Wire My Soul

More Yarncrafting

2011-07-15T13:04:00.001-06:00

Is it normal for knitters and crocheters to take a hiatus from their craft over the summer? This notion baffles me, as I cannot seem to put down my needles, no matter what’s going on.

Here are some of my recent FOs. None of these are original designs, but were all fun to make.

This gorgeous Playful Poncho from Lion Brand was given as a gift to my daughter’s friend. I was so happy to see her wearing it everyday while it was appropriate for the weather; something I have yet to see my daughter do with things I’ve knitted and crocheted for her, except maybe her favourite toque.
This was an excellent stash buster, it used 4 skeins of various blue acrylic yarns I had laying around.

Here I am modelling a Kraken (giant octopus) hat that I made for my husband, who is kind and cool enough to wear my funky hats on ‘hat day’ at work, a day when people donate to charity for the privilege of wearing a hat in the building all day. This one was improvised off the cuff, so there isn’t a written pattern for it in existence. I wish now that I had written it out as I went. Oh well, such is often the case with me.

I’m addicted to socks. I’m also a addicted to Knit Picks, the lovely online shop where I bought my Harmony Wood circular needles, with which I knit these Waterfall Socks by Wendy Knits. The yarn is Knit Picks Stroll Tonal in Canopy. These were my first ever lace socks, and a source of challenge, frustration and pride!

Every self-respecting Browncoat knitter needs to knit herself a Jayne Hat, right? Well here’s my first, a gift for my favourite fellow Browncoat in Australia. The next one will be for me. The pattern is My Jayne Hat by Erica Barcott and made from Knit Picks Wool of the Andes.

My first Tabi socks, which were improvised from plain old cuff-down ankle socks. I used a short row heel here and I’m not entirely sure I like it. I’ve had more success with the Fleegle heel for toes up socks. I didn’t want to do toe-up on these, because it seemed too fiddly, but next time I make tabi socks, I’ll probably do a proper heel flap and gusset style heel. I just have to figure out how to do that with magic loop technique. These were knit from Blue Moon Fibre Arts' Socks That Rock in the Fire on the Mountain colourway.

How adorable is this Aviatrix Baby Hat by Justine Turner? (That’s a Ravelry Link.) One of the Nerd Wars challenges for this month was to make something for babies and donate it. This year, Slave Lake Alberta had a forest fire that saw 1/3 of the town burn down. Many homes and businesses were lost, and I donated these hats (along with some kids’ books for their library) through my kids’ school fundraiser. They’re made from Red Heart Comfort, Super Saver and whatever other acrylic I had in my stash. This is the most incredible pattern I’ve ever downloaded. Justine provides instructions for 3 different yarn gauges for hats in 7 different sizes! Incredible!

Another Nerd Wars project, these arm warmers are based on Ilsefins korvmuddar by Ilsefin. The pattern is in Swedish, but someone was kind enough to provide translated instructions in the project comments on Ravelry. These were knit with Knit Picks Wool of the Andes.

More stash busting! Here’s another Red Heart Kids, Super Saver and anonymous acrylic wonder, the Tapestry Tote Bag by Kathleen Garen.

There are a couple pairs of socks I never took pictures of as well, but they’re in the laundry, being some of the only socks I’m wearing these days, when it’s cool enough to wear socks outside! I have another pair on my needle as well, and some more projects planned for the near future. Stay tuned!

Thanks for stopping by!

Answering Mail

2011-04-26T10:47:00.001-06:00

I get a lot of questions and requests for advice from aspiring amigurumists (it’s now a word, I’m sure), by email and private message on YouTube and deviantART. Sometimes I go into older sent mail to find the answers all written up so I can copy and paste them. Here’s a new reply I wrote today that I felt bore repeating here. I hope it’s as useful as it seems to me right now.

If you get similar pleas for advice, feel free to quote me.

hi Jan :D
how long have you been doing crochet? :)
did you practice a lot to get as good as you are now?
when you first started was it easy? did things come at a little funny looking? lol I was just kind of wondering about these things
I've been looking at some plushies made by amigurimi (am i spelling it right :P) and want to make some 2. i have been looking at a lot of tutorials and will have some money next month to buy all the supplies needed. is there anything you might recommend for me?
bye-bye thank you for your wonderful tutorials

Hi! Thanks for your message!

I first learned to crochet when I was a child, as my mother crocheted afghans. That's what it meant to me back then; blankets that took months to make. I was not at all interested in ANY project that took that long, so I didn't crochet for many many years. A few years ago, I found pictures of amigurumi on deviantART, the website I use to host my gallery of handmade jewelry (and now crocheted and knit things too). It was love a first sight; I could see these things could be made in less than a day!

