So little time, so much to do......

Work, work, all week long.....

2009-08-05T15:20:00.000-07:00

This is my man this spring when we fixed one of the eaves troffs on the house so that my cucumber bed wouldn't be washed out.

The forklift came in handy!

MmmmmMmmm!

Here I am the day after having my tonsils removed. My little kidlets were so happy to take Mommie home!

A local asked me to attach these "colors" to a premade jacket.

busy busy!

2009-08-05T14:24:00.000-07:00

Have you ever seen a wild Tiger Lilly with six blossom heads on one stem? Me either, and I have been tramping this earth for nearly 30 years. This summer, Larry was lucky enough to find not one, but two six bloomed wild Tiger Lillys!

For my nephew Tyson. He loves transformers!

Three nighties made for my only repeat customer so far. Learning experienced from this? Make sure to clarify what the customer is thinking....

My neice Gracie's birthday gift nightie. Fairy's and lace!

The back of Keke's swimsuit.

More work compleated!

2009-08-05T13:54:00.000-07:00

This is Keke's swimsuit, designed and made by me, remnant fabric, so the total cost was below $8. One thing I learned the hard way? Use nylon threads for swimwear to allow for more stretch in the seams!

Modesty shorts so my Keke can wear her retro looking mini dress in total confidence and comfort!

The retro dress itself. A beutifull mistake on my part!

Look what Larry went and did! That is right, he proposed. I accepted of course!

This is Rabbie. One of the most beutifull little girls I have ever met, and so smart and sweet! She is modeling her new bonnet made from a "Lady Rider" bandana and some pink polkadot fabric salveged from a poorly made ladie's button front shirt.

Over complicating things, one day at a time

2009-08-05T13:50:00.001-07:00

That is right. I over complicate things. For example, I recently made a few alterations to a wedding dress for a friend of mine. One of the main alterations was to bustle the trane so she could dance easily during the recepion.

Well, I got all complicated and sewwed hooks and eyes in behind some large jewels that were attached to the skirt.

The easy solution? About eight inches of ribbon, looped round both jewels and tied securly. That would have been super simple AND would have stayed put through countless hours of dancing.

*sigh*

The lovely bride has been a repeat customer since then, but again I over coplicated a simple request.

I strive so hard to be "perfect" that I often end in disaster! I should learn from this.

A second example would be how almost every batch of jam I make has to be remade at least once before it sets properly. LOL. I really need to chill!

Finished work from ages ago.

2009-06-01T15:32:00.000-07:00

Keke in her beer dress and shrug. The dress I designed, and the shrug is modified from a vest pattern. These are made from recycled materials. Beer shirts to be exact.

I added some iron on aplique to spice it up a bit.

The shiny purple shoes I made for Rabbie.

Stylin' hey?

Keke and Boo with their Easter outfits.

More sewing.

2009-06-01T13:01:00.003-07:00

These are the one of a kind Easter shirts I made for Keke and Boo. Back veiw. All made fron recycled materials. Also, Keke's skirt is reversable, and made from a remnant and recycled material. Boo's pants are not really visible but they are plain camo pants with an elastic waist made from a remnant.

Easter shirts front view.

Showing the leg ruffle on a lepard print outfit that I made for my friend's daughter for her birthday.

The little peasant style top.

The whole outfit.

Keke grew so much between now and her last birthday that her *rose dress* as she likes to call it, was now ankle leangth and she didn't have any dress shoes to match. So I made these little slippers from some salvaged beads, some elftover bead trim and leftover ribbon. The soles are leather my lovely MIL gave me, and the tops are some vinyl from her as well.

She didn't want to get any dirt on her dress as we walked to her Playschool grad.
No, I did not make the dress. Her greatgrandma Kish gifted her the dress for her birthday.

This is me in the disaster that is now my sewing room. I need to get it painted and the shelves put in so that I can get organized and actually be able to find what I am looking for!

The cargo pockets on Boo's new shorts.

Some new shorts for my small man Boo. He is pretty much potty trained, but tiny hands have a hard time doing up snaps, so elastic waists are our new friends!

Finished projects.

2009-06-01T12:37:00.000-07:00

I forgot to take pics of a sunsuit I made for my Sister's baby Zanna. I feel rather silly as it was super cute. Also forgot to take pics of a t-shirt, shorts and pants set that I made for my sister Bobby's baby Jack. The t-shirt was from recycled materials and had a skull & cross bones stencil. The pants and shorts were from garage sale cord and had skull and cross bones applique.

And there is the purple satiny princress dress that was sewn for baby Rabbie. Also, no pics. Still working on the petticoat for it. Tulle is a pain to work with! Will have to remember to take a pic before delivering it. *sigh*

Finished the slight alterations on the wedding gown I was working on, and am pleased to report the bride-to-be was satisfied with my work.

The bridesmaid dress I am to make has been put on hold because the recipiant has fluctuating weight issues. Her words, not mine!!

Here are some of my recent (and a few not so recent) finished works. Some self designed, some from patterens, some from recycled materials and some from new.

This is a bandana skirt made from a choppers bandana, a bit of remnant fabric for the underskirt and attached capris, and some recycled tulle. The waist band is made from really stretchy t-shirting. I was inspired by an item I saw on Craftster.

She is also wearing her tinkerbell hat made from a pattern I picked up at Value Village for 99 cents.

This pic shows Keke wearing her tinkerbell dress. The pattern was purchased. The fabric is not the best, as the color fades out quickly and looks rather dingy. She is still in love with it tho!

Here are the hunting clothes I made for her last fall.

This is a t-shirt made from all recycled materials. One of my first ever recons. I loved the t-shirt, but after washing it twisted oddly.

This is a self designed tinkerbelle skirt that I came up with so she would have something special to wear to her Auntie's confirmation in March.

How much can be accomplished on a sick day??

