Melting Snowman Amigurumi

I was looking for something to make a friend of mine for a Holiday gift - because I like handmade things, she likes handmade things...and, well, I'm cheap. I just bought a house and I need money for the improvements - give me a darn break, already!

When I found the pattern for this project, I really loved it - and I thought she would get a kick out of it, too. There is a story behind this gift, though, and you'll have to live through the story before I'll allow you to see the awesome amigurumi that I made :

My friend is 81 years old. She lives in a 55+ community, and every year, they have a craft/hobby fair. She bought a badly made snowman from a lady because she felt sorry for her. The snowman had a WHITE scarf (really - a white scarf on a snowman), and it's arms were jutting haphazardly out of it's hips. Needless to say, this poor snowman looked like he suffered an industrial accident. So - her and a mutual friend of ours, Sarah, went to JoAnn's Craft and Fabric store, and picked out a bunch of decorative stuff to hopefully fix the train wreck that was this poor snowman.

It didn't work. It's an inside joke now, something to poke fun and laugh at - that silly deformed snowman. So - in honor of that poor, deformed snowman, I made this:



It's a melted snowman!

I found the pattern here, at Fun and Fang, if you would like to pick up your hook and make one of your own.

Hope you're all doing well, having a great holiday season - and staying warm!

Fan Light Pull

A few days ago, my husband expressed frustration when trying to find the light pull on a fan in our house. As you may know, this house is new to us - but it was built in 1972, and has changed a few hands over the years. The previous owners weren't too handy around the house...they half-assed repair jobs, and they sure as heck didn't leave us anything they didn't have to. The light and fan pulls are both short - so they're pretty hard to find in the dark.
So, I came up with this solution, after sifting through my art stuff for about 15 minutes:

I've had the green pendant for a while now - I suspect I found it on one of our family's yard-sale excursions when I was a teenager. I got the fake pearls at our local JoAnn's Crafts store. I attached the pendant to a length of craft wire, then threaded on the beads. I weaved the craft wire around the existing fan light pull, and VOILA! A new, sexy fan light pull. Well, maybe not sexy, but it is pretty stinkin' cool, if I do say so myself. :)

Crochet Bell Necklaces for Wooden Deer

My dad made me these awesome wooden deer years ago, and I haven't had much of a place to put them until now. So, I decided to pull them out and make them festive this year.



I bought some big bells at my local JoAnn's Craft store, and then scoured my yarn stash for the right shades of red and green. I made a cord, using this method ( I used technique 2) , and threaded the bell on when I thought that I was halfway done. I left a few inches on the end of each thread, and tied them around the necks of the deer. Cool huh?

I'm so crafty, I amaze myself sometimes! :D

Homeless Hat

While moving, I found a few hats that I made that I seldom (if ever) wear. I decided to give them to a homeless ministry, and started to look around for one...unfortunately, I was unable to find one in my area, but I did contact Clark County, Washington's Council for the Homeless for information. I was kindly referred to the Friends of the Carpenter, a homeless ministry that is, in short, amazing. They have a large wood shop, and teach the local homeless how to use the equipment to make beautiful, mostly religious themed items. If you're interested, their Product Catalog is here.

Now, in addition to the hats that I found, I decided to make a special hat, specifically to give away to the homeless. Here's the hat:





Feel free to flatter the beautiful model with compliments. :D

I decided that every time I do an "experiment" or practice another crochet skill, that I make a large swatch of it, and make it into a hat. This one was done in rounds, though, with no seam. Here, I was practicing crochet ribbing, and it turned out so well that I was just a little bit sad that I had to give it away.

I hope it will make someone very happy - and very warm - this holiday season.

Skull Tapestry Crochet Bag

I know it's been a while, but here is my latest project:



This purse is piratastic! I'm artistic, so I can just make up words. I'm cool like that.
I've done tapestry crochet previously, but never this intense, and never on anything that I would willingly carry around in public. But this...is just all kinds of awesome.
The pattern for the handbag is at futuregirl's site: Starling Handbag
The skull motif is here, at CraftyCrafty: Jolly Roger Skull and Crossbone
I've put a picture of my handbag on the Starling Handbag Flickr Pool - it's great to see what other crocheters out there are creating with the same pattern!

I even have an order in...for one with a red skull, so stay tuned for that one!
Also, I have a set of crochet dice to make, as well as a gift for a friend's daughter.
I'm *this close* to finishing a hat that I'm going to be donating to a homeless shelter, along with three other hats I've made that never get worn. So - that's what I'm doing these days. Well, that, and managing to get all the REGULAR chores done while unpacking boxes in our NEW HOUSE! Woohoo!

See? I told you I might check in!

A glimpse of what is to come...November 2010

I have quite a few things on my list this month, but that list might have to be postponed for this, and possibly next month. My husband and I are buying a house, and the deal is set to close on the 19th of November. So - understandably - posts on my blog will be mighty scarce while I pack, move, and unpack. I hope you all will understand.

Without further ado, here are my lists:

In the works:

1. Gift for Mika
2. Gift for Jeff (my brother-in-law)
3. Finish Granny square blanket
4. Skull and crossbones crochet purse
5. More "hand tools" drawings

My to-do list:

1. Crocheted Autumn leaves magnets
2. Crochet socks
3. Frog Amigurumi
4. Bags for my cousins for Christmas (If I get the color/applique info)

Random Ideas: (I'm taking from my last 'Glimpse' post - which was taken from the last 'Glimpse' post before that. I love some of these ideas, and fully intend on making good on them!)
1. Hammer cozy
2. Small BBQ cozy (our apartment thinks that Charcoal BBQ's are the devil, so I'd like to crochet a cozy to make it more covert)
3. Random street art, to get my 'Crochet Valkyrie' blog up and running again
4. Cross-stitch Buddhism stuff - 4 Noble truths, 5 precepts, 8 fold path
5. Havamal samplers
6. More sushi sets, to sell on Etsy, or wherever I feel like it.
7. Do a felting project!

Again, if there is anything that you'd like to see here, feel free to leave a comment.

Terry's Earflap Hat

I've been working on a special hat for my husband lately - something that's warm for the predicted cold winter, and something that covers his ears. Which led me to choose the popular ear flap hat style. Here is is, finished:



This took quite a while, because my husband has a head that's larger than average. It was definitely worth the wait, however...it fit perfectly, and he was thrilled with the results.
He did ask me to make it longer in the back, and I offered a solution: I could make a back panel that attaches with buttons or velcro. That way, it could act as a neck gaiter, and be removable when he finds it annoying (like when he's wearing a hooded sweatshirt with it - all that fabric back there will definitely make your neck warm, but would probably bunch up in the back, creating more of a hassle than a benefit.
He hasn't worn it outside yet, but after a couple minutes inside, his head was starting to sweat.
My work here is done. Kinda.

Howling Wolf Carved Pumpkin

I've always wanted to carve a howling wolf into my pumpkin. This year, I decided to finally do it, after I considered and rejected several other pumpkin designs (Among the contenders: Jack Rackham's jolly roger with crossed cutlasses, and a simple, elegant grim reaper). Next year, when we get our own house, I can carve to my heart's content, but living in an apartment has special challenges, namely the lack of space. The wild, roving packs of rabid kids that are native to this area are also an annoyance. They love to steal things, smash things, make noise, etc. I could only imagine what horrible fate will befall my pumpkin when I leave it out on Halloween night while I go to my awesome friend's Halloween party. Oh, well - I guess that's one way to learn impermanence.

