Christmas wreath

So remember a few posts ago when I was performing acupuncture on a form ring?

Well here's the end product!

I took a photo with the door inside and the outside so it was a bit clearer. Only thing is its too bulky to fit between the wooden door and the outer security door! So it'll hang somewhere else in the house, but I still like it!

Any thoughts?

Comments? 

General random thoughts?

Busy, busy, busy

Teddy bear, oh how cute are thee? I love these little pieced body parts connected with little buttons. This Christmas he'll be going to a lovely new home, I'll be sad to see him go. I loved the way the variations of the yarn changed so smoothly, it's really the first time I've had any luck with this type of wool. It's my own pattern so the head's a bit demented but the arms and legs are from this book.

My little birds from the last post went to some new homes over to some cousins in Adelaide but boys are so much harder to make things for!! There are four little boys, two above 6 and three below. 

(From left to right) I bought a pooh bear quilt block for the newest little boy, strangely enough I had never enough seen a pre-printed quilt block until today! It's a perfect size for the little guy. 

Next is a boy who likes Spider-Man, but due to a lack of licensed fabric my fantastic brother found this spider print. I loved that it had the red scattered throughout and I got the blue for backing cause it seemed to complete the Spider-Man theme. 

Then we've got two different Lorax prints for two more boys. One is a gorgeous window sort of print and the other is an A4 size print blocks. 

And lastly I was searching for Ben 10 fabric but they had just run out!!! So instead I got the basic colours for that watch thingy he wears. I have an idea of how it looks so I'm going to appliqué it on. 

Oh my gosh! I just realized I didn't even tell you what I am making!!!! 

Due to postage I vouched for something mostly flat, I decided to make different pillowcases for them. I'll show you pictures when they are done!

Looking at the beautiful wreaths from Attic24 I decided to manufacture a Christmas wreath of our own. Instead of crocheting a scarf thing to sew around the foam ring I've cut polar fleece to stitch around it. A lot of the patterns for the individual pieces have come from Attic24 tutorials, the golden swirly things were supposed to look like west australian Christmas tree flowers and look pretty good if I do say so myself. 

For these gloves I developed the pattern from a photo on pinterest. My sister has already put in a request, they are made of mitered squares. I may post the pattern but I'd like to get permission from the original source first. 

Hope your week has been just as productive in this crazy lead upto Christmas!!!!

What have you been upto? Let me know!

Go Figure!

Ever had one of those situations where you just can't figure something out? 

 If it's a techy object those of is smart enough could pull it apart and under stand it. 

 Those smarter could put actually out I back together. 

 And the smartest of the lot would have known not to pull it apart in the first place! 

Those of us in the arty-crafty road of life often come across beautiful, inspiring pieces that are slightly beyond our own limited understanding. 

 It's in these instances that a detailed pattern is useful, or photos showing the making. 

Some of us are clever enough to work out certain patterns simply by sight. 

But sometimes there are those projects that look fabulously simple, but these things are often the hardest because the more simple something seems the more perfect each individual piece must be crafted! 

In these times trial and error is the only way to go about it. 

The past two days my sister and I have been experimenting with trial and error pieces to make the gorgeous bower bird from attic24

What have you made lately? What trail and error stories do you have?

More dolls!

So many dolls, so much wool! Not really a great place to be in for summer. 

Oh how much easier my life would be if we lived somewhere cold!

These are dolls made from my own pattern I like the long, thin arm and leg design and the round faces are very versatile. 

I've been thinking about making some boy dolls as well, but I, not really sure how I'd do their hair? 

Anyways I hope you enjoy my photos!

Church lands extravaganza!!!

Hopefully you've noticed my grouping of exclamation points after the word extravaganza. It just seems that a word like that should be yelled not whispered, sort of like "roll up, roll up!" It's just expected to be exciting. 

Here is my table for today's fair. My sister and I made a stack of stuff. You may notice my little sign, unfortunately I didn't have anywhere to actually hang it so it kind of disappeared in my table cloth/sheet. 

Hello to anyone who is visiting after meeting me at the market!!! I hope you enjoyed yourself. 

Many people have pointed out to me he necessity of having a Facebook page for crafty purposes and artistic commissions. Rest assured I am looking into it. I've also realised the need for business cards and order forms!!! It's amazing the things you discover after a dry run!! 

I'm looking forward to going out and taking a stack of photos for my Etsy page. I just need to find some babies willing to pose for my little beanies!!

Here's some more photos for those of you who didn't make it. 

Preparation

This past fortnight has been all about preparing for the Churchlands Extravaganza. It's a mix of a public art exhibition and craft stalls. I, being Brightly Burst, have my very own stall for the first time! I'm so excited but have also been knitting and crocheting like made. 

