Random crafts

Oh, I have been crafting a bit, but posting pretty much none. So here's a little catch up post to get a few things I've made this month up. So in no particular order;

I made a chevron cozy for my cuppow jar

A perler/hama bead rendition of Duck Hunt

Tried my hand at painting bread (it's supposed to be a Stargate)

I made a reversible cape for my nephew (being modeled by my wooshing husband)

And last but not least we made another doll bed. This one red and yellow by request

Grey Crocheted Cable Work Purse

I finally finished a project worthy of posting! I am really proud of this.
I am a new member of the Governance Council for our school district's new charter high school. So lots of notes, papers, etc... to lug around. I also have lots of notes to take for my church meetings, so I wanted a tote/purse that could carry my note-taker and my folders. Along with obvious purse "stuff."

We drove to Florida over Christmas and I thought what better time to crochet. So I crocheted this in the car over about 2 days. I lined it yesterday. I used it today!!

I based the crochet part on this pattern. I used the stitches as a loose guide, but I  honestly didn't use the pattern at all, however I want to make sure credit for the idea goes where it belongs.

This is what the inside looks like. I only have my note-taker in there during the picture, so it's sort of hard to see. There is a large pocket on one side for my note-taker. The other side has a large pocket with a snap closure for my folders. I have rings & clips for my keys, lip chap, phone, etc.. I have elastic loops for pens/pencils. It looks floppier than it is. It totally stands on its own. There are also small silver feet on the bottom. 

If I were to make it again, I would have made the top black band slightly higher. I would have made the bag just a touch taller. But I love it oh so much!!

Homemade Halloween Costumes

The one dependable post every year. Our Halloween costumes were a bit more subdued this year, but still lots of fun. The kids helped a lot more and I didn't freak over perfection as much.


Here are the Homemade 2011 Costumes


My youngest was Gordon Freeman from Half Life. The base was underarmor style black thermal underwear. The vest type thing was Grey fun foam painted, and glued. Old shin guards that were painted and put on with black elastic. The "gravity gun" was made with an Ice Tea gallon and a two liter soda bottle. We used gift wrap cellophane on the inside of the 2 liter and some battery LED Christmas lights. Then duct tape and electrical tape. My husband and my son did ALL the work on this one!


My middle son was a sparkly unicorn. We used thermal undies and the white base. We made the hooves out of fabric covered tag board that I put some snaps on so they could be taken on and off. I also stapled some elastic on the bottom of the feet hooves so they wouldn't spin on him. (They even made a clomping sound when he walked which was an unexpected bonus!) The horn is made out of Crayola model magic and glitter paint, attached with clear flat elastic. It broke the first night he wore it, but we put a big blob of hot glue under it, and let it dry and it worked great. We used a feather boa for his main and tail. (There is an inside story to his costume, and it was wonderful!)


My niece was Mary Poppins. I designed and made her skirt (black fleece) and her jacket (blue and black fleece with black frogs for fasteners). I also crocheted her hat. The umbrella my mom made by cutting the head off of a parrot beanie baby (it was in rough shape on the bottom, so it was ok,) and attaching it to the umbrella handle. My mom found a lovely Victorian style shirt and we used red ribbon for the tie. My niece's carpet bag is actually my sister's carry-on that she got when she graduated. It meant a lot to all of us that my niece was able to carry a small part of her mom with her while celebrating Halloween.

So that's it. Another year done. Clean up is taking quite a bit though. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday!!

Crocheted Mini Wheat Pattern

I saw this and just had to share, it's absolutely adorable!

The pattern is by zippadeedooda on weloveamigurumi on livejournal. Go get it and make your own crew of mini wheats!

Swaps Received

I've received some lovely swaps lately, and thought I should quick share


My dishcloths from Kimtastic on craftster.org


My mini quilt from taylynnsbean on flickr


and this one I made for taylynnsbean on flickr the theme was "out of the box" mini quilts. I have always wanted to do hexes, but they seem so daunting on a big quilt. I have been obsessed with wanting a beehive lately, so they sort of went together. I really like this, and may have to make one for myself. The bee was hand embroidered.

Dishcloth swap sent

I sent this out yesterday. I hope my partner gets this before she reads it, or it'll be a spoiler. I'm afraid I'll forget to post otherwise. I was fairly impressed with them, and I had so much fun making them!

