Candy Corn!

I have a friend who would wear this Candy Corn Beaded t-shirt year-round:

Picture from Craftbits

I would probably switch the beaded sleeves for a beaded hem, though.

A New Experiment

I'm branching out from my experiment this weekend, and I'm seeing what happens when you don't work on stuff. So far, nothing has happened, and I don't think that's going to change. How about some links, instead?

As a fan of The Wizard of Oz, I would definitely use black and white tights for this:

Picture from HGTV

I really want to make this Witch Candy Cauldron from HGTV! When I was looking at the picture, I thought it would be a t-shirt and tights, and that's probably how I would do this.

I love little ghosts like this one:

Picture from Knitted Toy Box.

It's Boo! from Knitted Toy Box.

Finally, a skeleton banner from Sugar'n Cream:

Picture from Sugar'n Cream.

Kind of cute, kind of creepy. I'm not sure I'm going to make this one!

I'm crossing my fingers that my current experiment will be over soon. Ciao!

In and Out

Just a quickie today, because (although I could have made this a really nice post) I put it off and now I'm running out of time. Here's what I have:

A finished Ravenclaw!

One row of Gryffindor!

I think today's October thing is really cool:

Picture from Gleeful Things.

A Glowing Bat Silhouette from Gleeful Things! (Can you tell I've been spending a lot of time on her site lately?)

Have a great day!

A Continuing Theme

Today, I am continuing along the theme of, "Working on things makes them get done faster." Here is what I have:

I just need to fill in the bird, which is a solid color and will therefore be quite mindless, and the curlicues around the edges, also just one color. After that, I have to backstitch the word "Ravenclaw" over the coral area, and I'll be done! (Just with this part. Not the whole thing.)

Today's October thing is a little Candy Clops from Gleeful Things:

Picture from Gleeful Things.

Super cute!

To Do To Start:

• the house emblems on my HP cross stitch
• figure out and implement the closure for the brown skirt
• etch the etching projects
• sew on ten sequins every day I work on these other things

Version 1.Oops

I decided I wanted to post today, because I made big progress on my Harry Potter cross stitch:

That's right. Big progress. It tuns out that if you work on things, they get done! This got off to a little bit of a rough start, when I realized that, when making something for the first time, you have to look at the chart! The bottom row of the coral color has tan under it, as do three of the light blue stitches. (I also forgot to do the two tan stitches that surround the bottom light blue stitch, but I can fix that later.) Therefore, I'm calling this Version 1.Oops. Because that's how I roll.

I also started the etching projects. I can't show one of them to you right now, but here is the other:

It's all ready to be etched, and the other one is pretty much in the same place. (Can you tell that I'm going for simple?) I wanted this one to be etched in with negative space (partially because I couldn't find the ExActo knife). The other one is going to be more like the original, with the design being the etched part (I found the ExActo knife.)

Today's October thing is something I definitely want to make:

Picture from Gleeful Things

these adorable Halloween luminaries from Gleeful Things! I also would like to make some for other holidays (I think she made some snowflake ones, I just can't find them to link right now.)

To Do To Start:

• the house emblems on my HP cross stitch
• figure out and implement the closure for the brown skirt
• etch the etching projects
• sew on ten sequins every day I work on these other things

This is Halloween!

I love that song, and it seemed an appropriate title for this post. I have decided that since I already owe you yesterday's October thing, and today's, and it's a long weekend, I will post a little extra October spirit today.

First up, I have this adorable I Want My Mummy treat bag from The Crochet Dude:

Picture from The Crochet Dude.

For the sewers, this cute spider web pillow from Crap I've Made:

Picture from Crap I've Made.

Finally, this burlap table runner from Just Sew Sassy is simple but really cool:

Picture from Just Sew Sassy.

Have a great long weekend!

Stick a fork in it!

I have been waiting to say that for soooo long.....

