Thursday, October 2, 2014

Our Shop is Open!

Our Etsy shop is open! Come check it out here.

I keep adding items whenever I get the chance, so check back often!

The monthly wrap-up is coming soon, so stay tuned for more crafty goodness.

Monday, September 8, 2014

August Wrap-Up

The crafting was very "varied" in August! I worked on so many different things. Here are my completed projects for August:


I finally finished this plastic canvas needlepoint coaster set after years of working on it off-and-on:




I distressed this frame and decorated it with some antique crocheted and tatted trims:




I loved the above project so much that I purchased a wooden letter, painted it multiple colors, and then distressed the wood to let the other colors peek through, then added crocheted/tatted trims:




I cross-stitched this whimsical sign:




And I made this woven basket out of yarn and cardboard:




I already have two crochet projects, a knitting project, and a nålbinding project in the works for this month! Plus I am busily photographing finished objects to put up on our Etsy site that will be live soon. I'll let you all know when we get it up and running. There will be a lot of handspun yarn, fabric boxes, quilting projects, and other fun items for purchase. There will even be fiber from our angora rabbits for sale! We're excited to finally get our products out there, so check back here soon for the announcement!!

Sunday, August 17, 2014

Quilted Containers

After last week's craft "retreat" that Mom and I had, we had some great completed projects:

Our first project, a coaster that now lives on my sewing table.


Our second project, a butterfly coaster. We made twelve of them and Mom is sewing them together into a table centerpiece.

Our third project, a cute fabric box.

After diving into these we started thinking about the possibility of selling them. We really want to open an Etsy account and start selling some of our crafting wares, and these would be a great addition. We went out and bought a bunch of fat quarters and a bolt of the heavy duty stabilizer that goes between each piece and I started cutting and basting! Last week I cut out the fabric for nine different containers, including cubes like the one above, smaller cubes, and rectangle boxes. Today I basted them all to the stabilizer (using stitch witchery) and I now have them packed in a nice tin to go to Mom so she can sew them by hand (the technique is called English paper piecing). When we have more done, I'll be sure to show you pictures!

I've also completed a couple other crafting projects this month, but I'll save pictures for the monthly wrap-up. :-) Let's just say that I finished the plastic-canvas needlepoint, a woven basket, and I made a corkboard frame that I distressed and then glued on bits of crochet and tatting. It's very neat.

I've also purchased a couple of cross-stitch projects, a bunch of yarn for an afghan, and a book called Loom Knitting for Mommy and Me purely because it had a sock monkey pillow in it. Expect to see some lovely loom knitting projects in the future.

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Oh my goodness!

I somehow convinced myself that I had updated this mid-month last month, and apparently I didn't! Here's what you missed:

Better pics of June's finished project:






And the monthly wrap-up of July:

I finished this neat crewel embroidery-





I finished this embroidered picture-


I made this fantastic card for a friend's wedding-





And I finished my cardigan!!-






I'm currently working on a plastic-canvas-needlepoint project that I've been working on off-and-on for years, the hand-quilting project that I've chronicled on here a bit in the past, and the machine-quilting project that I've mentioned before.

My mother is currently visiting, and today we went to JoAnn's and bought a bunch of materials for some sewing projects. I bought the batting and backing for my finished jelly roll quilt top (the green batik one in past posts), plus the materials to make three purses from a pattern I purchased last spring. My mother bought the materials to make a t-shirt quilt and to make some projects from the book Contain It!

When we returned from shopping this afternoon she and I went down to the craft room and set to work on the first project in Contain It!- hexagon coasters. We cranked out five of them, and we love it! Mom and I cut the pieces, she put in the stabilizer, and I did the stitching. So much fun! I'll share pics soon.

Yesterday she and I spent time looking at two new acquisitions of mine:





A friend picked these up FOR FREE!! The Louet S10 spinning wheel is in near-perfect condition, just needing a couple parts. The four-shaft table loom needed a bit of repair, but I think I fixed everything yesterday. Now to start exploring with it and trying some new projects!

