Almost Done

Almost done with the nautical flag coaster project. I have 2 letters to go, E and L. I still have to get white felt for the backs. I hate that the canvas is misshapen; now I understand the need for a needlepoint frame, but these 4x4 squares were too small. Live and learn. I'm itching to work on my quilt, even though it's music time.

Needlepoint Nautical Alphabet

The D is finished. It took a while to figure out that basketweave stitch, but I got it.

Nautical Needlepoint Coasters!

 

Let the needlepointing begin! I'm budget conscious, so I'm using Herrschners 2-ply Afghan yarn, blank 12 mesh needlepoint canvas (because my local craft store didn't have 13), and size 20 needlepoint needles. Click here for the instructions. This should be interesting. I'm going to spell out both me and my fiancé's name.

 

Prepping the canvas. I've set out to do at least 11 coasters, spelling out our names, and the rest of the nautical alphabet. The coasters measure 4" x 4".

 

The first letter, D, in progress. I was an avid needlepointer back in the early 90's, so it's all coming back to me.

The Dust Is Settling.

What a whirlwind! I haven't blogged in Lord knows when, and so much has happened since the last time I blogged. Bad blogger, bad blogger! I still haven't settled in from moving from California last May, then I upped and fell in love AGAIN, with a wonderful man who lives in Georgia. 11 months later, I pack up what little possessions I had, and moved outside of Atlanta Georgia. Cute little house with flowers, sun porches, the works. So I have the man of my dreams, the ring of my dreams, the house of my dreams, and the craft/music room of my dreams. I'm a lucky girl.

On the creative front, I've become quite obsessed with crocheting. After the mad rush to make Xmas slippers (the embellished Options slipper which everyone loved), I vowed to put my needles and yarn away until next winter. The new sofa we just got came with the neatest brown/beige/tan/blue pillows. I get the bright idea that we needed knitted or crocheted coasters to match the pillows, because I cringe at the thought a glass not sitting on a coaster. I started out knitting some 4x4 squares, but they looked too much like potholders, so I switched to crocheting rounds:

 

Then I thought, "my coasters need a container...:

 

The brown basket is much bigger than I thought it would be. I chained 20 stitches for each side. It didn't seem like it would be enough, but hey, what do I know about crocheting? I'm still just learning. It's drying because I put a fabric stiffener on it. I'm still going to use that basket for something, but I did a redo on the navy round tube on the left. That's actually 54 chains joined in the round. That blue circle will be the bottom or the top. So cool. Crocheting... who knew!

 

I'll be starting new music soon...

Full Circle (from my oldest friend)

 

Hey Dana, I don't know if you remember this instrument in the book you sold me, but after years tracking down the maker of one of the resonators in the book, I finally found him in England. I inquired as to how much to build one for me. He informed me that he would no longer be building these high end instruments. I thanked him for responding to my inquiry. About a month later he sent me an e mail stating that he saw my My space page full of my own hand made guitars and that he had one left in an incomplete state and if I was interested, for the cost of shipping, it was mine! Well after two years of working out the logistics( his schedule is insane!!!!), It is now in my possession.
 

Seems strange to have it. Even better, it seems strange to contribute to the completion of his last one!!!!!! The first book you gave me set me on my guitar path and that last book I got from you, brings it full circle! When my shop was open, it was my dream to be a National Resophonic dealer, and I became one. Funny thing is... I never bothered to buy myself one. After my shop was closed, I thought I would never get a really good resonator.
 

After seeing the one in that book you sold me, I knew it was the one. Every appointment that adorned it was what I would have done if I were to make one. It was the one I wanted! I never thought in a million years I would be completing the very last of a very short run on these unique hand made gems. Anyway, Thanks, thanks thanks!!!. I will take the summer and complete it. I will not be doing a nickle plating, but rather a mustered yellow finish with a 1940s radar dish stencil on the back. save these photos because it will be amazing!!!!!

 

Regards,

Michael

Merry Xmas!

My best friend and I just made these. She supplied the lovely guitar picks, and I added the hole punch and hardware. $12.99 (D&D Jewelry)

The Elusive Glow In The Dark Fairy Jar (Pinterest)

Okay, in the midst of making 15 pairs of the Options Slipper for Xmas presents, I've become completely obsessed with the Fairy Jar on Pinterest:

The picture above is hotly disputed on Pinterest as being photo-shopped, but I don't care. I think it's neat. I was going to go the route as many people, using the (messy but temporary) glow sticks, but I searched and searched, and found I wanted a more permanent solution to my fantasy problem. I found this link: DIY Fairy Glow Jars. Here are my supplies (all from Michael's):

I had a clean mason jar, spray adhesive, glow in the dark paint, 3 types of glitter (the white glitter is glow in the dark glitter), and my beloved Tinkerbell figurine that I've had for over 20 years (probably from a happy meal).

I began by gluing Tink to the inside of the mason jar lid:

 

Then I added the three types of glitter (sterling, glow in the dark, and iridescent - all from Michael's) to cover the glue inside the lid:



 

I couldn't fit my hand into my jar to begin painting the inside, and I couldn't find a paintbrush, so...

 



 I cut the tip off of a q-tip, and taped it to my pencil...

 

and I taped another full q-tip to one of my double pointed knitting needles in case I needed a bigger dot. 

 

and I began dabbing little dots all over the inside of my jar... 

 

then I poured in some of the glow in the dark glitter: 

 

then I poured in the sterling glitter: 

then I rolled the jar around: 

This picture is with the lights out, but my flash was on, on my phone. The glitter has coated the insides of the jar: 

 

Now we sit the jar in front of a light so the glow in the dark paint can activate. Stay tuned...

A Little Embroidery....

I had to break the monotony of making hexies. A little embroidery always does the trick. Patterns, courtesy of Sublime Stitching.

My Camouflage "Options" Slippers

 





I love making these slippers. The pattern designer said I could make them and sell them. $20, any color. I'll post them on my Etsy page in about a week.

Sneaking Some Earrings In...

I knocked these out before I started knitting. I bought the hoops while I was at Michael's. I had several Swarovski cube sets that were itching to be used. Now on to knitting more slippers!

Knitting Season Has Begun!

 

I made these for a friend. I'm about to make me a pair in camouflage. Here's the pattern: Options Slipper Pattern. I lined them in felt for comfort. I'll make them for anyone, in any color, $20.