2011 Finished Objects

Whew! What a year! I ended with a flurry of activity, as most crafters do, and was lost in anxiety over getting it all done (or not). It wasn't until long after, or so it felt, that I started to pull together some photographs of my 2011 finished objects that I realized I hadn't done as bad as I'd thought. So, just for kicks and giggles, let's take a look at the year in review:

We have a t-shirt design contest at work and I was one of the hosts for the little gathering when the winner was chosen, so in honor of that I made t-shirt cookies and hands clapping (the winner was to be determined by the most applause):

Around the house we decided to start using cloth napkins instead of always using disposable ones. I read on a blog, and I apologize that I can't at this moment remember which one, that the napkins are easy to make. So, I grabbed two squares, two sharpies, and two large pieces of fabric and set the girls to work tracing and cutting. They picked which fabric to use and were thrilled to be crafting. I was then responsible for ironing and sewing the sides. They are a bit smaller than standard napkins, but they work very well for all of us and it is always a special treat to be able to pick which one is used.

My girls went on their first overnight visits this year and it was a challenge for us all. In preparation I made all three of us "matching" pillows. The girls took theirs on their visits and I kept mine with me. The pillows are all made from cute fabric I had picked up at a quilt shop a year or so ago. It was fun showing the girls the pattern options and letting them pick out which they liked best.

I learned a new skill this year--spinning with a top whorl drop spindle. It is such a wonderful experience!! I have A LOT to learn, but I've made enough to be able to ply two singles into two small balls of thick/thin wool. Not perfection, but oh so satisfying.

Other odds and ends were these fingerless mitts for my sister:

89 (or more-not all pictured) star shaped fabric ornaments (yes, you read that right..eighty-nine):

 and three new stockings for the three new members of our family:

Now, on to the organized items...

In 2011 I had reason to make baby items again, and I sure did enjoy it:

I attempted my first two tied fleece blankets (one twin/full size and one baby size):

I made doll clothes. I guess that goes without saying. I made A LOT of doll clothes (some of the December crowd don't appear here-a tutu, three sweaters, two skirts, and two sweater dresses):

Warm heads were needed, so I took care of that with some hats:

Last, but not least, I dabbled in some sock making in 2011. Some are still patiently sitting on the needles waiting to be completed, but here is what made it off:



Well, I know a parade of pictures isn't everything, but this is certainly a step in the right direction. There are over 30 items on display, and that's not counting each individual star or tiny Dawn dress, or ensemble items. No wonder I'm exhausted!

2012 is starting off at a quick pace as well with about a half dozen items off the needles/hook/sewing machine already. Crazy? Maybe...

FO: Doll Summer Sets

I have a few more WIP photos to share, but am too excited to do that tonight. So, I'll resume the "regularly scheduled" post a bit later in the week.

I have two little girls and last year purchased a ton of fabric and two patterns and was going to make them shorts. Well, a year passed and I was always busy with something else and never got around to doing anything. This year, for whatever reasons (for which I'm very grateful) I was able to cut into a piece of flip-flop fabric. I had planned to make shorts for the girls and a dress or skirt for me, but instead it morphed into shorts for my girls and shorts and tops for their dolls.

Everything around here needs to be done in two's even though my girls are not twins. They are just two years apart and still at an age where dressing alike doesn't bother them. I started with two doll sets then thought how my niece could use one for her doll. Then my eldest asked for one for her friend. Then...well, I ended up cutting six pairs of shorts and, of course, six tops. I sewed three sets today and posted to my Etsy shop. The other three are patiently awaiting their final assignments, as I ran out of elastic and ran out of time.

 

While all this craziness was going on I came upon the thought that a fat quarter would be enough fabric to make these outfits. What a great idea for doll clothes. I measured and the top would be an inch or two less around and I can only cut shorts or capris, not pants. Still...ideas are churning.

So, off to JoAnn Fabrics and for the first time I let my girls loose on the fabric. I showed them the rows of fat quarters and set them off to pick four each. It was so odd to watch their choices and so rewarding to hear their excited giggles and see them carefully put them back to pick a different one. I thought the youngest would pick some very "girly" fabrics but instead she picked some rich tones with small prints. The eldest shocked with a batik that looks kind of like cheetah markings and one that is tiger print.

This is going to be a fun summer if I can keep this crafting mojo going (knock-on-wood).

What's Up?

I'm surrounded by a ton of "should do's" and "have to do's", but I decided to pick the "wanna do" instead. I honestly was a bit relieved to log on and see it has only been a month since my last post. However, it has been one whole month. Darn! I really need to be better about this.

