dog-gone knit

Ghost Swap goodness!

2011-11-18T08:43:00.000-05:00

Another fabulous Ravelry swap has ended. The Ghost Stories swap. Here are the goodies I received from the wonderful Megdoula!

First of all, I received this very cool Photo box with spider webs on it. Do I need a photo box, heck yes! Also SweeTarts and yummy Choc. Raspberry Dove.. oh my, so decadent!

There was a Harry Potter card with a lovely note as well.

And, why was Rebel so interested in this box? He got some yummy treats and this oh, so, cute Halloween collar with little bats on it!

The dishcloth with the bat, is sort of a request. I wished that each of my spoilers would send me one dishcloth so that I could make a swap afghan. This is the second 5th one I have received!

She also send this BEAUTIFUL yarn! Wow, it is prettier in person. Awesome Spoonflower fabric swatch with vampires on it for my Halloween quilt, cute ceramic ghost, and handmade Halloween bottle cap magnets. So clever.

And last but not least, actually my favorite thing, a needle felted necklace of

Zero, the ghost dog from the Nightmare Before Christmas! I love it soooo much! I don't know

how she did such small detail.. it is great

Thanks again Megdoula!

Another blog giveaway from a bowl full of lemons

2011-10-28T08:06:00.001-04:00

Hey, over at a bowl full of lemons, they are having another give-away! This time it is for a cool $31 gift certificate to Thirty-One organizing products
http://abowlfulloflemons.blogspot.com/2011/10/thirty-one-gift-certificate-giveaway.html!
Go check it out!

Watch here for Dr Seuss

2011-10-21T09:28:00.000-04:00

I am in a Dr. Seuss swap at the moment. I have created 3 patterns. I can't show them yet, but when I can, I am going to be selling them for $2 each or all for $5. They are super cute, especially if you like Dr. Seuss!

Spider panel

2011-10-21T09:04:00.000-04:00

This is a pattern I found on Ravelry. It is supposed to be a purse, but, I think it will be a pillow, as I have 4 Halloween purses. Isn't it great? It is based on a Barbara Walker pattern in her book 3, Third Treasury of Knitting Patterns. It is large enough for a small pillow. Love..

FRAMED!

2011-10-17T23:36:00.002-04:00

I had a great idea this morning. I put up one of those 'command' hangers, painted it black, hung an old frame I had painted black on it, and tied my dear spider to the hanger. I love how she looks. 3D hanging out of the frame!

Halloween Spider.. done!

2011-09-25T19:31:00.000-04:00

Here she is... isn't she lovely!.. and spooky!

She is a pattern by Hansi Singh (sp). I LOVE how she turned out.

I did the pattern on her back free hand in duplicate stitch. The original pattern calls for just

making stripes, but I didn't want that.

Halloween Spider

2011-09-25T09:26:00.000-04:00

I started working on my huge Halloween spider on Friday. I finished most of the legs that day. Saturday, I started the body. Finished the knitting of the body last night, and then did the duplicate stitch on it to make it look like a marbled orb weaver. I had planned a pattern, but the stitches are not in rows, per se, so that plan went out the windos. I just sort of free handed it. It came out very nice! I think this spider will be a very pretty one. I finished the fangs, and started knitting it together, well, I messed up and got off course, so I ripped it out and started again. That is where I am now.. knitting the fangs and legs together to make the head.

Favorite Movie swap.. what I made my partner.

2011-09-24T10:07:00.002-04:00

Oh, I have been remiss! Here is what I sent my partner, Mothlight. Her favorite three movies where Coraline, La Belle et la Bete (French version of Beauty and the Beast), and Tremors.

First of all.. Tremors. OMGosh how I loved making this Graboid for her! I really didn't want to send it once it was finished! For those of you who don't know the movie, they are giant worm things that travel underground..really fast, and come up and eat you. They have snake like tongues, well, you can see in the photo. I also made her a dishcloth that mimics the license plate of one of the characters who is.. shall we say.. a gun nut. It says UZI 4 U.

Next, we have her favorite movie, Coraline. In this movie, a doll is found that looks just like her. So, I found a photo of my spoilee online, in a sweater she had just knitted for herself. I made her Coraline doll look just like her.

She also got a key necklace and

... a necklace of Coraline's blue octo toy, button bracelet, spider stitch markers. The hand holding the candle is from the Beauty and Beast movie.(candle holder for a cupcake)
Next, because I could, I made her some copies of things she wanted on Etsy..bird necklace, caterpillar necklace and Coraline looking stone earrings and necklace.

From La Belle et la Bete, which I could only watch online in 9 short videos which made up the whole movie..

The Beast's magic glove, and a key fob with a Rose, key and a photo from the movie.

It really is a hoot to see this movie! It is in French, though it has subtitles. The thing is from the 40's, and is so kooky! You should check it out!

I also sent some little bee buttons she wanted, and a pattern.. Paper Dolls. I had a blast making this stuff!

Favorite Movie swap is here!

2011-09-24T09:41:00.002-04:00

I had a long wait for my swap package, but it was well worth the wait. Thanks to the wonderful Mullub.
Here are the pictures..

Here is a photo of everything.. except an extra pattern she sent me as a 'sorry it was so late' gift. The pattern was for Smoke Ring.. a Lord of the Rings pattern from Susan Pandorf. I covet all of her patterns, they are so lovely.

In this picture you see the Red Namaste needle holder case, Imagination Looking Glass yarn from Knitpicks, Alice in Wonderland project bag, dark blue sandstone stitch markers, Tim Burton Movie book, Duck stickpins, duck candies, Susan Bates Circular needles, Soak x2, BEAUTIFUL Alice in Wonderland Victorian Cuffs!

