Compost went splat

This morning when I was playing with Eco (my 1 yr old lab) in the back yard and I discovered our composter 'fell' over. I don't know if it just fell, or if maybe a raccoon helped a bit. The bad part is I don't really have time until tomorrow to fix it (it's bad enough that I cleaned part of the gutter yesterday in my pajamas and housecoat), so now every time I let the dog outside, I have to keep her away from it. At least it's fairly well composted and it's spring so I would have been turning it over anyway.

Since I haven't posted for a while, here's progress on the Mindless-Knitting-Useupyourstash-blanket:

Have you ever felt a chicken?

Needle felted I mean. Sheesh, what were you thinking?

My one Easter craft for the year, other than some quick crocheted bookmarks I threw my Easter cards to my mom and brother. All projects were made from supplies I already had.

The Easter bookmarks were made from sock yarn - not bad actually, maybe a little bulky(in Ravelry under "wayoutwear") Also, I have a wonderful supply of wool roving for needle felting, which I'd like to do more of - but then I'd like to 'do more of' a lot of things! You know how it is.

HAPPY EASTER!

Squiddly Dudley - Completed

Time last week was largely eaten up by the acquisition of a new printer. My old one had been dying for about 2 months "print head failure" "inkjet system failure" blah, blah, blah.

This time I got a 4in1 laser printer (yes, because people still send faxes), but it is B-I-G! I had it all set up on my desk, which felt very overwhelming and intrusive, then Jp came home from a trip, and surveyed my work space and as he was looking around the room, his eyes went to the top of my filing cabinet - ah hah! That's where it should have gone! He didn't even say anything - but as soon as he looked there, the idea came to me. So back to the drawing board - more office space re-arranging, which spilled into my Saturday as well. Although I did get lots of stuff organized and cleared out, I did not get much other stuff done (besides, meals, dog walking [including getting caught in heavy rain and hail] and laundry that is).

I did however, manage to complete this guy (which goes in the charity gift pile):

Squiddly Dudley - WIP

I'm working on another amigurumi as a quick 'in between' project, here he is, with only 5 legs made:

 

From "Super-Cute Crochet" by Nicki Trench (details on my Ravelry page under "wayoutwear")

If you'd like to know more, a book review can be found here.

Another work in progress

I had a cone of this pale aqua yarn and decided it would make a lovely crocheted baby blanket, so in between my other stash busting projects, I've been working on this - it's about 30% done.

Work in Progress

For my Craft Challenge 2010, I made a couple of small projects, and then I was ready for something a little more substantial. And I know I said I wouldn't do a blanket right away, but I found a pattern that is knit in the round, so you end up with a double thick blanket and you don't have to worry about the ends, or a purl side, or even how long your yarn is - although they recommend 36" and longer. (Pattern details on Ravelry, I'm "wayoutwear")

So I started this blanket as a stash busting project for the yarns that I don't know what else to make with. As well, this is a fabulous TV watching project as there is no pattern and no counting - just mindless TV knitting.

It's a little tough to see as it's all scrunched up on the circular needle, but I think you get the idea.

Oh yeah, one more thing - for funsies, Jp's  been picking the colours and the sequence, so when I finish a ball, I bring him the bags of yarns to choose from and he picks the next two colours/yarns. So I never know what will happen next either!

Sewing Goodies

I found a bag of sewing goodies at the thrift store this past weekend, that I could not resist. $2.99 for all these notions and $0.99 for the knitting needles. I've dipped into my Craft Challenge purse, but I'm not worried. Knitting needle gauges/rules, stitch holders and punch needle embroidery sets were all worth it.

Did I break the challenge?

Jp and I took a trip across the US Border to Bellingham, Washington where we wandered around Bellis Fair Mall. I found some cute spring clothes - which I didn't really want to buy as I was trying to 'make do and mend' but these were difficult to resist along with Jp encouraging me to buy them.

And later strolling through another department store, Jp spied the cutest little sewing basket which he said I must have. I resisted. Really I did. But he put it in the cart, and I had no part of it -  so its not going to be counted as part of my Craft Challenge 2010 - especially when it is not craft supplies - it's an organization aid, and scissors are a necessity. Do you think that's bending the rules?

