My Owls

I love anything that's woodland animals and found these cute owl charms.  I couldn't resist glaming them up a little.  I've already had some ladies where I got my stitch markers.  I LOVE how they give a little personality spark.  I think they're me..

Cody's First Pair of Socks

So, I am very happy to announce that I have made MY VERY FIRST PAIR OF SOCKS EVER!!!!!!  And yes you guessed it, they were made for my son.  I LOVE making him things because they're things that he can use later in life, whether for himself or perhaps one day for his own children.  I think it's important to have items to pass down through the generations.

I LOVE this yarn.  I have a cute story behind it.......  So a couple weeks ago, my neighbor Gabby, invited me to go to a knitting store in Kirkland.  I was thrilled, "perhaps I've finally found someone to do crafts with?", I thought.  So I met her down in Kirkland at the shop and instantly fell in love with it.  It's filled with walls and walls of hand dyed yarn.  For those of you who aren't really into knitting, hand dyed yarn is the best color and best quality you can find, and yes it's a little more pricey but SOO worth it!!!

So I walked all around that store, probably 15 times and instantly saw this gorgeous skein of yarn.  I thought "that would make a PERFECT Mama  pair of socks!"  But I was only able to find one skein of 137yrds in it and to make a women's pair of socks you need between 410-435yrds. :(  So sad.  So I choose another skein, forest green...... So gorgeous!

This trip to the shop was more about scouting because I'm on a craft budget this month.  So I was happy to walk out with one skein, one adult sock pattern and a knitting needle holder, $50.  Hey that's GOOD for me!

Then Gabby showed up and said to plot down at a chair.  She didn't tell me Friday is free knit night from 6pm-9pm!!!  I had nothing with me and had left Cody at home with Chris because he wasn't feeling well, and I had planned on being gone no more than 2 hours total with drive times.  So I called Chris, and he said everything was fine and to stay and enjoy myself.

So back in I go.  I remembered that there was a matching children's sock pattern from the same brand in there and decided to grab it because I didn't want to buy needles in the same size I had (which is what the adult size called for) and double checked the amount of yarn needed.  BAM  I only needed 116yrds so I DASHED over and grabbed that mesmerizing skein and US1 needles.   Guess I was just destined to buy it!!

Took me 3 evenings to make a pair of socks out of it and I have enough left over to use as accents in another pair.  I made them in a size 5, so he'll be in them around his first birthday or there abouts.  I LOVE them and can't wait till he's big enough to wear them.

 

Anyways I had a great time and really enjoyed myself. Next time Cody will have to come as there was a 6 month old there that night too.  They could talk to each other. =)  Just don't tell Chris that it cost me $30 to stay and knit at the FREE knit night!!

Yarn Markers

Continuing with the wire wrapping blog, here's the next project that I did...

I had these flower charms just laying around the house, not knowing what to do with them (but I LOVED them).  Then I thought "why not make knitting stitch markers with them and make the top loop big enough to go over US11 needles?".  BRILLIANT!!!!!!!  Or so I thought till I finished one.

I made all 4 and they turned out gorgeous, but because they were made entirely out of wire; I thought they were a little to bendy/flimsy for the top loop.  It gets quite a bit of abuse.  I was able to knit with them, but I knew I could find better......

After 1 whole day of searching I found just what I was looking for.  Size 10mm closed rings.  Not jump rings as they do have an opening and could get snapped in your yarn, these have no end as they've been soded or made in a mold.  PERFECT!!!!!!

Unfortunately they were being shipped all the way from England and I had to wait a whole week!!  It seems forever when you're just itching to make something with them.  But finally they came and I got right to it.  I LOVE THEM!!!!!!!  They give your work a flare while knitting and show a little of your personality.  It's always great to have a little "flash", don't you agree?  I already have LOTs of plans for them in my Etsy shop and Ben Franklin.  Let me know what you think.

Wire Wrapping 101

Some of you know all about the magical land of Wire Wrapping.  Some of you dream to go there and live.  Me, well I think it looks pretty from the pictures but never really had the desire to go there until now.....

As you know, I got into knitting about 4 months ago and have just taken off with it.  One tool that's essential to a knitter is "stitch markers".  At the craft store you can purchase plain 'ol rubber ones in green, purple, blue or salmon color.  But what fun are those???  I mean who can express themselves and show their true personality like that??!?!?!

My thoughts exactly, so I came up with the idea to make my own with charms and swaski crystals.  So I looked online and finally found a charm that I liked, but I had to wait till payday. Darn!!  But I want to make something right now!!!!!

