Failed Butterfly Hairclip

While browsing the craft section at the store, I found some hair clip blanks.  Immediately my thoughts turned to the book "75 Birds, Butterflies & Little Beasts to Knit and Crochet by Leslie Stanfield".  A friend gave me this books months ago for my birthday, and up until two days ago I hadn't made anything from it.

A butterfly, or oak leaf, or mushroom hair clip, wouldn't that be adorable....I choose a butterfly to start with, should be simple enough, right?  The butterfly came out really well.  Although this pattern had so many ends to weave in, I am unsure if I will make it again.

The only problem is that it turned out to be 5" x 5.75", and the clips are not that big (or my hair)...

For now it is going to be a coaster for my coffee cup at work.  Maybe I should work on scale and gauge some more.

Pattern is also available for free, at LionBrand.com

The Saturday After Party...

The Saturday after party is back, formerly known as "Finger Food Fridays".  The following recipe is a huge hit with all the guys.

Today I give you...

The Taco Chicken Ring

I found the recipe at the Taste of Home website, direct link to recipe HERE

Ingredients:
2 tubes refrigerated crescent rolls

Finely crushed tortilla chips, divided
Finely chopped rotisserie chicken
shredded Mexican cheese blend
Mayonnaise
Chopped green chilies, undrained
Chopped pitted ripe olives
Tomato, chopped
1 tablespoon taco seasoning


Directions:
Unroll crescent dough. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup tortilla chips; press down gently. Separate into 16 triangles.

Place wide end of one triangle, chip side down, 3 in. from edge of prepared pan, with point overhanging edge of pan. Repeat with remaining triangles, overlapping the wide ends (dough will look like a sun when complete). Lightly press wide ends together.

In a small bowl, combine the chicken, cheese, mayonnaise, chilies, olives, tomato, taco seasoning, and remaining tortilla chips. Spoon over wide ends of dough. Fold points of triangles over filling and tuck under wide ends (filling will be visible).

Bake at 375° for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.


The only down fall to this recipe is that there is never enough.  The guys love this one and there is hardly ever leftovers.  I usually make two.

* If you try any of the Saturday After Party recipes, I would love to know what you think. If you changed them up, I would love to know what you did. Email me or comment on this post.

Hap-hap-happy Feet

"Happy feet! I've got those hap-hap-happy feet!

Give them a low-down beat

And they begin dancing!

I've got those ten little tip-tap-tapping toes,

When they hear a tune

I can't control the dancing, dear,

To save my soul!

(By Cab Calloway )

Crotcheted in a navy blue with yellow trim, in cotton yarn, my feet proudly wear a new pair of house shoes.  After testing a few other designs, and only finishing one shoe because I didn't like how they turned out, I almost give up on the idea of house shoes.  Then magic happened!  After completing the first shoe, I put it on, ready to laugh at how it looked on my feet, but to my surprise it looked great!  (and fit perfectly)

After completing the pair I slid them on my feet and propped them on my coffee table.  With a big smile on my face I turned to my husband, "Look honey, I have happy feet!".



I like everything about them, except the button.  I think I will replace those with some bigger ones.  I also think it might be nice to put a thin liner inside.  These cute house shoes will be great around the house, on the deck and yard.  Plus they are small and flexible enough to throw in my purse, so they can come with me.

Finished...only took nine hours...

Finished!  And I am extremely happy with the way it turned out.

Even has a gate.

Now to get working on the garden that will go behind it. 

This will be a piece of cake!

That is what I thought when I started a project this morning around noon.  Still not finished, but progress is good enough, and I am too excited not to share.

The weather was beautiful today so I wanted to be outside.  I decided to tackle my backyard, which is my dogs yard.  My husband and I have been using our archway from our wedding as a "fence".  We used a baby gate in the middle and just blocked the empty space between the archway and the house with some logs and rocks.  It worked well enough, but anytime it was really windy the archway would blow over.

Here is the arch.  Notice the broken lattice, that is from it falling over.

The first step was to tear it apart.  This step proved to be quite the project.  They used lots of screws and a lot of them were stripped, rusted, and would break off or not move.  I ended up with the sledge hammer!

Once apart, the fun began.  To put it back together.  I used the base as the main side and the rest of the wood for supports, rails and the gate.  I dug out from under the porch some fish netting to cover the whole thing.

Feeling a little sad about my archway getting torn apart, I decided to use some of the lattice to make a beautiful peace sign on the new fence.

I still have to make a gate on the left hand side and tack down the netting some more...but for now, 6 hours later, I am just going to enjoy my new fence.

June 28th? Are you kidding?

Last post June 28th, wow! 

Crafting has come to a slow crawl.  I have started several small projects that have just not come out the way I thought they would.  I am experimenting with creating patterns for adult slippers and fingerless gloves, but it is a slow process.

I also took a trip to the "mainland" last week to see family and friends, although I wasn't able to see very many friends.  It was alright though because I was able to spend lots of time with my nieces, who are 6 months and 2 1/2 years old.

