Keep Calm, Craft On

So my knitting hasn't seen much action in months. Lizzy's Wonderful Wallaby is currently sitting at the "started sleeves" section of the pattern, but I've been slow to get moving on from just doing the cuffs.

I had been hoping to try and knit both sleeves at once, but I'm quickly learning I'm not quiet up to that kind of difficulty yet. I'm also thinking I'll need 1 29" circular needle. Right now I'm using a 24" and it's a tight fit, adding the sleeves will make it impossible for me to knit! Won't my husband be excited I'll need to head to the craft store! tee hee

 

So there it is, very much in the spot I got to just before the back to school craziness began. While I was hoping to have it done in time for Christmas, at this point I'm hoping to have it done in time for Easter! That should be able the time we can start wearing more sweaters and keeping winter coats at home more.

Besides the knitting, I've been also starting to think about, and gather materials for, Christmas gifts. I won't say here, in case any family reads this, but the kids should love what I'm making for them this year. :)

Today I'm linking up with Nicole over at Frontier Dreams

WIP Wednesday - The Home Edition

So long now since I have done a WIP Wednesday posting! I really hope to get back into this more regularly now.

So this weeks WIP is a of the home improvement kind. We are painting and getting carpeting for the living room. When we move in here, the tile was already badly deteriorated, and only became worse over the winter.

So we've pulled up the tile, and cheap (nasty) chip board under lament.

(pulling up tile)

(half the tile/chip board up)

And this weekend will be filling in holes and painting the walls (I'm going to do trim later)

With any luck, I'll paint the dinning room as well. Well, maybe next week, as the carpet will be here next Thursday!

So that is it for the WIP right now. As we had into more spring like weather, there will be lots more to share!

A list of follow WIP Wednesday participates can be found on Shelly's website, Musings From the Fishbowl - so check it out!

WIP Wednesday - Winter hat and a handmade holiday update

So it's been awhile since I've done a WIP Wednesday post. I admit, I really have not crafted since the last posting. It's been a whirlwind of family visits, Doctor appointments for my knee, and most recently, the death of my grandmother (who's funeral is in a few hours). So while yes, it's technically Thursday at the time I post this - I haven't really slept yet, so it's still Wednesday to me :-D

First WIP I have is a new winter hat for my daughter Lizzy (age 7). This is a beautiful acrylic yarn I purchased last fall, when our local walmart was being remolded to a super center, and they placed nearly all their craft dept on clearance (boo!). Since I was working for the remodel at the time, I was lucky enough to be there to see them start marking down the yarn. I was able to get about 15 skeins of yarn at $1 a piece, instead of the $4-$5 a piece they would have been (SCORE!). This yarn is in a color that lion brand no longer makes to sells, so when I started running out, thank goodness for ebay! I have 2 skeins on the way and should be arriving this weekend. After accidentally felting her wool hat I made her 2 years ago, I decided that for now, acrylic yarn is the way to go for her.

she doesn't know yet it's for her

Now, on the Christmas gift crafting.... yeah, I haven't started. But I'm not worried either. Yet. But I have started making a more formalized list:

Lexi:
Juggle sticks (I'm buying these, but they are handmade on Etsy, not a mass produced set)
Mixed music cds (we put our entire cd collection on the computer, so we're looking into make a few mixed cds for her cd player)

Lizzy:
Doll repair (new hair, face, etc)
Pioneer dress with a matching one for her doll
Doll clothing

Andrew:
Super Why! dress-up costume (was going to be for Halloween but... hoping I have enough leftover to make a matching one for his doll)
I-Spy bag
Doll repair (wash, few stitches to fix)
New outfit for doll

for them all (most Liz/Andrew)
more crocheted play food
Crayon Roll (I'm considering this pattern over the one I previously posted)

As it is no surprise to me, Lexi is the hardest one to plan for. I'm really hoping i come up with more gift ideas for a 12 yr old, that are handmade, before much longer.

Do you have any W.I.P.s yourself? Doesn't matter the "craft", come share it in the W.I.P. Wednesday flickr pool! You can also head over to Musings From the Fishbowl for a list of fellow Wipsters ! Hope you have a crafty rest of your week!

