Chickie Bags by Ma

A year and a half ago I was at the yarn store with a friend of mine because she wanted to learn how to knit so she could knit scarves as Christmas presents. While there I found Homespun yarn and thought "how pretty!"

Little did I know it would be a little difficult to work with because of the texture of the yarn. It is created in the homespun style, but has a thread that spirals around the homespun in order to help one knit or crochet.

I tried a few different things with it and found I didn't really appreciate this particular yarn as should. I put the balls of yarn away thinking I would find someone to give them to or donate to a local church or Salvation Army.

Right around Thanksgiving 2011, I pulled out three balls of faux suede yarn and made 2 of what I am now calling "Chickie Bags". I had made them for two little girls and they turned out to be WONDERFUL. I got a call from the father of the two daughters asking if I would make two more for his nieces for Christmas and one for his sister's best friend's daughter as well.

So, there I was digging around my totes of yarn and came across that darn homespun and thought, "Why not try?" So I did. If for nothing else, the yarn is PERFECT for my chickie bags! I now am in love with this yarn for just this particular project. These bags are crochet. When finished, they have the feel of being woven and have a durable thickness to them.

My supervisor asked for two for her daughters (who screamed with glee when they got them) and a co-worker's daughter asked for one. I have been updated on that situation and was told that the 6 year old girl spent quite a bit of time finding "purse worthy items" to put in her very first purse! I love it and am so glad that the idea came to me in the first place. I think it's more fun for me to hear about the girls and what they think.

I have made 8 so far and no changes or upgrading has been done to the initial idea. It's simple and quick and the end result is one happy little girl (or several in this case). Now the big girls want!

If you are feeling down or at a loss for something to do, pick up some of that old yarn and try your hand at making something fun like this. The rewards are spectacular :-)

Until next time, happy crochet!

Midnight In The Garden

The original design is called Butterflies With Cherry Blossoms, designed by Al Hannen. The supply list asked for 17" x 17" Parchment 14-count Aida-Zweigart.



Using the original directions really makes the dark blue in the butterflies stand out, and gives the finished project an old and somewhat washed out look. This is, of course, my opinion. I still love the design and have loved it since I first set eyes on it in The Cross Stitcher about five thousand years ago.

So, after 5,000 years, I was searching for the perfect fabric for a 20,000 stitch project that required BLUE. Not just any blue, as I found out, but a particular blue. I ended up with various kinds of fabrics with a variety of different hues. Disgusted with myself for not being able to make up my mind on this rather awesome project (I have yet to start but have found the right fabric) I was digging around my totes and came across this pattern.



The idea of putting this pattern on the Navy Blue 14 count Aida was such a great idea I began work on it immediately and forgot about the AWESOME PROJECT. Adding to the fun, I used Sulky Shimmer, Holoshimmer and Sliver Metallic threads for much of the back stitching throughout the piece. I really wanted to use it all over the place, but felt my exuberance would be overkill. Staying smart kept this piece clean and "just right".

I am super pleased with it and might have issues giving it to someone. I have found that one of my co-workers is a beautician who cuts hair beautifully and because she doesn't have a business license will only take barter. When I took this piece to work to see if it would be a good idea for barter, I was duly informed that not only was it mighty fine the way it is, but if I were to turn it into a framed piece or a pillow, I could be guaranteed many visits of my stylist. I laugh at this because my hair has been growing wild for so long, it might take a true act of God to tame the wild tendrils. We shall see what happens!



The pattern is beautiful and as always, Al Hannen's designs are always simple and elegant. If you get the change, maybe try your hand with this pattern and throw a little something into the mix that is all YOU. It is my opinion that designs and patterns are just a basic foundation to build on so one should never be shy about embellishing at will.



Until next time my savvy stitchers!

Celtic Peacock Completed

Yes, here it is. The Celtic Peacock in a very finished format. I have included the backside as well for "inspection". Many people who have been cross stitching for a very long time will always try and take a peek at the backside to see how perfect the piece really is. It sounds awful, but is all part of this particular craft. Similar to giving a crochet or knitted scarf with multiple yarns used, the more experienced person will "inspect" the finished scarf looking to see how the person giving the scarf did with changing colors. No easy feat and not very easy to hide if done incorrectly.

You see, by watching someone "inspect" your latest creation you are, in fact, being given a compliment. If the person has no immediate reaction and is actually viewing the piece completely and then saying, "This is very nicely done", you can be sure that you did a fantastic job of it and the other is very pleased. Sometimes messy backsides cannot be helped, but a messy backside that is disorganized, knotted and tangled....well, if you have had that you know what I mean. We swear no one will ever see it but there is always SOMEONE who happens upon that one piece and says something goofy about the backside, ha, ha.

Now that this is finished I will be making the progression video. It will be posted here and on YouTube for your viewing pleasure.

Until next time..... happy stitching!

EXECUTIVE DECISION

For quite some time I have felt sad, lethargic....sort of like I had a nasty case of ennui but a little lower than that. I would go to work, but when I came home all I "felt" like doing was laying on the couch watching something completely stupid. Housework didn't get done, no lovely crafts were being done and I really felt useless.

One day it occurred to me that I was wasting so much great time and I needed to re-boot my brain. Instead of thinking about work after work, I would do my wonderful crafts. Instead of thinking about work while at work, I would think about my wonderful crafts.

The change has been monumental (get it? monu-MENTAL???? Sorry, I thought it was funny). In the passed few weeks I have not only been VERY busy with my cross stitch, I have drawn a knotwork piece (a quick thing due to a time constraint), finally figured out how to double crochet....have no idea why I didn't get it before it's totally easy, cleaned up my home office, re-arranged my bedroom, FINALLY put all my crafty stuff and important papers in the plastic tubs I bought 6 months ago, placed all of my almost finished projects on the top shelf of my shelving unit so I can tackle them one by one AND managed to save OVER $2,000!

