P is for Puppies

Why is P for puppies? Only because they are the cutest darn things on the planet. Except maybe kitties, but they don't start with P.

Example one

Example two

This could go on all day, but I will try to control myself.


P is also for Penis

Ok seriously or maybe not so much. I came across this penis chapstick holder. It is for knitters and the pattern is FREE so I may just have to try it. Wonder if anyone would want one.


P is also for Play

The thing that ate my A to Z time. I wanted to share some of the pictures of the costumes that I helped work on. 

The lovely Holofernias dresses on the right.

I made two of the four pairs of pants you see here, though I don't know who got them. I also had a hand in the King's cape.

 I made the pages tunic and then helped alter it when the sleeves were too long.

 I also worked on this tunic, though I think it is the one I messed up and a dear friend had to fix.

 I had nothing to do with this outfit, but it is my darling Gwen so I had to include it.

As a bonus this is a shot of the whole cast just before we started dismantling the set.


Follow your craft,
Michelle

O is for Oh Crap It's May

Well as you can tell I was not able to finish the A to Z Challenge. I tried my best, but life just got in the way. Between getting sick twice and Gwen's play I was just over scheduled and exhausted. However, I like the alphabet theme thing and I have a few that I really wanted to get to so I am going to continue plugging along even though time is up.

O is for Octopus

I love it! I want it! So i must make it. Usually all the cute stuffy patterns I find are for crochet, but this one says for knitting. The drawback is that it is not one of the free ones, but $6 isn't much.

O is for Oil Painting Grandma

I wanted to share one of my Grandma's wonderful paintings. Someone once offered to buy it from me.

As I have said before my Grandma was of the Bob Ross school of painting. I love this painting because it has purple instead of dark blue depicting night fall. I also love how the two streams collide into the waterfall. Of course there are the obligatory happy little trees and they do look jolly. My most favorite part is how the clouds part in the center. I remember this picture hanging over my Grandparents couch for many years. It was not until after her death and my Grandfather's relocation to an apartment that it came to live with me.

Follow your craft,
Michelle

N is for Notions

Notions are on sale at Joann's. I was so excited that I bought a ton. I got a purple tomato, pearlized pins, new bobbins and a whole lot more.

I was so motivated when I got home that I started sewing a skirt. I had a concept in my head and just started. It is fine except that it is too long and I have to hem it. 

I started to hem it, but my bobbin was running out and it began making a mess.

Follow your craft,
Michelle

M is for Moss Stitch

Learning moss stitch was lovely. Knit one Purl one back and forth was almost like a meditation once I got the hang of flipping the yarn. I really love how the finished product looks.

It is very heavy and seems manly to me. I think if I had the patients to knit it into a blanket it would be great for my son. He sleeps better with a weighted blanket. We don't have one of the ones that are specifically made to be weighted, but he likes a comforter and a quilt on top. Not sure exactly how to make the blanket. Should I sew it with a sewing machine or do you weave it together? I guess research is in my future.

Follow your craft,
Michelle

L is for Letterboxing

Another one of my favorite pass times is Letterboxing. It is the reason I started carving stamps. The basic concept is that there are thousands of little containers (Lock N' Locks are my favorite) all over the world. In these containers are a stamp and a book. You also have a stamp and a book. You follow the directions, hopefully finding the prize which is the stamp. First you stamp the boxes stamp in your book. Then stamp your stamp in the boxes book. If you like it you repeat the process. Some of the stamps I have found are simply amazing. Most have been hand carved, which I prefer. The best place I have found to get the directions and discuss the finer points of the hobby is Atlas Quest. They have a great section for beginners and information on how the hobby started. I would like to share some of my favorite pages out of my book with you all.

This one is my favorite because Gwen carved them when she was 6 and 7.

These were from a Renaissance event.

 

L is also for LTC

LTCs or Letterbox Trading Cards are a branch off from letterboxing. They are 3 1/2 x 2 1/2 and contain a hand carved stamp. Other than that you there aren't other rules. Sometimes the swaps focus on a certain theme and those are my favorite. These are a few of the cards I made.

Morning Star

Hugin and Munin

Gadget

Dronkey

Yellow Trumpet Tree Blossom

Hey Diddle Diddle

Gwen made this one it is Epona from Zelda.

Follow your craft,
Michelle

King Charles Brocade

I am behind again. This A to Z has been a real challenge, but it is helping to keep my nose to the writing grindstone. The King Charles Brocade pattern looked like complicated at first, but when I just started and took it one direction at a time it was much easier to follow than I thought it would be. I am still having trouble seeing the patterns. Someone did suggest that I get a lighter color yarn and I think I will try that. So off to the store for me tonight. This pattern is like the Inverness Diamonds, but a double thickness of diamonds.

Follow your craft,
Michelle

J is for Jenga With A Twist

Not only do I craft, but it runs in the family. My Mom pours and paints ceramics and plaster. My Grandmother was an amazing Bob Ross style painter, happy little trees and all.

Now I can hear you asking what does this have to do with Jenga and where the heck is my twist. Hold on, I am getting to it. My sister is the most amazing of us all. She created Drunken Jenga. It's played like Jenga, but there are things written on each block. When you pull out a block you read it and who ever it applies to has to do what it says. They say things like: If you're a red head, take a shot and If you sweat next to the air conditioner, take a shot. I have only had the privilege of playing a few times, but can tell you it is the best craft ever and my favorite drinking game.

I can't make the pic go the right way. even though it is correct in every other thing I pull it up on.

J is also for Joy In Crafting

Crafting of any kind makes me very happy. Which is why I do it as often as possible. It is like a moving meditation for me. My favorite part is figuring out something new. I love trying a new stitch or carving a design with finer lines and more detail. I like designing a pretty card, then figuring out how to make an assembly line that will duplicate it quickly and efficiently. Of course that is usually where I loose interest and move on to the next project.

Follow your craft,
Michelle