely cannot wait to share the details, but I am going to wait until a few more things are in place.

Good thing I have a lot of crocheting to do while I wait. The I-Can't-Believe-It's-Already-Spring-I-Wish-It-Were-Winter-Again-Blanket needs one-hundred eight squares. At last count, there was eighty-eight to go. So I'm thinkin' it may get done by the end of summer.

 Are you stock-piling supplies and ideas for some good ol' fashion summertime craftiness?

Thinking Outside the Box

 ...wrapping your mind around discovering creative color choices....

There are some incredibly talented people in the crafting-blogging-world who have an amazing eye for color! Even in the pitch dark, you know they could easily put together an eye-popping color combination! Then there are those whose photos of their color combinations make you curse the human race for not punishing those responsible for such travesties.

I'm clueless when it comes to color theory. My color wheel has a flat. Someone mentions primary colors, and I'm all, "I love John Travolta in that movie!"  And while I love the stories and symbolism behind colors, books on how to make 'em complementary completely bores me. That is why I am constantly looking for entertaining and unexpected sources for color schemes.

All Wrapped Up! Groovy Gift Wrap Of  The 1960s by Kevin Akers is one of those ways. Think about it: how many times have you received a colorful wrapped present and exclaimed, "It's too pretty to open!" And 1960's wrapping paper definitely has some of  the prettiest prints and patterns — from pastels to the psychedelic! All Wrapped Up is out-of-print and only available used, but in addition to what's on Kevin's website, you can also find a lot of other vintage gift wrap images through Google Image Search and the Flickr Vintage Wrapping Paper Group.

Wednesday evening I sat down to crochet up a few granny square samples to show how the book helps envision color combinations. It must have been the combination of the relaxing, rainy weather, the soothing repetition of the simple stitches and the unbelievable freakin' excitement that I finally totally understood how to make a basic granny square after trying for seven years that compelled me to shout,  "To hell with samples, I'm making another afghan, right now!"

So I am now making one of the granny square blankets I always wanted since I started crocheting seven years ago. That is, when I'm not smacking my hand against my forehead for being so stupid for seven years. I just can't believe I found the basic granny square so damn challenging. I mean, over the years I have made a handful, but I don't have a clue as to how. Am I understanding it better now 'cause I no longer have an endless supply of Vicodin? Seriously, screw what it could do to my liver, I'm laying off the V so my crocheting dreams come true!

Below are several of my granny squares next to the wrapping paper image that inspired 'em. I'm going for soft, early spring colors, like when you're still thinking it's only the beginning of March, but it's nearly the end of April, and you're already looking forward to November.

 

 

 

Kali just can't quite wrap her mind around the awesomeness.

Happy Esther ::: Crafting With The Classics :::

Wow! Absolutely loving the enthusiasm everyone is expressing for the Crafting With The Classics-Along! The cast of classic movie-loving craftsters are growing over at the Ravelry group too! Thank you so much for the encouragement!

I couldn't wait to crochet a granny square based on the Asian-style silk robes worn by Esther (Judy Garland) and Rose (Lucille Bremer).  These airy, light, flowing costumes are such a departure from the long-sleeve, high-neck, heavy fabric fashions that are seen throughout most of the film. The robes nearly have starring roles themselves, in the way they steal the scene with their beauty.

The yarn colors used to represent the robes are Red Heart Super Savers in Turqua, Orchid, Cherry Red, Aran and Honeydew. The square is the basic granny, 'cept I went with a circle center to give it more of a flowery look. I totally free-based, er, free-formed that circle-ish center, which for me means my crocheting skills just went to a whole new level, for reals.

These stunning silk robes were created by famed costume designer, Irene Sharaff, who would later use Thai silks for The King and I. If I were a bigger fan of the movie, The King and I would be such an awesome movie choice for a Crafting With The Classics project! Don't get me wrong, I could still use the film as inspiration, but I know how I am. I have to totally love the idea to stay motivated, and, well, I just don't love The King and I in that way. Of course, there is always a chance Marissa will twist my arm someday and have me watch it again, and I will be all, "What the hell? Why wasn't I lovin' this movie hardcore all my life?"