And for knitting, I modified it just a little. I will update these with examples of them filled out.

Knitting Project Planner

Crochet Fever

Lately I have had crochet fever. I will post some photos of my latest projects soon. I found it a bit frustrating going to the yarn store shopping for projects but not remembering what I needed for all the things I am wanting to make. I decided to create a "Crochet Project Planner" to fill out and take with me for the different projects to help organize my shopping. Click the link to download!

Crochet Project Planner

Below is an example using "Sea Flower" from Yoshiko Alexanders "Rustic Modern Crochet."

You can see my rough sketch, notes on pattern corrections, a sample of the yarn I am using, and how I circled the yarn weight and filled in the hook information.

The capelet pictured on the cover is on my to crochet list.

Downton anyone?

Easter makes me think of hats. The ladies used to consider a fine hat to be an essential part of their wardrobe. Not so much anymore. It seems to take a special occasion or Derby party to bring out the hats here in southern Indiana. Watching Downton Abbey one can't help but admire the hats and how elegant the ladies look wearing them. Here is a sneak peek at a hat I designed in a Downton frame of mind.

Hocking Hills State Park

What a beautiful place. Hoping to return during other seasons.

OOPS

In updating my phone, I suffered a fate many bloggers have of late. All my photos on my blog have disappeared. I have them backed up on my computer but it will take a while to rebuild my blog. I have not been paying enough attention to it for some time. Decision time-rebuild, start over, or move on?
***Sweet! I got them back. They were in the "trash can" and all I had to do was click to select all and then the restore button. If this happened to you as well, log in to your google photos, then go to the "More" drop down menu to find "trash." Hope that helps someone else!

I am hoping to finish my website soon. I have been wandering around my art aimlessly for too long now. My blog here will change once I get things archived. I have been trying out some new things and doing research on ideas for projects. Hoping for my ah-hah moment!

Long time away from the blog

It has been a long time away from my blog. Life throws curve balls at you now and then and they can suck the creativity right out of you. It has been good to have time to just think about what I want to do and to re-evaluate my priorities when it comes to making art. I have been working more with my digital and photographic art instead of my fiber art or sewing. Trying out some of the online services that will print your art on various things--Gel-A-Skins, Zazzle and Cafe Press, and don't let me forget Spoonflower.  Now I am trying to get back into my fiber work. I am taking a great online class from Glennis Dolce and Richard Carbin on "Indigo Mandalas." http://shiborigirl.bigcartel.com/category/online-classes  It has been a great motivator to get me back to indigo. No indigo planted this year. We have covered the bed and are letting it rest. I am working on getting a natural fermented vat going and my next posts will record the steps for that.

Spring

Spring is pushing its first blooms up from the warming earth.

Another Visitor

Today I cut down the indigo and laid it out to dry in the sun. It was not quite hot enough to get it really dry. Sunday is forecast to have more sun and to be warmer so I will leave it out for another day to get it is dry as possible. The flower heads will then be cut off and bundled to hang to dry so the seeds will fall out. I am crossing my fingers that I have a nice crop of seeds! The indigo plot had a visitor that I had to ask to move out before I cut it.

Praying Mantis guarding the indigo. I think she looks like an alien from another planet.

The Indigo blossoms are starting to dry.

I promised pictures of the indigo's progress in my last post. I am so excited that I will get some seed this year. Last year the frost got my first crop of indigo before it went to seed. My husband has been wonderful about helping me get it covered at night and uncovered again in the mornings.

A closeup view of the drying flower heads shows the blossoms close up as they dry and the seed forms in the center.

I plucked off one of the dried flowers to see how far along the seeds have developed.

After rubbing off the dried husk, one tiny indigo seed emerges.