April 30, 2008

no.9



Rest.
from Miss Flite's birds

String Bag Knit Along ~

Elisa's Nest Tote has become Elisa's Nest Backpack.


One of my original blogging desires was to join a KAL (knit along). Done! What did I learn?


  • Eight days is not enough time to finish a project with all of the other things I have to do. Even a string bag.


  • I may want to abandon any given pattern for another. In a KAL all participants knit ALONG on the same pattern, until the project is complete. This could be confining.


  • There is something exciting about posting pictures of the finished project on the KAL blog & seeing everyone else's finished project.


Siamese Twin Cats doll by Moss; what originally lured me in at Etsy...

April 26, 2008

Miniature things to love ~


I've thoroughly enjoyed looking at a blog called Tiny Buildings.
The site is simply a gallery of tiny handmade paper buildings with an interesting history.

This collection was created by one family over many years using paper they saved from places they visited, food they ate, business cards, advertising & packaging they aquired.

The variety of material used to create the tiny buildings adds so much to their interest.


See also all buildings tagged 'tinybuildings.com' on Flickr .
(almost certainly the best online photo management and sharing application in the world.)


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On a related note, Modern Cottage has designed the coolest Christmas village ever. With patterns so everyone can make one.

April 25, 2008

thrifting theme ~

Super extra-bonus: little people.

April 24, 2008

Tiny Ami Deal.

My 12 yr. old son & I hammered out a deal. His part; buy the book & yarn (he had very specific ideas @ color, eye placement, & accessories). My part; supply the eyes, the felted wool, & create 5 little amigurumi creatures (duck, bunny, cat, turtle & dog...)

I get to keep the book.

April 23, 2008

Last Minute KAL


This is my first knit along, & I've added to the excitement by joining in late April! I've already begun twice - this time in the round. There's one little group of stitches at the end/beginning of the round that aren't exactly correct, but I can live with that.

April 22, 2008

Wicked & Elisa's tote...


Finished - Wicked from Zephyr Style. I really liked the pattern - suddenly the circular/seamless thing makes perfect sense to me.


When I started my blog, one of my objectives was to join a knit along. I've finally done just that. I've joined Elisa's Nest Tote knit - along; & I have eight days to complete my bag.

April 21, 2008

Beans & Rice on Restaurant Ware


My entre to passionate thrifting...
Who ate from these dishes before me?

April 15, 2008

Look at what Amy Arnold makes!

Amy Arnold is Peepwool, & I love her dolls. I really want to hold one. Their legs!! Their eyes! Their wooliness!

April 14, 2008

April 9, 2008

Tea Cozies


links to a few tea cozy patterns:
Tea Cozy House
Felted Tea Cozy
'Happy Thought' Tea Cozy; Victoria & Albert Museum
Vintage Poodle Tea Cozy with pom poms
Scallop Tea Cozy; pictured upper left corner above.

Drinking Tea


I'm learning to prepare & enjoy good tea. I have three tea friends. One friend took me to a tea-house & introduced me to good tea. A second friend taught me how to prepare good tea, & the third friend is a bona-fide tea notable; Tea Party Girl.


Are you lacking an education in Tea? Lacking enthusiasm for good Tea? Do you appreciate tea accoutrements, but don't know where to acquire them, which items are absolutely necessary, how much to spend? Would you like to hostess a tea party for a crowd? Tea Party Girl will solve all of these.


This morning I enjoyed Snowflake Black tea using my cafeteria-style tea items; Tepco china tan restaurant ware cup & saucer, individual creamer, sugar bowl, & my vintage Japanese anthropomorphic cat teapot. The teapot does not hold heat well at all (porcelain made in Japan), but I like it for now. In fact, I became distracted while drinking my tea by the stoicism of this cat. He will not make eye-contact.


*A favorite saved search of mine on EBay: vintage teapot - thirty pages of fun. If you have a bit more to spend, try antique teapot - 41 pages.


*Later; tea cozies -

April 6, 2008

Heavenly.


What fun! An unexpected end-of-season ski weekend!

This was the best picture of me.

April 3, 2008

Do-It-Yourself Knitting Accessories



I thought making my own knitting needle case would be easy, easy, easy. The project as a whole wasn't difficult; but stitching so many parallel lines accurately was. Before I began, I envisioned myself making a bunch. Not anymore. There are lots of instructions on the internet; below are some of my favorite.

Multicrafty

cardboardboyfriend - felt

Craftster - needle case made with a vintage physics book.

Splityarn - circular needle case

Purl Bee - nice! circular needle organizer



I do enjoy making stitch markers. Unfortunately, I only need a few nice ones. I've tried making them several different ways & have settled on using soldered sterling jump rings (10mm or 8mm) & 22 gauge 2-2.5" headpins. The soldered jump rings cannot snag on anything, & the extra little bit they cost is worth it,because they can be polished & will last & look good. The 22 gauge headpin is strong enough that it doesn't bend easily, but lightweight. These stitch markers slip easily from one needle to the other & don't get caught on the knitting. Row markers can easily be made using a sterling silver clasp in a medium to large size.

How to make a wire-wrapped loop


*I even resized this video

April 2, 2008

Good Idea Etsy

pencil urchin

Hands map collage

Good Housekeeping belt buckle

stay puff purse

Oh Deer ring set