Close ups of the great gifts.

She did a great job of stalking me. I LOVE the cuffs. I put them on with my Denim jacket, and they look so fantastic! The bag is to die for, so handy and I love the fabric. The stitch markers, well I have loved sandstone for ages.. and blue? Gorgeous.

The book was quite interesting. All about Tim's movies, of which I am a fan. The needle case well, that is just opulent. haha. Love it.

The yarn, I love, as I just really love the Imagination yarns. I can make the Smoke Ring from it, and probably will! If you are watching, thanks for the great swap package, Mullub!

Halloween Knitting

2011-09-24T09:20:00.000-04:00

Helllooooo..
I am currently in a Ghost Stories swap on Ravelry, so I am in the mood for making Halloween things. I have most of her things finished, just a couple small things to go.
I have decided to do spiders for Halloween this year. I am knitting the Hansi Singh(sp) Spider at the moment. I had to learn to do a wrap and turn, no problem. I have all the legs finished, and have started the body. I am making it more of a Halloween Orb Weaver. I am knitting the legs and head in black, and the abdomen in Orange. I will duplicate stitch in a weaver pattern on the abdomen in black when it is finished. I would have done it in intarsia or fair isle, but I didn't know and couldn't find out, where I should begin to have it centered on the back. I have also learned how to M1L and M1R. Oh, how I love the internet! I have learned everything about knitting (correctly) from the internet. My sister showed me how to knit many many years ago, but only the very simple cast on, which I never use now, and actual knitting the stitches.. was all backwards and wrong. Now, I know how to do so much more and correctly, I am having a ball. Watch this page for pics of the Spider to come...

Happy Birthday, Liat!

2011-09-23T09:27:00.003-04:00

http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=Mfz9_&m=3n1uPWBJEYtOn9J&b=5Ze1Veid7Da82rba9qVZAQ

Knitfreedom is Celebrating 1 year!!! Yeah!

Whovian mittens really finished!

2011-09-04T07:32:00.000-04:00

Ok, here is a photo of them.. completely finished. What a difference that little TARDIS light makes (at least to me).

My current knitting project is another Wa na na na na na na na Bat shawl. I am making it from fingering weight yarn(so little), that I bought from Etsy originally to make one. My first try with this yarn was a disaster, as I was really new to knitting and messed up practically every row. This time, knock wood, it is going much better.

So far..

Intarsia...Yeah!

2011-08-27T07:31:00.000-04:00

I have been on an intarsia kick this month! I am usually busy with swaps, but I didn't have one this month, so, I have been making myself some things.
Geek alert!

Star Trek hat. I love this hat! It has many ships from the different incarnations of Star Trek. Also, the gold Delta shield imblems..
I used larger yarn and needles, because by the description, I thought it would be too small. It is a tiny large, but I can still wear it and it is a beauty to look at.

Next...
Doctor Who Mittens!! I really love these. I changed the pattern(chart) a little as there was a fish in one section. I didn't recall who or what the fish was, so I made the Classic Question mark instead. Daleks, K-9, bowties... so fun! I need to put the light at the top of the TARDIS with duplicate stitch.. and done.
Just in time for the Doctor Who season premiere tonight!!

Zoo swap!

2011-07-05T10:48:00.002-04:00

I just received my Zoo swap package a few days ago. I was spoiled by the great pasluv2002.
Here's the swag...
First, very very cute little lemur and polar bear amigurumi! You can't see the lemur's tail but it is so big and funny... cute. The polar bear has sparkly filament crocheted in to make him look icy.

Next, she sent a pattern of a Red Tail Boa Constrictor.... AND all the yarn with which to make him! Wow.

Here's the rest.. yummy Zebra cakes(I had never had these before, veryyyy good)

Chocolate/pomegranate bar(goes without saying but I will.. YUM)

zebra tote, Burt's bees salve and lip balm, and a zoo key from her local zoo in Texas!

Thanks so much pasluv2002!

Ok now, here are the handmades I made for my spoilee, Nanishiori..
an Okapi amigurumi, koala tape measure, stitch markers, tote with a cloth pattern of an okapi( I made this up and I think it turned out pretty good!) and last but not least, a notepad with a tatted koala on it!

of course I sent other goodies too, I am just showing the things I made.

A little behind..

2011-07-05T10:35:00.001-04:00

oops. I am a little behind on reporting my swaps! Yikes!
Ok, so the one right after the Doctor Who swap was the Garden/Nature swap.. here is what I received from Nittanyknits.
First, I received these cute little stitch markers as a pre-gift! Cool. This lovely card was also enclosed.

Then, I got the big package. Yeah!

Look at it all. She made the oh-so-cute black bat garden gnome, what a great idea. She also sent temporary tattoos, Halloween fabrics, BEEEAUTIFUL Noro yarn, a project bag she made(it looks professional), chocolates, a Butterfly dishcloth, (which is the first in my "made by my Rav friends afghan project") flower scented perfumes, wonderful handmade soap(it smells SO good) a metal butterfly magnet, pens and sticky pad collection, butterfly notes, magnetic notebook, a smudge stick to rid my home of undesirable spirits, a very cute bee afghan pattern, a carrot with jellybeans in it, and two geocashing dogtags.

Wow what a haul! Thanks so much to Nittanyknits!

Close up of the gnome, cloth and Noro.

This is what I made for my spoilee.. thehysterian.

The handmades are an owl purse, leaf dishcloth, Steampunk style owl necklace, Fairy garden with mandrake, and a birdseed bag tote. Ok now, to the last swap I just received..see next blogpost.

