Christmas Angel

This is my Bronwyn from a few years ago.

 

Bronwyn is my youngest child and she still believes in Santa. Given that she is my baby, I am loathe to have that part of her childhood disappear into memory.  This year she has been asking 'Is Santa real?" "How does he deliver presents to everyone?" and so it goes.

We were driving the other day and Bronwyn was wondering what colour mittens Mrs.Claus was going to knit for her this year.  This filled me with mild curiosity.  I asked her more and she informed me that Mrs. Claus had knitted her a nice pair of lavender mittens last year.  Interesting.  I wonder when I had bought her lavender mittens and I could not remember telling her who made them for her.  I'm sure I am not the only parent who buys stuff through out the year and forgets...
 



The well worn and much loved lavender mitts, knitted by Mrs. Claus.

 

Bronwyn's desire for a new pair of hand made mittens caused me a panic.  I knit and I crochet but I certainly do not make mittens.  Also, given the late date, most craft fairs were over and I don't know anyone who I could call in a favour.

 

Crap.  Double CRAP.  Profanity Friday CRAP.

 

 

I did a search of kijiji and found a person who knits hats and scarves - no mention of mitts.  I sent an email anyway.  It turns out she did knit mitts and would happily sell me a pair of them.  Astonishingly, she knit me mitts in a few days.  I paid her extra because she was charging too low and she also donates her hats and scarves to her church.  The extra cash could pay for some more wool.

 

Here are the mitts she made for me:

 

 



So nice of her to make these mittens for me.

 

Pretty awesome right?!  This may be Bronwyn's last year of believing in some of the magic of Christmas, and this is one of those special things she will remember.  I made a little card from Mrs. Claus saying she read the request in Bronwyn's letter to Santa.

 

 

I hope you have a Merry Christmas and you have a chance to do something special for someone this holiday season.

 

Live High,

 

Heather

 

 

I'm linking here: http://www.sugarbeecrafts.com/2014/12/take-look-tuesday-16.html

An Infinity Scarf of My Own Design

A few years ago, Rebekah rejected all things made by mom.  No pajamas, no scarves, hats or any crafts.  She has come around again and I couldn't be happier.

She was at Michaels recently where she spied this wool:




Just wait, it makes a beautiful scarf!

She immediately asked for an infinity scarf.  These scarves are easy to make to be sure, but Rebekah's discerning taste made me nervous.  I needed to find her a good pattern.  I sent her the link to Ravelry and asked her to find a scarf that she liked and I would make it for her.  She never went there and just asked me to make something simple that she could wrap around her neck a few times.  This made me nervous.

I am currently working on a blanket for an occasional reader of this blog so I will not show it.  But I thought it was a nice enough pattern to turn into a scarf. 

Here is a run down of my pattern in case you want to make one yourself:

Crochet hook used: US I 9/5.50MM or desired hook to make it look nice.
Chain 278 (more or less depending upon how many times you want to wrap it around your neck)
Row One: Double crochet in third chain and double crochet all along, Chain three and turn.
Row two: Double crochet in next stitch, chain two, skip two, 2 double crochet along row to end, chain one
Row three: Single crochet along row, chain three,
Repeat row two: Double crochet in next stitch, chain two, skip two, 2 double crochet along row to end, chain three, repeat entire row
Repeat row one: Double crochet all along row
Repeat until reaching the desired width, fasten off.



Am I right?! Beautiful!

You now have one massive scarf, to turn into an infinity scarf, join ends, either stitch along seam to join together, I prefer a single crochet along the seam to finish it nicely.  Weave in ends and you are done. 

Rebekah 'voguing' for me...

Rebekah loves it! Let me know if you make one!

Live High,

Heather

I'm linking here:
 http://www.skiptomylou.org/2014/12/22/made-monday-7/

http://diyshowoff.com/2014/12/21/holiday-diy-party/

http://www.hopestudios.blogspot.ca/

Clothes Pin Snowflakes



2013 Christmas Craft

Every year I challenge myself to find some new Christmas craft.  Last year I made sock monkeys and clothes pin snowflakes.  My daughter recently asked me for instructions for making some snowflakes as she wants to whip up a few for her friends.  I am updating the instructions and thought I would share this with you.

