Holiday Thoughts

On my long train ride from New York City to Cleveland, Ohio, I had an ample amount of time to reflect on our modern idea of doing more in a shorter amount of time and whether this thinking is healthy for the human spirit or not. Right now I am of the opinion that doing less but with great enthusiasm is more important than getting more things done.

I have also been reflecting on this in my art work. It is easy to get caught in this idea that you need to produce more, make more, and try to sell more. However, the act of enjoying the process and letting your creative life grow and meander is also important.

So now I am in Ohio and I am in the process of finishing a shawl that I started in the Czech Republic two years ago. At this point it is almost finished but it has taken me two years to get it done! But that's not the point. The point is it has the same quality that an old friend acquires after years together. This shawl was with me through my first year of ESL teaching, traveled with me on the bus to Vienna, made a long journey on the plane back to the United States and will be a finished article of clothing that will come back to New York City to keep me warm at my current teaching job. And hopefully it will travel abroad with me again in the near future!

Cream Knit Scarf

I would like to introduce my newest creation, a bulky weight, cream colored, knit scarf. I have been working with heavy weight yarns as of late because of their fun, funky texture. This scarf is suitable for a woman or man and it is super, super, duper warm! It is a wool and acrylic blend yarn and has beautiful hints of blue and brown interwoven into the main cream colored yarn. It is also easy care machine washable. Hope you enjoy and please feel free to visit http://www.etsy.com/listing/63659261/cream-knit-scarf for more photos and info. :)

Crochet Beanie Hat

Super warm crochet beanie hat!

So I am finally adding a new blog post after several months hiatus! I must confess that outside activities have taken me away from knitting and crocheting for a bit but now I am trying to fit it back into my schedule.

I crocheted this hat using lion brand super bulky weight wool/acrylic blend yarn and used two strands of thread held together at the same time. This means that it is super warm and it is 8.5" long so it can cover your ears. It is also easy care machine washable. The top of the hat is denim blue and the bottom is a cream color with accents of blue and brown woven into the yarn. http://www.etsy.com/listing/63014967/crochet-beanie-hat

Right now my mom's kitty is sitting on my lap watching me type this, so I thought maybe she would like to be included in the post.

In addition, I have updated my background on this blog. Shabbyblogs.com has quite nice backgrounds for anyone looking to spice up their blog.

Anyhoo, hope everyone is having a warm and snuggly holiday weekend with their family or someone special and please let me know if you have any comments on the hat or my new background!

Update

Quick update! The scarf is finished and photos of it will appear very soon!

Skully Organic Scarf Sneak Peek

This is a sample of a Skully Scarf that I am in the process of finishing. It is made from organic cotton yarn and is machine washable in cold water, delicate cycle. It is a lovely beige and brown and will measure over 56" upon completion. Check back soon for updates!

Bennington Bunny Updated

This is Bennington, who I have recently updated with a big and friendly pink bow! Bennington is very excited about his new bow and thinks that it makes him look very formal and stunning.

For those of you who have not met Bennington before, he is a very friendly amigurumi Bunny who lives in the forest of Nod with all his friends. Bennington is 10.5 inches tall and is able to stand on his own.

For more information about Bennington and all his friends, please visit http://www.etsy.com/listing/41815608/bennington-amigurumi-crochet-bunny

Etsy goodies goodies team diamond hunt!

Check out the Etsy goodies goodies team diamond hunt!
http://etsygoodiegoodiesteam.blogspot.com/2010/05/egg-team-presents-diamond-hunt.html 

Find all the diamonds hidden in participating Etsy shops and get entered to win a whole lot of really cool handmade goodies! :)
(Blue Skully Wrist Warmers are courtesy of yours truly.)

Updates!!!!!!!!!!

So I have been slow to update new crafts creations, but I am currently in the process of experimenting with organic materials.
On an exciting note, Henrietta Hen was featured in an Etsy treasury listing, so be sure to check it out!
http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4bece74058976d915e80eed3/dont-be-chicken

Amigurumi Crochet Pirate Dog

So this is my newest creation Mad Max, the fierce and feisty pirate dog!