2009-03-17T11:56:00.000-07:00

Allot. So far today, between blowing Boo's nose about 5,000 times, and snuggling him and comforting Keke, I have 1) Washed down the entire bathroom 2) pulled up the carpet in Boo's room and dragged it outside 3) cleaned up the resulting mess from the carpet removal 4) gagged at the design of the linoleum that was hidden under the carpet 5) wiped down all the surfaces in the room to remove dust 6) put his extra bedding in a clear zip storage bag to prevent dust building up on it 7) put chicken on to boil with celery, onion and garlic so I can make chicken soup for my sick kiddos 8) designed a new curtain for Keke's room 9) sew the curtain & hang it 10) cook two lunches .......

I'll just stop with saying it has been a productive day.

Now if only I could get good news from the ENT tomorrow......

Before & after pics of my Keke's window. One day I will make that awful wallpaper disappear....one day!

I hate zippers

2009-03-12T19:11:00.000-07:00

I also hate being over tired, in pain, cranky and run down.

Trying to inset a zipper in the above described condition is not a good idea but I don't have time to play around on this project.

I used to be able to insert zippers. I think. Been a long time. Maybe I never put a zipper in anything with stretch before?? I can't remember.

And to add insult to injury I was finally getting it to go in half decent and my bobbin ran out of thread. Loverly. Not.

Purple that shines

2009-03-11T20:39:00.000-07:00

I am almost finished making a new pair of soft shoes for a beutifull little girl my son affectionatly calls Rabbie. He is 2.5 so he doesn't often get things right. For example he has both an Auntie Bonnie and an Auntie Bobby. Both are referred to as 'Antibody'.

The shoes are made from 99.9 % recycled materials. The other part is new thread and elastic.

I find it hard, no nearly impossible, to admit ---- here on this blog where my peers and local townsfolk will read ---- that I use recycled materials for many of my projects. I fear that they will write me off as gross. I fear by admitting this, I will have judgement passed. So in previous posts I tried not to admit that I made something from an old purse/t-shirt/vest.

However, it is my passion to make things from nothing. I feel content knowing what was once considered ugly or useless has found new meaning through my warped mind and creativity. I do not use soiled or raggedy items to make my projects. I always try to ensure the items I am remaking are of good quality and will last. I do not like the thought of ,y product being poor quality. We can buy enough of that on the shelves at Wal Mart.

Now back to the shoes. The leather for the soles was passed on to me by the wonderfull woman I like to consider my MIL. She used to be an avid sewer back in the day. She has passed many helpfull little things to me.....like tanned skins, leather needles, leather..... Anyway the shoes! The lining of the shoes is from a child's pink tank top that had a few stains on it, and the outer layer is some shiny purple vinyl stuff from a reversable vest that screamed of tackyness and even *I* would not put on my child. Each by itself was not much of anything, but combined, I think they make some rather fetching shoes for a small princess my Boo likes to call Rabbie.

Notes on the shoes: The back is made to fold over to make the elastic casing, so if you rather not fold over, take about half an inch off the pattern peice, and form a tunnel instead. Also it is rather long and could be about 3/4 of an inch shorter.

Make the button holes for the elastic to pass through a little farther into the shoe.

Interfacing helps stabiklize the fabric if it is streatchy, but it also makes the shoe stiffer thus a little harder to turn!

Open for business.

2009-03-08T08:52:00.001-07:00

Am I kidding? No not exactly. It seems my little idea to be super frugal and make all the Christmas gifts for neices and nephews turned into a roster of items that need sewing or altering for friends and people that I hardly know too. Now I once dreamed of this but never thought that I would actually do anything with the thought.

I don't even have a name for my 'business'. I have almost as many cobwebs hiding in my 'sewing room' as I do fabric.

But this is what I love, and I will try to chase the dream. Plus it gets me home with my kids, something I have wanted for a very long time. It tears me up inside to leave them to go to work. Yes, I have sitters that I adore and take amazing care of my kids, but I should be the one caring for them. They are mine, I am their mom, they need me. I need them.

Anyhow, here are some crafty photos! Things I have recently made. I really should have taken pics of all the Christmas gifts! Oh well ;)

Keke in her *Canadian* dress. Made from oversized beer box shirts. Literally, the t-shirts came from boxes of Canadian beer, and I made them into this dress.

Boo in his remnant jammies. Seriously, this cost under $5 for materials.

Keke modeling a summer dress made from maternity shirts bought at an auction by her Grandpa.

Boo wearing his camo hoodie and pants set that I made for him.

Here is a long sleave T I made for Boo using the neck/chest/back peice of a t-shirt I bought on sale, and the a red t-shirt that was in Larry's drawer never worn. Unfortunatly I did not use ball point needles and the life of this cute shirt was short lived.

Keke modeling a 't-shirt dress'. The kind where you take a t-shirt and sew a skirt to it. Very 80's.

Keke showing her *wings*.

Keke and Boo in their halloween costumes that I made for them.

I made Keke this ruffle skirt using remnants. On it are Boo's fleece mitts lined with some super heavy fake lambskin.

I knit Boo some alpaca socks!

Pictures!

2008-09-04T15:46:00.000-07:00

My sunflowers decided to get as tall as the house....

I think they don't know the meaning of 'stop growing!'

The plentifull choke cherries

Keke & Boo during one of our fishing trips

Again, Keke and Boo fishing

We visited my sisters in Edmonton

We took the kids to ride ponies at the Edmonton Vally Zoo.

Larr-larr took the kids camping so that I could sleep when I was sick.

Keke hamming it up.

Larr-larr sorted berries endlessly during saskatoon season

And he picked berries from the truck. Drive by picking!

And while we were picking pin cherries, the kids enjoyed a badger hole

And of course, we celebrated one small man turning 2!!

More pictures to enjoy!

2008-09-04T14:53:00.001-07:00

We played at the beach.

And took our kids on 'Jungel Adventures'

And we put those little buggers to work picking saskatoon berries too!

There were many of these wild lillies to enjoy

Boo hamming it up on one of our many adventures

How time flies!