Cute bits and pieces have been flying off my needles!!! My two favourites of the past week are my frog and lily pad tea cosy and the 'Wool Eater' pot holder.

Yes he is currently posing on a vegemite jar but I'm sure he'll forgive me! As long as he likes vegemite as much as I do!

The pattern for this one is Sarah Landon's Wool Eater. I used Russian joining on all my scraps and I think it turned out really nice. The thick pattern makes for a good potholder. 

I really struggled to find projects appropriate for the summer but I ended up making a lot of toys and dolls. I recently purchased Susan B. Anderson's book topsy turvy toys and was so torn between making gifts from it and actually working!!!! I have such funny conundrums!!!'

Projects! Oh my goodness!

The doll on the left is a pattern if my own, as is the dress. I need to make another one and remember to write the pattern down (I'm terrible at that!) she's a little ballerina. I painted the face and knitted the hair, I thought the two buns were cuter than just one. 

The elephant and sausage dog are from 'the big book of softies' and they are so cute.

The two dolls on the other end are still in progress but I thought I'd show you anyway. 

The two books are by Loani Prior and showcase some gorgeous tea pot cosies. I working on 'Gone Potty' its double knitted and I've struggled a bit with the colour pattern but it is the first time I've double knitted anything this complicated. 

On the right are a pair of freeform fingerless gloves I made. They were so much fun to create!

Here is a better photo of the gloves. I'm really happy how they turned out, if only it weren't coming into summer over here!

Up-cycle!!!!

I bought this old lampshade at our local Vinnies store for $2.50, a score in itself. Now don't get me wrong, I don't intend to use an old lampshade (at least not without doing it up a little!). I'm making a crafty baby mobile. I made a stack of paper cranes, one in every colour I had and I'm going to stick fishing line through them and attach them to the base of the lamp shade. I figured a sky was a good place for birds to be! Haha!! Have you made something old, new again?

This week // 12-18 October

This week has been hectic in more ways then one. 

In artsy ways I am preparing for the churchlands art and craft extravaganza. Stocking up on all my crocheted, knitted and sewn products! It's exciting to see how much I have accomplished.

I've been working on these dolls for awhile but the first prototype had neck problems, too floppy. This photo is the second try and I painted the face only today, I like the simple, minimalist design. I was reducing the compactness of the stuffing in the head when it turned out like this! Looks a bit Einstein-y, minus the funky eyebrows.

The baby maple tree in our front garden has begun to sprout its leaves again! Gorgeous and such a beautiful introduction to our late spring.

This is the 'Patchwork Horse' from the "big book of softies" a cute anthology of various toy artists. The pattern calls for a mane similar to the tail but I ran out of my scraps of that particular fabric and decided to leave it as it was. I think it turned out well.

These are the ex-ducklings at our pond. They are in that awkward phase of duck adolescence where half of their bodies are covered in fluff and the other in feathers!

How has your week been? Out there in blog land. Have the Christmas jitters kicked in yet?

Weekly photos

I've been inspired to post weekly photos as well as inspirations. This week I will only be posting my personal photos. Please enjoy and feel free to comment.

This is one of the instalments for last months kings park flower show. 

Knitted ballerina bear from the kindle book "The Best Dressed Knitted Bears" I wasn't entirely happy with the construction of the bear but the clothes are gorgeous. 

Smiley the bear likes coffee. His pattern is from "The Knitted Teddy Bear" and these patterns are gorgeous!! Although I forgot to leave a hole near his bottom for the stuffing!! So he has bit of an ugly seam at his nose!!

Mock up of all my swatches and such crocheted together. Might hang it on a wall??

The makings so far of a Christmas present dragon. 

Nice crochet pic!!

Daphne beanie

Daphne beanie

This hat is adapted from this scarf:

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/daphne-19

The best way to mke this hat is using a circular knitting needle using the magic loop method or double pointed needles. I used DK yarn.

Pattern

Cast on 120 stitches, put a marker between each group of 20 stitches. The pattern design is for each set of twenty. The pattern repeats for each leaf and a half. When you have five leaves instead of splitting the stem again you need to go only to the opposite leaf. 

You need help or run into pattern mistakes please don't hesitate to contact me.