Swappy Goodness!

2011-06-03T10:24:00.000-04:00

Another awesome swap has come and gone. But, oh, my children.. this one was so important. This was the Doctor Who swap! I had been waiting for this all year! First I will show you what I received from my most fabulous spoiler, Paula.
This package arrived in the mail. Note the so cute little 'evil' ducks on the tape. (I saved them!)

Inside everything was wrapped in sparkly papers with little star stickers and glittery blue yarn(saved that too!).
Serendipitously.. the first package I openned.. was the socks. Oh how I wanted those socks. I hugged them and said aloud..'I LOVE her!!(My sister and Rebel were watching me open everything, so I wasn't just talking to myself, though, I probably would have..)

They fit, and I love those socks! She also made me this cute project bag from the wonderful DW fabric from spoonflower.com. It even has a pocket on the outside! Fabulous yarn in Adipose colorway.. what will I make from this! Plus the cute pin!. She handmade River's journal for me.. it looks just like River's. A little tin of apple mints, and the little repurposed tin with the TARDIS held the oh, so, scary, Blink Angel necklace! EEEEEk.
I had written that I would love to get a kinder egg.. which are extremely hard to get in the US.. and she sent me 4! Wow. Below them is what was inside them, not to mention the nommy chocolate. Lastly, she sent treats for my sweet! He loved them, and he is usually picky about treats! Thanks so much to Paula for spoiling me rotten!

Ok, here is a one shot of the things I made for holynarf. She especially likes Doctor number 5.. so, her package was more or less him.. and the TARDIS. The cowl is called Tilting Tardis..it was, for some reason, hard for me to make, but I preservered! The mitts,.. no sweat. I painted the tote to look like DW#5's Cricket outfit. The Tardis wine box, painted, Tatted Tardis, Steampunk Tardis in bottle fob, Spoonflower Fabric, Doctor Who cursive shawl pin, celery, angel, and adipose stitch markers, and Tardis dumpling bag. I am so sorry this swap is over. It was a lot of fun! Plus, our group set a record of over 30,000 posts!!! We had 77, I believe, swappers in this swap.. but wow, 30,000? That is unbelievable!

Doctor Who swap... OMG!

2011-04-30T09:51:00.002-04:00

I received my Ravelry Odd Ducks group Doctor Who swap package from Paula. Wowowowowow!
Look! First of all.. the package.. so cute the ithe ducks! And Rebel was so excited my sister had to hold him back after this picture 'cos he wouldn't stay out of the box!

The sparkly packages wrapped with pretty yarn and stickers!

Then... first opened.. I clutched these to me stating 'I love her!"..

Tardis Socks! Wow. I wanted these so very much! I even tried to make some for

myself, and failed miserably. The pattern says cast on something like 72?.. well even using bigger

yarn and larger needles.. they weren't big enough. But these.. yeah! These fit!!!

Then I found a hand made "River Song" Journal. So cool, it looks like the Tardis and the

paper is canvas. There are also little apple flavored mints, yum, a tiny

Tardis repurposed tin that contained this awesome 'Don't Blink' Angel necklace!

Then I found this oh, so cute project bag made from the Spoonflower

11 Doctors fabric! Yes, they are all there and so cute!

And the Adipose yarn. Wow... so soft and cool! It came with the little pin too! What shall I make

with this!

And what? Kinder Eggs! You are kidding me?

There was a discussion about these eggs, which are chocolate eggs

that contain a toy, on Ravelry. About how hard they are to get.

And I get 4! wowow.

Finally..the reason Rebel was so excited. She included some

treats for him! He loved them. Which is cool, because he can be very

picky about treats, but he wanted to eat all of them! I made him share with

his visiting cousins, Brittany and Rascal.

Did I get spoiled or what? Yes yes I did. Thanks so much Paula!

And on another note.. here is what I made for my spoilee...holynarf.

She stated that she would love to have the Tilting Tardis cowl. Well, now she has it! I made the

Seal of Rassilon buttons to go on it. It was tough to make, but so pretty.

The Tardis mitts, I had made myself a pair, and she also wanted these, so I whipped her

up a pair too.

She said she liked project bags.. so.. I made her a Doctor 5 tote! I hand painted the

Doctor's coat and celery onto the tote.

Tardis tatted bookmark? Well, yes! This is not my pattern, but I did

add the white beads.

These stitch markers I made because she loves Doctor 5. His 'thing' is celery.

I also made the Key to time for her, and the Adipose and Weeping Angel stitchmarkers.

This is a wine box. Or so it said in the store. I painted it to look like the Tardis. Now she

can put anything she wants in it. Needles, yarn, anything.

She didn't want painted shoes, so I made this little dumpling purse and

painted the Tardis on it for her! I thought it was so cute, I made myself one, too! I had the

space fabric, and painted the Tardis.

Steampunk phone or keychain fob. Tardis blue beads and a some

wibbley wobbley stuff in a bottle. See the teensy Tardis inside?

I made that from fimo.

The Doctor Who cursive shawl pin. I had this idea, and I think it is sort of

cool and unique. It is all one piece of wire, bent to spell out Doctor Who.

I also made the little stickpin.

Finally... she REALLY wanted some of this fabric. So I got it for her.

I didn't want to ruin it by trying to sew anything with it.. so she got the whole piece

to do with as she pleases!

I also sent chocolates, stationery, patterns and such. But these are the things I am

proudest of. Hope she likes it all!

Fantasy Creature swap!

2011-04-15T08:01:00.000-04:00

Ok, the last swap I took part in on Ravelry was the Fantasy Creature swap. Here is what I received from my spoiler...wait for it... wait for it...

