6 posts tagged “craft challenge”

Well, I've still haven't embroidered a darn thing, but I have been crafting. Still working on that capelet. Only 3 more rows to go, then the finishing. It looks pretty good so far. I'm definitely going to remake this one in a different yarn, but not anytime soon!

A while back Joann's had one of their massive mega-sales where practically everything was 50% off and if it wasn't 50% off, then they had tons of coupons so it would be 50% off. I love those sales, but I have come to realize that they have them about every other month, so I don't need to feel like I have to purchase the entire store right then and there. Of course, they always have their handy 40% coupons every week, too. It is NOT a good thing that it is literally down the street from me. Makes "dropping by" all too easy. Especially since Target is across the street!

But anyway, around the last time they had one of their blow-out sales, I had a hankering to do some collaging. I don't even remember it happening but three little canvasses jumped off their endcap and landed in my cart. They have sat on my shelf, sulking because they have been ignored. I keep wanting to get them out and start painting something, but alas, my painting skills are abysmal. I know, I know, it comes with practice. Today, the urge was something powerful because one of those canvasses jumped out of the bookcase and up onto my desk. I had the color blue in mind all day today as I was going about my business and after I cooked dinner, sat down to do something about it.

Using my handy-dandy visual journal (and reminded by SFGirlbythebay of having to keep visual journals and sketchbooks while in school, I decided to begin again) of which I'll blog about soon, I promise, I used a colorway inspired by a piece of china. Although the collage is nowhere near finished, I at least got my painted background down for tonight. I'll probably spend the rest of the evening with my sketchbook coming up with what might potentially go on top of it.  The two naked cousins are underneath, waiting to become some sort of series. Ah, the pressure! But really, I think that I'll never get better at painting if I don't actually do it! I really love to use gouache. Transparent watercolor is too finicky and acrylic too messy. Perhaps the desire to use up all my crappy student Reeves gouache and finally purchase some higher quality stuff will be the impetus to keep painting. And notice, my favorite pink crochet hook has somehow managed to finagle it's way into the picture too. Alas, I can never escape!

It's out! Alicia released the tiramisu baby blanket pattern that I tested for her and blogged about last week! Yay! It's so easy, if you can single crochet, half-double crochet and double crochet, you, too, can be the lucky producer of this gorgeous blanket!  And one of the best things...the pattern is absolutely free! Alicia is such a creative, generous person, if you don't follow her blog, you should cause it's just filled with yummy, pretty goodness!

And remember how I was going to make a matching hat? Well, one of my other favorite crochet designers has the very cutest little buttercup baby hat pattern. Here it is! Matching yarn is TLC Baby. Yes, I know that ties can be dangerous for babies, and ribbons too. Not to worry...when I send off the blanket and hat to the parents-to-be, I will be sure to put on my care instructions card a warning about ties and ribbons. (Never leave baby unattended with something tied round their head, etc, etc, blah, blah, blah) I still need to block it so that the waves and edging lie a bit better. I know, most peeps don't block acrylic, but it makes it look so much better. My hat as modeled by a ball of purple yarn. What do you think?

Don't you just love that little leaf at the top? Too cute! I did this in the car on the way down to my parents house for Easter. No, no embroidery got done, but when I get a chance, I'll share what else I was able to finish.

Our handy craftster-about-town Quornflower has posted the April craft challenge. I'm gonna try like heck to be better about updating, but let's be frank here...I do have a life, too!

So here's the 411 for the month of April:

·         find a craft that inspires you or others or is somehow new to you

·         try something new: technique, a craft you keep meaning to try

·         Spend a minimum of 3 hours per week of crafting, be it all in one day or spread over the week

·         turn your television off and spend time crafting that would otherwise be spent watching it

·         eat some chocolate

Well, let's see, I'm going to keep on sewing, that's relatively new to me. And I keep blathering on and on about embroidery, I haven't done much and quornflower posted a site with cool crewel/embroidery samplers. I especially like this one. Sounds like my mantra.

I also like the monsterbubbles collection and her cute little "read" between the lines sampler.

I've mentioned Jenny Hart and Sublime Stitching before and she now has featured artists contributing, like Kurt Halsey. His "forever and ever, hopelessly so" is just so damn cute!

But let us not forget Subversive Cross Stitch. Say what's really on your mind, in thread! I particularly like this sampler.

I definitely craft more than three hours a week. More like 1-2 hours a day, if I can. And I don't really watch TV except for late-nite and the occasional DVD and most of the time, I'm crafting while watching anyway. As for chocolate, well, that's a given! Tis the season! For Cadbury Mini-eggs, that is! I've been known to scarf an entire bag down myself without sharing.

