My Creative Space

Pumpkins!

Fall/Halloween is just around the corner!! I long for crisp, cool fall weather and leaves that actually change color. TX gets cool about November...

I'm working on the crochet pumpkins right now. The ceramic and wood stuff are things I had forgotten I had. I used to be in craft malls (when they existed around here) and this particular one closed suddenly when the manager ran away with the money -- the crafters' money. The owners closed the shop and when they reopened it, they absorbed it into their antique mall. So, since I had recently decorated my booth with Halloween, this was pretty much what was left. I was poking around in the shed yesterday, and opened a plastic bin and there they were! So I wiped everything off for good measure and took off ribbon or raffia. Now I'll cutesy them up again and they'll go in my soon to open Etsy shop! (Determined to have that done by Sunday)

Do you have trouble keeping your place?

Well, this will rescue you!

I thought I would share some of my vast knowledge (wink, wink) with you from time to time --- tips, how-to's, recipes, stuff and since today is Tuesday, I guess it will be called tip o'the day Tuesday.

So to start us off: in rambling around various crochet sites, there have been questions about how to keep up with where you are (always a difficult thing to do, crocheting or just walking around or looking for your car -- I know I parked it right here). Anyway this is what I use...

It's a metal board with a magnetic strip usually found in the cross-stitch section of craft stores.
Very simple device, but a life-saver! Next best thing to chocolate!!

For cross-stitch

For crochet

You can easily use it for keeping up with where you are when crocheting. I put my printed instructions in sheet protectors and then they don't get wrinkled. I also stick on a post-it note when writing down how many times I've repeated a row when instructed.

It also works just as well in a book or pamphlet -- just stick it under the page. With a pamphlet you can also hold it in place by clipping with a binder clip so it doesn't slide out.

If only it would work with the parked car situation!

Eye Spy

Something I Want to Try!

So many ideas, so little time... But here's my top two....

Recycling Yarn!

This sweater

I think this is the right kind of seam to work with

I have been getting thrift store/garage sale wool sweaters for awhile now -- to felt and make things from (purses, scarves, toys, embellishments, etc.) Kinda hard to find in TX!! But I've read some tutorials on frogging the yarn and I want to try it! Would be really neat to "make" my own yarn and maybe to dye some too.

AND

Dry Felting!

My tools

I've had these felting tools for a long while but have never used them! :p My daughter took mine (the little snit) and made the most amazing animals and dolls and gnomes and fairies (she'll be on Etsy eventually) soooo, I had to buy them again for me! I have wet felted (like crocheting and then felting or using wool sweaters) but have never dry felted.

So these are on my to-do list -- my very, very loooong to-do list -- but they're at the top!

Thanks to Cindy for hosting and Melanie for thinking up a very neat theme. Go on over and check out all the creative blogs participating. Lots of fun!

My Creative Space

Makin' Bread!

My hubby has been bugging me to make bread again so I decided to go ahead and do it today!
A bread machine makes it so easy... (I really have no excuse not to do this every few days...)

Here are all the ingredients assembled -- it's a basic whole wheat bread made with only whole wheat flour. Very good! We'll have it with dinner and then with breakfast in the a.m.
All the ingredients are mixed and now it's ready to bake. Yucky picture, I know.

And here it is ready to eat! Mmm mmm good!

Of course I cheated and had a piece. So yummy gummy in the tummy!

For more creative goodness go here.

Eye Spy...Something Red!

What a totally neat idea this is! I spy with my little eye...

A dress I made for my daughter when she was in the 2nd or 3rd grade (she's almost 26 now). She wore it for Johnny Appleseed Day and got her picture in the local paper! Anyway, it hangs in my closet along with some other special dresses and I can see a little snip of red every day. Sweetness. I don't know if you can tell in the photo, but there are ruffles down the front and on the pockets of the jumper, and on the collar of the blouse. Oh my. I don't know whether looking at this picture makes me want to sew for my granddaughter...or run screaming out of the room!

This is a little smock apron I made for Miss Honey Bunny (my granddaughter - I call her that and she says "But Mumsie, I not a bunny!") The binding is coming loose -- can you see it at the bottom and neck? I'm supposed to fix it but I'm the worst procrastinator ever when it comes to mending. (My hubby knows to just throw out his holey socks. I'm so bad.) Taking this picture is making me just guilty enough to finally mend the darn thing! Better than staring at it every. single. time. I go into the laundry room where it's been living.

So, those are my red things I see every day. One so sweet, one so guilt ridden...

OK, OK, I'll go ahead and mend it and then there will be two sweet things and no guilt :)

Thank you Ellieboo for the great idea and to bugandpop for hosting.

Join in! It'll be a fun ride. I can tell.

♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

March 21, 2011 - an update:

This post is now part of Little Andalucia's Creative Friday Features

Come join the party!  It'll be fun!

♥♥♥  Oh, and you know what? I never did repair that little smock! She just wore it as is! (Bad Mumsie)

My Creative Space

I recently discovered this neat weekly play-along and decided to jump right in!! So here's my current creative space:

It looks pretty neat because I had put everything away and then decided to do this blog! Oh well, the next times my space will definitely be messy!

These are some (15 to be exact...) washcloths that I did for an order for a kindergarten class. Don't know what they're going to do with them, but they sure are colorful!

So to see all the other very creative spaces, go to Kootoyoo and play along!

Thanks, Kirsty, for a great idea.

Helping Sheltered Animals

Every day I click to help. I hope you will, too. While you're at it, click each button across the top of the page to help with the Rainforest protection, Literacy, Child Health, Breast Cancer and Hunger. Each and every click counts!

Here's the link to the Animal Rescue site and I've also added a button on the side ----> to hopefully bring others to the site. You can grab one too at the Animal Rescue Site link page.

It's easy to click every day (just takes a few seconds) and it's free!

I'll tell you what I want, what I really, really want

I really thought a long, long time about posting this here, but since I'm so very sweet, I decided to do it anyway.......you see, I really, really want this book myself!! But OK you can have some chances to win it also :)


Lindamade's new book is the prize - scroll down for all the blogs taking part in this great giveaway. Have fun and good luck!


Here's what I'm working on now -- a custom order for a kindergarten project.


Aren't the colors pretty? This is about half of them so I'd better get back to crocheting!


Oh, and this is what happens when I'm taking pictures and have allowed the cats on the patio where they know they're supposed to stay...

Sam the Sneak.

And Another Cute Giveaway!

Isn't this little guy cute? Get a chance to bring him home at http://sewtakeahike.typepad.com/sewtakeahike/2009/08/giveaway-rash.html

She will give you several chances to win, but hurry because the drawing is scheduled for Monday, August 10th at 1pm MST . Good luck!!

Really Super Giveaway

I recently came across a great giveaway and wanted to let you know! Go to http://shereesalchemy.typepad.com/sherees_alchemy/2009/07/shop-talk-and-another-super-summer-giveaway.html and check it out! Hurry 'cause there's only a couple of days left.

She's including some wonderful fabrics: a fat quarter bundle, yardage and some nifty scraps ~ some vintage buttons ~ and more! So be sure to stop by and get several chances to win...

Good Luck!

Hungry?

I made soup during the Buick Open! Crochet soup, that is. (I like to watch golf with my hubbie on Sundays -- Tiger won.) What do you think? Maybe I'll add some crackers.

I'm getting all interested in food for my shop and have lots of ideas - here's a PB&J that I'll team up with some other stuff for a brown bag lunch...

OK, now that I'm hungry I'd better go help with dinner prep...