Creating New Things

I haven't been in here lately, but there's a good reason for it.

I've created a new beanie - and it took me a few months to get it down. Well, okay, there's a little fib in there: it took me about a year, but I worked on its final bits over the past month or so. And it turned out so well!

I called it 'Lynda's Crazy Beanie' and it's been popular amongst people on Facebook and I'm really happy about it.

The great thing is that there's not a lot of counting or maths in it; and that's what I wanted in my own creation of a beanie - nothing difficult. The only counting is casting on, and the Moss Stitches I chose to make it take on some texture. 

Otherwise, it's worked out so well! I've already sold a few and am hoping to sell more in the future. I've got family wanting them too - so I've been hunting around looking for different types of yarn to use too. 

You know, there's nothing like designing something which works out so well, and yet is so easy to make! 

So, what have you been up to? Until my next post, keep creating!

Winter Challenge

Being part of an online, Facebook craft group is always fun. No matter what I'm doing in my personal life in the way of painting or craft, it's always appreciated when I upload it onto that group... and this year, I've been either painting or knitting; and they love it all.

And this year, we have had challenge upon challenge thrown at us. 

But I can only do one challenge thus far: the Winter Challenge; which is great.

I'm making a scrap scarf this year. 

This is where I've gotten other knitted pieces from my past, unravelled them, balled up the yarn and made something out of that scrap leftover... not a bad thing really. 

So, what have you made from scrap yarn? A beanie? A pair of gloves or a couple of wash cloths? The smallest things are always appreciated, right?

Well, I must be going and knitting again tomorrow... I've done my knitting for today. Until my next post, keep creating!

Scrubby Cloths and Fine Crochet Yarn

I'm really enjoying the knitting of my new line I've taken up.  It's only been a week or two and I've already made more than 4 dishcloths. 

There's two scrubby cloths, 2 ordinary dishcloths and one that has been started with a checkered pattern and another scrubby cloth started on crochet yarn.  I'm really getting into this.

I'm also still painting stuff as well.  But seeing I have so much of the painted stock, I've really sat down and started on my knitting to get enough for next year.

Here's a few photos of my cloths.  Aren't they the cutest things?

dishcloths

Well, anyway, it's just the beginning.  I'm hoping to make them in different sizes, styles and patterns.  Until my next post, keep creating!

Hand-knitted Dishcloths and Other Such Things

I'm looking forward to the Easter Markets this weekend.  Not only am I completely oranised, but I'm also working on a new line of little things to add to my stall - which are also hand-made, just like everything else I have on sale there.

I was taught to knit aged 12 when I was only holidays at my Grandparents' house at Tarragindi here in Brisbane.  It was a wet day and my brother and I were both bored and so Grandma taught me to knit and show my brother how to crochet (not that he'd let on that he picked it up as he never kept up the skill).  
When we returned to school, I remember in Home Ec., we were asked if anyone could knit or crochet.  Only two girls put their hands up - me and one other girl - and we were set to work on a 10x10 stitch of knitting.  While we both found this skill hard at the time, I have kept up my practice of knitting and have been making scarves and beanies for the last few years.  

However, I've begun making dishcloths and washers to sell at my market; deciding over the last few days to start making them.  So far, I've completed two and I'm onto my third one.  Each one is individual and are of my own pattern, being made from yarn I've had for years and wish to get rid of - so the yarn is perfect.  

This will take time though.  I'm not going to put any of them out on the stall until next year.  So, even though I'm making the first few now, I've got the rest of the year to get in and make well over 60 by Christmas.  And during the New Year break, I'll be making even more while I'm down the coast too.  So, it'll be nice to be able to enjoy making them there.  

Well, what have you been up to lately?  Anything new?  Anything old that you've picked up from years gone by?  Until my next post, keep creating!

Apologies From Me

First of all, I must apologise for not being here.  I've been off to hospital just last week for day surgery; and am currently recovering.  It's slow-going, but I'm a hell-of-a-lot better than I was last week when I couldn't move, let alone take any stairs.

