Fall Stitching, Workshops & Gnarled Fingers

I have two new fall finishes and after browsing other blogs, I have an itch to 'finish-finish' them in the next week.  

Crow On a Pumpkin from JCS 2015 Halloween issue

Winnifred Witch from JCS 2010 Halloween issue

I also attended two workshops with Sherri Jones of Patrick's Woods a few weeks back and have been practicing the art of lucet braiding ever since.  My square braids are getting much better but the flat ones still need alot of practice!  You can see the tool we used below.    

The 2nd workshop was for A Spotted Hare Needle Purse.  All the parts are stitched and ready to go.  

During the workshop, Sherri was showing us how to finger crochet ~ something a 6 year old could probably easily do ~ but I felt like I had claw hands while trying to do it.  It's the same when I knit.  I watch other people and they have these long delicate fingers that easily wrap the yarn around and then there's me ~ with two claws that have short gnarled fingers attempting to accomplish the same thing.  People will actually stop and ask me what I'm doing.  When I say "knitting", I get the funniest looks.  Then I realize it looks so different because I compensate for those claws with gnarled fingers!  I think I've done some pretty decent knitting but it's definitely not pretty to watch, LOL!    

If you haven't read The Martian, do so before seeing the movie.  It's one of the best reads I've had in years and I enjoyed the movie even more for having read the book first.  You'll understand why I'm in love with Mark Watney ~ and yes, I do realize he is a fictional character!  :0)