My Craft Journal

we're on vacation

Louise — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 02:57:16 +0000

i'm knitting on the beach.

love to go

Louise — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 04:06:19 +0000

a little late - valentine's day necklaces for e an y. simple needle-felted hearts strung on pink ribbons. i love needle felting - it is amazing what a little ball of fluff can turn into!

ellie's winter coat

Louise — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 16:07:11 +0000

a while back, i posted about my grand jacket plans for ellie, as part of the kids' clothes week challenge. it didn't happen then, but it did happen. and, it has been a great jacket for the winter. it is a slight modification from an ottobre pattern using a piece of orange wool that i found in the remnant section.

i hemmed the sleeves, but trimmed the neck and bottom with red and pink bias tape - which was both easy and nice time saver. it also worked out well with the ribbon i used on the opening. she also really wanted a tie close - so, that is a cream bias tape closure.

since it is not too cold around here, it has been a great winter coat! i am really happy with how it turned out and, she likes it too.

awesome

Louise — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 23:47:45 +0000

"abstract art is a kind of art that shouldn't look like anything.

abstract art is a kind of are that is made to look like anything."

this moment

Louise — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 20:40:33 +0000

inspired by soulemama: "{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember."

keeping warm - take 2

Louise — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 04:46:56 +0000

i was really happy with how wiley's vest turned out - and, as it turns out, so was ellie. and, whenever either ellie or wiley asks for something specifically, i just have to make it. so, here is ellie's "vest."

it is a scaled up version of elizabeth zimmerman's february baby sweater. i did it in a chunky yarn (berocco vintage chunky), so it knit up pretty quickly.

and, while it is good as an extra layer in the cold, it will also make a nice transition piece for spring. notes on what i did are available on my ravelry project page.

keeping warm

Louise — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 20:53:47 +0000

it has been cold! i started working on a vest for wiley, using the plain vest pattern from pickles. it is really simple and quick to knit up.

i added a zipper to make it a little more boy-ish. i think that it turned out pretty cute. the round next might be a bit girly, but i think it's alright. i'll definitely revisit this pattern!

we are fish out of water

Louise — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 15:47:07 +0000

while it looks like we are in the sears portrait studio, we are actually out of our california element and enjoying some snow-time in colorado. (it is zero today - as a high!!).

ellie and wiley are loving some time in the snow - skiing, tubing, and sliding.

it is great to see the hand knits being put to the test! i've got some new projects on the needles that i will share soon! but, here are the most recent family hats.

festvities project #1 - birthday shirt and pants

Louise — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 03:53:54 +0000

my first holiday project was actually a birthday project for wiley, whose birthday is the week before. i made him a birthday shirt and pants. the pants are pretty simple elastic waist pants, with patch pockets from the japanese sewing book everyday bottoms.

overall, they turned out well - but, he is growing so fast, i think that i am going to have to lengthen the pants! too fast!

happy new year!

Louise — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 04:53:27 +0000

whew- that was a long time! but, i am still around. and, i am going to try to be better about this blog, i swear! and, i am not a big resoluter (?!) - but, i have made a few new year's resolutions this year.

they are as follows (in random order):

for me: use the stairs instead of the escalator at bart (i have to start somewhere)
for bubbles and boo: approach some local stores about carrying bubbles and boo products
for work: focus more, multitask less
for my family: relax, enjoy, multitask less
for my creativity: take the time to enjoy what i do and make

it's early days, but i took the stairs at bart this morning (yippee!) and at the office, i am making a concerted effort to set myself up for success on #3. over the next few days, i will post some of my holiday crafting projects. of course, i did less than i hoped, but i am going to take some time to enjoy what i got done!

bring it on 2011!