I searched for a good pattern to try, and found Hannah Kaminsky's blog, Bittersweet. She had a free pattern for these little birds, and it just clicked immediately. I suddenly knew the technique to create and construct anything I want just by adjusting the number of rounds, increases and decreases. I used the things I learned making that pattern to create my own, and have never used another person's patterns again. Here's the pattern that turned me onto it all:

http://bittersweetblog.wordpress.com/2007/02/19/birds-of-a-feather/

Here is all you need to make your own amigurumi:

Cheap, colourful acrylic yarn in worsted weight. Acrylic can be thrown in the washing machine and dryer without much fuss and is always the best choice for little toys like this, IMO. Buy a few different really bright colours that give you joy!
A good hook or two. For amigurumi, I always use a smaller hook than is recommended on the label of the yarn. If you got that worsted weight yarn, use a 4mm (G) or 4.5mm hook. If you can find hooks with fat handles on them, spend the money and get them. If you end up crocheting a LOT, then this will help you prevent repetitive strain injury like tendonitis and carpal tunnel. Take care of your hands
Scissors. Small scissors you can toss in a pencil case with your hooks for cutting your yarn. Acrylic yarn doesn't break easily like wool (which you can usually just pull apart).
Yarn needle. You need a good blunt yarn needle that fits the yarn through the eye, for weaving your ends in when you're done. Very important, as the finishing touches make a BIG difference.
Polyester fibre fill. This is fluffy stuff you'll stuff your toys with.

That's it. There are other things that help, like stitch markers to help you keep count of what row/stitch you're on, but you can always use a scrap of yarn in a contrasting colour for that in a pinch. Same with safety eyes and things, you can always just embroider facial features on your toys with contrasting yarn colours. All this stuff should be available at Walmart, or whatever local craft store you find yarn in. This doesn't have to be a costly hobby though. Check thrift stores for yarns and hooks and notions as well!

Good luck and have fun!

I Win!

2011-04-07T07:49:00.001-06:00

I was lucky enough to be one of the blog partners chosen this month (second month in a row, in fact! How lucky is that?!) to win a prize package from Rings & Things! I’m so excited! I have yet to use the cool goodies I won in February but plan to do so soon, and I’ll blog about it for you.

Here’s the list of lucky blog-partner giveaway winners!

Congratulations to everyone, and thanks very much to Dave and the crew at Rings & Things!

Speaking of which, they’ve just launched their new Spring Supplement catalogue, so go check it out for some great deals on useful Mixed Media-themed pretties!

Remember Earth Hour Today

2011-03-26T09:26:00.000-06:00

Remember Earth Hour. Turn off your lights this evening from 8:30pm to 9:30.

Nerd Wars Begins

2011-02-03T15:32:00.001-07:00

On Ravelry.com, my favourite online yarn crafting community, there’s a special group for just about every interest. I happen to be a big science fiction nerd, so when it was announced in the Big Bang Gang forum (a group for lovers of the hit TV show, The Big Bang Theory) that there was going to be a big yarn craft competition for nerds from all nerdy fandoms, I signed right up for Team Bazinga.

Nerd Wars lasts three months and participants are eligible to submit to any and all of six different challenges offered each month. Each challenge has a category to which it belongs and entrants earn points for their team by completing projects that fit the challenge. The first Challenges were launched on Feb. 1 and I’ve just completed my first entry.

The challenge was for the Technical category, and called A BONDING EXPERIENCE.

“Chemical bonds come in many flavors (see the Wikipedia article for more information). An ionic bond is formed by the attraction between two oppositely charged ions, where one is a metal and the other is a nonmetal (these can be polyatomic). The resulting compounds, which include things like table salt (NaCl), have all sorts of useful properties.

Your challenge is to demonstrate the fiber equivalent of ionic bonding, using different types of fiber. Working with different fibers generally requires different techniques or tools to produce a finished object with the hoped-for properties. Therefore, in addition to presenting your finished object, you should discuss the technical aspect (fiber preparation, needle choice, etc.) of working with different fibers. Pre-blended fibers/yarns count as polyatomic ions and therefore can be one half of the ionic bond."

I think a lot of competitors are stranding different fibres together but I wanted to do something unexpected. I realize that knitting with wire isn’t all that new, but in this group, it won’t be an expected technique. I just hope it qualifies for points!

