I don't post on this blog anymore. I only post at www.samuraimom.blogspot.com
I was feeling too fractured with the 2 blogs going on and I figured the thing about me is that I am crafty and random at the same time. Thanks for being my followers, but get on over to Samurai Mom and learn about my tradgedies and joys.
I have an early season injury. I am suffering from very sore finger tips. I don't think I will need to sit on the bench for this one. This little beauty is worth the pain.
Knitting season has sprung!
Knitting fever has has set in.
Last night I cast on a child sized version of Hip in Kashmir for Nutmeg.
All night long I had a nightmare about justifying the use of an acrylic yarn.
I haven't knit since mid-June. I am so excited, Moose is not.
Elizabeth Zimmerman's Knitting workshop DVD arrived just in time!
Since I received my new set of scriptures at Christmas I have been planing to make a scripture case for them. Inspiration and motivation have not yet combined themselves into a suitable scripture covering. Meanwhile, my scriptures have just been banging around inside my church bag and the gold edging was getting scuffed and page wrinkled.
A few weeks ago as I was loading the church bag trying to place my scriptures in a way where the pages were least likely to be destroyed by keys, random crayons, tins, pencils and books I spied this pretty kerchief on the table and remembered examining diagrams of furoshiki (wrapping objects in a piece of cloth) and Voila! The scripture wrap was born.
I used the basic (and instinctive I might add) 4 tie wrap.
My friend Sarah came over the other day for a crafty day. A crafty day is where we throw our combined 9 kids together and let them fend for themselves while we make cute things and chat.
We made these cute hair pins out of covered buttons. We had so much fun and the buttons are so pretty. We think a bowl of covered buttons to play with and look at would be so much fun. Someday we need to combine our super crafting powers and make a business or something.
I wanted to make a house warming gift for Boba Fett's Cello teacher. She is a Christian and I wanted to stitch a scripture for her but all of my favorites are really Mormon. Not like this one isn't dripping with the restored gospel, but a while back we sang the song to her and she seemed to like it. Also since I had the linen and floss lying around it cost me all of $1 for the frame at the dollar store. You really can afford to make gifts for everyone thanks to embroidery and Dollar Tree.
Frilly Sunday Socks for Nutmeg. The socks you can buy with lace sewn on them are junk. These were seriously easy.
****Warning. This post contains uncontrolled beaming pride and bragging.***
I entered a few of my favorite pieces in the County Fair last week. I don't know why I do it. I know I do great work. I guess I Just like to be officially recognized. I went through various stages from the "I'll do well" to "I won't place at all. I did not expect a landslide. I walked into the room and I stood with my mouth opened at all of my RIBBONS! I realize that there may not have been many entries in the categories I entered items in but still a blue ribbon is a blue ribbon regardless.
First the crochet dragon, it placed third.
Commander C's quilt was tough to categorized. My hand quilting skills are not phenomenal but I do well on hand applique and the quilt is also embroidered. But in the end I wanted it judged on the design so I entered it in Original design, it placed second. I am disappointed that it wasn't hung up for display, you can't see much of it at all folded up on the table.
The green embroidered bunting that won first place in "Hand Embroidery on a Home Sewn Object" this is lined with an adorable dandelion and rabbit print.
My version of "Hip in Hemp", "Hip in Kashmir" took first place in the Knitting "other" category.
Little Red Riding Hood, first in "Girl's Halloween Costume."
La Piece de Resistance placed first in "Girl's Dress under 6."
And Nutmeg's hand sewn blessing dress took first place in "Christening Dress" and won a big old purple "Judge's Choice" ribbon.
As I browsed the competition the only things that really stood out (apart from the quilts) were some very good showings in the knitting divisions, and a Japanese kimono themed square dancing costume. I will confess I was a bit in shock so that I merely glanced at all the other items.
So, that darling duck on my banner, the one I got at the crazy Goodwill; as you can see on my banner she has a purpose - holding metal knitting needles which I do not use. Today I found her name. I won't go into the long process of how the name was won but I will say reading "Chicken Little" to my daughter last night had something to do with it.
World, meet Danvers. Danvers, meet world. We will not be calling her Danny.