A Dragon Shawl! Isn't it fantastic? I have never received a shawl in a swap before, and I love this one because, A) it looks like a dragon's back, B) It is named Ruth after one of my very favorite dragons in Dragonriders of Pern, C) it is plenty big enough for me!
It was made by Adreeyen (her Rav name). She also sent me these goodies..

Witch Craft book, with tons of Halloweeny crafts, a diy frame with a dragon on it, knitting witch fabric, dragyn blood(aka Hot Tamales!)an adorable little blue Gnome, a lovely handmade shawl pin, Dragyn breath(hot pepper flakes) Perntyne gum (Dentyne fire gum, yum!) and these cute little circular needles.

Yes, I was spoiled rotten by Adreeyen.. thanks again!

Here is what I sent to my spoilee..Blushed.

I sent an example of each of her 5 favorite creatures. So...

Vampires. She mentioned that she wanted these little Twilight finger puppets, and no one had made

them for her, so I did.

I also made her the little gargoyle, and took a gargoyle photo I found online and made a stencil to make

this t shirt. The Stitch markers are of a little gnome knitting. Also, for her love of zombies.. my very own designed.. brainbag.

Also for the Twilight movie, I sent a wolf and heart charm...like Bella received in the Eclipse movie. The tote bag.. I found a picture of a Gnome holding a child, and did my paintshop magic on it, now he is knitting. I called the bag Gnome Gnitting!

Here are her 'extra' goodies, Elf cookies, seeds, yarn, and a very cute gnome mitten pattern.

The next swap I will be showing will be the Doctor Who swap... I can hardly wait to see what I get for that. I LOVE Doctor Who!!!

Been knitting

2011-03-22T09:37:00.000-04:00

I just had to show these. I am REALLY new to colorwork.. but I had to have these Doctor Who Tardis mitts. (the pattern was free on Ravelry).

There is a Doctor Who swap going on now.. and while searching Etsy for ideas, I found some Converse shoes, handpainted... with DW images. They were $180..(now $195 since the swap has begun, huh..)

anyway, I so loved them, and SO could not afford them... I went to my local WM store , bought some black hightops for $10... and painted them myself. I used images I liked, so, they are not exactly like the ones on Etsy.
I LOVE them. I wear them everywhere. Don't care that I am over 50 and wearing something 'young' people would wear. I have watched DW for YEARS, been a fan for years, and by golly, I am showing it. haha! I even bought extra pairs of close out shoes to paint. I haven't decided what to paint on the others yet.. Star Trek...Lord of the Rings...? I will figure it out later, for now, I am having fun wearing these.

Fantasy Creature swap ... sent

2011-03-22T09:23:00.000-04:00

Another month, another swap! I love swaps so.
This month we feature the Fantasy Creature swap. In this one, the spoilee picks 5 top fantasy creatures, and you create from there.
This is what my spoilee, Blushed, picked.
Vampires, Gargoyles, Gnomes, Elves, Zombies.
Here is what she received from me,
She loves Twilight, and in 'stalking' her I found she really wanted someone
to make these finger puppets. I also created the little gargoyle from crochet.
The gnome bag and stitch markers... well, I found a picture of a cute gnome holding a child.
Then, I manipulated it in my paintshop.. and now he is ''gnitting". I found this cool gargoyle picture online, and made a stencil of it... now she and I both have a cool shirt. And of course, for the zombie night on the town.. my signature 'brain bag'.

Princess Bride swap received

2011-03-07T10:57:00.001-05:00

This is what I received from valeta! I thought the Inigo thing was a shirt, turned out to be a project bag. Well, guess what. I took out the hem.. now it is a shirt! haha!

She made the blue and chocolate moebius scarf/cowl for me, there is the pattern for it, chocolates in a tin

stitch counter (love) and beautiful purple cascade yarn. Yeah!

Princess Bride Swap

2011-02-13T14:32:00.001-05:00

Here is what I sent Blindmoondesigns for the PB swap. She liked it! I will post what I get..when it arrives...

Matt Groening swap

2011-02-13T14:15:00.000-05:00

The latest swap I have done is the Matt Groening swap. He is the creator of the Simpsons, and my fav, Futurama!
Here is what I sent my parter, heartsy

I created three patterns, Leela, Bender and Nibbler. I made her a pillow from the Leela one. The rest, I guess, you can read what they are. I made the stitch markers myself, Nibbler pincushion, and the 'faux' cross stitch tote. I printed a cross stitch I found online onto fabric, and attached it to the tote.
Here is what I just received from my spoiler, strawberrycherry..

I LOVE the Nibbler embroidery the most, as he is my favorite character. I had never

heard of 'From Hell" which Groening also writes, so she sent me a book about it. I have already begun

reading it! The Yarn is really soft and shiny wool! Nice!

OH, MAN! That brain slug has got Rebel! I got it off just in time!

Thanks strawberrycherry!

Zombie swap, revisited

2011-02-13T14:07:00.000-05:00

Oh, I just realized I didn't post what I made my Zombie swap partner! Here is a picture of
all the gifts. My brain bag was a hit with the zombie lovin' ravelry members!

Matt Groening swap

2011-02-01T00:01:00.000-05:00

I just sent ( and she received very favorably) the Matt Groening swap package. For those unfamiliar, he is responsible for the Simpsons and Futurama. Futurama was the theme of heartsy's package. I will show more pics later, but I am here to post pics of the charts I created for her. These are untried, but the jist of it is, you cast on the required stitches, then starting at the bottom right, go across the bottom to the left. Black squares knit, white purl. Next row, left to right, black squares purl, white knit. Continue this way all the way up.
These 'should' turn out pretty much regular dishcloth size if using Peaches and Cream or Sugar and Cream cotton yarn.
Ok here is Bender Bending Rodriguez..click on him to enlarge.

