elliebelle

Birthday Bag

My good friend April had a big birthday last Saturday and for her gift requested a bag made by me.  She sent me images of bags she liked and from there I came up with this.

 

I am really happy with the way it turned out, and April loves it too!  Yay!!!  I went with a plain linen exterior with doily and lace accents.

 

The handle is actually an old belt I got at our local thrift store for $0.29!

 

Since it is a belt, the handle has a built in adjuster!  So the strap can actually be long enough to go across the body.  This bag is nice and versatile.

 

The lining included lots of pockets (at request.)  The fabric used is a very light pink floral print cotton.

 

I'm so glad April liked the bag because it was actually quite fun to make. (and easy, who doesn't love that?)

 

Rainbow Cowl

After seeing so many rainbow crocheted projects lately, I decided I needed to create one of my own!  And boy, was it satisfying!  This was SO fast to make - and I LOVE the way it turned out!

 

It's Vanna's Choice yarn from Lion Brand.  (I actually saw Vanna at the CHA show last year...I think it was last year!)  Anyway, the yarn is Acrylic...so obviously, not my most favorite fiber - but I didn't want to spend a fortune on yarn having to buy all those colors!  Plus, the colors in Vanna's collection rock, in my opinion.  They are all so wonderful and fall like.

 

I just did double crochet all the way around!  I think that I may not be doing the joining in the round part correctly as it does slightly jog up...but either way it isn't terribly noticeable, so I guess it's alright.  My friend April has already requested I make her one too - so it must not be too bad!

 

Obviously, I took these pictures at the same time that I took the 2 Row Reversible Scarf pics.  I had to take advantage of the good hair day while I could! haha...you just never know what you are going to get with curly hair.  Though I did just buy this super cool diffuser and used it this day - so maybe it is the secret! haha...yeah, probably not, but we'll see how it works the second time around.  Maybe its the curl spray that they sell with the diffuser that did the trick???

More projects to come soon - though I'm off to enjoy Thanksgiving with the fam this weekend.  Hopefully I'll be back Sunday evening!  Happy Thanksgiving everyone.  Take care and safe travels this week!
 
 
 

2 Row Reversible Scarf

I've been gone so long that I actually have a backlog of projects to show you!  One project at a time though. :)

 

This is my big, cushy, navy scarf.  I LOVE this!  It is so cuddly and warm.  It was a very easy pattern that worked up quickly as it is done on size 13 needles.  Here's my Ravelry link.
I bought this yarn when I was up in Door County this summer.  I don't remember what it was called...and I'm thinking maybe I threw away the paper wrap from the skeins...but oh well, all I know is I love it!

 

 

I'm so happy with this scarf and I've worn it A LOT already.  This would be a great gift for someone as well since it knits up so quickly.

There is still creating going on here - even though I've been terrible about updating this space.  Hmm...I know, I have been bad about updating for about a year now.  I will, of course, have a New Year's Resolution to update my blog more! ha!  I just need to find the right rhythm.

But I am excited to show you the other finished projects!  I will be back tomorrow with more. :)

All you need is LOVE!

Really, who doesn't LOVE Amy Butler's new line of fabrics?    The colors, the design, everything makes me happy and I am truly and madly in love with it. hahahaha...

Of course, I decided to order some of the lovely new fabrics.  (it's a little too wild for the Nancy's Notions customer, so I couldn't get it at work.)  I ordered through a couple different sellers on Etsy and here is what I got!

 

I bought these to recover some pillows in our living room.  (surprise Joe! heehee)  We have reds and browns in both of our kitchen and living room, so I think these will be nice and give a good splash of print and pattern to our most lived in area. (I gotta have me some print!)

This purple piece is a heavier weight fabric.  I have to make a purse out of this one since it is my favorite color!  I have 1 yard of this.  It's 54" wide.

Not exactly sure what I'll do with these two - but I just LOVED the periwinkle color.  Yummy!

