Extra Life Incentive/GIveaway

Okay, folks. Next weekend (November 2nd and 3rd) I'll be "gaming for the kids" (you know, like "walking for a cure"). Head to Extra Life to read more about it. All donations go to help the kids.

So here's the thing. I'm offering the choice of several prizes to one randomly selected person: $20 off in my etsy shop, handmade fingerless gloves (yarn selection based on what's in my stash), or a knitted/crochet toy (we'll discuss options if you chose this one). Anyone who donates through my Extra Life page is entered into this giveaway (they accept credit cards and paypal). If you join a team or start your own Extra Life page, send me the link and you'll also be entered. Giveaway entries are accepted through the event. Monday, November 4th (my time) I'll announce and contact a winner (so be sure to leave some way for me to contact you!).

This is an amazing way to show the world that gamers aren't antisocial, violent, losers who spend all of their time sitting in the dark. Whether you play tabletop games, iphone games, card games, dice games, pc games, or console games you can join a group of like minded people and make a difference.

Feel free to share these links and information wherever you see fit. It's all about helping the kids.

If we can make it work, I'll also be broadcasting at least part of my gaming spree on Twitch. A lot of people participating in this event are stretching the 25 hours of gaming to both the 2nd and 3rd rather than just the 2nd (plus an hour, obviously). With three kids of my own (and a sick cat in need of force feeding every two hours) I'll be stretching it as well - from the morning of the 2nd to 11:59pm on the 3rd.

Weekend and a giveaway!

This was my weekend.

The dirty (more than I originally suspected) fleece I bought last weekend. And it's on the "skirting table" I built out of pvc pipes and fishing line. Though this was before I drilled the 156 holes into the pipes and wove the line into mesh.

The washed, but not quite clean, fleece.

Yarn I spun for myself (this is a first) with a definite project in mind. I dyed this with a combination of Greener Shades dyes to get a color similar to one I saw in Shalimar and Madelinetosh yarns. Once it dries I'll knit this hat for myself.

In this picture you can see the mesh I wove from fishing line to make the top of the table. It took two days and more patience than I generally have. Ugh. All because I felt that driving to the store to buy something suitable would be too much work. Yep. That's laziness for you.

I knit this sheep from wool I bought at the yarn yard sale last weekend (two balls of Lamb's Pride for $1!) and used Linda's sheep pattern. It was so quick. I had it done within two hours. I'm going to try making a teeny one out of crochet thread (yes, I'm insane). They are for a yarn bombing installation that my favorite yarn store is hosting in December.

And finally! Head over to This Enchanted Pixie for a chance to win some of my handspun yarn.

Busy busy.

I failed to take a picture of all the gnomes lined up on the table to show how busy I've been. But I have just listed four sets of weather gnomes in my etsy shop.

Also, there is a giveaway over at Lori's amazing blog. You can enter to win some of my handspun merino yarn!

Giveaway winner!

Remember this giveaway? Well, I remembered to pick a winner last night after my helpers had already gone to bed. So this morning, bright and early, we dove in.

All sixteen entries.

The Imp picks a name.

The Beast wants to pick one, too. Guess it's a good thing I have another hank to give away!

The winners are Crunchy Mama and Julie! I will email you both by the end of the day (but feel free to email me first if you'd like).

Thank you to everyone who entered!

Yarn giveaway

Spin, spin, spin. This is my life.

A two ply and a single. I'm hoping my single proves to be spun well enough not to pull apart. To be honest, that's why I ply so often - I'm not confident about my singles.

And here's my giveaway.

Details: Wool/mohair blend. Approximately 61 grams (2.1 ounces) and 31.5 yards. It's a pretty thick (and not consistent) yarn.

Leave a comment and you're in. Feel free to check out my Etsy shop as I have a few handspun hanks for sale (this is totally not required, just a shameless plug). I'll pick a winner on Sunday night.
The giveaway has ended! Thanks for your comments!

Mermaid Giveaway!

Happy Monday, everyone! Head on over to This Cosy Life for a chance to win this lovely mermaid!

I started another mer-tail last night - so be on the lookout in the next few days for more mer-baby goodness. But today will be all about clothing for a sweet cat-eared girl!

Jar cozy.

So. I have a lot of yarn. Much of it is scrappy or I don't have anything that *quite* matches. I've decided to make some mason jar cozies. This is not a new idea. This pattern is of my own devising, but anyone with a rudimentary knowledge of crochet and a hankering to cover a jar could have figured it out as well. That said, I'm going to give one of these away - the one I make in this post, actually. I'll also stick some in my Etsy shop. Just because.