2008-09-04T14:19:00.000-07:00

I last posted in April?? Bad blogger! haha! With a garden, house and yard to care for, blogging kind of was pushed to the back of my mind.

Here are a few pics of what we have been up to.....

We went 'hunting' for shed antlers and found this lovely pair!

We made a snow monster! Boo was glad to help out.

We enjoyed some early spring flowers! Boo wasn't impressed!

Larry and the kids surprised me with these lovely Mother's day flowers!

And this is the garden that kept me busy all summer. And it seems Larry has caught me in the pic if you look closely.

I'm Ba-aaack!

2008-04-29T12:13:00.000-07:00

Yes indeedy do. I have returned to my little blog space. I have been slowly getting back into the crafting mind frame, as time allows.

For awhile I was a broke single mom of two, now I have an amazing partner who helps me so much, and because of all he does, I have time to get crafting again!

The husband is history. Gone. He wasn't worth the air he breathed, but that is as far as I will go.

I need to post pics of several FO's....curtain ties, a baby set for my sister's new son Jackson, a baby set for my friend Bonnie's little girl, some 'baby legs' for Jackson......... I even made KK's dolly an outfit. That is permanently sewed on! Mwahhahahaha!

Ok, off to nap. I screwed my back up and thee pain pills are doping me up gooooood.

Offline soon.

2007-11-19T13:04:00.000-08:00

Just letting everyone who may read this silly blog of mine that I will be shutting off the internet at the end of the next two weeks. I am seperating from my husband and will be moving, and having the net will not be high priority on my list, so it may be awhile before I update again.

I have many FO objects in both sewing and knitting as well as crochet, but those will have to wait to be posted about. lots of packing and cleaning to do right now.

In the works

2007-10-23T21:38:00.000-07:00

Currently sewing a t-shirt for KK! From a t-shirt someone gave me that screamed Ma Dugger so loudly that I could hardly stand to look at it. Now it is becoming a cute litte hooded T!

Also sewing Christmas clothing for KK and Boo. I am combining patterns to make KK's dress......I also happened to change my mind after finishing all of the bodice except the button holes, so now I started all over again and ran out of black thread.....just bought more, so will be on the roll again.

For Boo, there will be a vest and pants to match his sister's dress.

Still debating making myself a shirt from a dress pattern.....we will see. With moving coming up in about a month, and being forced to give back my sister's sewing machine and get my own.......how can I decide which to buy!? Also, I just came to an agreement with the haint in her machine, and we have a working relationship that benefits us both. Now I have to form a relationship with a new machine? Gah!

Finished things!

2007-10-23T21:28:00.001-07:00

My 'Cat in The Hat' touqe is finished! I made it huge....I could fit two of my giant heads in it, but I love it, and it is just as goofy and wonderfull as I wanted it to be! Plus, I can wear my ear band under it when the real cold weather comes.

Here are some Uggs inspired boots that I made for Boo. I had to add some elastic to the inner ankle to keep them on, and now they stay on as good as the Beabeez. I made them from double layer extra thick fleece and lined the soles with fleece as well. My baby will have warm toes!

And the beuty of these boots is that they can be worn with the cuffs up or down, keeping small legs warm when pants pull up during stroller rides.

Call me dense!

2007-10-10T07:57:00.000-07:00

I started knitting KK's Thing 1 hat.......or so I thought. I totally spaced and thought that Thing 1 and Thing 2 were black......well actually, they are RED. So I have the ribbing finished for a black toque, and am not even sure I want to make a black toque!

I do want to make penguin hats, but they start out in red for the feet, not black.

I am finished KK's acorn hat and I like the modifications I made. I am also finished my 'Cat in the Hat' toque, pics to follow shortly.

In other news I started working at Rotten Ronnie's aka McDonald's. Last night was my fist shift at the actual restaurant. I got to scrub the men's room. So, now while I have your attention, I want to know.............WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH THE MALE POPULATION THAT THEY CANNOT AIM WELL ENOUGH TO HIT A FUCKING URINAL?!?!?!?!

Come on, it is around 2 feet wide by 3 feet long. A penis is much smaller then that, no matter WHAT a guy may claim, and a pee stream is even smaller, so why in the name of a saint can a man not pee without getting it on the walls beside and behind the urinal?

And why, why would some asshole think that it is a good idea to spit their gum into the urinal? Do they get some kind of sick laugh at the thought of a McDonald's employee having to pick it out after it has been peed on all during the day?

And here is to all the STUPID LAZY teenagers that I work with who know that the manager does not have the time in the day to go check the bathrooms to see if they were actually cleaned, and so they lie about doing it. FUCK YOU you lazy little shits who think the world revolves around you and that you don't have to clean washrooms. Fuck you with an ice cold, nasty dirty scratchy toilet brush in your stupid little lazy eye.

I see I am going to love my job. I'm already a coffee chronic and renewed smoker. What else could happen to me? Well, maybe this twitch in my eye may become permanent.

@#$!%!^#$#

2007-09-29T20:55:00.000-07:00

KK's Very Berry T was starting to look promising, and I was hopeful that it would turn out after all.......then I noticed that I seemed to be missing a few stitches.......started counting and not only was I missing a few stitches....more like 12.

12! How in hell do you loose 12 stitches?

I ripped it out, and have to start over now. *sigh*

On the go.....

2007-09-28T17:36:00.000-07:00

I just cast on the Very Berry T-shirt using an unknown fibre content yarn. Why is it unknown? I picked it up sans labels at my local Sally Ann, loved the feel of it, couldn't pass it up for 98 cents. It is a finer weight then worsted, so I am knitting it with a 3.5 mm needle, I will see how it turns out. I know there will be some other modifications to the pattern as I go along as well, to custom fit it for KK.

Funny how when I first saw the pattern, I was like, "Gosh that is one ugly ass shirt, why would anyone make it?" And now I am making it!

Also, knitting KK's acorn hat, but making some modifications to see if it helps the hat stay down over small ears better.

