Please Don't Eat the Cherries

A quick little update today as I am busy, busy, busy ... raking, raking, raking. I've just done about 15 large buckets full of the pesky leaves and I swear you can't tell where I've been.  Ah well, sunny day again tomorrow hopefully.

Christmas Snowflake Gift Tags

I've been busy making gift tags!  They're so pretty that I think you could use them as ornaments on your tree - and I definitely can see the appeal of that as they would pack away nice and flat!

Pixie Hood Hats - Country Loom and Charisma

One of my favourite hats - the wool is just gorgeous

Happy November everyone!  Yikes, can you believe it?  Despite my almost-year-round Christmas obsession, I always start to panic 'round about now.  While it may be still a good bit of time away, it is already a week after the time to send your overseas parcels without paying higher prices, so I know it won't be long now.  The Christmas wrap has come out.   Gulp.

Victorian Pinks Christmas Tree Skirt

I've recently been taking out the myriad Christmas Tree skirts that I was making earlier this year.  I was in such a frenzy at the time, with several in production simultaneously (one of the reasons I prefer crochet to knitting, where you feel handcuffed to things 'on the needles') that I didn't photograph projects, or clearly remember all the different styles and sizes that I'd made.  It's been fun to rediscover them.

Funky Cat Cards

Oh paper crafts ... how I have missed you.  It was my intention ages ago to get to some card making after a few little beading projects, but somehow that developed into quite a large production - which, in truth, is still occupying the majority of the living room table.

Beaded Ornament Hooks

Goodness me ... it really doesn't bear thinking about how long my "little break" has been in the craft blogging world.  More than the blogging itself, I've missed keeping up with all the great projects out there in the craft blog community.

Country Loom Baby/Child's Blanket

Little boy blanket in progress

This week I discovered my "willpower score".  It is zero.  Nowhere to go but up really. After declaring this week's crafting agenda to be about earring organization and this Country Loom childs blanket I'm working on, a fantastic new crochet pattern caught my eye and I just had to intersperse a new little project.  Out comes the worsted wool as well!  I bought the pattern and made up two hats before the sun set.

Country Loom Wool Hat Parade

Stack of completed hats

What does this picture say to you?  To me ... it says progress!  One of the items on my recent "battle with wool" agenda was these lovely Country Loom Hats, and here they are.

Amber and Red Earrings

More work today making and photographing earrings and I am trying to develop a system.  Photograph ... edit and select photos ... upload one to catalogue (sorted by colour and style) ... make some more things.    The next series of steps involve sharing on the blog, and then creating an Etsy listing.  Phew.  I need an assistant.  Really wish I could just fiddle with the pretty beads.

Forgotten February / Peace Out

Tibetan Silver Peace Earrings with Hot Pink Drizzlel Beads

Yikes!  Quite the absence for me - all of a sudden - in the craft blogging world.  I can't believe where the last few weeks have gone ... the "forgotten February".  It's amazing how quickly the time passes,  and I guess the thing is to just stick with it until things become habit.

Amazingly luxurious hat ... in orange

I still keep making hats, and some days I'm especially glad I do because this hat for a little girl is fabulous - if I do say so myself.  This is just another variation of one of my favourite - very simple - hat patterns, but this time I've done the rib with double worsted, and the 'body' of the hat with three strands; worsted, eyelash yarn, and faux fur yarn.  I just wish the photos could demonstrate how thick and soft it has turned out.  This combination of yarns is luxurious indeed.

Look - it even stands up all on it's own.  I'm also wishing that I wasn't quite so effective at using up all this faux fur wool that I had, as I'd really like to make LOTS more colours of these.  Such is life though, and I am certain that something else will capture my imagination with all the supplies to get crafting in 2012.


For inspiration, I'm going to head over to Tami's Amis finished object Fridays to see what creative things others are up to. 

Green/Teal dots baby blanket

It was my friend Amy's baby shower today, so now I can show you my most recent baby blanket. Another version of the shell blanket that I liked so much in pink.

Tension

I used to think that I had no issues with tension when knitting or crocheting, but I was wrong. Depending on how cold my hands are - or not - can make a really big difference when making something so small as a baby bootie. In one of the first pairs I tried there was quite a bit of differece in the sizing. Not good enough at all, really.

But I'm with the program now as I am knitting then both at once - with two balls of wool.  While you can't whip one up quite so quickly this does answer nicely to my enormous issues of making two things exactly the same.  This green pair in Vanna's choice wool worked up very nicely and I just love the kitty face buttons - which are on there very securely.

And this is another pair for a slightly older child.  I am no expert but I'm guessing about 12-18 months.  The mottled wool is actually quite a lot nicer than I think it shows in the photograph, and I think they're sweet with the matching polka dot buttons.

I've washed and dried the green ones to test and they wash up lovely.  I always wash in cold water and use a delicate setting for wool in the drier.  No fuss - just what a mum needs.

Note to self:  From now on buy two balls of each colour.

Valentine Card Kits

Valentine's Day Cards

I've been making up a few more Valentine cards- this time with a view to "kitting them up".   This way I get to assemble the supplies and see what comes together.  I have always loved making things - but if I break it down  - one of my favourite aspects is gathering all the "bits" that I know I'll use some day.  The fun for me is when it all comes together.