Purchase a package of old school clothes pins.  I got mine at Walmart for $2.00.

Pull them apart and hot glue them back to back.



Arrange them in a snowflake pattern

Once the hot glue has set, lightly brush the front with white glue and sprinkle Epsom salt and glitter.

Let dry completely.

Hot glue ribbon to the back and hang on tree or package up for gifts.

I hope you make some.

Live High,

Heather

I'm linking here: http://somedaycrafts.blogspot.ca/

Finishing up Crafts

Rather than clean it, I'm just going to finish it!

This is what my craft room looks like.  I rather suspect that most crafters have rooms that a filled to the rafters with a stash of projects.

My work life is busy and can be stressful.  I sew, crochet and do other crafts to release stress.  After a while it seemed that I had more projects on the go than I had completed.  For the last few weeks I have been finishing a few things off my list.

Mason Jar Snow Globes


Snow Globe Supplies Gathered

Hand Warmers





These babies are made with flax seed, microwave for a minute, will keep your hands warm for an hour.
 

Bird Nest Necklaces

It has been fun completing some things and making room for new items for the stash.

Live High,


Heather

linking up here: http://www.cozylittlehouse.com/

Bed sheet jammas

Hello!  Bronwyn is still young enough to want me to sew for her.  She will let me make anything - shorts, dresses, and jammies.  Recently, she went through my fabric trunk (I have a FABRIC TRUNK!) and she picked out some fabrics for jammies. 

This is a vintage bed sheet

Cutting out some jammies.

I learned through my addiction to blogs has lead to various discoveries that makes sewing so much easier.  I no longer pin my patterns pieces, I went to home depot and got some washers to weigh down the fabric for cutting.


The sewing room needs a bit of cleaning, this is the factory of Bronwyn's jammies.

I have almost finished making all the jammies. 



Live High,

Heather

Updated Front Entrance

I love my little house.  The front entrance and the main floor living space have not been painted in about ten years though.  Time for a change.  For those of us who have busy lives, redecorating an entire main floor - front entrance, living room, dining room and kitchen all at once is a big undertaking.  I decided to tackle each section a bit at a time and finish it before moving on to the other parts of the main floor.  First up was the front entrance.  As you can see from above, the entrance is tiny, mircoscopic even.  I knew this space was something I could handle on my own without too much help from Ian.

 

Rebekah took this photo on our vacation.

I repainted the green with some nice new grey.  It was pretty easy to put together a new set of accessories for the new entrance.  Rather than purchase a new light switch, I repainted the old brass one to match the picture frames.

I found this metal M at Michaels, this is the first letter of our last name.

 

 

I made this wreath and I love it!

I made this board to add some interest, the rocks in this mason jar were from my favourite beach.

I love the front entrance.  It is neat, clean, rustic and relaxed.  I hope you like it too.

Live High,

Heather

Finished Table

In June, I had posted that I need found a table for Rebekah's bedside.  Here is a photo of the table I found on kijji.




Cute little table, made of walnut?

I wanted to paint it in a colour that would go with this bedding - Rebekah found this and she loves it.  I do too.

 

 

 

 

 

Here is the finished table:

 







Nice right?!

 

I did not varathane it to seal it, I just used some wax to make it nice and soft.   Rebekah likes candles and I love Art Deco, I found a cool glass candle holder and sprayed it with looking glass spray paint (can't find it in Canada - My Mom brought it back from Florida!) and now the candle holder has a lovely Art Deco feel.  You can't put a candle directly in it, the candle will ruin the finish, but you can put one in a glass container in the sprayed on.

 

 

I like it, how about you?

 

 

Live High,

 

Heather



A Line Skirts - New Addiction

 

Remember this fabric?

I needed to do something with this fabric because we had bought it with the intention of using it for the lining of Jennines book bag.  When that did not work out what was a sewing addict friend to do?

We surfed blog land until I found these wicked cool skirts.  I could see Jennine in it instantly.

