Visit to the Owlery

Well I managed to visit the owlery today. I picked out a very sturdy looking little owl who I'm sure can fly like the wind.

I almost forgot to put in a small extra handmade item, but luckily I remembered just before taping the package shut. Whew!!

Victoria Pettigrew look out for the owl heading your way!

MY Owl Arrived! My Owl Arrived!!

Thank you Celeena Cree!!!

I love my kit. As you can see from the photo, I received lots and lots of goodies. There was actually a 2nd spool of crochet thread but it was busy with my tatting things and I neglected to round it up and put it in the photo.

So what did I get? A beautiful bag made by Cleo! A Harry Potter snitch wash cloth. Some beautiful red yarn to go along with a nice pattern for socks. I also received dpns and circular needles to get the job done. I received beautiful blue linen blend yarn, and two crochet threads (the missing one is Christmas tree green, or at least I say it is because I'm tatting a Christmas tree with it). Berty Botts Every Flavor Beans YUM!! A gorgeous row counter bracelet that I can't wait to use! And Cleo made me two sets of stitch markers. I also received some decorative paper clips that will be very useful. A two year calendar planner. A postcard and note from none other than Cleo herself. Cleo said if I don't want the bag I can send it back because she loves it. But I love it!! So I'm not sending it back.

Here are closeups of the hand made items and the bracelet.

This is the cute Christmas Tree Stitch Markers, Yarn and Needle Stitck Markers, and the bracelet.
Is the bag not wonderful??? I think it is.
I hope you can see the work she put into this too. It says HP on the top and has a golden snitch down below. What a perfect thing to include in this swap!

Thank you so much, Cleo! It was a wonderful kit. I loved opening it and can't wait to get started on all the patterns. The tatting patterns will be done first because I'm making Christmas Tree and Angel for Grandmother's room--so extra thank you for including the tatting materials and patterns!

New goodies!

Its been a crazy week this past week. Actually all month has been pretty nutz. I thought I deserved to be spoiled a little, so I went ahead and did the honors.

For my tatting pleasure, I bought some new picot gauges and a new shuttle that is shaped like a fish. I bought them from Georgia Seitz. I like them. The fish took a little getting used to and since it is so large I really cannot tat with it quickly.

I did this small bookmark to test out my new supplies. Actually I say small bookmark, but this is the second time I have made this and this one is longer. If you look close on one end you can see that I used a pull thread to hide my ends. Didn't do such a great job. Maybe if I rinse it and then use my fingers to reshape it, the piece will look better.

And because what girl really has enough hobbies? So I went out and bought a drop spindle! I'm so excited. I got the Hi-Lo spindle by Schacht. My first attempt was not so good. My second attempt was a little better. Then I found a video showing how to park and draft. This worked a little better. The left is a piece from my first hour of attempting to spin. As you can see there is some on the spool from my park and draft attempt and I really like how it is coming out. On the right is some roving I bought for when I can get a little more consistent.

And for those keep tabs on me. I'm caught up with my nano-wrimo novel. I am at 48.5k now and counting! I expect to win by the end of the day.

Fly Free Mimsy budgie

Well a couple of days ago I lost one of my little budgies. She was only about 4.5 years old. The vet believes it was either liver or respiratory disease. She hid her illness well. I had no idea. We ended up spending quite a bit at the vet office on her, but to no avail. I probably would have let her slip quietly away had I believed she was deathly ill. I thought she had broken a blood feather. She was having a serious moult. I had never seen her growing so many feathers in at once. I thought she was weakened from the blood loss because such a small bird doesn't have much blood to begin with. The illness overtook her and she left us around 10:30pm on Thursday the 12th.

I miss her. I have one other female budgie and she looks very depressed. I have two male budgies and they are singing and causing a raucous as is typical for them. I think in a day or two they will have once again lifted Myrtle's spirits and hopefully she will move on and not mourn her little companion of 4.5 years for too long. Mimsy and Myrtle used to always be found without a doubt side by side on a perch. It is sad seeing Myrtle sitting alone as the boys are too busy to settle down and just perch with her.

Fly free my sweet little Mimsy budgie.

I always thought she had such beautiful colorings of blue and yellow.

Here Myrtle (left) and Mimsy (right) keep each other company.

Again, Mimsy (left) and Myrtle (right) are inseparable.

This is a photo of Borogove (left), Mimsy (center) and Myrtle (right) when Boro and Mimsy were still babies. Myrtle was already an adult when they came to keep her company.

Tatting!

Well I have been taking a class in tatting. Two weeks ago the class ended. I would like to share a few photos of some of my accomplishments. I began tatting back in August and took a class this past month. These photos are not necessarily in order of date completed.

I just bought a nice 5x7 binder with acid free sleeves to put these pieces in. The only problem I have with it is the top is open and the pieces could fall out. I plan on trying to put them in order with dates finished, but so far they are in there randomly by pretty colors.

