Comfy, Crafty, Campy

I admit this is something most people learned to do when they went to camp. For many people it was their first simple sewing project without a needle. For me it comes at the age of 40 as part of a Christmas gift I bought myself and it was easy and fun. Perfect little Christmas day project that made me feel productive.
I bought a moccasin kit from Tandy Leather Factory. The kit is inexpensive and you need nothing else with this kit to make the moccasins. You can by them in whatever size you like and they include both youth and adult sizes. The instructions are fairly clear and the few illustrations really do help the project along. You start at the heel move to the tow and by the time you are sewing on the cuff of the shoe, you are an old pro. It comes with a comfort insole already glued in so you will know which is right and which is left. The soles are soft leather, so I think mine will be worn around the house instead of outside in the yard. I admit they are not the most perfect look specimens, but they are comfy and I like them mainly because I made them. If you need a medium length project with kids this would be perfect. It does not involve sewing needles you are just using shoe laces, and it really does boost your self-esteem when you finish, plus it is nice to make something that you can actually use.

Painting in a Gift this Holiday Season

I am always trying to expand my craftiness. recently my mother moved and has several items in storage including items for her guest bedroom. So to get the room ready for guests she ran out and purchased the most appealing bed in a bag that she could find. However she found accessories for the room and things to put on the walls were lacking. Everything she found was rather pricey and it was driving me slightly nuts that she was considering on spending that kind of money on things she really didn't care about. So to solve her problem I offered up some of my water colors that are done and sitting in a drawer.
After bringing back a set of pillow cases and realizing how modern this room was I did not think any of my water colors would work (they are mostly beaches, lighthouses, hot air balloons, that type of thing). With an art set sitting in my all purpose room screaming my name it did not take long to come up with the idea of designing and completing paintings for this room.

I bought some canvas and went to planning. Actually it did not take long for the idea to hit me. It took forever to find the time to do them. So in my traditional Christmas Eve Christmas morning project mode I set forth to do these paintings. I waited until midnight Christmas morning when my mother had fallen asleep (yes, I knew she was asleep because I could hear the snoring the entire time I did this), and gathered up my painting items and spread out across my kitchen. I set to work lining things up, matching colors, figuring out the design and then had at it. I mixed colors as I went and enjoyed the entire experience with the stripes and circles.
I had also located some very small canvas that I used to paint a complementary design to go with the three other paintings. Although the lines are not perfect and the circles are not perfect I think that adds to the charm of the pieces. For my first acrylic paintings I am fairly pleased. The idea is that they can be hung together in a series or separately. Whatever mom would like to do.

By four a.m. the canvas was set out to dry in the multipurpose room and I was headed to bed, only to get up four hours later to open presents and present the artwork to my mother. At the end of the present session I made her close her eyes and I brought them out. She knew immediately that they were for her spare room and asked where I bought them from (which could be a sign she wanted to return them...) I told her I had painted them. She quizzed me on when did I have time to do it. I would not fess up on that one (of course if she reads this the jig is up). I did put them back out to determine if I like them or not and I think I do like them. I also think I may try this endeavor again in the future.

Warming up Something Big for a Friend

I explained in an earlier post that the reason I have not been blogging on this site has to do with a special present I made for an incredible lady. Ms. Mary as we called her in our office was the lady who cleaned up after us. If you have ever been to a 4-H event you can imagine there is a lot of cleaning to do. She also cleaned up after everyone else in our office, but I think we created the biggest headaches for her. To explain Ms. Mary to you...she was over the age of 80 and employed full time, by the county, as the custodian of our building. She has a spunky and feisty personality, and just tells it like it is, so don't let your feelings get in the way. She had a tendency to chase me with a mop if I even thought about stepping on her wet floor and often came after me with the rolling trash can if I was darting around the building (which I have a tendency to do). That is not to mention the other implements she has chased me with for comments I made, didn't make, and just because it gave her joy to do so. Before she left for knee surgery she had asked me to make her something when she retired, anything I wanted and that her favorite color is blue. Not dark blue, not light blue but blue.