Anyway, as you may have guessed, I am done with the needle roll:

and I really like it. This one came out a little bigger than I expected (umm duh, the tutorial had measurements on it!) so I'm just going to keep straights in the long pockets and circulars in the bottom pockets. I'm thinking of making a smaller one for my DPNs, since they are really the reason I started this whole project.

I looked through the house emblem charts for the HP cross stitch, and I can only do Gryffindor and Ravenclaw right now. I'm going to start with Ravenclaw, and I printed the chart and grabbed all the floss from the pile today.

I'm in a bit of a hurry, so no October thing today. Doubles tomorrow!

To Do To Start:

• the center square of my HP cross stitch (house emblems)
• figure out and implement the closure for the brown skirt
• make the etching projects
• sew on ten sequins every day I work on these other things

Missed it by that much!

I missed having two finished objets to show off by *that* much. Here's one, to make me feel better:

I know what you're thinking. (Okay, fine. I don't really! Deal with it!) So yes, that locket is store-bought. But I bought all the pieces, then assembled them into a necklace of awesomeness. (That would be chain, slip rings, cool new closures, and pendant. I didn't make the pendant.) I really like it, so I just need a good picture to stick in it. I'm thinking yarn?

Here is my almost-FO:

That is the ribbon, not plastic wrap. I don't just have plastic wrap lying around on my floor. Last night, I had this much, and I just needed to close up the opening:

which I did today, and add the Velcro, which will have to be tomorrow. Next up? I'm starting the Harry Potter cross stitch! (And no, I haven't been doing my ten-a-day on the sequin skirt. How did you guess?)

For the October thing, I have this wee ghost. Make lots and lots, but do yourself a favor, and don't let them into your garden!

It's October?!?!

I did some thinking this weekend, and I figured out that until I go to the store, the only thing I can really work on is the needle roll. That's just fine with me, so I picked out the fabrics I'm going to use for it. Here are all the pieces:

I am going to have to think about the size of the needles carefully, though. Obviously, I won't be putting my long size 10s in here, or my size 50s, and it will probably be all DPNs and a few short straights.

On a different subject, today is the first day of October. (Yeah, I know.) I wanted to do something a little special this month, so I'm going to post a link to something Halloweeny every time I post this month. I might even make some of it! :) Today, I wanted to post this little pumpkin:

Picture from Handmade by Anne Potter.

 I think it's super cute, and this might be one of the ones I make! Her website has some other neat patterns, so go check it out.

I was able to get to the store yesterday, and I got almost everything I needed:

The only thing was, they didn't have thread #451, so I'll have to go back soonish. (Wow, that's a word?) I also got this pendant, and these closures:

which I'm going to make into a necklace for myself. I'm a sucker for Eiffel Tower stuff! (Plus, it opens!)

Now I'm able to start work on the Harry Potter stuff, I have the Velcro for the needle roll, and I have the ExActo knife for the etching projects. Now (and cross your fingers) I think I have everything I need to finish Christmas. Maybe. I don't want to tempt Fate.

Have a great day, and enjoy your October!

Roll Ups!

Um, no. Not fruit roll ups. That would just be weird. I kind of meant needle roll ups.

Anyway, I have been looking to see if I could find a better way to make my needle roll, and I think I'll do something like this. I probably won't use my original fabric:

because I don't have enough to make the pockets work. Tonight, my goal is to get all the fabric and such sorted out, so I can get started on this tomorrow or this weekend.

Does anyone else think this colonial Miracle Whip ad is really creepy?

Attic Hunts

I love hearing stories about people that went into their grandmother's attic, so I was really excited when I found two such bins in my basement. (I know, I know, it's not an attic, but we don't have one!) Anyway, one of them was actually my mom's. She used to be huge on cross stitch, and she has this big bin full of kits, projects she never finished, and the like. The other bin actually did have old stuff (but I'm pretty sure it was from my great-grand-aunts, not my grandma), and it was mostly fabric. Lots of fabric. And some doilies....

