Working with what you’ve got.

So one of my goals this year is to work with what I have instead of going out and buying new things. I’m not going to start a lecture about how we have such a throw-away society, I will just say that I am aware of it. I  will also say that I am a very lucky person because I am in possession of a few skills that can allow me to avoid throwing so much away.

My crocheted heart valentines were an example of this. Besides avoiding a trip to town, why should I go out and buy paper valentines packaged in cardboard boxes with stickers and candy which the kids don’t really need anyways. I would much prefer to take a little bit of my time to make something that maybe one of the little girls will hang as a decoration in their room, or the boys will give to their mothers. In a class of 18 Raiden was the only one who had handmade valentines this year. Which is sad, when I was in school I remember getting a mix of half handmade and half store bought. Also yes, I did get a little macro happy with my camera when I was photographing these. It is the color way of the yarn…I can’t decide if I love it or if I think it is hideous.

So another area that I am trying to “make and made do” is my wardrobe and accessories. I have decided that this year if I need to add to my wardrobe it will only be things that I have refashioned or purchased from the thrift store. With the exception of undergarments…

I will be the first to admit that I have a bit of a bag and wallet fetish, and when I decided that I needed a new purse instead of looking for a new one I looked to my *rather large* pile of thrifted clothes that are destined to become something else and came up with this epic acid wash jean jacket from the 80s. That thing was awesome and if I could have squeezed into it I would have worn it every day, but it was tiny and I am not. So instead I get to carry it around with me and everyone is happy. Well  mostly me. Jason thinks I am weird.

I didn’t really use a pattern for this, I just kind of winged it, working to incorporate the original zipper and pockets, so the construction of it is rather odd. I used the band from around the bottom of the jacket at the strap. I really love this bag but I am not quite sure that it is complete, it needs some sort of embellishment. I am thinking embroidery on the pockets or something.

I am thinking that I need a new wallet to go with my new purse, I got a couple of super neat…cravats I think you would call them that are just the right size for a wallet so that might be my next sewing project.

And I am still chugging away at Raidens blanket. Three color sets left to go!

Bloglovin? Real post later tonight!

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In A Spin…..

Block 20

Spring is here :) Everything is turning green.  There is buds on all the trees and bushes.  Jason is “twiddling” with the lawnmower, trying to get it to work again after he took it all apart.  I don’t think that twiddling is the right word for whatever it is that he is doing… but I just smiled and nodded at that.

I started some seeds and 4 of them have actually sprouted so far! And my trays are all covered with mold….. But Google told me that if it is green mold then it is really just algae, which won’t hurt the plants at all, and you just need to let them have more air and less water.  So it wasn’t quite the disaster that I thought.  I am starting a few more things next week, hopefully it won’t happen again.  I read that if you sprinkle a little bit of cinnamon on your soil just after you plant the seeds it prevents mold from growing.  Does anyone out there grow their own vegetables from seed? And if so, do you have any advice for me?

Block 21

I have been doing lots of crocheting and knitting lately, but I am finding that I really miss sewing.  I starting working on a gigantic colored pencil holder yesterday that will hang on the wall and hold 350 pencils and I was *sew* happy to be sewing anything…even just straight lines.  It was great, and lame joke…I know.   Part of the reason that I haven’t been sewing is that my sewing room, which is also my laundry room, is also a catchall room for everything that I don’t know quite where to put and you can barely walk through it, never mind trying to sit down at the table and sew.  It is so bad that over Easter I had to hang a door curtain so that no one could see in there.  Hmmm…. I need to organize.

Block 22

I hated making this block.  I have no more to say about it.

I have also been working on a scarf with the yarn I got from a swap.  It is almost finished, just a few more rows and then ends and ends and ends to weave it.  Here is my supervisor making sure that my work has all been done correctly :)

Have a great day!!

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Merry Christmas!!

December Countdown Time!

Don’t you just love Secret Santas?  We are doing one at work and I drew the name of my recipiant today and I am so excited. But shh..it’s a secret.  Christmas is getting so close, the boys are counting chocolates on their advant calendar, me and Jason are rushing around trying to get a moment without one of them so we can buy their presents, and this weekend we are getting our Christmas tree!

                                  

A couple of ornaments that I got at our local craft fair for our tree from some wonderful local artisans.  The lady who makes the owl ornament is my friends aunt and she also makes larger stuffed owls and pillows, really neat birds and houses all using upcycled materials.  I bought one of her pillows for myself.  I thought she had her stuff online but I couldn’t find it anywhere, so if I do I will post the link.  The lady who makes the snowshoe heart ornaments also had some amazing birdhouse decorations all made out of birch.  If they had been in the budget I would have bought one but I was on a Christmas gift shopping mission!  Sy had to carry that owl all around after I bought it, I don’t know how long it is actually going to stay on the tree, but oh well, he can’t really hurt it.

I crocheted some apple cozies using this tutorial from Little Abbee Patterns.  I thought they would be cute for Raiden to take his apples to school in, but my boss is convinced that he will get beat up if he does.  They may be considered not cool if you are in Kindergarten, but I dropped my apple on the floor when it was in one of these babies and there was not a bruise on it.  So take that mean apple cozy haters!  This is part of a Wacky Holiday Crochet Group I’ve joined in on ravelry.  Go check it out if you are looking for a really random, quick crochet!

Update on In A Spin CAL: Finished block 4 and boy did this one make me want to get a pair of knitting needles and stab it!  The first time I did the square it was ok, there was just one part in the middle that was a bit wonky, but when I went to redo it it took me like 5 tries.  It is complete and acceptable now, countdown until the next block, which should be sometime tomorrow afternoon!!