That being said, in Ms. Mary's honor I have completed probably the biggest knitting project I have ever done. I made a throw with a square pattern in it that when stretched out covered the top of a queen size bed looked like I was getting ready to play a really big game of checkers. I used a medium blue and it took much longer than it should have. Between my counting issues, pattern issues, and pulling it out completely twice (or possibly thrice) I finally got it all together and completed it after knitting on and off for six months. According to the pattern it should have only taken 18 hours. I know it took me longer than that. The incredible people I work with helped pay for the yarn, which took 12 skeins.

Right before Christmas, my supervisor, his administrative assistant and I went to her house to deliver it to her. She pulled it out of the bag (and kept pulling and pulling) and wrapped the blanket around herself. She seemed very pleased with the gift and said it was going on her bed so she could pull it up over her and around her whenever she wanted. She seemed to know it was made with a great deal of love and appreciation. We hope she will think of us whenever she uses it.

Crafty Building Blocks

In case you haven't noticed I like the idea of being crafty. That is sort of like, I like the idea of playing golf. I attempt it and every once in a blue moon I have a straight shot or sink an amazing putt but all in all, it is more that I like the idea of doing it and am not that good at doing it. My crafting is the same way. Sometimes what I am making looks like I want it to, and other times it falls short.

Although I love the idea of turning glass blocks into works of art, I must
admit I am not sure that I am that good at it. Once again that isn't going to stop me. After attempting 16 4-H clovers for work (we used the blocks with battery tea lights in them for decorations for our annual Volunteer Banquet) I decided to branch out. I have two people that I work with that I always want to create unique and wonderful gifts for because they are truly to unique and wonderful people. So for them I set out to create something different. One likes and collects Santas (she actually has more than 100 different Santa Clauses and they are really cool), the other has a thing for Dale Earnhardt Jr. So I painted the blocks with a stained glass paint one in a star shaped Santa and the other with the car number of Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (88).

I stuffed the blocks with 100 clear white Christmas lights and they will shine just like a tree, especially at night. Although they don't look exactly like I had hoped...I hope it will bring some joy when they look at them unique and shining...just like them.

Going Green!

I admit that is has been awhile since I have posted on this site. If you have noticed any of the other sites (Custom Cakes 4 You, Robeson County 4-H, 4-H in Italy) I work on you might guess why. However for those of you who know me you know I like to be crafty and so even with all my other pursuits you are probably guessing I have been up to something. I have been up to a big something but it can't be unveiled until later (don't want to ruin the surprise).

In the meantime I had a little spare time on my hands and did a little green knitting. No I don't
mean the color of the yarn I mean knitting something that will cut down on waste and is recyclable. I knitted a floor duster cover. I knitted it with cotton yarn and it is very soft. The knit one pearl two knit one rows create ridges that trap the dust and dirt. When the cover gets full you can turn it inside out and continue. When you are finished dusting with it instead of throwing it out you just toss it in the washing machine, wash and dry it and use it again. Is that green or what!

I am thinking I might need a few of these, and I have friends who might need some stocking stuffers this year...what a great gift!

The Last of that Yarn

Remember the yarn that my friend Jane gave me? Well I have used every last bit of it now. The last of it was this scarf that was a knit two purl two ribbed pattern. It is red and black with fringe and measures a couple of feet long. This was a fun scarf to make and I must admit I finished it a few months ago and have moved on to something much bigger with a really neat story so stay tuned to the blog for more details.

Old World Scarf

Knitting, crafting and baking are great hobbies. Although I sell some of my items I have not done anything so creative that I can make a living off these really fun activities. In other words...I am not giving up my day job. The great thing about my day job (besides the fact it is very rewarding and I love the people I work with) is that I get to travel to interesting places in and out of the Country.