Without further ado, here is my fabulous carved pumpkin:



I hope everyone enjoys a safe and Happy Halloween!

Pumpkin Candy Bags (continued)

My neighbor liked the two pumpkin bags so much...she had to "order" a couple. With me, "order" consists of her knocking on my door and asking, "How much would you charge to make a pumpkin candy bag?"

Here are my two newest creations:




I tried to make the faces different - just so that each child that gets one has a unique gift.

Hope everyone has a Happy Halloween!

Pumpkin Candy Bags

Hello, blog readers!
For this terrific installment, I present to you, my newest creation:

PUMPKIN CANDY BAGS!!!



I wanted to make something special for the little boys who live across the hall at my apartment complex. They are well-behaved little munchkins ( 2 and 4 years old, respectively), and I wanted to make something just for them.

To make these bags, I had to alter the Lion Brand pattern, Amigurumi Happy Pumpkin. I think you might have to create an account on the Lion Brand web site to see the pattern, although, looking at the finished results, it's worth it.
I stopped doing the pattern after row 14, and continued as follows:
15 - sc in ea sc around
16 - add in Brown, sc in ea sc around.
17 - ch 2, sc in 2nd st from hk. *ch2, sk1, sc in next st* continue working from * to * around.
18 - sc in next st. *1 sc in ch2 sp, sc in next 2sc* (continue from * to *around). sl st in beg sc. Fasten off.

Cord:
Sc 90. Weave through loops on pumpkin stem. Tie ends together securely. Make a tassel out of A and B. Attach to cover cord join knot.

There are different ways for making tassels. How do I do it? I start by wrapping the yarn 5 times around the palm of my hand. Hold hand horizontally, with thumb sticking out. start with the yarn end at the bottom of your hand. Wind yarn around your hand 5 times, ending again at the bottom of your hand. Cut end of yarn. Then, cut yarn in half - by cutting through the strands at the bottom of your hand. Do this again with your other color.
Fold your yarn strands in half. Lay your cord on top of the yarn strands, below the folded side. Take the cut ends of the yarn, and pass it through the loop made by the folded side, over the top of the cord. Pull the cut ends tight. Voila! There's your tassel!
I found that the way I make tassels is called a 'fringe tassel.' Here is a video tutorial at YouTube to show you how:


If you prefer a more precise tassel, I found a terrific tutorial at Laughing Purple Goldfish Designs

Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoy my pumpkins!

How to care for acrylic paintings

I've decided to post on how to care for acrylic paintings, because I've had to offer up a couple of paintings for sale lately, and most people don't know how to properly care for a painting. I was going to write it myself, but I found a terrific guide on eHow on how to care for an acrylic painting, and thought "Why try to reinvent the wheel?"
Of course, professional framing and temperature control may be out of your league, but it is a terrific guide nonetheless!

Instructions
1. Touch the painting as little as possible. The oils and dirt on your hands can make the paint deteriorate. Wash your hands before handling the painting, and wear cotton gloves when you have to touch it.
2. Handle the painting carefully. Take off accessories like rings or bracelets so you don't nick or tear the canvas. Carry the painting by holding it on its opposite sides with both hands. Don't carry it flat on top of your open palms.
3. Have the painting professionally framed with a glass front. This is not a job you should attempt to do yourself. The glass will help protect it from dust, dirt and moisture.
4. Store or display the painting in a place that is below room temperature. The top film on acrylic paint is already soft; keeping the painting at room temperature will further soften it. Install a thermostat in the room where the canvas is kept and monitor it daily.
5. Hang the painting where it will be best preserved. Don't place a painting over a fireplace mantel: The soot and heat can damage it. Even in non-wood fireplaces, you have the problem of a chimney conducting drafts and dampness into the room.
6. Keep the painting away from sources of heat, ultraviolet light, direct sunlight, dust, dampness and humidity. These elements can hasten the natural aging process of the paint and cause damage like prematurely faded colors or cracks.
7. Have a professional hang the painting. This means either placing a loop on either side of the top of the frame and suspending it with wire, or securing a wire to the back of the painting with a screw on either side. Don't hang the picture on a nail, because as the canvas weakens with age, the nail can push its way into it and dent the surface.
8. Periodically check the frame's hardware. Are the screws or wires loose? Is the frame coming unglued? Is the glass shifting within the frame? It's better to check and catch a loose wire than to come home and find a ripped painting because the glass front broke when it fell to the floor.


How to Care for Acrylic Paintings on eHow.com

When I give an acrylic painting as a gift, I usually keep it simple:
1. Don't put the painting in a hot or humid place - the humidity can cause the paint to warp; the heat can make it soft and pliable, and more prone to damage.
2. Don't put it in a really cold place - the paint can crack.
3. Don't put it in direct sunlight - the paint will fade
4. If you need to clean it, use a dry cloth - again, dampness can degrade the paint.
5. Handle the painting carefully, touch it as little as possible...and wash your hands before you touch it, as skin oils attract dirt and dust, as well as accelerate the aging process of the paint.

Take good care of your acrylic paintings!

Crochet Edging for Blue Jeans - Revisited

Remember when I said that I would post a picture when the edging was sewn onto the blue jeans? Well, here ya go:


This is me, wearing the jeans. Sweet!

When I wore them, I got several compliments - "boy, I wish I could crochet!" and " Did you do that yourself?! Cool!" among others.

I want to give a shout-out to my awesome friend Bert, who sewed on the edging for me: I couldn't have done it without you! Thanks!

Buddha Necklace

I fell in love with the idea of this necklace when I seen the pattern - so I saved it for later use. I tend to break jewelry, so it is quite obvious, with little inspection, that I choose much of my jewelry for durability in addition to simplicity. Occasionally, I'll make a concession to "Oh, pretty!", and make something that exists to be beautiful and nothing more. I guess that this is one of those times.



I found the pendant and beads at Michael's Arts and Crafts, and bought it with my birthday money (sent by my awesome grandmas!) in September. The hole in the pendant is so small that it seems only wire or fishing line can get through it, which made me think of this pattern. I chose these particular beads because the color resembles jade, and they are a nice contrast to the black and dark gray Buddha pendant. The hemp cord just seemed to fit the color scheme and rustic theme of the necklace itself.
Here is the original pattern at CrochetMe. The pattern doesn't include a pendant - I just took my theme and ran with it.

Okay, I have to say it: "Look! I made a pretty!"

Buddha Cross Stitch Pattern

I was looking around on the internet for a simple, FREE Buddha cross-stitch pattern to do, as a form of mindful meditation. Mindful meditation must be expensive these days, because I looked high and low and couldn't find a simple pattern. Not only could I not find a simple pattern, but I was unable to find a Buddha cross stitch that I didn't have to pay an arm and a leg for. So - I decided to fill this niche. I found a few drawings and pictures of statues, and started to play around and be creative with them. This is the result:


This image is, of course, altered, so as to fit the frames of my blog - I do that with most, if not all of the images that I post here, to offer you, the blog reader, a more pleasant viewing experience. Here is the URL for the original, at Photobucket.

