Ate logo.....until later

I haven't updated in forever....and this is why....
My friend Matt died, as I posted a few back, and I was just getting back to blogging even though I have been constant if not more prolific with my creative endeavors....and I was feeling as if my blog posts were fake.  Talking about this or that craft, or a new process or whatever.....and not lingering on the fact that I am pretty lost in grief right now.  I don't write because it doesn't seem true to my journey and what I am going through, and I am not sharing with the unknown public the gross details of what my brain and heart are up to.  So, I will write when I can about what I can, but I won't if I can't be true, transparent, and vulnerable.

Ate logo.....until later.

Day 190: Scrapping

Today, rather than clean up all of the scrapbooking supplies covering the dining room table (left there'd from making memory board for my friend Matt's funeral) I thought I would sit down and bang out the wedding album I promised my sister-in-law. Since we will be visiting them in August, I thought it might be good to start sometime soon.....and today, all in one day, I finished it! WOOOOOO!










Ya' hear that, sis? Tudo pronto!

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Jerri Neddermeyer

Day 189: Another Knitting Block Down

I finished another block today. This one was simple.....just the use or knit and purl stitches to get the crisscross.






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Jerri Neddermeyer

Day 188: Knitting COLORWORK Block!

I went to a knitting class last night hoping to learn something new, and I solicited help from my teacher on my first colorwork block.....and after nearly a two hour class, I had but a very few rows done. BUT TODAY, I got my groove on and TADA!







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Jerri Neddermeyer

Day 187: Finishing Projects, and Knit Block

I worked on adding backs and finishing up several felt flower parts together into beautiful blossoms.....tada!



My favorite is the three layered purple/blue one.....I left that one scrunched up in a pony holder to dry forever and the edges kept the wrinkled look! Ignore the big hair of mine sitting right in the center of the photo.....didn't notice that when I took the pics and I am not going to run down and retake them now!



I also have been working on more blocks from KNITTING BLOCK BY BLOCK by Nicky Epstein. I am using some colors I bought a while back thinking that I would need to make new pillows for my new sofa (IF IT EVER COMES). I will likely add them to other fabrics for the finished pillow, but here is the start of my blocks.






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Jerri Neddermeyer

Day 186: Vestlet Hand Sewing

I must brag now.....I sewed the gaps shut in my vestlet (between the weaving strips) using plum colored yarn and not only does the pattern now appear to be continuous, but the stitches are also completely invisible! YEAH for a well done mattress stitch! I was worried as I was completely out of my brownish yarn.



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Jerri Neddermeyer

Day 185: Beading

Okay, I admit that when I am in between large knitting projects, I feel more than just a little bit lost. I spent a chunk of the day running much needed errands with the kiddos, but I did get in a little beading. I made a bracelet like the right angle weave my mom made (only with a lighter base color of swarovsky pearls) and a simple pair of earrings to go with it.



I also made several sets of French earring wires for all of the earrings I have partially made lately. I just started to feel like my pile of partially finished project pieces was finally bogging down my creative drive.

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Jerri Neddermeyer

Day 184: I will just pick up where I left off

I have been a very busy girl this last week.... both on and off
the creativity journey. My mom came into town to help with the kids so the hubby and I could tend to the family and friends around for funeral business. She worked on a few projects this week too and I wanted to share them too....




I worked on wrapped wire rings too, but mine didn't turn out as nicely so I will post this pic of my mom's rings. I made a couple like the spiral one with crystals around the outside, but they turned out pretty funky. More practice.....



This is a bracelet she made too, basically a right angle weave. I am working on some earrings made from the leftover beads.
I finally got around to making this bracelet from a kit I bought a while back.
I love the bright colors of the felt balls. I made the charms and the earrings from loop pins, felt balls and beads. It was really fun!







I also finished knitting my long project. Well....it is as finished as it can get when you run out of yarn before getting to the sleeves....I am working on closures now, but the sleeves are TBD.



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Jerri Neddermeyer

Are you an organ donor?