Last September I had the opportunity to travel to Portugal. It was an incredible learning experience and I met people who have made a lasting impression on me. During one of our tours of Villa Real we started by a yarn store. Actually the group wandered by it and I of course wandered inside.

There were all sorts of yarn, on SALE! I could have stayed in there for hours looking touching smelling. Mind you I am sure that the store clerk thought I was a crazy American and the group I was with was trying to explain what a knitting freak I am to our tour guide. The big difference about the yarn was not what it was made of (or the incredibly cheap price) but that it was sold by weight, not by the skein but by the weight of what was picked out. I grabbed a navy blue bouclee yarn and one of the people I was travelling with picked out a white yarn with shreds of green ribbon weaved through it. This second skein had a purpose, to knit it into a scarf and put up for auction for the 4-H leaders association auction. It was actually chosen by our state specialist in charge of our volunteers, Harriett Edwards.

I must admit I stared at the yarn for a few months before trying to figure out what to do with it. After a few unsuccessful attempts at a scarf I finally got size 15 needles out and knitted from side to side (not end to end) a very long scarf. The purpose was to allow the person who wears it to wrap it and tie the scarf like they do in Portugal. Scarf wearing is very sheik there.

When the item came up for auction, I must admit I was tickled. I explained the story of the scarf and the bidding started. Usually I sell a scarf for $15. This one sold for $35 with a great story and pictures to go with it. The most important part is that the money raised went back to the North Carolina 4-H Volunteer Leaders Association to help support the incredible work they do in this state.

To learn more about our incredible trip to Portugal check out our blog we kept at http://www.4-hinportugal.blogspot.com/.

Burning it Up

Part of what I love about crafting is being able to put your heart into something and give it to someone else. My favorite is when it is something that they have looked at and commented how neat it is or when you just make something and surprise them.
On a recent trip to Lowes (where I should probably not be allowed to go because I see too many items I "need") I found an item on sale. Oval shaped pieces of red oak and poplar that I knew I could use (even if I wasn't sure how). After thinking on it, the inspiration and designs hit me. I took the center part of the North Carolina 4-H Centennial logo and designed an NC with the 4-H Clover in it and transferred the designs to the wood. I found my wood burning tool and quickly plugged it in slowly and carefully working my way around the designs. After sanding and touch up I decided the Centennial logo needed color so I started painting. When everything dried I went ahead and used some golden pecan stain to give it a little color. A little polyurethane on top and voila, two 4-H exclusive decorative pieces.
I took them to the North Carolina State 4-H Volunteer Leaders Conference and donated them to the county store. The store is one of three big fundraisers that the members of the North Carolina 4-H Volunteers Leaders' Association put together during this weekend event. They sold for $5.00 each, with the money going to a wonderful organization.

Jumping Up and Down for the Pom Pom

My favorite winter hats as a child made the list because of the pom poms on top. The bigger and more colorful the better. Needless to say when you are knitting a hat you start with simple and add more complicated details later. After knitting my first hat on the loom I still had enough yarn from that skein to knit another hat on my needles. Then there was still some left so I jumped in and added a pom pom on top. Thrilled with my newest details I modeled the hat. Some very honest opinions informed me it was cute but, not me, too young for me, and my favorite, just plain silly. Alas, one day perhaps a child who believes like I did, the bigger and more colorful the pom pom the better, will get to wear this hat.