 

This was my favorite color and print out of the group so I bought 3 yards!  Eeks, that's a lot of yardage - but it is only 45" wide - so when you are thinking garment sewing you almost need that much!  I think maybe I'll need a dress out of this one.  What do you think?

 

So those were my purchases and of course they are still sitting on the shelf, but they will be used sometime!  I just couldn't pass them up.  What I need to do is wash them ahead of time so I don't have any problems with shrinkage - like I have had with some garments I've made.  It's terrible - I should know the cardinal rule of sewing - WASH YOUR FABRICS AHEAD OF TIME!  That, and press every seam...wow, what a world of difference that makes.  I wish that pushed that more when I was in school for clothing design...nevermind...my mind wandered there for a bit.

Ok, off to pick up some take out Chinese food.  YUM!

I hope you enjoyed my little bit of LOVE. ;)

Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf

After missing Halloween the last 3 years due to Quilt Market being the same weekend (it was earlier this year), I was very excited to dress up!  I wanted something that would be easy to make or put together but was also cute without being skanky. ;)  Little Red Riding Hood was what I decided!  And, all I needed to make was the cape.  

 

The cape is made out of fleece - I made a hybrid of 2 patterns - using a Kwik Sew Poncho and a Favorite Things hoodie.  I love how it turned out!  It's so cute!  Amazingly, it has wonderful drape on the back.  I think I will actually use the Kwik Sew pattern again because I've been wanting to create a plaid cape.  So the dress, shirt, socks and shoes are obviously just from my closet.  The apron is vintage that I found at a thrift store yesterday morning for $2.50!  And then I bought a small basket and covered it with a thrifted, embroidered table runner.  I loved my outfit - and the best part?  The cape was really warm!  No need to wear a coat when out and about.  We did the local pub crawl with our neighbors after dinner at the Char Haus.  It was a blast!

So of course, Joe needed a costume...and well, he waited till Saturday afternoon to decide on something.  We found the wolfman costume at Shopko but the mask covered the entire head and face and Joe just couldn't breathe or see.  We tried cutting a bigger mouth hole and bigger eye holes - and in the end we just cut off the face. haha!  But it actually turned out to be kind of cute.

 

Here we are:

 

Our neighbors Lonnie and Faye went as the farmer and his cow.  Isn't Faye hilarious?

 

The four of us went out to dinner at Joe's family's restaurant - The Char Haus.  It was pretty hilarious because when we walked in, the entire restaurant turned and looked at us and laughed.  Nobody was dressed up!  (except for the waitstaff)  It was pretty funny!  Here's the crew:

 

We had a great dinner with yummy food (it's always yummy there!) and then headed back to Horicon for the Pub Crawl.  Here's some pics of the waitresses who all wore poodle skirts.

 

 

And Joe's mom wearing the poodle skirt I made her! (with Joe's dad)

 

We had such a good night.  I was shocked that our tiny town had TONS of people out for the pub crawl.  Almost every bar was packed to the gills!  One was decorated to the nines.  It was awesome!  I wish I could have gotten a picture but it was so crowded (and dark).  Seeing all the costumes was such a blast.  Because I've been working the past 3 Halloweens, I've forgotten what fun it can be!  Too bad next year Quilt Market is Halloween weekend again...  I'll just have to remember the fun times we had this year!

One last shot:

 

I hope everyone had a great Halloween.  And for those who might want to see more  (Mom) check out my Flickr!

Thermis Cowl

I love cowls so much!  So when I saw the Thermis Cowl on Ravelry (sorry the link only works for ravelry members), I knew I had to make it.  Plus, I had the perfect recipient in mind - my sister!  This was a pretty easy pattern and it yields such great results.  I love how rich and textural it is.  It looks like some very expensive knit piece. (at least it looks that way to me!)

 

I used a skein and a half from my Yarn o Plenty.  It is a wonderful handspun wool. I was a little concerned about it being slightly scratchy next to the skin - but I think it will be ok.  Toria seemed to really like it too!  Her birthday is at the end of the month, but because she is a very busy vet student, I don't get to see her very often so she got her birthday presents early.  Of course that meant that I was binding off and sewing on the buttons when she was at my house! haha.  What is it with crafters, they always seem to procrastinate!  Or is that just me?

a detail shot:

 

And, of course, I had to have Toria model it for me!

