LLovely Llama +a New Lens

A friend of mine really likes llamas, so I decided to surprise her on her birthday with this crocheted llama

It was a good pattern, lots of little parts though. I think if I were to design it, I'd probably try and do more of a one piece design as sewing legs and ears and heads and a neck is a wee bit hard - plus I never seem to get them as symmetrical as I would like. Do you ever experience that?

But this pattern did include the making of eyebrows/eyelids - which I absolutely love. And want to incorporate in more of my future patterns!! Heck, I may even go back to add some to any that are laying around! Love them!

One other thing .. ( I sound like Columbo -for those of us old enough to remember) - didn't my photos turn out pretty good?  There is no retouching here - just some cropping. And, I even turned down the resolution just to make it load faster on this site. This is because  I finally got a new wide angle lens to replace the one I broke last year. With the help of a $100 Visa Christmas present and that fact that Jp went to the store and bought it for me. I would never have spend that much on myself, so I am very very happy that he made the executive decision for me! It is a very good lens.

He also bought me a bluetooth selfie stick to take pictures with my phone. You might see more of me than you want to  from now on! LOL!!

I think I like pink

I bought this wool because I loved the colours, I had nothing in mind for it. So one night as I tried to fall asleep, I thought about what I should make with it - arm warmers kept coming into my head and so I decided that's what I would make:

I think they turned out really good. They are 100% wool, beautifully coloured and scrumptiously warm! I'm not much of a "pink' person, but I like them!

Little Bear Ornament

I was going to make this little bear for my shop but it's so teensy and the details are picky that it'll cost too much for it's size  - under 2" tall but she's a cute little bear isn't she?

Inspiration

So the other day I saw this picture:

And I immediately thought of my friend Susanne who rides her bike everywhere she goes (she doesn't have a driver's licence). She spends a lot of time on it visiting her elderly mother in the hospital and going to work everyday. I thought it would be fun for her as she's a very "rainbows and unicorns" kinda gal.

I have never seen her bike in person so I asked her to send me a photo and then I set about creating something for her. I changed the bunting to stars as she's a very celestial being.

Here's her newly decorated  bike basket - do you think it's fun? 

I used synthetic yarns so they can stay on in the rain too. Why not? That's the day when you need the most fun and colour - riding in the rain is never fun is it?

A finished project - mini matryoshka

Remember the magazine I received in the mail the other day? I've already made something from it!

I didn't have the colours to make the little mermaid that was on the cover (I'm still itching to make it), so I made this little matryoshka instead (their samples are on the top right of that same magazine cover):

Quickie camera photo but you get the idea - not too bad for materials on hand, if I do say so myself. Here's a little gallery of some other interpretations of matryoshkas

That was fun. I think I'll be making more felt-y items. And I learned that I am much better at the blanket stitch (the stitch that runs around the outside) than I thought I was. That's a very good thing.

Some finished projects

The weather's been a bit iffy these days and so in between some light gardening, I've been doing some knitting. I couldn't resist these owl wristers which are actually not as complicated as they might look.

I think I might just keep them for myself. 

*****

And then I made these little baby pants: 

They are cuter than I thought they would be. Little pants! I might have to make some more of them. I think some striped ones will be really cute. Maybe I'll make some to match some booties or hats that I already have. I like the idea of a set so currently I'm working on a matching hat - I think that will look adorable.

I should be in the garden weeding but it's kinda cool and gray out there, so it's easier to stay in side. I'm home alone today and that also makes it easier to sit in bed with a hot cup of coffee and my laptop and just play on the computer. Laundry and housekeeping was done yesterday so I don't feel too guilty. In a little while I'll have to play with Eco, and then I'll probably bake some cookies. That's not a bad way to spend a Sunday is it?

 I hope you're having a good Sunday too.

A Little Peep?

Remember yesterday's wrist warmers that couldn't be made?

Well here's what it's become: 

A little chickie baby hat! 

There. Now I feel better. At least something was made from it! 

*******

And I've also finished this ruffle cuffs: 

Except for some reason I can not photograph greens with this camera - they always come out so far from reality. I don't know what to change. I shot this outside in natural light but the colour is so wrong. This is the correct colour:

Well back to the studio, for more yarn to fly off my hooks or needles! 