This doesn't mean I haven't been crafty or arty.  I packed up all my painting gear for a bit and pulled out my knitting and sat back did some serious knitting of a new brown, fluffy scarf I'm hoping to get finished over the next few days for myself.  It's just lovely and I'll take progress photos of it, and a finished product photo too.  However, I'll update what I've been up to next week sometime when I get home as - you see - I'm at my brother's house at Brighton, and I don't have access to my Photobucket account here, whereas I do at home.

This means, I'll be updating my photos of what the paintings look like in my now-finished bedroom.  And instead of putting them all in the bedroom, I've spread them into the hall and the bathroom... to make the feel of them change the feel of the house.  My Mum loves how they just change the entire feeling of the room completely and softens the whole look totally.

Have you ever done this to accomplish a feel or a look to a room, a hallway or any part of your own place or another place?  Have you place a piece of art somewhere and the entire feel of the place has changed completely and made it just feel good, or different, or just so totally wonderful you wondered why you never thought of it before?  I knew I could get anything happening in my house with a change over of paintings... but when I looked around, the paintings I wanted weren't in any of the shops.  So, I created my own (as you can see) and they turned out lovely.

Well, that's about all from me for now.  I have to take a rest.  I've been going for some time now and it's time to kick back rest.  Until my next post, keep creating!

Busy Beez at Queen Beez Craft Group

Today, I woke to a dull and wet day, but I needed to go out.  I had promised to get my butt out to a craft group this year - to get myself more social and improve on my craft skills - and this was what I was going to do.  

So, after breakfast hunting around for my 'Crobots' book my brother  gave me for Christmas - and finding it - I caught the bus to Springwood and walked to Mum and Dad's place.  Sure I was two hours early, but with the weather the way it was, I didn't wish to be late, and I didn't want to trust the roads being all that safe.
My folks were reading The Sunday Mail from yesterday.  They had been out all day seeing my brother at Brighton, and didn't get a chance to read the paper, so spent the morning having a good look through it all.  Meanwhile I sat and read 'Anna Karenina' by Leo Tolstoy until it was time to leave for the Springwood Community Centre; only a 5 minute walk up the road.  And soon, it was time for me to take off up there, where I arrived 10 minutes early and in time for introductions to everyone there, including Coral, who remembered me from around 15 years ago when I had attempted to join up with them but wasn't in as good health as I am now.
I explained that my health is a lot better now, and I am able to attend groups such as these on a more regular basis; and everyone was pleased.  They also took the precaution in asking me to sit on the outside of the tables because I've got a medical condition where I'd need space if I collapsed.  Good thinking, but I told them I was fine now and stablised; but still they insisted.

The ladies there varied in age from around 35 - 85 and they were skilled in all kinds of crafts; from needlepoint, tapestry, crocheting, knitting, painting and other styles of work as well which they couldn't bring along, but they did bring the finished products to sell.  Then, we had myself and Christine - both of us new-comers - who wanted to learn something new.  Christine could crochet, but wanted to learn to knit; whereas I could knit but wanted to learn to crochet!  How's that for irony!  I offered to teach her to knit, but she brushed me off a little for somebody else a bit older.  I didn't mind as I really did want to concentrate on learning better techniques in crocheting from these ladies.
Coffee and tea was supplied along with the ladies of Queen Beez Craft Group supplying us well with home made goodies of jam drop biscuits, scones and other such treats to scoff into!  Yummo!  I had some ice coffee I made there in a small mug and ended up eating some of the goods.  Then, I found the hand-made items on sale pretty nice too.  There was a knee rug I liked and bought for $10 from one of the older ladies which was in the colours of my favourite AFL team; I can't wait until the season starts!

Too soon, the 3 hours passed by and it was time to go... actually, we broke early due to the weather and not knowing if it was going to get worse.  So, we put away out chairs and packed up.  Once the rain settled down, we all rushed off to our cars and I walked back to my folks' house with my umbrella.  They were pleased I enjoyed myself and that I wanted to go back next week.  Until my next post, keep creating!    

Plans September - December

I plan - like anyone does - and I hope that my plans work out.  But if I don't plan, I feel as though I have nowhere to go with my art.  And seeing the Home Festival was last weekend - and was a great success - I can work on the plans I have on for the rest of this year now.