Aloha means "Hello, "Goodbye," and "Love." I made these little books for the Mooselings before we went on our Hawaiian vacation. I sewed the pages out of regular printer paper, made the covers out of recycled cereal boxes covered with scrapbooking paper and contact paper. Someone with more skills, time and a good printer could really make these spectacular.
A book for Moose and I to take with us for letterboxing and recording our vacation.
For the Mooselings' books I decorated them (quickly) with markers stickers and pictures. I just put little love notes, jokes and interesting things to let them know we loved them. We had never left them before and didn't know how they would handle it. Turns out they were fine but they do love their books.
This is my attempt at Elizabeth Zimmerman's Yoke sweater from The Opinionated Knitter inspired by ZigZag Stitch's October Sweater. Knit on 7's in Cascade 220 Summer Sky. I still need to weave the under arm seams , sew on the buttons and block. I got this far before vacation and just haven't felt like knitting since.
This is the bag I made for Hawaii. I know it isn't very tropical but I wanted to make a bag that I could use all year round.
I made it without a pattern. I took apart a gift bag for rough dimensions. Adding the zippered pocket to the middle was a bit tricky as was inserting the cardboard bottom. I am very, very pleased with this. It is gigantic. It can hold books, knitting, wallets (a purse even) kids stuff, a spare pair of flip flops and a swimming suit!
I made a little place to clip on my keys. Bought the handles at Joann's.
My only disappointment is the red tabs that attach the handles. There were just too many layers of (10-14) of drapery fabric and even Violet couldn't handle that very well.
The Seraphim shawl. I finished this last month. I needed something to keep warm. You know those days when the evenings are cold but a sweatshirt is too warm? I forced my perfectionist tendencies aside for this one, I was not going to frog any of it so if I made a mistake I just had to try to fix it without frogging or deal with it. It looks pretty good and only knitters could notice the imperfections.
I like making fun birthday cakes. Usually I have an order about 6 months before the birthday and that is all I hear about until the birthday. Osito has his next 2 cakes ordered already. This year Roo said he wanted a plain chocolate cake with chocolate icing. A little dissapointing, but he is growing up so that is what I planned. Well 6 days before his birthday he decides he wants a Pirates of the Carribean cake. First, I already made him a pirate cake for his 5th birthday. Second, I have no idea how to make a (cheap) PoC cake. Third, the 3rd PoC installment was just as bad if not worse than the second, I did not want to pay tribute to that. Then family fun saved me for the second year in a row. With instructions for making a pirate ship. I added black tattered sails, a Princess Leia figurehead, a white sand beach, and one rock/crab. I found a rejected imitation Lego sailor and turned him into Captain Jack Sparrow. Voila! It was a hit.
Below is a picture of last years 8 bit Mario cake. Again Family Fun saved my bacon with the inspiration of Jelly Beans for making designs on a cake.
I frogged a sweater I found at Goodwill. Not sure what this will be but since it is my favorite color, probably a cute cardigan. The sweater was enormous so there should be enough. Cost $6. Goodwill is SO overpriced!
I have been planning on getting new scriptures for quite a while. Part of new scriptures was designing "the coolest scripture case ever invented." I received new scriptures for Christmas, and since then I have been rejecting ideas right and left. Last week I saw a post on Craftster that delivered the answer to my dilemma "Plastic canvas!"
And so construction began. Technically this will be a tote not a case, but I had decided about a month ago that I would make an embroidered, zippered book cover for the scriptures and a tote of the carrying thereof. I hope to be able to show it off at church next Sunday. Take that Kiera and your clever and perfectly sized basket/tote.
I can't find an affordable leotard for my little prima ballerina. So I snagged this remnant of raspberry knit for a buck and borrowed this pattern that is the general idea. Last night I pulled out my handy pattern making book and altered the pattern to be tight like a leotard. Worked pretty well. Forgot to adjust the sleeve pattern to be puffy so I have to draft that and re-cut it. Also when fitting I cut the leg holes right where I wanted them and forgot to allow for casing - woops. We will see how it turns out. I think I will call it Raspberry Plié
I bought this fabulous 60's ski sweater from Tree on the Roof back before thrifting was cool. It shrunk a few years later. I have kept it for years because I loved it so. Finally I cut it up and made a cool scripture tote to give to Roo at his baptism. I still have a lot of sweater left, I see more projects in its future.
