Samantha McNesby

Giant Granny Square Afghan

noreply@blogger.com (-Sam) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:50:00 +0000

Sharing a photo of the world's largest granny square -- I have a ton of cute, scrappy granny patterns saved in my ravelry queue, but I am lazy and made a single great big square instead.

If you can double crochet, you can make a huge granny, too!

I used a lovely yarn from Noro, Iro; this is one of those cool kettle dyed yarns that gradually shifts from one color to another--so I got a great striped effect without having to change colors (or weave in all those nasty little thread ends. It's also made from wool (75%) and silk (25%) so it should be nice and warm. You can see a pretty pic of the yarn I used on the Waldorf mama blog--she's used the same color for a pretty little dress.

I was totally optimistic when I started this (and obviously have no ability to estimate yardage at all), so I bought three skeins and got to work. The first lasted a good long time (this project starts in the middle and grows, so each round eats up a little more yarn). #2 lasted a good long time too, so I was feeling very proud of my awesome estimation skills...until I attached skein #3. Which got eaten in just 8 rounds of the blanket (which was then about 24 inches across, not really a blanket at all).

Back to the yarn store. Do I need to add that these are $15 per skein...so the "cute, quick little blanket" is rapidly becoming the "kind of costly blanket"...

Just to be safe, I picked up skein #4 and #5 (my LYS officially loves me and my poor math skills). I am sure you are much more clever than I am at this point, because I really thought this would be enough--not only enough, but that there would be copious amounts left over for the chunky tassels I was planning for each corner....

Not exactly. Skeins #6 and 7 (yep, back to the store, who had thankfully put aside the remaining skeins in my dyelot, "just in case"). They ran out, so I bought 4 more skeins from Webs (at just $10 a skein, yay!).

Behold, the finished yarn eating granny in all of her glory:

This project has been dubbed the "rainbow blankie" and has been stolen by my 4yo for her bed...

If you want more colorful crochet, check out Lucy's work at Attic 24; you'll find pretty ripples, grannies and more.

Review of Heartsy -- for Buyers

noreply@blogger.com (-Sam) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:24:00 +0000

Have you been to Heartsy yet? If you are a fan of handmade, and want to save a few bucks, head on over to Heartsy and check out the deal of the day. I shop on Etsy just about every day, (usually when I am supposed to be working) so when I heard about Heartsy, I had to check it out.

Heartsy works like the popular coupon site Groupon.com, but the deals are all with shops offering handmade goods, mostly from etsy or artfire artisans. Customers purchase a heartsy coupon code, that can then be used with an online seller. The deals change each day, with plenty of jewelry, art, photography and accessory shops to choose from.

Like Groupon, Heartsy offers coupons for a set price; the coupons can be redeemed in the store immediately or within the next 30 days. Regular Heartsy deals offer about 50% off a particular store or item. VIP deals increase the savings, and are worth the cost of a VIP membership ($10 per month, optional) if you buy a lot of handmade items.
Recent offerings include:
$10 for a $21 coupon for handmade jewelry
$10 for a $31 VIP coupon for handmade, organic kids items (yep, I grabbed one of these)
$10 for a $31 VIP coupon to a hand-dyed yarn and roving shop (got one of these too...)

Save on handmade, like this luscious soap from the Soap Seduction

Since the deals change each day, you'll need to visit and keep an eye on current offerings; Heartsy does send an email each day letting you know what's up next.

The Good Stuff about Buying on Heartsy:

You'll save money: Obviously, the savings is the big draw here. If you are like me and spend a decent amount on handmade soaps, kids toys and other gear each month, then you can save a considerable amount of money by using Heartsy.

Creative and fun jewelry from XOXii shop, featured on Heartsy this week.

Fewer flakes: If you buy a lot of handmade, then you already know some shops can have great items--but less than stellar follow through. Shops that are using Heartsy are actively marketing their businesses, so you can be sure that the products you get will be great quality. The main draw to sellers is the exposure and potential good publicity; all of my purchases so far have been great, and I am planning on buying again from at least one seller (full price, but worth it).

Support handmade: When you buy handmade items, you put money directly into the hands of the artisan. If you haven't taken the handmade plunge yet, using a Heartsy voucher is a good way to get started without much risk. Click here for a great post on why handmade is "expensive" by Lex, the creative genius behind SmarmyClothes and WhattheCraft. I read this awhile ago and bookmarked it to share, it is a must read.

