Crafty Niece

Check out the awesome Christmas ornament that my niece made us,

with a little help from her Crafty Mum (a.k.a. my Crafty Sis).

Secret Santa Success

We had a Secret Santa at work today.  A $20 limit for the gift.  

Everyone's name was put in a Santa hat.  One name was pulled out at a time.  When your name was selected, you had a choice of choosing a wrapped gift under the tree, or stealing a gift that someone had already unwrapped.  So, it's ideal to be selected last, because you can preview all but one gift that is wrapped under the tree...so a good chance of getting something good.  

My name was drawn about 3/4 of the way through.  I stayed with my tried and true stealing technique.  I stole this upcycled hat from one of the other girls.  One of the partner's wives made it.  

I love it!  

Ok, not the best photo to show off the hat.  Trust me, it's pretty cozy!   

If only every week could be this productive...

...crafting wise.  

I've finished knitting the sweater, 

buttons have been sewn on, and 

it is currently being blocked.  

Only a few stray threads to snip away once it's dry.

Yeah!

Musings from a chairlift...

We went skiing at Whistler yesterday.  I was keen to go, because each day could be my last for this season, with mini-me due in mid-April.  


As we were on one of our last chairlift rides to the top, our conversation was as follows:


Eliza: "Do we have anything on tomorrow?"
Crafting Widower: "No."
Eliza: "FYI - I'm going to be crafting all day."


So far so good.  I'm putting the finishing touches on some gifts for my nieces.  

Wednesday Night Crafting

I've made a start at a new project.

It's a Christmas project.  

I didn't do any sewing tonight - only cutting out pieces.  

Fun with Felt

My Artsy Sis and my 5 year old niece have been doing some inspiring felt craft.  

They did a little workshop together - and look what they made:

This purse is so pretty.  I love the felted ball flowers with bells in the centre.  

And a lovely yellow lining.  

Here's a close-up of the flower...this one was turned into a ring.  

It makes me want to felt again...

but I've got to finish a few projects before I move to that!

Tick

Legwarmies done.

They are "skinny legwarmies".  I used a smaller needle than the last pair...

...so they might end up being for my newest niece and I'll have to whip up a pair for her big sister.  

It feels good to finish a project!  

Our "Egg Like" decorative piece

I went to a couple of craft shows yesterday.  One was a pottery sale at Capilano University.

Check out this cool decorative piece that we bought.  

The edges at the top are so thin.  

I think I could fit a potted plant in it.  

Something different.  

New inspiration

I went to a pre-natal pilates class on Thursday night.  It's a new studio that I'm trying.  

I have discovered that I will have to be careful when I go, because across the street from the pilates studio is Urban Yarns...temptation, temptation, temptation.  

I gave into temptation this week.  

It'll be perfect to try out a new pattern in my newest knitting book- a birthday gift from my Crafty Sister.

I think I'll try to make this big lace scarf.  

I have to finish off a couple of other projects before starting this one though.

Christmas Traditions

I finally got organised to put up a few Christmas decorations this week.  

I bought a nice holly wreath for our door and a poinsettia for the table on the weekend...but my favourite part was putting up tonight's decorations.  Beautiful crocheted snowflakes, made with love by my Grandma Elsie.  

I'm so glad that I asked her to gift a few of them to me one Christmas.  

I've continued mum's tradition and hang them on the sliding door and on the windows.  It's especially nice to have them in North Vancouver...since there is no snow on the ground!  

They are so pretty.  They make me smile when I look at them.  

Grandma sure was crafty...I really must learn to crochet at some point.  

Leg Warmie Update

One down...one part way to go.  

These might be for wee Fiona...I used smaller needles, so they are quite narrow.

Leg Warmie Progress

I've made a bit of progress this weekend.   

Hopefully they'll be wide enough...

or maybe they'll be "skinny leg warmies".  

It's been 1 month...

My crafting updates have been really bad the past while.  Here are my excuses:
- A trip to Hawaii
- 2 sets of visitors from Australia; and
- it's just been really busy.  