For the last few months, I've been purchasing cheap - but nice - photo frames to make a family portraiture in my stair well.  It'll be of immediate family and pets; and so it'll take up the whole wall and consist of around 40 photographs.  Once I get the photos off the hard drive of my old computer from this year, I'll have something solid to work with and know exactly how many I'll need.  But right now, I'm looking for a retro-80's photo collage frame - one that holds a large number of smaller photos.  I hope Mum hasn't thrown hers out (I remember we had one once) and I'd be able to use it.

I also have some paintings I need to catch up on.  There's my self-portrait I need to finish the background of.  It's looking good and ought to be completed this weekend hopefully.
After that, I'm hoping to begin working on a new set of tiny paintings.  They are going to be tiny paintings of big things.  For example:  a tiny painting of the front grill of a Mac Truck... or a sky scraper of Brisbane reaching to the sky, or the Great Barrier Reef.  All on tiny, small canvas'.  So, I'll be needing to cut down some of my older brushes and getting one or two new detailing ones.  I do have photos of buildings of Brisbane... now to get them printed up at K-Mart - that won't cost much.  I'll get them done at the same time at the family photos.  I'm no in any hurry.  I'm hoping to get about 10 of these done by the end of next year and do them under a magnifying glass (I'll borrow one off my brother; as he has a few my Grandpa used to own in his older years).

Otherwise, I'm finishing up the larger blue blanket for friends who are having a baby and I'm hoping they'll like it.  So far, I've knitted up 3 little hats, 1 new-born hat, a green scarf, a red blanket and now this blue blanket... not bad for 5 months' work. 

So, what are you working on that has kept you busying this year - and will keep you busy for a while (like me?).  Until my next post, keep creating! 

Christmas Presents

Yep, you guys read right.  I'm beginning my hand-made presents now.  You see, from now until Christmas, the months seem to zoom by and I find that it's a lot easier to get in and begin my Christmas presents bought and paid for now than at any other time - plus I can sit back in December and have nothing to worry about except the grocery shopping.

This month, I've begun a set of dolly pegs for my brother and his fiance.  They're going well so far.  And I'm also knitting up a storm for a married couple I know who are having a baby in December - but their baby shower is next month - and so I must get their bits finished soon.

I'm hoping to get my niece an easel for her art works this year for Christmas to use from IKEA.  I bought one from there and I hope I can get another just like it so she can paint outside, inside or wherever she wants.

I'm not sure what to get Mum and Dad for Christmas... well, not yet anyway.  But the family gift is the family album on the wall of my home.  It's been fun to do and I hope it works.  I'll keep you all informed in how it turns out in the end - which will be closer to Christmas.  Well, until my next post, keep creating.

Baby Goodies

I've been busy over the last few months knitting baby goodies for friends of mine.  From the moment I found out, I dug out all the knitting patterns I had and found bonnets, hats and any yarn that looked lovely and tri-coloured to knit something original and useful.  

And now, I'm up to my last piece:  a second baby square.  I've knitted up one and it looks lovely and cuddly and very much something a parent would use to spread out on the ground to keep baby off the dirt for a moment to change their nappy or to put into the bottom of the pram to add a little more warmth over a cooler day before other covers over their bundle of joy with more covers to keep them warm.

I've also knitted three 6-month hats with a loop on the top so it's easy to pull the hat off if they need to.  And there's one sweet little new-born hat with a loop on it too - just in case when little baby's born, the weather is cooler than expected (as their little one's due in December; and if you remember what Christmas in Brisbane was like last year, you'd all agree it was a little on the cooler side).

I hope you guys enjoy seeing the almost completed pressie I've got for my friends.  It's taken me over three months of solid knitting at night - and during every afternoon (including weekends) to get this all done!  The baby blanket/square too me around 6 times to get started; with the stitch I wanted to use.  And it's turned out wonderful!  

Baby Pressie - 1 

Baby Pressie - 2 

Baby Pressie - 3 

Baby Pressie - 4

Knit... knit!