I also purchased two new crafting books on Tuesday. Both of them have some projects I am absolutely dying to make! They are Woven Scarves and Stitched Gifts. Some of you are in for some great Christmas presents! :-)

So, it's been a busy crafting week, and hopefully it will continue to be. I'll take pictures of the fun things my mom and I are working on this week and get them up for your entertainment soon.

Happy crafting!

Sunday, July 6, 2014

Still Traveling

We are still traveling for the next week or so, so please forgive me for being late on the monthly wrap-up.

I completed this wool felt applique candle mat:

And I worked away feverishly at several other projects.

This crochet coat (back and front done):





This sun hat (crown done):


And this crewel embroidered design (all done except edging):







Sorry for the awful pictures- I am limited to a webcam right now. When I complete all these projects you will have beautiful photos waiting for you!


Happy crafting!

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Mid-month Update

We are traveling, so internet access is a bit spotty. Bear with me this month! :-) I do have some fun things to share, however.

At the beginning of the month my mother and I went on a massive quilt shop hop, hitting 25 shops in just three days, plus four more a week later! Check out my loot:






There is a large number of various fabrics, kits, notions, and books/magazines in that pile! I can't wait to get started on everything.

Then last weekend we were at a sheep and wool festival, and I took the takhli spinning class I mentioned in my last post. I had a great time and took to it quite well! I'll get pictures up when I get the chance.

I'm currently working on:

The crocheted coat I've mentioned in recent posts. (The back is almost done!)

A crocheted sun hat, all in cotton. (Not handspun cotton, unfortunately.)

An embroidered wool felt candle mat. I've stitched beautiful tulips and leaves onto the mat, now I'm chain-stitching the stems. When I have it stitched and backed I'll post a pic.

I'll be in a car for four hours today, so I should get some more crafting done, but I won't have internet access for at least a few days. Hopefully I'll have some things done the next time I have access and I'll be able to get some new pictures up for you.

Happy crafting!

Monday, June 2, 2014

June is Bustin' Out All Over

After a very crazy month and a packed first weekend of June, I'm back! Last month I was extremely busy with my job, having multiple music contests and performances and then wrapping up the school year. Last Friday was my first day of summer vacation, hooray!

Then last weekend I hosted some friends on Friday night and we all went to celebrate another friend's wedding on Saturday. Most of Sunday was spent cleaning up after having house guests and then yesterday evening we went to a nearby town to have dinner with family. It was a great weekend full of friends, family, fun, and laughter, but whew! I need some time to recuperate!

Anyway, during the month of May I was too busy to post crafting updates, but I was certainly still crafting! Here is the monthly wrap-up:

Completed Projects:

I crocheted a series of patriotic bracelets for various countries-

United States of America


Canada






and England (not Great Britain, but the English flag)




(The United States bracelet is all slip stitch, the Canadian bracelet is single crochet, and the English bracelet is double crochet. They are all my own design.)


I sewed a bag from the book One Yard Wonders, fabric purchased from a shop near my hometown:


I tatted a snowflake from the book Tatted Snowflakes:

(This was shuttle tatted.)

And I finished a weaving that was started a long time ago. This belt is woven using weaving sticks:





Not bad considering how busy I was this month! I also started a few different projects this month:

Loom-knit drop-stitch scarf




Crocheted socks (one sock done)




And a three-ply, multi-colored yarn (two singles done)






This month so far I have worked on my 3-ply yarn above, having almost finished the third singles at this point, and I have started the crocheted cardigan that I swatched for back in April. In a couple weeks I'll be taking a takhli spindle spinning class, so look forward to pictures from that in the near future!

As always, if you see something you like, let me know! I'd be happy to make another for you, or to make something similar just for you to see on the blog. :-) Happy crafting!