While we did not follow the blog examples exactly, I created a lovely little A line skirt for her for summer days.  There were some problems with the waist band.  Some one may or may not have sewn it up side down.  (DUH) but after at least one sleepless night, the skirt was completed and looks good as long as you do not stare too long at the waist band.

I did save some of the print to be used at a later date as an accent bit for a brown linen A line skirt. 

What do you think of this fabric?

There was a mere metre left of this and I had to have it.

In the mean time I discovered this fabric and it turned into a rather nice little skirt.  See the waistband?  Sewed it correctly. 

I know right?!!  Jennine HATES it when I make her pose.

I found this other skirt that I am pretty sure is up soon for Jennine.  Yeah I got issues....

 

Live High,

Heather

Side Table

I love me some scraps that I can turn into masterpieces.  (Hence the name of the blog...hello...)



My oldest daughter got a new bed a few months ago, a nice black and silver bed from IKEA.  She needs a side table and I saw this on a blog not that long ago that would be rather nice beside her bed in turquoise.

http://forchicsake.com/diy-campaign-chest/

 

I found this side table on Kijji for $15.00.  It needs a real quick sand and then some turquoise paint.  I have purchased the corners already.  I am going to spray paint them silver.  Also, I had mentioned that her bed is black and silver, so I think I am going to dip the legs - half black, half silver. 

 

As you can see from the pink dresser, the handles are gold to match.  My side table has an inset handle, I think I am going to silver leaf it to match.

 

Check back to see how the finished product looks.

 

 

Until then,

 

Live High,

 

Heather 

Maps and Leaves

This weekend's spring weather left me sidelined with bad allergy symptoms.  My husband calls me 'bubble girl.'  I am allergic to everything. 

Trees and grass are my undoing.  I love them, love the spring, love the summer.  My body, however, reacts like I am being attacked.  I have been getting allergy shots for almost ten years and each year I hope that I will be cured, that I will not have a bad reaction, that everything will be normal. No such luck!

Friday night walking the dog almost killed me with my eyes running and my chest wheezing.  When we got home, I washed all the pollen off me and sighed a little sigh acknowledging that my allergies just may never get better.

An upside to being stuck inside, it left me with some project time for this wreath that had been in my head for some time.

It involved cutting skinny leaves out of my vintage map book.  Gasp! Yes, I used one of my books I got at the annual library sale.  It has great patina and the leaves make it look interesting.

Here is a close up of the leaves:

Okay so there may be some camera shake...

See the leaves have all this interest from the maps.  Pretty cool.


So you get a sense of the wreath.

 

 

Here is a picture of the completed wreath.  It turned out smaller than I had wanted.  My intention is to put it in my tiny front entrance when I repaint it in a few weeks.  The smaller version may just work fine in that space.

 

 

 





Finished Wreath.  Neat idea.

Now that the weather is better and everyone sans me can go outside, I have a few more pages left in this map book.  Okay.  So who wants one?


Live High,

Heather

First Made by Me in May

If this weather does not get warmer, I will be wearing all my scarves for Made by Me May....


Throughout the month of May I am taking the pledge to wear something I have made at least two days a week.

Today is casual Friday and I have a few meetings with community members and I think I can risk the uber casual outfit.  I can't be the only person who is dog tired on Fridays?

Here is my comfy crocheted sweater.  It is big, cozy and perfect for a spring that just won't start:

Cool.  I am super cool.

I made this sweater twice, last year I made it much larger.  I like to forget I am only five feet tall and made the original for someone closer to six feet. I pawned if off on one of my staff.

 





Here is Esinam, much taller, younger and prettier.  I hope she wears that thing!

 

So here it is, done my first Made by Me May. 

 

 

Live High,

 

Heather

Made by Me May

Occasional readers of this blog will have noticed that I sew...a bit...okay, a lot. 

It has been alleged that I have a problem:

Busted!! Caught in the act at Fabric Land.

Not true!  Sewing presents a challenge and it is a nice change of pace in my busy life.

Made by  Me May has become an annual tradition in blog land.  Bloggers take a pledge to wear things that they have sewn themselves.  It can be once a week, a few times a week or if you are that good, every day.