I also plan to cast on my 'Cat in The Hat toque' as soon as I get another pair of 4.5 mm circs. Hmmmm, I could always start in on my DPN's...........we shall see. I was at the store today to get the 3.5 mm circ, and totally forgot that I wanted another 4.5 mm. *sigh* Lack of sleep will do that to you.

As I may be starting an evening job right quick here, I will just post FO's as they come along, and my devoted (more like non-existent) readers will have to do without WIP pics.

In other new, I have KK just recovering from croup, and Boo coming down with it, so it is a minor miracle that I even have time to blog, much less knit.

To whomever decided baby yarn should only come in pastel colors......

2007-09-27T16:58:00.000-07:00

Pucker up and give my rear a kiss, it's pretty big so you can't miss.

That is right, I said it. I suppose that it won't be too hard to go to an LYS and get them to recommend a different yarn, but still. I am thinking of knitting KK a Christmas dress, and the pattern asks for Bernat Softee Baby. Which of course, only comes in wholly unchristmasy colors. I want a Burgundy yarn, even though now that I think of it, pink and black wouldn't be too bad, but then she and Boo couldn't have matching dress and vest.

Ah well, one more reason to head over to an LYS. Christmas is only 3 months away. How the hell did that happen?

I have also discovered the reasoning behind having more then one set of needles in the same size. I never understood the need for this intil now.

So you can have more then one project requiring the same size needles on the go at the same time!

A total D'OH! moment for me there!

More finished things!

2007-09-25T17:02:00.000-07:00

Alright, I have been busy, and I have evidence to that. Here are some of my latest finished peices.

The back view.
A front view, showing how I put the back pockets on the front. I liked them better on the front, so I went ahead and did it. I machine stitched all the decorative stitching on the legs and pockets. They fit perfectly, and turned out much better then the 'first jeans'.

I made these for Boo awhile ago, and he has worn them many times. I have not been able to figure out the pattern to make a boot style BeaBoot, and the lace up fleece lines boots I made him are a pain in the ass to get on him because of the laces, so I made a fleece lined shoe version.

Hm, I think that I just had a genious moment ala Rodney McKay from Star Gate Atlantis and figured out the boot pattern. I will get back to you all on it later and let you know if my idea was indeed geniuos.

Boo's 'dressy' BeaBoots. SO easy to make now that I have it down to an art! Sadly, he is fast outgrowing the stage where soft shoes are aceptable. :(

Here is Boo's completed Acron hat. It fits him perfectly, if only he would leave it on. I kind of messed up the acorn cap trying to give it texture, but I now know how to acomplish the task with as little work as possible, so KK's matching hat will be easier!

Showing the bow detail.
These were made with peices from an old coat of mine, the same one that I made my very first pair of BeaBoots with. I think she needs a foam liner for her though, because she wears them to pre-school and the school is in a basement so that = hard concrete floors.

What love is REALY.......

2007-09-13T18:53:00.000-07:00

accepting, unconditional, flexible to individual's differences and always honest.

It felt right to put this oddball post here, in light of certain events that have been playing out among myself and many of my loved ones.

On my needles

2007-09-13T16:09:00.000-07:00

Boo's acorn hat.

On that note, I realy need to decide what I am doing for halloween costumes. Hmm.

Second hat in the line up....

2007-09-13T16:00:00.000-07:00

The CURSED cupcake hat. If you look closely at the ribbing, halfway up it twists, making it look almost like some sort of odd cable. Then a little further on, it just goes to complete hell and no longer looks like any form of ribbing. I did not take close ups for fear the curse of that hat would rub off on my camera. No, I am NOT paranoid! I am never making this hat again. Thank luck that I have a boy and a girl, and that I think cupcakes are too feminine for my son to wear.

I also decided against the big poof on top and instead used a pink crochet flower that has been around for ages, needing a final resting place.

At least KK likes it enough to wear.

Tube Dress

2007-09-13T15:57:00.000-07:00

Now this dress has been around for awhile, just have not gotten around to photographing it (I think). It was my old maternity t-shirt that I quickly expanded out of, so it saw very little wear. I like this dress so much, I am thinking about making one for myself!

Note the drool around the red bead on the chest. Boo thought that it looked tasty, so was chewing on it. Yum.

Finished things

2007-09-13T15:51:00.001-07:00

First up, an xl men's corduroy shirt becomes a skirt and vest for KK. I designed the skirt, and finaly figured out why my jeans and jean skirts weren't working, and used a pattern for the vest. Simplicity 6239 it was.

You can kind of see the leather flower detail on one hip pocket, and the vest has the same detail on one front side. Oh, and the lining to the vest was my work shirt from Safeway. I knew that thing would come in handy!

More things to wish for.....

2007-09-01T17:21:00.000-07:00

These are some things I meant to add to my last post, but was distracted when my Boo woke up.

I wish that I could sew without waking everyone up. In this apartment, my sewing machine is on the kitchen table. That leaves a wall between where I sit and where my husband is sleeping, so he would be sure to hear it running, or in the very least, he would hear me swearing at it as I frusterate myself.

So I would have to either have a quieter sewing machine OR a basement/lower level then the bedrooms to sew in. Yea, not happening.

Perhaps the next time that I cannot sleep I will just sit on the couch and knit. That always works. Doesn't make any noise, and I can swear in the living room and not have it heard in the bedroom.

I also wish I had more sewing knowledge. *sigh* Perhaps my little sister wouldn't mind teaching me more.

Things to wish for

2007-08-31T22:44:00.000-07:00

More hours in a day. A way to clone myself. A second set of hands.

I have too many crafty ideas in my head, and cannot sew or knit fast enough to keep up with them. Back when I was in command of 90% of my brain cells, and used to write romance/western fiction I had the same problem. Now, I have several novels/stories sitting unfinished, and I have been told that they should be published. By a librarian and her published friend. Problem is, my brain has decreased it's functioning rate to about 48% so I no longer feel I posses the ability to write, much less pick up a pen and finish something that I have left hanging for almost 15 years.