Max loves sailing the high seas in search of treasure! Max has traveled far and wide, including to the islands of Barbados, Easter Island, and even the Cape of Good Hope. He has seen many things on his journeys, including a great white whale, seas of sharks, and even come face to face with a giant squid.

When Max is not busy traveling around the world, he is busy learning to play the fiddle, writing music about his travels far and wide.

Max was lovingly crocheted using cotton acrylic blend yarn, and his eyes and vest were hand stenciled and cut from acrylic felt.

Max is very excited to meet you and hopes that you will join him on a journey across the high seas to meet with many new and exciting adventures!

Charlie, Crochet Sock Monkey

So this little guy is Charlie, the crochet sock monkey.  He loves writing songs with his friends and rocking out in his band Monkeys in Space, On the weekends, they loving playing gigs at various locations in and around Manhattan.

When Charlie isn't hanging with his band, he is busy with his day job as a paralegal. Charlie works very hard at his day job so he can use his income to buy for guitar equipment and also to pay off his student loan.

Charlie is super excited to meet you and would love for you to come and hear his band play one weekend if you are in Manhattan. He also invites you to visit him and his Etsy friends at http://www.etsy.com/shop/flowergurlcrafts and hopes you are having a super, amazing, groovy day!

Crochet Amigurumi Ninja Bear

Hi everyone! This will be a short post since I am quite tired, but I wanted to introduce you to my latest amigurumi creation. He is a little Ninja bear (well, 9" little) and his name is Alfonso. He is a very clever ninja with years of experience training in all forms of martial arts and uses his ninja powers for good deeds far and wide.

In his spare time, Alphonso is a big fan of adventure sports such as kayaking and white water rafting as well as surfing and water skiing.

At the present moment Alfonso is trying to figure out how to do his taxes, so he apologizes that he cannot spend more time chatting but if you would like to ask him a question, please feel free to write him a note in the comments line and he promises to make a quick reply.

Also feel free to learn more about Alfonso and visit him at http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=44340866 and have a great day!

Ninja Eggs!

This is Harold, Jonathan, and Maude (front to back). They are feisty little egg ninjas that have already been sent on a wild mission to create a hippity, hoppity, Easter for some great young friends in Virginia.

Harold, Jonathan, and Maude are really excited about this Easter and sharing it with their new friends. In their free time, they love roving the forest, practicing their wild ninja moves on unsuspecting visitors far and wide.

When not practicing ninja moves, the three, who are inseparable, love playing ice hockey, reading comic books and watching professional golf on TV. Harold, Jonathan, and Maude are super excited to meet you and welcome any questions you may have about ninja life or their plans for a very happy Easter.

Adrian, Amigurumi Crocheted Piglet

Meet Adrian! Adrian is a little amigurumi crocheted piglet that currently lives on the farm with Shelton and Hamilton. But Adrian is very excited to announce that he will soon be moving to Virginia to be adopted by a very special little girl (who is also known as my roommates granddaughter).

Adrian is very excited to meet his new adopted mom and tell her all about his love of camping, writing long letters to pen pals, and seeing the world far and wide. In Adrian's spare time, he loves visiting the natural history museum, reading about dinosaurs, and doing his math homework. (Adrian says he is not kidding, he really does enjoy doing math homework.)

Adrian is very excited to introduce himself and hopes you enjoy reading about him and all his friends. :)

Etsy Goodie Goodies Team Egg Hunt!

Hello Everyone!

I am writing a post about the fabulous Etsy Goodie Goodies Team Egg Hunt. The goal of people participating in the egg hunt is to find all the hidden eggs in participating team members Etsy shops' listings. All members shops are listed on http://etsygoodiegoodiesteam.blogspot.com/. The winner of the egg hunt will win a really cool gift basket full of handmade goods made by participating team members.

The above is my contribution to the gift basket that will be received by the winner. He is a cute little Easter chick in a basket made from cotton acrylic blend yarn and handmade polymer clay eyes. He is stuffed with polyester fiberfill and is able to stand on his own.

Be sure to check out the above link to see the other team members contributions to the gift basket and if you have time, participate in the egg hunt and check out all the other team members fabulous Etsy shops!