I think it's cool that I was the niece that looked through that bin, because a lot of my cousins would have said, "Why would anyone need that much fabric?" and I say, "Wow. Someone had a big plan. Why don't I finish it for them?" In that category, there are things like a whole pile of pinked hearts. I have no idea what they're for, though! I am totally entranced by the idea of making something from this really old fabric and passing it down, through the generations. First, I need a really good project, so I have been doing a lot of research to see what I could make. I'm really excited!

Now, I know what you're all thinking. None of this is on my list, right? Well, I don't care. I won't start any of it, but I am going to keep looking! Besides, I only found this stuff because I thought there might be some of the thread I need in my mom's bin. There wasn't, so I'm going to need to go to Jo-Ann or something. (Am I the only one that thinks that looks wrong? I googled it to check, and that is how it looks on their website.) While I was on their site, I did check that they have DMC thread, so hopefully that will all work out. I also need to pick up another zipper. Hopefully, I will make it there soonish.

To Do To Start:

• the center square of my HP cross stitch (house emblems)
• sew the pockets for needle sizes 000-3
• figure out and implement the closure for the brown skirt
• make the etching projects
• sew on ten sequins every day I work on these other things

Slow and Steady

Slow and steady wins the race, right? (I should know. When I was in second grade, the musical we put on was Bebop With Aesop, which was a collection of Aesop's fables, and I played the hare. Let me tell you, lesson learned.) Anyway, I have been making slow progress on the sequin skirt. I am making progress, it's just really slow.

The baseball game was a lot of fun, but it was very hot, so I didn't knit a stitch. I did get a funny look from the person who looked in my purse, as I had three mini balls of yarn in there. I like freaking people out with yarn! :)

I did some research for the Harry Potter cross stitch, and I figured out which thread colors I need to do the center square/rectangle. Here is a list, for those of you making all four of the Mountain Harmony Creations coasters (linked together here):

221-Shell Pink (Very Dark)

304-Red (Medium)

310-Black

351-Coral

415-Pearl Grey

561-Jade (Very Dark)

727-Topaz (Very Light)

728-Golden Yellow

729-Old Gold (Medium)

762-Pearl Grey (Very Light)

782-Topaz (Dark)

803-Blue (Deep)

815-Garnet (Medium)

842-Beige Brown (Very Light)

921-Copper

975-Golden Brown (Dark)

3371-Black Brown

3731-Dusty Rose (Very Dark)

3752-Antique Blue (Very Light)

3828-Hazelnut Brown

I'm going to have to take a look at the thread I have, and see what colors I need. Then, I'll be able to start work on this!

Fingerless Glove Roundup

Since all I've really done since yesterday is work on the sequin skirt (I fixed the system), I decided to do a little fingerless glove pattern roundup. Yes, I think that's perfectly normal, no, I'm not worried. :)

-Lithuanian Wristers, from the Deep Fall 2011 issue of Knitty.
-Knucks, from the Summer 2006 issue of Knitty.
-The Political Process, from the First Fall 2012 (that's right now!) issue of Knittyspin.
-Voodoo Wrist Warmers, from the Winter 2002 issue of Knitty.
-Portlander Mitts, from the First Fall 2012 issue of Knitty.
-The LLP Fingerless Mittens I posted yesterday
-The music gloves I posted a few months ago

Wow. I had all these patterns bookmarked. That's just weird! Anyway, I have the stuff I need for the Lithuanian Wristers, so I think they might be my first project. Speaking of which, I just found out that I'm going to a baseball game on Saturday (yeah, I'm thrilled too) and I decided that I want to have a Stitch n' Pitch of one. There's no way I'm taking any of the projects on the To Do To Start list, so I think I'm going to have to start something new. The LW won't work (I don't think a baseball stadium is the best place to learn how to use beads), so I need something simple and awesome. I'm going to be doing some looking this week, to find the perfect project!

What Hummingbird?

