Epic hopscotch

October 2012

Hello friends,

I wish you could've seen how far this epic hopscotch board scribbled its way down my street. A marvel to see something so sweet and simple stretched out before you :)

What a big week ahead: Halloween, Frankenstorm, farewell October and hello November!

xxoo

Christmas cozies

A few years ago, I scratched together some plans to make a gabillion Noro striped scarves. In the end, I made two (which is pretty close to a gabillion) and then decided that would be quite enough. But what to do with the four remaining skeins of Silk Garden in the stash? Tea cozies for Christmas!

I love this pattern - it is simple and quick to pull together and snugs the teapot perfectly. I think it took about two evenings to knit up one cozy.

And while I was strolling down tea cozy lane, I crocheted one too just for fun.

Project details: The first two cozies were made using the Churchmouse ribbed pattern and Noro Silk Garden (1 ball each). The crocheted cozy was made using a pattern from The Simple Things first issue, using Rowan Kid Classic.

Have a nice weekend dear friends!

I heart... Monday edition

Little sheep takes a leap


:: Am I the last to know about Society 6? (Be warned, there's lots of good browsing of totes et cetera ici)

:: This Alexander Henry fabric, A Ghastly Night -- see the knitting trio up top? I'm thinking pouches! (surprised, right?)

:: And speaking of beautiful fabric, wow, these pieces from Katherine Codega are so pretty.

:: My friend Deb took me to Patisserie 27 on Saturday - best fancy, chewy, buttery, yummy croissant.

:: Have a good week friends!

Little minty nest

I have a wee little cousin who is sweet and spunky. She is also at that special age where I think she can see the whimsy in having an altoid tin bed for her little dollies. So I made this for my little L.

My friend Johanna saw this wee mouse tin house pattern and wow, is it ever sweet. I fully encourage you to follow that pattern because it is super deluxe with even a wee teddy bear. The only reason I branched out on my own is because I have a huge stash of little unpainted wooden people. (Yep, in a moment of careful consideration a few years back I bought about 90 of these guys. Yay for impulsive purchases, (said weakly)).

I've had these two little ladies painted and ready for a long time, so no photos for that part (sorry). I can tell you that I used acrylic paint and I used toothpicks for the details on the face. There's a really beautiful tutorial here.

Now, for the bed. I cut a piece of white felt for the mattress measuring 5.5 cm x 9 cm.

I also cut two pieces of fabric, measuring 5 cm x 4 cm, for the pillow using pinking shears. (The blue polka dotted fabric below).

And finally for the sheet, I cut a wee square measuring 5 x 6.5 cm.

With the wrong sides together, I sewed around three edges of the pillow. I used just a whisper of stuffing to fill the pillow and then I sewed the fourth edge shut. You really can't make the pillow too poofy or the tin won't snap shut.

There. all tucked in. Almost finished. 

Using a 4 mm hook, chain 12 and single crochet back and forth until you reach the desired length (I went for about 6.5 cm).

And there you have it, a wee minty nest for two little ladies. A cute little stocking stuffer or an advent treasure.

A rockin' rock

I present to you a very rockin' rock.

Thanks LM. She's a beauty.

Some free patterns in case you'd like to make one too can be found here and here and here.

Raspberry buttermilk cake

I made this little raspberry buttermilk cake on the weekend (and I got a cheapie cake stand from Loblaws. Cake stand - how I love thee!)

The recipe is from Smitten Kitchen adapted from Gourmet.

This cake has a lot going for it: Quick and easy to pull together (just 25 minutes in the oven), calls for just 1/4 cup of butter, and raspberries... you will not win in a debate against raspberries. (I think this would also be quite delish with blueberries).

I sprinkled the top of my cake with vanilla sugar just because I had some in the pantry. Lovely with an afternoon cuppa :)

A little merry making

Time for a little merry making or as I'm calling it, fa la la friday!

My goal is to make a little something every week leading up to Christmas (though I suspect I might fall a little short of the mark some weeks, life being life and all).

This week: pretty bobby pins painted with nail polish. It's probably a fair bet that nobody is writing bobby pins on their Christmas wish lists but I think these make a cheery stocking stuffer. Paired with a bottle of nail polish, even better!

I saw this idea over at Weasinart who lays out the steps beautifully. These are perfect for a gal who likes to: cut bangs, regret cutting bangs, hate bangs, grow out bangs, have about two days of liking growing out bangs before deciding 'ugh bangs!', contemplate if maybe short bangs were not so bad at all, get overwhelmed by the thought of cutting bangs, and cut bangs again in an impulsive moment. I may know a thing or two about this...

So anyhow... I grabbed some nail polish and popped some unpainted bobby pins onto a plastic cup. And painted each pin just like this:

I left them overnight before I pulled them off. Then I cut a few squares of card stock and slipped the pins on et voila:

Stocking ready! Next week, a little something for a wee one's advent.

Fibre artists at Cedar Ridge

I made a few of my project pouches and mini pouches to show (and maybe sell?) at the Fibre Artists of Cedar Ridge exhibition which takes place from Oct. 13 - 18.

I know there will be some beautiful weaving on display and perhaps some knitting and sewing projects too, so swing by if you're in the neighbourhood.

Cedar Ridge is at 225 Confederation Drive in Toronto -- Google map here.

And if you'd like to sew a lined zippered pouch for yourself, I really really love this tutorial at Twelve22.

I heart... hello yellow

:: Oh October trees, you are so very pretty.

:: The Liberty craft blog!

:: This beautiful crocheted pram blanket over at Little Tin Bird - a beautiful array of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino.

:: Instructions for cheery cake bunting over at Teawagontales - a genius use of washi tape.

:: This timelapse video of Iceland (or niceland as I like to call it), via my friend Johanna. I want to go back!

:: Emma Thompson By The Book

:: The trailer for Anna K. - I cannot even wait.

Happy birthday dear Vivian, Queen of the gauntlets!

Happy birthday to my dear friend Vivian, Queen of the gauntlets, true and sweet friend!

Have a wonderful day!

And to my other Canadian friends, enjoy a very nice Thanksgiving :) I am thankful for all of you (mushy, gushy, ick... but true)

Catherine cowl

Isn't this pattern sweet? I have always loved the way Blue Sky Alpacas packages their patterns in fancy envelopes like sewing patterns - oh the drama in opening the packet and unfurling the instructions!

Blue Sky has released a new crop of chic patterns with some serious vintage flair (and a cute alpaca too). What a lovely little packet to receive in the mail from my friend Johanna who recently trekked off to the KW Knitters' Fair. Thanks J - I can't wait to get going on this!