Now Leela...

and finally ... Nibbler. Enjoy!

Zombie swap revealed!

2010-10-20T14:02:00.001-04:00

Wow.. this was such a surprise! A little back story..
I have been corresponding with swamps42 for a few months now on Ravelry. Well before the swap.
Well, I found out that she was my spoiler.. and boy, did she spoil me! I was so surprised and delighted by what she sent, I was almost in tears.
Here's why....

I openned my front door and there were two packages. One for me and one for Reble! She knit this fabulous sweater for Rebel! Isn't is lovely!!! You can't get to me more than by loving on my dog! It fits him perfectly, as you can see. She also sent the bed he is in!! The blanket you see behind him is one of the things she sent me. And it is mega soft!

Here is a close up of the yarn she hand-dyed for me! It is called Punk Entrails. I am currently knitting a shoulder wrap with it!

She also sent the little zombie pin and bat lollipop!

This plastic brain, roaches and large sticker were also in the package. Let me say the brain looks so real in person!

The twinkies, ala Zombieland, are for energy, and of course I will need a zombie survival guide and something else to read in my spare time. The little ducky is soap.

Here is a photo of most of the stuff. The postcard is of a park she used to live near. Beautiful!

I was so totally spoiled by swamps42 that I am still giggling. She also told me she sent away to get me.. OMG... an autographed picture of David Tennant... Doctor Who! Who better than the Doctor to get you thru an apocalypse!

It takes months to arrive, so it hasn't arrived yet, but we are crossing our fingers it arrives!

Oh, Rebel reallllly wanted the brain. It smells like a doggy toy..so...

but he isn't getting it. It is in one of my Halloween displays.

Thanks again swamps42!! Such an epic spoiler!

Halloween crafts

2010-10-10T12:57:00.000-04:00

If you know me, you know I crochet a lot of amigurumi. You also know I don't ever crochet from a pattern, as I just get lost and can't really read them. So, I tried something new. I found this cute skull that is a crocheted pattern, and decided to try it. Although I found out later I did some of the stitches wrong, I am really happy it turned out this good! Now little Yorick has a home in my Halloween decor.

Wanananananaaaa...

2010-10-04T10:16:00.002-04:00

Bat Shawl!!!
I finally finished it! Really, it only took me two months, which seems to be the going 'rate' of time... so I am ecstatic that I finished that soon! Yes.. the edging has problems..but that can be fixed later, if I do choose.
I am just pleased as punch to have it ready for Halloween! EEEE!

The second photo shows it face on.. but the sun made a little light swirl on the bottom..

that is not a hole! I used worsted weight instead of the sport weight.. and it turned out 80"x 40". Good thing, as I am evidently much larger than the original creator!

I also wanted to show how much yarn was left from three skeins..

Here...kitty kitty kitty...

2010-09-30T11:48:00.000-04:00

I have had a thing for vintage Halloween cats for a long time.(though I am not a big cat fan in real life)
I decided to make myself one. Here is my kitty... Halle Ween. She is all crocheted, except her facial features are felt. I got the idea for her cute little smile from somewhere online. I just love her! After making her candy corn, I realized I had make the middle part yellow and it should be orange. Oh well, make another. I am going to make her a dress or something from some of the Halloween fabric I have in my stash.
Today, I started making a similar Halloween bat. So far, he is adorable! I need to make his wings and legs and he will be finished too. Maybe a cape or little vest from Halloween fabric for him.
His name will be Sam Hain. Which is the Gaelic term for summer's end. It isn't really pronounced Sam Hain.. more like Sow-in, but..that is going to be his name.

Zombie/Apocalypse Swap September 2010

2010-09-15T08:58:00.001-04:00

Here are all the things my spoilee vestasahla got from me! I was so excited by this swap, I got finished early and sent it all out already. Ok..here we go..

the brain bag

I LOVE THIS! I even made myself one, but with bats inside!

The Armadillo of Darkness.

She said she liked armadillos, so, now she has a zombie one!

Stone throwing scarf.

The end of this scarf has a little pocket in it to hold stones to sling at zombies, or

in a more normal time, hold some money, credit card or snack!

In one of her fav color combos.

Zombie project bag.

I got the bag at the $1 store, made these stencils and voila! She is a dancer

that is why it says what it does on the front.

This other picture is the back.

Candies, toys, pins, and such for the zombie-phile. Zombie duck, name tag, Skully ice cube tray, tattoos, project bag. Brain candies, and brain flavored mints. yuck! The awesome shirt came with the half mask! Yarns for milady..

Finally, a zombie related toy for her kitty. Notice the "fur brainz!"

She doesn't post much, so I hope she liked everything!

The newest swap.. Zombies!!

2010-08-31T00:07:00.000-04:00

Well, ok, Zombies or Apocalypse. But since my spoilee likes the zombie scenario.. let's go with that. Here is one of the things I made her. It is called a Brainbag. I made it up myself! You can carry your essentials in it, but if a zombie attacks, you can throw it on the ground as a decoy brain and get away!

I also had this idea for a project bag, and made a stencil from transparency paper, and ta-dah, a zombie project bag is born. Made myself one, too!

Here is another thing I made, and since she probably won't look here, it shouldn't give it away.

I made a zombie armadillo! Complete with brain coming out of his little head, and a rib showing on his side.

My Disney swap received!