I whipped up these 3 bunnies for the kid's Easter baskets. They are so quick, easy and cute. They are naughty because the kids keep toting them off and losing them. I also knit 2 tiny carrots and 1 tiny lettuce leaf.
Here she is. I did finish the dress in time. I am very pleased with it. However the collar is too big for out little Nutmeg being so narrow of shoulders and the sleeves look too big to me. Smocking is very fun and I enjoy it fun but I don't know if it is one of my favorite looks. I would do it for other people since I enjoy it and would like to master the technique.
Ran into a bit of a problem with the hem and had to go back to the store for more fabric.
Moose took these pictures and there aren't any of the cute yellow flower buttons on the back. Must fix that.
I just watched The Business of Being Born . It was so wonderful. I thought I would be angry but I am more thoughtful. Thank you to my two earthly angels; to Cindy who was my doula at my hospital birth and to Betty my midwife for my two homebirths. Thank you for helping me find myself. Thank you to my 3 children who are the reason I am who I am. Amen.
Teresa Layman is NUTS or whoever it was that designed this pattern. Whatever you know about dressmaking throw it out the window if you want to make this dress.
First my pattern was in French, and now I find the English pattern is just as hard to comprehend. There is No extra information on this pattern, none. I am not sure that there is even all of the necessary information.
Luckily, I am an accomplished seamstress and I can follow a pattern. Also I have only made one tiny mistake so far and it was an easy fix. The good part is that the pattern calls for a french seam on the skirt and since I always make french seams I didn't feel like I was obsessive when I was making it.
Finished so far:
smocking, embroidery, gathers, bodice attached to skirt and side seams.
Scary parts left:
sleeves and ruffled collar, buttonholes, tucks and lots of facings.
Will I be done for Easter, who knows?
Yeah, so I purchased the pattern in September, opened it and cut it out last night. So I was at the store today buying fabric and notions and I decided to look up how exactly the "cord" was applied when I discovered that while the pattern layout and smocking instructions are in English, my pattern only contains sewing instructions en francais! I tried to read it and those are words I did not learn in high school or college french. So I called Fabric Depot and got the number so I could call Vogue and asked for new instructions. I HOPE that they get here in time. You see Easter kind of snuck up on me this year. Yes it was only yesterday that I realized that Easter is 12 days away an my duty as a Mormon seamstress/costume designer/crafter/mother of only one girl is to make an 
Easter dress for Nutmeg. Fortunately, I found this pattern in my stash. Unfortunately, there was not an appropriate fabric in my fabric room, yes room. So, I had to go to the fabric store which is always dangerous when you are low on funds. I purchases the notions and fabric needed for this dress. The fabric itself cost only $4.90 the notions however cost $17.27. I admit that I did get one or two too many skeins of floss and I didn't need both buttons, but I knew that I couldn't choose the right buttons until the embroidery was finished. But still $15 for notions???????
I went to the Goodwill outlet today. I am at a loss for words. I can not begin to accurately describe the experience. I physically I describe it with a puff of air and my hand to my heart with an incomprehensible facial expression. I came home with a lot of stuff (mostly textiles) that I plan to adorn my house with and make crafty things out of.
One item is our new pet duck (or goose, we aren't quite sure). I was giving her a bath when I noticed the ugly yellow peeled right off. The questions are, do we keep her white or re-paint in a decent bill/foot color? Name ideas? Will I fill her with a potted plant or random, curious objects?
Ballet T-Shirt from Loop-d-Loop by Teva Durham. Took about 4 hours total. So sweet and cuddly. Nutmeg likes her ballerina shirt. Made with 2 balls of Rowan Kid Classic, I was afraid that I wouldn't have enough, I am glad I tried it anyway.
Not thrilled with the neck line, and there is a little bit of a flip happening on the borders that I hope will block out. Otherwise I am pretty impressed, My first sweater! I will post a pic of me wearing it later.
I made this for my brothers wedding. The wedding colors were dark purple and I had the hardest time getting inspired for this dress. Finally a commercial pattern with an enormous bow and Sunny's dress in A Series of unfortunate events combined to make this. I had to completely redo the bodice pattern as Nutmeg's shoulder's were too narrow. I love it, it is my m
asterpiece.