Some of my first silly pieces: butterflies, fish and running person.

A flock of doves.

First larger piece: boomkark.

Something for the holidays.

Celtic knot pumpkin--was harder than it looked. Not sure I knotted correctly.

Self Closing Mock Rings were my bane in the tatting class. The right is my first attempt. The left is my attempt just this past week after our kind instructor, Cynthia, stayed an hour after class to help a few of us with this technique.

Jellyfish....

ok ok it was supposed to be a fan, but I'm not good at split chains.

Autumn leaf. I did this back in August I think. The first thing I did with the online group.

Ringtrim. A cute design from AnneB.

I had to use regular split rings as I couldn't figure out the single shuttle split ring.

I <3>

A cute piece I did on my own.

Spanish Insertion. I need to block it, but I don't think that will help the spray of picots that shoot out in all directions. This is actually a very early piece, I'd like to think I'm better now.

My first very complicated piece.

I've learned enough in class I think I could climb from level to level a little more daintily now. And I think blocking would help this piece.

Split Ring Flower. Split rings were kinda fun to learn!

Halloween lameness

With diabetes in the house, we don't like having candy around or we'll eat it. So we decided not to pass out candy this year. My husband and I settled in for a quiet evening, but we kept getting trick or treaters even with the light off. So, we posted a sign.

Winnie chases ghosts!

It would appear world traveler Winnie has traveled all the way to Queerditch Marsh! Alas the ghost she sought was no where in sight.

Winnie stayed a short time in Appleby Village and moved on as there are no shops or public houses in Appleby Village!

Shuntbumping & Spoiling

Yesterdays Shuntbumping went...well and not so well, depending on how you look at it. I won, yay, so that was the well part. I made toddler mitts that fit my hands, that is the not so well part. They do keep my wrists warm. My husband had the AC and fan running full blast yesterday and they warmed up my hands a little. I guess I'll throw them in the glove box for future driving purposes.

In another project bag, I have a gift for my spoilee!! I selected what to make over a week ago but just purchased the yarn a few days ago. I began the first stitches of her ____________, and really like the way it is turning out so far. I would post photos but I probably shouldn't since my spoilee will peek!

I also have narrowed down what to put in my spoilee's kit. I have a much better idea of what goes into the magic box!

Where is Miss Wartbobble now?

Looks like Miss Wartbobble will be stopping off on the Otago Peninsula to visit the only castle in New Zealand. Then she is going to Ottawa or somewhere near there for some maple syrup snacking.

Maple syrup is really the only thing that should ever go on pancakes by the way.

Miss Wartbobble sighting

Miss Wartbobble is in the London underground. Apparently she has had a terrible run in with the department head of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes.

Hmm would our Miss Wartbobble really teach underage wizards and witches how to apparate?? Do you believe this?

Yay Quidditch Season begins!

**Someone with the same craft as you (either those listed above or another one).

Loomatic enjoys cross stitch and embroidery just like me! Of course lately I have been neglecting my embroidery for tatting, crochet and knitting. I really must pull it out and have some fun!

I found a cute striped sock in Loomatic's project page. What a cute sock, and it makes me want to hurry and learn to make socks!

**Someone who was born in the same month.

Knyquol, aka Minerva Lovegood, was born in April. I can think of no better month to be born.

Knyquol has a very pretty hat called Sweet Potato Selbu in the project page. You should check it out. Very well crafted.

**Someone from a different country.

SwitchCleo is from England...way over that great big pond. And I bet no one knows this, but they have cute purple elephants in England! They really do, if you don't believe me check out SwitchCleo's project page.

**A new HSKS Quidditch player.

This is SherryHarrison, aka C Pettigrew's first time on HSKS Quidditch team. C Pettigrew has a cute dragon called Smudge! What a real cutie too.

**A player who has been in 3 or more HSKS swaps.

Kristo has been in HSKS swaps since HSKS 4. That is lots of swapping. And Kristo has a gorgeous knitted cap made from Noro Silk Garden.

**A player who has a bigger stash than you! (And if your stash is the biggest, proudly say so!)

Yarnguy716 is king of the stash. No seriously go look! And he made some clogs that look so darn comfy! I really need to get better at knitting so I can make me a pair.

**A player who both knits and crochets.
Ajkane the wonderful captain of the Wigtown Wanderer's knits and crochets. And did anyone know that Ajkane has an absolutely adorable Ram Patronus?

**Someone who has the same favorite color as you.

Lemonblondie loves blue! Right now sitting here, I really like blue. My color preferences drift between a few colors, but right now they are inline with Lemonblondie. Lemonblondie is cleverly playing with new stitches and making dishcloths at the same time. I love the color of the dishcloths too. What a nice collection.

An OWL Flew in Through the Window!

Yay My Owl Arrived! And he looked tired carrying the weight of this box all the way from Canada!! Thank you Megaera Black aka Chelle & Faye!