Meet Dominic, The Corporate CEO Bear

While Dominic is waiting to introduce himself, I just wanted to write a short note about how these little animals seem to be taking on a life of their own. I started with the intention to make a bear, but after he was all 'finished', he looked at me with an inquiring glance, as though he was requesting something else. Ahah! He is not just a bear, but a very important bear with a very important job, and thus we have Dominic.

So this is Dominic. He is the head CEO of a major corporate company known as Beary Good Business Directories. His company is responsible for listing all corporate information on business and manufacturers around the country. Dominic is a very busy bear and he is often seen traveling around the country meeting with other high powered business executives and discussing marketing techniques, sales, and product development.

In his spare time off from his busy schedule, Dominic loves spending time with his wife and three children who live in Cleveland, Ohio. Dominic and his family love to go camping in the summer as well as go trout fishing and water skiing. Dominic also is a big fan of science fictions novels and playing chess with his oldest son who is 15.

Dominic is very excited to meet you and invites you to visit him at the etsy shop at http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=42810980&ref=cat2_gallery_1 . He also hopes you are having a productive and fun day. :)

Henrietta Hen

Meet Henrietta Hen! Henrietta is very excited that Easter is on the way. She loves nesting with the other Hens in the Hen House and talking about the latest celebrity gossip on the farm. Henrietta herself is a very proud and famous quilter who is known far and wide for her lovely and detailed quilting techniques. Henrietta is also a part of the Ladies of Laurettesville Farms church choir and enjoys singing gospel as well as jazz and spirituals.

Henrietta is very excited to meet you and would love for you to visit her at the Etsy shop at http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=42102903 to learn more about her and her friends. Henrietta also gladly responds to any questions you may have about her background or her favorite things.

Henrietta says she is very pleased to meet you and hopes that you are as excited as she is that the Easter season is soon upon us.

Bennington Amigurumi Crochet Bunny

This is Bennington. He lives in the forest of Nod, right up the road from Hamilton and his brother Shelton.

Bennington spends his days playing hopscotch in the forest and perusing through the ever beautiful and enticing fields of clover and daisies.

Bennington loves being outside with his family and friends and also enjoys listening to the birds sing and using them as inspiration for his own song writing. Bennington is currently a member of the musicians society of Nod and hopes one day to play his cello at Carnegie Hall in NYC.

Bennington would like to give you a warm welcome and invites you to visit him in Nod someday when you get the chance. There you will meet all his friends in the Official Bunny Orchestra of Nod and afterward he invites you for tea and crumpets with his family and friends.

Bennington also invites you to visit him at the Esty shop at http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=41815608&ref=cat1_gallery_2 and hopes you are having a lovely and delightful day.

Shelton, Hamilton's Little Brother

Meet Shelton! Shelton is a little piglet who loves to have lots of fun. Right now he lives on a big farm in western Massachusetts with his Mommy and Daddy. He also has lots of friends, including Henry the sheep, Bonnie the cow, and Franny the French Hen. (Franny has a visa right now but is working on getting her American green card.)

While on the farm, Shelton has many responsibilities, including cleaning the pig pen, washing the trow, and managing the piglet soccer team. In his spare time, Shelton enjoys going to the movies with his friends, reading horror novels, and drawing cartoons.

When Shelton grows up, he hopes that he can be a superhero journalist and write about all his brother's and other superhero's adventures. His role models include April O'Neill, anchor for Channel 6 news and friend to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Perry White, editor in chief for The Daily Planet, famous home of none other than Superman himself.

Hamilton's Cape

After much begging and pleading on the part of Hamilton, I have agreed to make him a cape. Hamilton said that he cannot be a proper superhero without some form of superhero identification. After much discussion on what we would use for colors and a logo, Hamilton said that he would like it to be blue because blue represents loyalty, truth, and harmony. We agreed together to put a big H on the back to represent his name in the hope that people will remember him and his good deeds.

The process of making the cape was diagraming the H on a piece of graph paper. One box on the graph paper represents one stitch in cream colored yarn. The surrounding yarn is knit in denim blue. Instead of binding off the yarn, I decided to pull the tail of the yarn through the stitches in the interest in giving it a more draw-string type shape similar to to many superhero capes that we know.

