Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Weekly Update

I always feel guilty when I don't type a new post every few days. There are SO MANY new crafty things that I can post about but just haven't been able to. This past week we closed the office at work, so I had an entire week to be creative. Instead I travelled to my parents (where I began my PIF for muntedkowhai, I'm pretty excited about it, a new design!), then spent two days home full of non-work related meetings and playdates (so fun! can't wait to have more for my son's sake) then this past weekend in Leavenworth, Washington for our yearly family craft retreat with my mom, aunt and grandma. All in all, I guess I was crafty, but not as much as I had hoped for.


This past weekend was beading devoted, so I have 5 new beaded items to post about. The difficult part is that I don't have a computer at home and thus cannot download pics until I do. For now, it's going to be just words describing them all. I made two bracelets, one completed green "Anemone" bracelet from this instructional technique link at Fusion Beads (one of my FAVORITE bead stores to go to in Seattle), the other bracelet is just an incomplete inspirational piece so that I wouldn't forget it later. I also made two beaded beads, one with size 11 seed beads over a wooden bead and one with black seed beads and copper pearls over a black faceted glass bead. The fifth item I made was a pink, red and white fan-like component to a necklace project out of Beadwork magazine that I will probably turn into a pendant type necklace. As soon as I am able, I can download the pics and add them to a later post.

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Happy Valentines Day!

A day late, but that's okay! I currently don't have a computer at home. I came to visit my parents who live 3 hours away and am using theirs to catch up. The little one and I had a full day with our friend, we had lunch, then went to a movie, then went to the mall to have a snack and play in the kiddie area. By the time we got home we were exhausted!

A couple years ago I went and saw The Golden Compass. Towards the end of the movie, Lyra, the main character, was wearing a knitted hat in the fight scene. Since I had an infant at the time I just HAD to find the pattern online and make one in blue for him. I ended up finding a few blogs that provided knitted patterns and upon making them, found that there were a few areas I was unhappy with. I ended up changing the patterns I found and created one of my own. Here's a pic of the current one on the needles...


It was for my friends daughter for Christmas, I believe it's a little too big and since it's not finished I'm saving it for next year. I'm currently working on writing up the pattern, hopefully I'll figure out how to add it to the blog as a downloadable pdf. But for those who would like a sneak preview, here's a list of materials:

LYRA HAT (from The Golden Compass)

Materials:
1 Skein Lion Brand Wool Ease, color: Natural Heather
1 Pair 19mm US 35 Knitting Needles

Gauge:
Using both ends of the skein and doubling up the yarn: 6 stitches and 7 rows to 4 inches of stockinette stitch.

Pattern:
STAY TUNED!


Here's another WIP I started a few years ago. I finally finished the main body of it. It was a free Red Heart pattern I got at JoAnn's Fabrics for a knit cell phone cover. At the time I started it, my mom had still had a really OLD phone that would have fit into it once it was hemmed up and a flap and handle were added. Recently she finally got a new phone so the size will not work but it is a good size for an eyeglass cover. I thought I would line it with a soft flannel fabric and still add the flap and handle. It was my first cable pattern. I wanted a challenge and it ended up being very fun!

Friday, February 13, 2009

Cool idea!!

So I was perusing from blog to blog to blog...like I occasionally do...and came across Bella Dia. She had this idea of using the scrabbooking rub-on transfers on rocks!! HOW COOL IS THAT!! (You can check it out here.) I like scrapbooking, I also like rocks, I've still got a box of rocks at my parents house. Pet rocks have ALWAYS been cute!! A whole new idea for rocks!! Obviously this was a very exciting find for me.
On another note...I'm still looking for two more to Pay It Forward. I'm an all around crafty person and pretty good at gathering information to make a "specially made for you" something. I'll be off of work all next week and will be posting a whole bunch of WIP...I'm excited to finally have some time to crafty self. I'll even be posting a knitted hat pattern that I researched, modified, and made into my own design. I'm kinda excited to post my first knitting pattern! YEAY! Stay tuned...

Friday, February 6, 2009

Pay It Forward!

About a week ago, I was checking out my regular list of blogs that I frequently check out, sometimes these pay out with giveaways and what not. On Yarni Gras blog I learned about a fun and sharing thing called Pay It Forward. Luckily I posted early enough on Yarni Gras blog to be in on the fun.

This is how it works....

I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. I don't know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it within 365 days, that is my promise! The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.

I LOVE crafting and giving away!!! So, upon learning about all this, I did a little investigating and have tracked PIF through many blogs all the way back to July 2007. I don't think this is when it started, this is just when I came to a dead end in the road. Now I may spend a little more time just to see if they mention again what they gave away, I'm curious to see what many a luck PIF sender/receiver has given and received.

This all reminds me, I recently got a thank you card from Suzy Q's new owner. She's the Knitted Babe I posted about here. She's been renamed Heidy and her new owner is really enjoying her. I've been meaning to call the LYS and find out, but I guess the card beat me to it. She was fun to make! Hhmmm.....the ideas and possibilities of what I will soon be working on....can't wait to figure them out! I believe each handmade goodie will be unique to each person. :) Oh, and I do believe that I will probably beat the 365 day time frame, my goal is to complete whatever they may be by August, once a new baby arrives, I will have NO TIME!

Happy Friday!