My Dear Jane Journal

I have moved all the posts for my "Dear Jane" quilt to a separate Blog.

Friday, August 29, 2008

Fall Apron Swap

Simplicity 3752 view A

This was really a nice easy apron to put together. I used Three coordinating fabrics instead of just one print. The horizontal strip turned out fairly well but I don't think I would use it for the skirt if I made the apron again.

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Fun Stuff

A shrunken head for a dice bag. This was really fun and quick to knit.
The pattern is Tsantsa by Beth Khan
I did do some crochet for the locks of hair, instead of the cast on method in the pattern.


I stitched up several ribbon cases for my double pointed needles. I think I did at least a dozen of these little cases. I will have to make up a few larger ones for anything over a size 6.


I came across a little photo tutorial of wire and bead rings. I gave it a try. Fun! although the one on the left might be a little too chunky.

These granny squares were a thrifty find last Thursday.
I have been chain stitching the green ones together for a girl size poncho.

Today I must make my apron for the Sassy Apron Swap. Yes I am almost out of time. I need to have it in the mail on Saturday. I am also still working on getting caught up on the Dear Jane quilt along.

Saturday, August 16, 2008

August update


Stitch markers with dragons! I made these with beads I purchased on vacation.



Work in Progress: a My Melody address book cover.


A quick finish basket, I worked up to feel like I got something done.


I purchased a hand crank spool knitter, as a reward for spending three days cleaning up my craft area. (the mess is why you have not seen any "Dear Jane progress", (huge amount of clutter))

With the spool knitter I was able to put a quick finish to this amulet doll necklace. I had been putting off making the neck cord for several years. Yes I said years.

Thursday, August 14, 2008

A new Sea Turtle



Noah requested a Sea Turtle. It seems that everyone but him had one. His only requirement was that it have wiggly eyes. i don't know why he thought of the eyes. None of the other turtles here have wiggly eyes.

The turtle itself is two different patterns combined. The shell from one and the body from another. The Buttons were a new idea I added. The are sewn on with a heavy craft/button thread and also served as how the shell is attached to the body. He does not have a lower shell, I will have to work on adding that to the next one.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

G720-cap


G720-cap
Originally uploaded by flibbertigibbetbunny


As part of the surprise prize ( that I gave away last month) I knit this hat. and Now that Robin has received her package I can share this photo with you.

I used a free pattern I found here


Yarn used: Yarn Bee Mosaic Twist ( I forget the colorway.)
Needles: Us 11 (I guessed what size instead of looking up the translation for the needle size.)

Thursday, August 7, 2008

A Fun Little Bird?


Part Duck...


Part Dragon...


And very Silly!

This was made for the "Salad Bar" Challenge Summer 2008, on the Silly String group, on Ravelry. Although I was not a full participant, (getting my list from another member of the group as part of a swap) I thought this looked like great fun. And it really was fun to make up this creature.

The list given to me by my son:

Bird type,
Head: fangs, beak, pointy ears, open mouth, tusks, visible tongue,
body: wings, scales, dragon tail
Extremities: legs bend backwards, pincers, flippers for feet
Extras: Glasses that serve as the eyes, shoes, and a “Mario” hat.

I think he was being purposely difficult.

I Just went with the list and whatever inspiration occurred along the way. I worked on it until inspiration stopped and the project seemed to be saying "I am done." I did not work in the tusks or scales. My son says the variegated legs look like scales.

Monday, August 4, 2008

Pixie Doll


This Little dolly is a Pattern test for Becky She is a very small doll with lots of tiny details. Love!

I think I must be procrastinating on my Dear Jane quilt. I hope to get back to it as soon as school starts. It will be much easier to work on those tiny quilt block with fewer interruptions.

Friday, August 1, 2008

Monsieur Cat



A knit kitty from Handknits for Kids, by Lucinda Guy.

I added a few small changes. Mostly texture and the crochet ears.

Lily Sugar & Cream and size us6 needles.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Soap turtle


Fun little turtle, to cover a vintage bar of Sweetheart soap.
Made using a vintage pattern.

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Scarf finnished


Yesterday morning I went out to the LYS and got a new ball of yarn. Apparently the incredibly thin ball of Noro I had for the second half of my scarf was an oddity. ( I rewound the ball so I know it was consistently thin and more of a sock weight than worsted weight.) It was Really strange how much narrower and the second half of the scarf was coming out with that thin ball of yarn. Even the ladies at the Yarn shop thought so.

I was so happy to get the new ball of yarn that I worked on it most of the day and was able to finish it up. I love it!

Now to find a use for that really thin ball of Noro.

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Contest Winner!


Myra did the drawing, and chose RobinE.
Congratulations! Thanks to everyone who left comments last week.

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Soap Sock


Soap Sock
Originally uploaded by flibbertigibbetbunny

I have had these two little squares of soap since before last Christmas. I decided to dress them up and take them out of their boxes. They were a quick knit.



Today is the Last day to leave a comment and be in the drawing for my 250th post giveaway. The Prize is a surprise. I will give a hint that I will include something handmade by me. (not the soap.)