How is this possible you ask? I'll tell you! When one is terribly busy doing crafts and feeling great about doing what we love, spending money on frivolous things doesn't happen. Also, The Secret, which has been a wonderful tool in helping with positive thought has a saying in it that is, "Money comes easily and frequently". When I tell others at work this phrase they sarcastically respond with, "Yeah, every Friday like clockwork". Well, they can stuff their sarcasm and gloom and despair. I've managed to do very well for myself in just a few short weeks all because of one little EXECUTIVE DECISION!

I came up with the EXECUTIVE DECISION a few years ago when I found I couldn't stay on track or attain certain goals. Life has a way of bombarding you with left turns and it becomes almost impossible to stay on the right path that goes to the goal or main objective. Instead of looking at the BIG PICTURE, I just look at some little things that are bothersome. Ignoring little things does not make it all go away so one really does have to decide what to do. This can apply to big things as well, but the idea is the same either way. Once the decision is made, do not deviate from it, it's a done deal. You know this to be true anyway.

So, having decided that work is not what is most important to me and I only have to endure that eight hours a day five days a week, why am I so worried about it? Why have I allowed it to take over my mind this way? There is no reason so we turn the brain around and look at the things that make us feel good. Reading, cross stitch, crochet, knitting, quilting, drawing and so on. Then we ask ourselves why we aren't doing the things that make us smile just thinking about them. All I could answer was "duh, I don't know really". So that was that and now everything is so much better. My work performance has improved as well!

I'm thinking it's like a mental feng shui. Clean out the center most part of your brain and the rest will follow. So true.

I hope this helps someone along the way. I never know who has come across my quiet little blog here or if anyone ever does and that is fine by me. I think that IF someone came across this quite by accident and read today's posting and GREAT THINGS happened to them, it is all worth while.

The next posting will have the finished and much awaited for Celtic Peacock. That is the one I'm making the video for on YouTube.

Until next time.....

Dragon of the Sea

This is one in a three part series of oriental dragons. The other two parts are called Dragon of the Clouds and Dragon of the Mountains. This series and any others I can collect that are similar in art form and color scheme are for my second son's quilt. He wants a dragon quilt and I think he should have one!

I have the patterns for these dragons in a book called Magical Cross Stitch, a David & Charles Book. It has some really wonderful patterns in it, especially if you like fantasy.

I was working on a Celtic Peacock for a contest but found I had started stitching at the wrong point. By the time I realized my mistake it was far too late for any sane ripping.

As you can see, I am several inches shy of having the space required to finish the tail feathers. Because this is done on linen, there have been several ideas thrown at me on how to remedy the problem and finish the piece. My best idea so far is to stitch to a point, start a new point on a new piece of linen and somehow fuse the two pieces together. My only worry is a possible gap or hideous looking overlay.

I am doing this project again on 14 count aida that I have hand dyed using tea bags to get a more "ancient" look to the fabric. With this new version of the peacock I am also taking pictures of my progress so that I can make a video of it when I'm finished to post on my YouTube account. I researched YouTube a little to see if there were others who have done this and I found nothing. It doesn't mean no one else has done it yet, just that I couldn't find anything right off hand.

My daughter found a Santa Claus book for me. I collect Santa's and Snowmen...makes me wonder if I have a thing for "big" guys. I'm hoping to get one pattern done before that holiday over takes us all, but I have several others that have priority right now. It is already the end of October and I really don't see the time being there for the fun stuff.

As always I have to ask why life feels it is so important as to interefere constantly and consistantly with my crafts? If I were smart I'd make my work my crafts, but here in Alaska that would really be a seasonal business....hmmmmmmm but then again, I would have many months of snowy, wonderful winter to do my wonderful crafty things!

I suppose it might be a good idea to start seriously considering this idea instead of griping about it. I'll let you know what I come up with.

When all else fails in life, cross stitch will out!

My very good friend Sean was staying with me while in town working last year. We were doing beadwork and other crafty things and ended up at Joann's Fabrics drooling over everything. I found this yarn that was very pretty and commented on it.

Sean demanded I make him a blanket for his bed and I eagerly agreed. When I began the project it was with crochet. I got about ten rows into it and decided that I didn't like how the crochet was making this otherwise soft yarn into a stiff and rough feeling "thing".

Ripping out all of that crochet was torture and I ended up with five small balls for the actual one :D

I decided then to KNIT a queen size blanket instead. So far it is soft, stretchy, pliant and wonderfully warm. No issues whatsoever about it. I'm guesstimating that it will take around 25 balls of yarn to complete. I plan on doing a broomstick lace around the outer edge to give it an added something. I will post the blanket on here again once it is finished :D

I am a member of an artist website called deviantart. Every 5,000 pageviews I like to give a gift to the person who gets to the number and the last time was at 10,000 pageviews.

Prior to the target number, I submitted a poll asking my lovely viewers what they would like as a gift and "bookmark cross stitched by me" was the winner. A close second was coffee from Raven's Brew.

So, I dug around my old magazines and came up with a nice SPRING pattern. They are actually two different patterns that were book covers for bibles, but I really liked the flowers and butterflies so I combined the two into one. I really love this bookmark and the girl who won REALLY loves it as well.

Bookmarks are a very fun and useful gift to give people. I generally like to give gifts that have some kind of usefulness to them and bookmarks are always welcome. Kind of like "you can't go wrong giving a candle" type thing. Not everyone reads, so be careful when giving this out. You can always fall back on the candle thing if the givee isn't into books :D

Want to see more? Please visit me at www.Mattsma.deviantart.com