2010-08-31T00:00:00.000-04:00

I got my Disney swap from my spoiler Studioloo! Check it out. My favorite movie was Fantasia, and she had a hard time finding Fantasia themed items. Here is what I got. The hat she made with all types of yarns the front being alpaca and oh, so soft! And it fits great.
She sent me a Pookaloo Mickey Mouse, which Rebel wanted, a tree to grow, and the little jar she handmade with the mushrooms. It is now a ring holder.

The necklace has all dog pictures on it, as she knows I love me some dogs! A pretty stitch marker, and an antique Mickey skiing pin. Also, a needle tatting booklet I didn't have. The yarns.. I love both for different reasons. She hand dyed them both, and they are both so different, but lovely!

Thanks again Studioloo!

Disney swap sent

2010-07-29T11:03:00.000-04:00

Ok, here is what I sent to my spoilee in the Odd Ducks Disney swap. You have already seen Lady.. well.. how could I not send Tramp, too? I also made the little bowl of spaghetti.. it is a pincushion.

A funny side note..several months ago I found this odd looking brush thing in a box I got at a yardsale. Me being me, I didn't throw it away even though I didn't know what it was for. I thought maybe it was a cat brush, as the bristles were very short and dense. Well, turns out, it is a brush used to 'fluff' up yarn, which is exactly what I did to Tramp's face, chest and so on. It made him look especially trampy!

All of my Fair entries with ribbons

2010-07-20T12:01:00.001-04:00

Here is a photo of everything I did for the fair. As you can see.. little Lady won a 2nd place ribbon! yeah! Now I can tell her new Mom (she was made for a swap, remember?) that she is a ribbon winner!

Click on it to see a larger version.

Anyway.. 10 out of 14 entries won, and I received 13 ribbons total. I think that is the best I have ever done ... ratio wise. Ok, on to more knitting.. I started a pair of cuffs, finished one, and half way finished with the other. I will post a picture when they are finished. Also, working on another crochet amigurumi item.. also will post when finished.

Big hand for a little "Lady"

2010-07-06T10:45:00.000-04:00

Here is what I have been working on. Not officially knitting, except her collar will be. I crocheted this little "Lady" from Lady and the Tramp for a swap in Odd Ducks on Ravelry. I just finished her last night, and I do like her. She is bigger than I thought she would turn out, but that's what happens when you crochet on the fly! Anyway, I am secretly entering her in the fair before I send her to her forever home. Wouldn't it be COOL if she won a ribbon I could tell her new Mom about?

Video Game swap goodies!

2010-06-08T15:23:00.001-04:00

Here is what I received from PoisonedPeach in the Videogame swap. I told her I liked Resident Evil, Silent Hill, (zombie games) and Final Fantasy (there are 13 of them!~)

Here is what she came up with.. such awesomeness!
First.. number one comics of the aforementioned games! yay!

Stitch Bow floss holders and organizer for my tatting, Dpns in the Umbrella Corps (Resident Evil) colors of red and white, and sooo cool, brain shaped ice cube trays!!,...wait there's more...

Check out the goodies to eat! There is gamers grub, made especially so as not to get goo on your controller, Nintendo tin of candy, soo cute, Mana Potion enerygy drink, for when my hp gets low fighting monsters in Final Fantasy, and the Blood Bag! So funny! It is also an energy drink, and oh so zombieness fun!!

Finally....

Here I am in my very own Moogle (Final Fantasy) hat! Isn't it adorable? She wasn't sure if I would want the face on it, so she sent me the nose in case I did.. and I do. I think it will add to the cuteness of it, as if it isn't cute enough already! Thanks so much PoisonedPeach!!

Lord of the Rings swap "Received"

2010-05-19T23:49:00.002-04:00

Ready to be jealous?

I got this awesome box from my spoiler's boyfriend. And it was his idea to send this little note and key ahead of the package to intrigue me! Rebel was very interested in this lambas bread package.. it had doggie treats in it! Here is the box with everything.. lots of my favorite treats, but none I could get here in the US, as this package came from Canada. Awesome yarn in my favorite color, the little wooden box filled with rock salt, the needle roll of purple and green ( my fav color combo), the oh, so cute origami Fell Beast and Mumakil, the hand made Elven brooch, and OH the socks! They are my first pair of hand knit socks, they have an cool Celtic cable on them, Elvish writing, and they fit perfectly! They are meant to reflect the Rohan.. and they do beautifully! I was so totally spoiled in this swap.. thanks soo much again to LessiaS and her boyfriend!

Video Game swap

2010-05-19T10:11:00.000-04:00

Here is what I made for my spoilee, battlegirlai. It is a Cornet doll, from the game Rhapsody. (her fave game) She is all crocheted, except for her knitted scarf. I am so glad she liked her!

Here is the picture I used as a guide.

Also, I designed this Yar's Revenge Cloth. (another fave). I had to learn intarsia and duplicate stitch to make it.. yeah! Anyone interested and contact me about the pattern.

What to make?

2010-04-27T15:54:00.000-04:00

I have been learning to knit and doing these exchanges so much recently, that I have literally NOTHING to put in the fair. I am thinking of some knitting I can put in next year, you know, things I want to get finished, but, I don't think my knitting is good enough to enter this year. So, I will be probably only post swap things here for a bit, while I do some tatting for the fair... in JULY!!!
I am making some dishcloth patterns in Halloween motifs to put together to make myself an afghan, though. I will post each as I do it.

What I sent as the Lord of the Rings swap

2010-04-27T01:01:00.000-04:00

My spoilee, RainbowConnection, finally got her package, so I can show what I made her here now. I went a little crazy this time.. she liked this scarf, and since it was leafy..and elvish-y, I made it. I need to make myself one now, I thought it was so cool.