Here's how I do it:

You need a "k" hook, worsted weight wool, stitch marker, and scissors. I have two k hooks - one just says "k" the other says "k/101/2-6.50mm" I have no idea how crochet hooks are labeled. I use the "k" hook - it's larger.

To begin with, we're working with two strands of yarn held together. I start with a magic circle using six single crochet stitches. This is the bottom of the cozy.

For the next round, increase in each stitch. That is, make two single crochet stitches in each stitch - leaving you with 12 stitches.

For the third round I single crochet in two stitches and increase in the third. I follow that pattern all the way around. This gives me 16 stitches. The fourth round will be single crochet in three stitches and increase in the fourth - giving you 20 stitches. And for the fifth round, single crochet in four stitches and increase in the fifth, thus arriving at 24 stitches. This is the magic number I've come up with. Except that it really ought to be 23, but we'll get to that.

Okay. So you have your 24 stitches. Now you'll be single crocheting around - but only in the back loop! Stop at the last stitch before you hit your marker. We have to decrease (to get my more magical 23 - hey, prime numbers are fun).

For the last stitch, go into the back loop and grab your yarn like you're going to single crochet. Pull it through. Instead of yarning over, go into the first stitch of the next round (both loops, not just the back), grab your yarn, pull it through, yarn over and pull it through all the loops. You've just decreased. Woo hoo!

Now it's smooth sailing. Single crochet around and around and around until your cozy is the height you want. I check mine by slipping it onto an empty jar.

Once you've gotten the height you want, slip stitch into the first stitch of the next round (I generally slip stitch into the first *two* stitches) and then finish off. Weave in your ends and enjoy a tasty beverage.

This cozy used roughly 70 yards. I think. I've lost the tag to the yarn so I'm guessing based on other wools that I regularly use. Oh. And they fit standard Ball pint (16 ounce) jars.

So! Anyone who would like to win a mason jar cozy, leave a comment and I'll pick a name randomly on.. hmm. Wednesday night - since I'll be too busy Tuesday putting together my new spinning wheel!

Yarn Along

Joining Ginny at Small Things again this week.



Still working on that capelet. I'm nearly done - knitting the collar while crocheting it on (yes, I get tangled). I finished reading my Lauren Willig book and am now reading free novellas by Karen Chance (I adore her books).



Here's my finished bracelet. I love it. I bought the button last weekend - it was love at first sight.

Also! Don't forget to enter my giveaway for a copy of a spectacular Waldorf doll pattern and tutorial by the amazing Adirondack Patterns.

Lots of Crafting on and a giveaway!

Okay. I have several things to share today - one of which is a giveaway! Stay tuned!

First up is the Forest Nymph capelet that I've been working on for a friend's birthday (though it will be late. grrr).


(Ravelry notes here.)

I have the body done and am now working on the collar. This Friday I'll be blocking it with the help of the lovely Paula from Really Knit Stuff (that's where I go to knit on Friday nights).



This is the look I get from the Elf when I stand on chairs to photograph knitting projects. He was shocked that my head didn't touch the ceiling. Clearly the practical application of simple math in our house isn't working.




On the needles as well is a bracelet for myself. It's done in a slightly tweaked version of the collar pattern for the Nymph capelet. I'd wanted to make a headband but it's too narrow, so bracelet it is! Finally a use for my *huge* Malabrigo Rasta! I'm thinking a similarly textured coffee sleeve is next.

And now. The unveiling!



Here's my first Waldorf doll in all of it's glory. The pants are doll longies that I knit quite a while ago (I've been plugging away on that capelet and was looking for a shortcut). The top is crocheted using this pattern as a guide. The Elf tells me that it needs shoes, and therefore socks. We'll see.



Okay. So! The giveaway! Because I love you guys and because I honestly cannot say enough great things about the pattern I used for the doll.. I bought an extra copy of the pattern to share with you (it's digital, and yes I got permission for this)!

For your perusing and ogling pleasure, visit Adirondack Patterns and check out their great patterns! I seem to have bought the last copy (I'm sure another will be up soon), so you'll have to check the sold items. But the prize is the "Simple complete Waldorf doll pattern and tutorial." It includes an amazing tutorial with oodles of pictures and tips as well as pdf files for the actual pattern. I will email the pdfs, the link to the tutorial, and the password to access it to the winner.

How do you become the winner? Leave a comment here before midnight (eastern time, but I'm lenient) Friday the 24th. I'll use some form of random picking (number generator, names in a hat, who knows) and post the winner on Saturday (hopefully, along with pictures of the blocked capelet!). Good luck! But if you don't win, the pattern is so reasonably priced, hop on over and pick one up!