                             

Finished my purple scarf and I do have to say that I am quite please with it.  I normally don’t like to be on the picture side of the camera but once and a while I will make an exception.  I found this pattern in an issue of Crochet Today years ago and made it for my sister.  I couldn’t find my copy of the magazine since most of my house is still pack up *even though we moved in July* so I made this pretty much from memory.  It is a super simple pattern, but crocheting something this size with crochet cotton just drags on foreeeeveeeer……

I am really in to purple lately.   This is my version of the Blue Mandala Throw also known as the Purple Mandala Throw.  I just started this but methinks it is going to have to be put away until all my Christmas crafting is complete! There are sock monkeys to be made!

I bought myself a poinsetta on Monday.

In a Spin Week 3, a basket and a bag!

I have been so sick with a terrible cold. So my poor little fledgling blog has suffered because I haven’t even looked at my computer.  In between work, headaches and coughing fits I made some stuff though.

I made a case for my laptop from a really good tutorial off of this site, but when I tried to link back to it just now it said that it has been removed.  Which is too bad because it was a really good tutorial.  Looks like I finished my bag just in time.  At the moment it is patiently awaiting straps, which it will get as soon as I get into town to pick up some nylon webbing.

A couple months ago I bought this basket from a garage sale.  I knew I wanted to use it to carry around my crochet projects, but the inside is pretty rough and I didn’t want it snagging on my yarn.  You know what that means……Basket liner time!!! I used a blue gingham to make the lining and then blanket stiched around the top and crocheted into that for an edging to hold it in place.  I finished it off with some buttons that my lovely friend Annette picked up for me because she said once she saw them she couldn’t not buy them for me.  Looking at it, it looks like three really random colors and textures thrown together, but I quite like the result.

My third block for the In a Spin CAL.  I really liked this block, it was super easy but it is also super pretty…even if mine does look a bit misshappen in this picture.

Check out my awesome dishwasher helper!

Is it Wednesday yet?

For some reason every time I think about what day it is today I keep thinking it is Wednesday instead of Monday.  Probably because that would mean that I only have one day left to work this week instead of three.  Hmmm.  Sylas took of his pants and diaper today and peed on my sewing chair.  And then stood there saying “Pee!”  I am pretty sure that he actually meant “Hey Mama, time to potty train!”  Here’s hoping that he won’t decide to poo outside all next summer like Raiden did when he was that age.  It was always right beside the walkway and he always stepped in it.  That was a messy summer.

I found this in my yard today.

   

It was so big I was running around looking for something for scale and came up with an apple.  Jason was looking at me like I  am crazy….like he usually does, but I am pretty sure that he actually likes it.  I suppose with all the fruit trees in our yard and an apple orchard next door a gigantic bee hive is to be expected.  Apparently Jason saw it when it was still in the tree and didn’t point it out to me, and I missed seeing it before it was all busted up.  Raiden is so excited about it, even though I won’t let him pull it apart to see how it goes together.

Awhile ago I bought some lace yarn from Knitpicks. Two Skeins of Shimmer in Eucalyptus and Two skeins of Shadow in Nocturne Heather and Midnight Heather.

I didn’t really have a plan in mind when I bought them, and I have been pondering what to make of them ever since.  On Sunday I ran in to the general store to grab some velcro for a bag I am making and debated buying some knitting needles so I could try an experiment in knitting, but waiting for me on the needle rack was a 2mm tunisian crochet hook…and it was on sale!  So of course I had to buy it and as soon as I manage to make something I shall post the results.

And to finish of, a work in progress that will soon be declared finished, a triangle scarf in varigated purple crochet cotton.

By the way did I mention the phone pictures, I am going to find the charger for my real camera soon! I promise!

In A Spin CAL Week 1

My first two blocks for the In A Spin CAL have been completed. I have purchased 3 Caron One Pound balls in Pale Green.  They were pretty easy, just two basic dc blocks, I found them a tad boring to work up, especially since I am only using one color and found myself getting distracted.  And then I counted my stitches and realizes that in my distraction I added a stitch to one row and dropped one from another row.  So maybe not so easy, and that should teach me to pay attention.  After only about 5 rounds ripped out, *sob* an hour of sitting around with my yarn waiting for Sy to give me back my hook *apparently to a 2 year old a shiny blue metal crochet hook is fascinating* my squares were completed.

They turned out nicely, the larger square (30cm) does not want to lie flat at all but that is all right, when it is all joined together it will look just fine.

If you look in the top corners you can see that the color of my yarn almost exactly matches the color of my countertops.  Which I think are HIDEOUS.  So lets all hope that pale green works out better as an afghan than as a countertop.

Check out the flickr page for the CAL to see the other “alongers” blocks and color combos. Can’t wait for next weeks block!

First Blog Post Ever!

I just got internet in my own house for the first time in 6 years and I cannot stop looking at craft blogs.  I love to craft.  Pretty much anything that I can beg, borrow or steal supplies for and can find some sort of reference to learn from I will try.  Sometimes it works out and sometimes not to much.  My current projects for the moment will be to teach myself how to use WordPress and to get used to the keyboard on my new laptop so that I don’t do this \\\\\\\\\\\\\ every time I go to use the shift button.

On a more crafty note today I am starting the In A Spin CAL on ravelry, the pattern for the first squares was posted this afternoon and I think I will whip one up before I go to bed. This will be my first crochet-a-long and I have been waiting all week for it to start!

I used to keep a craft journal and write down every project that I did, pattern info, notes, results and all.  I kinda drifted away from it so hopefully this blog can get me inspired to do that again, but in a visual, online format for the whole world to read!

And here is my disclaimer: I would love to post some pictures but I moved recently (well in July, so not that recently but still…) and my camera charger has yet to be unpacked, so it reappears or I get a new camera, iphone photos it is.

Goodnight World