In the last week, I've been attempting to knit a baby blanket for a couple who are pregnant. The amount of stitches I've cast on is 100 onto 4.5mm needles (nice long metal ones that can take the yarn well).  However, somewhere in the beginning, I've dropped a stitch and have had to pull it apart within the first 6 rows and start over again.

This drove me nuts until tonight when I got to the end of the second lot of the Irish Moss Stitch and found I actually made it all the way through!  Yay!  Now, to make sure it'll work for the next month or so - until the ball of yarn is used up - and I've completed the blanket.  I'll have to make sure that my knitting is accurate and that I'll have it well-counted out.  

Here's hoping.

Well, the other lots of knitting is complete.  This means that the 3 hats and little green scarf are finished.  I left the blanket until last so I could take my time to finish it up.  I'm looking forward to the time where I can give these sweet things to my friends and they can use them.  I'll have to take photos of them soon and show you all the completed results.  Until my next post, keep creating!

Two Scarves Finished!

I have finished my second scarf for this year!  The first one was a long, thick, luxurious one that flowed as its fluffy surface kept my legs warm.  All it needs is some short tassels on each end and it's complete!  And when Mum saw it, she ran her hands over it saying it was gorgeous!

Then, immediately after I finished that one, I started on a green and red one that was thin, but it's a lot thinner and shorter.  However, unlike the last one, where I knitted it in a Moss Stitch, I knitted this one in an Irish Moss Stitch.  This latter one looks like it's traveling and makes a scarf look longer and feel more textured if it's a soft wool.

Now, I'm going to look through the bag of yarn I have to see which one is going to be the next ball that will become the next scarf... you never know which one it will be!  Until my next post, keep creating!

Scrap Scarf Update

Since I've begun this project, I've had fun with it.  The colours have been great to work with, some of the yarns have run out and I'm working in a Moss Stitch; which uses up a lot of of the yarn too.  However, I have found that there's a lot of leftover balls of yarn that I haven't used - and there's a lot of new yarn in a bag yet to be used.

So this is what I'm going to do:

I'll knit the scarves I want to knit over the next year or so; completing them as gifts and selling others for profit.  Then, in between them, while I'm figuring out which scarf to work on next, I'll be knitting the scrap scarf to keep my skills up with knitting. 

This will keep me fast and the scrap from the scarves I've done will be used up in this one over time; and the scrap scarf will become longer and more beautiful over that time.  In the end this scarf will eventually take years to complete.  Something I thought would only take months has turned into a project which will occupy my time.

Have you done this kind of thing and begun something that seemed harmless to begin with; and it turned into bigger project than you first thought?  How did it turn out?  How big did it become?  And how small were you hoping it to be to start with?  Until my next post, keep creating.

Knit, Knit, Knitting!

It's been such a long time since I got into knitting a scarf... and the way I'm knitting one is a fun way of doing it.  The one thing is that I didn't know it would grow so fast; or look so nice.  The colours I've used all work well with each other and - even though they are so very different from each other - they are just beautiful.  here are the photos of the scarf currently.  I'll get a full measurement of the scarf once I'm close to finishing it.  

Now, remember to put in your posts for how long you think it'll be to win my patchwork scarf... or scrap scarf.  I'll be adding in tassels and making it look good too.  If it doesn't get raffled off, I'll be keeping it as a part of my wardrobe. 

Afternoon Knitting Session

In the afternoons, I've been getting into my knitting again.  Usually at this time of the year, I don't as it's too hot; but here in Queensland, we've been having a very cool Summer, so I've picked up my needles again and been able to knit.

Recently, I have found that I have a lot of leftover wool from finished scarves.  So, I thought to make a long, skinny scarf out of the wool and see how long I can make it - just for the fun of it.  Right now, it's a little over a metre long and I've gone through three colours; with more being found as I hunt through my two knitting bags.  

If you'd like to lay bets on how long this scarf is going to be once it's finished, I'll finish it up with tassels and post it off to you when I finish it up.  And seeing how fast it's taking shape, it shouldn't take that long to do.  I'll keep you all posted about how it's doing over the next week or so... keep your lengths coming.  

I'm working with size 4mm needles, it's 17 stitches wide and I'm using a Moss Stitch; so it'll be nice and cosy when you wear it anywhere in the world.  Until my next post, keep creating!