While I haven't been crafting, I did mak it to a great Craft Show - Circle Craft.  One of my favourite booths were selling cute felt fish made by West Coast Mermaid Designs.  Too many other inspirational things to mention.  


I've hardly done anything myself crafting wise.  The only thing I managed to do was to make a bit of progress on that lone sock.  The first of the pair has been finished for awhile...the 2nd one still isn't done.   I also managed to block and sew in all the loose ends on that grey lace scarf....that's about it.  Quite pathetic for the month of November during my "Year of Craft".    


I've just started a test swatch for a new pair of leg-warmies.  I made a set for one of my nieces a couple of years ago...and now that her little sister has shown interest in wearing them, there is renewed interest in the leg-warmies...time to work on a second set.  Here's the test swatch:

I'll try to get back on track with my updates!  

Halloween Costumes

OK, here are a couple of pics of us in action...really in action from the first one.

Quick as a mouse...

But don't worry, the cheese doesn't stand alone...

Mouse Trap - part 1

I started cutting out the lettering last night.  

I ended up printing out the text on a piece of paper 

and have put the paper on top of my felt. 

I am cutting it out with a teeny rotary cutter.

Lettering done.

Yeah!

The cheese stands alone...

The cheese is done.  

I made it out of felt and stuffed it with some plastic shopping bags.  

Now for the mouse trap...

Mouse Costume - Update

I've sewn on the 2nd ear and finished the tail.

I'll start the mousetrap tomorrow night.  

Halloween's not just for kids...

We've been invited to a Halloween party this weekend.  

After mulling over a few ideas, we've settled on being a mouse and mousetrap. 

I bought some supplies on the weekend...

now I have to craft them into something.

I've starting with the mouse - 

just a headband, tail, and plastic mouse nose.  

Knitting projects that keep dragging...

I'm making progress on getting other projects done.

I've been working on this scarf for ages.  I still have to sew in all the ends...but almost there.  Yeah!

Sweater progress

I'm making progress.

And I found some great vintage buttons on the weekend, 

from a Vancouver shop called Button-Button.

Crafting at the Grand Canyon

How's this for an inspiring place to knit!  

I didn't take my sweater project - just a pair of socks.  

I've had one done for ages. I figured it was time to start the second one.

It's not finished yet...

I didn't make much progress on this hiking break... 

too much beautiful scenery to look at.  

Sweater progress

I'm making some progress...

Are you getting tired of my sweater updates?

I'm telling you, this is lightening speed knitting for me!  I'm still thinking it might be a bit small...maybe it'll get bigger when I block it out (she writes hopefully).

Discover Vancouver: The Burnaby Edition

Do you remember my Jar of Fun?

The Crafting Widower and I had a pseudo Jar of Fun day on Saturday...we visited the National Nikkei Heritage Centre in Burnaby, BC for their annual open house and Japanese Farmer's Market.  

OK, technically it wasn't a Jar of Fun day - because I read about it on CBC Online and Burnaby wasn't selected at random from the jar.  Also, we only spent an hour there instead of a day...I'm stretching here.  

Anyway, there was lots of interesting stuff...some of it pretty crafty.

There was a gentleman sculpting a bonsai tree.  

An artistic display at the Japanese Canadian National Museum.  The exhibit was called Kizuna.  

The artist above (Natalie Purschwitz) wrapped stones with cloth.  

And a trip wouldn't be complete without a tasty treat.  Yummy gyozas!  

I also spotted a cute little centre (formerly a school house).

Maybe they have a crafty program for my crafty parents!  

Getting Crafty...hit or miss...

So, I tried an experiment.  I thought it would be fun to try to make a bobble bracelet out of some scrap fabric.  I cut out different sized circles, then stitched them together with embroidery thread, then stuffed them with some batting.  

I only managed to make 4...still not enough for a bracelet seeing they are about 1" in diameter.  

Hmmm...I'm not sure what I think of them.  The pink fabric really frayed.  I don't really like the look of it when I used it as the biggest circle.  I'm still trying to decide if I should cut my losses and throw them in the garbage, or push through and make a bracelet.  Hmmm...I'd probably have to make about 6 more...