The egg I winged. I had seen a flower version with a scrubbie in the middle and thought it would look cute as an egg. The pink one is another pink argyle one. The blue one I'm not even sure what I did. It was a wonky half double crochet thing I sort of came up with as I went.

Dishcloths!!

Well, I have been trying to get some Holiday gifts started, or worked on, so I don't go crazy at the end of November. I joined a dishcloth swap to help get me motivated on making dishcloths for my family. My husband wanted to make homemade Vanilla, and he thought that would make a great gift. Since he was actually involved in gift decisions I figured I should go with it! So we have Vanilla steeping, and we are planning on pairing that with a dishcloth and a teatowel and/or pot holder for each major family. I think tomorrow I will try to post my list of gifts (it helped last year keep me on track) So anyway, here are the three dishcloths I've made so far in the last 2 days at soccer.

The two above are a modified version of an afghan square I got the pattern from here. I made it smaller and used a smaller hook. I had to take out a few rounds and such too.

And here is my tried and true favorite dishcloth pattern. The pattern comes from Cocoa Cream's Craft Closet I made it a bit smaller. Mine is about 8"X8" and I think the first chain was 27.

Baby Longies

My new niece's birth could happen at any moment. I have been asked to make some wool longies for her. I have never done this before, so I am totally new at this. Here is the first one I made.

I made the cuffs so that they will flip over the baby's tootsies to keep them warm.

Here is the next one I started, I like the top, but I'm unsure of the purple, it looks a bit garish.

Oh Ravelry.... I do adore you!

I signed up for the Beta version of Ravelry WAY back when I first heard of it. It sounded very nice. I was invited to join I believe in June/July. I was quite sick and didn't really try it out then. Well I know so many people that are just waiting with bated breath to be invited, I thought it was terrible of me to not be taking advantage of my good fortune.

I posted a few of my projects. And then more and more. I am keeping track of them better than ever before. I know what hook size I used (I tend to start something, get sidetracked, then forget what hook size I was using. This is a very common way for my favorite projects to get frogged or forgotten about)

Right now I am working on some wool longies for my sister-in-law and the baby that's going to be here any minute!!!! I am also working on some dishclothes for Christmas gifts. This is motivating me so much and helping me to stay organized. There are still some bugs, and a few things I hope get easier to navigate (the forums) But so far I like it very much!

In case you are one of us lucky ones that already is on Ravelry my name is Ezri, feel free to friend me!

Dishclothes for Christmas Gifts

I am working hard, and find these dishclothes to be super ego boosters. I am hoping to crochet one for each woman in my immediate family. I plan to give these along with a quilted pot holder, and an embroidered towel.



The blue one is my favorite. I got the pattern from Cocoa Cream's Closet


The red one is ok, I changed it a bit because it was boring for me. I got it at Lion Brand's Website (which means you have to sign up to get it, it is free though.) It's called Vanilla Grit.

Soccer Hats

It is getting cooler here (well, not today, it's supposed to be 85!!) And we've had to start bundling up for the soccer games. My boys wanted to have something on their heads for the soccer games, so we made new soccer hats. We don't have soccer offered in our little village, so we drive to the nearest town for soccer. The shirts are all of the other town's colors, (black & gold). The boys wanted to show a little pride for their own school colors, so we made the hats in our colors (green and gold). They are wearing them today for the local homecoming parade (in the 85 degree F weather!) The boys are pretty happy with them. I personally like the one on the left better, but Lore really wanted the green and gold stripes down the side, so I can't complain, he's quite happy about it.

I winged this pattern. It's all half double crochets. Quite easy really. I'm working on writing the actual pattern up. I copied this one after one I did last year. I got the inspiration for that one from a crocheted patch on a sweater I had seen.

Argyle Crochet Square

I am angeling for a swap on craftster. I am made a 12" crocheted afghan square. The requirements were 12", washable, and green. This is what I came up with.





I used Bobby's Square pattern, but I wanted it to have that argyle look. So I changed out the yarns. It was a bugger to weave in all of those ends, and I can't help but think there must have been an easier way, but I am quite happy with the results. I would really like to see an entire afghan made with this square pattern.