Yarn Along!

Joining Ginny at Small Things again this week.



I'm working on about a gazillion (or at least it feels that way) small things right now. The photograph is of my work space (which also happens to be the table we eat our meals at - ouch). It's a smattering of what I'm working on.

Knitting: My sweater. It's what I work on while I'm outside with the boys.

Crocheting: A cupcake with a smile! A cookie. A wee brown bear and a red doll.

Reading: I, Coriander by Sally Gardner. I'm really enjoying this one!

***
Don't forget to enter to win the ninja doll I made (posted about here) over at This Cosy Life.

A giveaway!

Head on over to This Cosy Life and enter to win her Meltdown Monday Giveaway - a ninja doll crocheted by me!



This little guy was made using this great pattern. I changed the head a bit (my first attempt looked much too small) -you can see my notes on Ravelry here.

A giveaway!

Over at This Cosy Life you can enter the Meltdown Monday Giveaway where you can win this:



It's a six inch doll that I made using the Wee Folk Art pattern (adapted to be in-the-round).

Here's hoping we can avoid a meltdown at our house today!

Giveaway time!

I spent this weekend working on yarn for a giveaway. I am by no means a master at the art of dyeing wool yarn, so it isn't perfect. It was lots of fun, though - even if my red turned out rather pink.

So here it is, a giveaway to say thank you to the universe and to all of the lovely bloggers out there. Everyone is welcome to leave a comment to be entered. I'll pick a random winner on the 11th.

Here are the goodies:



Two attempts to photograph the one skein of yarn. It's just a hank of Lion Brand Alpine Wool that I dyed - it's what I had on hand. It is considered (according to the label) to be a bulky yarn made of 100% wool and is about 93 yards. I dyed it using food coloring and drink mixes. The idea was to have it fade from yellow to orange to red (rather than have smaller variations). But my red turned out pink. Oh well.



Calendula cream. Butter. Salve. Whatever. I've never understood what distinguishes those terms. It's a mix of calendula infused grapeseed oil, beeswax, vitamin e oil, cocoa butter, shea butter, and coconut oil. I've been making variations of this to soothe the Beast's eczema and my callused feet and psoriasis.

So there you go. Enter if the mood takes you.

A Giveaway!

I have had some extremely unusual luck lately with online giveaways. Karma tells me that I should pass that on. I wanted to needle felt something special to giveaway, but that would take me too long right now (though it will happen in the future). So I've fallen back on a past trade.



Once upon a time I called myself a bookbinder. It was something I picked up on a whim to make a gift for someone. The binding bug struck and I couldn't stop. The walk-in closet of our teeny one-bedroom apartment was becoming overrun with handmade books. The solution came in the suggestions of friends - sell them! So I set up an Etsy shop, my own website, and hooked up with a local artist's market.



To say that my business bombed wouldn't be fair. It would be close to accurate, though. I never made enough money to justify the costs of art shows and seller's fees (not to speak of time and supplies). People wanted my work for mere pennies and I tired of hearing people exclaim "I could buy a notebook at Wal-Mart for a third of this price!" It became stress and work. It was no longer fun or rewarding. So I stopped making and selling books.

After the birth of my second child I no longer even felt bad about having abandoned bookbinding. It was fun, but it passed and I moved on. Instead I started playing with fabric - making toys for my kids, blankets for my family, bags for my husband. Creating was fun again - because I was doing it for all the right reasons.

Years later, I've had my third child and have moved on to an obsession with wool. However, I still have a closet shelf full of handmade books that I couldn't part with (the ones I could part with were gifted - mostly to the Elf for drawing purposes).



The book in this post is one of my favorites. I love the look, the heft, the sparkle of the endpapers (those are the decorative pieces on the inside covers). What better item to offer in a giveaway than one that I hold dear? So here it is! I offer this book to one randomly chosen person. I'll ship it anywhere (with a properly given address), so don't be shy. Leave a comment - any comment (just one, though, please). Tell me the weather, what I should needle felt next, your favorite time of day, just say hi! Any comment gets you entered. If you care to share this giveaway with others, feel free to post about it and leave another comment with a link - it'll get you another entry!

I'll write everyone's names down on slips of paper and have the little monsters pick one on July 25th with the winner announced on Monday the 26th. Make sure I have some way of contacting you (email left in the comments or enabled on your profile).

Have I forgotten anything? I'm having the hardest time waking up today.