My dear friend Matt Bartocci passed away due to complications from Cystic Fibrosis on Friday, July 1, 2011. I could write a lot about him and his wife , but that is really quite raw right now. I did want to put a plug out into the cyber universe for becoming an organ donor. It costs you nothing as it is just a checked box on your drivers card. Someone gave Matt five years of life and two kids with his wonderful wife by checking the box. My box is checked for sure....is yours? Give the ultimate gift! When it is your time to go, be a donor and give someone else more time!




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Jerri Neddermeyer

Days Off

A close family friend passed away yesterday, and I am taking a few days off from blogging to shower his family with love and grieve in my own way. I am knitting, but it just feels like treading water. Not much creative juice going on here. Prayers for the victims and families of cystic fibrosis.....time is a gift!


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Jerri Neddermeyer

Days 182-183: BAD DOG!

Just look at what my naughty dog did to my knitting!!!!!!!
I left it ON TOP OF MY DRESSER.....and now JUST LOOK AT IT!
BAD DOG!




These are the file folder notebook covers I made while disgusted with my dog....bah!



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Jerri Neddermeyer

Days 180-181: Duct Tape Flower Pens, Knitting Progress and Embellishments

I worked with the kids last night on a quick little project that I have done before and originally found on this lovely blog by Seven Sisters.  The kids went to town on making these and it was fun, quick, and I already had the supplies on hand from planning to make them a while back.  Sometimes I love when I don't follow through, then I just maintain an amazing stash and am ready to do a craft at any moment!  Bring on the rainy days!  I have solutions for the next month!
Here is my purple flower pen with added green leaves from the original ones on Seven Sisters.

 Proud pen producers: Sylvia and Felix

 I also spent nearly the whole day (a bad back day....yuck) in bed knitting this chord and stitching it to the bottom line of my super DUPER BULKY yarn shawl thingy.  I used an entire skein, and am only half way around....so I guess a trip to the yarn store is in order as well.  I also am adding some beads to accent parts of the pattern.  I have a few different colors along the same idea to embellish this free form creation.  I am sharing this on Debbie's Newbie Party!  Thanks for hosting, Debbie!

Family Pictures

Here are some family pictures we had taken a few weeks back.  They made me see the joy that is our family and friends.......we are very very BLESSED!

 These are my kids and hubby, and below are my girls....like my sisters only we are closer.  Sisters fight....we don't.

And these are all of our hubbies and kids and such.....what a great way to live life!

Days 178-179: Felted Flowers

I have been busting out the felted flowers for the better part of two days (other than the time spent taxiing the children around to soccer camp, and other such domestic activities or course). I started just making felt pieces yesterday and collecting this stock pile of sheets of colorful woolen mats. I cut them and finished felting many of them today....check them out!









Here is my pile of "in progress" flowers being inspected carefully by kitty....




And of course, I am still working out knitting projects on the side....




Busy busy bee!

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Jerri Neddermeyer

Days 176-177: Now what?

I just couldn't take the sweater project, so I broke my rule on finishing one major project before starting another. I started working on a bulky yarn project (so it will go much faster than the sweater that I am fighting with) and it is all a solid color or rather a varied skein (so I don't have to deal with my worries over color coordination). The issue with this one is that the world is sorely short on great looking fashions for super DUPER bulky yarn, so I am working out an idea of my own which may not end up looking that super. I am going to give it a go anyway. Don't worry! The sweater and I haven't actually broken up for good. I will get back to it for sure! I just needed a break.








Also I have been working of felting flower pieces....here is an array of ideas all struggling to dry out in the humid HUMID WON'T STOP RAINING FOR DAYS AND DAYS weather we have been having.



I pinched the inner pieces with a clip to give them shape while they dry.



I also added some beading and a clip to my flower from felting class. I am now completely DONE with that one!







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Jerri Neddermeyer

Day 175: It never even occurred to me....?