Some exciting news....my Nana Hammock pattern was in the top 10-15 most active recently published designs on Raverly for almost 4 weeks!  I am so glad that everyone has enjoyed it.  I have to say, the one in my kitchen hasn't been empty since I made it.

Beatlemania

A very good friend of mine is moving off the island and gave me two dressers.  One of them she had painted sea creatures all over it with acrylic paint, for her sons bedroom.  This dresser, I wanted to use in my craft room, so the paint didn't bother me too much.  In order to "fit" into the craft room, the dresser needed a Beatles makeover.

I started by taking all the hardware off, and went to work washing, scraping and sanding as much of the paint off I could. 

Some of the paint was very stubborn.  It was ok though because most of it was getting covered.

On a laser printer, I printed out tons of black and white pictures from the internet.  Then cut and trimmed all the white space away.

Using a foam brush and Modge Podge Matte I first laid down a layer of newspaper paper.  Then topped that with the pictures I had printed out.

The finished project (for now).  I still intend to do some more sanding and removing of paint.  I am also going to write or paint lyrics all over it.  For now it has a great spot in the Craft Room and all the drawers are already full with yarn.

Old Skirt Gets New Life

I have had this beautiful tie dye sarong for many many years.  I would say over 10 years.  In the last 8 or so years it has sat in my closet and sat in the craft room pile of "clothes to refashion".  I have held on to it for so long, because of the beautiful colors.  It was not very functional for me though.  I am only 5'2" and sarongs are one size fits most, if you are 6 feet tall.  It drug on the floor and did nothing for my shape.  It made me look even shorter than I am, accentuated my belly and any sort of wind blew open the sarong exposing my underwear to anyone around me.

After my post yesterday, I motivated myself to pull out the sewing machine and the neglected sarong....and came up with this.

I started by sewing the two ends together to create a large tube.  From there I measured how long I wanted the skirt to be (just below my knees) and cut the top of the skirt off.  I wanted to leave the bottom in tact, because it has curved corners that I wanted to keep in the design.  I used the excess material to edge the bottom of the skirt with a two inch ruffle.  The skirt was way to big around the waist, so I had to take that in as well.  To hold the skirt up I used the original ties, sewn together and fed them through the top casing.

Voila, an old skirt gets a new life.

ZZZzzzzz, what? Craft?

All the momentum I had to keep working on projects is gone, at least for this week.  This happens to me a lot.  I will be charging along, busting out projects like a machine, then just stop.  For the last few days I keep looking at patterns and my unfinished project stash, but nothing is catching my eye.

I did try a new recipe last night, Emerils Chocolate Bread.  It was very easy to make and it turned out moist and yummy.  The only thing I would add is some chocolate chips for more chocolate flavor.

A Place for Everything

My latest finished project, finished in two nights, the ultimate crochet hook and tools organizer!  A few years ago I made a small organizer for my crochet hooks, sewing needles, scissors, etc.  I have used the heck out of it, but I just was never big enough or really the best at organizing.  After browsing online for some ideas to make a new one, I came up with this...see picture below.

For the cover, to make it a stiffer fabric, I used two yarns held together.  One was a solid blue and the other a multicolor.  I also used a smaller hook than a yarn gauge would tell suggest.  Once open, everything is neatly displayed with it's own spot....look how nicely everything sits.

A place for everything!  I really love how each hook has it's own spot and can be arranged in order of size(the other organizer did not do this). 

Some cool features:  Inside the pocket with the star button is my measuring tape.  I have hid my sewing needled under the yarn needles.  The felt under the circle holding the yarn needles is where they hide.  I did this because sewing needles are small and can get lost or move if not protected. 

This organizer will be with me for a long time, although I still may use the old one for a traveling case.

"I'm so pretty, oh so pretty!"

I have wanted to try crocheting necklaces directly onto chains for a while.  I saw it somewhere on the internet and thought it looked pretty.  It gives a sturdy foundation to the necklace, a little weight and adds sparkle. 

This weekend, I found these 18" chains in the craft aisle at Walmart for only $1.50.  They are not sterling silver or any fantastic metal, but for the price a great way to try crocheting on them.  For the first necklace, I used a pattern I found in Crochet Today Magazine May/June 2010 issue, but modified it a bit. 

 

This was my first real lace project I have done.  I used Crochet thread and a size 2.75mm hook.  I really like the delicacy of the crochet thread.  Very feminine.  To lay nice and flat, I used a light starch spray, ironed it a little and let it air dry the rest of the way. 

Since I only had white crochet thread.  I decided to try this technique with larger yarn.  I used Peaches and Creme black for the second necklace.

 

This necklace is more bulky.  It is more punk, while the other is very Victorian.  I made this one as I went along.  No pattern.  I am not completely sure if I like it yet, but maybe once I find the right outfit I will.  Either that or I am buying black crochet thread and re-doing it...

What do you think?