I made these Hobbit ears. I saw some online somewhere on Etsy, I think, and made her a pair. I also made the earcuff on the ear you see.

This is meant to be a headband, or, if you pull it down to your neck, a collar to wear over a t-shirt. It has little leaves on it.. see?

These mushrooms, and bookmarks were just for fun.

Here is also another handmade item.. the little wooden box thing in the center. It is like a little wooden sachel, and I wood burned her real name in Elvish on one side, and her computer name, RainbowConnection, in Elvish on the other side. I bought enough yarn for her to make a shawl, as she said she wanted to try that. She also received the other things here.

I haven't received my package yet, nor do I know who it is coming from. I will post here when I get it! Should be pretty soon!

Alice swap gifts arrive!

2010-04-06T00:29:00.000-04:00

I received my Alice in Wonderland swap gifts and they are awesome! Here is a photo of my most fav thing.. the Cheshire Cat! Isn't he adorable? He is sitting next to my handpainted (by me) Alice in Wonderland teapot. People who really know me, know I don't really like cats, but I have always loved the Cheshire Cat for some reason. Loopiedoo (her online name) did a great job of making him for me. And look what else I got... This oooooh so soft yarn. Baby Alpaca..chunky. 105 yds. I don't know what I will make from it, but it will be fab!

And, all of these other great things! Alice mints, tea in the tin, music from the movie, notepads galore, napkins, bookmark of the cat, baby mock turtle, and a book on how to knit socks!! What a great swap partner!!!

Lord of the Rings Swap

2010-03-24T09:12:00.001-04:00

Seeing howit seems no one ever looks on this blog, I have decided to put up a picture of one of the things I did for my current swap, Lord of the Rings. My swap partner likes Hobbits... Hobbits like...
MUSHROOMS!

I saw this idea on Ravelry, and thought it was adorable. A Hobbit has to have a good supply of mushrooms to be happy!

Then, I had the bright idea of making my own favorite mushroom..the morel.. for me! I crocheted the mushrooms. I think they are the cutest!! If you think so, or don't leave me a comment.

Alice Swap on Ravelry.. what I sent..

2010-03-17T15:07:00.001-04:00

The package has arrived, so I can show the stuff here now! Here is the Mad Hatter's hat I crocheted for loopiedoo. It is almost 10" high! I crocheted the top, then bound it off, then crocheted the body of the hat adding it onto the top to make it more squarish. I knitted the band of one of her favorite colors, and finally added the felt label. I then stiffened it with a very thin solution of modpodge. It stands up great, but isn't too hard to wear.

I sent this yarn which was really hard to do, as I fell in love with it when it arrived! I also tatted her a small Cheshire cat, Hat and teapot. She received some other purchase awesome items, too, these wer a few. I will post what I receive, when I receive it!

Alice in Wonderland Eat Me cupcake chart

2010-03-16T09:55:00.000-04:00

Here is the Eat Me Chart. It is the same approximate size as the Drink me Chart, so if you made both, they should look like a set. Knit the dark squares, purl the light squares on the right side, knit all on the wrong side.

Alice in Wonderland gift chart

2010-03-11T10:28:00.001-05:00

I am in the Alice in Wonderland swap on Ravelry, and it inspired me to create this dishcloth. Feel free to use it for yourself or as a gift, but no selling the pattern or the made objects!

Doggone it...

2010-02-02T00:28:00.000-05:00

Well, I guess this blog isn't called dog-gone knit for nothing! I just finished this little dog for a friend, as a surprise. He is actually crocheted, and I did him from a photo. He is about 6" tall. I also made the little fridge magnet from oven baked clay. Though this is not my favorite type of dog... I think he is so cute! I may have to make myself one! Anyway... Pugs!

Ravelry Favorite Author/Novel exchange

2010-01-13T19:23:00.001-05:00

Good even'ing...(said in a Vampire accent)

My partner in the exchange just received her package, and one of her favorite genres is the vampire novel. So, I created this package based on the Twilight series... mostly.

I made her Bella's hat, a pattern from Ravelry. I am very glad, Jenni said it fit! I actually made another one first, but I thought it was too small, so got some larger yarn and made her a larger one. I also made this vampire bite necklace, which was not my original idea, but the one of meekssandygirl, but still very cute. I did, however, make up the vampire's kiss ... lips with vampire teeth attached! I crocheted her an apple pincushion, and also tatted her an apple bookmark (Mark Myers' pattern) and a bat bookmark (my own pattern). She also got some Twilight stitch markers I made for her, some patterns, and other goodies as seen in the photo. I am glad she liked everything!!

Presents for me and others!!

2009-12-21T11:26:00.001-05:00

Ok, it has been a while, so here is what I have been doing. Firstly, I have started the bat shawl, and only have the bottom diamond done, but so far so good. Now, I did finish my bat scarf, made my using the bat cloth pattern over and over. Here it is!

Then, I made a scarf for my Mom for Christmas. She wanted the tulip pattern, so I did the tulip cloth pattern, then did the basket weave continuing from it for the length. I love that basketweave. It looks really hard, but is soooo easy!

Then, I did another separate tulip cloth, and attached it to the other end. I did it that way so the tulip wouldn't be upside down on the other end. The sides of the cloth curl under a little, and I don't know how to prevent that, so if anyone can tell me.. let me know. I think she may like it. Here is a photo. What next. Well I have to make something for my Favorite Author/Novel exchange... hmmmm what will that be? Stay tuned...

Send me your good thoughts!