I used florists paddle wire, because it’s all I could get on short notice and I didn’t have anything finer handy. It was knit on 5mm needles with Swarovski crystals and features Patons Soy Wool Solids in Berry, crocheted down the centre and with a little “Penny Blossom” in the middle, accented with crystals. The Penny Blossom comes from Season 2, Episode 18: The Work Song Nanocluster, in which Penny is making hair accessories with artificial flowers and rhinestones to supplement her income. the boys try to help her and hilarity ensues. By now Penny is over the whole nightmare and would enjoy this pretty little bracelet.

I have some other, more traditional fibre projects lined up for the other challenges for this month. Cross your fingers for me that I’ll be able to complete them all in time!

Thanks for stopping by!

Lori Anderson's Metal Stamp Set Giveaway

2011-01-24T11:50:00.001-07:00

Over at http://lorianderson.blogspot.com/, Lori is giving away some very pretty ImpressArt letter stamps, courtesy of PJ Tool & Supply, a jewelry and hand tools supply site.

While you’re there checking out this giveaway, be sure to click the link to her jewelry website and see Lori’s stunning work!

Mega Giveaway, $299 value at giverslog

2010-11-23T13:05:00.001-07:00

Check out this Mega Giveaway, $299 value | giverslog

Let's forget for just a moment that the Giver's log gift giver's blog has given us incredible handmade gift ideas and recipes for things like kick-butt caramels, hot chocolate on a stick (which I made today and am currently enjoying) and home made pesto. Forget that it's a friendly blog with lots of special touches like pretty printables.

Today, AmberLee is giving away a Silhouette Machine (a $299.99 value), complete with Software for Windows XP/Vista & Mac, Power cable, USB cable -2 Cutting mats (one for thick media, one for thin media), One cutting blade and a $10 gift card to the Silhouette Online Store.

What?? Am I serious?

Yeah.

Want to be a Knooker?

2010-11-01T16:29:00.001-06:00

You heard me. It’s an actual word, and it’s what’s being used to describe a new (to me) technique for knitting with a special crochet hook called a KNOOK. This isn’t to be confused with the knit stitch in tunisian crochet that looks like knit fabric. The fabric you make by knooking really is knit, it’s just the technique that’s different.

The big deal is this hook! It’s a special crochet hook with a hole on the end opposite the hook. There are a few different kinds of hook which are commercially available that work for this, the most commonly found is a Locker Hooking needle, like this (picture courtesy of KMart.com):

Another similar tool is the Amazing Needle (picture courtesy Amazingyarn.com):

You string a cord or shoelace on the end of this hook and use it to hold your active stitches, like your right hand knitting needle. You don’t specifically have to own one of these special needles to try this out. If you hold your active stitches on your crochet hook (better yet, your longer tunisian, cro-knit or cabled crochet hook), you can grab your cord with your hook and pull it through all the stitches, freeing your hook again to start knooking in the other direction.

How fortunate we are to have avid and knowledgeable knookers like Jen, with her Knooking blog to demonstrate the technique for us! Here’s her video teaching us the garter stitch:

Knooking: The knit stitch by pixjen

Check out her other knooking videos here.

Lately, because I desperately wish to knit myself some socks, I’ve been trying to relearn how to knit. It’s a slow process, and though I’m having little success with double pointed needles and even a circular needle, I’m optimistic that knooking will help me achieve my goal by making the best of my talent for crochet. Since I live in a small town with only WalMart as my craft supply source, there are no knooks, Amazing Needles or Locker Hooking needles anywhere to be found. This means than after my initial swatch attempt with a regular hook and cord, I was ready to hit the DIY road and make my own knook.

With regular old 6mm doweling from the dollar store, my trusty Jobmate rotary tool and some sand paper, I fashioned this knook all by my self. I think it’s rather beautiful if I may say so, and I even waxed it by rubbing some wax from a soy wax candle I have in my studio (Butt Naked scented, too).

It works like a charm, but the slippery cord I was able to fit in the hole does like to slip through my work, so I’m going to have to widen that hole to accommodate a larger and more grippy cord. Still, I was able to make the following swatch with it:

I had some 8mm doweling kicking around too, so I made another knook with that, with a wider hole that will fit a shoelace.

Hooray! And what else should an aspiring sock knitter try, but knitting in the round with some double stranded chunky?

Not bad for my first day knooking, if I do say so. I do still want to get some good knooks so I can knit finer gauge yarns (sock yarn, hello!). I’ve got my eye on a set of Denise Interchangeable Circular Crochet Hooks, because I really think they’ll be fabulous for knooking. I hope that the next knooking project I blog about is my first pair of socks!

