What's Up? Hey everyone, what's up? I haven't posted in awhile, I know. It's like this. . . I kept saying "the pattern is coming, the pattern is coming" and I was so long it writing it up I didn't feel like I could post again until I had it ready for ya'll. So, now that that business is out of the way, I can post and ramble at will and not feel guilty.

Here are some recent Handmade Postcards I've made for TAGs at Post Crossing:

The one with the truck is a personal favorite cause my youngest drew the picture. After he was done I thought it looked cool and asked if I could use it in one of my collages for a postcard. His face lite up--he was so flattered. All three turned out really nice. Next I'm gonna experiment with some "stained glass" effect and see what I come up with.

On the hook: I am making the Ophelia Bolero. I don't think it is up for sale anymore. I can't even remember the web address I got it at. It is open stitches, but will work nicely in the spring with tank tops and such. I amost have the back complete. Two sides and two sleeves to go. Next, I just finished this Rad Bad Beanie for the RBB project. After I weave in all the loose ends I'm packing it up with about 8 other friends and sending them off to new heads.

I love this hat. It fits really nicely and if you are into ultra bright colors, well, what more could you ask for? It is an original pattern, made with Caron Simply Soft and an H hook. Totally Rad, Dude.


Well, the weather outside is frightful and I have no delightful fire but I do have some yummy homemade chicken soup on the stove for dinner. Mmmmmm. Okay, I cheated a little. I didn't actually roast the chicken and make the stock myself. I bought a fryer and ripped it apart and added it to a pot of chicken stock and threw in some veggies and wild rice.
Peace and good eats to you~ DAWN  ¶ 12:22 PM |

  Felted Memo Bag! (Corrected)

Felted Memo Bag
By: Dawn Pietzsch

Materials:
K hook
100% worsted weigh wool (not super wash) approximately 500 yards--maybe less
2 D rings (found in the notions/button section of store)
1 package Double Fold Bias Quilt Binding (in your choice of color)

Ch 44
Row 1: hdc in 3rd ch from hook and in each chain across (42 hdc)
Row 2: turn, ch 2, hdc in first hdc and in each hdc across
Row 3-55: repeat Row 2 (total of 57 hdc rows)

Chevron “flap” row:

Cluster Stitch (or dc 3 tog.): YO, work first dc leaving 2 loops on hook. Work next two dc the same, leaving a total of 4 loops on hook. YO, draw yarn through all four loops. Cluster complete.

Row 1: turn, ch 2 (this counts as turning ch and not the first stitch), dc 3 together {or cluster stitch}, *dc in next 3 stitches, [3 dc in next stitch]twice, dc in next 3 stitches, [dc 3 tog.]twice*, repeat from*to * across, ending with one cluster (or dc 3 tog.).
Row 2-10: repeat row 1 (for a total of 11 chevron rows).

Fold bottom up to Row 57 (to the beginning of the chevron row) and stitch up both sides. Turn right side out. Attach the D rings to each side. Use a lot of stitches to hold the rings in place. As you felt the bag the stitches will shrink and you want to be sure you have enough for a tight fit. Now you are ready to felt the bag.

After the felting and drying process is complete, take your bias tape and cut it in half. You will have about 1 ½ yards. Stitch up the open side all along the long edge. Now, slip one end through one D ring and sew in place. Measure across your body so the bag falls at your hip and sew the other side of the tape to the other D ring. You now are the proud owner of a cool Memo Bag, great for hiking, shopping or just looking good!

Pre-felted: 13"W x 14"L

After: 9"W x 10" L

Here is the bag pre-felting and a smaller version done with a tricolor flap. Please experiment with color and stipes and make the bag something special for you. I really hope that you enjoy the pattern and get lots of use out of the bag. I'm gonna line mine in some cotton and add a zipper and a pocket because my bag is going hiking with me!

Peace~ DAWN

  ¶ 10:31 AM |

  A slow day at work has given me more time at home this afternoon. Yeah. I went to the post office and posted 11 postcards going to various locations throughout the world. I had joined an International Round Robin at PostCrossing. Now I await my 11 cards in return. I got a card from Estonia on Friday. Estonia! I just thought it was a place where 'Encino Man' was from. High five if you loved that movie! I fell in love with Brendon Fraser then and there.

I have felted my bags!! they are on the floor in front of the heating vent trying their best to dry out. The larger one turned out the best so that will be the pattern I post . I will end up trying to sell the small one. It is nice but-----well, you'll see eventually.