2009-11-30T00:19:00.000-05:00

I need them, as I am trying something very adventurous! I have just started the Bat Shawl. Oh, I know I have only been knitting for about 6 months, but I REALLY want this shawl. I bought the yarn online, and it is beautiful, I must say. Here is a photo. Dark variations of purples to dark blues and black. This is the first time I have ever knitted with lace yarn. It is quite the challenge. I had to buy bamboo needles, because the yarn kept sliding off of the aluminum ones I had. I also sharpened the bamboo ones, ( is this allowed?) and now it is soooo much easier to pick up the thread! I started this yesterday, and it will take me quite a while, I know. Especially, since I have decided to not do anything else while I knit this. Like watch tv or compute. It needs all my attention. So, I just finished Chart A.. and so far so good. I am not saying I didn't make mistakes, but, at least to me, they are not noticeable. And, by the way, how DO those mistakes happen when you are being so very careful? Hmmmm. ? Like I said, send me your good thoughts, I will certainly need them!

Favorite Animal Exchange... what I made

2009-11-13T15:20:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone,

Well, I can finally show what I made for my Ravelry exchange. It was "Favorite Animal" and my partner liked Tree Frogs! Well, since I am not experienced enough to knit her one, I thought I would try to crochet her one. I planned on tatting one too, but, I thought a tatted one would be too small for this exchange. So, I went to crocheting one. Now, I only know how to single crochet. That is all I could ever remember from what my sister tried to teach me. So, I just started crocheting, and oddly enough, with all the 3D tatting I do, it was pretty easy to make this GIANT tree frog! He is about 2ft long, and boy, it was hard to give him up!

Then, I made this little 3D tatted frog, and put magnets in him, so he could be put on the fridge, or hold her stitch markers, as he is doing in the photo. I love the big eyes! I really enjoyed the exchange, and am going to join in more next year! Hope you enjoy the photos!

Happy Halloween

2009-10-30T11:37:00.002-04:00

Uuuunnnnnnnnnnnnn! That is what you say after a Zombie bites a hole in your head!

Here is my "Zombie ate my brain" Hat!!! I am in an exchange group on Ravelry, and found out recently

that they were going to have an Apocalypse/Zombie exchange next year. Well, I thought up this hat for it, and began working on it to see if I could do it. I knitted a basic hat, crocheted a little disk and sewed the disk inside the hat. Turned the hat right side out, and... GASP!... cut the hat open! That was really hard to do, as I had knitted the hat pretty nicely. Then I made brain matter from I-cord, and sewed it to the disk. I sewed little red veins into the brain and blood onto the hat for effect. I know, I know, there is no blood in the brain, but it looks creepier! Really, I am a "pretty normal" person, but a friend of mine got me hooked on zombie video games a few years ago, so, that is why I thought this would be fuuuuunnnnnnn.

Here Rebel models the Brain Hat.

wooo WHO

2009-10-19T12:13:00.000-04:00

Ta dah! I am very proud to present my Owl Gloves! First let me say, this is not my pattern, I got if off of Ravelry. Ok, now...this is the very first pair of gloves I have ever made. And, only the second cable pattern I have ever done. I know, I know, there are mistakes in the finished product. It seems I can't knit without making mistakes. I really don't know how it happens either! But, they turned out, and I am very pleased with them. I used 8" double pointed needles, or dpns as they are called. That is sort of long for dpns, but I want to make sure my stitches don't fall off. And, they didn't. I am thinking of making another pair, to match another coat I have. There is also an owl sweater I have been eyeing. But, I KNOW I can't make a sweater, so I saw where someone make a poncho like thing from that pattern, so, that is what I am thinking of making. We shall see. Christmas is coming soon, so, I will have to put that project on hold, as I have a couple of Christmas gifts I want to try to make. Anyway... I love my gloves...

Brain slug

2009-10-10T00:31:00.000-04:00

oh, poor Rebel has contracted a Brain Slug! This 'cute' little guy is from Futurama.. I saw some on Ravelry, and had to have one. I didn't use the pattern, because though I know very basically how to crochet, (don't ask me what stitches are what!) I can't follow a pattern. So, here he is.. free handed!
Don't worry, Rebel is ok!

Cable Owl Cowl

2009-10-05T10:40:00.001-04:00

YEAH! I just learned how to do a cable! I saw this pattern on Ravelry, and I thought it would really neat to wear to the next Harry Potter movie. It is called the Owl Cowl. It was pretty easy, I must say, and I love the little owls! I have to get little buttons to sew on for the eyes. The cowl came out the size the pattern said, but it was a little small for me, ( I have a large head, and also neck!) So, I wet it and stretched it a little. I may make another, this time adding 2 more owls, which only involves doing a repeat of the 'repeats' she has in the pattern. No prob. I LOVE IT!

Knitting for fun!

2009-10-01T15:50:00.000-04:00

I saw this hat and I couldn't resist making it. It was reallllly easy, even for me. Now my Mom wants one! It is called the No hair (bad hair) day hat. It actually fits me, but I thought Rebel made a better model!!

My first knitting post

2009-09-29T08:59:00.002-04:00

Hello!
Just a brief paragraph about me. I just taught myself to knit in May. I have tatted for years, but wanted to learn to knit because I have accumulated so many knitting magazines and some needles over the years, and ...dog gone it...I should learn! So I went on the internet and voila'! I am still learning, a stitch at a time, but it is coming along. I joined the group, Ravelry.
OH! such a wonderful place full of great (many free) patterns and lovely people. If you would like to join, go here http://www.ravelry.com
Thanks for visiting and stay tuned...