As per my Epic and Awesome Plan (which happens to be its official title), yesterday I looked at the hummingbird coaster. However, I had a hard time figuring out exactly where my mistake was.... (note to self: never ever use sharpie on patterns) so I started over. I just grabbed one of the squares I cut for the big Christmas set, and went to town. Except I was stupid, and I went to town with white where I should have been using lavender. Plus it was in the wrong spot. So I fixed that. But the square wasn't big enough. So I ripped that out too. We shall not be speaking of this incident again. (Hummingbird? What hummingbird?)

I still had to pick my first project, so I dedicated myself to the Harry Potter cross stitch. That's major stuff, right there. Except I didn't really remember where I wanted stuff to go, and I got to recount everything. Then I was smart (wow!!) and took a picture of it, which I am putting right here:

so I have a record. Now I have to gather up thread, but a lot of the charts don't have suggested thread colors listed. I'm probably going to just go off the pictures.

The sequin skirt is... sequiny. I still need to do my ten sequins for today, but I might have done them yesterday. I had this brilliant plan, where I was going to pull out ten sequins from the bag, sew them on, and once the pile was gone, I was done. Good, right? Except for the fact that after two or three, I was just reattaching the ones that were on the skirt, and therefore using none from the pile. I know. I'm practically a genius over here. :)

One more thing before I go. I have noticed that a lot of the patterns I want to knit (after I'm done, after I'm done, just keep repeating it) are for fingerless gloves. My hands are not that cold! But anyway, while I was doing some googling tonight, I found these. I even printed the pattern, so if my link breaks, I can still make them. Is it wrong to be so happy about something so silly?

I really wanted a cool picture for this post. Oh well. Maybe tomorrow?

To Do To Start:

• the center square of my HP cross stitch (house emblems)
• sew the pockets for needle sizes 000-3
• figure out and implement the closure for the brown skirt
• make the etching projects
• sew on ten sequins every day I work on these other things

A Parade of Two

Here is my parade of two for today:

That's two WIPs out of the way, which isn't bad for one weekend, right? Here is the detailed, descriptive list of my other WIPs I want to finish:

1. I have a cross stitch kit for a hummingbird coaster, which I started a few months ago. (Well, I say kit, but it didn't come with thread.) Anyway... I kind of messed up the pattern, and I'm not sure if it's something I can just live with. I might need to rip out the offending stitches and redo them. My goal: finish
2. I would like to get a good start on my HP cross stitch project. There are a lot of bits and pieces to it, and I do need to do some research to figure out what thread I need, but I will be starting this soon. My goal: buy/find all thread and do the four house emblems (center rectangle)
3. In my latest WIP count, I mentioned that I wasn't going to finish the needle holder until I had accumulated all the sizes of DPNs, but that I wasn't going to just buy them all. For my work on this, I will just be sewing the first six sizes, all of which I have. My goal: sew the "pockets" for sizes 000-3 
4. For my brown skirt, I honestly would just like an idea of what I'm doing with it. If I can, I would like to implement this, and right now, I'm thinking about getting another zipper and sewing it in by hand. My goal: figure out and (hopefully) finish the closure
5. You know, I just realized I should probably put the etching projects on here. Just saying. They need an Exacto knife and a free afternoon. My goal: finish
6. Oh boy. The sequin skirt. Here's my plan. While I work on all of these other things, I will sew on ten sequins every day. Then I'll see where I'm at, finished-wise. There are a lot of sequins, though! My goal: sew on ten sequins everyday while I work on everything else

Here is the simplified list I will be putting at the bottom of posts, just because they make me happy:

To Do To Start:

• cross stitch hummingbird coaster
• the center square of my HP cross stitch (house emblems)
• sew the pockets for needle sizes 000-3
• figure out and implement the closure for the brown skirt
• make the etching projects
• sew on ten sequins every day I work on these other things

I like having a nice little list of everything I need to do!