I am about half done with the book The Three Junes and I love it! it is really good. I have no clue how it will end, but I really like the characters. I bought two books at B.A.M yesterday. One is Frankenstein by Mary Shelly. I plan on reading that one in October with Ashleigh. She has got a nice list of classics to read throughout the year. Check it out and maybe you'd be interested in reading one of them with her. The other book is Ahab's Wife by Sena Jeter Naslund. I will read that one after I've finished The Three Junes.

I have completed 3 hats for the Rad Bad Beanies and hope to have about three more done soon and then I can send them off. Hope you all are having a great Monday. Till later. . .
Peace~ DAWN  ¶ 1:01 PM |

  Go Figure. . .
You will drink too much gin. Not the worst way to
die, but you won't remember too much of your
life. Hey, at least you made some people laugh!

What horrible Edward Gorey Death will you die?

  ¶ 4:48 PM |

  Squares to Share I like that title. Squares to Share. . . sounds like an exchange or something? hmmmm, anyway I finished off 3 more squares and without further adeu:








These are squares 12, 13 and 14. I love the way 14 looks. I wasn't so sure of 13. . . a little if'y in the beginning, but it turned out really pretty. And well, 12 is just kinda blah-say but it has its purpose in the big scheme of things. As we all do no matter how blah we may feel sometimes. I swear, I know that there are squares in the Main Color somewhere in this pattern. I only have four done in the red so far and quite frankly. . . I miss it.

I have finished up three more postcards for the sending.

Hmmmm, I wonder which one my sister is getting? I already know, it's going out today and I've already written on the back of it. The other two don't have a destination as of yet. I am working on another teabag postcard. Those TAZO labels are awesome. To creative to just chuck in the ole can. Since I've started working on my own postcards and on making a visual journal, I see all sorts of scraps of paper as potential fotter for the creative bank. My goal in the next couple of days is to get my shit organized. Really people this is what my dining room table looks like RIGHT NOW (thanks Sue, you know why).

Yeah, we don't eat in here. Which is really sad cause it is one of the prettiest rooms in the house. That is a combo platter of chaos: crochet, journaling, postcard craftiness and a platter full of sunglasses (I don't know why). Notice the storage bins of YARN in the back left cornor. I have been reduced to stock piling my stash through out the house. I need help, people. You do NOT want to see my book shelves *cringe*.

Peace~ DAWN

  ¶ 12:33 PM |

  More Squares and Birthdays!! I have not abandoned the 35 Squares Afghan and here is proof:

These are squares number 10 and 11. Not the most exciting in the bunch and I don't know where in the heck the squares in my main color (autumn red) will come in, but I have a lot done in the complimentary color (dull bone).

I have not abandoned the new felted bag, either. I have complete the stitching on TWO (2) of them! I need to attach the hardware and then felt and then hopefully have two new bags and not to new rags. Then I have to attach the strap's and take photos so hopefully by the weekend you will see the finished project. Just bare with me, people.

Today is my middle son's birthday!! he is 17 years old!

It is also my dad's birthday, he is 78 years old

We love birthdays!! Hope you all have a great day! Peace~ DAWN  ¶ 11:51 AM |

  Look, I'm Blogging Again Hold on to your hats people. You may not be able to keep up with me, I'm blogging 2 days in a row!! I may go for three just to keep you off balance.

First off, the basketball game was excellent. My son's team, the Eagles, lost to the Wolves with a final score of 22 to 24. To cap off the game, in the last 2 seconds one of my son's team mates shot a basket and made it at the buzzer. How cool is that. They had such fun and worked up quite a sweat. Win or lose, it was a great game. Plus, FREE POPCORN. Hello? FREE. Gotta love that.

The dessert turned out delicious! and there will still be a piece or two left K for when you come tomorrow. Silly.

Now, the following link is not meant to depress you but to inspire you to forgive and get on with the life you are suppose to be living. In the process, if you feel the desire to send out good vibes to the author and her brother, that would be most generous of you. Please take the time to read this entry at My Daily Om. Thank you.

Now, if you are looking for the BEST DAMN BROWNIES EVER! check out this recipe. It is GUARANTEED (cause I made them, ate most of them, and cause I said so, ha).