Meanwhile, I’ve joined the Knooking Group on Ravelry (the very place I stumbled across that introduced me to knooking), for inspiration, tips and fellowship. Join us!

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Halloween!

2010-10-27T13:02:00.000-06:00

A while back, one of my favourite blogs, Dollar Store Crafts, showed us some super cool silicone ice cube trays in skull shapes! Needless to say I had to have it, but I don’t have a Dollar Tree store here! A quick message to Heather at DSC enabled me to do a trade with her. She sent me some skull moulds (and became my Hero) and I sent her the Sesame Street monster moulds my local Dollarama has.

It was all for this year’s Halloween Bash and Bake Sale at my kids’ school. In the past, I’ve brought bagged “mouse brains” (failed and crumbled puffed wheat squares in brown paper sacks) and bug-filled popcorn balls (melted marshmallow and Jello powder tossed popcorn with gummies pressed inside), and this year, sugar calaveras!

All you need to make these sugar skulls are some handy dandy skull ice cube moulds, sugar, water and a package of icing tubes specially designed for cookies. I used Cake Mate Scribblers. I think they’re just called Cake Mate Classic Writing Icing in the U.S. It dries hard, almost like royal icing, but comes in nice bright primary colours.

I followed Heather’s tutorial on how to make Edible Sugar Skulls (I also added a couple drops of peppermint extract to spruce up the flavour)and then decorated them with my Cake Mate Scribblers. Then when they were dry, I used another package of Scribblers to glue the skulls to some card stock I stamped with a really cool skull-themed portrait oval. Cool huh? Pop them into some zipper bags (or decorative Halloween treat bags, if you were smart enough to buy them at the start of the season, unlike me) and you’re all set!

Thanks for checking this out!

Save The Arts

2010-09-15T09:04:00.000-06:00

A poster for Save the Arts, From Jeremy Deller:

Thanks to Dude Craft.

Now playing: Blind Guardian - The Soulforged
via FoxyTunes

Review: Beyond the Square Crochet Motifs

2010-07-16T09:20:00.008-06:00

I recently bought a gorgeous book called Beyond the Square Crochet Motifs by Edie Eckman and I'm just loving it. The cover caught my eye with it's incredible colours and textures, and I couldn't pass it up! I've been carrying it in my yarnbag all summer and showing it to every yarncrafter I know.

There are so many cool motifs to play with to construct blankets or even just yarnbomb the town in (not that I admit to participating in such subversive activities ;) ). It's spiral-bound so it lays flat while you read and stitch, the patterns are written out in easy, common terms as well as graphic chart, and the pictures are in gorgeous, full colour. There are patterns for all skill levels here, though none of them look too daunting if you are familiar with the basic stitches. This cover alone, worthy of hours of admiration, makes me smile every time I look at it.

I highly recommend this book to my fellow hookers!

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Now playing: Evil Genius Orchestra - Han Solo And The Princess
via FoxyTunes

Creating Amigurumi Episode 2

2010-07-13T15:21:00.008-06:00

Wow. Episode two is finally out of the gate after two weeks of recovery from a pinched nerve in my back (thank God for a Massage Therapist from heaven and an incredible Chiropractor, both of which finally got me out of bed rest).

In this episode, I pick up where we left off after our first round, and demonstrate how to single crochet in the round with regular single crochet increases. You'll also see how to use a stitch marker and, I have to admit, you'll learn that fluorescent pink isn't probably the best colour to be using in a video demonstration with artificial lighting. Yikes.

I used some new video editing software (Cyberlink PowerDirector 8) that I'm not 100% comfortable with yet, but am getting there. My video camera is a HP v5060h, which looked incredible when I was shopping for a new video camera.

Photo courtesy of Hewlett Packard.

I'm really happy with how easy it is to use, but really ticked off that the format it records is .mov. I've gotten used to using Windows Movie Maker to edit my videos, but it doesn't recognize quicktime's .mov format, so that meant not only looking around for a decent editor that does, but also meant having to pay for said editor. I had the camera for several months and returning it to Walmart isn't really an option now. So I bought the software (how else would I spend the little money I recieve from AllFreeCrochet.com for making these special videos for them, huh?) and can now properly edit the footage. My new problem is that my videos are still turning out blurry despite the quality of this camera. I'm sure it's probably a focus and lighting issue (I'm leaning to macro with these close up demonstrations, and perhaps I shouldn't try to get so close). Not only that, but what quality of file should I be making? An 8 minute HD video ran 395MB and takes an hour and a half to export, making it difficult to hand to my editor at AllFreeCrochet.com for her approval. I mean, I don't even know if that HD video looks better than this or anything. How do I make these decisions??? Help!