Backwards

See? I did work on it! :) I always love how much of a difference the backstitch makes. That's all I really have left; the backstitch (and two french knots) and the assembly. I might be able to finish it this weekend, but I'm going to be pretty busy. We'll see!

Second Verse, Same as the First

I am so predictable. Last Friday? I posted this. Today? I give you:

This is what I had yesterday.....

And this is what I have right now.

Don't give me that look! I swear, I'll work on it! I might even work on it tomorrow! (Try not to pass out from shock!) :)

Have a great day, and I'll see you tomorrow with... something.

An Interpretation

In accordance with my WIPs only rule, here is what I have been working on:

Don't freak out. I didn't do all of that in two days. I didn't even do all of that! My friend started this (a long time ago, I think) and ended up giving it to me. That was a few years ago, and I just now picked it back up. It's not too bad, but there is one problem. My friend had a bit of a loose relationship with counting. (Actually, I'm not sure she was counting at all, but that's not the point.) Also, she didn't do the quarter cross stitches right, but there is no way in this universe that I'm going to pick out all of the stitching to fix those things. Therefore, I have decided that I am doing an interpretation of the pattern.

Don't the eyes look weird? I showed it to my family, and we all agreed that they looked a bit odd, so I pulled out the picture, and it turns out that it's completely okay. Once I backstitch in the muzzle (snout?), it will be all good.

I'm pretty sure all I have left is embroidery and assembly, and I quite honestly can't wait to get this done. Next up? Hummingbirds.

FO: Gingerbread Ornament

Ha!!

Ha ha ha ha ha!

I am ludicrously happy right now!!!!! I have finished all the long-term crafting needed for Christmas!!!! (More about that in a second.) Here it is at 12:00 on Saturday:

1:00:

And around 2:30:

All done, and I am thrilled.

OK, so for Christmas I am totally and completely done with everything on my list-except the etching. I am not counting those projects, because they will only take an afternoon. I just need to get an Exacto knife (I knew it would be bad luck to say I had everything without checking first!) and I can finish these, too!

The only thing I will have to do after that is wrap everything. I have thought about making little bags for each present, but I haven't decided if that is creativity or pure lunacy. Either way, that will be my final step, and I couldn't be happier. (How many times have I said some variation of that in this post? Is anyone else getting the notion that I'm happy right now?)

So now, the big question is, what will I make next? I talked about making the Lithuanian Wristers, and I have a long list of other things I would like to make. I do have the materials for many of them, but I was looking through my stash yesterday, and I decided that I will not be starting anything new until I finish all of my WIPs. I no longer have any reason to put them off, and some of them would make good Christmas presents to keep for next year. (We'll see how long this lasts. One project? Two? I'm hoping for two cross stitches, plus all the sewing things from my latest WIP Count.)

My Crafty Christmas To-Do List

• make two etching projects
• wrapping!

Wait a Second....

This is what I had yesterday:

And this is what I have today:

I know. It's pathetic.

Nom nom nom

I want to go nom nom nom (yes, that is great grammar!) on this little guy:

Aww, that's cute. You thought it was going to be done! Well, the white is, and the body, and the green stuff. All that's left is the trim/hearts stuff, and the embroidery. Not bad, methinks. Me-also-thinks that I can have this done by Monday. (Without going crazy? Um....)

I have noticed something. (Hey, it was bound to happen someday!) Even with all my counting, and folding, and more counting, he is not centered! Horizontally, it's not too bad, but vertically? Way. Too. High. How does this happen, you ask? I blame the little arrows. Here I was, thinking they pointed to the centers, but they apparently don't. (We are going with the assumption that I can count to thirteen successfully.)

I dream of knitting. Lovely knitting that I am giving to no one. I'm thinking of starting with Lithuanian Wristers.  I'm not sure if it is a good idea to go from one fiddly thing to another (and then a third, because this is my second straight ornaments) but I am going to anyway.

