My Tunisian Education continues...

My first Tunisian pattern completed! This one is the Tunisian short row dish cloth. I added a crocheted scalloped border for pizzazz! You can find the pattern and excellent video tutorial here.

As you can see, this pattern is similar to the knitting one. You create 6 wedges and then slip stitch the last seam to the first seam to form the circle.


Stay tuned for more......

Tunisian Crochet Dishcloths

I have been a little obsessed with the Tunisian Crochet Stitch. I am still waiting for my needles so I used a double hook crochet needles for these. I put an elastic band at one end so that my stitches did not fall off. I practiced the Tunisian Simple Stitch for these dish cloths.



The Tunisian Simple Stitch - Right Side and Wrong Side



Showing both sides..


Not Tunisian, but round and different. This is something I am free-styling. It is a 100% cotton so super absorbent and perfect for your kitchen.

I am trying to figure out how to do the Tunisian Cross stitch but can not find a helpful video anywhere. If anyone knows of any please let me know.

The Beauty of Crochet

The beauty of crochet is that it is quick and easy. I made this hat in a day and since then have been making last minute Christmas gifts such as beanies for the young boys in the family.

This hat was my first attempt at making a cloche but I did some decreasing where I should have increased which made the top look more like a fedora. I made a second one and the top is much more rounded and sloped to look like a cloche. I have been reading about all the stitches and practicing how to read a pattern in hopes to not just 'wing it'.

In all my searching I came upon a style of crochet that I absolutely fell in love with. It is called Tunisian crochet aka the afghan stitch and it looks like a cross between crochet and knitting. You use a long crochet hook or you can use a double ended crochet hook. I ordered some needles and can't wait to get them.

Finito!

My first round knitted dish cloth! This one took a lot of brain power. I did it in two sessions with a friend. You really need to concentrate with this pattern and right now that is hard for me, so I had my friend read out the stitches.

I hope I am brave enough to do more on my own because it really is impressive looking.

It's been awhile!

I have been having computer issues. My the hard drive in my new Dell laptop went and it is not even a year old! I know they don't make things to last but this is ridiculous! Anyhow, to keep sane, I was making some dishcloths to giveaway. Here are just a few.

They are basically square but are knitted diagonally.

Okay, so I think I have enough square dishcloths! I found this really pretty and impressive looking pattern that is basically wedges that end up into a circle. I can't wait to complete this, I see many many more.

I started a scarf with a really pretty patttern. I am using the wool that Jolie hand-dyed. I think this will take forever. I hope I have enough wool.

I have been sewing as well and hope to reveal some of those projects soon.

What's on the Table

Here is a sneak peek at what I am working on...

Stay tuned, for the mystery to be unveiled - duh - duh - duh - duh!!!

The Evolution of a Studio Chair

This is the chair I sit on when I am at the computer.

Originally I had planned to let more of the brown show through but it didn't work out and quite honestly, I got lazy. I told myself I would go back and work at it but I have been living with it for months now and have grown to love it. Next, I will make a cushion for it and my bum.

Inspiration Comes from many places

Introducing the Mobius Leather Rocker Bracelet Cuff

My new hobby of knitting has opened my eyes to many things. Inspired by the magical Mobius Strip by German mathematician, August Ferdinand Mobius; I have created my version with the use of leather.

One day I will actually knit a Mobius Wrap Shawl.

1st Finished Scarf - Knitting & Crochet

I started this scarf the first week of September from yarn I thrifted from Value Village.

The orange centre is knitted and I crocheted the outer trim. I was so happy when I finished it yesterday that I wore it the entire day.

Close up of the crochet trim I would love to make a shawl but I have to find a relatively easy pattern. I will take suggestions so feel free to share.

Second Chances

I believe in second chances, that is why I thrift shop wherever I can. I love visiting my favourite Value Village or Garage sale-ing. This little breadbox is now my...

Electronics hutch. It houses such things as my drill battery charger, blackberry chargers, digital camera charger, electric scissor charger - you get the picture!

