Where did I go?

Well once again I see I haven't posted in well 7 months. Lol so much has happened. I didn't craft much honestly I was in a funk. But we did do some traveling. 

Joshua Tree

3 day weekend blues....

Well it's tough coming back to reality after another amazing 3 day weekend. I went to Del Mar for the gem show, which was much smaller then the Costa Mesa one I must ad. I still got some good stuff. Then yesterday my son and dog and myself went hiking. Perfect day for it here in OC over cast and cool. I managed to knit 2 rows while catching part of Ambombile Bride. 

Lost my damn mind

So I ordered yarn because I didn't have enough for my doodler, I also ordered some for this gorgeous leg warmer pattern I saw on Ravelry, when the yarn got here I decided I truely did hate the Wedge 3 and decided it was the colors not jiving and frogged the entire wedge. So depressing. Other then that I started watching a show on MTV that has fairies and demons and is really good. Here's my pathetically depressing photos. It's gonna be better I keep telling myself. Off to knit my 2 rows and cry. Lol pre frogging lay out. I do love the yarn it's called cactus flower I just don't think it goes. 

January 11th

Well life got busy, phew glad for a breather but did some epic shit. Friday I went hiking with my son's entire grade. Super fun, Friday night I got 2 rows of my doodler done, woot woot, up to 516 stitches and onto wedge 3. Saturday we went to a beach cleanup, amazing how much bottle caps we picked up. We lost count at 100. Sunday we went to San Diego for an overnight to see Tool. It was amazing.... We just returned home and I'm gonna knit after this. I had to order some more yarn I did that on the way down to SD and already received a shipping notice.

Day 3 or 4 lol

Managed Yoga 😃😃 so that's good, did some beading finally got it strung how I wanted yeahhhh, now I'm gonna knit a row 452 stitches and finish watching Breathe which is hard because it's subtitled.

Day 2 2016 January 5th

Working on my create everyday goal is hard. Yesterday I did some beading was unhappy with it strung it again, still unhappy trying to figure it out before I cut it apart. Its just to heavy.
       I knit more on my doodler. I hope I love it again today I hate it once more. Knitting a big project is very love hate.
      Today I skipped yoga this am I need to do it soon, slippppppping lol. While knitting I realized I forgot Downton Abbey, about had a stroke from panicking set a recorder for it then found it online, phew. Sherlock is another story gotta wait.  I updated my Ravelry lol after 6 years of blank spaces. Found my next project. Hope my thick calves fit, only 6 projects and all beautiful twig skinny legs. Progress and sunset after between rains.

New Year Who Dis

New Year, new me, I joke. Ive just decided to get back to blogging. Focus on me my creativity and projecgs. So today I started week 3 of my knitting project The Doodler by Stephen West purchased on Ravelry. I am way behind but mehhhh. So today I totally messed up had had to frog 300 stitches then pick them back up, what a headache. I miss read the way he wrote the instructions but I'm back on track and back in love. I also binged the podcast Serial and now moved on to Undisclosed.

Setting goals for 2016.

I wanna knit a sweater. 

Figure out how to sell more.

Do yoga, I would love to do a headstand.

Run more. 

Camp more. 

Make a new friend. 

Ok that's all for now, dipping the toes in.

Where do I go?

I don't know, I just love the urge to talk about myself for awhile. I also lost my craft mojo. Where did it go go. Lol  I did get a dog. I made her this collar :) leather stamping stuff from Tandy :)

Sweater into Arm Warmers Upcycle

Arm warmers from crochet granny square sweater up-cycle.

Guess what? Yet again I found some Free People insperation. With the winter upon us here I need more layers. 

So I found a too small for me sweater at the super amazing thrift store $1.91 for this project I just used the sleeves so I have a ton left. 

Step one. Wash and dry lol! 

Because then you can find week seams to fix. 

Step 2 

 Find a row to trim back for thumb hole. I clipped the whole bottom orange granny square row.

Set my machine to a tight zig zag. 

Seamed up the hole one way. Raise foot and go back to the same side you started from. So any stretch all goes the same way. 

Cut off sleeves below a foundation row. See the baby pink? Cut below that. 

Zig zag around that twice. Seam up and stretched out funky loose rows. 

Make sure all foundation rows that appear weak are zig zagged. 

Trim the loose strings away careful not to cut the zig zag! Wear and enjoy :) 

Ribbon wreath.

I decided to take the hot glue gun way out because it's what I know. I cut strips of ribbon in lengths I liked and folded them over and glued rows then trimmed with lace row. Added a snowflake from dollar store. 6.49 white ribbon 3.49 red ribbon $1snow flakes x2 I already had the lace and wreath form but they had some at dollar store too. I actually got 2 wreaths out of the ribbons I purchased it at Michael's. I'll add the second wreath when I finish it. 

Sweater/sweatshirt

 I have been so busy, I have neglected my blogging, I did manage to fit in some sewing and have the time to post about it. :)

I love this Free People sweater. 