WIP Wednesday - A Handmade Holiday for 2010

As the title of my post might suggest, I am going to attempt to make it an handmade holiday for our family this year. This will be a rather huge undertaking considering that 1) it's mid-September and I haven't started yet! and 2) IT'S MID-SEPTEMBER AND I HAVEN'T STARTED YET! AM I CRAZY?!?!?

Yes (and I prefer it that way).

I do think that my oldest and husband might try to buck this a bit, so in fairness, my daughter's birthday (only 26 days before Christmas) will not be handmade items (she's 11 going on 20 some days, I swear it). For dad/husband, I can honestly say at this point - I'm clueless as to giving him gifts, so we'll just have to play that be ear (though i do have some idea for handmade items for him).

I've done a mostly handmade holidays before (2007 & 2008), but I'm going to try for 100% here this year. It all started when reading one of my favorite blogs (Frontier Dreams) and seeing the button for Handmade Holiday 2010. I followed to that link, and as they say, the rest is history.

So - my WIP right now is more of a battle plan! My goal is to use as much of my crafting supplies that I already have (loads of yarn, flannel, etc). Realistically, I know that for some gifts I have planned, I will need some supplies. I actually want to post out my intended gifts, with links to any patterns or tutorials that I use. (maybe even coming to do that later tonight, when the insomnia hits me anyways). My beginning list of gifts to make is at the very bottom of this post (web ones i can link, books ones will come later). Call it my accountability in following through with my plan here.

So that's it (for now) for my WIP post. I can't wait to get started on this. I'm really excited about it! And other then finishing a prayer shawl (I know, I know) and sewing a couple of Halloween costumes, This will be my mega WIP from now until Christmas.

If you would like more information on Wip Wednesday, click the image at the top of this post. For more information Handmade Holiday 2010, please click the button on the right side of my blog.

Fabric Doll House - I plan on making 2 of these, 1 for each of my 2 youngest.

Notebook and Pencil Holder - 3 of these, at least. One for each of my children (maybe for the nieces and nephews too, I have LOADS of ideas for them all!)

I-Spy Bag - For the youngest, the only one who doesn't already have one (and is always taking his sisters!).

Flower Stix (video tutorial in Spanish) - For the oldest (this maybe the 1 thing I bought handmade as opposed to making it, if the rubber becomes hard to find).

Day to Night Reversible Tote Bag: For the 2 youngest (I hope this makes ALL our morning and night transitions easier!) They will likely get them Christmas eve (stuffed with new PJs, a tradition for us).

W.I.P Wednesday: The Prayer Shawl Update

Well, I don't have much of a good update on this. My "precious" (at the time) 3 yr old son decided that the knitting needle didn't need to stay in my wip, and being unable to re-insert the needle (the yarn is a bit fuzzy), I frogged the whole thing and re-caked the yarn.

*sigh*

So tonight I'm starting back at the beginning. I may decide to crochet this instead, as I'm much more proficient and speedy as a hooker then a knitter.

For something more inspiring then my picture-less non-existent wip this week - pop over to Musings From the Fishbowl for a list of blogs that partake in WIP Wednesday!

W.I.P Wednesday - June 9th

I apologize for the lack of photos this week - the last few days have been overcast and rainy - meh.

It's June (yeah, it was last week too, I know), but we are heading into the home stretch of the only other time of year I craft as much in a short time as I do for the winter holidays...

Here they are, couldn't stay still long enough for mom to snap a pic! Taken Mother's day weekend

The "babies" birthdays!

My 2 youngest have very close birth dates, only 5 days difference! So it always seems like a mad dash to get myself out of the winter funk (I nose dive after the holiday madness. I don't craft for a good 3 months!!), and before the lure of summer activities limits craft to 5 minute chucks every other day, if I'm lucky.

The youngest of my two daughters, who's turning 7, is so easy to find things to make for. For her, her doll, for play, just cause it exists... while on the other hand, finding anything for my son (who is turning 4), has been slightly more challenging.

So, "baby" girl is getting a new outfit for her doll. I've shared the sweater with you, but dress and felt shoes are in the works as well. Her doll is 2 1/2 yrs old, and has never had any foot coverings! She'll be excited about this.

