one more to add to the fingerless gloves list

I have been working on this pair much longer than I care to admit. I really wanted to have the illusion of knit without being tunisian or being a really stiff back post stitch.
I finally stumbled across a stitch that met my requirements... knit like and soft. the 'knit' is horizontal and not vertical, but that's cool.
the real treat came when I turned it around and looked at the reverse side of the stitch. it is great! I totally love it and I'm sure I'll be doing more like this.
but the real shiny part of all of this is that it is the most dead simple stitch ever. it's basically a hdc but I would call it a half double double back loop. that's a totally made up name for it since no one can agree on a real name for it and I've run across some argument as to what the technique truly is. but for me it's a back loop not a post and not a camel stitch. so I am going to call it a Double Back Loop Half Double Crochet... so there.
:)

christmas present completed

completed, wrapped, unwrapped, loved!



merry christmas



made some small modifications to my pattern. I really love the way it turned out. In the near future I may put a small lock and handle on it. and I might possibly embroider the words "public call"
but for now we're happy with the end result.
:)

Christmas scarf/ the perfect red scarf

I'm thinking that I should make a few more of these... in different colors and perhaps a slight variation of the pattern I made for this scarf.
they don't take long, but I do have to run to the store and buy more yarn if this one sells quickly.
I am working on an idea on how to make the cables in a different color than the rest of the scarf. this would make some very obvious dots on the back of the scarf ~ unless I use a color that will blend nicely with the cable.
hmmm. if i get it to work out acceptably then there will be a written pattern in the future.

Frosty Christmas Necklace

the other day my daughter said that she would like to have a necklace. I asked if she wanted a bead necklace or a lace necklace. she wanted lace but the colors should be red and green for Christmas time.

I just had to have a shot this morning and it was a bit dimly light so I'll get better shots of it when she gets home from school...

changed my mind

I had mentioned that I would not be putting the words "Police Box" at the top of the TARDIS, but I have since changed my mind. I'm simply going to crochet it on later. I still have one line up the left side to do, but I had to have a break from it this morning... I'll finish that line later this evening. I will also be continuing with the top. I have to put the light on the roof -about 6 inches to go!!!! I'm getting pretty excited about it.


all in all I am very happy with how it is turning out. It is really cozy warm and a high risk of falling asleep while working on it :)

now I am trying to decide which child is next in line for a blanket for Christmas and what is it going to be.

another Christmas present

I occasionally post on Craftster.org, in their crochet category - I'm known as oldlady.

there was a woman who created a pattern for a toy that I couldn't resist for a Christmas present this year. the link here is to her blog and pattern.

though we haven't seen the movie yet (we are poor and wait for DVD so we aren't paying $trillion to see a movie in the theater with our family of 7) the commercials for Despicable Me have always been popular with the little kids here.



So I have no idea why the eyes ended up different sizes. I used the same size hook and tension - or so I thought- and it just looks plain silly, especially compared to the original, but I think it will be a much loved minion.

pattern for Doctor Who fans

I polished up my graph I made for my son's Christmas present. I know for a fact that I am not the only crafty geek in the world...

I hope this is a hit.

not made with yarn

a couple of posts ago I mentioned that I have been making some earrings along with some other things. I started making them back in July (maybe) - just a couple here and there - but have lacked the courage to show them with reckless abandon

I have finally photographed them.
and I'm still scared that they are kind of lame in terms of .... well under any terms.

but because I said I would show them...

same pair

same pair

same pair

sold

a sale going on

all the necklaces I have listed in the store are 20% off until Dec. 7th
if you need a different size than what is listed, I can make you a custom sized necklace and I will still honor the sale price on all custom orders until Dec. 7th.
that way if you are buying it as a present for someone you love and want to give it to them for Christmas, I should have time to make the necklace, block it and have it shipped in time for the holiday.

what I've been up to

gloves and more gloves
and I've made some mittens for my youngest daughter.
I've also been making a few earrings. I still have to set them up to photograph them.

but I have also been plugging away at some Christmas presents
I have about a 5th of the TARDIS blanket left before Christmas.
I have decided that I will not be adding the "Police Box" at the top and I still am debating how I want to do the call box door.
but it will be obvious what it is to anyone who knows what Doctor Who is. in a small way it will be elitist. :)

edit: if you have seen the more recent posts about the blanket you will know that I did put the word Police Box on the top.
I'm glad I didn't just give up. it was a real struggle there at the end. I mainly just wanted to be sure it was done for Christmas... so I plugged away almost frantically and did it properly.