I hope you enjoy this creation - it was fun to make! I have yet to cross-stitch it, but that will be another entry for another day. If YOU find this and cross-stitch it, feel free to link to my blog - I would love to see your finished product!
A Note - if you wish to post this image elsewhere, make sure to give credit where credit is due: attribute it to me! In the spirit of the Dharma, I have decided to make this pattern free; use this anywhere and for whatever purpose you like.
I may, in the future, add color and charge a fee for the colored pattern. But for now...enjoy it as it is.

"Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment." ~Buddha

Crochet Edging for Blue Jeans

When I picked up a pair of jeans at Old Navy, I didn't realize that the size tag had (S) on it - meaning "short". When I got them home and put them on, I realized my mistake...but I really didn't feel like taking them back so soon after buying them.

So, I kept them...and one day, I got an idea...how AWESOME would it be if I were to make crochet edging, and sew it onto the bottoms? It would look pretty cool, and it would more than likely show off my crafting skills.

For months, the idea went nowhere. I couldn't find a pattern for edging that I liked, I couldn't decide on a color to do the edging in, and I don't have a sewing machine - so I really have no means of sewing them on when/if I did actually jump on this project.

This past Sunday, my neighbor gave me two boxes of yarn (about the size of produce boxes...not big, but it sure is a lot of yarn). In it, I found a terrific variegated yarn that renewed my interest in the 'Blue Jean Edging' project. I searched in my books, and, lo and behold, I found an edging pattern that fit my idea of what my jeans should look like. So, I measured the jeans and got crackin'.

I did have a few problems with edging...namely, that I make WAY TOO MUCH for my project. I really don't know how that happened. I measured on the inside, and then measured my beginning chain exactly. Both of them ended up too long; the first one by about 2", and the second one a more manageable 1". I had to hand sew and cut the first one, because it was way too long for me to hide along the inside seam of the jeans. The second one was much more manageable...although it will take a once-over with a yarn needle and matching yarn to secure it.
Anyway, here it is, pinned and ready to be sewn together:

I mentioned on FB that I was doing this project, and didn't have a sewing machine. Within minutes, two friends offered their sewing machines for me to be able to finish my project. How sweet! Don't I have the best friends EVER? YAY!
The next picture of these will likely be a picture of me wearing the finished product!

A glimpse of what is to come...Oct 2010

I've decided that the first post per month should be a "What is to come" post, cataloging my goals and future projects. I know that I jumped the gun and already posted this month; I was just so excited about my drawing that I had to post it right away...I just blame it on "artistic temperament".
Please note that the numbers don't indicate that any one project is more important than another, or is in an organized queue of any sort. That's just not how I roll. :D

In the works:
1. House-warming gifts for Meg and Jessica
2. Gift for Mika
3. Gift for Jeff (my brother-in-law)
4. Granny square blanket
5. Skull and crossbones crochet purse
5. More "hand tools" drawings

My to-do list:
1. Pumpkin Amigurumis
2. Crocheted Autumn leaves
3. Earflap hat for Terry
4. Crochet socks
5. Frog Amigurumi
6. Birth announcement for niece

Random Ideas: (I'm taking from my last 'Glimpse' post - I love some of these ideas, and fully intend on making good on them!)
1. Hammer cozy
2. Small BBQ cozy (our apartment thinks that Charcoal BBQ's are the devil, so I'd like to crochet a cozy to make it more covert)
3. Random street art, to get my 'Crochet Valkyrie' blog up and running again
4. Cross-stitch Buddhism stuff - 4 Noble truths, 5 precepts, 8 fold path
5. Havamal samplers
6. More sushi sets, to sell on Etsy, or wherever I feel like it.
7. Do a felting project!

If there is anything that you'd like to see here, feel free to leave a comment.

There is something terrific that has recently happened in my family, and which may influence my artwork in the future: my long-lost half-brother has found us! He was a surrogate birth, in what was intended to be an anonymous adoption. Well - he found us, and is thrilled that he has a whole other family...and siblings his age!

It's great, feeling the "big sister pride" again. Not that I'd lost it - but this certainly shoves it into the spotlight!

Tools - A Still Life Series #1

I was watching an episode of American Chopper: Season 2 on Netflix yesterday, and got a great idea: tools would make terrific still life subjects!
To be a still life subject:

1. You have to be an inanimate object
2. (I guess there's only one rule to being a good still life subject. Moving on.)

Here's my first subject: A pair of NAPA pliers:



I was really excited to watch this drawing progress. Tools and machinery aren't my strong suit, and in the beginning in the year, I proposed that I hone my poor skills in this area. Only, if you're not great at something and you know it, you tend to shy away from doing it - so, unfortunately, my "focus" had been dropped for most of the year.
As with the fishing lure series, I was thinking of making this a set of drawings (probably 5), with matching frames; the emphasis being to (hopefully) sell them on etsy, if I ever do get my store off the ground.
Definitely going to be in the series? A screwdriver, ratchet, and possibly a few drill bits. I'll have to take my husband to the garage for him to show me what he *thinks* would be a good tool to draw.

Stay tuned for #2 - or whatever other wacky idea manages to stick in my brain!

Blast from the Past - John and Yoko

I did this terrific portrait of John Lennon and Yoko Ono when I was in high school:



The signature at the top right is "mchic" in between two wings. The explanation? The wings symbolized my love of the rock band Aerosmith at the time. "M Chic" is an abbreviation for "Misery Chick", after an episode of Daria, where she incurred the nickname:


"Misery Chick" goodness appears around 7:20
(Unfortunately, part 2 seems to have been removed by Viacom. Too bad.)

Anyway, the medium is drawing paper and pencil (probably both low-end, as I was in high school with no job).
I was thinking of doing a "blast from the past" spot every month, just to put a spotlight on what skills I've improved, my change of subjects, and my changes in medium.
The changes? For one, I've stopped doing portraits (for the most part). My choice of medium has improved to encompass classier pencils and paper, and I'm more acquainted with the human form and structure of the face now.
I'll give myself at least a B+ in the improvement department.

Yummy Omelet

I made this omelet a week ago, and it looked so pretty I had to grab the camera and take a good picture of it.



It's turkey pastrami and colby-jack cheese with green onions sprinkled on top. Did I mention that the eggs are organic, fertilized brown eggs?
It was yummy, by the way. :D

Moo-Cow Madness!

So, it was a choice between roosters and cows for my new kitchen motif. As my grandma said, "everyone has roosters" - so I decided to do moo-cows.
So, I did this cross stitch:



I can't remember, unfortunately, where I found the cross-stitch pattern. If I find it, I'll make sure to post the link to it.
I have something interesting planned for this - it'll be an embellishment on a pot/pan holder, like SO:



(I just whipped that out in less than 15 minutes with Microsoft Paint. Impressed? You should be.)

