Choosing Voluntary Simplicity » My Creative Pursuits

Another Knitting Project: My “Feather & Fan” Afghans

Shirley — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 14:35:18 +0000

My mother taught me to knit when I was around six years old. My first project was a narrow strip sewn at the ends to make a simple headband. My second project was a wider strip folded and rolled to make a pin cushion. Next I made what was called a "fairy scarf"... more straight knitting with stitches dropped and unraveled to create a lacy effect. These first projects were done in simple garter stitch, but soon I had learned how to purl and how to read and understand knitting directions, and I remember making a lot of two-needle mittens. After a while I moved on to four needles and socks and the intriguing process of "turning the heels."

Read the rest of this post — photographs »

Fall, Gathering Grapevines & Weaving Baskets

Shirley — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 19:24:59 +0000

I'm in the mood to make some baskets. The cool fall weather we've been having these last couple of weeks is a reminder that it is almost time to harvest the grapevines... and it's just a given that once I start cutting and coiling grapevines, some serious basketweaving sessions won't be far behind.

My Husband’s Solution To My Creative Chaos

Shirley — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 17:28:18 +0000

I spent an hour this morning before anyone else was awake finishing this gigantic basket I have been weaving. I wish you could have heard my husband laugh when he woke up and came to find me and saw the mess I had made! Normally I am a very organized person and I like things to be neat, but I turn into an absolute slob when I am engrossed in creating something. Over the years this has become a family joke.

How To Make Rose Petal Beads

Shirley — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:38:23 +0000

I have seen rose petal beads only once. The beads were on display in a museum, and the idea that such a lovely necklace could be made solely from rose petals has always intrigued me. I took the free copy of the instructions they had available... like most of the old crafts, the process of turning rose petals into beads takes time. It also requires access to a lot of strongly scented rose petals, which has always been a stopping point for me... I have the strongly scented wild roses, but only a few. Just in case someone has more, here are the instructions for making rose petal beads.

Special Words… And Et Cetera

Shirley — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 04:17:42 +0000

Here is a photograph of a small cross stitch project that I just finished. (As you can see from my footer, this prayer is one of my favorites.) I have made this same design several times, always with the intention of keeping it… but somehow I have always ended up giving each one to someone [...]