Heartsy is juried: Part of the Heartsy application process involves jurying; users can vote on the stores that they would buy from if a code was offered. What does this mean to you? Just like real life art fairs, jurying means that the shops that make it through likely offer appealing items that you'll want to check out.

Shipping is included: You can use your Heartsy coupon for shipping, so if you plan your purchase right, you won't have to pay out of pocket for shipping.

Upcycled comic books meet pencils, notebooks and more at Colleen and Cohort, a featured Heartsy shop.

The Not so Good Stuff about Buying on Heartsy:

You'll get hooked on handmade:This isn't really a bad thing, but once you try real, handmade soap or custom made clothing that fits your style and figure perfectly, you won't want to go back to the retail, mass produced stuff. Consider Heartsy a gateway drug...once you're hooked, you won't look at jewelry, clothing or accessories the same way again.

Timing: You'll need to snap a deal up when you see it, so if you are looking for favors for a birthday party or a gift, buy early. You may not see a deal you like if you try to shop at the last minute. The site has also run out of coupons for popular stores in the past, so if you see something you like, grab it before it's gone.

Expiration dates: Heartsy coupons are only good for a month, so you'll need to use yours before it expires! If you buy a code, don't forget about it (though Heartsy will remind you that your code is languishing, via email).

Lower stock levels: While most shops stock up prior to offering a Heartsy deal, they can get overwhelmed. Most shops are run by a sole proprietor, so expect your items to ship out a little later than usual if you buy during a big Heartsy rush. (A little later means 3-5 days, not 3-5 weeks in most cases.) Shops can get pretty depleted when a Heartsy deal is offered, so either pounce and order immediately, or buy your code and wait a week or two until the shop restocks.

Flakes: It happens when you buy handmade...just like it happens when you buy commercial. The last order I placed and didn't' receive was from Burpee, the seed giant, so it can happen with any vendor (I am still waiting for my garlic and potato seeds, Burpee!!!). The flake rate seems to be a little higher with Artfire shops than Etsy ones, but be aware that it can happen. If you don't get your item, you can get a credit (not a refund) from Heartsy, so you will be covered.

So there's the deal for buyers--Heartsy is pretty much a win for those of us who love handmade. My husband is a fan, even though he has never visited the site; thanks to the reduction in my etsy/artfire spending.

But what about the sellers?

Does offering such a substantial discount really pay off for sellers? Check back soon for the scoop, I am working on a review of Heartsy for sellers this week.

Boring small print disclaimer:

I don't work for Heartsy, and purchased the codes I used to evaluate and learn about the site on my own; no freebies, nothing to see here, move along...

This post is part of the TA DA Tuesday Link Party on Mommy by Day, Crafter by Night
Click the link to drop in and visit!

FO: Thrummed Mittens

noreply@blogger.com (-Sam) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 19:05:00 +0000

I spotted a pair of thrummed mittens somewhere recently, and loved the idea...of course, when I gathered some supplies and sat down to knit a pair up, I had no idea where I had seen the original pair. I suspect it was in a recent issue of a knitting magazine, I was browsing them in the bookstore before Christmas. Anyway, the idea is that the "thrums"--the little white fluffy bits of wool--conform to the shape of the hand as the mittens are worn. They are supposed to be super warm and I just finished these in time, it is supposed to be very cold here this week!:

Finished mittens, the fluffy one is inside out so you can see the stuffing!

Since I didn't have a pattern to go on, I just made these up as I went along. I chose a little girl friendly color combo (Plymouth Galway in a rainbow variegated) and figured they would fit someone in both size and style. It turns out they are a perfect match for our 7 year old, so it worked out well...I will just adjust the size up a bit for the 9yo and down a bit for the preschooler, and everyone will have warm hands! One skein was plenty (see the leftovers in the pic?), and I think I used about 2 ounces of roving.

Project notes (aka boring technical deets):
Yarn: Plymouth Galway and white roving (from the awesome Sheep Shed Studio)
Needles: Size 6, knit on 2 circs
CO 36 stitches, 2 1/2" of 2x2 rib, switched to stockinette and added a thrum pattern every 4th row. Reserved space for the thumb with waste yarn (7 stitches), no gusset.

