Hi Everyone!  Little Stories are posts I write every now and then where I share odds and ends that I work on or things that happen around me.  This time I want to share a few finishes consisting of knitting, sewing and this impromptu little owl book I made.  I love to keep my hands busy by working on projects like these, mostly after dinner.

Previously I wrote about an exchange that Mary and I did.  She made me an amazing artist apron ( you can see it here ) and I knitted her a couple of sets of hats and mitts.  Since Mary and I both love autumn colours, I had fun shopping as if I was buying the yarns for myself.

I used the patterns Westward Hat and Westward Mitts by Rebecca Woelber for this set.  The cable part of this design required my full attention.  I mostly worked on this one while my husband was playing a video game and I was “helping”.

For this set, I paired Prim hat by Andrea Mowry with Staghorn Mitts by Pamala Jane Patterns.  Both were quick knits and easy cables too.  They are not beginner patterns, but very well written.  If you are a generally a confident knitter, and want to try cable knitting, both of these are very good patterns.  Once you get used to the cable patterns, they don’t require so much attention either.

It was so wonderful to make them for a friend, and I am happy to hear that she got to use them a lot during the colder months.

During the time I was knitting for Mary, I decided to donate my serger.   The lady who was fostering our kitten was delighted to hear that I would donate the serger to the Rescue.  She lives an hour away, and halfway along the way is a JoAnn fabric store.  I wanted to remake this blanket for our kitty Charlie ( You can read about it and download the leaves file for free here ), so my husband and I made a quick pit stop to pick up some fleece.

I had to pick up some extra fleece for a few more kitty blankets, of course.  I cut the pieces in half to make them double-layered.  I like both the slow process of binding by hand, and also the look of hand binding.  Instead of matching bindings, I decided to use contrasting colours and designs.  They had to have an autumn and winter theme to them as those are my favourite seasons.  I specially love the wispy and wintry tree branches of the binding on the top blanket.

Please click on the image thumbnails to see the photos –

Now they are all ready for my little kitties when the weather turns cold around here.  These would make cosy and quick baby blankets too.

One of the original Fairy Lantern flower prints is going to a new home soon, as are a few of the everyday journals, which is always exciting!  They are available in the shop.

Most of my work is thought through and planned ahead.   This little owl book, however, was a complete exception to that and was certainly not on the list.   At the end of one day, I was so mentally exhausted that I needed a feel-good project.  I had a little 2″ x 3″ book made from before that needed a cover.  I pulled out washi tape,  some scrap pieces of book binding boards, paper, micron pen, glue and scissors, and set to work.

I didn’t even feel like drawing anything new.  I have always had a soft spot for owls.  I traced the owl from one of my old marker paintings, copied it on the cover and inked it with micron pen.  I love designs by Morris Brown, and I got this washi tape from Jet Pens recently.  After affixing the front and back covers to the book,  I attached the spine board with a strip of the wide washi tape.  I added some scrap washi tape triangles to the corners and the book was done.  It took me a total of around 30 minutes and it certainly uplifted my spirit quite a lot.  Paper, pen, glue and tape – ingredients for utter happiness.

These after hours projects have a calming effect on me.  While I work on them, I mentally prepare for the next day too.  Do any of you do anything special to wind down?  I would love to know.

-Soma

I am linking up with the linky parties on my Events And Links page.  Please pay them a visit.  Also linking up with Favorite Finish Linky Party @ Meadow Mist Designs.