Hamilton is very excited about his new cape and he hope that you enjoy it as much he does.                                                                                                                                                                

Hamilton Super Hero Pig

Meet Hamilton, the Super Hero Pig! Despite his somewhat calm and quiet appearance, this masked marauder is actually super fast, quiet as a mouse, and has the strength of an ox. He loves saving maidens in distress, freeing innocent victims from harm, and pursuing dark and sinister villains.

Right now Hamilton is visiting the city of New York, where he hopes to meet lots of other superheros, including Spiderman, Batman, and of course the ever popular X-men.

Hamilton also enjoys making new friends, playing Monopoly, as well as reading mystery novels and cooking his ever favorite food, Shepherd's Pie. Hamilton hopes you will visit him at http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=41002035 and that you have a great day!

Amigurumi Kitty Cat!

Meet Midnight! He is a very special and new amigurumi Kitty Cat and he would like to say hello! Midnight is very excited to join all of the other little amigurumi creatures at flowergurlcrafts and he hopes that he can be your friend too! Midnight is crocheted from cotton acrylic blend yarn and his eyes and nose are made from baked polymer clay. He enjoys chatting with the other amigurumi creatures in the shop as well as purring, taking long catnaps on the terrace, listing to oldies on the radio, and playing the guitar. (Midnight wants you to know that despite preconceived notions that cats don't play the guitar, he thinks that he is very good.) To learn more about Midnight, Midnight suggests that you visit him at the shop by following this link. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=40874373
Midnight says it is nice to meet you and he hopes that you can talk again soon.

Heart Wrist Warmers

So this is my first experiment in intarsia knitting, or the practice of creating pictures in your knitted work. I mapped out the heart stitches on graph paper so that one square equals one red stitch. The cream colored background is knit in a ribbed stitch so that it is stretchable. The white yarn is wool acrylic blend of which I am a big fan, mainly because it is washable, warm, and not itchy. My wrist warmers are 3.5" high and 3.25" across and stretchy but also retain their shape. Let me know what you think or check out more photos at http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=40322591! Cheers :)

Greetings and welcome to my weekly update!
This week I have been spending uber time using the blur settings in photoshop to eliminate background noise from my photos. The hardest part is lassoing the part that you want to keep in focus. While I certainly need a lot more practice, you can see how using one of the blur tools draws the focus to the hat and face while blurring out the background. (Special thanks to my model for modeling the hat!)

Hello and greetings!

So I am updating again with a new scarf, only this one is called a mobius scarf after the famous moebius strip that we all learned about in elementary school math! It is a continuous strip that I connected at one end folds in the middle. The original moebius strip was said to be created by August Ferdinand Mobius, a German mathematician. He said by producing a belt with only a half twist in the middle, you would create an object with only one side. (Please see Wikapedia for more details!)

But anyway, mobius scarves have become a fashionable and warm accessory for women who want a scarf without the worry of it coming undone because the tail flies away or unrolls. It can be worn long as a fashionable accessory piece or wrapped around the neck twice for a warm, tailless scarf that will not blow away in the wind.

This one is a blue denim color made from wool and acrylic yarn. It is 19 inches long and 7 inches wide. For more photos and pricing info, please visit  http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=38745914.

Any comments or requests are welcome!

Denim Colored Knit Scarf

So I am really excited about this new scarf made with two skeins of bulky weight yarn knit together. It is approximately 56" in length and can be worn with casual as well as dress clothes. It is definitely suitable for a weekend out with the family and also would match nicely with a pair of jeans and a flannel shirt. It is wool and acrylic so it is machine washable.

Feel free to check out more photos at http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=38342168.

Cheers! :)

Hand Knit Winter Scarf

Hand knit scarf. I made this scarf using three skeins of yarn in burgundy, dark gray, and richly textured multicolor yarn to give it the rainbow effect. It is a very warm winter scarf and suitable for man, woman, or child as it is durable and machine washable.

Please feel free to visit http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=37795750 for more info and photos.