(these items and more are available for sale in my shop

 - see column to the right for the link) 

Marie in the Garden

Well I bet you're going to be surprised, but while Marie is in her garden enjoying her flowers so carefully tended to by her staff, she walks the grounds with her trusty chocolate labrador (even though she may have as many French dogs as she likes), he gives her great comfort:

She's enjoying the unexpected sunshine that just popped up as it's given the flowers a chance to not be weighed down by the rain drops - although she secretly likes it as they appear to be bowing to her royalness just like her subjects (in the good days). And the garden reminds her of her favourite spot - Hameau de la Reine which was built for her at the Petit Trianon in the Yvelines (France of course!)

The bright sunshine also hides that she's actually gotten quite a tan, making her look more like a commoner and reminds herself she must powder more often. But today she shall enjoy herself as it is a lovely spring day in May.

She continues to insist that she never said anything about CAKE! (or rather "gateau", whichever you prefer) but would like to know if you'd like a macaron or two - they are so fruity and delicious! Perhaps we shall fetch some?

Marie is Finished!

Today I finally finished my Marie Antoinette. I pretty much worked on her all afternoon - except for some breaks to play with Eco and some phone calls.

Here's a quick snap from my phone, I'll get you a better one soon:

I wasn't that happy with her at first, but realized once I took a step back and looked at her, I liked her even more. Once I saw her in the photo, I was happier still. I hope you can see this link - here's what she's supposed to look like. All pieces are knitted (including all the curls) with some embroidery for her face. She has a crocheted flower on her dress and a ribbon choker.

Tomorrow she will go out in the garden where we'll take better photos.

Hey look - I do have something to show you

I do have something to share after all - first up a pair of black lace wristers. 

You'd be surprised that even with big holes in them,
these actually do feel warm on your arms.

***

And also finished, this cute little black and white
baby hat with crimson rose: 

There. Now I feel a bit better. 

Looking for a wee leprechaun

With less than a month until St Patrick's day, I thought I'd get this little hat made up

It would also look cute on a pets, I just couldn't get Eco to keep it on her head besides, as you've seen, she's a terrible photography model - she gets all squinty!

EDITED FEBRUARY 27TH - Good news! This hat has been sold and it's already begun it's journey to Florida! I hope I get to see pictures of it in use.

Tipping My Top Hat

Just finished these crocheted top hats for my shop - they can fit babies, toddlers, kids - even adults and pets!

Little Brown Bear

Gee I'm just all over the place, I've gone from the sea to the forest - here's today's completed project - a little brown boucle pom-pom hat that looks like a little bear cub

Must be all that cold sunny weather we're having, it brought the little bear out of hibernation!

Happy Birthday Janis

As I was finishing this week's project, I was listening to radio station Jazz 91.1 San Mateo, California (on the interwebs). The program was celebrating the life of Janis Joplin who would have been 70 years old today. It was interesting hearing her range of styles of the years and comments and stories from friends and peers. At first I was a wee bit surprised because I've always thought of her as a rock singer, it never really occurred to me that she really was a blues and jazz singer first and foremost. I heard one story that was sad, she was voted "ugliest man on the campus" - how cruel people are to each other, I wonder if bullying will ever go away.

I can't think of a clever segue into this weeks project, so I'll just start - this is Hoot the Owl Toque:

I wasn't going to make another owl hat but when I held the yarn in my hand and started to knit with it, it really seemed that an owl would be the best thing for it. I would like to thank Honey Nutbrown for providing the pattern, I am very happy with the results. I used a really bulky yarn, so I used the number of stitches for the smallest size but used the measurements for the bigger sizes.

Oh and by the way, do you like my new "baby"? I felt it would be much better to display my baby hats on a baby head to give viewers a better idea of how the hat would fit, instead of just being put on a rock or christmas ornament, or whatever else I've used in the past.

Valentine's is just around the corner and I'm still pushing to get as many themed items into my little shop. I was playing around with a hook and some yarn last night and came up with this little hat - this would look so sweet on the head of a wee baby: 

And, I might just write up this pattern to share - that depends on how motivated I get. I'm kinda proud of it, because it's all mine and I think it's adorable. 

Finished Projects for the week

Well I'm kinda proud of myself - I made and finished three projects this week.

First these Vancouver City Wristers in a lovely soft grey donegal (a yarn with flecks of other material)

These are interesting to me because they have the appearance of being cabled but they are not, the pattern is made by increases and decreases - not by holding stitches on a needle and passing them behind (or in front) as you do when you make cables.

Then these Jade/Teal Green Wristlets  in a Peruvian Highland Wool - too bad the colour is so off in this photo, because it's actually a very rich jewel tone.

I used my little mini digital camera because I have a gorilla pod for it and it has an easy timer, but it's been a while since I used it, maybe I should've turned off the flash because it's a sunny day today and it seems to have really affected the colours - the actual colour of the wristlets is actually the third colour from the left:

See how completely different it is? And I've tried several other times to capture that colour but I neve get close to that lovely jade as it should be.

