Juicy Bits

176: this and that

I'm back with a couple more little projects.

This first project was a hannukah gift for my brother-in-law's family.  It's a challah cover.  Basically it's a mini quilt the size of a large napkin.  I didn't put batting in the middle because I wanted it to have more drape so I just used a a layer of muslin instead. And as you can see I didn't bind it...I did the sew-around-the-edges-and-flip-right-side-out method.

The characters read "shabbat" if I did it correctly. I don't read hebrew.  It's made of linen and scraps of print fabrics (all from my scrap bin!). 

I quilted it with double straight lines inside the linen. The characters are raw-edge applique.

This one, I didn't make.  My sister did.  Isn't it the cutest? She gave it to my Aurora for christmas. It's a bag, and I think the pattern was in Crochet Today.

Did I tell you I finally started a craft night?  I mean, really.  Finally.  So now once a month I get to get together with some lovely ladies and chat and craft.  Fun! and hopefully productive too...

JT

 

 

175: I've been busy...

making stuff!

Sometimes I feel like I'm not getting anything done, but the fact of the matter is I really have been making a lot lately.  Mostly because I've been taking up small, easy-to-finish, just-for-fun projects.  yay!

These little cuties were my Valentine's gifts for the kids.

Theo got a little crochet elephant.  The tutorial can be found here. This was my first attempt at amigurumi.  Not too hard, but more time consuming than you would think.  The only problem I found with this pattern is the trunk just kind sticks straight out.  You have to bend and shape as best you can to make it look cute and curved.

Aurora's gift was my first felt food.  Every year I think I'm going to make her some precious felt sweets. I only got as far as one slice. I don't get people who can make a whole cake. This took me way too long. And please be kind and ignore my obvious, uneven stitching. I think I was supposed to use a ladder stitch and I did, but perhaps I have to make them VERY close together. However, that would add hours to the construction... And I don't like how light it is stuffed with poyfil. Is there some kind of heavier fill I could use? I did add some barley in the bottom for weight. I do know there are plastic equivalents I could buy and I will next time, just so it doesn't appeal to mice. :)

What have you been making lately?

JT

172: christmas cuties

Well, I had good intentions to get back onto the blogging bandwagon.  Then life happened. 

OK, maybe not life so much as my obsessive tendencies.  See, I started to crochet a bit over the holiday.  At first I was working on my blanket.  But that's going nowhere fast.  So I decided I need a more achievable goal.  And I started this amazing shrug from Rowan's Summer Crochet book.  My plan is to wear it when I go to Hawaii.  Once I started, I could not stop...

Until sickness hit.  Not that I ever really enjoy reading about people's illnesses, but Oy!  I've been totally out of commission for over a week now.  Bronchitis with a side of not being able to sleep at all.  So, an entire week of my life is gone with nothing to show for it but a very lived-in bed.  I'm going a little bonkers (little might be the understatement of the year).  And until the last day or so I wasn't even well enough to crochet or check my email for that matter.  It occurs to me that I'm making light of this, but for my future self's reference, it was really quite devastating. I was totally reliant on others and couldn't really even be a mom for the week.

So, here's hoping things turn around quickly.  I'm almost done with the shrug and I'll share pix soon.

But for now here are some shots of a few gifts I made for Xmas.  These darling mermaids are from the amazing Wee Wonderfuls book by Hillary Lang.  I wish I had more time to make gifts from it...

 

I embellished these kitchen towels and made a potholder for my sister.  The fabric is Veggie Patch by Blank Textiles.  The graphic look is right up my alley.

I also made an adorable checkers set for Theo, but I'm going to try to post a tutorial of it for you all.

And finally a little look at my own two cuties at Christmas.  We did a whole matching family thing this year with purple and grey as the colors.

JT 

151: starting and stopping

Here's a project I began a while back.  Like 6 months or more.  Remember when I taught myself to crochet?

Well, I did a few hats and scarves and stuff, then I decide to move right on to a whole blanket.

It's based on this lovely inspiration.

And this has some instructions.

But you can see I went for a more limited palette.  Maybe I should have photographed it on white so you could get the idea...

 

I had no pattern to work from.  So it took me a while to get it "just right".  Or the way I want it anyway.

I could possibly someday write a pattern if anyone's interested, but I don't think I have too many crocheting followers.  And it will probably be a while.  And I'm telling you it's not the best.  And I'm still working on figuring out the continuous method for all the white that joins the circles.  So that's a lot of buts/ands.

Anyway, I've done about 50 circles so far.  Seriously I'd better write down the pattern because I've stopped working on it for a while and by the time I get back to it, I'll probably forget it.

 

I estimate I have like 175 more to make.  Yikes!

