Tumbling Blocks Satchel

I love to knit, and then wash it in hot water to shrink it.  That's called felting, and I've been experimenting with felting for a few years.  I'm also interested in quilt patterns and mathematical knitting.  Recently, I discovered Wooly Thoughts, a site where they use mathematical formulas and properties to create quilts, rugs and pillows using a simple garter stitch (knit every row) and some math.  They don't have any felting patterns, but, since the simple garter stitch felts vertically and horizontally at about the same rate (the stockinette stitch felts more vertically than horizontally), I figured I could adapt their pillow patterns to create a purse, bag or satchel.  Look at the one I recently completed:

I think it has great depth and creates the illusion successfully.  Here's the Wooly Thoughts Website:  http://woollythoughts.com/

I also lined the bag with gray fabric.  I haven't touched my sewing machine for years, so I had to dust it off and read the directions on how to thread the needle, but I managed to sew up what was needed to line the bag.  Here's a pic of the inside:

I posted this bag on Ravelry (http://www.ravelry.com), THE social networking site for fiber-crafters, and I even received a message from the person who created the pattern at Wooly Thoughts.  She said that the felting seems to bring about the illusion even more.  Here's a pic of my inspiration:

I think it's great.  My satchel will hold my iPad or my netbook easily, along with other stuff.  I'm glad I added the pockets.  It's a very cool bag.

Ta ta for now, have a great weekend.

Fun at Pottery Stop!

Yesterday, I took the day off.  I needed a day to refuel.  So, my daughter and I went to see what the Pottery Stop could do for us.  Boy did we have fun!

http://www.thepotterystop.com/index_ellicott.html

I glazed a set of four coasters and a pendant.  E. glazed a dog treat container (like a cookie jar) and a smaller pendant.  They need to be fired in the kiln and we will pick them up sometime next week.  I will post pictures soon.

This shop is great.  We were greeted at the door by a friendly employee. He directed us to the unglazed pottery and we chose our projects.  While we were making our choices, he set up a table for us with a bowl of water and tiles to use as palettes for the different colors of glaze.  He showed us where the different glazes, brushes, sponges, stamps, masking tape, toothpicks and other tools were located and left us to our own decision-making.

E. knew what she wanted right away and took no time to decide on a project and the colors she would use.  It took me much longer to decide.  There were so many great choices - salad plates, platters, mugs and goblets, post-it note holders, figurines, bowls, vases, picture frames, hair brush handles, you name it, it was there.  There was even an Angry Bird figure to paint!  Something for everyone.

While we were working, I noticed that this is a popular spot for stay-at-home parents to bring their children for an hour or two of painting.  While we were there, two summer camp groups came and went and made some very cute tic-tac-toe game tiles.  What fun!!

Four hours after we arrived, we were finished with our glazing.  Normally, most people wouldn't stay that long, but my daughter has an incredibly long attention-span when doing crafty things, and I tend to hyper-focus on stuff like this, enjoying every wonderful minute.  But we were hungry, given it was nearly 2:00 p.m.  Wouldn't you know, they have a coffee and snack bar right on site!  We each enjoyed a muffin and E. had a Blended Creme drink in the flavor of Cake Batter (more sweetness in a glass than I care to even think about, but hey, I was delirious from having so much fun all day!).

Now THAT'S how to spend a day off, don't you agree?