As it stands, despite my little old Canon A570 making me a "YouTube Amigurumi-teaching superstar", *chuckle!* I still am very much a newbie at the whole movie-making process and while I'm happy to oblige all those people who write me everyday asking for advice and more videos, I still feel like I should be able to give them better product than I seem to be putting out there. So if you are a movie-making genius and you have advice for me, lay it on me! I'd be happy to hear it. Meanwhile, I'll keep muddling through trying to learn as much as I can, for as long as I have fun doing it!

Thanks for the encouragement, everyone!

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Now playing: Black Uhuru - Right Stuff
via FoxyTunes

Partnering with AllFreeCrochet.com!

2010-06-29T11:59:00.005-06:00

A few weeks ago, AllFreeCrochet.com contracted me to make some crochet videos for the video tutorials section of their website. I've been reading Favecrafts.com and AllFreeCrochet.com newsletters for some time now. I've recommended them before and continue to do so. I have shared my free patterns with them, and now I've begun making a video series demonstrating the skills needed to create your own amigurumi. It's called Creating Amigurumi and the first episode was posted today, both on my channel and on AllFreeCrochet.com's channel.

I can't tell you how excited I am that more people are interested in my videos. After all, I had never set out to do anything more than show a few friends how I'd made something. It's cool that it's grown to a channel with 12 very popular videos, with a combined 461,759 views. I get messages every day on YouTube from viewers asking for more videos and advice about everything from pattern reading to what to buy a crochet-loving girlfriend for her birthday.

I hope you enjoy this latest video and the rest of the series to come!

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Now playing: Jonathan Coulton - The Future Soon
via FoxyTunes

Care-a-Lot, Filth Wizard style

2010-06-26T10:02:00.004-06:00

The creative genius that is the Filth Wizard, aka Kitten Muffin, has amazed me again. I've been reading her blog for over a year and am constantly impressed and inspired by her creative recycling and dedication to creating crafty fun for her kids. Today I opened up my reader to find a great, styrofoam Care-A-Lot playhouse she made with her wizards. I had to share it with you.

Photo copyright Kitten Muffin, www.filthwizardry.com.

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Now playing: Donavon Frankenreiter - Free
via FoxyTunes

Meet Up!

2010-06-25T14:23:00.005-06:00

My Ravelry group, West Yellowhead Ravellers, hosted a meet-up today at Pocahontas Bungalows in Alberta. We had ladies from Hinton and Jasper meet up for brunch, yarn talk and fun. We had a delicious lunch (Roasted Vegetable and Havarti Wrap with salad was incredible) and bought some yarn (Billie brought a stash), and I did a trade with my former neighbour Gayle. We'd lost touch when she moved years ago, and it was great to reconnect!

Can't wait for the next one, in October!

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Now playing: Týr - The Wild Rover [The Dubliners]
via FoxyTunes

Polymer Clay Bead Love!

2010-06-09T13:48:00.007-06:00

I've been following Lorelei's Blog - Inside the Studio for some time now, and I'm always awed by her gorgeous jewelry. Her work is very organic and natural, and she finds the coolest art beads in the world to incorporate into her designs. Many art beads are kind of expensive for many of us to consider buying online, and living in a small town means I don't get as much access to good craft shopping as I'd like. What's a girl to do, but make her own!

So I've messing with polymer clay lately, thinking about birds and earthy colours and vintage feels. Remembering that "not all polymer clay beads are art beads," as I recently read somewhere, I worried about how these would turn out and whether they would be art. I mean, what is art anyway?

Art is the product of human creativity. It doesn't have to be good, or even deep and meaningful, really. It just has to be, and in many cases, it wants to be. These birdies wanted to be, and I made them. I'm so proud, and I can't wait to make more art with them! Thank you, Lorelei, for the artbead love.

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Now playing: Metric - Rock Me Now
via FoxyTunes

Happy Easter!

2010-04-02T13:28:00.004-06:00

I’ve been away from the blog world for nearly a year. Funny how life does that, isn’t it?

Today, in celebration of Easter, I’ve posted a new video on YouTube that demonstrates how to crochet an amigurumi egg. Just in time for the holiday, you can whip up several of these little things for the one in your life who doesn’t like chocolate. Add safety eyes, beads or embroidered faces to turn them into little buddies for your friends. Or, use this shape as the head for a more life-like amigurumi doll design. There are lots of ways to use this pattern. Enjoy!

