Love Cats

Love Cats 

I was trying out some Swedish death cleaning... (didn't get far) and I came across and a cute little felt cat I made about years ago when my good friend Laura taught me how to embroider. It was adorable and it fit into the palm of your hand. I put it up on my shelf and whenever I caught a glance of it, it made me smile. I decided to clean out my embroidery basket and to see what I had available to maybe make more. Well that led to me going down this rabbit hole of embroidery and wool felt. 

Long story short, I have made quite a few and have a bunch in various stages of progress. I sold a bunch to family and friends and decided to put them into my new shop as well. I hand stitch each one and then stuff it with lavender flowers and fluff. I hand embroider each one so they are all different!

 

Pretty packages

Just wanted to show off how I wrap up some of my orders!

Huge sale!

I just listed all of these goodies and I am having a huge sale to mark my 800th sale!

Fresh out of the kiln!

I just wanted to share some of the new designs I carved into some porcelain clay.
Some are stamps and some are rollers. I can't wait to see how they work out!

Crocheted Rug

I have been working on all sorts of things lately and am trying to finish up works in progress. This rug I started last year and has been taunting me every time I happen upon it. I am using tarn I made from my husbands old tee-shirts and Cascades Tangier's yarn. I am using an H hook and going into a continuous spiral of single crochets around the tarn and adding a 2 sc into the same stitch every now and then to keep it flat. If it gets too ruffled  I l know that I added too many 2sc in the same stitch. I guess I am winging it. This looks great with cotton yarn too. I am using the Tangier's this time because it goes with the rustic thing ingot going on in my living room.

I will keep pictures posted of my progress to hopefully keep me on task!

Tie-Dyed Tarn Pot Holders

My husbands old tee-shirts were all white which makes a very boring ball of tarn.  I decided to infuse them in a rainbow of colors using a Tulip tie- dye kit. It was super easy I layed out my tarn in long skeins on top if plastic and squirt the colors in yellow, red, blue pattern. Once soaked I covered with plastic for several hours. I rinsed until it ran clear then dried. Tadaa! Beautiful rainbow skeins! 

My Move to Artisan Component Marketplace

Several months ago I started up a store at Artisan Component Marketplace. I put a few things in it but I had been to busy to put much time into it. With the declining sales of my Etsy store and not wanting to keep paying massive fees on renewals I decided to move my handmade components over to my new store.

 I am still keeping my etsy store but I am going to use it to focus on selling my miniatures and jewelry.

I really like the Artisan Component Marketplace, it is run by artists and everyone who has a store has been juried for quality. So come over and checkout the many artists that are over there. Come over to my shop too and use coupon code MARCH to get 20% off your order!

Tibbs Favorite Kitty Cupcakes

                 

 My cat LOVES these cupcakes and has stolen many from my work table. I think because they are still round enough to bat around.

Materials

Small amounts of worsted weight yarn, brown for the bottoms and whatever you fancy for the tops.

A small bit of red or pink for the the cherry.

I like Lily Sugar and Cream because of the bright colors and the yarn is sturdy for rough cat play.

Poly fill stuffing

bell (optional)

catnip

Yarn needle

scissors

G or F hook whatever gives you a tight crochet stitch because we don't want the filling to show, I use smaller because I tend to crochet loose so whatever works best for you.

Stitches Used

Magic Circle

Single Crochet – Sc

Slip Stitch – slst

Cupcake Base

Round 1

Make magic circle and 6 sc into circle slst into first chain sc. Pull on yarn tails to tighten up circle.

Round 2

2 sc into each stitch around slst into the first stitch (12)

Round 3

1 sc in each stitch around slst into first stitch (12)

Round 4

*sc in the next 3 stitches and 2 sc in the next repeat from* slst into first stitch (15)

Round 5 and 6

sc into each stitch around and slst into first stitch. Fasten off and weave in tails

Frosted Top

Round 1

Make a magic circle 6 sc into circle pull to close slst into first stitch.

Round 2

2 sc into each stitch around slst into fist stitch (12)

Round 3

Sc into each stitch around slst into first stitch (12)

Round 4

*sc in the next 3 stitches and 2 sc in the next repeat from* slst into first stitch (15)

Round 5

sc into each st around slst into fist stitch (15)

Keeping yarn on hook take the cupcake base and and frosted top and line up stitches slst the two together all around until you have 5 or 6 stitches left.

