Texas Antiques Weekend

 Mother / Daughter Road Trip - April 3-7

Our first antique stop in Warrenton, TX



Gypsy Photo Booth



Junk Gypsies

The Antiques

Oh, the boutiques and dressing room trailers!

JunK-O-RaMA PrOm

A magical night of glamour and music under the Texas sky

Round Top Antiques Fair

Round Top, TX

Kenny Chesney Concert - Austin, TX 360 Amphitheater



Lonestar Round Up Car Show



Yarn for some new knitting projects from Hill Country Weavers



Shopping in downtown Austin

Dinner on the river, bridge bats and a pedi taxi ride along Congress Avenue

1,588 miles of love, laughs, fun and adventure!





Crafty

Taking a breather from a knitting project has me inspired to do other things.  First, starting with old enamel pans I purchased on the cheap at our last flea market.  Mom drilled holes for me, added a bolt to make an awesome tiered planter.

I found some free time to sit down with my vintage button collection and make a pair of chandelier earrings and then that led to a matching bracelet.

Changes

I had a job I really enjoyed and one day it all changed dramatically.  I turned to a mentor for guidance who gave me the courage to change my situation and find a new job.  A job I started this week and on my second day, my new employer sent me a bouquet of flowers from my new "family."

Cricket Vest

Another completed project that I think will be perfect for someone else so I'm gifting it away.  I can always make another for myself.  Made from 5.2 skeins of Classic Elite's Cricket (cotton/linen).

Shamrock Love

I encouraged my coworker, Lesley, to crochet shamrocks to spread around downtown like we did for Valentine's Day.  She did a great job!

A Few Yards Short

I took today off work to ride my motorcycle. The wind picked up and the sun never came out so I decided to stay home, relax with the dogs and start a new knitting project.  A clever long rectangle with two armholes.  Since I buy most of my yarn out of town, wouldn't you know I spent all day working on this and ran out short of a cast-off row and a single crochet around the armholes...UGH!  Otherwise, it would a be finished project in one day.  It's my own fault as I didn't think the yardage through for modifying the written size small pattern for a size medium.  Another skein of yarn is on it's way. 

Just like life, some days you just come up a few yards short.

Uluru Hitchhiker

I was inspired by a sample of this asymmetrical scarf at at Loops in Tulsa and I knew immediately who I needed to make it for.  So, now that it's off the needles it's on it's way to the Pacific Northwest. 

Check out the shop's awesome website for project ideas and inspiration here.

Hooded Wrap

A sample of this moebius wrap caught my eye at Yarn Barn in Lawrence.  It's made out of two skeins of Irish Lace (cotton/linen).  I didn't follow the directions correctly at the start and had to rip it out and make it all over again (UGH) but it's all good now.  Just perfect to keep my shoulders and arms warm while leaving my arms free to do whatever.

Some Okie Fun

Sometimes while traveling for work things fall into place to shop for yarn and to see some new places.  My recent trip to Oklahoma was one of those times.  On my route through Tulsa is my most favorite yarn shop, Loops.  There's an entire wall of sample project items, the pattern and yarn lined up in rows.  I have never walked out without a garment project or two.  This time, yarn for the summer vest pictured.

Then a yarn friend, Denise, saw my location tags and sent me an email inviting me to meet her and her husband for dinner at a resort, The Canebrake, not far from where I was staying.  Turns out I discovered a new place to come back to for a lake, yoga, dog friendly retreat.  In fact, on my way home, I stopped back in at this lakeside resort for an amazing yoga class.  Okie's are so much fun!

Round 2

Wichita is bracing for another blizzard as more snow moves in tonight with accumulation expected at 7-10".  Snowed in, you say? 
I'm ready!

DIY: Reconstructed Suitcase #6

Snowed In

I woke to a dream come true - a snow storm with work cancelled for the day.  So what's a girl to do when snowed in but, Knit!  I completed a slouchy hat from the last of my yarn from Heartland Farm and a crocheted hat for neice's baby, Gray.  It turned out to be quite a productive day of knitting and shoveling.  Wichita set a record for the 2nd most snowfall in history at 14.2".

Spreading the Love

In the spirt of Valentines Day, I was inspired by this girl to heart yarn bomb around town.  It was a lot of fun to surprise neighbors, friends, and coffee shops I frequent with gifted hearts tied around things.  A coworker and I even walked around downtown spreading the love by tying them to bronze statues.

Rios Mitts

While in Oklahoma City today, I made my way over to the Gourmet Yarn Company. It's there I find really nice yarn like Malabrigo, Madelintosh and Noro. I picked up a skein of worsted merino Malabrigo in the color of Iris (matches the Rasta Shroom hat I made earlier) to make a pair of matching wrist warmers. Then with the leftover yarn a matching Starbucks cup cozie.  It's so matchy, matchy!

Golden Wheat Kerchief

Another shawlette/kerchief for Heartland Farm from the Shepherd's Mill alpaca in the colorway Golden Wheat/Winter Grasses. This natural fiber blocks out nicely.

Summer Skies

Finished this scarf for Heartland Farm from the Shepherd's Mill alpaca. It was a simple pattern but the construction calls for using half of the yarn so I opted just to weigh it and start decreasing at the halfway mark.

Had another skein and made a ribbed cowl.

Texas Weekend

Molly and I picked Mom up early Friday morning and went road trip'n to Texas. We stopped at the First Monday Flea market in Canton and spent the afternoon walking around. Everyone was envious of my well-behaved and friendly baby boxer. I found a pristine vintage Samsonite suitcase to refurbish and some cute clothes.

Saturday was spent back out at Canton in the morning, visiting gravesites and a night out for small town amateur wrestling. Before I knew it, the weekend was over and it was time to head back home. Time sure flys by fast while visiting family and having a good time with those that I love in Texas!

Baby Schulz

A good friend of mine is patiently awaiting the arrival of her first grandchild. We are both knitting for a baby girl that is still in the womb for yet several more months but I was anxious to get something made up. This sweater and matching hat is one of my favorite "go to" patterns that features sweet little decorative rows in a soft dk superwash merino yarn called Pixie.

Hat for My Love

My husband isn't the kind of knitwear kind of man that I can make many things for so when I saw this watchman-style hat by Yarn Harlot I knew it would be perfect for him. Ribby for a good fit and tough looking! Made from Vintage DK on #5s.

The Sassy Knitta!

She's such a sassy knitta sporting her knitwear and hanging around holding all my new stitch markers on a clasp metal ring.