My big girl is shopping the yarn closet now for "her" mittens, I will cast on for the next pair as soon as she chooses.

Goodbye, Jaws, Hello Harry?

noreply@blogger.com (-Sam) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 17:38:00 +0000

Say goodbye to Jaws...and hello to Harry Potter? Rumor has it that the Jaws attraction at Universal Orlando will be replaced by an expansion of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, complete with a Gringott's themed ride. While this info is still in rumor form (Universal has not confirmed or denied), the park has announced the permanent closure of Jaws, starting today. The Theme Park Insider has full details on the proposed attraction, including a ride map and a look at the ride vehicle. Pretty detailed info for a rumor! Check it out on the Theme Park Insider site.

I am a little bummed about the closing of Jaws, though. It is one of the first rides I tried at Universal, and one of my favorites...I jump every time that rotten shark jumps out of the water towards the boat! Sorry to see this one go, it joins the ranks of other rides/attractions I miss--Mr. Toad, Millionaire and 20,000 Leagues....

Get plenty of extra time on your favorite rides on 2/29/2012!

This has been a busy week for Disney travel news! First up, the Disney Company revealed its newest promotion, "One More Disney Day", on New Year's Eve. You can get all the details on my Examiner post here; the short version is that the Magic Kingdom will be open for 24 hours on February 29, 2012 (leap day), and there are a few ways to save on your vacation if you travel during this time period.

I have seen plenty of Disney sunsets, it would be fun to see the sun rise from inside the Magic Kingdom!

Disney World reveals newest family friendly resort

noreply@blogger.com (-Sam) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:30:00 +0000

I'm over on examiner today, sharing details about the new Art of Animation resort, shown here:

Art of Animation Resort, photo courtesy Walt Disney Company

The Cars themed rooms are particularly cute, and come complete with "cozy cone" details and furniture.

I know we've been busy...

noreply@blogger.com (-Sam) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 17:29:00 +0000

But I didn't realize how busy until I heard some knocking at the back door....

The cause of the beak marks on our glass door!!

Apparently, I was a little slow about handing out some morning chicken treats, and our fave hen, Big Red, decided to come up to the house to see what was causing the delay. Don't feel too sorry for the chicks, they are pretty spoiled at this point -- remember how little they were?

Here is another shot of Big Red, so you can see just how "big" she is...good thing we are raising the hens for eggs only, she looks like she is the perfect size for the roasting pan! (3 year old included for size comparison).

Chickens need hugs, too...

The cause for this disruption in the chicken treat delivery? This pretty girl, celebrating her three week birthday today:

Meet Olivia Grace, girl #4 for us!

We are slowly getting back on track and getting used to living on Olivia's nocturnal newborn schedule...I had intended to take off until the new year, but found myself back at work this week; I couldn't resist :)

Halloween Figure Makeover

noreply@blogger.com (-Sam) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 19:06:00 +0000

I have a cute project up on Halloween Alliance today -- come see!

This Precious Moments angel was cute, but not "me"...I like her better after a quick Halloween makeover.

See the original and get complete directions from Halloween Alliance--and take a fresh look at the collectibles around your house!

Recycled Disney Crafts

noreply@blogger.com (-Sam) — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 17:40:00 +0000

Just finished up two different projects that combine some of my favorite things--Disney World and crafting!

Tote made from Disney World shopping bags

I have been hoarding my Disney World shopping bags and park maps--I feel guilty tossing them out! This tote bag is made from three Disney bags, and it took about an hour to fuse and sew--when last seen it was hauling about 30 naked Barbies around the house, so it is big and sturdy! Directions with pictures and fusing tutorial here.

I also did some ridiculously easy recycled paper bows from my park brochures (I will note these also disappeared, I suspect little girls were involved):

Tutorial with pictures is here. The bows took about 5 minutes each, and I got 6 for a single brochure...may have to teach the kids to do this one--these would make cute Christmas package bows...

We Have Eggs!

noreply@blogger.com (-Sam) — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 22:15:00 +0000

Look at these pretty things, courtesy of our own chickens! Remember how little they were? They hatched March 6th, and we found our first eggs less than four months later:


We are averaging one egg per day right now.