Payday came around and, BAM I ordered them.  Unfortunately it took over a week to get them here and during that time I was just waaaaaaaaay too antsy to try this new thing.  So I made a pair of "Spring Earrings" out of sterling silver wire, Swaski Crystals and sterling silver ear hank.  I had some basic knowledge of how to do it and set to work.

I wrapped 3 crystals and then inserted them on the earring hank.  I think they turned out pretty good.  Not bad for my first attempt EVER at wire wrapping.  I don't see a long lost love here though.  It's fun and I DEFINITELY have some ideas set aside for it (mainly things to sell at Ben Franklin and Etsy) but I don't see me going crazy.  My wonderful, crafty and spirited neighbor LOVES wire wrapping and I think it's her first passion (might even come in front of her husband) lol.  =)

Father's Day Cards

I'm late with everything lately.  I have a whole host of things that I've done in the last 3 weeks that I haven't posted.  Bad Samantha!!  So I'm going to go backwards in order I think.... Ya, I will; it'll be a fun change. ;)

So without further ado here's the Father's Day cards I put together for all those wonderful dad's in our lives....



This one was Christopher's.  I inked Cody's foot at 4 months because I wanted Cody to sign it for his Daddy, but I wasn't sure how I was going to display it.  Then I came up with an idea for a ribbon because Christopher has been the BEST dad that I've ever seen.  He helps with EVERYTHING with Cody and never shies away.  I came up with the saying on the front because to me, that is what Chris has already been showing Cody.  I didn't show the inside because that's special and private to Christopher, Cody and me.  Everything was made with either my Cricut or my Martha Stewart Box/Letter Grid.  I have gotten into a Rosetta kick.  I made like 3 for Chris and put them on his card and gifts.

 

This is the card I made for Grandpa Missel.  Unfortunately he wont have it on Father's Day, but he will get it a day or two late.  His grandfather is the kindest man I think I've ever met and I love him just as much as my own!  This was made completely from my Cricut and simple piecing.  I'm really getting into distressing!



This was the inside of Grandpa Missel's card.  The photo I took at Easter and then edited.

This one was for my Father.  We have always called him Papa or Papa Bear because he looks, acts and moves like a bear.  I made this one with my Cricut and LOVED the out come!  I really liked how it works downward to Papa Bear.

And last but certainly not least, Hank (Christopher's Dad).  I went for a simple plaid dad theme.  The DAD part is actually 3D, (sorry I didn't think about taking a photo of that at the time) I used scrap booking foam tape squares so they'd stand out and tied some of my gardening twine to the tags.  I LOVE my cricut!!!!! Have I said that before?? ;)  I like the little bit of black ribbon on the front to tie in colors, add a nice break and to give a fun texture.

This was the inside of Hank's card.  I saw the parts of the quotes in parentheses somewhere, but the rest was all me.  It said  "I didn't feel old, until I realized I'm married to a Grandma!" Guess it's a good thing Grand kids bring out the youth in you!!!   Leslie really didn't like it, but Hank LOVED it and everyone else thought it was cute.  It wasn't meant as a dig or insult, but just to be funny.  We knew Hank would like it and after all it was his card. 

 Happy Father's Day to all the Dad's out there, even if you're not quiet as Special as these ones!!! ;)

1st Project

So I know I'm going back into time here, but I wanted to post this and I only just got pictures of it.  This was acutally my VERY FIRST knitting project.  I got the pattern from a free handout at Ben Franklin and bought this yarn with the thought of making these for my Mother.  My Mother goes to dialysis 3 days a week and I know she gets cold while on the machine.

I bought a size 7 DPNs and went to work.  I was VERY proud of myself because I taught myself how to use DPN's (soooo simple btw) and how to hold stitches so I could come back later and pick them up, and others to make the thumb.  I thought they turned out good.

I gave them to my Mother for Mother's Day and she was so surprised and she couldn't believe that it was my first knitting project.  The stitches were so even.  I'm glad that the liked them and that they're keeping her warm!!!!

It's funny for me to look at these, because I can plainly see how far I've come already!  Love you Mama!!!

Seed Stitch Jacket

Okay so I know that I said I would show you Cody's finished seed stitch jacket acouple months ago, so here it is (sorry it took so long to blog it).  It took me acouple weeks to make it, but honestly I didn't mind the seed stitch.  I know of multiple knitters who hate that stitch.  I already have the yarn to make him one for 12-18 months.  I made this one from the 100% wool from Cascade Yarns in the Superwash Sapphire.  Thought the color would be good for spring and summer.  He really likes wearing it and I think he looks adorable in it!!!!  Can't wait to make him the other one!