I have added to my roster of completed pieces a pair of jeans for kk, and a pair of heavy fleece pants. The jeans turned out so-so in my opinion, but over all, they are pretty good for 'first jeans'. KK likes them so that is all that matters.

I ripped apart a pair of her jeans for the pattern, but it didn't work as well as I had hoped. I think because she wore the jeans before I ripped them, so I am going to soak the pieces and dry them flat to see if that helps any.

The 'first jeans' turned out almost like the skinny jeans that are so fashionable right now, and that is odd because the originals so were not skinnies. Who knows what happens when I get a pair of scissors snipping away though.
Also I noticed my baby girl has a low waist, so I am going to have to customize the pattern a bit so I can stop rolling her waistbands down in order to get her pants to fit.

I am plotting a t-shirt dress and a jean topped broomstick skirt for KK because I just came across patterns and I think they would look adorable on her. Plus, now that she is starting pre-school, she NEEDS a souped up wardrobe, no?

I do feel a bit guilty because I keep making stuff for KK and yet, I have hardly made anything for Boo. I wish I was brave enough to make him some button front shirts, but I don't think I am up to making a pattern for such, so I will have to go hunting for such before venturing out into unfamiliar territory.

Plus, I could make him jeans too, elastic waist jeans are fine for small boys, I just need a pattern to work with. And more patience. Finishing the seams is a pain in my fast paced, OCD ruled ass.

Ok, enough already, it is midnight and the kids like to rise earrrrrrrrly.

Curses to you cupcake hat!

2007-08-27T18:51:00.000-07:00

I don't know what is up with me. I just could not get the simple knit 2 purl 2 pattern to work, I had to start it 3 times, and then I messed it up, but decided that I didn't want to do a fourth.

Then to get the 'nubbles' I messed those up to. It said to bind off 4 stitches. I thought that meant all at once, but nope. So several of the nubbles were bound off all at once, and it was so damn hard!

Now, I started to decreases, and I MESSED IT UP AGAIN! So I ended up ripping it back to before the decreases.

I need decent DPN's too. I can hardly wait for Friday when I can go shopping for knitting needles!

Curses to this hat. I am never making it again!

Smitten

2007-08-26T16:32:00.000-07:00

I have never understood about knitters drooling over yarn, or discribing a color as 'delishous' or 'yummy'.

Until this. I must, must have some of that yarn. I just love the color of it. It makes me drool, and covet it unlike any yarn ever has before.

Hat-a-ploooza!

2007-08-26T16:18:00.001-07:00

Yep, the fever has struck me. I now plan to see how many hats I can knit for my kids and myself before suffering burn out.

This is my first set of matchy-matchy hats for my kids.......

I thank the creators of Apple hat and Apple leaf for the patterns that allowed me to make my kids into twinsies!

I am currently knitting KK a cupcake hat, and for Boo, a viking hat! Yes, they are different, but a cupcake is too girly for my Boo.

Plans for acorn hats, tomato hats, strawberry hats, pumpkin hats, thing 1 and thing 2 hats, with a 'Cat in the Hat' hat for me....... I could keep going, but i think you all get the picture.

Mmmmmmmmmm, cute little hats for adorable little kids!

Just for the hell of it.....

2007-08-23T12:34:00.001-07:00

Check out this pic of Boo and KK. He is doing one of his favorite pastimes.

Yep, the boy is digging for gold. He likes to pick his own nose, his sister's nose, his Poppa's nose.......my nose......any nose that his little finger can get at, he tries to pick.

I think it is just gross, and when he is after mine or his sister's, I put a stop to it, as does his Poppa, but there is something fiendishly attractive to him about the inside of his nostrils, and when I tell him to stop, he looks at me and starts laughing as he runs away and keeps digging.

Must be a boy thing, because his sister never did anything like that!

At last........pictures!!!

2007-08-23T12:18:00.001-07:00

I made Boo a new pair of sandals before we went to visit my MIL. His feet have since grown (as you can tell by these pics) and now the sandals are too small, along with every pair of shoes and sandals that I had made for him previously. The boy has size 4 feet already. His sister was 2 before that happened.

All previous attempts at sandals resulted in the vent holes being too big, so this time......are you ready for it?....I used a paper hole punch. Ha! Worked like a charm! Many of the extended family were encouraging me to go into business selling these shoes/sandals. I don't know if I will, but I have come up with a better name for them in case I do......BeaBoots. Sounds better then 'BeaBeez'.

I decided to put buttons on Boo's hoodless Hoodie. (Geesh, just call it a farking sweater already will I?!?) so now he can start wearing it. As you can see, he has already got a glob of something on the collar. Loverly!

Here is KK modeling the altered jumper Auntie Jed gave her (Auntie Jed made it too!) and some legging/pants that I made this morning to wear with it. Who knew that hoodie of mine that shrank up after the first wash would come in handy again??

And lastly, just for you Claudia ;) here are those fleece lined boots. They look a little rough because they are basically a prototype and plus, Boo gave them a good chewing over yesterday. I think it helped him get that last tooth through, so it is all good! One is still a little larger then the other, so I need to flip it inside out again and resew a bit. Otherwise I like them and will probably make him a few more pair.

With that plan in mind, I need to get my rear to a leather and fabric store. Recycled leather/fabric is all good.......as long as you have it. LOL. I am about out of leather, and there are still so many cute little shoes/boots that I want to make for both Boo and KK.

Oh and P.S. Blogger, kiss my ass. I liked it when I posted pictures and I could see them in my post before publishing, unlike all the text crap I get now.

Oh, how crafty of me!

2007-08-22T15:02:00.000-07:00

Can I clone myself so that I can accomplish more crafty stuff? Seriously, so many projects, so little time.

