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 ;).                      

Birthday fun!

I'm going to date this post January 22nd because it should have been written then. I've been a little preoccupied lately. I had the greatest 26th birthday! My boyfriend took me to Trattoria il Centro for my birthday dinner. I enjoyed everything we ate there and they brought us shots of limoncello for my birthday.

The next day, my actual birthday, we went to RedPin for lunch with some friends and then went to see Twilight (I had already seen it but it was my birthday so we saw it again). It was such a beautiful day outside!!!!

Then to make the day even better, we had Hello Kitty cupcakes!

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!!!

Cupcake Hats Going strong

I went to ravelry to check out my Have a cupcake hat stats, and I discovered two hats on the project page that weren't mine.  Have a looksie... They are sooo cute! I am very impressed with the different color choices. When I wrote the pattern I envisioned a bunch of different amazingly unique hats and that is what is happening. Keep it up people!

For those of you around Oklahoma City. I will be at Live on the Plaza this Friday night selling yarn and jewelry and whatnot. I'm excited, it is always a fun event with good music and great handmade goods to buy.

The new job is going great! I really love it. It is very stressful at times, but I know I will get my timing down and things will get much easier.

School may kick my butt this year. I have so much on my plate and I alwasy let that be at the bottom of my list. Perhaps I should move it up this year?

Oops I must go... Bella just woke up. Time for mommy to put on pants and let her out. I hate mornings. Where is my coffee?

Have a Cupcake

I finally have a hat pattern for purchase. Squeee! After all of the secrets here it is :)

It has apparently been a cupcake day for me. Of course I've been working on this hat for over a month, so I've had cupcakes on the brain for a while now.

It is knit in fingering weight yarn so it will be a perfect autumn hat. I've already been wearing mine since it has rained here all week. And since cupcakes can be any color and still look good, so can this hat. I think doing the frosting in leftover sock yarn would look really cool. Oh here I go thinking of all kinds of ideas when really.... I don't want to knit this hat again. I've already knit it three times, that is enough for me, thanks.

So here you go... Have a cupcake!

 

going weekly and a call for a test knitter!

That is what it seems like anyway. I hate waiting this long to blog because I always have way too much to share! So I guess the big news should come first... I got a new job! I start the 25th. I'm really excited about it all around. And, I'll be working downtown which is pretty exciting. Oh and it is still in the same library system just a new position. 

I also started looking at houses this week. Yeah... I'm crazy. But Bella has been peeing everywhere because of her heart meds and she really needs a place with a doggy door. I really want a small bungalow but I could end up with something completely different. I looked at a really cute place today that even had a studio (with running water in it and everything). Thank God for crafty people who sell their houses. hehe

This weekend was the Okie Twist Off at 66 Bowl in OKC. I had a blast! The crafters were awesome. The music was great and getting to see all the cars was fun as well. I sold a few things too, which is always a plus. :) Here are a few pictures.

These are the booths next to mine. The bike won a trophy which was really amazing... all of the trophies were. I'm not sure who made them but they were really rockin.

I made button rings, charms, earrings, fabric covered rings and magnets. There are more pictures on flickr.

I'm trying to decide whether or not to post these on etsy because I have some more shows coming up, but if you see anything you want let me know and I can post it as a private order.

My preliminary knit of  the mystery hat pattern has been completed but I am pretty sure I'm going to change something about it before I post it. If someone would like to test knit for me please let me know. It is a fair isle knitted hat with four colors. I can't provide the yarn, but would gladly send you a skein of hand dyed yarn as a thank you. Email me at dana (at) craftyminx (dot) com if you are interested. Thanks!

Greatest Linke ever!

Ok well maybe only for knitters...
Knit Chart

Such a great tool! It is a little slow, but amazing for something that is free. Go try it!

Sorry I haven't been around much lately. I've started a business and I'm trying to get things ready to launch my etsy store. So please bear with me. I will be around a lot more often in a couple of weeks. Keep watch of my plurk and my flickr because I do update those even when I don't write a post.

Happy 4th! (the late version)

I have been away from the computer all weekend. But I do have some stuff to share. So this will be another photo dump post. Don't pretend like you all actually read this thing anyways. haha Photo dumps are always my favorites so let's get started...

