Freaky Little Stuffed Animals

My girls wanted handcrafted stuffed animals. I think they spotted a pattern for them in a JoAnn's circular. They asked if i could make a couple and I said sure, as soon as I bought a pattern (because I'm a by-the-book kinda girl....not just a wing-it kinda girl). So, we find ourselves in JoAnn's, I let them pick their fabric, and I find the pattern. I'm also buying fabric for the Halloween pillow cases and tote bags. This trip to EXPENSIVE....like beyond what I expected to pay for these little crafty items. But, we paid and walked out. When I got home, I glanced at the receipt and notice the stupid little pattern for the animals was $15.99!! WHAT??!! Oh, no! We are NOT keeping this.......

"I am breaking outta my mold and I'm making my own pattern for these creatures!" I declare.

So brave aren't I?

So, I traced my interpretation of a freaky little animal onto paper bags and got to cutting and sewing. And here's the result!


Definitely freaky. Definitely weird. Definitely cuddly. And apparently a couple little friends who've seen them want one for their own :-)

Fibers on Friday: Something Beautiful Shrug

Hello, awesome people!! I cannot even express how exciting last week's party was for me. First of all, it grew again. Second of all, it warmed my heart immensely to be leaving a comment on someone's post and see that someone else from Fibers on Friday already had! My dream come true....my very own knitting circle! I'm not aware of any other parties dedicated just to knitting and crochet (I know they're out there....and I'm seeing a lot of mention of WIP Wednesday, I have to check out) so I'm just really, really happy about this one. And lastly, you guys left me the sweetest comments about my sweater. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! You all are as warm as the sweaters and blankets we make....and then some!

So, this week I started....and finished....the Something Special Shrug! The other night before bed my girl said, "Mom, can you knit A LOT tonight, because I want to wear my shrug tomorrow?" So, I worked as hard as I could. I blocked it last night and when I had her try it on for these pictures, she didn't want to take it off even though it was still a little damp.

I love the pattern, but I'm not thrilled at all with this yarn (I think it needs a project requiring much smaller needles, like US 5 or smaller). It's a little too stretchy and not tight. It's Cotton Fleece from Brown Sheep. I'll stick with wool for my next one....I was really trying to just pull from my stash.

So, here's the photo montage of my little model in her shrug. When you're done perusing, please grab my button and post it on your blog for your yarn loving friends to see. And then post away!! I can't wait to see what you've been working on!

Wordless Wednesday: Name's Bruce

Fibers on Friday: Taaaaa Daaaaaaa!

Here it is in completion! Beth's February Lady Sweater. Anyone who loves sweaters should knit this one! Anyone who has never knit a sweater, but wants to give it a shot, should knit this one. Anyone who says, "I wish I could knit sweaters", should knit this one! It's lovely. The pattern is written nicely. The lace pattern is not difficult. It's simply wonderful.

Here is what is on my needles now, Something Beautiful Shrug, for one of my girls. I'm knitting it with Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece, must say I'm not loving the yarn. It doesn't give, it's very slippery. Oh well, hopefully it will be a short project.

Our party is growing little by little. What really makes me happy is when I click to leave comments on someone's project and see that someone else from here already has. Spreading the love....spreading the love! So, please grab my button on the sidebar and keep spreading that love!

And I'd like to spread a little love for my friend Stephanie, who's sponsoring a give away over at Make It and Love It. Stephanie is a consultant for Thirty One Gifts, plus she's my berry berry good friend. Go see what she's all about and enter to win something!

Wandering Wednesdays: Pumpkin Patch Past

Jack-o-Lantern T-Shirts

This has to be my last post of 2008 Halloween projects. But, I think they're totally worth going back and posting about. Such great projects! These are tie dyed pumpkin t's. I know this idea was from Family Fun Magazine.

We took plain white t-shirts and tie dyed them in orange. We achieved the white rings in the pattern by tying rubber bands randomly around the shirt. Once they were dyed and dry we took black fabric paint and painted jack-o-lantern faces in all of the white circles. Like I said, we did this in 2008 and these shirts are still around and being worn! I'm sorry I didn't get better pictures of the faces all over the front of the shirts, I wasn't in blogging, picture taking mode yet!


Incidentally, it was from this picture above that I created my all-time favorite edit:

"Paigey and the Purple Flower"

Woodland Creatures

Another project from 2008, pre-blogging era!

The girls and I went on a "nature hunt" and collected sticks, twigs, pine cones, pine needles, and acorns. We came home and created these adorable little creatures. Unfortunately, at this point, I only have one left. It's on my "Fall" shelf right now. I guess we should make more.