Weekend Get Away

I'm signing off for the rest of the weekend for a little much-needed girls weekend to the coast. I am lucky enough to have some wonderful women in my life who have been great friends since the seventh grade and we all still keep in touch. 

But, since I will be leaving my new BFF (Bernina!) behind I am bringing lots of other crafty goodness to occupy myself with. Here are a couple of WIPs I have been working on:

The colorful stripe is just a mindless one-rib knit scarf of two beautiful Noro Silk Garden colorways which I'm almost done with. Just about everyone on Ravelry has already made this but I couldn't resist and will probably be making another one soon. You can find the original free pattern by Jared Flood here. A great beginner project. The other is the Sunrise Circle jacket which I have been working on since I was pregnant. It is a gorgeous design I am knitting up in some luxurious Jo Sharp Aran Tweed. I hope to make a little headway this weekend, I finally feel like I have gotten my knitting mojo back! Whispering Pine on Flickr has an awesome version which inspired me.

As if I didn't have enough projects going on I just couldn't resist trying crochet. It was really Lucy's work at Attic 24 which got me so excited. Check it out, she whips up some absolutely gorgeous work and offers some fab tutorials, too. This is my first ever completed granny square - pretty wonky but I am excited I picked up the concept and feel like I'm making progress. A lot of people feel that crochet is easier than knitting. I have been a bit frustrated so far but I am determined to keep with it. The yarns I have been using are Cash Vero DK and Debbie Bliss Cashmerino.

I'm also packing a pad and my set of beloved Copic markers. Why, you ask? Well am trying to coerce the husband into letting me sign up for Heather Ross's fabric design workshop, and I figure all the doodling I can get in between now and January will help (that and proficiency in Photoshop, which is the real obstacle).

I'm leaving these two miscreants alone for their first overnight together. I will miss them dearly, but two days minus Yo Gabba Gabba, 5 AM waking and piles of laundry will be a great break. They probably won't even miss me:)

Inspiration (and Sunday Stash # 4)

Look at what goodies arrived in the mail yesterday!

Japanese Hansel and Gretel.....

and Little Red Riding Hood!

They are so unbelievably cute. I had been on the prowl for both of these prints for quite awhile with no luck. Then suddenly one of my swappy friends lets us know one of her Etsy sellers just got this in stock! Totally made my day! They make me happy just looking at them. Both were purchased from Japankawaiiya on Etsy.

I was under the impression that they have both been long out of print - maybe this is hope that Cosmo textiles is reprinting these popular fairy tale prints? I really can't understand why a textile manufacturer rarely does second runs of the most popular lines? Why not make money instead of letting the secondary market cash in and raise prices (i.e. Flea Market Fancy)? Seems like poor business planning to me, just my two cents.

So by now you may be realizing I have an obsession with these Japanese fairy tale prints. I literally pour over them on a regular basis (haven't yet sewn with them, though. That would mean having to cut them, haha!). I have always loved drawing and sketching and I was even a Fine Arts major for part of my college career, but it has been years since I picked up a pencil to draw. But these fabrics have been such an inspiration.......

I have been checking out Spoonflower fabric designs for a long time now and have decided to start some planning for my own fabrics. I was really intimidated because of all the computer designing involved, but after seeing the lovely designs of Ariel (Pocketful of Pinwheels) and Aneela (Comfortstitching) and a little reassurance that it really isn't that difficult, I am ready to take the plunge.

These are some preliminary sketches and experimentation with markers. By the way, if you love markers, these Copic Sketch pens are far and away the best I have ever had the pleasure of using - but beware, they are not cheap (although I did find some online for about two dollars cheaper a piece than the list price). It feels so good to create in this avenue again!

Snow White is the first one I am seriously working on - trying to go for a very obviously Kawaii-inspired style. Someday I hope to make Lucy a quilt with fairy tale fabrics all designed by me. Wish me luck!