All the guys are at a boat show today so that leaves me in the house all by myself. I've already done the happy dance and the obligatory walking from the shower to the bedroom naked bit. All that is left is eating junk and crocheting, reading and writing in the 'ole journal. Unless you've just won the lottery or are having amazing sex right now (which your not cause your reading this) than you can't top this day. But go ahead. . .try. That is a dare to make you go have some fun!!
Peace~ DAWN  ¶ 11:31 AM |

  There is no title for this post. Just a quick run down of the days events.
I went in to work this morning for a few hours. One of my clients was an Hour and a Half massage. When he re-scheduled he asked if we were doing 2 hours yet. Ha!! No. I had time to do some reflexology on him, though. I love reflexology, however I don't get a lot of call for it in the town I'm in. People ask about it all the time. I think I have two clients that are stickly reflexology. Otherwise, I put it in where I can.

My youngest has his first basketball game of the season this afternoon. He is so excited and keeps asking if we are all going to watch him play. I'm bringing some crochet along (the felted bag I'm working on).

I am making a tiramisu with Nilla waffers for dessert tomorrow. It is in the oven now. This one is made with the waffers instead of ladyfingers (good luck finding those around here) and with 4 packages of cream cheese and heavy on the coffee. I'm so thrilled with this recipe. I hope it turns out great. I made some patty melts last nite that I was thrilled about, but over-toasted my buns so it was kinda like the dinner scene from Christmas Vacation with the over cooked turkey. Lots of crunching and dry mouths. No bones to yak on, thankfully.

We watched the Wedding Crashers last nite. Funny movie; Vince Vaughn made that film. He was hystarical. A little to heavy on the boobie shots. I'm not into women's boobs and quite frankly think that for every bare boob that is shown in a film by a woman, there should be equal time given to the muscular male form in nude. You know, Mattew McConaughey, Heath Ledger, Johnny Depp, Matt Damon. Beer gutted men with saggie boobs don't count (unless the female boob belonged to a woman with a beer gut and saggies). But we all know the likelyhood of that happening. Yes, it's when women reclaim the world!!!!

Enjoy your Saturday and I'll enjoy mine. Peace~ DAWN  ¶ 2:04 PM |

  Dawn's Day of Fun! Last Thursday (my day off) I posted my list of chores, well today is Dawn's list of FUN!! No chores today just good old fashioned "do whatever the hell you feel like doing" day. So, here is my list followed by pictures of said accomplishments of the day.

• beading: make necklace, anklet, and baby bracelet
• crochet: make some damn snowflakes for Snowflake Monday or else
• make more postcards for PostCrossing
• fill in your pages on the Traveling Journal for Swan
• do some Yoga (my back is hurting and it always helps
• write a little in your journal
• pick out something fabulous for dinner
• dip your hands in Parafin Wax (you deserve it)
• go to bed with a smile on your face cause you've had a great day!

In order to be a better blogger, I've decided that Wild Yarn will grow to include more of my creative endeavors besides crochet.

Lookie, lookie:

Here are the kiddie bracelet, the anklet, and the necklace. The necklace was a bear to string. I ended up using thread and knot/glue on the ends. I love the color combo and the anklet makes nice soft jinglely noises. The kiddie bracelet belongs to a co-worker. Her little girl chewed on it and crimped up the clasp. I re-strung it and added some spacer beads for a little more appeal. I think she'll be pleased.

Next we see the first of the Snowflake Monday offerings. As you can tell, it is blocking and if you can make it out it is quite pretty. It is the Northern Snowflake and I think I will make several of these.

Finally we have:

Some of the postcards I've made for PostCrossing.com. Unfortunately, I mailed off the original art drawing that I did for my first one. In hopes of not doing that again, I'm gonna photograph groups of them when they are complete and ready to go. I made an awesome one with a Tazo tea label, but because of my impatience, I tried to topcoat it while the undercoats of glue where still wet and the whole thing curled up and came apart. It was a work of art all on it's own, believe me. I have learned to let one layer thoroughly dry before adding another layer.

Anywho. . . I hope you have enjoyed peeking into my day of fun and I hope that you all encorporate a day of fun into your week for yourselves.

Peace~ DAWN

editorial note:

For breakfast I had cream of wheat, snack time was brownies, lunch consisted of peanut butter crackers (made on Saltines, frankly the best way to make peanut butter crackers) and finally, I've given up dinner plans in lieu of ordering Pizza. This truely is a day of FUN!

