Sweetheart Bags

My daughter's birthday combined with my destashing efforts led me to think up felted purses for the girls' goodie bags. Since our theme was "Sweetheart Party", I started with a heart motif knit on straight needles. After two, I realized I needed to switch to circulars to make my deadline. I deleted the heart and hoped to find an embellishment later. I used Lion Brand's Felted Trick or Treat Bag as a starting point and added a striped bottom and a self-charted heart motif.

After eight bags, many ribbon handle auditions, and a bit of painting by my daughter, I give you the Sweetheart Eight. And yes, I'm making you look at every. last. one.

















This is the back of one of the hearts - she made faces for her friends, each as different as the bags and girls they were going to.



All ready for the party!



Such a fun project!

Half by Half

I really like having an October birthday because it is a great time of year for self-assessment and goal planning for the new year. The changing of seasons always seems accompanied by clothes shifting, decoration changes, and other seasonal adjustments. A perfect time to assess and (hopefully) act.

I'm taking advantage of my half-birthday yesterday to do only half the assessing and to announce a half-baked plan. I have too much yarn. There. I said it out loud. Most have specific projects in mind, but my projects are piling up quicker than my knitting accomplishments. I need to act.

Here's my plan: I'm going to reduce my stash by half by a half-year from now - my birthday, 10/10.

How it'll work : I have two large drawers filled with yarn and a Lantern Moon basket's worth of current projects. I want to be down to one drawer and the basket. This includes all the ends of skeins that I have been saving (for what?!) and yarn I really liked, but plans changed. I'll either knit it or give it away 'til I've reached my goal. No buying yarn until October. I'll be using what I have to accomplish the projects I have. Yikes! That sounds even more harsh in print.

Exceptions: My pastor asked for a hat and I really think that Noro Silk Garden is in order, so I still need to pick that up. But that's it (for now?).

Can I do it? Wanna come along for the ride? I'd love to have some company in this half-baked Half by Half quest.

Up next: inventory!

But first, a little celebratory splurge from today's IKEA run:

I found this in a summer-stuff section and loved the print (declined on the matching napkins). Would look perfect at the beach with a project or two underway, don't you think? Good thing I didn't say I had to stop buying cute bags!