BBW Alice

Do you guys remember Alice from the video game (and subsequent movie) Resident Evil? I've always wondered what she would look like if she were a little (ahem) bigger, so I decided to go ahead and indulge my curiosity by drawing this:



This work is on drawing paper, in pencil and color pencil. I'm a little rusty when it comes to color pencil art, but I think this turned out first-rate! I tried to make it a bit cartoon/comic like, as I always foul up genuine portraits when I start to work them in color pencil.
I worked from a picture on the Internet Movie Firearm Database for the H&K G36K with the AG36 grenade launcher. I found a picture of the Springfield Mil-Spec 1911A1 randomly online (I managed to find an obscure pic that gave me a good idea of what the firearm would look like viewed from above). I used a reproduction of the US film poster for my Alice's pose and props, and I worked from a DVD case of the movie to get the font for 'ALICE' on the right hand side.
It was a lot of work and a lot of reference, but pretty damn good for a figure drawing, if I do say so myself.

Tapestry Crochet Bone Pattern

Here is my tapestry crochet pattern for a bone, for your crocheting pleasure:



When it's done, it should look something like this:



I designed this bone so that it could be tapestry crocheted onto my dog's kerchief.
I hope you enjoy!

Loki's Leash Rack

I bought a wooden plaque with my birthday money, because I decided that Loki had so much stuff, that he needed a rack of his own. I mean, literally - the hooks on our key rack were almost falling off from the combined weight of our keys and his various puppy paraphernalia! (leashes, collars, a harness, etc)

Here it is:



and here it is, in action:



Not only did I make a completely new rack for Loki, I replaced the hooks on our old key rack, to give it some new life.
I'm quite proud of myself - I made something that has a purpose AND is decorative, rather than something that has no purpose other than looking pretty.
A job well done.

Don't Worry, Be Happy Key Chain

Here's my happy face keychain:



I absolutely loved crocheting this little guy! He was really fun to make. Over my long trek in the world of crochet, I have learned how to make many things - and I'm starting to be able to make things from scratch (no pattern!!!). Although, this is a simple ball, it actually took a lot of time and effort to complete. It's done with worsted weight cotton yarn, with the face embroidered on with cotton embroidery thread.
When I finally do go out and get those jump rings, I'll make sure to add one or two to this guy - I've been having the same problem that I had with the eyeball keychain; the yarn gets caught in the part of the ring where things are taken off/put on.
This one is also a prototype for my Etsy store, whenever it does make it's appearance. I really want to build up my "inventory" before I decide to start a store, however small that storefront will be.

Eyeball Key Chain

Here is my prototype for the eyeball keychain:



I've had only one problem with it - when the yarn gets caught in the narrow portion of the keyring (where things are taken off and put on) it refuses to make it's way back onto the keyring proper. I've decided to see if I can fix this problem with what jeweler's call "jump rings", metal rings that are used as an attachment (among other things):


If I have any luck with the jump rings (when I actually go out and GET them...I've been putting it off), I'll definitely post an update.
I'm kind of at a loss what to do with this...keep it and display as a prototype? Give to a friend? Give to my ophthalmologist as a wacky gift? Keep it as my own keyring?
One thing is for sure - I'm gonna be making a few more of these bad boys. And I might even sell them on Etsy, once I get my s#$% together and find out a name for my little venture. Then I can actually create an account, and start business. JOY!

A Soap-making Adventure!

I got a big hunk of Goat's milk soap at Michael's:



Plus some more awesome molds. I cobbled together a double boiler (my sole solitary metal bowl on top of my saucepan, 1/3 filled with water),and got this:



Fun times! Now I can take a shower again without my skin drying out. :D

Cross Stitch Skull and Crossbones!

For my birthday, I went to the craft store, and blew the $30 that my grandparents gave me on crafty crap.
Among the craft items was this terrific, blank, black tote bag...that I could decorate HOWEVER I WANT. WooHoo!
So, I cross-stitched this super awesome skull and crossbones onto it:



I got the pattern for this at supermitten.com.
I had a few problems in the beginning stages - mainly, with the waste canvas, which doesn't seem as easy to use as the package (and many cross-stitching websites) would lead you to believe. The combined thickness of the fabric and the waste canvas, as well as the inflexibility of the canvas itself, led to the impossibility of getting the fabric + waste canvas stretched over the damn hoop to make it easier to work with.
I ended up abandoning the hoop and the waste canvas, and went for my 14 aida. It was easy enough to apply, the stitches look uniform - and when finished, it actually LOOKS like the pattern. Unfortunately, it was a bitch to remove out from under the stitches. I'll make sure to attempt the waste canvas again - although, I'll definitely have to plan better.

A little off the subject...
I really can't figure out what to do with this tote bag. I have a couple ideas:
1. Run with the pirate theme, as I love pirates, and they are awesome and stuff,
or
2. Make it an 'Audrey Awesome' tote bag, covered in everything that I love: frogs, Folk Art Hearts, Happy faces, crochet patches/pockets, Peace signs, guns...you know - all the stuff that makes me ME.
OR (this just occurred to me)
3. Make a theme on either side (e.g. frogs on one side, pirates on the other)

I love themes, and I'm willing to run with one - but an amalgam of the awesome things that I ♥LOVE♥ really brings out the artist in me!

Another Plarn Tote

This is another pattern I got from the book: 'Kooky Crochet' by Linda Kopp



My tote came out quite a bit bigger than the one in the picture. I might have used a hook that is much bigger than what the author used...although, the instructions only specified "big plastic hook"...with no size listed. This made me a little frustrated, as I like projects to turn out looking like the picture that tempted me into making the project in the first place.
I also like detailed, EXACT instructions (especially when it has to do with the materials and supplies needed to complete the project). I was tempted to name this project 'Colossal Waste of Time' - because, more than likely, I'll never use this.
I guess the best thing about this bag is that it's made out of plarn...and I can chalk it up as a learning experience and drop it in a recycle bin.
I guess satisfaction isn't always guaranteed in crochet. As in life...

My 100th post - Tapestry Crochet Heart Square, and Random Rambling

Woohoo! Celebrate - It's my one hundredth post! Feel free to do any of the following: drink a margarita, sing "We Are the Champions", do an intricate "End Zone" dance, or scream "AUDREY IS AWESOME!" at the top of your lungs.
Oh, and all you loyal followers: thanks for hanging in there with me. You're awesome, too!

MEANWHILE, at the crappy one bedroom apartment that temporarily suffices as my living quarters:

Here's a Tapestry Crochet heart square that I did!



I'm getting quite interested in tapestry crochet, and the myriad methods used to create these terrific works of art. I have found 4 methods so far, and I'm playing with all of them. This heart was done in an afternoon at my mother-in-law's, when I had to stay and watch the dog while my hubby and his brother took their mom out to dinner for some quality time...because it's her 50th birthday! Oh, and if someone didn't watch the dog, he'd howl, bark, and tear off the molding around the door - so that someone had to be me. And also, because I eat gluten free and they were going to a hamburger joint (i.e. Absolutely NOTHING on the menu that I can eat).

Okay...FOCUS! (I'm talking to myself again. Almost as worrisome as going off on tangents. Oh. Right.)
This method required that I attach small balls of yarn at the top of the heart (3 blue, 2 white) instead of carrying the opposite color underneath the working color. You may remember this method from the video that I posted in my previous post, Loki's Tapestry Crochet Kerchief. I think this method looks much more uniform, and the colors are bright and vibrant - not broken up by the color of the carried yarn showing up underneath (as it inevitably does, if you carry the yarn).
All in all, I'm happy with the results. This method might become my standby!