I just tailored a pair of jeans for KK, hope they worked out, she was (and still is!) napping so I couldn't try them on her. ****Still too big! Dadburnit! She has the waist of an 18 month old and the legs of a 4 yr old. Aaarrgh!****

Also, I FINALLY finished altering the jumper Auntie Jed gave KK for Christmas. Now she can wear it just in time for the cooler weather! It will go nicely with those legging/pants things that are so popular right now.

By the way, I have several FO's that I need to photograph and post, but hell, I have photogenic burnout still from my recent vacation to the MIL's house. Yes, STILL. A month later!

I hope that goes away soon, as I kinda *liked* taking pics, and I have two adorable kids that I just can't take enough pictures of!

Baby boots

2007-08-13T10:30:00.000-07:00

With the cold weather approaching...(I can feel it already)...my mind has turned away from sewing and back to knitting/crochet. However, there are a few sewing projects that I still plan on doing, and one of them is a pair of soft sole baby boots for Boo. I will get him a real pair of winter boots when the snow comes for good, but in the mean time I am using this as inspiration to make him a pair of fleece lined soft leather boots.

The first one is finished, and because my crappy machine kept snapping the thread I sewed the three pieces together by hand, and my fingers are so sore now. I do not miss hand sewing!

I am going to have to figure out if my machine can handle 3-4 layers of thickish leather (I'm thinking it can't) before I start on the second boot.

Now I find myself wondering why I didn't just make some fleece lined Beabeez boots. Would have been allot simpler! Maybe he will have some of those too. A little guy who likes to walk needs several pair of warm boots for fall, no?

Finished! Lion suede scarf.

2007-08-06T14:24:00.000-07:00

I finished my MIL's b-day gift while on vacation with her over the last two weeks. Unfortunatly, I forgot to get a pic of her wearing it, much less a pic of it in all it's finished glory.

Ah well. SHe liked it so much that she has requested a matching hat! *happy dance* And I think that I will throw in those matching mitts/gloves too. I am thinking flip mitts for the gloves, if I can find a pattern that uses a chunky weight yarn. If not, well, regular mitts it will be!

The great dress debate

2007-07-14T21:15:00.001-07:00

Here is that halter/tube style dress made from the pinstripe pants. I had a HELL of a time getting the waist elastic in, because I added it after the dress was sewn into a tube. Took me several tries, and it still isn't perfect. Now I just cannot decide what to make the halter part out of, or to just leave it as a tube dress. I am not sure if tube dresses are appropriate for little girls.

Also, even though she isn't wearing them in this pic, this dress is made to wear calf length tights underneath. Too short for wearing just as a dress.

She seems to like modeling for me when she isn't over heated. The attitude just pours out in her pics lately, and she says 'Momma, take my peekture!'.

Boo's Hoodless Hoodie

2007-07-14T21:11:00.000-07:00

Is finished! I am debating putting buttons on it though, as he is a little wiggler, yanker. I think it would be better with velcro maybe. Maybe. Or just larger buttons so they stay in the holes better.

I will decide on it later, as it is too darn hot to think about sweaters and such.

Lookie Lookie

2007-07-13T15:16:00.001-07:00

This cute little lace trimmed tank was made from a doG ugly peasant style shirt of mine that KK dubbed her 'princess'. Well, now it IS her princess and I think she looks loverly in it!

It was very hot out today so she is modeling the shirt over her swimming suit, and she wasn't much in the mood to have her picture taken. I do not balme her. I wasn't much in the mood to take a picture realy. Melting will do that to me :(

I had hoped that it would end up being long enough to be a sun dress, but NSL.

Rain can come in handy!

2007-07-10T20:39:00.000-07:00

Rain isn't all bad.

Stuck inside = productivity. (Sometimes anyway.)

Check out KK modeling her new momma designed and sewn outfit! Made from a tan corduroy skirt that never fit me properly, and accented with burgundy snowflake trim.

You cannot even tell it was made by a beginner........hahaha, maybe not at first glance, but the accent shows several spots that are a bit less then perfect, and the inside of the skirt could have been finished better, but hey, I am teaching myself to sew from scratch here. The most sewing I ever did was patching jeans back when I was a teen. (So a long time ago.)

I also think that when I make her more tops, I am going to change the top front so that it is less square. Just because the way it looks as it is now tweaks my OCD bone a little.

My original plan was to make the top a halter style with elastic along the top of the back, but alas, as I am new to this, I did not factor in enough seam allowance and the lack of stretch in corduroy, so I added in the zipper (my first zipper insert ever!) and went with tank style straps.

I am also considering adding in a built in bum cover to the skirt, for modesty's sake and all. The whole outfit took me about 7 hours from the start of plotting the pattern to finished outfit.

I am rather proud of my accomplishment, and I think miss Attitude likes it too, as I usualy have to hold her down to get her to model my work, but this time she started striking poses left and right.

I am working on another dress for her, one that I originally planned to make out of a knit jersey material, but having no way to get to a fabric store, and being all impatient and stuff, I am using a black pinstripe that used to be some ill fitting dress pants. (I think I have had them 4 yrs and wore then maybe 3 times total.) And besides, they were too big anyhow, so why not recycle them? I am not so sure it will turn out the way I wanted, and it is taking so darn much longer then I thought it would. Still, both kids are in bed, so expect to see an update featuring it in the next few days.

Scraped!

2007-07-07T19:52:00.000-07:00

I have decided against making the acrylic Liesel. It looked like crap and the pattern has so much potential! When I have a chance to get to a LYS I will pick up some yarn worthy of the pattern, and when the snow returns I will knit again.

Now WTF do I use all this red acrylic yarn for?!?!?!

Two more FO!

2007-07-07T19:32:00.000-07:00

Here is my self designed 'Kid Harness'. Yes, I am going to leash my child like she is an animal. If you were flying across several provinces, alone save for 2 small kids, then you may leash your wild toddler too.

There is room for some improvement, as you can see by the back view, but hey, we are going to use this thing 2 days total, and then it will be retired, so who cares!