Since all the ladies are brown egg layers, we don't know who is laying yet; we suspect these are from the Reds or the Silkie. Speaking of Silkies, our pretty black Silkie hen "Annie" has been renamed "James"...she started crowing about a week ago! We are hoping to get some silkie chicks!

Eggs in action--one of these things is not like the others...can you spot the supermarket egg in this bunch? Hint: It is the anemic looking pale yellow one between the big robust orange home grown eggs!


Can you spot the store bought egg?

The kids are having fun running out to the coop each morning to hunt for eggs...and the chickens enjoy the attention, as the girls bring them some kind of cereal or fruity treat leftover from breakfast. Watermelon is the biggest hit so far, with banana and my fancy imported muesli cereal a close second.

Disney Star Tours Grand Opening

noreply@blogger.com (-Sam) — Tue, 24 May 2011 14:39:00 +0000

I was lucky enough to be invited to the media opening of Star Tours at Disney's Hollywood Studios this past week. The special events folks outdid themselves with an amazing event! Not only was this a lot of fun, I got to ride the new Star Tours several times. If you are headed to Disney soon, I HIGHLY reccommend it!! New pieces on About.com are pending that go into detail about the ride and about Star Wars Weekends, but these are some of my personal photos I thought you'd enjoy.

We arrived and walked a "red carpet" to the Star Tours area. I am always amazed at all the secret exits and entrances in the disney parks!

R2 was a huge hit with everyone!

Darth Maul, grumpy but cool! And he can DANCE!

Adorable Ewoks were on hand to welcome us!

The food was outstanding and the presentation was cool. There were different cocktails at each station (which pregnant ladies like me could just admire, not try. The "Jedi Mind Trick" shown here was neon green and the one I saw being consumed most often.

One of about 15 food areas. I camped out at the shrimp one for awhile.

Jedi Mind Trick and other beverages.


Fun cake made by the Food Network. HUGE!

The Cantina band played a show

And other characters and music followed for a "Battle of the Bands".

Thanks for reading! Up next, pictures and review of Star Tours...and the opening day ceremonies!

Disney World Spring Break Tips

noreply@blogger.com (-Sam) — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 21:48:00 +0000

Lines too long? Take a break for face painting or a temporary tattoo~

For my Disney followers, here are a few of my favorite pieces dealing with Disney World Spring Break. Some of these are directly about Spring break itself, while others are simply about dealing with crowds (which you will see!) and the busy times of year:

* Best Disney Resorts for Spring Break
* Surviving Spring Break at Disney World
* Disney World in April
* Extra Magic Hours at Disney World
* Affordable Disney Dining Tips

FO: Girls Boutique Outfit now with Chicks!

noreply@blogger.com (-Sam) — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 23:49:00 +0000

SO its no secret we're a little chick happy around here right now! The babies are GROWING so fast--they are starting to look like real chickens!

Inspired by our chick-happy life, here is a cute little outfit perfect for a farm visit--this one is a custom, but I am thinking of making one for Charlotte, I am happy with how it turned out and think it would look cute on her!

I like the red and white ticking, and wasn't sure about the chick fabric, but it works, I think. I used my own pattern, but this could easily be duplicated by using a commercial pattern and adding some extra details.

Close up of the chicken-themed cuff

Shirt close up!

This was fun to make--I love making kids clothing, it really goes so quickly since the pieces are so small.

FO: Recycled Juice Pouch Easter Bags

noreply@blogger.com (-Sam) — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 17:38:00 +0000

Old juice pouches + marabou=cute Easter bags

So, I won't let my kids have Capri Suns or other sugary drinks (only two like juice anyway, and Juicy Juice seems to work just fine).

The only downside to this health concious decision? I have to go begging for colorful juice pouches to craft with. (Try explaining that to a Mom/friend--"I don't give my kids those gross drinks, but you do, so can I can the pouches? KThanxBye).

Each bag takes two matching pouches (use a sharp sewing needle in the machine. The maribou is sewn on, but I am guessing that a plastic friendly glue would work as well.

Cute recycled craft, just in time to be Easter purses for little girls...and if you hit up a friend for the used juiceboxes and use on-hand trim....free!