So - what will I do with it? Many ideas have occurred to me, including: a pocket on clothing, a pocket/patch on a bag, the front panel of a sachet bag, a center square for a throw pillow, and a random square to be used in an afghan. That's about as creative as I get at the moment, as I am trying to MASTER A SKILL, rather than complete a project.
If you have any ideas for this square, feel free to leave a comment. Oh, what the hell - you could even just leave a comment if you think it's really awesome, and you have no ideas for it whatsoever. Anything goes on Auð's ArtBlog...I'm a rebel.

Loki's Tapestry Crochet Kerchief

This is a kerchief using the same pattern as the previous post, with a little twist: it has a tapestry crochet bone in the middle!



I am finding tapestry crochet to be an interesting and diverse art form, with more than one way of execution. I've discovered 4 methods so far, and I'm experimenting with all of them. With this method, the threads aren't carried - they run along the back of the color change. The back, when flipped over, kind of looks like the back of an embroidery piece, with long stitches of the main color over the design motif. Also, I don't carry the threads to the end of the row, or cut them - I just designate one side the "back" and leave the threads hanging on that side, to pick up when I come around on the next row.
If you've ever been interested in tapestry crochet, I suggest you check out some of the terrific tutorials on youtube. I found this one particularly helpful:



Hope you enjoy! Keep on hooking!

Loki's Blue Kerchief

I call it a kerchief because I like the word kerchief better than bandanna. So sue me!



I got the pattern at Crochet n' More: Dog Bandanna Collar Cover
It slips over the collar...no need to tie, and no need for a clasp! Cool! And Loki looks awfully handsome wearing his new doggy accessory...if I do say so myself.

I made another one, using the Tapestry Crochet Technique. I'll post that one later...I don't want to spoil you guys with too many cool posts in a row.

Light N' Lofty Cloche

I found the pattern for this terrific cloche at the Coats and Clark website.



It was confusing at first, because I had a hard time seeing the stitches when I crochet in 'Light and Lofty'. To combat this, in the foundation row I crocheted with two strands of yarn - Light n' Lofty, and a strand of regular worsted weight yarn. This way, I could easily identify the stitches. I was tempted to do this around the whole hat, but as it turned out, by the end of the first row, I got into the habit of crocheting by FEEL - so it wasn't really necessary. After I finished, I just cut out the extra strand of yarn in the foundation row.
This project helped me to learn a new skill - it was awkward and unpleasant at first, but I persevered and was rewarded in the end!

Hope you enjoy my new hat...I sure will!

Jumbo Plush 8-Ball

Unfortunately, this one can't tell you the future.


Jumbo Plush 8 Ball by ~audreydc1983 on deviantART

I used the skills I learned at eHowto create this awesome jumbo 8 ball!
I did a few rounds with white, switched to black until the circumference was right, did 7 rounds of sc, and then decreased accordingly (I made it to sc15, inc/dec)
I embroidered the '8' on it when I was about 1/2 way done, and started stuffing when I was about 5 rounds to the end.
The only issue I really had was with the decreases: when you make a crochet decrease, it leaves a slightly bigger hole than when you just sc or increase. I'm willing to take the chance that people really don't care about the back of the darn thing...it's the front that makes it so cool!
It's fun to throw around - or to use as a lumbar support. My husband asked me if I'm gonna make a full set of pool balls - cue stick, and all...I think I've created a monster!

My FIRST gluten-free pie!

This is excluding the pumpkin pie I made last year. I mean...honestly - the filling came out of a can!


My first Gluten Free pie by ~audreydc1983 on deviantART

Earlier that day, I went out and picked blackberries near my apartment building - then I came home, picked all the debris out, washed them (3 times), made the pie crust, mixed the berries with a little flour and some sugar to make the filling, poured in the filling, made the lattice-top, and finally stuffed it in the oven. It took about an hour to cook - and you can't even tell that the pie crust is Gluten Free! For the pie crust, I used Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free All-Purpose Baking Flour.
Joy!

Crochet Eyeball!

Hey, all of my fabulously morbid friends! Check this out:


Crochet Eyeball by ~audreydc1983 on deviantART

I used the skills I learned at this crochet ball tutorial as a good basis for my "eyeball".
I had to shorten the number of initial stitches in the round, though. I started off with black, Fastened off, then switched to blue, then fastened off, then switched to white - then I fastened off, about 3 rows from the end of the "ball" I separated the strands of some red yarn and embroidered the "veins" on the white of the eye. I then stuffed it a little with poly-fil, and attached the red yarn. I finished the "ball", and then did a couple decreases to close up the remaining hole...then I made a chain of the appropriate length for the "optic nerve."
Cool, huh? I've been thinking of making a loop in the optic nerve, and attaching it to a key chain ring - these might sell like hotcakes, especially to my morbid friends! :D
I've also been thinking about doing other versions - different colors, different sizes, even different styles: what would you think of one with an elliptical pupil, like a cat's eye?! Cool to think about! But harder to plan... I might just have to cut the elliptical pupil out of felt and attach it when I'm done (or I could just embroider it...ugh).
Hope you get as much a kick out of this as my hubby did: "Don't throw that thing at me! It looks too real!!!" HAHAHA!!!

I've got BALLS!

I've crocheted some fun little balls to play with! I originally crocheted them to assemble into an outer-space type baby mobile for a friend's sister's yet-to-be-born baby (they still may be assembled into one...I haven't decided yet). They work up fast - and the best thing about these balls? You can throw them at your spouse, and they won't leave a mark! MWAHAHAHAHA! :D


Crochet balls by ~audreydc1983 on deviantART

I got the pattern at eHow.

The rainbow one and the blue/yellow/green one were done in variegated yarn. I used my *ahem* AWESOME crochet skills to do the orange/yellow one...in my FIRST tapestry crochet project! Personally, I like how the tapestry one came out...there are less "holes" where the decreases are - because they are mostly filled by the other strand of yarn underneath. Groovy!
I'll let you know - and I'll definitely post it - if I really decide to make that baby mobile.
Thanks for reading...and happy hooking!

Random Crochet Necklace

I was feeling frustrated yesterday, and wanted to create something, instead of destroying things needlessly. So - I got out some scrap yarn and wooden beads, and made this cool necklace:



It will probably make it's way onto my other blog, Crochet Valkyrie, because it was done on a whim...and it matches nothing I own! There haven't been a lot of posts on there as of late, because I've been quite busy with the business of owning my own home. Once things settle down and I get a larger, more peaceful, less chaotic place to crochet, you'll probably see plenty of action on that one.

Hope you enjoy my random necklace! I'll have to print out a Crochet Valkyrie tag and attach it, so whoever finds it can let me know how much they enjoy it.

Attack of the Snoods!!!