Sweater Progress

Sorry, no update yesterday.  I made the trek to Abbotsford (where the Crafting Widower works) from North Van for a company dinner.  He usually drives - it takes him about 1 hour to drive (with no traffic)...and much longer if there is an accident or roadworks.  I took public transit.  It took me 2.5 hours.  That was with a friend driving the last 30 minutes, since there isn't actually bus service all the way to Abbotsford.  


The plus side...I made some good progress on my sweater!

Not so inspiring crafting

Does mending count for crafting?

I bought a pink cardigan at the thrifts today.  

I had to sew on a button and decided to reinforce the rest while I was at it.

Sorry, the pic isn't true colours...bad lighting in my condo.

A new post...finally

Finally, a crafting post after a 3+ week hiatus.


I have been doing a bit of crafting over the past few weeks, but it has mostly been knitting and progress has been slow.  One project hat I've picked up is a sweater that I started last winter and then put aside once the summer rolled around.  Because who wants to knit with wool in the summer?  

It's knit from the top down.  I've finished the ribbed part around the neck...now for the body and the arms.  If all goes well, I should be finished by Feb!  Ha, ha.  

Crafting Hiatus

I've been slacking off.  It's been a busy few weeks and I've hardly done any crafting...must get back into the groove!

Canning Update

The canning continued after my last post.  

A couple of my girlfriends came over last Saturday and we spent the afternoon canning.  

We canned stewed tomatoes, dill pickles and drunken beans.  Yummy.

Canning

I've been busy canning the past couple of nights.  

I made a batch of mustard pickles last night.  The recipe was from "The Best of the Best" cookbook.

It was a sweet sound to hear the pop, pop, pop, before I went to bed.

I've continued with the canning tonight.  I made a batch of blueberry jam...which might turn into blueberry syrup...it just wouldn't thicken, even after adding extra pectin.  Oh well, the syrup will still be yummy.  I'm also doing a batch of salsa.  I'm pretty excited about the salsa...it's tasting very yummy!  

Crafting Distractions

Crafting progress has been slow. I've started reading The girl who kicked the hornet's nest by Stieg Larson.
Enough said.

My new power tool

Check out my new power tool:

A fantabulous Bernina Activa 220 sewing machine.  I love it!

My mum and dad gifted me with my current sewing machine for my 21^st birthday (I might be off by a year or two).  

It has served me well – making fancy dress costumes in university, sewing up home decorating projects, and more recently branching into craftier stuff.

A few weeks ago, mum planted a seed in my head that maybe I should consider upgrading my sewing machine.  She suggested I might enjoy an upgrade now that I’m using it more regularly… and she added that she would be happy to inherit my old one.  Hmmm…  Anyhow, I hadn’t started to do any research because it seemed like a big task.  Where to start? I figured that it would be a good activity to do when it is cold and rainy outside. 

Imagine my surprise when I received an email on Tuesday morning from a friend who owns a knitting/sewing shop in North Vancouver, offering up one of her sewing machines for sale.  She opened her business in February and set up a craft space in her shop.  Her store is kitted it out with a few sewing machines and a couple of sergers for people to rent by the hour, or to use during a class.  I guess things have been slow with people renting machines by the hour, and she prefers teaching smaller classes, so she decided to sell a couple of her sewing machines.  The sewing machine has been barely used…maybe 2 hours since she bought it…so practically new. 

She sent out an email to some of her crafty friends on Tuesday to see if any of us were interested in buying one of her barely-used sewing machines, before posting it for sale on Craigslist.  I did some quick internet research, and the machine has some great reviews.  So, I went for a “test drive” on Tuesday night and I went back to buy it yesterday.  It is lovely.  It is so smooth… like butter.   I started getting to know her (my sewing machine) last night, testing out some of the fancy stitches and buttonholes...she’s a beauty.   

I expect that I'll mostly use the straight stitch and the zigzag, but it was fun to try out some of these features!  

I have a feeling that this is going to be a long lasting friendship.  Hmm…maybe I'll name her Heidi, in honour of her Swiss manufacturer.

Mum, if you’re reading this…you are now the proud owner of a Serger sewing machine.  You can pick up it up on your next trip through North Vancouver!