So on the cusp of this holiday/holy-day weekend, I'm going on a road trip which usually allows me to craft in the car. If I get my butt in gear, I will actually be able to accomplish some embroidery over the weekend. Either that, or finish my chanson en crochet capelet that I've been working on the past couple of days. Here's a taste! Doesn't this blue look yummy? I can't help that I've been cheap and going with acrylic lately, but I figure these are like mock-ups or trial runs. When I go to do a good one, I'll splurge for the expensive stuff. Until then, I'm happy with the cheapies. This is TLC Baby yarn.

So have a terrific bunny day guys! I'm outtie to pack!

Well, I fell off the crafting face of the earth for the latter half of March, but that's not to say that I wasn't madly crafting away! I'd been working on a baby blanket for one of hubby's co-workers and finally, FINALLY, got it finished! It took me a while as single crochet never goes quite as quick as one would think. Regardless, I think it turned out too cute. The co-worker and spouse have elected not to find out the sex of their baby. This drives me absolutely bonkers. Being the type that can't keep secrets about gifts to save my life, the thought of going an entire nine months not knowing and preparing (and shopping!) would torture me beyond belief. And because of course, since I can't possibly wait that long, then no one else should, either! Especially if I am crafting/purchasing/contemplating gifts for the baby.

So here's the much bally-hooed blanket. I test-drove the tiramisu baby blanket crochet pattern for Alicia that I really should have done months and months ago. The pattern was easy-peasy and turned out so adorable, even with my choice of yarn. I used Bernat Satin as I wanted to make sure that blanket was easy-care and very, very warm as it is traveling to Minnesota where it is bitterly cold. I was unsure as I was making it, but after much stress about tension issues, it turned out rather cute!

I like Create A Connection's regular Wednesday feature. Yes. I know, it's Thursday, or rather, 12am on Friday, but better late than never! I'm still stumbling along on that baby blanket. 30 inches of single crochet takes a LOT longer than I thought. Hopefully, better update tomorrow with crafty goodness. I did host Crafty Girls today so got some stuff done and started a craft/art journal in addition to my regular sketchbook that I keep.

YOU choose what to tell me:

List 3 random facts about you, that we will be entertained by:

1. I have a list of secret occupations I wish I had pursued but never did for one reason or another, like being a bee-keeper (deathly afraid of bees), becoming a horse jockey (got too tall) or a librarian (this still might come true if I decide to go back to school)
2. I'm missing a set of ribs and a vertabrae. I coulda been taller!
3. I was named after Lynda Day George from Mission Impossible, the 1960's TV series.
   

List 2 things about you, that are important for us to know:

1. I suffer from Globophobia, aka, fear of balloons.
   
2. I cannot tolerate stupid drivers.
   

ME! My turn to ask questions!

Do you like board games? Yes, sometimes.

What are some favorites? Clue, Cranium, Trivial Pursuit. I don't know, I haven't played any grown-up board games in a while, but I'm pretty dang good at Pretty, Pretty Princess and the Ladybug Game!

What are your non-artistic hobbies? Reading, cooking, and playing with my kids.

Do you collect anything? Craft supplies, purses/bags and dustbunnies.

And now, our Creativity:

What types of art do you enjoy creating the most? It really depends on the mood. Lately, fiber-arts like knitting, crochet, sewing, embroidery, but also painting. I'm an interior designer, so I find that creativity is a way of life.

Do you have a type of art that you've always wanted to try, but never done? What is it? Sculpture, resin-casting and stained glass work.

Do you have any art "how to" sites that you would recommend to us? What are they? Oh shucks, nothing that's not been mentioned before. Craftster is terrific, as is Crochetville. My bloglines is filled chockablock with inspiration, tutorials and information. Check back. I may have more tomorrow.

Although I did sign up for the craft challenge, I have not been very good at keeping up, although I have been crafting pretty much everyday, a little bit here, a little bit there, so I thought I'd post some of my finished objects.

I'm totally addicted to embroidery. I used to do cross-stitch when I was younger, but something about the very precise nature of it left me a little cold. So now, I've taken up with embroidery. I started with a few things, like a couple of needle cases and as soon as I figured out french knots, boy, I was ready to have a good old time. This is the one I made for myself. It's already seen scads of action. I made another one for Jane of Art with a cute little skull and glittery red bow, but forgot to take a pic of it! I just love Jenny Hart's patterns, so kicky and cute! I ordered her Stitch-It Kit to get me started.

Next up, I finished up another Sweet Magnolia Scarflette. I just love these things. I've already made two and given them away as gifts for others. It's one of Jennifer's patterns from Fable Handmade Goods. She's freakin' brilliant! Have you seen her crocheted Marie Antoinette wig? Yes, it is crocheted! I also bought her poinsetta bunting pattern and she has some of the best free patterns. So cute and definitely not retro. I have my eye on the Might Oak Scarflette for autumn as my next purchase. I totally chintzed out and used Caron's Simply Soft for the neck part, and Bernat Softee Chunkee for the magnolia and some left-over Lion Brand Suede for the flower center.