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?