I've made 3 snoods in the course of about a week:
The first two snoods, I used the same pattern, a vintage pattern from 1942. This pattern was interesting...it required me to learn a new stitch, the "long triple crochet". To tell you all the truth, I love learning about crochet - the more skills in my repertoire, the more creative I can be!
Okay, here are the snoods:

First, the plain black snood, good for everyday tasks (black goes with everything, ya know):


Snood 1 by ~audreydc1983 on deviantART

And then, the beaded snood. I decided to use wooden beads because they're lighter than glass. They look terrific with this brown yarn I chose from my stash:


Beaded Snood by ~audreydc1983 on deviantART

And lastly, my Cotton Snood! :


Cotton Snood by ~audreydc1983 on deviantART

This one is my first improvised snood. The pattern came from a hat pattern in this book:

Stitch 'N Bitch Crochet: The Happy Hooker
by Debbie Stoller

I just continued doing rounds until I thought it was long enough, and then I single-crocheted on an elastic band.
I was really surprised when I put it on...it was quite snug, with very little give. A snood is held in place with pins around the front, and the pins seemed to be much more stable in natural fiber than with acrylic. With acrylic yarn, hairpins tend to slide and not hold very well - I use quite a lot of them - almost 2X as many as the cotton snood required, in fact, to get a good hold with an acrylic snood.
And it held GOOD. Absolutely NO slippage, and it didn't require me to readjust it at any time. A quick spray with hair spray, let it dry, then put on the snood and pin. It's as easy as that, and takes less than 5 minutes.
The only downside: weight. It is a bit heavier than acrylic, and I'm tempted to add pins along the crown of my head to better distribute the weight. My scalp is a bit sore where the pins were the day after wearing it.
But all in all, I am quite impressed!

I think that this was a definite eye-opener. Women in the Middle Ages definitely knew what they were doing, making snoods from natural fiber (well, that's all they had, but still). I can't wait to try making a snood out of thinner yarn - fingering yarn - or even #10 crochet thread! In theory, any hat pattern or doily pattern can be altered to make a snood. Oh, the possibilities!
If you'd like to buy a snood, there is an awesome lady that crochets and sells them, to the Renfaire/SCA set:
Lady MacSnood
I love my previous two snoods and will continue to wear them, but I think that I will stick to natural fibers from now on when it comes to making crochet hair accessories!

Crochet Dice

These were a pain in the butt, but they were definitely worth the attention I got when I wrapped them around the knocker on my door:


Crochet Dice by ~audreydc1983 on deviantART

These dice are 3"cubes, a bit bigger than normal "fuzzy dice". I just made 6 3" square panels, and sewed them together. I put in a panel of thin cardboard on each side for stability (they were about 2 3/4" square, and adding just enough stuffing to keep them in place.
After I sewed them up, using a die for reference, I hot glued the felt spots on.

They came out really good - but too big for wrapping around the rear-view mirror. Perhaps I'll just wrap them around my neck when I go to Vegas!

A Gift Basket for the newlyweds!

Here is a gift basket that I put together for a couple of my friends, Dan and Brianne, who've just gotten married and moved into their first apartment. Unfortunately, they live 2 hours away, and have yet to receive it, but I made sure that anything in the basket would be welcomed as a duplicate. We could all have used a backup set of measuring spoons/cups at one time in our lives, right?!



Awww...how beautiful! This basket includes my homemade towel toppers, some homemade strawberry jam, a couple of coffee cups, spatulas, an oven mitt, chip clips, and other assorted kitchen goodies. Black and red are the colors that Bree said she would like in her kitchen, and I tried to get as many things in black and red as I could. Honestly, I think I should get bonus points for stuff I found that is both black AND red. :D

Both of them are terrific friends...I wish them a happy, love-filled marriage. They bring out the best in one another. *glass clink* CHEERS!

A glimpse of what is to come...

Dear Loyal Followers,
I'm working on several projects now, and I'd just like to give my viewers an update on my progress with these (and other) endeavors. My goal is to do 10 posts per month; since I have started out this blog slow, I felt that it would be a good idea to give myself a goal to achieve every month. If I go above and beyond ten, fine, but for now, the MINIMUM amount of postings per month will be ten.

Projects that I have yet to post:
1. Gift basket for Dan and Bree

In the works:
1. Crochet dice
2. Lovely BBW drawing
3. 3 paintings, all dealing with Norse Mythology
4. Crochet snood

On my to-do list:
1. Cross stitch birth announcement for my new niece
2. Crochet fruits and veggies, complete with cornucopia
3. Crochet socks
4. Crochet granny square blanket (just needs sewn together!)
5. Crochet snuggie!
6. Amigurumi Frog

Random ideas:
1. Hammer cozy
2. Small BBQ cozy (our apartment thinks that Charcoal BBQ's are the devil, so I'd like to crochet a cozy to make it more covert)
3. Random street art, to get my 'Crochet Valkyrie' blog up and running again
4. Make tags for The Crochet Valkyrie, so I can attach to street art.
5. Making (or bribing my friend to make) pillow forms, so I can crochet covers for them.
6. Cross-stitch Buddhism stuff - 4 Noble truths, 5 precepts, 8 fold path
7. Havamal samplers
8. More sushi sets, to sell on Etsy, or wherever I feel like it.
9. Do a felting project! But first I have to find the right color yarn. This has proven a challenge - I have a project in mind, and have been unable to locate the specific color yarn that I need for the project in the immediate vicinity. Looks like a jaunt to Portland, OR is in order, to cruise the yarn shops!

If there is anything that you'd like to see here, feel free to leave a comment.

To all of my awesome followers: I may have mentioned to one or many of you that I may be moving to TX- but this is looking less and less so. My husband was given a phone interview, and it's been more than a week...and we haven't heard anything. Both of us are starting to get a bit nervous about the way this new warehouse is being run - it looks to be very disorganized and chaotic. I could not ask my husband to trade a good job for a bad one for my comfort - so it looks as if we are going to make western WA state our permanent home.
But believe me...it will not be easy. Our lease is up on October 1st, so we have to figure out where we're going. Meaning: house hunting! We're looking at doing a VA home loan in a county where land and property taxes are cheaper. I think that I would "weather" the weather better if I had room to roam out here - this tiny apartment is driving me crazy!
Anyway - I may be busy, but I will attempt to keep my 10 post a month commitment. Things might get a little hairy in the months to come, but I'm sure that we'll get through it fine...and I'll make sure to update you all on things concerning my life and art.
Thank you so much for taking an interest in what I do!

BBW Angel

As you may know, I don't draw a lot anymore - It seems I've headed into "Crochet-Land" and never looked back. I suddenly had an urge to draw a few days ago, found a terrific stock photo, and did this in two days:


BBW Angel by ~audreydc1983 on deviantART

Well, I could have done it in one day, if I wasn't so "artistically cluttered"! Okay...I procrastinated a little. And I couldn't find my good (NEW!) drawing pad, so I was a little upset about that. I mean...I just bought the DARN THING! And I can't find it! AHHHHHHH!!!!!

Okay, I'm back now. I'm cool... :D

Anyway, when I saw her pose in the stock photo, I had to draw her and make her an angel. I don't know why - I don't even think that I've EVER drawn an angel before. I don't even LIKE angels...but it's best not to argue with the creative mind. You'll lose. And it won't be pretty. :)
For the uninitiated or just plain clueless, BBW means "Big Beautiful Woman."

Medium is pencil on paper. (c) 2010

Crochet eggplant!

Crochet eggplant by ~audreydc1983 on deviantART

I got this terrific pattern at Lion Brand Yarn

You have to make an account to see the pattern, but as you can see, the results are well worth it!