Row 1: P2, K5, P4, K3, P6

Row 2: P2, K2, yo, K1, yo, K2, P4, K2, inc1, p2tog, P4

Row 3: P2, K7, P4, K2, P1, K1, P5

Row 4: P2, K3, yo, K1, yo, K3, P4, K2, inc1ps, K1, p2tog, P3

Row 5: P2, K9, P4, K2, P2, K1, P4

Row 6: P2, K2tog, K5, ssk, P4, K2, P1, inc1ps, K1, P2tog, P2

Row 7: P2, K7, P4, K2, P3, K1, P3

Row 8: P2, K2tog, K3, ssk, P4, K2, P2, inc1ps, K1, p2tog, P1

Row 9: P2, K5, P4, K2, P4, K1, P2

Row 10: P2, p2tog, K1, ssk, P4, K2, P4, yo, K1, yo, P2

Row 11: P2, K3, P4, K2, P4, K3, P2

Row 12: P2, sk2p, P2, p2tog, K1, m1, K1, P4, (K1, yo) twice, K1, P2

Row 13: P6, K3, P4, K5, P2

Row 14: P4, p2tog, K1, inc1, K1, P4, K2, yo, K1, yo, K2, P2

Row 15: P5, K1, P1, K2, P4, K7, P2

Row 16: P3, p2tog, K1, inc1ps, K2, P4, K3, yo, K1, yo, K3, P2

Row 17: P4, K1, P2, K2, P4, K9, P2

Row 18: P2, p2tog, K1, inc1ps, P1, K2, P4, K2tog, K5, ssk, P2

Row 19: P3, K1, P3, K2, P4, K7, P2

Row 20: P1, p2tog, K1, inc1ps, P2, K2, P4, K2tog, K3, ssk, P2

Row 21: P2, K2, P4, K2, P4, K5, P2

Row 22: P2, yo, K1, yo, P4, K2, P4, K2tog, K1, ssk, P2

Row 23: P2, K3, P4, K2, P4, K3, P2

Row 24:P2, (K1, yo) twice, K1, P4, K1, m1, K1, p2tog, P2, sk2p, P2

When you've made five of the leaves work only the next one instead of splitting the stem again. Decrease your purl stitches evenly across the row, work a row normal and decrease evenly again repeating this process until you have about twelve stitches left, fasten off.

Church stand

Here is my cute little market stand at my church. 

Geoffrey

Geoffrey the giraffe, commissioned to make by a good friend from my church for his wife's birthday. He turned out very cute, sometimes simplicity is best. It's the first time I've done stranded knitting, and the first time I've actually used French knitting for anything. When I was little I used to just make strings of the I-cord like things, now I've finally found a use for them!!!! I included some close ups of his face a crocheted mane just for kicks. Hope you enjoy, I adapted the pattern from this book:

http://www.bauer-media.com.au/books/cool-knitting.htm

Vintage Bunny

Isn't my bunny gorgeous!!!! He's knitted mainly in seed stitch with his crocheted red scarf and stocking stitch stomach. I'm thinking next time I'll get a few different contrasting patterned fabrics and do some in-laying in the ears, on the paws and a circle patch on the tummy. With a few tweaks he could be a mama kangaroo with a pouch and a joey.

Made from a free pattern by Sara Elizabeth Kellner on Ravelry

Completed chaos

If you've read my other posts you will have seen the organised version of this little blanket. It's been finished for a long time but I've only just gotten around to posting it. 

The worst part is always darning in the ends!!!! Oh my gosh! If I could pay someone to do it they would make millions!!! It's worse still with these multiple colours and gaps between the rows. There is only small gaps in this one but it was the first flat crochet project I had ever completed, you gotta give me a break. I'm working on a simple knitted giraffe toy at the moment for a friend's birthday, stranded spots every so often. It may be a bit strange but I can never get my spots to look random so now I don't even try!! Best to stick with what your good at I suppose!

Source of inspiration

For whatever reason I've been experiencing bit of a creative dry spell lately, the juices have stopped flowing, my brain became logical instead of imaginative. Yesterday I broke out ALL my yarn scraps, and I do mean scraps. Some of these were little more than 10cm long! I decided to make one MASSIVE crochet chain, theoretically merging all the colours into a somewhat haphazard rainbow. It ended up looking like some specialty yarn, I can't wait to use it for something!

I love the winter issues of better homes and gardens, I'm not a gardener but there's something about the colours God designed in nature that is pure inspiration! The winter issues also have awesome knitting and crochet patterns and ideas. Most of them are remixes of old favourites but its very hard to find decent old patterns! Especially for crochet. Last month they released the 36 page knitting book, there were some nice patterns but I always hesitate to spend lots of money on the same kind of yarn to make a garment that I might no necessarily like the end product of! There were some nice lacy scarves that I'm DYING to try out!
This months crochet patterns, I believe, we're based on an 'African flower'? Never heard of it before but I still have heaps to learn.

I also made two doilies. From this pattern:

http://www.crochetspot.com/crochet-pattern-hipster-doily/

I saw another version of it done it DK yarn, each row done in a different colour. I did mine in really thin red cotton yarn (happened to be the only thing I had on hand.) sad part is it doesn't match a single room in our house. I thought I might find some small frames and sell them. The cotton shows the stitches nicely.

I put a photo of the 'coasting along' pattern I made.