Creating a Happy Workplace

Happy Friday!!  I am very happy it is Friday.  My week has been really busy at work and I really need the break.

After Easter, a friend of mine called me up and said, "I have 20 plus Easter Lilies I need to do something with...do you want one?  or two, or ten?"  Now, I could not take ten, but I thought two would be good.  Within 10 minutes of the call she showed up at my office with two beautiful, in full bloom, Easter Lilies.  They were beautiful, but the shiny cellophane wrapping the plastic pot was not.

So what did I do...I crocheted a flower pot cover!  I used plain old acrylic yarn and just improvised on a pattern.  I love them and so far everyone that sees them gets a smile on their face...hopefully it's because they like them too.

 

*  Finger Food Friday will now be posted on Saturdays.

One Ball of Yarn

After much patience, I broke down and bought a beautiful ribbon yarn by Louise Harding called Thalia, without knowing what I was going to do with it.  And later found out it has been discontinued.  It was a $10 skein of yarn, but so pretty and different I just could not resist. 

I thought at first I would make a continuous scarf/cowl...free form.  After knitting about half the skein, it was not going to be big enough to look good, so I unraveled it and started looking for patterns.  The search for what to make with this yarn was quite painful.  I didn't want to have to buy another skein (I am cheap).  It is only about 50 yards, so it had to be a knit pattern.  Wanted something I could wear, or at least use.  Also wanted something different.  After a week of searching I found Vicki Howell's CowlKerchief.  It looked simple, yet different and fun.

For a little finishing I crocheted a simple single crochet edge around the whole thing.  I also decided to just make a crochet "button".  I think it turned out pretty good.

Now what to wear with it...

Finger Food Friday....oh, um Tuesday?

The weekly "Finger Food Friday", has not been very consistent...but at least I am still doing them right?  I had a feeling when I started "Finger Food Friday", that it would be a little challenging for me to post the recipes every Friday.  That was one of the reasons I was intrigued to do it.  I wanted to challenge myself, have a weekly feature and most of all just share these great recipes.  Friday...that is where the problem lays.  Work is usually busy that day, my lunch break is spent planning for that night, after work is filled with grocery shopping and cooking and cleaning.  Leaving little time or energy to take pictures, and post to the blog.  I just might start "Finger Food Thursday"?


Mama Mia Ravioli Bites
Recipe from Pillsbury. Changed a little.

Ingredients:

Pillsbury Crescent Rolls

1 Container Whole Milk Ricotta (15oz)

1 Cup Mozzarella Cheese

1/4 Cup Parmesan Cheese

2 TBSP Chopped Basil

Salt and Pepper

Thinly Sliced Salami, Finely Chopped (2 1/2oz)

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 375 Degrees.

Unroll Dough, press together seams.  Using rolling pin, flatten out slightly.  Cut into Squares about 2 1/2" big.  Place one square in the bottom of muffin cups.  In a medium bowl mix remaining ingredients.  Spoon mixture into each cup.  Place second square on top of mixture.

Bake at 375 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes (or until golden brown).  Serve with warm spaghetti sauce. 

My review...these are so delicious!  They are a great blend of cheese and spices and the salami fits really well. (or so I am told, I am a vegetarian and tried it without the meat)  They were also easy to put together.  As with anything the first time I made them it took some time, but now that I know what I am doing they take no time at all.  As you can see in the picture I also poked a hole in the top, part for aesthetics and part for ventilation. 

* If you try any of the Finger Food Friday recipes, I would love to know what you think. If you changed them up, I would love to know what you did. Email me or comment on this post.

Nana's Need a Place to Relax

Who doesn't think of a hammock and instantly think of relaxation, sunny skies and fruity frozen drinks (preferably alcoholic).  Well at least in my cold part of the world, the fruit for my fruity frozen drinks can benefit from a hammock even if I can't.

The Banana Hammock!  Patterned improvised by...me.

I read somewhere that hanging your fruit instead of letting it sit on the counter helps it stay fresh longer.  Also if pull apart the bananas from their stem.  Attached they ripen faster.

The pattern:

One skein of Lily Sugar and Cream cotton yarn

Size J crochet hook

Yarn needle for weaving in ends.

Chain 44.

Row 1: 

DC in third chain from hook.  *Chain 1, skip 1 chain, DC in next chain, Repeat from * across till there are two chains left.  DC in the remaining 2 chains.  Turn.

Row 2:

Chain 2, DC in 2nd DC. * Chain 3, skip chain 1 space, DC, chain 1 space.  DC in previous row DC. Repeat from * till last two stitches.  DC in remaining stitches.  Turn.

Repeat Row 2 till rectangle is desired width.

To finish repeat row 1. Fasten off

To make ties.  Chain 50, fasten off.  Make 6.  Take three of them and knot the ends together.  Repeat for the other three.  Weave in and out between the end double crochets.  And your done.  Now go get some bananas.

(If you have problems with my directions, please feel free to contact me and I will try to explain the best I can)