Wishlist: Some Recent Favorites

noreply@blogger.com (-Sam) — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 17:02:00 +0000

Since my camera has disappeared into the nexus of the universe (complete with new pictures of our bunnies and the super fast growing chicks), I am going to share a few pieces from my wishlist instead! My "wishes" usually include stuff I want to make myself, but these are simply lovely things made by other artists, pulled from my (many pages long) list of etsy favorites:

Pretty! Purple! Want!!!

This gorgeous coat is from etsy seller Enlightened Platypus, who is not only incredibly talented, she is super nice as well. This piece is made from recycled sweaters and fabric and looks like it was designed for dramatic entrances. Love it!

One of my favorite pieces ever.

Ok, the awful thing about this piece? I want it, even though I already own this bit of red loveliness from the same seller!

This arrived beautifully packaged with a nice note from the seller. She used my measurements to make it and it fits perfectly

If you want a stunning, eyecatching well made sweater check out her etsy shop...you'll need to get in line though, these pretties sell out within minutes of posting!

I also love the stylish and exotic jewelry from seller XOXODana. I tend to gravitate to sellers who are not only talented but also take great photos :) I really love this piece, it has an organic feel to it, with a great mix of metal, leather and glass.

This seller is also a sweetie, though I haven't met her in person--we are actually slightly related! She is the sister-in-law of my favorite sister-in-law (the one I made these cashmere gloves for). Queue the theme from "It's a Small World"!

I am also totally loving this Loch Ness monster plush from Alexzcreations. For me. Not the kids. Mine. Not theirs. No touchie!

Adorable, love the hat!

This seller is the creative genius/owner of the SpookyPooky blog--I shared some of her super cute hand-drawn Valentines last month as well...That's February and March...makes me want to check and see what she comes up with for April!

I'll be back this week as soon as my camera re-appears from the wormhole--I did get a chance to snap a finished minion, the chicks first time outside and the start of our rather ambitious garden (2,000 square feet of veggie goodness!) Yep, that's thousand--so I will be begging people to take tomatoes off our hands in about two months!!

In the meantime, if you are in a Disney frame of mind, I am finishing up an exhaustive list of ride reviews for the Magic Kingdom...it's a tough job, but someone has to do it!!

Look! A bunny!!

noreply@blogger.com (-Sam) — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 16:13:00 +0000

I have been looking for an angora bunny for awhile--they are harder to find than you would think! I want an angora for two reasons--as a pet and for the fiber. Finding one that is friendly and doesn't mind the daily grooming the breed requires took awhile, but today we are picking up Louie:

Isn't he handsome?

Louie comes to us from the Luv-n-Bunns rabbit rescue organization, and the ladies I have spoken with there have taken such great care of him and have been so careful in placing him. I am glad to adopt him--both for his cute little furry self, and to support such a great organization! If you are looking for a bunny, consider adopting one instead of buying one retail, you'll save a life and gain a wonderful companion.

But wait, there's more bunny to this tale!!

I really wanted a bonded pair--although the girls and I will give him plenty of attention, I wanted him to have a friend so he didn't get lonely. He is such a sweetie that he got a little bullied by the girls and boys they tried to pair him with, so we figured he would be a solo bunny.

We found out this morning that he finally found a match--a baby girl bunny about 6 weeks old. So we are picking up not one, but two bunnies today! I don't know what she looks like (the only things I cared about were that she like Louie and enjoy LOTS of attention from the girls). Jeff only cares that they poo--a lot, for his compost bins! She'll take a little trip back to the rescue when she's bigger, so she can be spayed (Louie comes to us neutered, as much as I love bunnies, I don't want babies!!)

I am putting them in the inlaw suite with the chickies for a day or two to let them adapt to all of us. My dad referred to me as "Ellie Mae Clampett" the other day on the phone, thanks to all the critters we have....

I will post pictures when we get them home and settled!

FO Friday: A sweater and a disaster!

noreply@blogger.com (-Sam) — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 20:32:00 +0000

Yeah, the sleeve colors are not perfect--but I would have had to buy another ball of yarn to match them!

So this sweater, last seen on a WIP wednesday , is now complete. I did decide not to use buttons, the holes are not in a good spot for me--they are a little too low. I am using a shawl clasp instead. I am really happy with this, and think it will be a good sweater for spring. The yarn is Noro Taiyo, which is a cotton/silk blend, and the pattern is Knitty's Mr. Greenjeans, with a modification for gauge, as Taiyo is a little heavier than the yarn called for in the pattern.