 

Isn't she so cute?

 

Here's how it looks when worn with a jacket.

 

I am really pleased with this project.  Cowls are just so satisfying and so darn functional!  This one seems to look best with the top button undone.  Though I suspect that come January that button make me done and the top of the cowl may be pulled up over the nose!  Walking on the Madison campus can be VERY cold!!  I'm so happy to have a finished knit to show.  I just love how knitting produces items that are so functional and actually quite needed here in the north!  Sewing doesn't always have such satisfaction for me.  Though sewing is truly my first love.  Hopefully more sewing will happen soon!  But for now, while it gets cold and chilly, I'm happy to knit away. 

Quilt Market - Fall 2009

(Moda Fabrics)

I finally took the chance to get all of these photos uploaded off of my camera!  This year I decided, what the heck, I'll bring the DSLR!  Usually I just bring the point and shoot because of space, but I have that nice camera and darn it, I'm going to use it! ;)  It was great having it!  Quick shots...no flash.  ahhh...lovely!

So without further a do...here are some shots! The rest are over on Flickr.

The first day of Quilt Market is called Schoolhouse where we got to very short classes to learn about new products.

Here's the lovely Amy introducing her name fabric line - LOVE! (which of course, I LOVE too!  I actually ordered some of her new line...but that's for another post!)

 

Isn't it just gorgeous??

 

I also got to see Anna Maria Horner (and her beautiful daughter Juliana and adorable baby boy Roman!)

(showing off a new bag pattern!)

 

Ok...here are some of the lovely booths!

Heather Bailey

(yummy, right??)

And, of course, Amy's booth.

 

Melly and Me Booth

 

Their stuffed toys patterns are ridiculously cute and nice and easy to follow! (I've done a couple).

Seriously, how adorable is this kitty???

 

Paula Prass (love the gray accents!)

 

Anna Maria Horner's booth

 

She has gorgeous new voile cotton fabrics that feel like silk!  Perfect for garments!  Yay, I can't wait!

 

Echino (I've never bought any Echino fabric - but I sure love it!)

 

Kaffe Fassett (his colors are sooo lucious!)

Tula Pink Quilt from Moda

 

Patty Young

 

So I took this next shot because I thought this hot pink dress was so cute!  Now, after seeing it again, I'm pretty sure it is the same dress I was wearing the day I took the shot! hahahaha!  Mine is just a different color...geez.

 

A few fun things in the Hoffman Fabrics booth

 

 

And with that I will leave you with this hilarious sexy merman! hahaha!  I can't remember which booth this was...I think a decorative thread company?

 

Obviously, I have a million more pictures in my set on Flickr!  Check them out!

Have a good day!  I will be back soon with a finished project!!!

Gifts for friends

I finally did a little creating recently as I was heading to the Twin Cities to visit some friends I hadn't seen since January, and I just couldn't go empty handed!

First, I created some washcloths out of wonderful color grown organic cotton.  These were for my friend Stephanie and I paired them with some body wash from Aveda.  She has a special fondness for this yarn because I made a hat for her son out of the same yarn one year ago when he was born.

 

For Liam, her son, who is just under a year, I had this hat that I had originally knit for myself quite a while ago  (then realized it was WAY too small).  It was perfect for a baby head, and it's made out of alpaca so it makes it so soft and cuddly.

Her daughter, Ariana, turned 4 on Saturday so for her I made a crayon roll up.  (don't look too close, the sewing isn't perfect!!)  It was definitely a hit.  Yay!

The fabric on the outside is a Japanese fabric depicting Thumbelina.  I loved that movie as a kid so I definitely have a soft spot for this!

 

And who can resist a rainbow of crayons?

I also had a chance to see my good friend Kate, and for her I brought a cowl...but of course!  (my most favorite thing to knit!)