Amigurumi Easter Egg

Materials:
Red Heart Comfort sport in two colours of your choice.
Hook: F (3.75 or 4 mm)

Abbreviations:
R = round or row
sc = single crochet
st = stitch
tog = together (sc 2 tog = decrease)
sl st = slip stitch
instructions between * are repeated

R1 - sc 6 in a circle (amigurumi double ring) = 6st
R2 – *sc 1, 2 sc in next st* = 9 st
R3 - *sc 2, 2 sc in next st* = 12 st
R4 - *sc 3, 2 sc in next st* = 15 st
R5 - *sc 4, 2 sc in next st* = 18 st
R6 - *sc 5, 2 sc in next st* = 21 st
R7 - *sc 6, 2 sc in next st* = 24 st
R8 – sc around = 24 st
R9 – *sc 2, sc 2 tog* = 18 st
R10 - *sc 2, sc 2 tog* = 12st --Stuff with 100% polyester fibrefill.--
R11 - *sc 2 tog* = 6 st

sl st and bind off, leaving a tail long enough to sew end closed.

I also posted a link to this pattern on Ravelry.

Thanks for stopping by!
Jan

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Now playing: Reelones - A Geck Reel
via FoxyTunes

The Ever-Useful Newspaper

2009-09-14T08:45:00.007-06:00

photo copyright Jeff Rudell.

Paper artist Jeffery Rudell Reminds us that we didn't always recycle newspaper, we've used it as wrapping paper, birdcage liners, even house insulation! In a May 2009 post over at CraftStylish.com, he shows us how to make a basket out of newspaper.

The "Times" They Are A-Changing: How to Make a Basket from a Newspaper - CraftStylish
Shared via AddThis

I can think of loads of ways to use a basket like this. My first instinct is to decorate it with Halloween images and bright orange ribbon, to hold all the candy we'll hand out to Trick-or-Treaters next month!

How could you use a basket like this? I'd love to hear!

Thanks for stopping by!

~Jan

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Now playing: Nik Kershaw - All About You
via FoxyTunes

Sailors' Delight

2009-09-06T09:10:00.007-06:00

I've been hitting garage sales, the Share Shop and Goodwill all summer, looking for scrabble tiles. Yep, I've got the bug. I wasn't entirely sure yet, how I was going to use them.

Thanks to the idea from Beadwork Magazine's latest issue of Handcrafted Jewelry (Home Sweet Home by Ellene McClay*, page 20), I decoupaged some scrapbook paper onto tiles, added some Diamond Glaze to the top and here's the first completed piece I've made with one.

The clasp and bail that holds the focal pendant is sterling, the chain is not. Hematite, jade and red frosted faceted glass beads give this bracelet a little jingle, and echo the colours in the pendant.

And here's the issue of Handcrafted Jewelry by BeadWork magazine. This issue has great articles and projects (choosing resins, how to decoupage a scrabble tile, how to make the the beautiful branch pendant on the cover, with polymer clay, and more) and is on news stands for a while longer yet. I so love mixed media jewelery, and magazines like this give me the courage to get creative with what I put together.

* Please visit Ellene McClay's blog and her Etsy store.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

~Jan

Fun With Wire and Beads from the New Studio

2009-08-06T21:53:00.007-06:00

I can't tell you how good it feels to have space to create after having to stifle inspiration for lack of a space to create! Whew! I spent the whole afternoon/evening yesterday getting my ya-yas out, and except for not being able to find my burr cup (I'm in the city tomorrow and Saturday, so I'll go get another from my favourite shop, Bedrock Supply), it was bliss!

In addition to the stitch markers I told you about yesterday, I finally got to use some gorgeous sugalite rondelles I have been just DYING to use in these earrings inspired by a design by Char Jorgensen that I found in the Summer 2009 issue of Step by Step Wire Jewelry magazine. The rondelles are 6x10mm on 22ga sterling silver, and the swirly ear wires are 20ga sterling silver. I can't wait to get that burr cup so I can file and wear a pair of these babies!

I knew these lampworked beads I had on hand would go really nicely with this bracelet inspired by Cassie Donlen's wire wrapped bangle from the same issue of Step by Step Wire Jewelry magazine. I didn't have the wire called for in the tutorial, but I made do. The bangle is 14ga sterling silver wrapped with double-twisted 22 ga sterling. The beads are glass and silver plated spacers, and on 16ga sterling silver wire.

I wonder what I'll make next!

Thanks for stopping by!