I was so excited! I just had a feeling my box would arrive today. And I was right! And the Owl came at a perfect time, I just got back home from an appointment and in flew the burdened Owl! Below is a photo of all the goodies.
And here is a close up of the beautiful hand painted yarn! The yarn is by Dream in Color, and I love the colors.
And I was lucky enough not to get one bag, but two bags! How cute is that. And Megaera just knows how much I love birds too!
Here is the pretty decorated binder with the pattern carefuly preserved inside. Sorry the flash on this darn muggle camera made a glare right in the middle of the photo.
And look at the cute Baby Dragon Amigurumi I will soon be making. It is soo adorable!
And of course there were Bertie Botts Beans which I opened and started munching before I even finished unpacking the rest of the box. The bright glare is a glow in the dark froggie cross stitch, very cute. I got a Hogwarts journal for all my crafting notes! There was some yummy mint chocolate lip balm (the tin has an owl on it!) and as if that was not enough a $15 itunes gift card. And of course beans to fill my Baby Dragon...you know how hungry baby dragons get! Just ask Hagrid! Oh and I forgot to put it in the photo but there is a very cute card that came with the package of a Hogwart's student complete with owl on her shoulder!

Megaera if I was anywhere near Canada I would run and give you a big bear hug! I love this package, you spoiled me!

WWW

I received this wonderful WWW at a time when I really needed it. Ending my Summer Camp with minor surgery (I'm a big baby though and any surgery makes me NERVOUS!!), and one sick dog after another, well I needed a laugh...and then my WWW arrived!

I'm only sorry that I did not scan and take these photos sooner, Quietus Snape.
Here is the wonderful card that I got. I've always wanted to see the Northern Lights and I love looking at photos of them.
And here is the note that I got. Apparently they are all out of kneazles!
So I got a Basilisk! Ahhhhhhh!!! Run Away!

And of course, not included with the pictures is a wonderful pattern of the 10th Doctor! Haha I love David Tennant so I'm really looking forward to making this pattern.

Thank you Quietus Snape for my WWW!

Neither heat, nor heat, sick pet nor surgery can hold me back...SPOILING!

YES! EVERYTHING is finally done. I just need to figure out of this box will work. I might go get a flat rate box at post office. Don't want to bend the patterns!

Natural dying

I've been watching videos on the dying process. Looks pretty interesting. Sort of getting the bug to try it out. Saw one video using Tumeric to dye things yellow and onion skins to give a reddish brown to silk and a beige (?) to cotton. So many things in the kitchen to try this out with.

I wonder if beets would give a really pretty red or if it would be more pink.

Game 6: Potions

Potion 1: Draught of Peace
Potion 2: Mandrake Draught
Potion 3: Babbling Beverage
Potion 4: Murtlap Essence

Potion 5-7:
Felix Felicis, Polyjuice Potion, Amortentia

Game 5 Part 2

Here are the photos for part 2:

1) Animagus


2) Daily Prophet

3) Bowtruckle (well ok all I could manage was to photograph his skin)


4) Extendable Ear


5) Radish Earring


6) Forbidden Forest
(I really did take this photo of a womping willow errr I mean Womping Hackberry that protects the forests in these parts, but the photo was taken for insurance purposes and so the radish is not present)


7) Golden Cherub


8) Thestral
(He's wearing his halloween costume)


9) High Inquisitor
(You wouldn't cross this guy would you?)


10) Educational Decree

Summer Camp Game 5 Part 1

1. Man or mouse? (4) Animagus
2. Start spreading the news (4) Daily Prophet
3. Stick Tree Guardian (3) Bowtruckle
4. Telescoping eavesdropper (5) Extendable Ear
5. Brassicaceae danglers (4) Radish Earrings
6. Prohibited Ggowth of trees (5) Forbidden Forest
7. Metallic rosy-faced child with wings (4) Golden Cherub
8. Fleshless black-winged skeleton (2) Thestral
9. Lofty philosopher (5) High Inquisitor
10. Instructive Order (7) Educational Decree

Craft store

I'm going to the craft store today. I have a 50% coupon to spend at Michael's and one at JoAnns. I wish their yarn wasn't all synthetic. If I can't find any notions or other cute item, then I'll have to select some kind of yarn. They do have the fisherman's yarn, and I think it would felt just fine. I guess if I can find nothing else, I'll get a skein of that and make I dunno what!

Game 4: Eggs--golden dragon or blast ended skroot variety?

We are part way through the week. I'm no longer sure what kind of egg I'm hunting for. I think some eggs are the dragon variety...very pretty, golden eggs. I have not found any of those yet. Anytime I've found an egg it blasts off in an entirely frightful manner. How did I end up in a nest of blast ended skroots?

And where did everyone else go? ...oh now I see RUN!!

Its the 37th blast ended skroot egg!