Most of these already have the ends weaved in.  I have to say that's the part that sucks the most.  It takes nearly as long as the actual crocheting.

JT

p.s. Did you notice I refrained from talking about how infrequently I've been posting lately?  You did?  Oh, well, I guess I blew that now.  

No really, I'm trying not to whine about my failings as a blogger and just go with the flow.  I'm super-busy and will be for at least the next two months, so set your expectations low.  

But, I have been working hard on the next fabric collection, for those of you that care.

128: on the vine

This is a flashback to my crochet obsession.  It's seeming short-lived.  Really I'm not over it, but it's definitely been put on the back-burner.  I have all the yarn for a gorgeous blanket, but haven't even started one square.  Maybe at Christmas.

Anyway, I did finish this vine-like scarf, garland, neck-thing-y, whatever you want to call it.

It's a total copy.  Check out Kanokwalee on etsy.  Goregeous right?

This is the style I copied.  

I asked her if she sells patterns and she doesn't (yet) so I made it up on my own.  Of course I would never offer a pattern for someone else's design, so if you're interested, ask her to consider writing one up.  I would totally buy that.  

Or, even less work for yourself, buy one from her shop.  What a great holiday gift.

JT

107: here come the goodies

That's right....finally the giveaway post.

And here's the quilt in all it's glory.

Several people guessed what the pattern would be.  I saw it at this tutorial.  I didn't particularly follow the directions, but used the general idea.  It has no batting and is made from circles of recycled jeans with fabric inset.

Not MY jeans mind you...but someone's.  I didn't want to do very small squares because of time limitations, so I had to go to the thrift store and buy the biggest jeans I could find.  The sales people though I was crazy as I could literally fit in one leg of some of them.  But I didn't want to pull off pockets and such and have them have changes in color.

The instructions recommended zig-zagging the edges but I really wanted the frayed denim edges.  That means this quilt is by no means a study in perfect sewing.  I washed it again after I was finished sewing and had to go back and re-sew the edges that frayed a little too much.  I suspect the new owner may have to do that as well during it's lifetime.  

But I like the rough-around-the-edges look.  It feels like a great picnic blanket.  And I think it will get better with age.  Sorry I can't get it to your for possible 4th of July picnics.  :(

So, "how do I win such a beauty?", you ask.  Well, if you've never before commented on my site, you can't.  Sorry to new readers!  I'm not doing it that way to be elitist, but since it's a whole quilt I wanted it to be somebody who's not just passing through for a giveaway.  Hopefully whoever gets it will really love it and use it.

But don't fret if you are a lurker.  I have consolation prizes.  There are two sets that come with: handmade zippered pouch, three fun, bright fat quarters, six 8 1/2" squares of recycled denim, and a little flower I crocheted (I didn't attach them to the pouches but that certainly might be cute).  I will be givng one of these prizes randomly to someone who leaves a comment on this post and one to someone who has already left a comment on this previous post where I drew out all the lurkers.

My method for the grand prize selection is this: 

1. Randomly pick a number between 1 and 106 (the number of posts before this)

2. Randomly pick a number between 1 and the number of comments on that post (comments left after now won't count)

3. Check to see if that commenter also entered by leaving a comment on THIS post

4. Repeat as necessary to find a winner

So, you have to leave a comment here to win.  I won't be overly picky about what you say.  If you want to be fun, you can send me your favorite cookie recipe.  I'm particularly interested in finding a good shortbread-like sugar cookie recipe for big, thick cutouts.  I bought the most amazing ones for Easter with a slightly lemon frosting that I'm hoping to re-create.  I'll leave the contest open until Tuesday at midnight, just in case some of you are too occupied with the holiday.

AND....if you can be the first to tell me where I can buy PEACH colored raffia, I will make a special prize just for you.  It has to be peach, not coral, or orange, or terra cotta, which I already have.

**** UPDATE: I should have mentioned I'm looking for synthetic raffia!

So good luck to you all.

You should know I appreciate all my readers so much.  When I started this all a year ago I never knew how much fulfillment I would get from sharing with you and getting to know you too.  A whole year....wow.

JT

106: doing things backwards

So I realized this new obsession with crochet is causing me to do things a little backwards.  I probably shouldn't be crocheting hats and scarves in this gorgeous summer weather.  I should be focusing on things like a light airy pillowcase dress (coming soon).

But, I've completed the companion scarf to the one I made for Aurora.  It didn't really come out any wider even though I added a row, because I think I was just crocheting way to tight.  Oh well.  I did make it quite a bit longer than the original so I can wrap it around a few more times.