Back to the land of the Ginger Bread Fairy. See you tomorrow! :)

Just One Color!

The gingerbread's body may have more than one color, but it is still a nice change from the three bajillion colors of the kitty!

I have the whole body done. I just need to do the collar, the decorative stuff around him, and the embroidery. Then I'm done!

A Sudden Urge

I am feeling a sudden urge to knit this. It is completely illogical. I don't really care. It may have something to do with this:

That's right. Finished! I have this strange desire to just stare at it. All day. So after I finished the cross stitching, the backstitching, and the backing, you know what I did? Well, what any logical person would do:

 I started another. My last long-term Christmas project. If you could see me right now, that would be really creepy you would know how thrilled I am.

Have a great day! I'm going to spend the day with my little cat. And the gingerbread man, of course....

Mohawking

I'm saying hi to my dad. He's awesome.

Anyways, I have mohawked:

until I could not mohawk anymore. I am going to throw this in the wash sometime, probably this weekend. I should have that done by Tuesday, plus some pictures taken in natural light that don't make the mohawk look like it's neon orange. Because it's red.

I know you're not surprised I didn't cross stitch yesterday morning. I was mohawking, so I think it's OK.

Have a great weekend, and happy Labor Day! I'll see you guys on Tuesday!

By the way: I posted every single weekday this month. I feel awesome!

Give Me an M!

Because that's all I have of the mohawk hat:

Not a lot of mohawk. I really just need half an hour to sit down and work on that and that alone, which should happen sometime between now and next week. Weekends are more craft-friendly for me!

I am completely ignoring the cross stitch ornaments. Not the best way to get them done, I've heard. I have some time this morning..... Maybe I'll pull one out?

Have a great day, and do more knitting than me! :)

Whoops!

I got caught up in that thing called My Real Life, so I don't have a good post for you guys today. I should have one tomorrow, though! Have a great evening!

Charm Necklaces

I have two necklaces today, made two different ways:

They both are just pieces of chain with a crab claw closure (I think) and two charms on it, but I did the charms differently for each one. I put the T and the Eiffel Tower on the chain before I put on the two closure pieces, and they can't come off without taking the whole thing apart. For the other one, I put a new slip ring on the charms, instead of the one they came with, and they can slide over one of the ends. I'm not really sure which one I like better; the first is good because you can't just lose the charms, but the second is nice because you can switch them out. I think I'll ask the recipients, after I give them their necklaces!

I have been working on the mohawk hat a bit, but nothing picture worthy yet. Have a great day!

My Crafty Christmas To-Do List

• make two etching projects
• finish the mohawk hat
• finish catnip ornament
• make another cross stitch ornament

Gingerbread Factory

Can you imagine how good that would smell? Anyway, on Thursday afternoon I made these:

I am seriously considering redoing this one's face. It's kind of ugly.

Then on Friday I made this:

Well, I actually finished some of the knitting on Saturday morning, and I still have to put in the mohawk. But still. I did most of it on Friday.

When I was helping my friend move, we found a plastic container filled with little erasers. She didn't want them, so I took a bunch:

I took all the whales and parrots! Plus some fish. I'm thinking jewelry.....

Yesterday I went to Michaels (again) and got these things:

Charms, pliers, mohawk yarn, and glass things. I now have everything I need to finish Christmas. I honestly can't believe it! (OK, so right after I typed that sentence I had a little panic attack about masking tape. I seriously thought that I didn't have any, and because of that sentence I would be unable to find any anywhere. But it's OK. I found some under the knife drawer.) Now all I have to do is make it all. Speaking of which:

My Crafty Christmas To-Do List

• make two etching projects
• put the mohawk on the mohawk hat
• make two charm necklaces
• finish catnip ornament
• make another cross stitch ornament

I'm getting to the end. I'm super excited. On Saturday I spent a lot of time making a list of things I was going to make, just for me. For fun. After the Christmas stuff is done. I can't wait.