Not reading. My creating has taken over my life and every moment of free time is spent crafting (mostly knitting) and not reading. I am still in 2 book groups plus need to do the reading for the book discussion groups for the homeschool group. So books on CD are my best friends!
There is an explosion of babies lately, the common denominator you are my friend. If you are my friend you are probably pregnant or past childbearing age. So I have been making lots of little baby gifts, trying not to break the bank or take up too much of my crafting time is a hard line to walk...why can't I just go buy something cute? I don't know, I just can't do it. I must give handmade baby gifts. The other thing I would like to give as a gift are copies of Signing Time but they are $20 for 1/2 hour. I just can't swing it for all the pregnant people I know.
I have just finished a cute little hat that was a royal pain. I am finishing up a baby bird and booties. I am almost finished with my new slippers and have re-cast on the frogged Sunshine sweater. I am still working on the stash bustin' curlers. I am planning a fabulous baby blanket for one friend.
I foolishly took on a commission to do a few quiet book pages and I need to do some sewing.
I needed some cotton-ease one skein of many colors. Joann has it priced at 5.99 per skein! For cotton and acrylic??? So I looked at Joann.com and was suprised to see cotton-ease priced at 3.99 regularly and on sale for 2.99. I did the math and the yarn with shipping would be more than buying one skein at a time at the store with a cupon. Happily I thought to look online and found a code for free shipping! So 6 skeins of cotton ease are on their way for only 17.94!
This is Sunshine by LilyGo. I am not diggin' it. I have been planning this project since May. I ordered Tidepool Heather Palette for the project from Knit Picks and when it arrived it was not this nice pretty heathery blue green shown on the website or the catalog but dark teal! So I put off the project because I was not happy with the yarn. Then at Christmas I visited Camas Creek Yarn in Kalispell and spotted this perfect shade Summer Sky from Cascade 220 Heathers. The project was revived. As soon as I was done with my Hip in Kashmir I cast on Sunshine. I did a gague swatch (yay me) and began. The seed stitch went fine but I am really unsure about how long it is - will it be too big. Then as you can see things are not going to well for the lace. The top bit in the picture is much too big, something went wrong. I would just carry on but this is on the top of the sleeve it WILL be noticed. And the more pressing problem. I think I need to use smaller needles. The fabric is too transparent, my underclothing will show anywhere there is the slightest stretch That is planned for in the lace but not acceptable everywhere else. I am not a great knitter. I am already using worsted when DK is called for. I don't dare change the gague. My gague swatch was just right what havoc will smaller needles bring?
This is it, the finished skirt. Striking isn't it? I am very very pleased with this.
It is a little too long. Before I blocked it, it was just the right length. Blocking removed all the bumpy bubbles and I guess they took a lot of inches. It is still a great skirt and if I pull it up high it fits fine.
It's done, it's done, it's done! Finally thousands upon thousands of stitches later my Hip in Hemp is finished. I can't wait to wear it. It is blocking now...foiled by Portland and its wet winter air, this could take forever.
When I first saw this pattern in the summer 2007 - Knitty I barely gave it a second look. It just didn't appeal to me. This fall I saw this post on Craftster by Lauruk and I said that skirt is for me!
I went to Joann just to see if I could find any yarn of the right weight that struck me for this project and Sensations Kashmir in turquoise, lime and black fit the bill perfectly. I was hesitant to use a felting wool because I am notorious for shrinking things but I did it anyway! I had to add several rows (3 stripes) to make it long enough. I am short so I was suprised at that. I also held off on the lace stitches for several rows because I didn't want that much of my leg to peek through.
I stared in mid to late November, had to take most of December off for Christmas gift making and holiday fun, and finished today. Last night I was binding off at 2 am and I just couldn't stich another stitch so I had to go to bed with half of a bind off left! This morning I finished the bind off, wove in the ends, sewed in the elastic and blocked it. Then I took pictures and squealed with delight.
I made these three fabulous purses for Christmas. They each have suprising linings. The Green one is mine and the red ribbon was just for Christmas, now I need to think of another color ribbon to use.
I used the Cable Seed Stitch Purse pattern by Sue Olsen.