Next you will see a mailbox that I found at the latest yard sale I went to. I painted it white (well it is actually just the primer). I can put my magnets on it and my little collectibles.

Inside is the perfect spot to place icky things like bills to be paid.

I can't forget to look at the bills because it sits right above my computer where I can be found waaay too often.

Have you given anything second chances lately?

Thrifty Finds

I found this milk glass vessel and wool and mohair yarn at Value Village 2 days ago. This will be my 3rd piece of milk glass and it has fruit on it. What a collection!

I decided to make a scarf out of the yarn. It is a gorgeous shade of orange.

Meet : : D A N I : :

: : D A N I : : Leather Choker

I am rolling out my new accessory for your neck. It is fun, fresh and funky and makes a perfect gift for those fashion conscious teens and twenty

somethings. You get 2 designs for the price of 1.

A flower and a butterfly snap on to the band to create different looks.

A Visit to the cottage

We visited our friends at their cottage and took a ride in their boat. Jolie has depicted it well with her drawing. I certainly don't look as nervous as I actually did with her version.

We went fishing but no fish were caught. I would call them lucky but those fish were smart because they managed to steal the worms without being hooked.

I managed to take a picture while clinging to the railing.

My Crafty Garden

How does my garden grow?

In leather apparently!

Crafty Needle Case

As you all know I have taken up knitting. With a new hobby comes new accessories. I whipped this one up earlier today and will be listing it in the shop as a Sample Sale.

It can hold a lot of needles but pictured here are 2 sets. Perfect for knitting needles, crochet needles heck, even paint brushes! I will probably make them 'made to order' custom as needles come in array of sizes.

Using my favourite combination of wool and leather, these are unisex so perfect for that crafty gal or GUY! Stay tuned for them in the shop.

Knitting progress

The knitting is coming along nicely. I was gifted 4 skeins for my birthday and I have one more to knit. I will be putting all my pieces together to make an afghan of my 'body of work'. I can't wait to see the completed project.

Custom Card Holder Money Clip Wallet

This is a custom order I completed for a client I met at the show.

It can hold a slew of credit cards and cash to boot!

I hope he likes it.

Craft Show Success!

PURSES

CUFFS

WALLETS

OH MY!

All in all it was a successful show for me. The weather held up and sales were great. I was even asked to do a video interview by the organizers for their website!

Wallet Display for Craft Show

It has taken me a long time to come up with a solution on how to display my Metro-Man wallets, but I finally did it. I completed it yesterday and I leave for my 3 day show today - that's certainly cutting it close eh?

I really like how it turned out and it holds more than anything I could have bought. My display cost me less than $30, how is that for savings?

Testing the Waters

I planned to create one of my Sierra bags but due to a series of unfortunate circumstances it morphed into this bag complete with flap and reverse applique.

I have been carrying it around for a few days now and I absolutely love how it hangs and the roominess of the inside. I guess I will have to make more right?

Look who's knitting now!

It's me, and I am so excited! Knitting is something I have always wanted to do. I admire the beautiful projects, art work really that you knitters create. I met my neighbour a few weeks ago who happens to be a genious knitter and real life Etsy shopper too. She is teaching me how to knit. She also generously donated this beautiful wool/alpaca mix and the bamboo needles.

Stay tuned for my upcoming adventures in knitting. You can also see me on Ravelry.

Fresh Bread Anyone?

Bam! I was so excited how it turned. My first bread was a french loaf done in the Italian round shape. This one was baked in the oven. It looked so professional and tasted like I had bought it.

It was so yummy!!!

On my second try I decided to make a raisin bread and use the bread machine. As you can see, I didn't add a lot of raisin because I don't love them that much.

I welcome all suggestions and tips especially recipes. I am looking for a sweet bread recipe - not buns, but actual bread. We 'used' to buy a sweet white bread that you had to slice that we inhaled in about 2 days. I would like to make something comparable to that.

Canada Day 2009

Happy 142nd birthday Canada!!

My husband took Jolie fishing this morning and she was the only one that caught a fish. They put it back in.