I had just taken off my nail polish - what was I thinking - so I sorta hid my hands today. I will have to re-shoot these two photos.

And third, I made this little Doggie Baseball Jersey - it'll fit a 20 pounder or so.

Front

Back

I didn't have any one particular dog in mind, I just wanted to make this sweater. I am very pleased with how it turned out. The raglan sleeves have lovely decreases and it all sewed together very nicely. As well, it's a nice loose knit making it easy to get on and off Fido. Now I just need to find a doggie model.

And in other news, we had our soffits redone this weekend  - ripping out the old painted press board and replacing them with proper white aluminum soffits. They are awesome. Now the roof can breath better and it's all finished nicely without any rotting, done professional so everything's finished very well. The guys will come back soon to install a new front and back door and then our next big outdoor project is painting the house, but that's going to have to wait until at least May so everything can dry out. I also need to decide whether I'm going to keep the same colour scheme (blue and white) or change colours - I'm thinking maybe a dark taupe with white and/or black accents.

Oh and you know what else? It was a very beautiful sunny day yesterday - a wee bit cold (-3 celsius) but a glorious sunny day. It was so nice for all of us to be able to work outside and not have to do it in our typical January rain. I am so very grateful for the sun! How glorious. And today too, so soon I'll be off to walk Eco.

Hope you're having a swell Sunday too. Whatcha doin?

Flying Needles!

The other day I went I little crazy in the production department and banged out 3 baby hats - and then started on some mittens. At 10pm I could have kept going but had to go to bed so I could get up for work the next day. BUT, then I paid for it during the night - oh boy did I pay! My forearm and hand ached throughout the night and woke me up multiple times. Maybe the return of carpal tunnel or the beginning of tendonitis - I don't know, but I took the warning and took it easy.

Here are the the results of that busy day:

And these are the mittens that I absolutely love, but for now, I've put in my ETSY shop to see if they sell before I keep them for myself.

They are 100% wool and I just love the colours. When I used the same wool on the  baby hat it came out more like camouflage but love how it's all stripy for the mittens. 

And the items have been posted in my shop and it's time for me to move onto another project. Still might take out that sewing machine yet!

I did some Christmas baking, don't want to put too much out otherwise it just gets stale  - so far the current winner is the white chocolate chip cookies. What's your must have Christmas baked item? 

It's getting all cold now, time to start wearing gloves and hats when I walk the dog - but typical fall it warms up here and there - when you're in a spot of sun, when the wind stops, etc - so I end up zipping and unzipping as we go along. Ahh the joys of fall. And it only makes sense that a late spring and a late summer is followed by a late fall -I can't remember a time when the big maple tree in my back yard still had so many leaves this time of year  and there area still at least 2 dozen pears in the tree - way high up so I need a ladder to get them off - I've been lazy and have been waiting for them to fall, but I really should remove them before some hungry bear comes along and tries to climb the little tree. The bears are supposed to go down for winter by mid-November so hopefully they will be gone too. Then I can put out some bird seed and stop locking up the garbage in the garage.

And in the spirit of keeping things warm, I've made two hats - both adult sized. The first a pumpkin hat  - kids don't always have to have the fun hats:

And second, this "Big Hat' (is what I've named it) because it'll cover up your updo or volumes of hair or dreadlocks or your hotrollers or whatever you might have in your hair but you still want to keep your head warm.

It's nice and loose so you can easily get it off without wrecking your hairstyle but still have a warm head.

What are you doing to stay warm or is it even cold where you are? 

Some Finished Projects

I switched it up a bit and made some baby headbands for the shop:

This one is my absolute favorite! Skunk or Kitty Ears. Do you know any newborns who would like an easy Halloween costume?

These don't have to be just for photography props, they can be worn anytime! Why not? 

Babies have personalities too, no? 

 I wonder if I can get them to stay on Eco's head? Would it be wrong for dogs to wear headbands? 

Pumpkin Pumpkin

Do you see double?

(yes, the one on the right is not quite finished) 

Just two days before I am to take several hats to a photographer so she can pick out her fall and holiday props, someone bought the pumpkin hat through my Etsy shop. Eeep! Yes I could have put the item on hold in my shop but I thought "Gee what are the odds?" and "I'll worry about it when the time comes"

Well the time came and there I was whipping up another one so I can send one to my new customer and have the one that I promised for the photographer. As they say, it never rains - it pours! LOL!