Add stuffing, catnip and bell ( don't be afraid to cram it in there) then continue slsting around until first stitch.

Keep the yarn on the hook for the spiral frosting or edging *

Round 6

SC from your last stitch into the frosting at the base and around in a spiral going up until you get to the top, break yarn and weave in tail.. Crocheting in a tighter spiral will make a pointier frosted top while looser with be a fatter one.

Cherry on top!

Make a magic circle, 4 sc into the circle slst into the first stitch pull tight on tail to close. 4 sts

1 Sc chain into each slst into the first fast off with a long tail. Tada you have a cherry!

Take the ends and sew on the top off your cupcake.

You can also use the ends to make tiny sprinkles on top of you cupcake which is especially cute on the cupcake with edging.

Here is Tiberius, Tibbs for short but he is known to answer to baby, buddy,Tibby,  and here kitty kitty. Isn't he handsome? He tests all of my my kitty toys whether I want him to or not! These cupcakes are Tibby approved!

Download here! PDF

Making Head Pins

It is October and 100 degrees outside. So I have decided to turn on the air, binge watch some old Xfiles and make head pins. 

 It's pretty easy actually. You just need some polymer clay, wire and a cool design. After I bake these guys I will sand  and paint them. Then a cold glaze that will keep them pretty. 

You can make your own or you can visit my store and pick some up there! Which is probably cheaper in the long run. I also have some lovely porcelain head pins. I can't wait to make more of those! I just need to set my new kiln up. 

Ear buds Key Chain Pouch

                                           

Here is an easy fast project that can be done in under an hour. It can be turned into a coin pouch with a zipper sewn instead of a button. The buttons I used in this project are mine and made from porcelain clay but any cute button will do.

Materials

A small amount of worsted Weight yarn

button

Key chain hoop, lanyard clip

E (3.5) hook whatever gauge gives you a tight crochet stitch

waxed thread or dental floss

stitch marker or different colored yarn to mark your round

yarn needle

Stitches Used

Single Crochet – (SC)

Single Crochet Increase (sc inc)

Slip Stitch - ( SLST)

Magic Loop

We will be working in a spiral

Round 1

Make magic loop, crochet 6 sc into loop, pull to close.

Round 2

2 SC in each SC stitches around (12 st)

Round 3

Add marker if you need to, * sc in next st, 2 sc inc into next repeat from * (24st)

Round 4

Move marker up,* 1 sc in the next 3 st, 2sc into next repeat from* ( 30 st)

Round 5

Move marker up, *sc into the next 4 st, 2 sc inc next repeat from* into each st all around (36 st)

finish off and weave in tails.

The second circle is done the same as the first but instead of f finishing off leave on the hook!

Putting together your pouch

Holding the two circles with wrong sides facing each other and line up your stitches with the front and back pieces.

Sc into the back and front of circles. Take hook off and use the dental floss or waxed thread to pull the yarn loop from your first sc through the button holes.

Once through add hook and continue sc around both circles stopping 5-6 stitches from the button.

You should have a small opening if you want it smaller add more sc. If you want it bigger pull out some stitches.

Once you find a size you like crochet a chain loop from the last stitch to fit around button and then slst into the last sc stitch. Break off yarn leaving enough to sew on key-chain loop or clip using a yarn needle. Weave in any extra tails of yarn.

Yay! You are done!

Download this pattern here! PDF

More Gnomes... Wee!!

I am having a blast making these little guys...  They are about the size of your fingernail.. um short nails.  I have all sorts of idea's for Gnomeland so stay tuned!

The Gnomes Have taken over!

So the gnomes have had enough of those noisy pesky fairies.  They kicked them out and moved in.  It's a much nicer neighborhood now.

I love how these little guys have turned out. I waited a very long time to put them in my shop because I wanted them for me!!  But if I kept everything that I loved  that came out of my kiln then I would have an empty shop tee hee.

I have more gnomes in the kiln as I am writing this so hopefully tomorrow after I take the kids to school I will have time to post them. Enjoy these cuties and head on over to my shop and check out some more!