Knitting Version 2.0

Great presents come in small packages...or something like that. The other day a friend of mine, lets call her Tiffanee stopped by and dropped off this oddly shaped wrapped gift. Usually a quick glimpse at an oddly shaped you can tell what it is but this one I couldn't figure out. So like any child with a wrapped present I tore the wrapping off in record time and found a soft plastic case containing four round knitting looms. I had seen these before but had never been quite brave enough to have a go at it. So with this great present in hand, I read all I could, and waited until I got home that night to whip off a hat.
One of my bears was kind enough to model the hat (so the square parts of the hat are probably his ears sticking up). It is of course knitted in the round so the variegated chunky yarn (yes, another skein from Jane) sort of swirls between black and white in this knitted version. To have a brim you fold back three inches and knitted the bottom into the hat itself which I thought was interesting. It took less than a skein of yarn to knit a hat that would fit an adult. It is very light weight and resembles a typical ski hat. I can't say it was any faster than using my needles, but might be when I get the hang of wrapping the yarn around the posts. To adjust the size of the finished product you use different size looms.
These looms would be awesome for anyone learning how to knit and they are a great break for me to do something a little different. I seem to have a stock pile of yarn that I am trying to knit through now and these rounds will allow me to keep knitting but offer me a challenge of learning a new way to do it. The books also offered ways to to ribbing, blankets, scarves and much more. So much to learn...so much fun to have!

Stylishly Warm

This one is just too cute. So cute, comfy, and warm I might knit one for myself. This purple and black hat is made from the same batch of scarf that my friend Jane gave me. I found the pattern for the hat at the same place I found the pattern for the biker scarf, as a matter of fact they were on the same page. To create it is simple just a stocking stitch for 11 inches and then decrease the stitches by knitting together every other row. The bottom will turn up about 5 inches or as much as you would need it to to cover ears, different size heads, and adjust s it fits any head you put it on.

I have a tradition that if someone requests or really likes what I am knitting when I am knitting it I give it to the person. So this hat is going to a teacher that I had the privilege of working with this weekend. She lives in the western part of the state and said she has the socks to match the hat. How could a knitter resist giving this first time hat to someone not only willing to wear it but with matching accessories.

Biker Wife Scarf

I admit it looked like a Halloween experiment gone awry. Here I sit right after ringing in the New Year knitting an orange and black scarf. No, I did not knit this because of some longing I have for the scary holiday. Actually I did it to fulfil a promise. Curious yet? Actually a friend of mine, lets call her Jane. Jane handed me a bag with four really big skeins (actually double skeins) of yarn. She had tried to crochet with it but the type of yarn made it difficult and she had given up. So she gave me the skeins and her only request was that I knit her a scarf out of the orange and black skein. Of course I agreed, after all a true knitter never turns down free yarn.
I had knitted with this yarn before and after spending two weeks using size eight needles I was a little frustrated myself. So this time I scoured the Internet (my new crafting buddy) and found a pattern specifically for this type of yarn. I adjust the pattern a little and went to knitting with a knit two purl two pattern. 65 inches later we had a scarf that was full, soft, and unique. I also figured out why she wanted this yarn for her scarf. Not long ago Jane's Husband purchased a motorcycle. Their favorite pastime now is riding everywhere, and anywhere on it. I realized as I was knitting that the colors are also the colors for a very popular brand of cycle. As I presented Jane with her scarf, I asked if it was for the chilly rides, and she said overwhelmingly confirmed my theory.
I'll let you know if it keeps her warm on her next ride.

Wrapping Things Up

As the New Year came in it brought a front with it that dropped the temperature by a good 30 degrees. Makes me want to spend the day curled up on the couch with my favorite Coca-Cola throw tossed over my legs, fire in the fireplace, and my favorite book in hand.

One of my favorite pastimes on a day like this is knitting. I will knit scarves, blankets, caps and save them until winter to give away. My favorite are baby blankets, easy to knit, doesn't take too much time but I do not have any friends who need a baby blanket. So I donate them each year to Southeastern Regional Medical Center. Beth, who is in charge of volunteer services, will take them and distribute the blankets to those in need who might not have someone who would make something like a blanket for them or their baby. This is an annual event now. This year, thanks to the help of Penny I was able to donated 10 knitted blankets, 7 incredibly beautiful crocheted blankets, and two knitted caps.

It is nice to give a little warmth and love to someone you haven't met. Those of us who are part of DeJ. Creations would like to wish you and yours a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year filled with warmth and love.