I'll be back.

Hello old and new friends. My blog has been inactive but I am still around. I loom-knit, weave and have picked up the sticks to needle knit, too! My patterns page links to Ravelry and I will answer questions about those. Maybe someday I will be back to write more. We will see where life takes me.

Sunday, October 31, 2010

A little Red, orange and yellow

My likely last garden update is brought to you by my alter ego, Red Riding Wolf Hood.

Happy Halloween
Happy Halloween!

Little is left in the Goen garden but a few plants still have some fight in them — even after this past windy week.

Windy day

Windy windy day

Tomatoes still lookin' good
Toughest tomato plant of the backyard

Last of the pink spirea
Last of the pink spirea

The other pink daylily
This pink daylily didn't bloom all summer long. The leaves were yellowing and then this month, pow — a bud pops out of the ground. But I think the frost might have claimed this tardy flower. It doesn't want to open.

Maple starting to turn
Maple leaves before the windy week

Purple petunias
Purple petunias


It's not a flora photo but it represents the season. I had a blast carving pumpkins for the first time in years with my knitty friends Em, Vicki and Zoe. "Dead Jack" is flickering away on the porch now. (Photo by Em Bielinski)


Back to the garden ... I'm going to miss my favorite season to take photos. Flowers are my favorite model (sorry, Em) ;-) and the long days give good light in my craft room. Goodbye garden and see you in spring!

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Putting pencil to pattern

With finished knits heading out, new projects are knocking on the door. I'm ready for something new so I'm going to design a few loom-knit patterns for you. 

Designing a cowl

The first one up is a lacey cowl. Yep, it's the one frogged above. With my first try on the 41-peg large-gauge loom, I found the gauge to be a bit loose. I am using Interlacements Yarns Yang bulky yarn but it's acting like a heavy worsted for me. So I will be instead casting on the 48-peg medium-gauge loom.

Cascade Yarns Baby Alpaca Chunky Paints

I designed some long woven-stitch fingerless mittens for my mom this past summer. But I forgot to take photos. So I'll be looming a pair for myself with some chunky alpaca to go with the pattern. So those are just two of the projects I'll be writing up. Is there a loomy pattern you haven't seen yet? Let me know and I might be able to design it. Check out my current patterns on my shop page or on Ravelry

Now it's time to say goodbye to two projects that had been filling my days and nights. My friend, Alenne, is on her way to pick up the pink and white afghan. It's a double-knit rib pattern with four rows of furry yarn during color changes. I knit three panels on the Knifty Knitter blue long loom/knitting board. My friend, Lyn, taught me the proper mattress stitch for almost-invisible seams. It's stretchy and soft!

Afghan all done!

And it's the last of the dino hats for a little while. Today, I dropped off the last two in blue and orange for twin baby boys. I think she and her nearby co-worker loved them so they are a wonderful finale for me. 

Orange dino hat

Blue dino hat

Before the curtain call, one child-size dino did stomp into the Etsy shop. Pick him up for a birthday, Christmas or just because.

Purple dino hat

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Graphics in the bag


Let's get a little graphic … artsy. To my extreme glee, my freelance graphic design gig has picked up a little. Here is a big one I recently put to bed …

Power of the Purse screenshot  Power of the Purse screenshot

Click the link above to see a Flash presentation I updated for the Women's Fund, a local charity. Former instructor Diana Resch passed this on to me to help get my name out in the local graphic designer pool. 

Power of the Purse luncheon

I should have gotten a photo of me because I actually gussied up a bit for this luncheon. I wore a pretty black lace and gray top from LucieLu. Speaking of the gal who runs the online shop, I've done a bit more design work for her, too.

LucieLu print ad Summer  LucieLu print ad Fall
Print ads for BUST magazine

LucieLu sale graphic
Homepage graphic

Working off the same look of the sale, I'll next design some typography illustrations for some vintage postcards. She wants to add a little thank-you to each package she sends out.

I have three logo projects in the works. First up is one for a knitting-loom shop business that is right up my alley. Next I'll will turn Wisconsin into a knit mitten for The Bay Area Knitters Guild. And No. 3 is Stitch 1, Stitch 2 for the former Craft Junkie. Yep, I notice a theme here. I can't help if my acquaintances all tend to be knitters. I can do much more though! So if you're looking for a logo, business card, web art, etc., send me an e-mail and we'll chat. Check out my portfolio. I'll be ready for new jobs in January 2011.

While we're in the realm of graphic design, here's one more moment of personal pride. Nicole of Hello Sweetcheeks sent me a Francesco Mugnai blog link that includes my business cards (and hers!) among the best of September. All that eyelet hammering was not for naught.

Business cards punched

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Spooky sale!

Lately, I've been the culprit who goes bump in the night. I've been knitting like the ghostly wind, working on custom orders. I'm taking a short break now to add a little "Boo!" to my blog. It's time for a Halloween sale!


If you're looking for a crafty costume or decoration, check out my Etsy shop. All of my Halloween-theme merchandise is 33% off until the end of October. And I've added a few special wristbands from my Sputnikfest stock. These nifty cuffs glow in the dark. The buttoned ones are adjustable and the rocket one is stretchy. Let them sit in the sun all day and they glow for night-time fun.

In between my non-knitty jobs and a new exercise routine, I just finished the cutest hat for a local client. She asked for a baby hat for a shower and gave me creative freedom. I remembered an idea from my friend, Erin. I set to work on a furry puppy hat in girly colors. The puppy ears hang low to become ear flaps for the little baby ears. I handed off the hat today and I hope the new mother loves it!

Baby puppy hat

Friday, October 1, 2010

Garden buzz

Autumn has arrived but my garden is still pretty bzzz-y. The fall flowers are blooming and the bees are feasting. The sedum has been the buffet of the block. I like to believe they are quite thankful for the nectar so I thought it would make a good card for my Etsy shop.

Sedum Bee Thank You Card
Autumn sedum bee thank-you card listing ... available as a single card for $2. If you'd like a discounted set of 6 or 12, send me message!

Onto to the best photos of my September garden ...

Butterfly on the sedum
This year, I caught a butterfly enjoying the sedum.

Sleepy bee
... And a bee sleeping in my bunny statue's ear.

Licorice vine
The Mitzy planter shows off the licorice vine on the deck.

Stubborn strawberries
On the patio below, my stubborn strawberry plant tries to bear another round before our first frost hits.


Now I want to show of the star of the season. My four toad lilies are all blooming in the shade garden. These teeny tiny flowers squish in so many details that I love getting right in their faces. I can't wait to see how they spread to fill out the area next year.

Toad lilies
This big bloomer came from my mother-in-law's friend.

Toad lilies

Toad lilies overall
The tallest toad lily of dark purple and white rises high above the three other plants.