 

And...I made a fun bracelet for her out of a wooden bangle I purchased at Hobby Lobby and then covered with a vintage ribbon I had.

It's so fun to bring hand made gifts when you are traveling to visit friends!

And speaking of traveling, I am off tomorrow to yet another Quilt Market!  Hopefully I will bring back an array of lovely photos.

I have to leave you with this funny shot of Joe.

You see...we are Wisconsinites, so...wearing a Viking shirt?  NO WAY JOSE! (for him...I lived in Minnesota, my family is from Minnesota...so it's not such a faux pas...)  But, because of his love for Brett Favre, I bought him this t-shirt while at the MOA this weekend.  (the back has a #4 and "Favre" written on it.)  But if you look closely at this picture, you can see that underneath his Vikings shirt is a Packers shirt! hahahaha....It was a fun game to watch. :)

I hope all is well in blogland.  It seems a bit quiet these days. Anybody else notice that?  Maybe now with the cool fall weather we'll start to see a little more action out there. (including me!!!!  I hope!!!)

Be back next week!

Bah, Bah Black Sheep, Have you any wool?

Yes sir, yes sir. 2 bags full. ;)

I visited the Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival this weekend with my mom.  Oh was it ever wonderful! 2 barnfulls of yarn, yes, please!!!  We had a nice afternoon wandering, touching, feeling, petting....I did manage to keep myself fairly under control.  Whew!  I could have absolutely gone CRAZY there.  But I didn't.  I kept telling myself to only buy yarns that I couldn't get at any yarn store.  So here's what I came out with.

My first purchase was from a sweet old man in a tiny booth with all Alpaca products.  None of his yarns were dyed - they were all the natural color of the animals.  He was so friendly and helpful.  I bought 2 large skeins of a worsted weight yarn.  My favorite weight of yarn, I think.  I really love the feel of this yarn because it is very dense compared to other yarns.  

The yarn is so soft, it just feels wonderful.  I don't have any idea yet what I will make with this, but definitely something that I can cozy up into because it feels so divine.

(My mom bought a very cute hat from the same vendor but I don't have a picture of that.)

So my second purchase was again, alpaca.  I just LOVE alpaca yarn.  It is so lovely.  And my sister is glad because she said that alpacas give her job security (as a vet student who works in the large animal hospital).

I love the variegated color of these.

Ooo, fuzzy!

And then, because I love both color and chunky yarns...I found these from a wonderful dyer that is a local Wisconsin gal.

This yarn is SUPER chunky.  I am envisioning a moebius (I don't know how to spell that!) cowl that covers the shoulders. 

I love the frosty color to it.

And for some bright fun I chose this humongous hank of yarn.

The superwash wools can be so much fun because they are so vibrant!  I don't know what this will be yet, but it's sure fun to look at for now! :)

So what do you think of  my finds?  A good assortment, no?  I'm excited for new projects and beautiful yarn.  My mom says I should make a goal of actually using all of this yarn before next year's sheep and wool festival.  Hmm... I don't know...I have lots of yarn to work with, I just don't know what I will work on first.  haha!  I am working on a birthday present for my sister, and will need to start Christmas presents soon.  Seriously, I wish I had every hour of the day to sew and knit - I don't think anything would be better than that.

Simple Summer Joys

With trying to enjoy the last of the lovely summer season, I thought I would pull together some shots that make me smile....

How can you resist these faces???

That's Callie's "crazy" face. heehee

More simple summer joys...

Foxy - my parent's kitten.  God, she is soooo cute!

Blue fingernails...how fun is that?  Very summer indeed. :)

Here's a laugh for you...Corn with an (ahem) appendage...

seriously, Joe and I almost died laughing when we peeled the husk back...and so we were really immature and put him next to his date...  Yeah, I know...we're dumb. :)

But we'll end with the most perfect simple summer joy.  Flowers from a friend.  Absolutely lovely!

Have a lovely holiday weekend!!!!