FO math for this piece: Great Pattern + Great Yarn = Great Sweater!

On to the disaster! You may remember this piece from another WIP Wednesday:

Off to such a good start--anyone know a giant who needs a cowl?

The math from this one is a little different--it looks like this:

Great Pattern + Gorgeous Yarn + "Winging it" when changing the yarn gauge=Giant disaster cowl!

I used the awesome "Pretty Thing" pattern, which I have used successfully for two other cowls before and Artyarns Beaded Mohair Silk (which is absolutely luxurious to work with). The problem? the Artyarns is a sport or light worsted weight and the pattern calls for fingering/lace. So I just lopped off two pattern repeats from the width and got to knitting. The awful thing is, I know how to modify patterns correctly, I just didn't bother messing with the math. Mistake. huge, oversized, giant cowl of a mistake. I pulled this triumphantly off the needles, ready to wear something lovely--soft and sparkling....and realized how oversized it was. It looks terrible, and all the lace work is just squashed in on itself, even blocking didn't help.

So, choices now:

Leave it hidden in the project bag until I forget it exists (what I have been doing since Monday)
Felt it to make it smaller--I know the mohair will felt, not sure how the other components will react
Frog it--but it will take a while and may shred the mohair, it is very grabby.
Find a cow or yak that needs a pretty cowl for spring, and gift it.

What do you think? Any other suggestions?

Homemade Compost Bin -- Free!

noreply@blogger.com (-Sam) — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 00:38:00 +0000

We now have not one, but two homemade compost bins for the garden. They are both made of shipping pallets--the first ones were left out for trash in front of a local business --yay for recycling!
The others were found a few weeks later, again, free. This time they were listed on Freecyle.org, a site I adore for finding recycled and gently used items.

Here is the first bin, which was filled by Halloween and has been happily composting all winter. Remember all those acorns? They've been reduced to compost and are ready for the garden.

The cardboard on the side was deemed "not suitable" for composting by our in-house expert.

As with our homemade chicken brooder, I think it is an awesome idea, and Jeff did all the work. He used a hammer and nails to bang the four pallets together into a bin ( it doesn't have a bottom). It has wintered over perfectly, despite the all the snow we've had here.

Well, I will take credit for spotting the pallets and talking him into trash-picking them, something he up until then had refused to even consider. But the lure of a homemade compost bin --and hey, a free one at that--lured him in.

Bin #2 is about 10 feet from the first, and is made almost the same way, three sides are nailed together, but the fourth is attached with hook-and-eye closures. This way it can be removed easily. I was eyeing this one for growing potatoes, but we are filling it now with compostables (including the used litter from our new chickies) for next year.

Homemade compost bin 2 in progress.

The little seedlings we are caring for now are going to be well fed this spring! Now..off to figure out what to use for a homemade rain barrel!

How to Make a Homemade Tutu : Tu-Tu-Tutorial

noreply@blogger.com (-Sam) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 14:18:00 +0000

Make an adorable homemade tutu—perfect for dress-up, costume, or a special occasion. This technique allows you to quickly create an adorable tutu for your favorite person or pet, using a few simple supplies. Be careful—tutus are addictive! You may find yourself with one in every color!

Keep tutus short for infants, to make it easy to crawl.

Supplies:
(Makes 1 tutu for a baby, child, or pet---or even for yourself):

2 Spools of Netting Tulle in your favorite color
1” thick waistband (non curling) elastic

Equipment:

Scissors
Needle and thread or sewing machine
Tape measure

Directions:

Measure the waist of the person who will be wearing the tutu. Add one inch to this measurement.
Cut a piece of elastic to match this measurement
Overlap the ends of the elastic, forming a waistband, and sew to secure. You can do this by hand or machine.
Decide how long you want your tutu to be. 12” is a good length for small children. Crawling babies and pets may need shorter lengths—about 8” would work
Double the length measurement you want—so if you want 12” in finished length, you will need to cut 24” strips of tulle.
Use scissors to cut strips of tulle from the roll in your desired length.
Use a lark’s head knot* to attach each strip to the tutu. Place strips all the way around the waistband. The more strips you use, the fuller your tutu will be.
Your tutu is finished and ready to wear when you are happy with the look