My First Sale!

Yes!  I made my first sale last night at an art opening at the Logan Art Gallery.  It actually began about a week or so ago; when one of the staff saw me knitting a scarf and asked me how long it would take for me to finish it.  I said when she would like it by; and she told me the 12th, August.  So, I worked hard on it each afternoon and night; and finished it early Thursday evening before I had dinner. 

However, it came up shorter than I though and - even with long tassels on it - it didn't seem as long as I thought it would be.  But when I discussed it with her over the phone, she asked the price, I said around $15; but I did lower it to $10 when I showed it to her, letting her know if she wasn't happy with it, I'd be more than happy to knit her another one of the same wool and same style - but longer - as a replacement.  But she was very happy with it and paid me the $15.  So, there you have it... my first sale!  I'm so happy about it!  

K-Mart Wishing Tree Donation

Each year, I've been giving to the K-Mart Wishing Tree at Woodridge Central Plaza.  It's to support the Salvation Army and to give people who are less fortunate a Christmas that they normally wouldn't have.  I began giving to it about four years ago; just buying small things really and taking them in about a week before Christmas Eve.

This year, I thought to do something different.  I was low on cash and had bee knitting a lot in front of the television - working on my blanket for next year - when I thought to knit a scarf and beanie for somebody for when the weather gets cold.  And what do you know?  This Christmas hasn't been exactly textbook Australian Summer... boiling hot and all, has it?  Well, over the last month or so, I pulled down one of my tried and true beanie patterns I had grabbed off the net and used it.  But no matter what needles I used (sizes 4 or 8), the beanie came out the same size... so I had a short scarf with two small beanies.  Now,I had planned to give these to teenagers; and had to quickly change my age groups to babies.  Not a problem!  The scarf is green and the beanies are green and creme; lovely colours that really could suit a boy or a girl.

When I arrived at K-Mart, the lady at the doors saw what I had made and was amazed that I had gone to the trouble.  She took them off me and found a bag; then commented on how soft they were.  I said that I had bought the wool right there in K-Mart and thought that something hand-made would be just the thing; nobody makes things anymore, everything being so material and fake.  She smiled and said that it was wonderful I took the time to work on something that will mean so much to somebody I'll most probably never meet. 

So, whoever you are out there.  When you receive the beanies and scarf for you little one, I do hope you enjoy them.  They didn't take long to make, but I love to knit and enjoyed making them instead of knitting my blanket; as it was something for you to use in your baby's life.

Signed On The Dotted Line...

Today, after a few things were done around the ridges of Logan, I got onto a computer with a printer/scanner attached and signed the contract to the Traffic Signaling Boxes.  It feels so good that I'll be working on one of these things and Mum wants to be my companion while I'm there (as it's in the contract that I must have a second person with me for safety reasons).  

So, all I need to do is wait now... how tense... how fun... how... exciting!  I can't wait until I get my box goodies (paint, rules and flouro vest) and get into working on this box that will be out in the public eye for all to see.

First I'll have to talk to the residents who live right on the fenceline of it and let them know I'll be there for a few days and that I'm not casing their place or a prowler of any kind; just your run-of-the-mill artist trying to make the world a better place through art and paint.

I hope this works... I really do.. as if it does, I'll be doing more of the Traffic Signaling Boxes around Logan.  The people at Clayfield said that I was the first to put my hand up to paint one that they know of because of the area.  I'll keep you all posted about how it goes; and I'll take before and after photos of it too!

I'm also still working on my knitting.  I'm in the process of making a blanket for next Winter for the lounge; seeing how cold it's been getting.  I'm enjoying it and it's progressing nicely.  All the squares are going well.  After about 25 or so, I'll be stitching them all together and then doing a blanket stitch around the whole thing to keep it from falling apart.  But that'll be a few months into the future yet.

Until my next post, keep knitting and keep creating!

A New Year ! A New Project!

Hello to all you crafty people again! And welcome to a new year of knitting, craft and anything you can make, paint and construct with your hands. So... what have you all been up to? Me? I've been to Brunswick Heads, NSW. It's just south of the border (it sounds like I've been to Mexico, but really, I've been to the ocean) and had a great time reading, blogging my holidays, getting sunburnt (nope that wasn't planned... normally isn't is it?) and eating mudcrab sandwiches.