It never even occurred to me that yarn color combinations would look so different outside in the sunshine than they do inside. I have just started the second half of my sweater, and I knew I needed a few rows of my original plum color as I was short just a few rows. I bought a fifth skein of the plum color, finished up my first half today, and ended up deciding to add a few rows of the plum into the base and ending rows to make the project work (we were out of the brownish color at the yarn store....DRAT!). I was happy enough with the spontaneous "design element" until I started working in my plum coloring outside at the kids' soccer....hmmmm. Are these really the colors I picked out? Then I second guessed myself, and yet, as I am working on it here at home, it looks just fine....or as I intended. Any thoughts?
I don't really have to commit until it comes time to doe the joining row after the weaving......but that is a lot of knitting to just set aside. I can always return to the yarn store and purchase 5, YES FIVE, skeins of another color for contrast....like a gray or black. I originally picked this brownish color as it went toward the purple a bit, but now, I just am really doubting the combo.



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Jerri Neddermeyer

Days 167-169: Wet Felting Fun and Knitting Progress

I took a wet felting class today to make flowers....and VOILA!





What is even better, both kids went with me and had a great time as well! Thanks as always to StevenBe for hosting great classes! I see myself messing around more with this process in the coming weeks.
The teacher mentioned that felt has a memory, so shape it to dry. It struck me as clay also has a memory. Until I came to terms with this fact of physics, I always had warped clay tiles from picking them up before being leather hard. I would have bendy corners. Now I can have bendy flower pieces taking advantage of the same theory.




I think all art has a memory. At least it is the intention of most artists to speak through their art.

I also knit like a fool the last three days and have managed to start my second color for my sweater.





I might be able to finish this project by the end of next week?????




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Jerri Neddermeyer

Day 166: Are we there yet?

Just as I am rounding the corner on one part of my pattern, I started thinking about the journey.....and wondering where "there" is, and do we ever really know it when we are there, or is it more after we have been there already and can look back on it with clarity?

I am some twenty-odd days from the halfway point on my 365 day goal, and I am still not sure what it is for. I know I just want to work toward something as I am a very product oriented person. I know I love learning have tried to explore the path or paths as they come. I have lived a slower and more intentional life since January of this year. I have tried to listen more....to those in my family, my friends, myself, my inner self....
I have done some new things to make use of the talents I still have while not stressing about the strengths that have passed and are passing....I am finding other things I did not know were there at all....

Why is it that cats always seem so wise? I would bet that my cat knows why the pattern is written with the sweater in four pieces with seams on the shoulder instead of just continued knitting a solid piece over the shoulder.....but he isn't telling. He knows where it will all end up....hopefully not in a big ball of twine and yarn and unhappy knitting disgrace....but he keeps his thoughts to himself (unless of course he thinks I am late filling his food dish, then he tells me ALL about it) and let's me meander along the path blind and wide open.

Are we there yet?

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Jerri Neddermeyer

Days 164-165: Trunk Show with felted treasures, and small everyday pleasures

I attended a trunk show last night hosted by Steven Be at his Minneapolis store with felted imports from Kyrgyzstan. Check out this company with wonderfully detailed hand work in felting....www.aizadaimports.com

I bought a hat with a lovely rose imbedded rather than attached....









I also bought a flower pin with very rough felting....I was drawn to the organic look and semi-crusty feel....




The kids and I visited kitties for a nice morning of simple pleasures....I love baby kitties!!!!!




And finally, the last two days have yielded some knitting progress....not so exciting, but progress....



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Jerri Neddermeyer

Day 163: I didn't set out to knit this much.....

I really didn't intend to be knitting this much, but no sooner did I finish one fairly lengthy project....here we go again.

I bought a Nicky Epstein book called ENCHANTING COLLECTION that was based entirely on her use of Aslan Trends Yarn. There isn't one pattern inn there that I don't intend to make, and this one is at the top of my list. I even bought the yarn when I bought the book, and I have a general rule to keep the stash to a minimum by buying yarn only a project at a time. I have spent the last several weeks beating back the free yarn I scored in my swag bag, and now I am officially making projects that call to me in my sleep! If you are a knitter (or a crochet lover), and you haven't become acquainted with Nicky's vast arsenal of great patterns and design work....get thee to a library immediately or computer immediately! Your yarn life will be forever changed.









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Jerri Neddermeyer