I spent 4th of July with Levi's family. It was sooo much fun. I made cupcakes... of course.

I didn't get any pictures of fireworks, but they were amazing. If you live in the Oklahoma City area you should definitely go to mustang to see fireworks. They are everywhere! It was really an amazing sight.

I spent most of the day talking and spinning. I finished a batt of the pink and orange stuff.

Saturday was Levi and Dana day. These days are always fun, and usually end up with some antiquing. My mommy is going to kill me but I bought stuff. They were really really good deals and Levi is the master enabler when it comes to shopping. Note to self... no more Levi and Dana days for awhile. These are my purchases...

pink suitcases ($7 each) and a pink light fixture ($20) I have been looking for the perfect light fixture for my craft area for a couple of years. They are always over $50, usually more like $100 so I had to get this one when it was only 20. It may need some rewiring done, but is totally worth it.

New aprons. These were both under $5. I love the fruit fabric sooo much and I really like the pocket on the other one. It's hard to see but it is really cute and kind of gathered at the top. That one is a commercial apron with a "gingham girl" label on the inside. I don't usually get the commercial ones but I found this one to be very crafty looking.

I finished my second country kiddie. I just love this pattern.

Tink likes it too!

Last night we stayed in and watched movies, ate nachos and had a really really good time. My friend let me do him up in drag... Hot tranny mess I tell you...

I'm getting better at making eyebrows disappear.

And it wouldn't be a full random post without a bella video...

This is her potty dance. It makes me laugh at her every time.

Ribbed Wrist Warmers

I originally designed these for a friend at work who was cold. I couldn't find a pattern I liked that seemed fast enough, so I made up my own. These take an evening or so, depending on how much time you have to spend working on them. They are designed to make typing (or crafting) easy while wearing them.

Size: these fit small to average sized hands and wrists. Since they are ribbed they allow for a lot of size difference. If you need bigger you can definitely go up a needle size or two. I made these with smaller needles so they would be warmer and snug.

Materials:
yarn- Simply Soft or Cascade 220 (medium worsted weight)
set of 4 US size 6 dpn's.
2 stitch markers (opt.)
piece of scrap yarn or stitch holder.

Directions:

CO 38 stitches with long tail cast-on.

Arrange sts on dpn's (12, 12, 14)
Attach in round making sure stitches aren't twisted.

Begin k2, p2 rib, last 2 sts will be knit. (I do this for easy placement of thumb gussets)
Con't pattern to desired length. You want at least 4 inches or so (about 33 rows), you can go as long as you want for more arm coverage.

On last round (after you've decided your wrist length)- con't rib pattern until last 2 stitches, slip them onto the left needle, which is the needle holding the beginning of the next round. This rearranges your dpn's to (14, 12, 12) which makes it ready for you to start the thumbs.

Thumb gusset- you can place a stitch marker where each parenthesis is if you want.
rnd 1- K1,( m1b*, k2, m1f*) k1, con't rib pattern to end of rnd.
rnd 2- K1,( m1b, k4, m1f) k1, con't rib pattern to end of rnd.
rnd 3- K1,( m1b, k6, m1f) k1, con't rib pattern to end of rnd.
rnd 4- K1,( m1b, k8, m1f) k1, con't rib pattern to end of rnd.
rnd 5- K1,( m1b, k10, m1f) k1, con't rib pattern to end of rnd.
rnd 6- K1,( slip the twelve stitches onto scrap yarn or holder) CO2, k1, con't rib pattern to end of rnd.

*these abreviations are from the increase section of www.knitting-help.com. These make an invisible thumb gusset, Yay for no holes!

Con't with rib to desired length up fingers. about 1.5 inches or so.
cast off in rib pattern.

finish thumbs-
slip thumb sts onto needle.
row 1- CO2 sts with cable cast-on, k to end.
row 2- CO2 sts with cable cast-on, p to end.
row 3- k.
row 4- p.
row 5- k.
row 6- cast off knit-wise from the wrong side. Make sure to cast off loosely!!! Use a bigger needle if you need to. You want to have room to move your fingers.
sew up side edges of finished thumb then connect the gusset to the body of the glove.
Weave in the ends, wash, block,  and wear with pride!

Please tell me of any wording that's hard to understand or mistakes you find. I'm still new at this.