It isn't that I haven't been crafting, or not taking pictures, but I've just not been in the mood to download photos or write. Tonight it hit me to do them, mostly because the "should do" sitting next to me is uninspiring, the "wanna do's" need washing and are too loud for after the girls' bedtime. So...here I go.

What's up in my world? Well, let's see:

I've been spinning

I think this was the picture of my first batch. Since then I've spun and plied and soaked and dried and now have two tiny skeins. I plan to do more and then Kool-Aid dye it all at once. It isn't even but not bad for a first try. I actually saw the skeins the other day and wondered where I'd got them from, before remembering I did it. That, to me, is a good thing if I can't tell it wasn't purchased or given to me from someone I'd respect much more than myself.

I finished my socks. Yes, I actually started a pair just for me. I started mine before the ones for my girls but didn't work on mine to be done in time for Christmas. I got lucky when I was stuck at a routine oil change for three hours instead of the normal time and I knit on the last of the sock. Then I took it on vacation (to Lancaster, PA) and I didn't have to drive. I was actually pleasantly surprised to find I could knit a bit in a moving vehicle without motion sickness. That's a weird first for me, but I was silently celebrating my good luck. It didn't take much longer once I was back home to finish the last bit and cast off. They're beginner socks and I can see the "errors" but I love them nonetheless. I put them in the drawer to save and gave them their test run just last week on one of my fever days (four in a row). I love having cosy handmade items to wrap up in when I'm not feeling well.

Well, I think that's enough for tonight. I hear thunder again and I'm getting sleepy. More to come...works in progress and a completed baby outfit.

FO: Layla Blanket

This week was such a lucky one. I was blessed to meet my best friend's husband for the first time as she and Chris traveled half way across the country to visit family and friends. The reason for the trip? My BF's cousin had her first baby, Layla. She is an amazingly beautiful little girl and I couldn't resist the urge to make something. So, I spent Easter morning cutting and sewing a 42 inch square blanket to go along with my favorite baby parenting book. The perfect size to swaddle.

The fabric is 100% cotton so it is fully machine washable and dryable. The fabric on the front is school days as both Layla's parents are teachers. The back is a simple yellow.

Welcome to the world and to a wonderful family, little Layla!

FO: Dawn Dresses

I sighed a giant sigh of relief tonight as I put the finishing touches on the last masquerade ball masks for the commissioned outfits. I had fifteen to make and health issues and life delayed progress much beyond my original due date. I'm so grateful for Barb's patience.

PHEW!

Each dress is hand knit from my own design, using crochet cotton in black and white. The masks are made from sparkly foam with little feathers and strings on each side to tie behind Dawn's head.

I am so excited to move on to the baby dress that is almost overdue (hoping not the baby). Oh, and I've started a sweater for my Grandma. I couldn't find one pattern that was perfect, so I'm making it up as I go. We'll see how it works out. I splurged (HUGE!) on some Addi Turbo circulars, size five in three different lengths. I was buying for the pattern I had picked then read more carefully and decided it wasn't quite right. I want to knit in the round for the majority of the sweater and that's hard to find. Well, wish me luck in my insanity.

Cleaning House-FO, Frogging, and WIP

I'm a single-Mom (divorced, to be exact) and I'll admit it is difficult to juggle it all sometimes. I adore my two little ones but am now learning to love a bit of "me" time while they visit their Dad. So, this weekend I dove into the closet in the craft room and started rearranging. I pulled out a bag full of WIPs and started really looking at them.

1) There was a lovely lavender item. It was two rows of eyelets (K1,YO, K2tog) then a few rows of stockinette stitch. It was maybe 8 inches wide and I'd knit more than a foot in length. I'm guessing I was going to make it into a scarf but I figured if I couldn't remember maybe it wasn't worth the time to figure out again. I frogged it and liberated a circular needle (haven't checked the size yet)

2) The second item out of the bag was a red and blue beginning of a crocheted afghan with star blocks. It was cool and I kind of remembered it, but when I analyzed it I thought I could make a scarf out of it instead if I frogged a few rows then bound off and added fringe. Maybe nobody else will ever want it, but at least I don't feel as let down as I would've frogging the whole thing.

3) Next was a baby blue and white stripped child's hat. Not actually sure of the size on this, but will try it on me and/or the girls later. It was on a piece of waste yarn so I put it on dpns and started working it. I actually feel productive, even though other projects are sitting idly by. I can't wait to dive into some more of these and feel "done" maybe at some point.