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Hexagonal Hoodie Blanket

Yesterday I was over on Ravelry inputting some of the projects I have completed in the last two months and commented to another knitter on one of HER projects.  Something to the effect of how do people find time to both be creative and complete many projects, then get on the computer and tippy-tap about them, take photos and share them with like-minded individuals.  So, in keeping with the brevity of my previous posts, I will get right to some pictures of my latest creations.  Most of these are made directly of patterns from Tricia Drake's book Welcoming Home Baby the Handcrafted Way.  The yarns are all substitutions, as I have only found one of the yarns mentioned in the book and did not use it in a project shown here.  If you want to see the particulars, you may find them on my projects (Boopster13) on Ravelry.  If you go to the link, you have to join or sign in.  The upside is, you will be able to find all my other projects there - at least the ones I have had time to add.  Now I know what my mom meant when she said, "tend to your knitting."  Bless her heart - I miss you, Mom.

Layette of Fingering yarn - I'll never do THAT again!

Booties of Tan, with "Wild Bill" soles

Bird's eye view of Hexagonal Hoodie

2 Chunky Beanies - newborn and 6 month kind of look like muffins!

I added crocheted ankle ties and pom poms to these suede booties and knitted them in the round

One beanie

Another beanie

Sweater for 3 year old altered from pattern for 6 month old - we'll see how it fits at Christmas - Shhhh, don't tell!

Chunky Beanie and Eskimo Kiss Cocoon for a good friend's new baby

Twisted Taffy Hat - using yarns not used in TD book

Eskimo Kiss Cocoon - alternate yarns used

Chunky Beanie - used same yarns as in cocoon

My first Baby Pea Pod

It has been a while since I posted anything.  I have been busy this summer making cards, knitting, sewing and crocheting for the grandkids, working in the garden and riding horses.  It is good to be retired.  As my dad used to say, "I do not know how I ever had time to work - there is so much to do!"  Of course, I rarely have time to clean my house, but that is another story.  Here is my first self-made pattern for what is all the rage these days - I call them "Pho Togs" (Togs = Clothing, Pho = Photography, see?  OK, my daughter the photographer says it is dumb - we will see if I get any comments "for" or "agin" the moniker) known on other sites as Baby "Pea Pods".
 

They are used for photo sessions or just for snuggling babies when they are very small.  While they can be made as long as one cares to make them, most patterns specify them to be 18 to 20 inches in length.  The first one I made was about 18 inches long, and my daughter Katy said it was just not long enough for our squirmy Ethan-bug.  Not only was he long when he was born, he did not sleep peacefully and pose with legs pulled up under his chin like a little ... well, I do not know what, but he preferred to stretch out and pull his "Pho Tog" pea pod down around his chest!  Anyway, here is a picture of one of my homemade teddy bears in it. If you like the pattern, you may download it here.

Easter Card for Lily

Last month I saw a cute little card on one of the blogs I follow.  So I decided to see if I could make one based on the design.  First I located the picture (Cuddle Bun Bunnies from Whimsy Stamps) and saved it.  Then I printed it out in the size I wanted (2 3/4 x 3 1/4 inches) on plain white paper.  If I had had vellum, I would have used that.  I say "woulda, coulda, shoulda" a LOT.  Next, I colored the picture with my watercolors.  The original design used "Copic pens".  I do not own any artist drawing pens or markers.  I have some Zig calligraphy markers and some highlighters - those turned out comical.  So I went with plan B - the watercolors.  I DID look at the Copic pens online - sheesh - expensive.  All the reviews rave about them, so I am certain they are well worth the price if one does a lot of coloring.  Since I am a "dabbler", I think I will use what I have - watercolors.

My basic card is a 4 1/2 x 5 1/2 plain white card from a 50 card stack that comes with envelopes.  Next, I got out my Cricut Design Studio (first I tried to work on my Gypsy - *sigh* - I have a high learning curve, so I went back to CDS) and made some frames (Storybook Cartridge) on it to fit around the picture, including a basic rectangle (cut on my regular paper cutter without a Cricut pattern).  I made one frame using the "shadow" feature, so it is fatter and fits nicely behind the first frame.  I also used the Lyrical Letters cartridge to make the phrase "Happy Easter".  I welded the 2 words so I didn't have to move each letter separately.

Once the paint was dry on my picture, I glued it to the rectangle, then the two frames.  I used Tim Holtz (got it on sale at Hobby Lobby) Distressed Ink honey and sky blue to color up the front and inside of the card some.  I attached the picture to the front of the card, added some beads, glued the sentiment inside, and the card was ready to go.  Hopefully my daughter will hang on to it - my grand daughter is only 2 1/2 years old!  It was fun to make, though, and I enjoyed learning how to use and combine several different techniques, textures and media for the first time.

 I hope you enjoyed my little card-making adventure.  Have a blessed Easter and remember the reason we celebrate - He Is Risen!

Baby Shower Creations

 We had a baby shower for my daughter Katy today at Stone Soup Bookstore and Cafe (that explains the picture backgrounds) in Waynesboro, VA.  Her friends picked the theme "My Little Peanut" since that is how Katy referred to the baby before she found out he was a boy.  I made some cute little peanut and elephant mobiles using my "Create A Critter" cartridge.

Peanuts and Elephant Mobile

Close up of Peanut

Another view - Gifts have arrived!

Close up of Elephant

 I also made a "Welcome Ethan" banner using "Sampler", "Doodletype", and "Paper Lace" cartridges.

The Banner

 

 

 

The Cake Table

Katy's friend Tryste made beautiful "onesie" centerpieces for all the tables.  You can see another "Peanut" mobile hanging above the Cake Table.

Better shot of cake table mobile

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

An unexpected "guest" stopped by to wish Katy well.

Katy and her friend Dave

 It was a fun day.  I hope you enjoy the Cricut crafts and the story of Katy's shower. 

Good Morning!

Eagle Canyon Arts has been created because I do not know what I want to be when I grow up.  Over the years, I have written and recorded folk and patriotic songs, as well as a CD of Christmas music.  Those projects can be seen on our website by "clicking" on my canyon logo, above.

In 2004, we "retired" and moved from California to Tennessee.  Since then, I have expanded my creative endeavors to include sewing (I did that long ago, and have done more of it now that we have grandchildren), needle and yarn arts, and lately, scrapbooking with Cricut products.  There are lots of pictures of those items on my facebook page.


Most recently, we have produced some projects in our recording studio here.  I have worked on the graphic arts for the CD covers, as well as created websites for the artists.  We anticipate working on some exciting new projects in 2011!

My goal is to share the joy of these accomplishments and my knowledge, skills and abilities with anyone who may want to learn how to do any of the things I have mentioned.

Welcome to my blog - thanks for stopping by.  Boopster