Friends for Rosie

Here are the latest additions to the critter litter. The bunny is from the same modified pattern as the first, who my knitting friends fondly named Rosie due to her origin--a recycled Yesterday's Rose thrift shop sweater.















This little guy is my interpretation of a combination of sheep I saw on Ravelry. The first being an Alan Dart pattern for Shaun the Sheep (which was published in a British magazine a while ago, which I don't have access to), and the second is a German pattern, Pommell--I don't speak German and the translation left much to be desired. It was simpler to just improvise. I love them both and will probably be making lots more.

Here are all the friends enjoying a little relaxation in the bird bath.

bunny love

Here's my new friend. I just love her, she's so cute!

I think she needs some bunny buddies.

She's a modification to Fuzzy Mitten's Fuzzy Lamb,

with my version of a cozy bunny hoodie.

Find the free pattern at http://www.fuzzymitten.com/

leaf beads

These were my first (and and only, so far) attempt at polymer leaf beads. One cane made tons of beads. I still have about 8" or so of the cane left. I just love how they came out. I haven't used them yet--I'm waiting for some inspiration.

blue flower bag

I use this bag all the time. It is also made from a rescued wool sweater and purse handles. The bag was made by felting the body of the sweater. The flowers were knit up using Lion Brand Fisherman's Wool and dyed with egg dyes so that the color graduates from light to dark in the flowers' centers. The flowers were also felted after they were sewn together. It's lined with a fun blue fabric with bright green polka dots.

sweater bags

I made these two bags from a wool sweater I rescued from a thrift store. I felted it and used the sleeves for the bag on the top and the body for the tote bag on the bottom. The handles for the tote are also recycled from a straw bag I found at the same store. They are both lined with suit weight wool fabric.

self-striping socks

Here's another of my polymer stitch markers. I just love it!

I dyed this recycled sweater yarn using a really huge skein-the length of my living room. These are my first attempt at toe up socks...actually my second since had to rip it out the first time.

ribbed pullover

On my needles for a while now, is this "Ribbed Pullover" from Pam Allen-Vogue Knitting
American Collection.
Once again, I'm using a recycled yarn; this time a cotton tape yarn from a couple new sweaters I found drastically reduced. I'm such a treasure hunter...








Here are a few of my polymer stitch markers. I just love them--they're so easy and fun to make and use.

my favorite coat

I love these polymer buttons I made for this sweater coat. I just knew I wouldn't find any I would like, so decided to make my own. The coat pattern is "Not Your Mother's Suit Coat" from Susan Melville. I used four strands of yarn-2 mohair, a tape, and some fisherman wool I custom dyed to match. It worked up very quicky due to the guage--my kind of project--immediate gratification. It's super bulky and very warm.

Silver Belle

Here it is all finished. I'm really happy with how it came out. I did make a few modifications to the pattern--a cabled band instead of a collar, lengthened the peplum a bit, and narrowed the sleeves. It's made from J. Crew man's sweater I found in a thrift store for $4.00! It's very comfy and I wear it a bunch.

hand woven treasure necklace

Well, it's finished! This baby weighs just over 8 oz.--I really got carried away with the fringing, but love how it came out. The polymer clay beads are great fun and I really enjoy having the flexibility to make them as I go. I deviated from my original design, resulting in a necklace that was a little too short--it's for my mom and I want her to be able to fit it over her dead--so I added a small extension in the back, which works out great. I hope she likes it!

lava rock necklace

This necklace is based on the same design as

the sea glass version, but has a very different feel.

Faux Dichro necklace

This is one of my very favorites. The design was adapted from one in 100 Beaded Jewelry Designs by Stephanie Burnham. The focal pieces are faux dichroic glass made from sea glass and faux dichro supplies form Dick Blick. The other beads were in my stash. I just love it. I don't think I've ever worn it and not gotten at least one compliment on it.

Mom's purse- step 4: it's finished!

Well, here it is, the finished purse for Mom. The handles are on, the lining is in, and it's ready to go. A little late for Mother's Day, but I think she'll like it. I'll have a tear in my eye as I send it off to her.

Mom's purse--step 3: admire my dye work!

My new hanging plant--the neighbors probably think I'm a bit odd--if they only knew.
























The flower is a dark pink the center, fading a bit to a medium pink in the outer petals.

Mom's purse--step 2: dyeing

I wanted a graduated gray, working dark to light from the bottom of the bag.

Mom's purse--step one: knitting

Here is the raw bag for my Mom's purse along
with one of the flowers and some leaves.

woven button bracelet

This is my 2nd woven bracelet. I've had these buttons for some time and wasn't sure just what to do with them until I was introduced to this technique by my friend Cindy. I LOVE how it turned out, but it was very time consuming weaving in and out of each beaded hole in each button. I used fishing line to attach all the buttons, which I think made it a bit more difficult than it would have been had I just used the cord. Now that it is done, all is well, but I think the next one I make will be a little simpler.