*Larks head knot: This is a very easy knot to make—chances are, you already know how to make one, but didn’t know the name of it!
1. Fold the strip of tulle in half, forming a loop at the top, and letting the ends dangle.
2. Place the loop behind the elastic waistband, and pass the tulle ends through the loop.
3. Pull the ends to secure.
Project Notes:

Don’t limit yourself to a single color—you can use multiple colors to create a unique tutu for any occasion.
Decorate the waistband of your handmade tutu with silk flowers or pretty ribbon for a fresh new look.

Want more cute craft tutorials?
Puppy Tug Toy
Needlefelting tutorial
Homemade ChickenBrooder

The peeps are here!

noreply@blogger.com (-Sam) — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 23:34:00 +0000

Remember this homemade chicken brooder? Well, now it has its first residents!

New chicks in the homemade brooder box!

We picked up chicks yesterday--8 in all, of several different varieties. These ladies are for eggs, not roasting, and we have 2 each of Buff Orpingtons, Wyandottes, Silkies and Cinnamon Queens. We picked these up at Jersey Chickens (they have a great site, see it here).


One day old Silkie--rooster or hen? No one knows for sure...


Extreme closeup of one of the Cinnamon Queen hens

This adorable Wyandotte looks like a baby duck!

The Buff Orpingtons are about a week old, the rest are a day or two old. There is already a size difference between the week-olds and the newbies! I found the two larger chicks on top of the water and food containers today, a good 8" jump (not bad for critters that are about 2 inches tall!)

Super high jumping Buff Orpington chick

Chicks are addictive...when these guys outgrow the brooder, I am getting some guinea hen babies to fill it again!

I will update again as they grow...

uui

Homemade Chicken Brooder

noreply@blogger.com (-Sam) — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 22:46:00 +0000

I just ordered a mix of super cute little chicks--all girls, all different breeds. They'll be here next week (there will be pictures, I promise)!
Since they will only be a day or so old, the peeps need a place to keep warm and grow a bit--enter the brooder. This one is made from a big Rubbermaid tub, with the top replaced with some hardware cloth:

Kitty-proof chicken brooder

We may have been able to use chicken wire, except for one thing...Darby! Darby is our beautiful but evil long haired cat. She was a feral kitten, and still bites if you look at her the wrong way. Cleo is scared to death of her. Darby's specialty is birds--the prettier the better! She isn't interested in mammals--but we get about a bird a day in the summer--bells, keeping her inside, placing bird feeders up high, nothing works, she just escapes and slips off the collar and goes hunting.

So, back to the chicks--a bunch of small, flightless, helpless puffs of fluff will be too tempting for her--even though we have no intention of letting her near them. Just in case, we made the brooder super strong (and by "we" I mean "Jeff":

Cutting the wire for the lid

Here's what he did to make this one:

Supplies:
Big plastic tub with locking lid
Wire hardware cloth with 3/8" openings
Plastic covered wire

Tools:
Wire snips
Small hand saw with skinny blade
Drill

Directions:
1. Remove the lid from the plastic bin. Use the drill to cut an opening for the saw.
2. Use the saw to cut out the recessed portion of the lid, leaving a 3" border of plastic all the way around.
3. Us the wire snips to cut the hardware cloth so it covers the opening entirely--it should overlap each edge by at least 2 inches.
4. Drill holes ever 3 inches or so around the lid.
5. Place the wire on top of the lid, and "sew" it into place with the wire. Twist the ends firmly to secure.

I am planning on sticking a treat Darby really likes inside, then putting the lid on--I want to see if she can defeat it!

We already have a heat lamp and feeders, so all we need now is the chicks!

MIP: Minions in Progress

noreply@blogger.com (-Sam) — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 17:50:00 +0000

So, the kids are in love with Despicable Me. We rented it from Red Box and ending up keeping it. Since we don't have TV, I hadn't seen any previews or anything. We've all been so sick recently, they have been watching this once a day --they are minion addicted!

Since this was out a while ago, I haven't had much luck finding them any little toys or minion-y things, so I am making some pocket sized minions!