Fabric Yarn Hobo Bag

Jean Hobo Bag by ~audreydc1983 on deviantART

This hobo bag was adapted from the pattern in this terrific book:

Kooky Crochet
by Linda Kopp

If you're a crocheter, then you need this book in your crochet pattern library.

So - how did I alter it? The pattern in the book was done with polypropylene monofilament support webbing (or, silver duct support strap). With mine, I cut up pairs of old jeans into strips and joined them together, like so: Laughing Purple Goldfish Designs

I wound them into a (VERY HEAVY!) ball and waited for the perfect project to come around.
This is a simple pattern, made up of only slip stitches, single crochet, and double crochet.
I used a size Q plastic crochet hook. I also didn't make the bag as deep as the pattern said - I think I shaved off 3 rounds.

I imagine that it would also look cool crocheted with 3 strands of yarn instead(adding a strand of eyelash yarn would look really groovy too!)
I think I'll save this pattern and attempt it again in the future with different materials. This is a great pattern for a beginner to try out their new skills!

Two-Liter Purse

I found this pattern in the book 'Kooky Crochet' by Linda Kopp:


2 liter purse by ~audreydc1983 on deviantART

This book is a must for a modern, quirky crocheter - it has some awesome patterns that you can twist to your own unique ends! (Such as an interesting hobo bag - I'll be doing a few versions in the near future).

So - buy it, or check it out from your local library. It's great!

All you need is a two-liter plastic bottle, a single hole punch, and a bit of yarn.
I made this for a daughter of a friend of mine for her birthday - she just turned 5!
Happy Birthday, Mika!

Crochet Bottle Gift Bag

Here are three bottle gift bags that I made: One for my mom, one for my friend, and the last one for HER mom. They are on bottles of lotion that my husband got free from work.
I did take down the pattern while I was crocheting them, and when I have the desire and the time to type it down next week, it will be up here for you to enjoy!


Bottle Gift Bag by ~audreydc1983 on deviantART

I got the instructions for the crochet cord here (Technique 2) : How to Crochet a Cord
The directions are a little bit confusing, so I may do a picture tutorial on my blog on making this cord.

Enjoy!

Happy Little Raindrop

My neighbor mentioned that she liked the weather out here in Western WA state - so I made her this happy little raindrop to celebrate her love of all things precipitation!


Happy Little Raindrop by ~audreydc1983 on deviantART

I used the Bob the Blood Drop pattern.
Of course, it was designed to be a blood drop - but I decided to modify it to my own purposes. I know that I'm scary smart, but don't worry - I use my powers for good, and not evil. Well, most of the time! :D

Crochet Towel Topper - FREE Pattern!

I've done this pattern many times, without need for an actual pattern. But here it is, free to you, out of the goodness of my heart. Do you feel warm and fuzzy yet? Because you should. :D


Towel Topper
By Audrey D. Custer-Coleman

Materials (makes 2):
H crochet hook
Cotton or acrylic worsted weight yarn
Yarn needle
1 kitchen towel, cut in half width-wise
Large button ( ¾” to 1”)
Scissors

Optional:
Leather punch
Iron-on hem (to hem towel w/o sewing)
Sewing supplies (to sew hem, if needed)

Preparation:
Cut kitchen towel in half width-wise. Hem by sewing, or with iron-on hem if needed. If you don’t know whether to hem it or not, just go ahead and do it – it’s better to be safe than sorry! (I know this from experience – the towel pulling apart when you’re trying to crochet along the edge is NOT fun or convenient!)
With leather punch or scissors, punch an odd number of holes across the width of the towel about ¼” from edge (on a hemmed edge is most stable and much less likely for fabric to unravel.)

Instructions:
Row 1: SC foundation through holes in towel. Ch3, Turn.
Rows 2-4: DC in ea st to end. Ch 3, turn.
Row 5: DC in first st. *1DC, SK1, 1DC*. Repeat from *to* until end is reached. Ch3, Turn.
Row 6: DC in ea DC to end. Ch3, Turn.
Rows 7-10: Repeat rows 5-6 twice more.
Rows 11-16: (strap) DC in ea DC to end. Ch 5, Turn.
For button hole: sl st in turning ch3 to make a loop. Turn. Sc5 over ch 5 loop. Fasten off and weave in ends with a yarn needle.
Add button: sew button to the base of strap, in the middle of Row 9. Secure button. Weave in yarn ends.
Enjoy your towel topper, or give as a gift!

Crochet Towel Topper

Crochet Towel Topper by ~audreydc1983 on deviantART

I reverse engineered this towel topper from one that my grandma gave me...she wisely thought that when I had the ability to break down a project into stitches just by looking at it, then I would make one.

Boy, was she right! This is one of two that I made for two friends who recently got married, and are moving into their new apartment.

If you would like the pattern, I took it down while I was crocheting, and I should have it up here within a few days.

Hyperbolic Ball

Hey! Check this out:


I got the pattern for this spacey ball from this terrific book:
Kooky Crochet
by Linda Kopp
It is a fun, simple pattern that you start to see results with quickly. If you're interested, grab the book at your local library or buy it at your bookstore for continued crochet wackiness at your fingertips!
If you can't see the picture, click on the name of the post inside the green window above, and that will take you to the DeviantArt site to view the picture. For some reason, this one is having loading issues; I'm working on it.
UPDATE: Photobucket works for me! Woohoo!

Flower Pot Cover

Here is a wonderful project that I just plain FORGOT to post!


Flower Pot Cover by ~audreydc1983 on deviantART

Flowers are IN at this time of year, so if you're looking for a cool project to show off your crochet skills, try this pattern on for size! I got the pattern for this groovy flower pot cover from the Talking Crochet Newsletter by Crochet! Magazine:
Dig-It Flowerpot Cover

I made this with Lily Sugar and Cream 100% cotton. Beautiful!

Crochet Plastic Bag Dispenser

I made a plastic bag holder to match my large kitchen trivet!


Plastic Bag Holder by ~audreydc1983 on deviantART

I did the same stripe pattern:
2 rows red, 1 tan, 1 red, 1 tan, then 18 rows of red.
I did this in a rectangle, then sewed it up the seam long-ways.

In retrospect, I'm sure I used a larger hook for these projects...most likely a K hook. I then wove a 16" length of plastic twine through the top and the bottom DC's, for a homey, country feel, and to cinch up the top and bottom so that the bags don't fall out.
I also crocheted a strap from a length of SC fabric (only 2 rows) and attached it to the back.

I was getting sick of my plastic bags just being stuffed inside another plastic bag - it was about time for a change!

Large Kitchen Trivet

I made a large kitchen trivet to put underneath my toaster oven:


Large Kitchen Trivet by ~audreydc1983 on deviantART

It turned out great!
Here is a picture of it in action:


Awesome, huh?! made this just going in rounds: 5 in red, then 1 tan, 1 red, 1 tan, then 2 red. I'm pretty sure that I crocheted this one with a J or K hook.

Cross Bookmark

Not much to say about this one...except that I was quite frustrated with the pattern itself. Although, frustration has happened to me before concerning crochet items, so this doesn't make this pattern very special.
I crocheted this for my maternal grandmother - both of my grandmas like things handmade by their grandchildren, and I hope she loves this... I may do an update on this post later, just to let you guys know her reaction to receiving it in the mail!