Now, my baby boy (he's the youngest - I can still call him baby, right? Shoot, my 80+ yr old grandmother called my dad her baby into his 50s!), totally clueless here. If I had woodworking tools and supplies - no problem. But since we're don't have those here with us, in our already cramped quarters, well... I'm stuck! But the plan is to try make something homemade for their birthday gift, and something store bought to give during their party at the end of the month. (got that covered - THANKS MARGARET!!) Too bad the boy's birthday is in 6 days, I still have over a week for the doll stuff!

Let's not forget getting 2 frozen butter cream transfer images done too sometime before the party - YIKES! In that case, I have the boy cake all sorted out what to do, it's the girl cake I'm clueless on! Figures...

Happy crafting - whatever it is you are working on today! And if you want more inspiration, hope over to Musings From the Fishbowl for a list of other WIPsters blog to check out!

W.I.P Wednesday: The Prayer Shawl

I am sure of one thing, I will be working on this WIP along side other projects as I can.

"Shawls ... made for centuries universal and embracing, symbolic of an inclusive, unconditionally loving, God. They wrap, enfold, comfort, cover, give solace, mother, hug, shelter and beautify. Those who have received these shawls have been uplifted and affirmed, as if given wings to fly above their troubles..."
Written in 1998 by: Janet Bristow 

the elevated portion of my desk - usually 2 feet high in paperwork

At my church, there is a board in one of rooms right off the sanctuary, with a number of clip art pictures of shawls, which I assume is the number of shawls the church is trying to collect. The pattern in an envelope attached to the board called for some yarn I had a ton of, picking it up on deep clearance when our local walmart last year downsized their craft dept when they moved up to a supercenter, enough for 2 shawls.

So, I'm making it a goal of mine to get these shawls done this summer. One More Mile.

If you are so inclined, feel free to people over to Musings From the Fishbowl for links to other WIPsters blogs.

W.I.P. Wednesday : Doll sweaters

So I missed out last week, since I finished my first baby doll sweater Tuesday afternoon before the baby doll's mama (aka Lizzy) came home from school. I also quick whipped out a reuseable mop cover for our "swiffer" mop (its not the swiffer brand, just like the wet mop though), and got that done too that evening, so, no actual wip last Wednesday. Here is the finished sweater:


pattern link on Ravelry: Pull-over for 16in Waldorf Dolls


But this Wednesday, I have another doll sweater to share. It's the same pattern at the first, only I learned a lot of things on the first one, I changed for the second. First, since there is no gauge listed, since not every 16" doll is the same, the first sweater was SO HUGE i ended up knitting it longer into more of a dress (that really could use a pair of bloomers, since the hem rolls up). This time, I didn't knit as many rounds to make the top part, hoping to narrow the sweater a bit. And while it worked, I likely could have taken it in a bit more, but this is still better then the first. And while both yarns are 10ply worsted, this yarn is knitting up tighter then the first did, I imagine my next one will be made with sport weight.



I'm hoping to sew some little shorts and make some felt shoes, and warp this all up for doll mama's birthday next month. If I had more time/ambition, I would make them matching sweaters, but I don't see that happening this time! There is always Christmas!

W.I.P Wednesday... err... Friday

It's been awhile since I posted a WIP Wednesday post... that's cause between work, kids school stuff, church, I haven't had much time to even get a WIP going! This week, I have a couple, food and knit.

This past weekend, I decided to try making sushi rolls for the family. They LOVE sushi rolls, and we often buy them from Wegmans (a local/northeastern grocery chain), but man, its EXPENSIVE to buy some prepared rice and veggie rolled in seaweed. So we got the goods, and gave it a try.



They LOVED it! *whew* I see a LOT more of these being made around here...

As far as a knit WIP, we have a certain little girl, who has a upcoming birthday, and a very naked doll. So, a knit doll sweater commenced, only to find out - its HUGE on the doll - so its going to become a sweater dress (hey - it means i dont have to knit pants right away now!)


Hopfully I can get this posted on the correct day next week!! Until then - have fun creating!

Alas, a WIP Wednesday posting after such a long absence! I do find it so very hard to truly get into crafting after the mad rush of the holiday stuff, but a opportunity presented itself recently for me to make this super quick and easy doll for a sweet girl from Church.