Here is one little guy in progress. I am writing up the pattern as I go, in case you want to make your own, I'll post it to the blog with some step by step pictures as soon as it is ready.

MIP: Minion in Progress

He is knit in the round with floss, because I wanted him to be shiny--but the cotton and small diameter makes these go sloooooowly! I am adding eyes when all three are done--I think I will crochet the goggles and use googly eyes in the right size...more pix and free pattern later this week!

You can see more fun projects by visiting Tami's Amis for WIP Wednesday!

WIP Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (-Sam) — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 13:37:00 +0000

THe never-ending kneesocks are moving along. Between being tall and having freakishly large feet, these are taking a while to complete! Here is sock #2, OTN:

So pleased with this yarn, love it!

The yarn is a Zauberball, the newer, almost sport weight version. I like this because it is working up quickly and had a LOT of yardage--I have never been able to get a pair of true knee socks out of a single ball of any other sock yarns!

Other WIPs:
This cardi has moved to the "complete" pile, though I am not adding buttons--the holes are too low to fit me well. I will use a shawl pin or clasp instead. Finished pix up on FO Friday:

Done! See FO Friday this week for finished pix!

I worked a whole row on this pretty cowl...I ended up getting distracted by the minions I am knitting for a birthday gift (pix and pattern to come).

No progresss...but look, sparkles! And mushrooms!

You'll find more fun WIPs on Tami's Blog, she hosts a WIP Wednesday roundup!

February in Disney World and Universal Orlando

noreply@blogger.com (-Sam) — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 13:17:00 +0000

I'm sharing some of my favorite hints and tips for spending February in Disney World and Universal Orlando over on About.com. (Hint: avoid water rides like Kali River and Dudley Do-Right unless you want to stay damp and cold the rest of the day!)


© 2010 Samantha McNesby

Disney World in February

Universal Orlando in February

Printables: Cutest. Valentines. Ever.

noreply@blogger.com (-Sam) — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 01:37:00 +0000

Spooky Pooky Creations has plenty of cute cryptids on display, I've wanted one of her Yeti plushes forever! (He would be a great friend for my seamonster, I think!)

Head over to her blog to download a full-sized version of these super cute (and free!) printable Valentines featuring some of her cutie cryptids ( the Loch Ness Monster is my favorite) :

If you love her work as much as I do, you'll also want to enter this great Yeti-themed giveaway as well!

More fun Valentines Stuff:

Valentine's Day in Disney World

Valentine's Craft Roundup #1

Valentine's Craft Roundup #2

Valentine Bath Bombs

Valentine Soaps

Valentine's Day Crafts Round Up #2!

noreply@blogger.com (-Sam) — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 17:38:00 +0000

Only a few more days left to make crafts for Valentine's Day! Whether you are making something wonderful for the special people in your life or mass-producing Valentine's for a party or class, you'll find something on this list of projects. (P.S. Found one you love? There's no rule that says you can't make something lovely for yourself this Valentine's Day!)

First up, these adorable cutout apples, perfect for snack-time (if you already do bento, these will be a snap!) While the original post doesn't have directions, I would suggest pressing a heart-shaped mini cookie cutter into the surface of the apple, then carving the shape with a sharp knife.

Do the same shape on a granny smith and a firm red apple like a rome, then just swap the heats--super simple and great results. This project comes to you from Kim at Party Frosting -- go visit her for a great roundup of heart-shaped and Valentine food treats!

These would be adorable for a little one--I am a huge fan of handmade toys for kids (each of mine received painted peg-dolls with rooms for Christmas, they are fun and addictive to make).

You'll find directions and some other great crafty things on 417 Gluesticks blog, stop in and say hi!

Want to give your heart to someone....this knitted one featured on Knitty (free pattern here) certainly makes a statement!

Rose Petal Soaps won't take you a lot of time, and you can whip up a few bags to give as teacher gifts or as Valentines for friends:

Complete directions here, from a January post!

These hanging heart cones combine quilting with sustainable crafting, love these! You could make now and re-use each year (kind of like a Valentine's Day stocking), or make and use to store pretty little craft items. Either way, visit the Sun Scholar blog for a wonderful tutorial!

Need more Valentine's Day ideas?

Valentine's Craft Roundup #1

Valentine Bath Bombs