Knitted Babe

Well there she is. This is the first of two I'm making, I'm making one for my niece and thought I ought to make mine first. I'm not sure about the eyes.....and she needs more hair. Maybe if I gave her bangs the eyes would look different. The head is wobbly too. The picture isn't too bad. Her undies were fun to make. We shall see how he next one goes......Yes, she will have a dress soon.

This is from the book Knitted Babes by Claire Garland. There are two websites for some reason. Have a look and see if you think I've done alright....

2 craft weekends....and a cold

I had such a good weekend last weekend and then on Monday I woke up with a terrible cold. It has been awful. I've not been able to craft or anything, which is really unlike me. I went in to work on Thursday, but that was a mistake and I ended up home on Fri. So here is my chance at catching you up with what I've been doing!!!

First, to show you what I made at the workshop with Gillian Harris.
I'm actually very proud of this bag. I for once picked colors that I really like and made a shape I like. It is suppose to be a bag, but of course it is wayyy to small for me. But it is very inspirational. I might do some beading or embroidery on it, just to add something to the front. The back is an experiment...well it all was I guess....but she encourage us to throw caution to the wind. The pink nubs were hard on the hand, when you are doing the rubbing. But the flicks were really nice.



She also told us to decorate the inside...so this is what I did. We were all so keen on getting going, we forgot to do very much decoration. I love the color though, there are three layers of color, so each layer adds something to the top layer.

It was great fun and my friend Ruth and I were able to catch up afterwards with a nice supper!

Crafty Weekend!

Well, I will be spending the weekend with all kinds of crafty goodness!!! First I'm going to the Knitting and Stitching show! This year I'm better prepared and plan on spending my money wisely?!?!?! Well, I'll try. Poor hubby will probably be drafted in to coming with me....we shall see. We always make a day of it and to the Texas Embassy for TexMex anyway!! Yummy!

Then on Sunday, I'm meeting my friend Ruth from CraftyPeople and we are going to go to a wet felt workshop! I'm really excited about this. I signed up for this in June or something. The lady who runs it is very busy and gets booked up quickly. I'll give you more details when I get back! She has a new book out, so I'll talk about that when I get back too!

Have a wonderfully crafty weekend too!!!!

Pink pocket....

I finally got in one of the Japanese books I ordered several months ago and it has the BEST ideas for embrodiery. Simple things, not the big projects that you get in most books. So here is my first project from it. They had this on a sampler with lots of other designs and I decided to put it on a little pocket that I'm going to put some beads in for the Swap-bot bead exchange I'm doing. I've decided this will be my last Swap-bot for awhile...I'm going to concentrate on Christmas, swap with a friend and Secret Pal 9!

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Secret Pal 9....questions....

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I mostly like natrual fibers....though a mix isn't too bad. I love some more sock yarn.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I have a lovely wicker vase that I display them in.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I've been knitting for the last 8 yrs....but more now then I use to. I'll try anything as long as I have a pattern for it! I've tried to knit gloves...with more then 2 colors....stupid!!!! But otherwise I can get along with lace, double point needles, more then one color ... etc...

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Yes Amazon, and it is full of creative books I want!!!!
5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products, etc.)
Vanilla or lavender
6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
Of course, I like fruity things and Milk Chocolate (not dark)

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
It would be easier to tell you what I don't do. I try to stick with fiber/textile arts at the moment. I've recently learned how to drop spin.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I love alternative music Cold Play, Tori Amos....etc....

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
I like bright colors. I'm not too picky really. As long as they are rich or bright I like them.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I live with my hubby and 2 guinea pigs, 3 pet rats, and 4 pet mice.....

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
No ponches...but have to have the rest....have to walk to work!

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Anything and everything! (Though I've not done a sweater for myself yet.)

13. What are you knitting right now?
Secret project. I'm going to start a blanket for my nephew also.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Of Course!!!

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
No plastic...but any of the others types.... I love wood ones. It depends on the project I'm doing and the yarn I'm using.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
No, I actually prefer to do it by hand.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
I have a really old sweater that I'm going to do free form knit and crochet on...it is from about 5 years ago.

18. What is your favorite holiday?
Now that I don't get a Thanksgiving I miss it terrible!

19. Is there anything that you collect?
Teddy Bears. (Russ are my favorite) Craft supplies, old books....

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

Spinning in the Old Way: How (and Why) to Make Your Own Yarn with a High-Whorl Handspindle
Priscilla A. Gibson-Roberts

Knit Fix: Problem Solving for Knitters
Lisa Kartus

Patterns I would like....hmmm....there are, but most of them are free anyway!

I would love to have some of the great sock yarn everyone in the States talks about Socks that Rock etc.

I've been subcribing too Vogue Knitting but I've stopped that. I also get Knitters but if I could I would drop it....gift subscription for like 3 years for some reason. I always buy Interweave Knits when I can. Would love to have a look at Rebbeca sometime.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
I would like to do better at intarsia, and would like to make something from the yarn I spin.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
I like to make socks...but have trouble making my own. I have big feet US 10 and my ankles are very thick so that makes it hard for a tight knitter like me to actually make them to fit. Though I am working on it!

23. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)
November 15!

I'm looking forward to this secret pal. The last one was loads of fun and it is great to be able to put together little packages for someone that you are getting to know from their blog and their emails!

From my good friend Melissa!

Here it is...I'm so greatful for this bag! Melissa did a great job with my requirements of...large!!! Pre-felting this must have been huge!!! She told me she thought she was going to fall in....such a smarty she is! This is from the Internation Tote Exchange! I've sent mine off to Holly on Friday...so I'll post a pic soon when I know she has recieved it!
Melissa took pity on me and supplied me with some pumpkin faces, which I adore and can't get here!!!! She also sent me that lovely yarn and a few pieces of jewlery and the cutest tape measure you have ever seen....(sorry...pics didn't turn out to good). She also sent me a replacement for my quilting chalk pen that broke.
She did such a good job with the lining! You can tell she has sewed a thing or two in her day! I love all the pockets and as you can see I've filled them!

Great job Melissa! Melissa and I have hit it off really well...well we both have the same strange sense of humor! We are going to make a few things together and do some swaps between the two of us!!! Check her blog out!

Thanks Bonnie!

This is what I got from the Homemade swap on Swap-Bot. I really enjoyed this swap because you had no idea what the other person was going to make you! This was wonderful and it looks great in our living room! (I have to admit to making out like a bandit the last two weeks! Packages almost every other day!!!)

I made MYSELF something.....

And there she is.....can you believe it??? We ducked out in between the rain showers to take a quick picture. I finished it last night..and couldn't wait to wear it! It turned out good. I have to back the button band with some fabric I think...because it pulls and I want to find some nice buttons or make me some. I loved making the pattern though, and it didn't take long.

Pattern: Button Wrap
Book: The Accessories Collection
Brand: Louisa Harding Yarns
Yarn: Impression and Sari Ribbon