I've also been planning a massive project that may take up a good part of my year. Last year, I knitted four scarves. And I gave them all to wonderful people. One of them went to my Birthday Buddy, one went to my Mum, then my niece got one and finally my brother's girlfriend, Katrina received one for Christmas.
This year, I'm planning to knit a large blanket to cover the back of the lounge. You see, I have a lounge cover that's seen better days. It's got huge holes in it where I normally sit. Now, I'll be keeping the cover, and putting a thick blanket that I'm using on the back now to cover the seats. However, I thought to cover the back, it would look just lovely to fold a hand-knitted checkered blanket. I've started on the first square and am 3/4 through it with a Moss Stitch; after casting on 61 stitches. Once I have enough squares done up in different colours and stitches (but the same ply 8 wool), I'll be stitching them all into a big square/rectangle and then doing a blanket stitch around the outside of it. I'll keep you guys up-to-date with how it's doing from time to time as it'll take a while to finish it.

So, what project - big or small - are you planning this year? Until my next post, keep knitting and keep creating.

A New Project!

Yep! I'm at it again with the knitting needles! This time I'm getting together a scarf for my brother's girlfriend, Kat. Seeing she wears a lot of green, I've found a variegated green 8 ply wool and am doing a Moss Stitch.
Using size 8 needles, I've cast on 29 stitches with closed cast-on (this means when I cast on the next stitch, I push the needle between the first and second stitch so there's no loops when I look at it after casting on; so it's nice and tight). Then, I've garter stitched the first row and then K1 P1 each row until the end of the scarf - which is as long as you like it.
For the tassels, I'm going to pick out a nice emerald green or olive green wool and buy some glass beads to attach to the long thread that hanging off the end; just to make them look that much more special.
Once it's finished, I'll take a lovely photo of it before wrapping it and placing it under the tree for the big day! Now, I've told you what I'm making for somebody special this Christmas Season. Are you making anyone anything special? Leave a comment and let us all know. Until my next post, keep knitting and keep creating!

14th, December, 2009 - It's been a while since I wrote this post. However, I've finished the scarf and am now ready to wrap it for my Katrina for Christmas! So, here are the photos! And isn't it gorgeous? The colour for the tassels took a little while longer to find than the beads - which I found at a fabric shop in Logan Central where I get all the beads and accessories for my craft ideas. I hope Katrina loves this scarf as much I did making it!

I also hope you enjoy having a go at it too! Until next year's project and fun bigger things I'll be getting into, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a creative new year!

A Birthday Idea

Well, seeing I haven't been out and about doing a much of my art in the trees lately, I thought to do something a little more constructive with the wool I have still laying about in balls. On another site that I'm a member of, I have a Birthday Buddy; and her birthday's in October. And so, I thought that in amongst my reading, writing and gardening, I'd get in and start on her birthday gift. Last week, I thought to knit a scarf for her.
It's a gorgeous one that I've decided to do in Moss Stitch with around 33 - 35 stitches cast on. And I've decided to use up the rest of one of the balls of wool I've become tired of using; and it doesn't match any other wool because I've run out of the red and yellow balls. So, the tassels on the ends are going to be short, but the same colours as the scarf. It's not yet finished, however, I'm hoping to finish it either tonight or tomorrow afternoon and then I'll take some photos and post them here. It ought to look lovely. Along with the scarf, I'll be adding in some other little bits and pieces. I'll get in a book or two and some other things I'm sure she'll love.

I've also picked up an old chair from out the front on the footpath that somebody thought to toss out. I've taken it apart and I've sanded it down to paint it up and give it a new life as my seat to use in the carport during Summer. I'll paint it the same colour as the little folding table I did up from 'The Reject Store' at Sunnybank.

And while I'm here, I've found some anchors at an art shop. They measure two metres long and are around $3.00 a bag. So, I'll be out there in the fresh Spring air before you know it, putting up more beautiful knits as the weather warms up. Until my next post, keep creating and keep knitting!