Craftyminx

Babies everywhere!

 I've been making baby stuff for months it seems.

I've been making Ysolda's Tiny Shoes, for baby showers.

I made these for a friend of boyfriend. She is having twins. These booties were very popular at the shower. Everyone loves a handmade bootie!

Right now, I'm working on another colorblock blanket for a friend. I'm really enjoying this one, because she is all about non-traditional baby colors and so am I.

I've been knitting baby blankets for Deluxe.

I knit my baby blankets on a knitting machine, which is great because it saves time and money, but it does limit the size of the blankets I can make. So I am happy to announce that I was able to get an extension kit for the machine so I can make bigger blankets. Not sure of the size yet, it has been delivered, but I haven't been able to use it because I have the plague, but I will make sure to share dimensions once I make a couple of the new, bigger sizes.

With all the baby talk, I should add that I will not be having babies for a few years. I made the decision to have Mirena inserted a couple of months ago and finally had it inserted this week. I was a little scared after hearing and reading numerous horror stories. So far, everything has gone really well. I debated about sharing this information, because of the personal nature, but after reading so many negative things about it, I thought I should share a positive experience from a nulliparous woman. Since everyone is different it's hard to make the decision because you don't know what will happen, but I'm really glad that I didn't have a bad insertion experience. I'm hoping that any of the other side effects will stay away as well. If you are thinking about getting one and want to ask me more questions, feel free to email me. I'm sure not everyone wants to know all the details ;).                      

I've been bad

at blogging... sorry, but I have my reasons... blah blah blah, house, dog, getting ready for my first big show.

SO here you go... I'll catch you up with a few pictures.

I finished my handspun multidirectional scarf.

This is John's birthday present... it was in August and he still doesn't have it, but that's what it is for. See, you guys aren't the only ones getting the shaft.

Here's a close up of the yarn for that project. The roving was enchanted knoll superwash merino in Gypsy colorway.

I finished some handspun recently. This was my own colorway. I'm calling it Cotton Candy and I think it was South African Top.

I've also been working on tons of stuff for the deluxe show. Ok, here's the part where I tell you I'm going to do something that may or may not happen, but I'm hoping it will. I'm going to try to post a picture each day of something that I will be selling at the show on Saturday. So here you go...

I made magnets for the goodie bags and I had new pretty business cards made. :)

I made a hundred magnets on Saturday. Good God I'm not sure if I ever want to do that again. Though they are super cute and not all of them are cupcakes, I have to keep some surprises.

Jenny (my booth partner) and I are tag teaming baby blankets. I'm knitting and she's crocheting the edge. Here are two finished ones...

Our booth will have tons of different things because we are both very eclectic in our crafting skills. Please come out and see us on Saturday at the Farmer's Market from 11-7!

10 days ago... really?

My last post  was 10 days ago... wow. In my defense, I have been going crazy with house stuff and school and a new job.  So here's the big news...

Packing has been happening because, I close in less than a week on my house!!!! Can you believe it? I'm not posting pictures yet, because I'm afraid of jinxing it and something bad happening. So I will just tell you that next Saturday, if everything goes through, I will be giving you the grand tour of my new place and showing you my ideas for decorating it. I seriously already have paint colors picked out and everything. I am really excited!

In crafting news, I am actually doing stuff. I've been on a crochet kick this week and have been making hats. Mods on the Divine hat to be exact. I really like this pattern. It is fun to crochet and is crazy fast. I'm working on a headwrap for a friend out of it right now as well.

I'm also working on a cabled hat pattern. I'm working on the second one now and will post it as soon as this one is finished (the pattern is already done. I'm just making sure the chart is right).

And now for the grand unveiling of the progress of my handspun scarf...

I don't know if I'll be able to give this one away. It is supposed to be for Gypsy's birthday which was August 30th. I just love how this pattern looks with this yarn.

So, I don't know if I'll post before Saturday, but know if there is lots of squeeing in the plurk box to the left on Friday, I will have closed without a hitch.  Everyone have a wonderful week!!!

Summer woes

I'm just now realizing how crazy I am to be taking 2 summer school classes. It was ok until this weekend. Class Friday night and all day Saturday. I had four assignments due and 2 quizzes for that class. My other class has a quiz due tonight and an assignment, both due at midnight. God bless the Starbucks employee who gave me free coffee tonight. I'm going to need the caffeine.

I didn't even realize that the 4th of July was coming up. I finally made plans this morning. I'll be with Levi's family. They are fun, it should be exciting. I'll have to get some knitting together to take.

Speaking of knitting... I got my last of the yarn orders I made

Isn't it pretty!?! I was soo excited to see mini skeins, because of course, you know I won't be using this for socks, but for my hexagon blanket. Here is what it looks like so far...

I am totally in love with this thing. I don't know what it is about crochet granny squares/hexagons, but they totally turn me on haha ;)

Add some pep to your step

This is my small tutorial on how I added the batting and non-slip soles to the bottom of my bunny slippers from the happy hooker pattern. What you need:

• quilt batting
• scissors
• needle and thread
• non-slip shelf liner (the no adhesive kind that just grips onto the shelf and dishes, etc) just about the best stuff ever. Make sure you get the good kind that doesn't rip or tear easily. Otherwise they won't last very long.
• your finished bunny pieces not sewn together. I'm sure this would work with any other slipper pattern as well though.

1. Get your finished slipper pieces and your batting.
2. double or even triple your batting by folding it.
3. Cut the batting down to size- you want it to be a little smaller than the bottom sole.
4. Cut the shelf liner into what ever shape you want. I chose hearts. Be creative.
5. position the shelf liner on the bottom of the sole and the batting on the top and sew together with needle and thread. I just used a simple running stitch. Mine got a little off center, but it doesn't really matter. After its been sewn together you can't really feel where the batting is. You can pin it if you need to.
6. Follow the pattern with the slipper top and the upper sole then whip stich to the top of the bottom sole with batting in the middle.

Voila, Happy cushiony feet!

Hello kitty slipper modifications

This was a modification I did of the Fluffy Bunny Slippers on pg 234 of "Stitch'N Bitch Crochet The Happy Hooker" Get a book, then go here and print out the errata because there are a few errors in the pattern. I used Lion Brand Jiffy yarn in white. Yes white, we will talk about how crazy I am later. If you wanted to use red for the bottom and white for the top that would probably be cool as well and they wouldn't get quite as dirty. Use one strand for the upper sole and slipper top and two strands for the sole bottom and ears. I used an I hook for my size 8 slippers. I'm pretty sure mine turned out the same finished size as the book. Follow the pattern from the book, Except for the ears.

Kitty ears-
Ch 6 row 1- hdc in 2nd ch from end, hdc to end. (4 stitches)
row 2- Ch 2 turn, 2 hdc2tog (put the last stitch in the turning chain to keep a straight edge)
row 3- Ch2 turn, hdc2tog (put last stitch in the turning chain as before) fasten off and weave in the ends.
Sew these onto the slipper (you can use my picture for the placement) Embroider the face on or use felt. I used this scan as a template for my second pair (I made the bow bigger and angled the ears more on the second pair. it makes them look better). Don't forget the wiskers like I did. I'm an idiot and mailed these off without doing so. And I just NOW noticed. oops, sorry.