  ¶ 11:06 AM |

  Another Unnamed Scarf

Here are two variations of the same scarf. The first one was done just as it was written and the second one was done by taking the stitches and mixing them up. It is the Yet Unnamed Scarf pattern by McCrabby. This is such a versitile and easy scarf to make. Can be for a man or a woman depending on the yarn colors and if you add fringe or not. I added fringe because I am serious about destashing my yarn this year!! I mean it (she said with great force). This one will go in my 25 Things for Charity pile. I have already donated 15 items and have 7 items made and are waiting for the right charity or for my piles to increase to make it worth the postage. I think I joined in October which means I will have well excited my 25 Things in a year pledge by the time October rolls around again. Yah! for me!

I am currently working on another felted bag pattern. I worked up the mock size and have begun stitching away. I cannot promise when it will be done, but rest assurred that if it is half as great as I see it in my drawing, all you felters will love it. Plus, it will be another felted project to choose from for all those participating in the Winter Wool Swap *wink*.

I leave you with "sleeping beauty". It is me after my son came home from the Winter Formal. He was one of the escorts. My son, the escort, Ha!! too funny. Anyway. . .

sleep well. . .~ DAWN  ¶ 1:11 PM |

  Bust a Nut

Mmmmmmmm Pecans straight from the tree! No nut is sweeter or tastier on the tongue.My dad brings these home each year from a golfing buddies yard. They are sooooo good. You can't buy that flavor in a store.

• I encourage you to take a peek at this blog entry. Nothing overly heavy, just something to think about for this new year: Walking the Wall by Kelly. She's a really great writer and I love this post. I think we sometimes get caught up in the media hype that we forget we're suppose to be indivduals. Women with our own special traits and not some cookie cutter mold we should fit into. Anyhow, good mind food.

• While we are on the subject, Cordelia of CraftyCritter has a new webring that reminds us all how Beautiful we really are: The Lop-Sided Breast Club. Come on, you know you have one boob bigger (or smaller, as the case may be) than the other. It's time the world gets a grip.

  ¶ 5:35 AM |

  Dawn's Day Off TO DO List Here we go:

• Color hair (which I'm doing as I type this).
• Finish scarf for Orphan project. I have 1 1/2 rows left!
• Finish my pages for my traveling journal so I can get it off in the mail.
• Pack up a book to send to a fellow bookcrosser.
• Pack up felted bag for friend.
• Go to post office and mail above packages (and get add-on stamps for my 37 cent-er's; postage goes up on the 8th, people!)
• Go to grocery store for school lunches.
• Yoga
• Pedicure (cause my toes have been neglected and my clients deserve better to look at through the face cradle).
• Make dinner
• Collapse

Does anyone actually have a day off where they do nothing at all? If so, who are you and why don't you trade off with me once in awhile?

Oh, I got the new Crochet Fantasy magazine yesterday. {long pause} I really have nothing nice to say about this magazine. I have a lot of not nice things to say, however if you got this magazine I'm sure you already know.

• How could I forget, LAUNDRY!

Peace~ DAWN

  ¶ 8:08 AM |

  2006 here we go--- Day three of 2006 and I haven't written 2005 once on any thing. Maybe I'm more prepared for the new year than I thought.

Had a great massage this morning and am subsequently very greasy at the moment. I want the oil to soak in so I will shower before work. I am so very tired and so very sore. I really need a vacation. Unfortunately, I don't forsee one in the near future.

My new year's eve weekend kinda sucked. My unexpected guests started wearing on me the first nite, so I turned in around 9:30 and slept through the whole ball dropping thing. I didn't get shit all done the next day and had to work yesterday so consequently my Christmas decorations are still up. I can't find one of the boxes that has my stuff in it to replace the holiday stuff and my tree is still as decorative as ever. If I could find an elf to put this stuff away for me it would be well worth the price of, whatever it is elves would charge for such a thing.


I have no news on the crochet front. How sad is that. Well, there is a little news. Someone in Texas wants to use my Well Traveled Bag pattern for her students project in her felting class. I said sure, just send me pictures. I love to see how others interpret it.


I got my first card from postcrossing all the way from New Zealand! wow, that is pretty cool for the first one. I asked people to send me their favorite quotes and this one says:

"Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all people cry, laugh, eat, worry and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends." ~Maya Angelou

Nice. Hope you all are having a great beginning to this new year and I wish you all Peace~
DAWN  ¶ 12:32 PM |