Then I made a hat to go with it.  But, sadly I didn't have quite enough yarn.  I'm going to buy some more and make a matching one for Aurora too.  I used this pattern.  But it is no where near "deep" enough so I have to keep adding a few more rows.  And I plan on adding a green flower to make it go with the scarf.

Next up, a blanket!

Oh, do any of you readers out there live here in NJ?  If you're interested, I'm teaching a quilting/sewing workshop on July 10.  Basically it's a work-on-whatever-you-want day.  Some students will be working on a log cabin quilt, but it's open to any kind of sewing that you want to work on or need help with.  It will be a fun day to hang out, so check out www.jointure.org if you are interested.  I'd love to meet you...

jess

104: gotcha

Ha!  I knew I would draw out all you lurkers.  Yay!  And please don't think I have any problem with lurking.  I do it all the time.  Who has time to leave comments everywhere they go?  But if you don't say "hi" once in awhile, how will I know you're there?  And how can I check out YOUR blog?  (If you have one...not required, if course)

Anyhoo, I promise that all of you who spoke up, now officially have a shot at the quilt.  That is, if I get it done.  I'm trying, but really just haven't had much time.  We're going away camping for a few days, but hopefully when I get back I can really get cracking.  Do check back at the end of the month...

So, I did indeed go shopping a yarn store.  Boy was THAT overwhelming!  I really needed to have gone in there with much more of a plan.  I have grand ideas of trying a blanket, but wasn't even sure what material or weight of yarn I wanted.  I ended up just buying some stuff that "called" to me (or rather, that I couldn't stop petting) and hope to sort of audition some of them for the blanket.  

Without checking myself, I would have walked out of there with skeins in a dozen different shades of green. 

Speaking of which, do you know "skein" is pronounced.  I didn't.  Well, until Martha told me, that is.  I think it is seriously the only episode of her show I've ever seen.  Tivo somehow miraculously knew I would be interested in her "yarn" episode a week or so ago.  Um, yes.

The best part to me was when someone was show Martha her Amigurumi stuff and she had a super-cute cupcake with a face and Martha said, "So it doesn't make any sense, but it's cute?"  Too funny.

Well, the yarn store just happens to be next to one of my favorite quilt stores., Pennington Quilt Works.  I was terrible at resisting there too.

Here's some random fabrics I bought.

And here's a peek at fabrics I'm already gathering for Aurora's 5th birthday (in September).  I'm going with a peaches and cream theme.

JT

102: the first step is admitting you have a problem

OK, first off, thanx for all your wonderful support.  I'm so happy you're all looking forward to the fabric nearly as much as I am!

Now, I mentioned recently that I started crocheting.  It's becoming a problem.  A serious one.

BUT, I am making progress.  So that's good.

What's not so good is sitting in the car for 5 more minutes before I go in the house to sneak in a few stitches.  Or staying up 'til 2:30 am to finish one more flower.  Or convincing my daughter what a fun game it is for her to snip off my yarn ends.

But, then again it's not so bad.

And, look how pretty!  I love these flowers and they're really not that hard to do.  My least favorite part is weaving in the ends.  I sense a ton of unfinished objects in my future...

Anyhoo...this is a little peak at how I'm doing so far on that pillow.  And, yes, she does have a pattern on her blog that you too can follow.

Now, this week I'm planning on hitting an actual yarn shop (not just Michaels).  This is where I could get into trouble.  Like I need another stash to start building.  :)

JT

100: distraction addiction

Help.  I can't stop.  Since I got back from Quilt Market, I've taught myself to crochet.  Are there other much more productive things I should be doing?  Absolutely.  But I saw these pillows.  I mean, come on.  The gorgeousness is overwhelming. 

So I felt I simply HAD to learn.  And I love it.  For some reason I really jibe with it, more than knitting.  I think those poor gloves have been abandoned forever.

It's clear that I did start it as an escape.  I need to be doing something, but wasn't ready to face all the "real" work I should be doing.  But, now since it's so darned portable, I may be losing a good chunk of time to this new-to-me craft.  Ah well.

The first pix are just little test patches I practiced.  I was so impressed with the circle.  And then I made a scarf.  It's a very simple pattern from The Happy Hooker book.  I'm disappointed that it's not a little wider and much longer.  I think I may be doing everything a little too tight.  But Aurora already told me she wants it, so I'll make a matching one fore me... And I'm working on getting the flower thing down, so I know you'll see some of those soon.

In other news, did you note that this is 100 posts for me?  Yay!  I know a giveaway is in order, but my blogiversary is only a month away, so I may be waiting for that.  This way I'll be able to make it something really good.  But here's the catch, if you're a regular lurker, you may want to leave a comment soon, because I think I'm going to do some kind of kooky giveaway that rewards those who have left comments in the past.  

Ciao.

JT