Thursday, July 17, 2008

What I Knit on Vacation





Dishcloths! They were great practice for increases and decreases. Okay, so there was one crochet one too.




Don't forget:
Sunday was the 250th post and I am going to celebrate all week giving everyone a chance to win a surprise prize. Just leave a comment and mention your favorite hobby/craft on any post this week to be entered for the prize.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

A New Bag



While I was on vacation, I saw this piece of fabric in my mother's stash.
Too Cute!



I made it into a really big size tote for all the knitting I had with me.



And picture of the inside. I should have used some heavy sew in interfacing. It turned out a bit floppy. But it is really cute.


Sunday was the 250th post and I am going to celebrate all week giving everyone a chance to win a surprise prize. Just leave a comment and mention your favorite hobby/craft on any post this week to be entered for the prize.

Monday, July 14, 2008

From Jacket to Wallet

This wallet is made from a stretch knit jacket.

I used the cuff of the sleeve for the tab to hold it closed. Hooray for not having to make the button hole!


Strategically cut and sewn to use the breast pocket as an outside pocket.


A zipper pouch and inner pockets finish it off nicely.

Sunday was the 250th post and I am going to celebrate all week giving everyone a chance to win a surprise prize. Just leave a comment and mention your favorite hobby/craft on any post this week to be entered for the prize.

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Not Just a Blog Vacation

I woke up Thursday July 3rd and realized it was going to be a three day weekend. Perfect for starting a vacation. And Luckily my Hubby got the next week off from work and I packed like crazy. And the next day we were off.


The first day we saw ELVIS! He was driving down I-40 just west of Oklahoma City.
He was talking on his Cell phone and wearing big sunglasses.


The next day in Texas, at the rest area we saw a Baby Deer.


We stopped at the Dinosaur Museum in Tucumcari, NM.


We enjoyed the garden at My parents house, and visited for 5 days.

(above is a photo taken outside Albuquerque, NM.)

Then we climbed back into the car for the two day return home.

Thanks Mom and Dad for Having us out for a visit with only a few hours notice before we started our drive. The kids Had a great time playing, swimming, swinging, and go-cart riding.

We all had a great time.


This is Post 250! how about a giveaway?
Leave a comment and mention your favorite hobby/craft and win a surprise prize.

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Chores!

I made up a few rubber stamps to help the kids keep track of what needs done. I am going to try to come up with a point system or something to earn rewards.

Edit:


I buy my supplies at Hobby Lobby but I am sure other craft stores carry the supplies.
I use a Speedball Lino cutting set. I have tried the pink Speedball stamp carving sheets and the white sheets made by Master Carve.
The Speedball sheets I have had seem to be prone to air bubbles so I get the Master Carve more often than not.

You can see what most of these items look like online in the Crafts Etc catalog.(Hobby Lobby)


Good tutorial pictures here.

This looks good too.

Here you can find some pretty good directions.

Friday, June 27, 2008

Summer Fun


A Bucket of water and a few balls made out of sponges.
Great fun.

Opps! It was suppose to be a Beret. I guess my math is really bad. ( but at least I finished it.)

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Geek Mittens Chart

These mittens were partially inspired by the Binary scarf featured in Knitty, Winter 2006.



I have had several request for the chart on Ravelry.
Note the disclaimer on the chart. For personal use only, not resale.
Gray areas on chart are not used in Knitting. Gray outlines the mitten shape.

I forgot to note that I cast on and knit the cuff with a size US 1 dpns switching to size US 2 for the increase rounds and the rest of the mitten. (The mitten pictured was my test mitten and I changed the cuff on my next mitten to use the two different needle sizes.)(green and white because that is what I had leftover from something else.) The worsted weight yarn makes a very thick mitten. This was my first mitten so it probably has a lot of room for improvement.



(Click on the image to get the larger version.)



Edited on June 24th, 2008: A big "Thank You" to Lime and Violet The Daily Chum, for mentioning my mittens!
And the pattern is still a little ruff so if you have a question or suggestion please leave me a note.


Edited on June 25th, 2008: Thanks to Craft for Sharing my Mittens! here

Edited 7-03-08:

Do want to make your own words? go here
(scroll down the page until you see the table for ASCII printable characters)

Remember the doll house?


Myra and I have started trying to finish the doll house I started making several months ago.

Here it is with all the cut edges covered inside and out. The out side got completely covered due to the packing tape and coloring on the box.


We are kind of making things up as we go along.
Below we added more strips of paper to the outside to simulate a bark like texture.


And just like that it has turned into a fairy tree house.

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Summer Sassy Apron Swap Recieved


Above is the Apron I received in the Summer Sassy Apron Swap. A nice summery Red, White and Blue. I love the Ruffly bottom section and the Red rickrack. Thank you, Chris.

Chirs also sent a vintage apron, in place of the summer drink recipe. I love the tulips!


I picked up these happy little Bowls at the thrift a while back. I finally made small 4.5 inch bean bags for them. I think the idea is to lay them face down and try to flip them over. The box has gone missing( I think it got wet). They did not have any bean bags when I found them. But I know the box said it was a bean bag game. I wish I had written down the name of the toy or the directions.
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