Here is a skirt that I remade. It was a skirt given to me that I realy saw no point to, so I cut about a foot off the top and made a new waist band for it. In all it's wrinkled glory, it doesn't look like much, but I like it when it is on.

Here you can see the snow flake detail I added. I even had to photograph the one spot I messed up a bit! Yea! Let us all celebrate flaws!

Just one FO left to blog about.......well, that is not true, there may be a few more.........

Having a sewing machine rules!

2007-07-07T12:18:00.000-07:00

I have been busy remembering the few things I picked up in Home Ec class sooooo many years ago, and winging it as I argue with the poltergeist that lives in my sister's sewing machine. Yes, it is haunted. Either that or there is a faulty bit of wiring, but I like the haunted bit better.

Anyhow, I made my sweet Boo (He got too big to be called 'Boo Boo' Where the hell did time go??!) a new pair of Beabeez sandals! I love these ones, they totally fit his wide little chubba feet better. I found a new pattern on the net (Thanks Ohelene!) and this one suites my kids wider feet much better. It took me all of a few hours to make these, rather then the weeks it took me before! And!!! No loss of finger skin or blood! Yippeeee!

He is in constant motion now that he started walking, so these are as good as the pics can get while being modeled! and here is the back view....

I love the contrast of the differently colored leather. Yes, I am so pleased with them that they have been blogged about sooner then a couple other FO's that have been finished for many weeks now. I see a few places that could use some improvement, but what ever! I love them! And ftr, they are the third finished project since I borrowed my sister *Jade's* sewing machine ;) I will have to blog the other soon. Eventually. Well, before I leave for Thunder Bay in a week, I promise!

Next on the list.....

2007-06-06T18:42:00.000-07:00

princess tutus! More on this later.............

As promised before....

2007-06-06T18:27:00.000-07:00

Here are pics of a FO I mentioned before. I finished KK's (Precious changes her name preference so much I will just use her initials from now on.) cape. She hates it. I put it on her and she whines and wriggles until I take it off. I let her choose the colors and she was so excited about it until I cast off. I tricked her into smiling for this picture by talking to her about Grandma.

I did four or five rows of regular knitting along the bottom edge thinking that it would keep the cape from rolling, but no such luck. If anything it rolls worse! Maybe a ribbing edge would have been better? Oh well, not like she wears the darn thing anyway. No need to make another seeing how she doesn't wear this one anyway so I will never know if a ribbing edge would have been better.

Check out my latest FO!

2007-06-06T18:22:00.000-07:00

Snuck this one up on you I did, mwuhahauha! Ok then.

Here is my very first pair of Beabeez sandals! Now that I have made them, I already know how to make improvements, and am plotting my next pair. The leather is from a recycled purse, so these cost little more then time.

I am so cheap sometimes that I can hardly stand myself. Oh, excuse me, I think it is called 'Frugal'.

I don't think he will get much wear out of these as he has very little wiggle room for his toes, but hey, at least he has something to wear on those hot sweaty days while mommy works up his next pair!

Just to add some content....

2007-06-01T21:53:00.001-07:00

I have a few FO that I need to photograph and post about, but in the mean time y'all get this....

Bold for stuff you've done, italics for stuff you plan to do one day, and normal for stuff you're not planning on doing.

Afghan
I-cord
Garter stitch
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down
Socks: toe-up
Knitting with camel yarn
Mittens: Cuff-up
Mittens: Tip-down
Hat
Knitting with silk
Moebius band knitting
Participating in a KAL
Sweater
Drop stitch patterns
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Slip stitch patterns
Knitting with bananafiber yarn
Domino knitting (=modular knitting) (maybe)
Twisted stitch patterns
Knitting with bamboo yarn
Two end knitting
Charity knitting
Knitting with soy yarn
Cardigan
Toy/doll clothing
Knitting with circular needles
Baby items
Knitting with your own handspun yarn
Slippers
Graffitti knitting (knitting items on, or to be left on the street)
Continental knitting
Designing knitted garments
Cable stitch patterns (incl. Aran)
Lace patterns
Publishing a knitting book
Scarf
Teaching a child to knit
American/English knitting (as opposed to continental)
Knitting to make money
Button holes
Knitting with alpaca
Fair Isle knitting
Norwegian knitting
Dying with plant colours
Knitting items for a wedding
Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cosies...)
Knitting socks (or other small tubular items)on two circulars
Olympic knitting
Knitting with someone elses handspun yarn
Knitting with dpns
Holiday related knitting
Teaching a male how to knit
Bobbles
Knitting for a living
Knitting with cotton
Knitting smocking
Dyeing yarn
Steeks
Knitting art
Knitting two socks (or other small tubular items) on two circulars simultaneously
Fulling/felting
Knitting with wool
Textured knitting
Kitchener
BO
Purses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching
Long Tail CO
Entrelac
Knitting and purling backwards
Machine knitting
Knitting with selfpatterning/selfstriping/variegating yarn
Stuffed toys
Baby items
Knitting with cashmere
Darning
Jewelry
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Writing a pattern
Gloves
Intarsia
Knitting with linen
Knitting for preemies
Tubular CO
Freeform knitting
Short rows
Cuffs/fingerless mits/armwarmers
Pillows
Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine
Rug
Knitting on a loom
Thrummed knitting
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
Shrug/bolero/poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair
Hair accessories
Knitting in public

New FO and new project

2007-05-11T12:11:00.000-07:00

What do you call a couple needles, some twisted string and a 25 lb drool monster?

Boo Boo hanging off his mom's knitting. *sigh*

Knitting has been slow due to random bits of life that are more important.

I did, however, manage to finish some soft sole Beabeez for Precious. (Who by the way will not let me call her anything other then Deah now.) As you can see she has already scuffed the toe of them on the sidewalk. They were meant to be indoor slippers but she has taken them for a couple outdoor trips already.