Zoe, of So Zo What Do You Know, blog has hosted a "Made by Me May" for a few years now.  Readers of her blog take a pledge to wear more of the items that they have made for the month of May.  Most people document what they have made and link up to the site for the month. 



The skirt I debuted at an event last summer.

I have never taken part in this event before.  This year I am!  Typically, most of my sewing, crocheting focuses on summer wear - skirts are easy to make, tops that slip over the head, no darts, no buttons.  I have been working on summer clothes for a while (probably why spring was so late! Blame me!)  I have made a pledge on Zoe's blog to wear something made by me at least twice a week during the month of May.  I think I have enough items in my closet to make it. 

As part of the Made by Me pledge, bloggers are encouraged to post their outfits regularly to their blog.  This event is the brain child of Zoe, a UK based blogger and sewist extrodinaire.  Click on her name to visit her site.

Expect more frequent posts and please cross your fingers that the weather here in southern Ontario gets warmer as most of my made by me clothes are for warmer temperatures.

Until then,

Live High,

Heather

Crocodile Stitches

In the waning days of winter, I wanted some colour in my wardrobe.  Everyone in southern Ontario seems to be dressed in black.  It serves the purpose, black holds the dirt and you look at least decent on the way to meetings.  But after a while the dreary days and lack of colour just makes you a little depressed.

Here is what is left of the wool

I got some wool for my birthday recently and one ball of it was a beautiful royal blue.  Last year, I made a cool crocodile neck warmer from a pattern I purchased from Zoomyummy.  It was a challenge, it looked so difficult that I did not thing that I would be able to make it.  Like all things, a read of the instructions showed that it was some simple double crochet.  I made the original with left over wool I had kicking around.

The original was colourful, but not too professional.  I wore it once on a casual day but mostly I wear it  for walking the dog.

When I got the royal blue wool, I thought that this was the perfect wool to revisit the neck warmer and make it in a more professional colour.  (Not to mention that I happen to have a coat that happens to match the wool perfectly!)

I made this one a bit tighter so you can get the feel for the crocodile stitch, it looks more like a ruffle.

Here is the completed neck warmer.  And yes, that is me in my basement in my jammies.  Don't judge....

Dressed, my neck warmer and the coat.

So what do you think?  As I purchased the pattern, I cannot share it with you, but here is the link to Petra, tell her I sent you and make one or two for yourself.  Hopefully, we will not need neck warmers for too long.



I'm linking here.




Live High,


Heather

Heather in Pleather

The awesome people I work with got me a fabric land gift card for an unspecified birthday recently. It was burning a hole in my pocket.  

 

The second I had a moment alone, I wandered into Fabricland alone to stock up on some new stuff for my stash and new projects.  I had it in my head I wanted some pleather for a purse pattern I found here.  Lucky me, I found some kick ass pleather on sale and got enough for mistakes and a skirt.  Unfortunately in my fabric-crazed state, I did not notice that a piece of the pleather in the middle of the cut had a nice huge permanent purple marker swipe on it.  I am lucky to have enough still for the purse and the skirt.  Here is the fabric.  Nice right?! 

This is some killer pleather - no animals were harmed in the sewing of this skirt!

I have cut out both the skirt and the purse but have been waylaid by the purse becasue I cannot find the right handles to complete it.  I am heading to Toronto for a few days next week and will take a brief detour to the garment district to try to locate the right handles.  I have been able to find them on Ebay and will pick them up on line if I have too.  I am itchy to get the purse completed - like right now - so fingers crossed that I find those handles next week.

 

I was able to pick up a bunch of fabrics with my gift card (thanks guys!!) and here are some of the other fabrics I purchased, some grey wool for another purse, navy blue wool for a skirt and some pink fabric that may not be in the photo but will be in a future blog and will be a basic top for wearing under suit jackets at work.

I found working with the pleather to be much easier than I had imagined.  I am not sure that I will wear the skirt too often.  It is fun to make it and it brightened up a cold dark winter.

 

 

I will keep you posted on the future sewing projects.  I have recently located some new sewing blogs that have been around the web for a while.  I am, ahem, slightly over 40 and finding blogs that speak to this confusing fashion time is a huge relief!  Today I'm linking here.

 

Until then,

 

Live High,

Heather