And, these lovely little scissors don't count either!

Toymaker FAIL!

I love all the adorable amigurumi that I see - (they're even in music videos now), and I have several pattern books showing me how to make them; however, mine just never seem to turn out nice - or even cute. My crocheting fine, but I seem to get it wrong in the sewing up - things get twisted or lopsided. I am not sure what I'm doing wrong - sometimes I think it's my choice of yarn but then some instructions tell you to use the cheap acrylic, maybe it's the big needle I use, or that I don't have tiny hands, or maybe it's the eyes I'm using.

I pulled the eyes out of these two:The pig looks more like a donkey (or Alf)
~~~
The bunny looks just plain weird!
FAIL
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I replaced the button eyes with yarn: I think she's okay, so now I just need to embellish her dress.
~~~

But the eyes are still wrong for the bunny:

I couldn't fall asleep last night because I wanted to get up and fix them, so I fixed them as soon I got up this morning, but since the bunny is still wrong, I've decided to put them away for now and come back later. Maybe I'll uncover something better in my craft supply stash that will be exactly what I need.

After my failed attempts, I thought maybe I should try knitting a toy - but he's not so great either. I'm thinking he would probably look better in different yarn:

Charity Crochet Project

Here's a little baby hat I whipped up. It's part of my stash busting and will be given to charity when I've amassed several other items to donate at once.

Craft Challenge 2010

I know I should have mentioned this earlier, but well, you know how it goes sometimes - time slips by, things slip from your mind, things just slip.

I have decided to make a challenge for myself it's my Craft Challenge 2010. I pledge to use the craft supplies/books/magazines etc that I already own before I purchase more. I will allow a few dollars to be spent on the little things needed to finish a project - such as a particular colour thread, or something like that. This will be better for my bank account, and help declutter my work space/house. And this will be a challenge to my creativity as I won't be able to see something I like in a magazine for example and just run out to my local yarn store to pick up all the supplies. It also means that some projects may not turn out as I don't always know how much yarn I have to complete a project and it will also mean that I'll probably end up with lots of little projects.

The challenge will go until the end of 2010 or until my stash is gone - whichever comes first.

Also, I'm going to make it a little bit more difficult for myself - I'm not just blast through my yarn stash with a multi-coloured afghan project - not yet anyway. I want to see how many projects/items I can make - as much variety as I can.

At this point, the object it to make things and use what I have. Completed projects are being bagged and will most likely be given as charity gifts next Christmas - this will include baby items, hats, toys, etc.

I am open to suggestions and would love to hear your comments.

Do you think I can do the challenge?

Another finished crochet project

Here are some finished toddler booties - Courtside Booties, aka Chuck Taylor's or Converse Slippers from an old issue of Crochet Today magazine.
The pattern was right - it said for 'three to six months' and Eco's 10 1/2 month old feet are really too big for these slippers. Oh well, I'll find someone to wear them!

Knitted Optical Illusion

Do you remember the optical illusion where you see either the young girl or the old lady? And sometimes you have trouble seeing it the other way?

Well recently I knit this cute little leaf for a luggage tag. To me, it was nothing else but an leaf, but both the kid and Jp walked into the room where it was drying and asked me why I made a gecko. Okay, I can kinda see how they thought that, but to me, it's still an oakleaf.

Bluebird of Spring!

"Oh I could hide 'neath the wings of the blue bird as she sings
The six o'clock alarm would never ring
But it rings and we rise wipe the sleep out of our eyes
The shaving razor's cold and it stings."

Just finished - one amigurumi momma bird. Thanks to Carol for the adorable nest and eggs that she's sitting on. I wonder when her eggs will hatch.

I can be high as a bluebird flies if you'd love me
A mountain of love and the clear sky above me are all I'd see
Oceans and valleys and canyons and streams
So far below a river of dreams keeps haunting me
I could be high as a bluebird flies and never tell lies
when I look in your eyes you're all that I see