Thou shat not covet

But I do: 

It is a Sizzix Big Shot Pro--They claim it works with every Ellison die ever made, as well as all the Sizzix dies.  They are coming out with more quilting dies.   Ellison makes a Tangrams die.  I made some wool felt tangrams that I really like, but with a die cutter, you could make them PERFECT, and fast. 

I want it.  I don't need it.  I just want it. I really don't need the $399 price tag!!!!

Our public library, main branch downtown, has a professional die cut machine that anyone can use--and a lot of dies.  I've not been to try it, or to see if they have the tangram die.  Before I get this, I need to make the 20 mile trek to the library.  I can buy a lot of 20 mile trips to the library for the 399 this thing costs.

So, I'll continue to covet, and to use my $49 Sizzix Big Shot and my scissors and my rolling cutter thing. 

Four more rounds

After a six month hiatus, I finally made progress on the rug. I finished four new rounds yesterday that I'd started long ago. I figure I want about 12 more rounds. That is way more than four more days of work, but I think I have the wool. I just have to tear the strips sew the strips braid the strips and lace the braids. Hope to finish this winter.

Antique Skein Winder

I'm not sure what this is called, but it winds yarn from ball to skein. (Or vice versa.). It belongs to a friend and works much faster than my niddy noddy.

Brooches from Etsy

I put together this set of brooches from Etsy. To do it, I looked at just about every recycled felt brooch on Etsy. There are fabulous things available. My favorites are by WanderingLydia and Woollyfabulous and mdemag.
But I love them all...  It is interesting that even when I set out to shamelessly copy someone else's work, mine turn out different.    For example: I was really just copying the work of mdemag but I ended up putting a lot more buttons on mine, and started making squares instead of circles.  
A sample:

Mittens Galore

I like my mittens unlined. I think the wool breaths better, so the hand doesn't sweat. I guess I've just never liked fleece. A quick search of Etsy today reveals that I'm in the minority. I'll be curious to see if any of these will sell on Etsy. If they don't, I may have to line with cashmere. I'll never give in and use fleece. I think it feels nasty. I think I react to fleece the way some react to wool. My hands get kind of prickly when I touch it...

Buttons and Wool

Make fun brooches or pins.  I'm finding I like the square shape better than the round ones I started with.  I'm not sure why.  But I like the round buttons on the squarish shapes.   You could wear it as a diamond or as a square.  

Photos from Adore: House of Bloomsbury Loft

Nice photos from the facebook page for the store that has bought some of my things...  Amazing how cool it is to see MY things as arranged by someone else.  The monster is my sweet valentine girl.  The pumpkins and little owls are mine.