Thankfully, this is not my first time creating this particular doll... let's see our prototype i made for my son about a year ago:




wow.. lopsided face *yikes* but look how happy he is:

please ignore the very messy background - crafting generally leads to cluttered floors.

So, at church i found out one of the little girls from the little kids church class/nursery was having surgery. She is about the most sweetest, adorable 3yr old i know, and having a cyst removed from near her eye, well... i wanted to do something, and a doll just seemed like the right quick thing to knit up for her. It's obviously has pink (her favorite color), and I'm pretty sure she'll like it.

In the doll above for my son, i made some changes, but this doll is straight up from the pattern posted in the book Kids Knit! : Simple Steps to nifty projects. So the face is also in garter stitch (rather then stockinette), and i am using plain yarn for the hair, rather then mohair yarn.


I keep thinking it i had made the doll with blond hair, it would look like a flower in the sun (green pants/stem, pink shirt/petals, and then yellow hair/sun). But alas... we have a burnette doll, which i think will be just a cute when completed!

Thanks for reading - hopefully now my post-holiday crafting slump has subsided, I can get back into a more normal WIP Wednesday posting!

WIP Wednesday: a new knitter in the family!

Well, its wednesday again, and still no pictures (maybe someday I'll post the FOs at least).

Well, last night i started teaching my oldest daughter to knit. She's getting the knit stich itself down - but they are tight stitches... and she is somehow increasing at the ends.. LOL... we'll figure it out - but her attempts at this age are SO much better then mine ever were when my grandmother tried to teach me.

I've also finished making the fingerless gloves for my co-worker, and made another set for my son - he love's them!

Now, it's a debate if i start making a doll for my 6 yr old, or the Bell's gloves for my oldest. Decisions, decisions!!

WIP Wednesday

Ok - so i didn't think i would want to post... being as I'm camera less for the moment - but alas! I will update this posting with pictures tomorrow.

My current FO (as if i didnt finish it 2 days ago - i'd be my WIP in the posting!) is a pair of fingerless mittens i made for a co-worker.

My current WIP is another pair for my son/ He's hands are much shorted/smaller so i think i'll have this spit out rather quickly.

I also am getting ready to cast on Bella's Mittens to make for my soon-to-be 11 yr old - only I'm not sure if it will be for her birthday next month, or Christmas.

Well, untill i add photos - that's it from me today - look back tomorrow to see pics!!

WIP: Wednesday

So you may have noticed i haven't been keeping up. While i Have been able to get online - my camera's battery died - and therefore I've been unable to post any pics (or even take any!) for any of my current projects!

I hope i can update soon (even if it's not a wednesday!)... but in the mean time - make sure you check everyone else out who is partaking in WIP Wednesday!

WIP Wednesday: Where I've been

So, you may have noticed the last couple of Wednesdays, My lack of posting (basically, since my first WIP Wednesday post!). We've had the fortunate event of visiting family that came from out of state at my in-laws, my brother's wedding, father's day, kindergarten graduation... all in all, no time for crafting.

But here we are back again, today just some yarn and fabric for some items I'm starting for a swap, gnomes and crayon rolls.





I hope to update on my gnomes and rolls next week, but may be offline for a couple of weeks after that, more family visiting, camping....

WIP Wednesday - Joining the crew

OK - so in attempts to revive my blog, I'm going to try what i've seen around called WIP Wednesday. Here's the blurb about it from Musings From the Fishbowl : W.I.P. (Work In Progress) Wednesday is a fun and stress-free opportunity for you to share whatever your crafty little self is working on with the rest of the blogging community. You are invited to showcase a project you’re beginning, working on, or maybe even finished with. There is no skill or talent-level requirement and you can share anything in any medium!

So here is my current WIPs.

This is the doll cardigan pattern that was featured in the winter issue of Living Crafts, by Waldorf Mama. I'm making this for my youngest daughter for her birthday this month (plus a new doll outfit, and fixing her doll's face - the mouth has come undone).

And here is the Jack Skellington I started for my husband as a Father's Day present. He loves the movie The Nightmare Before Christmas so this was a perfect item for him. I also found a pattern to make Zero, Jack's "dog" to go along with Jack. I did make a few changes from the original pattern, and I think for the most part, it's coming out great!

The patterns for these are both on Ravelry for those who are interested.