Olympic Love -- My Quest for Gold --- (Autumn Gold Hat)

I've been supporting our Olympic team and their quest for gold by parking myself in front of the TV every night-- cheering on our Team USA in their competitions, admiring our dedicated athletes and  their amazing talents, marveling at the incredible stories of the varied and complicated paths that brought each of them to the Olympics.  All the while, I've been knitting~~

 My Autumn Gold Hat

My own pattern, knitted in a cloche style -- the hat is made with a beautiful gold yarn accented with a sparkly carrier thread.  

One side of the hat is embellished with crochet flowers in a variety of Autumn colors. 

(The flowers begin in the front and encircle the hat all around one side.)  

A triple row of cables encircle the middle of the hat.

I left one side of the hat plain -- to accentuate the beautiful knitted design.

 With the brim left down, the hat becomes more of a

 "bucket" style. 

(This hat is SO warm --- you could wear it to Antarctica and your head would not get cold!!)

 

The sunflower is beaded -- 

and I've accented some of the flowers with vintage buttons.

I designed the hat so that you can wear the flowers in the front

or turn them to one side.

  

You will find a few of these listed in my Etsy shop

 right now.  

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I'm so proud of the Olympic athletes-not just our Team USA, but all of the athletes and the nations that they proudly represent.  I've watched and held my breath for these dedicated champions as they gave their best for their homelands.  Some of them are leaving this competition with medals of gold, silver, and bronze.  All of them, however, are returning to their homes with the knowledge that they each gave immeasurably of their talents. Their dedication to sport manifested as they represented their individual nations so proudly.  I've loved every minute of the telecast and I'm already looking forward to Rio!  (I'll be thinking of a special knitting project for that occasion too!!) 

My friend Taylor has just written an amazing Post on his blog this morning relating to the Olympics.  (He's the son of my best friend Mary - and we are SO proud of him!!)  You can read Taylor's post HERE.  I'm sure he'd love to hear from you if you have the time to leave a comment.

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Is it Fall yet?  Thank goodness- not yet--- but it is getting closer!!  I feel like Alice in Wonderland when she fell down the rabbit hole -- my life is a swirling jumble of little Harvest nests -- everywhere!  (These nests are the most beautiful yet!!)

xoxo,

Vicki

Summer on the Back Deck (and updates on my Grow Your Blog event!!)

This has been a summer of extremes-- record high temperatures,weeks of drought followed by days and days of monsoon rains,and thunderstorms that literally rocked the house!  Somehow through it all, my flowers have managed to thrive.  (I'm really not sure why!!) 

 my favorite new planter this summer--

found this wash tub at the flea market and could not wait

to give it a new life on my back deck!

 we've been enjoying my new deck furniture.

a gift from my sisters for my birthday!

straw flowers are one of my favorites

potted Hydrangea

black- eyed Susan vine

this hot pink impatiens has been gorgeous this year

I can't remember the name of this plant!
any body know?
***
Update --Scaevola
answer provided by my London sweetie -- Paul
(seriously -- you need to visit his blog!!)

Mom and I bought a set of these wrought iron chairs at the flea market
we painted the chairs and turned them into planters
my Verbena loves it here!

gloxinia

black-eyed Susan vine

impatiens

bought this wheel barrow at the flea market this spring
love this bright red geranium here!

white bleeding heart vine
I've had this plant for YEARS- 
my Dad bought this vine for me and it continues to thrive
year after year.

Coneflower
these are planted in a wheel barrow also

purple and white double impatiens

I love my rusty old wheel barrow

purple double impatiens

white double petunia

miniature rose bush
(this rose bush is at least 15 years old !)

every summer my "heirloom" sweet peas bloom so beautifully
the plants belonged to my Mother - who got them from her Grandmother -- 
who got them from her Mother

A legacy of blooming--  

Some notes about care of my flowers this summer--

During periods of drought, I watered twice a day -- early morning and in the early evening.

I fed my flowers every 2 weeks -- using the local KMart brand of plant food  - KGro

 A few weeks ago - I won a contest on my friend Shell's blog, Bungalow Bling.   (Are you kidding me?  I NEVER win!!!)  The main prize was this adorable little decorated bird box -- it is the cutest thing you have ever seen!  When the box arrived in the mail -- I was so surprised to find that sweet Shell had filled the box with amazing gifts - beautiful ribbon, vintage millinery flowers, a gorgeous brooch made with fabric flowers, a  little decorated matchbox filled with miniature pearls and shells, and vintage dictionary cards - one of them spelling out the word "garden"!    Shell is amazingly talented, and her blog is a beautiful testament to her talents.  Thank you Shell for all of these wonderful treasures!!  (Click the photo for an enlarged view of all of the treasures!!)

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Some updates on my "Grow Your Blog" event---

We have a date!!! Mark your calenders for January 19, 2013.  Later this year -- in October -- I will share a badge for the event that my friend Karen Valentine is creating.   In the meantime -- keep spreading the word -- the enthusiasm for the blog event is great -- it's going to be an amazing opportunity for all who participate to grow their blog readership and gain new followers.  This event is open to all bloggers -- regardless of  how many followers you have -- we all want  more - right??? While the main premise is to help young and novice bloggers to gain a readership and to inspire them in this blogging adventure -- it can be a great stimulus for everyone -- so plan to be here!!

If you want some help in "spiffing" up the look of your blog -- (getting ready for company in the January event)-- NOW would be a great time to contact sweet Karen for a little "redo"!  Honestly -- it will not cost very much at all to get a new blog header or help in organizing the look of your blog. We all want beautiful blogs -- right?
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I hope you are making the most of these last days of summer ---- fall is in the air!  The Harvest nests are coming soon!!  (I have to get them out of the house!!! Imagine 45 nests -- everywhere!! My house looks like "The Invasion of the Harvest nests" sci fi movie!!

xoxo,

Vicki

A Little Beaded Dress

Six months of knitting and when I finally slipped it over her head-- she twirled~~

 The last row had almost 1000 stitches --- it took me over 2 weeks just to knit the bottom ruffle~

Stuff you might want to know--

Tilli Thomas Salt and Pepper yarn - you can find it here.

(try not to be shocked when you see how much it cost!)  (and please don't tell the Gardener how much it cost!!)  Just kidding --- he already knows!!

Mac and me - Silk Summer Dress pattern -- you can find it here.

 ***I made this dress in a size 2.  The pattern calls for 3 skeins of yarn for this size.  3 skeins was NOT enough to finish the ruffles on the dress -- I had to go back and buy a 4th skein --- ($$$!!!)  You will probably have enough if you make a smaller size -- but I wanted to make this dress when she was big enough to TWIRL!

 ~~~~~~~~~~

 My Sacred Yarn Room looks like a Harvest nest bomb exploded inside!  The nests are going to be absolutely gorgeous!  If you are on the LIST-- you can start getting excited right about now!  

Here is your first official sneak peek of the yarns~~

 I'm over half way through this stage of the "nesting" process.  In a few more weeks -- Mary and I will begin to work our magic~~

I don't want to think it so -- but already, the summer is flying by SO quickly.  The colors of autumn will soon be here.  I hope you are all enjoying the beautiful days.  Don't mind me-- I'm just buried here in the craft room underneath all this beautiful yarn!!   

xoxo,

Vicki