WIP Wednesday - Burgundy Christmas Tree Skirt

 Woohoo, I've made it ... for my first "Work in Progress Wednesday" posting.  It's never a problem to find a project that is "in progress" as there are altogether too many of those, but it has proven quite the challenge to remember that it is Wednesday - and then get organized enough to photograph and post about something.

Crayola Childrens Blanket

Do you remember when Crayola crayons came out with the 64 pack?  That was such an exciting day.  It was a good day for my multi-coloured crochet childrens blanket today.  Especially good considering I have, for a few weeks now,  been contemplating taking it all apart for either a different stitch or different project all together.

Good news though, it survived, and I've persevered and added a few more 'layers' since the first posting.  All the colours I'm using are in now - a total of 24 - so it's time for their second appearances.

I plan to follow a similar colour wave, but not an identical repeat.  I'm hoping it will look more interesting this way.  This should make a really fun play blanket for a young child, and one thing is likely ... they'll be good at their colours.

Freddie is doing his very best to learn the new "DON'T TOUCH!!!!" policies, but he sure likes to push the limits.

I "Heart" Christmas Ornament Hooks

Well now you know ... what happens when two holidays collide?  You end up with an "I Heart Christmas" line.   Some of the Valentine kits that I have been purchasing recently - for the card stock mainly -  came with these little heart beads.  I didn't think they were that great for card making purposes ... but they're just the thing for these "I Heart Christmas" ornament hooks.

More Valentines and getting sorted

 Goodness me ... this isn't a good sign.  Only half way into January and I'm already thinking "where is this year going?"  I don't know about you, but I feel like Christmas was just a few days ago. I suppose with all the post-holiday-clear-away activities it's small wonder.  I have been busy - while I have many of the paper craft supplies taking over the dining room - making a few more Valentine cards.

Foam Hearts & Gems Valentines Day Cards

 I've been on a bit of a crafty roll lately, and far be it for me to want to get in the way of that. It is fun to make things - and a nice break from the computer to get back to traditional "making" methods.  I'm finding ways to to turn my attention to things I haven't done before or in ages.

Cat wool?

Freddie is VERY pleased ... he has a new ball of wool.  And it MUST be okay to play with as there's a kitty on the label!  As for Freddie's mum, she's busy crafting things with hearts on them - which is wierd because there are still Christmas things about.  Silly Freddie's mummy ... although they do give her lots of ideas for "I Heart Christmas" decoration styles.

Slipper Style Bootie for 6-12 months

This is another pattern winner in the great bootie experiment - I found it here on the hipknitized blog.    A more moccasin style slipper that looks to be ideal for the 6-12 month old.

  The first pair I tried in a simple colour and just added some buttons I had on hand for embellishment. I like this concept and I've ordered some lovely baby buttons - teddy bears, sailer anchors, cats, ducks, hearts, polka dots, stripes and etc.  It should be fun and inspirational when they start arriving.

 This is a variation I think is rather cute - inspired by a bit of a running shoe look.  You could do narrow stripes, 3 or 4 colour options, full stripes or etc.  I have been experimenting - in the form of single edition booties - with quite a few variations, but this is one of my favourite so far.

The little laces, which are crocheted, should help to give them a nice snug fit, and add a bit of whimsy.  Of course this style would also look cute with fancy buttons.

I love simple patterns like this that allow you to get really creative with variations in execution.  I'm thinking the kitty cat buttons would look really cute on that red and cream stripe ... and maybe white bunnies for the pink jacquard.  The slipper in the middle I thought I'd really like ... but it turns out I don't.  You don't know until you try.

O Christmas Tree(s)

Ugh, it really is a chore putting all the Christmas things away.  Let me tell you, six trees stripped of all but a few straggling ornaments is really not too festive - unless you're a forest creature perhaps - but we're nearly there (I tell myself and the cats) and I am discovering more and more hideaways for all this stuff.

At the moment though I am procrastinating with a cup of coffee and sorting out some photos to catalogue some of the craft room things that I can then put away for sale. Yes, I do attempt organized.  I'm experimenting with the new dynamic blog formats and although for me there are some severe limitations, some of the possibilities are quite fabulous.  The wreaths are done - check it out. 

I had to giggle at finding this photo.  Mum and Dad taking photos in the living room.  Mum thinking there are a lot of Christmas trees about but she is wearing them on both her top, her cardigan, earrings to boot and probably her socks as well ... so you could say the apple doesn't fall far from THE TREE! lol (and everyone thought Dad was the Christmas one - a double whammy!)

Super Cute Baby Booties

Happy New Year everyone! I hope the holidays were wonderful and not too stressful.  I have been taking a break from the never pleasant chores of putting all the Christmas trimmings away - and questioning my sanity as I do every year - to experiment with something new.

These are my very first ever pair of baby booties!!!  Yes, I am rather pleased.  And these little guys are so cute I am already thinking about adapting the pattern for a pair for myself.

 The two rows of knit, two rows of purl gives you a lovely soft and bulky ridged result that should both fit snugly and stretch easily for the growing foot.  While I have never been one to be very caught up by baby things, I must say that holding these little guys in the palm of my hand solicited a surprising "ooooh".  They are super cute and I give this pattern 5 stars.

 They're done on 3.25 mm needles and I find they work best with the thinner baby wools, but a sport weight will produce a good size for a toddler.  You can find the pattern at Knitting-Crochet.com.  As a good newborn baby bootie, no doubt they would also look cute with ribbon or other embellishments.  Soo many possibilities with a lovely simple pattern.  You can imagine them striped can't you?