#342

Just recently, I’ve found myself napping less, and having a lot more time. This means more creating time, but I haven’t learned how to pace myself yet. This morning, I made a doll and an outfit, including underwear, before lunch. The rest of the day was split between sewing a pincushion, a felt heart patch, watercolour and fashion design. I’ve found that I need to have a project in mind, otherwise I flounder the day away, staring at YouTube or the clock until my partner gets home. On days I am crafting, I do these anyway, but it doesn’t feel as long of a day, and I look like I’ve accomplished things.
I used to make these dolls all the time with my Mum and Grandma when I was little, where you basically stitch a gingerbread shape on two layers of calico, or other material, snip around, turn and stuff, paint a face. Add a lot of hair, then design and create clothing. This was useful in learning how to draft patterns at an early age. Occasionally, I will make a doll that I haven’t made in a while to compare how much better my sewing is from then. There was a couple of places that I clipped too close, and had to stitch up, and my tension was a bit off at the start, but it evened out after a bit for some unknown reason. Perhaps I need to clean my machine.

#263

Today I decided that I wanted to try something using crochet, friendship bracelet thread and metal. I was looking through my findings box, looking for a plain ring, when I found a blank chain bracelet, with clasps attached, and that fits my wrist. Another point that drew me to this was that the crochet hook fit through the links easily. I think I made the connection easily because crochet begins with a chain stitch, so why not with chain. I’m sure I’ve seen this technique done on Pinterest at some point, but can’t remember exactly.
I used a treble 1, chain 1 combo in each space for two rows, then flipped it over, and repeated in the other colour. I was thinking this would make a nice lace cuff bracelet, but if I’d made it any longer, I’d have to think about extra clasps or ribbons to keep the ends together.
I’m quite liking the mix of metal and cotton. I suppose I have so many types of craft supplies, it would seem only natural to try and mix them occasionally. That’s how new techniques are created, and craft turns into art.

#254

Just a quick photo to try and show the actual colour of the wool I’m using. At least the ball is big enough for a scarf and hat…and mittens, and shoes and marker covers… Maybe just a really long scarf.

#253

Scarf is slowly getting longer. I can only do a few rows at a time, so I’m surprised it’s this long already. Apparently, I get bored with stitches more often than I thought, as I was expecting at least a few longer blocks. Whatever keeps me going, I suppose. I had to change to my ducky needles, as the metal ones were too long for the project, and kept banging on the computer table. Being plastic, they don’t do the nice click-clack sound properly, but they have ducks, so I forgive them.
It is duck season, after all.

Day #167

Felt flowers and a ribbon bow. I used my new marking pen on the felt. It worked nicely, but now I have to wait and see how it disappears. I couldn’t use it on the purple because it was the same colour, so I pinned one of the other flowers to it and cut it out.
The reason I got to making these is I saw some headbands in a shop which were just felt flowers stuck to a headband base with a jewel in the middle. Like most things, I said to myself, and my friend, ‘I can do that.’ So I did. They are different and I didn’t take a photo for reference, they are inspired by. The ones in the shop were all one colour. I tried to give them some dimension by putting a stitch in the middle of the bottom layer. I was originally going to put them all on one headband, but they turned out bigger than I thought, so I’ll either only put one, or one large and make two smaller ones to put either side. I could make three headbands. I’m not good with choices, and I make my best art and craft when my head switches to autopilot and things fall into place.

Day #156

I’ve been slowly working on this guy. After the base coat of red I showed you a while ago, I’ve put about 5 coats of pinkish purple glitter paint. I should have done another coat of red, since the glitter is transparent and you can still see the bad paint strokes. It’s quite pretty in the light, but the camera on my phone doesn’t pick it up.
One thing about having cats and a craft room is it makes you a little bit tidier. I often hear strange noises coming from the room only to find my tools on the floor. Also covering drying items is a must. They share my love for art, or they just like playing with my things. They’re lucky that they’re so cute.