Swap-bot: Mandala Coloring

I've been doing quick easy swaps to get my numbers up so I can play in some of the better ones soon.  Today I was looking for a Halloween coloring page for one I am already in and I came across a bunch of mandalas to color.  I remembered how much I used to love doing  them so I figured why not create a swap.  And newbie friendly to help out as I know I'm having a hard time finding things I actually want to do with a quick turn around.

http://www.swap-bot.com/swap/show/75166

Feel free to pass this along ... happy swapping!

Where does the time go?

Wow it seems it has been awhile since I've posted anything here.  I've been having fun knitting and felting but other then that the creativity just doesn't seem to be flowing.  Sure I have a bazillion ideas floating around in my head but that is all they are ... just ideas.

 Felted Knit Bowl

I took a step outside of my comfort zone and signed up for Peace Felt but I'm feeling a little intimidated seeing some of the items that have already been posted.  I fear my partner will be disappointed.

This past week I've also picked up the hook again to try and learn crochet. Using a children's book I was finally able to pick some of it up.  I'm confident I can chain stitch, single crochet, double crochet, increase and decrease.  But that's as far as the book went.  My purpose in learning this is to help a friend finish a sampler blanket she has been working on.  Shhhh it is a surprise, a few of us will be giving her our squares in a few weeks.  So I have some books on hold at the library and hopefully I can crochet a few different pieces to add to the blanket.

 My first attempt at single crochet.

Also this past week I've felt the urge to get back to doing something creative.  I follow Helga's Blog and decided that it was time I jump in on a challenge,  Inchies!  How hard can it be to make a 1x1 collage?  Harder then I thought I guess ... the start of my project still sits on the table, unfinished and today is the due date.

 Turquoise inchies in progress ...

I was going to include some pictures but blogger is not allowing them to upload "failed" is what I get.  Yup that about sums it up, ironic, huh?

Edited to add the pictures, I guess "never give up" is the lesson today!

Ladder Scarf

I knitted this cute little ladder scarf one afternoon/evening - it was a fun and quick knit using a dropped stitch which was new to me. Awkward at first but really got the hang of it and now I love doing the drop stitch.

Unfortunately I was just "playing" and grabbed a ball of yarn that I only had one of so the scarf is short, maybe it will work for a child. I'm also not sure of the type of yarn I used since I no longer had the label but I think it is a chenille by Lion Brand. It is soft and warm!

Felted Knit Bowl

I made this felted knit bowl along with the vase that was previously posted from the same yarn.  The bowl looks much better, the vase did not stripe like the bowl did.  Will have to adjust the pattern to fix this next time since I still have more of this type of yarn to use up.

The yarn:  Patons Classic Wool in Rosewood

Felted Knit Vase

I recently made this felted knit vase using Patons Classic Wool in Rosewood. This was my first time using this yarn, it was all they had available locally.  I'm not so crazy about it, I've been spoiled learning to knit with Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride wool.  Still good to try new things!

Holiday Thank You Notes

 

I haven't done much this past year, my hands have just been to sore to really enjoy doing anything.  I'm really missing my yahoo groups and chatting with crafty and artsy folks.  I miss sharing ideas and I miss being inspired by you all.  However I did manage to toss together a few holiday thank you notes for some friends.  It felt good to make something even it was a simple project of painted, stamped paper and torn cardstock.

Legs For Brian

Legs for Brian
http://www.legsforbrian.com/

Please take the time to read Legs For Brian ...

Yes I personally know this family and it is heartbreaking to see those around you suffer. I have been to their house, I have seen Brian crawl around ... There is no reason why any human should be allowed to suffer like this. Animals are treated better in most cases. Please share this and lets try and get Brian the help he needs!

How can people come together to help those in other countries but we let our friends and neighbors suffer? How can our government help those in other countries but ignore the needs of those in our own country?

Please pass this along, twitter, facebook. blogs, media ... whatever. Lets get Brian some help from someone who has the ability to help him!

Much thanks!

Felted Mini Totes

These fun little totes knitted up quickly and required me to learn a new technique as the bottoms are square. I learned to pick up stitches!

I think they would make a great little gift bag. I can already see holiday colors and maybe embellishing them with decorative buttons and/or gems. If I start now I might have enough for myself as well as a few to sell since some of my online friends have expressed an interest in my felted knits.

 

I did learn a valuable lesson from this project. I made four bags in total and felted them two at a time, the first two came out great (at least I think so) while the second two were a tad to "fuzzy" and looked worn. What caused the difference in the final result when everything appeared to be the same? The first two were felted in separate pillow cases and the others were felted in separate mesh laundry bags. I tried the laundry bags after spotting them at the dollar store, I remembered reading in a book that this is what the author used. I honestly believe that the bags are better protected in the pillow cases and will be using them from now on, maybe the mesh bags could be used inside one laundry bag - keeping them separate from each other but still protected.

Playing with Yarn

Yes, I'm still playing with yarn and having lots of fun with it. I recently made a drawstring bag and a small bag. The small bag was just made from the left over yarn from my first project, I wanted to make a test piece as I have never felted anything on my own. It was a success!

Feeling confident that I could do this on my own I decided to try a drawstring bag. It required me to knit button holes for the drawstring which was a new technique for me. I think it turned out okay, would have been better without the "fizz". Time to move on and get over the fizz!

Before felting...

After felting ....