Hats

another glove and etsy orders

it's that time of year.... the loved ones are a bit under the weather.

so my time has consisted mostly of taking care of them.... oh, and it's another 'that time of year' and Christmas is going to be upon us soon. it's not creeping up on us, it's running full steam ahead.
so I've been putting much of my time into finishing up Christmas presents

but I did work on a couple of special request etsy orders.

(these two pig accessories made for Halloween costumes)

and one etsy order that was not

kind of cute, huh?

hands full

It's been a while since I've written anything here.... almost a month! I can't believe it's already been that long.
but time flies when you are busy which is just what I've been. one of my children had a birthday. the weather has been getting colder and I've been working on getting mittens and hats made for my younger kids who can't make their own.
I am also trying to get Christmas presents made
and I've made a pattern or two for my fingerless gloves for the shop.

I also have plans to write out a pattern for my antique feel necklaces since I've had so many people love them.
I just wish someone would buy one or two.... :)
but I guess they are just not what people are looking for in an accessory.

well maybe it would work better if I had some black beads and red thread and then I could make a kind of macabre looking necklace and market it as goth ;)
that might work. may be I'll give that a try. I do have black thread and red beads

time to get toasty

sold

sold

a few more things to add to the portfolio

a while back I created a necklace with pale blue beads and I really liked it, but when I found these butter cream colored beads, well that was it. I had to and I mean had to recreate the design with the cream beads. Oh what a wonderful outcome. I love it. it is by far my favorite. it looks so Victorian and yet not. I do hope someone else will fall in love with it and subsequently have to have it


another variation which is totally wonderful. :)
this one is really really long. I will have to measure it again, but it is long. I did that on purpose. chokers are loverly, but variety in your neck ware is nice too... I am thinking that I might do something like this one again.
What do you think?
this set of earrings isn't crocheted, but they are darned cute. I started making earrings after a friend of mine ordered a necklace from me and wondered if I made matching earrings. well, no I hadn't but I thought I'd better try
the weather is finally back to cool and is great for getting one in the mood to make toasty goodies. So this week I've made apple pie and lovely hand warmers. the apple pie was delicious but not for sale.

problem solved

thank God for his little inspirations.

Long story as short as I can make it......

I had a small problem and it was down right frustrating. I have these necklaces with glass beads that I have made and was terrified that by sending them in the mail they would get crushed and ruin the piece and also creating some very upset costumers.

I have the mailing option on my store to ship for $3.00. this only works if I can fit the merchandise in manila or bubble wrap insert envelope. to be sure that the necklace or bracelet or (eventually earrings) don't get smashed in the envelope I have just chosen to bite the difference in mailing cost and send it in a box which costs much more.
so I looked and looked around in hobby stores and packaging stores and so on, with no luck what so ever, to find a little box only a couple of inches big that would fit inside the envelope and then mail for less money.

Inspiration! ahhhhhhh *sing like an angel*

Years ago, and I'm talking MANY years ago when I was a teenager, I learned how to make christmas card jewelry boxes. I haven't thought of them in something like 18 years so I have to say "thanks, God, for pulling that memory out of the dusty corner of my brain that you found it in"

They are perfect. they are sturdy little things and I feel confident that they will be the absolutely perfect solution to my previous problem. Yay!

this apple one is my favorite one so far.

I've been folding away for the last couple of days and I have made quite a few.
it's a good thing that I have hung on to all the greeting cards and christmas card stock I've had from the days I worked in a paper company