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

I is for Inverness Diamonds

So I tried this Inverness Diamonds and I think I needed to repeat the pattern more than just the once. Here is my first attempt with the Acrylic yarn.

I am sure I have said it before, but I don't like this kind. It seemed to stick to it's self and that made the pattern harder for me. However, I do like that you can see the diamonds in the acrylic. I liked working it with the wool better, but as you can see I ended up with a very ragged edge. I am starting to practice the edge stitch so hopefully that will make a neater edge. The pattern also looks more like an X to me in the wool.

I really like the way this pattern looks and plan to use it to make a doll blanket.

Follow your craft,
Michelle

H is for Hard

Blogging every day is hard.Thinking up something new to talk about with life getting in the way of crafting is extremely hard. Wah wah, now that I got that out of my system I can move on and get this done.

H is also for Hearts

This post was supposed to be about Simple Stockinette Hearts. Whoever named this pattern must have been quite a better knitter than I am because this pattern took me several times to get it correct. I am still not sure I can see hearts. There was lots of knitting, pulling out and cursing. I kept loosing count though that was probably because the kids were running amuck. I also felt rushed, to get the sample done so I can write about it and I guess I don't work that well under pressure. Anyway here it is.

 H is also for Hat

I want to learn  how to knit a hat. During Queen Elizabeth the First's Reign she mandated that everyone should wear a white wool cap on Sunday. She did this to support the knitting guilds that she held so dear. My family does Renaissance recreating and he wants a cap like that so i thought it would be nice if I could knit him one.

Follow your craft,
Michelle