Dragon's Orchid Garden

Thanks to R.Balliot for the phrase, "there's a book for that".  I painted two more shirts recently.  I make them for friends.  They're not for sale.  I painted the first one for me over a year ago.  I wear it occasionally on casual Fridays.  It never fails to get comments from library patrons. I use Neopaque acrylic paint by Jacquard and a stiff synthetic bristle brush.  Masking tape helps me to keep the lines straight.  After painting, the fabric air dries for a day.  Ironing for 30 seconds front and back sets the paint.  I've washed mine dozens of times and the paint is still fine.

I am easing myself back into the habit of knitting every day.  I've had 5 unfinished projects sitting in their bags since February.  Is it a coincidence that I stopped knitting when I bought this imac?  I think not.  I've poked in those bags, and knitted a row or two here and there, but have become bored.  It took something fun and small to get the feeling of passion I have for the craft to resurface.  I'm crazy about knitting lace.  In the last week, I've knitted three bookmarks out of a ball of Mini Mochi sock yarn.  I think I can knit 10 bookmarks from one little ball. From knitting I bought the yarn last year at Fiber Art, Inc.   Knitting a bookmark is a great way to practice a lace pattern.  I can make one in just a couple of hours. I love the way the subtle color changes work into the patterns so that each bookmark is completely different. I have two books with fantastic charts and designs for lace patterns. One is Char...