They are her beloved 'Shortcake shoes'. I already have plans for another pair as I have enough of the shortcake cloth to make about 50 more pairs. The next ones however eill be all leather with the Strawberry Shortcake apliqued on.

I am also knitting her a cape. She picked the colors. I think I may make matching legwarmers. It is slow going as I hardly get more then one row knit at a time.

I need to control it

2007-04-28T17:12:00.000-07:00

the need to start new projects that is. I am starting to go a little knit obsessed right now. There are so many new projects that I want to start. I am trying to make myself finish several that I have on the go before starting any new ones. Of course, not having the needles or yarn for many of the projects helps too, as then I have to actually have the funds and transportation to get to the yarn shop before I can start anything.

But anyhow, come fantasize with me. Right now I want to make this, and I may even make it in those colors. For once the original is in colors I like.

I also want to make Hey Mickey. No idea what color yet, but I am going to make Monica to match.

Then there is Eiffel and Lelah that I want to make for myself as well as The Blue Sweater that I want to make for my sister as well as myself.

Then I have the idea to make some 'Baby Legs' for my daughter using sock patterns. The first being Quill Lace and the second being Queen of Cups. I hope they work out.

Even though my baby won't be a baby next winter I realy want to make him the world's cutest baby hat. I wish I had found that pattern when he was little last winter!

Then there is this lace dress that I have wanted to crochet for my Dd for so long but have never been able to decide on a color.

Ok. I am done. For now anyway.

A new FO! and a revelation

2007-04-20T11:23:00.000-07:00

I am a slow knitter. That and I am actually only mediocre at it. I just saw a pic of some socks someone knit in 2 days. They even had stripes.
I am still only about halfway finished my mil's scarf. It is the simplest pattern ever too. k2, p2 for one row, p2, k2 for the next and repeat those 2 rows. (This minus the pom poms, but I may add a fringe.) (I decided against the Yarn Harlot pattern.) I just added the second ball and realized that I will need part of a 3rd for the scarf alone. So that means I will need approx 2 more balls if I want to make a matching scarf and mittens/gloves. Bleh.

Anyhow, the new finished object is the denim pair of 'Beabeez'. (aka knock off Robeez.) I even added a insole to them, one that I had stolen from a pair of store purchased booties that were not fitting too well. Gave me an idea though, and all I will need to make foam insoles for other booties is a sheet of craft foam and some 2 sided fabric tape.

And seeing how I totaly need another project on the go (NOT!) I promptly started making Precious a pair of Beabeez with Strawberry Shortcake vamps. She already figured out that they were for her. *S*

The knock-off Robeez

2007-04-13T11:06:00.000-07:00

Here they are, my first pair. I used a stretchy material as the lining and regret it now. I also did not use a leather sole, so I doubt these will have much durability. Made from materials I had on hand, and the entire cost was a bit of finger skin, a few drops of blood and about 4 hours. Why so long? Oh yea, I will answer that.

I have a sewing machine, but......the tension gauge is broken and I have yet to decide if repairing it is worthwhile or if I should just buy a new one. So I did all the sewing by hand. My thumb and pointer on my right hand are a little angry about that still.

Also! I inspired my friend Telly with my craftiness and she made these for her little girl.

The words to go with the yarn pics

2007-04-07T12:25:00.000-07:00

So here is that cursed post I have been trying to make. (lasagna was awsome btw)

I decided that I would like to make my MIL a nice hand made gift for her birthday rather then buying her something ot get broken during shipping. She likes red. I like to knit. My first idea was a sweater. I found both a crochet pattern and a knit pattern that I liked. I then decided to make her a scarf too and found a nice pattern that I simply love.

Sadly I beglected to get started on the birthday gifts and instead started several other projects and am currently obsessed with making Robeez knock offs. (More on that later!) So I am just making the scarf.

Long story short, the 2 places that I have nearby to buy yarn at suck ass. Hell Mart and Michael's have a poor selection. I have been reading about yummy yarns nad have started coveting them, but I cannot freaking find any!

I settled on a Lion Brand suede and guess what? It's too 'busy' for the chosen pattern! So I am using a cheapo acrylic now.

This is the pattern I am making ----> http://yummyyarn.indus3ous.com/patterns/MJG_Liesel.pdf

And I may make this pattern with the suede yarn ---> http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/archives/2006/10/12/one_row_handspun_scarf.html

And my MIL may just end up with 2 scarves for her 50th birthday. In July. At least winter comes every year hey?!

3rd post. A work in progress

2007-04-06T13:20:00.000-07:00

<------- The cursed suede yarn. That stuff is pretty hard to knit up!

The 3rd cast on with cheapo acrylic yarn --------->

I am sick of trying to get this post typed up. I have tried 3 times now. First time I had it all typed up and Boo Boo rocked the computer tower and froze everything up so I had to restart. Second time I had it all typed out and went to add the pictures and lost all the content I had. I will come back to it after I have cooled off.

I'm going to make lasagna now.

Second post! Buhwahahahaha

2007-04-05T15:07:00.000-07:00

This is my darling princess ( my 'Precious') modeling her specially made hoodie sweater. Despite being tall for her age, she is thin and many sweaters/coats and shirts are simply too wide for her. So in making this sweater, using the same pattern as her brother's, found in the members section at bernat.com, I used several different sizes. For example, I made it as long as the 24 month size, as wide as the 12 month size and the hood is a combo of both sizes. I used a chunky weight yarn. I am regretting making the sleeves white. She just woke up and is still in her jammies so please excuse the bed head.

2007-04-05T14:52:00.000-07:00

Here is my first post in my crafty blog. This is my darling baby boy. My 'Boo Boo'. He is modeling his sweater/hat/bootie set I made for him several months ago. It was my first FO in months. I knit the hat by guess work and did not use a pattern. I could have made it bigger for longer wearability but oh well. The hoodie sweater was crochet from a members only pattern at bernat.com. The booties are Grannie's Love Baby Booties found here http://members.tripod.com/~kpup/html/baby_booties.html .