Cross Bookmark by ~audreydc1983 on deviantART

I got the pattern courtesy of Crochet N' More.

Stuffed Animal Net!

I've made a net for stuffed animals! My stuffed frogs are starting to take over the bedroom, so I decided to make them their own special place to perch:


Stuffed Animal Net by ~audreydc1983 on deviantART

It's crocheted with a G hook and worsted weight acrylic yarn. I used the pattern posted on eHow, How To Make a Net to Hang Stuffed Animals.

It came out really good! It's held up by three cup hooks, the one in the corner slightly above the others. Cool, huh?!

A Creative Lag...

Sorry to all who enjoy my work - despite a glut of ideas, I have been plagued by a creative lag lately. Could it be my lack of ambition? Could it be that I just want to enjoy the weather while it's nice, and hibernate when it's crappy? Could it be that I'm just lazy and have no motivation for art right now?
It could be all of those things.
Also factoring into the mix : my mom is coming to visit from June 21st-24th. So - I'm probably gonna be cleaning a LOT.. for a whole week. The only thing that's worse than living in a cluttered place is being nagged at...for living in a cluttered place! So I'm going to try my best to put everything to rights before my mom ( aka Ms. Clean) gets here. I know that it won't be good enough...but it really doesn't stop me from trying.
Another reason might be that hubby is working all the time, and I'm usually idle when he's not around a lot - I figure...why should I do anything when there's no one around to appreciate it? And even if I actually DO something, I have to point it out when he gets home...and even then, he's really not interested. He's not an artistic type anyway. He usually just gives me a cursory "Looks good!" and goes back to whatever he was doing. FRUSTRATING!
As if I needed another reason, we might - I stress MIGHT - be moving to Texas. We don't know yet...hubby isn't too sure about the way that they've been running the new Distribution Center so far. So, it may be a false alarm, and we'll end up living in this putrid, chilly mud hole until he croaks and I have nothing to keep me here anymore. I'd much prefer the warm weather of TX to this crap in WA state. It's not fun anymore (as if it was EVER fun for me).
We're also planning on buying a house in the next six months. Hopefully it will be in Texas - maybe or maybe not - a lot of it hinges on hubby's decision. It turns out that they are sending drivers down there in "start-up teams" that will be there for two weeks at a time. This will give him plenty enough time to decide whether he wants to take a gamble on this new DC...or whether he wants to bet on a sure thing.
Also to be considered is physical pain. I've had knee problems for the past 8 years, and hoped that with surgery, they would go away. I have also had back pain for the past 4 years or so, because limping created a muscle imbalance in my back - surprise! Back Spasms!!! Anyway, since surgery, I've had more knee pain (unrelated to the previous problem), more back spasms (on BOTH sides now, instead of just the left), itching and stinging at the incision sites, and my right leg gets tired easily - from being under-worked those 8 years, and now being worked much more. The doctor said that it would be 6 months to a year for me to feel in tip-top shape after my surgery...and at first, I was driven to prove him wrong. Right now, all I want is relief from the pain....I'm seriously getting tired of it. I've dealt with chronic pain for over 8 years now...and the ending seems to be in sight! I guess I'm just impatient, and I want my body to heal faster than humanly possible. BACK TO THE POINT...pain can be distracting. It's hard to work at a drawing or painting when you know that you won't be able to sit there without pain for too much longer. I swear, anticipation of pain is the worst.

So, there you have it. My excuses for not being artsy-fartsy as of late. I'll make it up to you guys...I promise!

This too shall pass #1

This too shall pass 1 by ~audreydc1983 on deviantART

A beautiful cross-stitch from a Scandinavian pattern.
This is done on 14 aida, and the pattern itself measures 4"w x 3 1/2"h.
I was thinking of mounting this, framing it, and sending it to my grandmother, because this is her favorite bible saying (it is mine as well). I worked hard on this, and I seemed to work harder when I decided to send it to my grandma. The thing is...this is an awfully small piece, and I was tempted to make it a small pillow or the top of a decorative box.
Ideas, anyone?

UPDATE: Okay, I mounted, framed, and sent this in the mail to my paternal grandmother...and she absolutely LOVED it! She said that she'll show it off to her friends at the church...she is so proud! (And I am VERY happy!)

Curly Tailed jig

Jig drawing 2 by ~audreydc1983 on deviantART

This comes fifth in a series of fishing lures/tackle that I have been inspired to draw - inspired by my love of the outdoors, of fishing, hunting, hiking, camping, etc.

Medium is Mirado Black Warrior pencil on Strathmore drawing paper.

Propeller Fishing Lure

Propeller lure by ~audreydc1983 on deviantART

This is fourth in a series of fishing lures/tackle that I have been inspired to draw - inspired by my love of the outdoors, of fishing, hunting, hiking, camping, etc.

Medium is Mirado Black Warrior pencil on Strathmore drawing paper.

Fishing Jig 1

Jig drawing 1 by ~audreydc1983 on deviantART

This is third in a series of fishing lures/tackle that I have been inspired to draw - inspired by my love of the outdoors, of fishing, hunting, hiking, camping, etc.

Medium is Mirado Black Warrior pencil on Strathmore drawing paper.

Fishing Bobber

Fishing bobber by ~audreydc1983 on deviantART

This is second in a series of fishing lures that I have been inspired to draw - inspired by my love of the outdoors, of fishing, hunting, hiking, camping, etc.

Medium is Mirado Black Warrior pencil on Strathmore drawing paper.

Rooster Tail Fishing Lure

Looks like my fiber art kick has run itself out! I'm starting to become more interested in fine art again...no matter how long I stay away, eventually the pencils, paints, and canvas start calling my name. I couldn't resist drawing this...it is a fishing lure that never made it out to my tackle box, and has been sitting on my bookshelf for a few months:


Rooster Tail Fishing Lure by ~audreydc1983 on deviantART

Next time, I think that I'll set the pad of paper up and just take a picture - for some reason, the scan came out with a yellow tinge, and the paper isn't like that - maybe it's just a scanner goof/glitch. I may just add it to this post as an update later on.
Subject: Worden's Rooster Tail fishing lure
Medium: Mirado Black Warrior Pencil and Strathmore Drawing paper
This drawing is copyright 2010

Spring Tulips!

Spring Tulips by ~audreydc1983 on deviantART

My husband got me some beautiful tulips, and I decided to celebrate the beauty of spring by doing my first oil pastel work in YEARS.

Turned out a lot better than I thought. I'm a little bit rusty, but my use of color hasn't suffered a bit. Enjoy!

Black Mesh Bookmark

Black Bookmark by ~audreydc1983 on deviantART

Isn't this pretty?
I got the pattern at the Crochetville Forums, care of Crochet Pattern Central.
It looks somewhat like the original pattern picture, but keep in mind that it hasn't been stiffened, blocked, and stuck between the pages of a book yet.
With the gold border, this one is truly beautiful, but I'll probably refuse to do any more bookmark patterns with the gold thread - it twisted up quite a bit, and was REALLY hard to work with.

This was done exactly as the pattern says, with a size 7 steel hook and size 10 crochet thread.

Enjoy!