Mama's Hat

So everything that I have knitted so far has been for Cody, my Mother, and baby gifts for friends and family.  I finally thought "Hey you know Mama needs a hat!!!"  So I went in search of a knit cap that would be different than anything I'm able to get my hands on at the outdoor stores.  I finally found this pattern for a pony tail hat and fell in love with it.  I have such long hair and when I'm outdoors it's always in either a ponytail or a bun; but then I'm not able to wear a hat to keep my head and ears warm; so this was perfect.

I made the first one (the white one) out of 100% baby alpaca from Cascade Yarns (SOOOOOOOOOOOO soft) and followed the instructions, but when it was finished I found it not to cover my ears completely and that the hole in the back was a little too big for my liking, so back to the craft store I went.  This time I bought the Mossy Green 100% baby alpaca from Cascade Yarns and made it a two tone one, but added some extra length to the hat and made the hole slightly smaller.  I also changed which side the buttons were on.

I love that this hat can be put on by opening the buttons and sliding the hat on without ever messing up my hair.  All the women know that "stocking cap hair" is so ever attractive! LOL  The ladies at the knitting circle thought that it was a really neat idea and when they touched the hat, they "ooooooooood and aaaaaaaaaad" because of the softness.  The hat pattern went really fast, it took me one evening to make each.

Growing Boy

This post is going to show you a ear-flap hat and pair of mitts that I made Cody 3 months ago as my thrid knitting project.  I made it to fit him at 9-12 months and they're still a tad big for him right now, but I'm happy to be able to put them on him and not have him swimming in them. =)  As much as I hate seeing him getting bigger, as just as eager to see him grow into the things that I've made him.  =)  He's going to be such a spoiled and special little boy to have his mama make him just able anything that he wants or needs.  I know his daddy love it too!!! =)  The ladies at the Wendsday knitting circle were kind enough to show me how to do a "cable stitch" on his hat and I was surprised at how easy and fast it went.

When I put his hat and mitts on him this last week (the first time since I made them), he just started smiling; and when I whisked them off him, he whipped his head around and looked at me startled "Why did you take them off, I was comfortable Mom!!!"  My mother was holding him and she couldn't stop laughing at his reaction.  Guess it's a good thing that he likes what his mama makes for him huh? =)

I used the 100% wool from Cascade Yarns in the Superwash Sapphire color.  All the items that I have made Cody have been out of 100% wool.  I like using that for him because we are outdoors so much doing everything from snowshoeing and hiking to dirtbiking and camping; that if he gets wet (like that would ever happen here in the Pacific NorthWest) I don't have to worry about him getting cold.  He hasn't shown any reactions at all to the wool and I'm very thankful for it because it'd be hard to find clothing that will work when we're camping.  Gotta love that wool!!!! =)

My boy looks SO chubby in these photos and he's SO far from it.  He doesn't have any of the typical baby fat most little ones have, but I always seem to take the photos that make him look like it.

Eager

Okay I know that it's not Monday yet, but I just can't wait to start posting some of my projects.

This one is a Baby Surprise Jacket that I just made for my cousin who's having her forth child later this month.  There's 5 years between the youngest and this one, so I thought a nice warm outfit made especially for this one would be nice.  I didn't know what she was having so I chose a neutral color.  I picked the Bernet Satin yarn in Ocean Jewel, it's 100% acryilac (it is so soft that I think it's perfect to newborns).  I like to use really soft to the touch yarn for baby things because most people want it soft and it's less likely to irriatate the little ones skin.  I bought two skeins and went to work.  One skein completed the jacket and the other skein made the booties, mitts and hat to go with it.  I had enough yarn left over to make another newborn hat and mitts.

Hope she likes it as much as I liked making it=)

Tardiness

Okay, sorry everyone for the loooooooong absence.  Unfortunately after we got back from Mother's Day weekend, I got sick, this last weekend Chris got sick and now, fortunately, Cody is over the hump himself.  Hadn't had time to do anything online, but there's ALWAYS time for crafts!!! LOL  I have been a knitting fool and OMG the HUGE pile of things that I have done is amazing!!!  I'm not going to bog you down with it all now, but over the next couple of weekdays I'll post them.  Hope life has been treating you all great and that the glimpses of sun have lightened your hearts!!!

So this was the card that I made my mother in regards to her WONDERFUL and SOOOO THOUGHTFUL Mother's Day gift to me.  On the left inside I attached a photo of the three of us on the beach, so she could see all the happiness that she gave to us.  She is SO sweet!  I SOOO love my mother!!!!

I made this card with my Cricut and the "Just Cause" cartridge.  I love that thing.  This was the first time that I've plaied around with crafting twine and I have to say that I'm kinda hooked now (have 4 spools now). LOL