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Now playing: Blue October - Sound of Pulling Heaven Down
via FoxyTunes

More Soda Bottle Beads

2009-08-05T21:45:00.005-06:00

Down in my lovely new studio space today, I finished using the last of the soda bottle beads I made earlier this year.

Back in April, I posted about these beads I made from 2L soda bottles. I made many more and today, I turned them all into stitch markers by adding wire, headpins and some silver plated beads. The rainbow and blue-green striped sets of 5 are on hooks that can open, so they could be used to mark crochet stitches if a person was careful enough not to snag the yarn at all with them. The set of 10 star ones are on wrapped loops, which are only good for knitting stitch markers.

I made a few more things today and have the itch to make more, so watch for more posts to come!

Thanks for stopping by!

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Now playing: Angelique Kidjo - Congoleo
via FoxyTunes

Studio-Making

2009-08-04T22:07:00.008-06:00

Over a year and a half ago, I arranged a nice little desk in my basement laundry room to serve as my jewelery-making 'studio' space. I could hang strings of beads, packages and earrings-in-progress on racks on the wall my desk was up against, and the drawers held all kinds of beads, wire, jigs and finished jewelery. My tools were hanging off a wire magazine rack next to the desk, which was also home to a few books and numerous issues of BeadStyle, Art Jewelry, Step by Step Wire Jewelry and the odd Bead&Button magazines. All in all, it worked all right until my first craft show, when I disassembled it to bring product, displays and a working kit to my tables. After the first year's shows, I reassembled it and continued. It worked well enough in the summer when I wanted to escape to the cool basement to create. In the winter, well.. I could always wear polar fleece (I practically live in fleece in the winter anyway).

We have a small bedroom in the basement that's warmer in the winter due to a wide vent in the middle of the ceiling that brings warm air in from the furnace on the other side of the wall. When we don't have a guest, we block the vent to redirect the heat to the upstairs rooms, since there's no point in heating a room no one's using. It also has a subfloor and my vast collection of PEZ dispensers. We don't get a lot of guests who use it, and the bed isn't very good anyway, so I decided to make the space a little more useful.

I got a great folding table on sale last week at Canadian Tire. It's sturdy but can be folded away in case I need to make some space in a hurry. Here's the progress as of today:

I was so excited to see table-top that I pulled out my working kit and immediately started unpacking so I could make some jewelery. I've been itching to make stuff for weeks and unable to face my little desk, so this was a real welcome relief. The table is wide enough for one of the kids to sit on the other side (on the drum throne) and make some jewelery with mom. I can pull in another chair for that so they can both join in, if need be.

I still have the futon, futon frame and double mattress to dispose of, but that will happen soon. Also, there's a little drum kit under there that we're taking to my brother's kids later this month, and boxes of the kids' out-grown toys that we're going to put in a garage sale at some point. There's boxes of 'gift stash' items (we Christmas/Birthday shop for friends and family all year round) stacked on and in a cedar chest too, but there's light at the end of the tunnel and I'm happy to have a comfortable place I can go to make stuff.

I even managed to rescue some space in the cupboards we salvaged from the previous owner's basement layout when we tore two rooms into one for our music room. I can fit a few clear plastic shoeboxes full of miscellaneous craft supplies and books in there.

I'm excited. I can't wait to get in there and make stuff, but I wanted to share the progress with you and give you the heads up that I'll be posting some more jewelery in the future. FINALLY!!! YAY!

Thanks for stopping by!

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Now playing: Pixies - Monkey Gone To Heaven
via FoxyTunes

Antonio the Amigurumi Frog

2009-07-19T21:43:00.007-06:00

From my DeviantART Gallery: "Antonio is a friendly and cheerful little guy. He's young and looking for a good home with a loving parent to take care of him. He's helpful and has impeccable manners, and he loves to have books read to him. His favourite books are the Froggy series by Jonathan London and Frank Remkiewicz.

He's made with 100% acrylic yarn (Red Heart Comfort Sport) and polyester fibrefill, and is 3.25" long from nose to bum."

Antonio the
Amigurumi
Frog

Another Free Pattern!