Yes I know I love all things Free People! Lol

So I decided to make it. Suprise suprise! 

Step one, 

Go to thrift store. Purchase a sweater and a sweatshirt combo you like. :) they need to be similar sizes most importantly in the arm area. 

Step 2 take a deep breath and cut I to them. 

I started by cutting off the arms. Then cutting from the center of the sweater because I quickly found the side seams were too bulky. 

The bottom will be the top and the long edge will be the bottom. 

Cut off neckline by folding shirt in half and trimming an inch past the original collar, nice swooping collar now. Cut of the bottom ribbing. Set aside. 

Line up arms of sweatshirt and sweater cut accordingly. Trim up the side seam and trim the top wide enough.

 

Pin. And pin. Bc the stretch sweater will stretch if you don't almost over pin. 

Problem! Ahhh pin with a lil stretch this is why I told you to make sure your combos have similar arms. 

Now sew!! I did it all at once but looking back probably easier to do body first then the arms. But I'm rouge! I sewed over every area 3x with the sweatshirt being the outer hem kinda raw seam. 

Make sure you give the bottom edge lots of attention. I did a close zigzag along the sweater side edge. Then give it a trim

Bc you will have some stragglers! :) 

End result FAB!!! And mine cost under $4.00! I decided to used the bottom ribbing to add a neckline. Just now as I look at the original. Keep the seam from splitting. :) I will post another photo. 

Love it!! 

Swants

So I couldn't resist when one of my "friends" posted this on Facebook! And I made a pair. Love love love my swants! 

http://westknits.com/index.php/2013/11/swants-tutorial/

Fun and up cycling woot woot!! Now you go make some too! 

Art in the classroom

I volunteered to teach art in the classroom every week (yikes) this week we made Japanese blow art fall trees. 

Sugar Skull clay pot.

This week has been a super craft week! I was able to finish 2 projects I started last week, and help Eman finish his costume. 

I love the way my sugar skull terra cotta planter turned out, and Evans costume is just what he wanted. And I got in some free motion too!! :) 

I just love Halloween! 

Halloween Decorations

One more post because I love it so much. Information on how I made them in previous posts. 

Halloween Garland

Last Monday I also purchased these doilies at the .99 cents store and I knew I wanted to make garland with them. Very easy project. I bought 4 packs so $4.00 plus tax and I already had black yarn scraps. So I put my IDT foot down and sewed away. Super quick super cheap end result very nice. 

Halloween Wreath

Almost all items purchased 2013 at the .99 cents store. 

I had the jumbo hoop from my old wreath. Spray painted it black. 

And the spider is from Micheals Craft store last year but I am sure they have one this year too. 

One spool of ribbon

Feather boa

Bats

Large bow

All bought last week. 

I taped the ribbon in loops in the inside of the hoop so it can be removed. Boa I got glued to the outside of hoop. Ribbon I used the metal twist tie from the packing to affix it to my hoop. Bats I got glued on. 

I laced the lace thru the hoop center. Then sewed the ends together.

Hang

Love! 

Total cost $5.00 ish having owned the lace and wreath and spider. 

Another Free People project

Yesterday I did some sewing and got a new phone. Unfortunatly I thought I saved my other pictures so I could create a tutorial, as a draft so I could post the whole project but I didnt :( 

If you don't know by now I love FP but I can not afford it. So I stalk them and replicate what I can. 
With my own twist of course.

So I will walk you thru this. 

 http://www.freepeople.com/clothes-tops/behind-the-flannel-buttondown/

So I purchased a nice silk scarf and Woolrich flannel at my favorite thrift store, Sav Mor. lil name drop...I think they were both under $2.00

Washed them.

Let them sit for a while before inspiration set in. As soon as the weather cooled off I was like ok its time.

So I cut the back of the flannel out leaving a one inch seam.

Pinned the scarf with pleats to match the length of the cut out flannel along the top.

Pinned right sides together starting with the top folded up past the collar turned so I could pins side. This is where the pictures would have been handy because if your not a sewer it doesnt make sense without an image. Your gonna tuck the arms in so its all right sides touching pinned. 

Then SEW I used a strait stitch. Partly because I wanted to keep the scarf original so in case one day I decide to up-cycle it again. 

Then tada. Wear it. 

My total cost probably about $5 

Savings of $122 :) 

More money to thrift PRICELESS. 

The scarf up close is quite pretty. Marked made in Italy Bullock's Whilshire

If your still with me I love my new Iphone5c. Bummed I lost a few pictures but thats the story of my life. 

Enjoy your sewing time.

KSN

Trash or Treasure?

So I was driving home Sunday afternoon with my father in law. And saw a beautiful blue shelf on top of my neighbors trash. I promptly walked back and got it. It's perfect for my patio. I love reusing. I bought a pretty blue paint to paint the shelf blue last week. Just waiting for the weather to cool off :) 

September

School started. My son is a year older. Back in the routine of volunteering :) had company, twice. But today I received a call that my son stuck up for a kindergarten child. I am so proud of the lil person he has grown to be. 

E and L