Materials:
Red Heart Comfort sport in two colours of your choice.
Hook: 3.75 mm

Abbreviations:
R = round or row
sc = single crochet
st = stitch
tog = together (sc 2 tog = decrease)
sl st = slip stitch
instructions between * are repeated

Body:
R1 - sc 6 in a circle (amigurumi double ring) = 6st
R2 - 2 sc in each st around = 12 st
R3 - *sc 1, 2 sc in next st* = 18 st
R4 - *sc 2, 2 sc in next st* = 24 st
R5 to R7 - sc around = 24 st
R8 - *sc 2 tog twice, sc 8* = 20st
R9 - *sc 2 tog, sc 8* = 18st
R10 - *sc 2 tog, sc 7* = 16st
R11 - *sc 2 tog, sc 6* = 14st
R12 - *sc 2 tog, sc 5* = 12st
R13 - sc 2, sc 2 tog, sc 6
R14 - sc 2, sc to tog, sc 4
sl st and bind off, leaving a tail long enough to sew end closed.
Stuff with 100% polyester fibrefill and close.
If you choose to use safety eyes, you'll insert these before stuffing. If not, directions for the eyes are next.

Eyes (make 2):
R1 - With main colour (this is the iris), sc 6 in a circle (amigurumi double ring) = 6st.
sl st in first sc to close the circle, bind off and cut yarn.
R2 - Attach white or other contrasting colour and 2 sc in each st around = 12 st.
sl st in first sc in round and bind off and cut yarn, leaving a long enough end to sew the eyes to the body at 2 and 10 o'clock placements.

Hind Legs (make 2):
Chain 15.
1st toe: sl st in the 2nd chain from the hook, sl st 3 more.
2nd toe: Chain 6; sl st 5, back along these to the main chain.
3rd toe: Chain 5, sl st 4, back along these to the main chain.
Put hook through the bottom of the 2nd toe's chain, yarn over, pull through, keaving loop on hook.
Put hook through chain beside third toe, yarn over, pull through all loops on hook.
sl st back along the leg, bind off at first chain and cut yarn. Use ends to sew the top of the leg to the ankle, then sew the ankle to the body at the corner of the end that was sewn shut.

Fore Legs (make 2):
Chain 9.
1st toe: sl st in the 2nd chain from the hook, sl st 2 more.
2nd toe: Chain 5; sl st 4, back along these to the main chain.
3rd toe: Chain 4, sl st 3, back along these to the main chain.
Put hook through the bottom of the 2nd toe's chain, yarn over, pull through, keaving loop on hook.
Put hook through chain beside third toe, yarn over, pull through all loops on hook. Sl st back along the leg, bind off at first chain and cut yarn. Use ends to sew the top of the leg to the side of the body, just behind the eye.

Weave in all free ends and add a smile either by embroidering with yarn or gluing on felt.

I also posted this pattern on Ravelry.

Thanks for stopping by!

Jan

And Another Thing About Blog Addiction...

2009-07-17T21:18:00.003-06:00

All right, so I haven't written much about the blogs I love (an unfair byproduct of reading so many is that I run out of time to post to my own blog!) but I couldn't help but share one of my favourite blogs with you today.

Favecrafts.com has been a font of inspiration and information, with everything from free instructions to upcycle water bottle caps to craft product reviews and sweepstakes/giveaways. One such sweepstake this month has them giving away an atyou Spica 12 Color Marker Set.

Says Favecrafts, "The markers are archival, acid-free, drip free, and non-toxic. The marker tips are fine making the markers perfect for lettering, writing, and drawing. The markers are recommended for cardmaking, rubberstamping, scrapbooking, artist journals, and other paper crafts."

I'm not deep into papercrafts though I've been known to dabble in just about any craft I can get my hands on, but don't these markers look luscious? Yes, Jan, yes they do.

You can enter to win these, too, by filling out the form, blogging and tweeting. Good luck, all!

Thanks for dropping by!

Art for Adoption Auction

2009-06-27T19:33:00.004-06:00

My friend Jaci goes by Quidditchmom on deviantART. It's how we met, admiring each other's work and making art trades. She's a really talented and interesting lady, and she and her hubby are adopting a child from Africa. By taking the international adoption option, they probably won't wait very long to be able to bring home their new daughter, but they will incur the huge expense of traveling to Africa to get her. It's not money many of us just have laying around, and she's asked her friends in the deviantART community to help by donating original artwork for an auction to raise money they desperately need to complete their family.

The first wave of this auction has ended and I won the item I bid on, so I'm really thrilled (as will the people to whom this gift will be given). One of the amigurumi I donated to the auction was won by another bidder, and so I'm really thrilled about that as well!

You can help the Selby family and get yourself some original artwork or artisan crafts by bidding on items in the remaining auctions at http://auction.selbyfamilyadoption.com/. The July auction has begun and there are some really great items to bid on! You have to register but it's free and quick, and if you want to help but don't really want to buy any art, you can always make a donation.

Thanks for stopping by!

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Now playing: Steve Burns - What I Do On Saturday
via FoxyTunes