Hand Knitting

If you have a really little kid that wants to start knitting, don't have needles on hand (if that would ever actually happen!) or wants to add to their skill set have them try hand knitting! Little girls can make scarves in an hour! You can't really control the width because you only have so many fingers but this is a great way for a little girl to have some fun with yarn!

This is something that I did when I was little with the stretchy bands that my Nanny used to buy for me but you can do the same thing with any yarn!

To refresh my memory, I reread directions online! Just google hand knitting and give it a go!

Home!

I am finally home from my almost 3 week vacation. It was so incredible. Hawaii is just so impressive. The scenery is amazing, and I was surrounded by wonderful company. Here are just two of the 560 pictures I took!!

Unfortunately, I didn't spend very much time knitting. I did squeeze in a couple of baby hats. Patterns will be coming soon once I write everything out and get my pictures taken.

Also, I was on craftgawker again!! I just love that website!

My Knitting Club

So I started substitute teaching never realizing how much fun I would have or what it would lead to. When Lauren found out I knew how to knit one day at recess, I didn't think she was serious about learning how. At 6 yrs old I wasn't sure she would commit to it for more than a few days. I had her and Nia over to swim and learn how to knit. It ended up going really well and these girls caught on so quickly!

After teaching them, I got reports from both parents that the girls couldn't put their needles down! I was so excited and continued from there to teach two other girls (pictures coming soon). I really am happy they share this love for knitting and "don't even want to watch tv just knit!" We continued to have a few knitting sessions before I left for vacation and I can't wait to continue teaching them!

After this experience, I have really been putting a lot of thought into starting a knitting group where young girls can come and learn how to knit. At my church we have small groups and I think this would be the perfect opportunity for me to share my knitting knowledge!

Vacation Update

Luckily, I have a few things saved up to post while I am gone for the next two weeks. I also am making two hats for a friend's photography studio. She is starting to do newborn photograph and found some adorable hats she wants to use as props!

After showing me some pictures of sample hats from an online boutique I scoured the internet looking for the perfect patterns. Go figure I would end up deciding to make my own patterns because I couldn't find the "perfect one." While I am working on these patterns I figure I would post a few pictures so you can see what I have been up to!

This is me with my great- aunt Blanche. It was so wonderful to see her! It had been quite awhile since I last was out in L.A. She told me I looked like a Romanian Gypsy with my dress. Good to know I look like her side of the family!!

This is me with Ms Paula. After moving from MI 6 years ago, who would have thought she would end up less than 2 miles from my dear aunt!!

Here is a shot I took at Palos Verdes. It was a great day to be out by the beach!

As soon as I get all my pictures uploaded from Hawaii, I will put up a post with all of those.

Easy Hair Flowers

Well in a few short hours, I get on a plane to go to Hawaii! I spent the past four days visiting some family and friends in L.A. I had such a wonderful time that I wasn't even thinking about posting anything!

I made some hair flowers for a wedding I went to a few weeks ago, and it was a hit! I got multiple compliments on them. I had so many people asking me how to make them that I figure this would be the place to do so!

After a "craft day" with Sydney, Sohpia and Serena, we took a few pictures of what we made. They did their own cutting and picked out their own colors. I handled the hot glue gun and the lighter! I think we all looked great after our flowers were finished! Of course Serena need to have hers on a headband because "she is a headband kinda girl."

In order to make these flowers, You will need a lighter, hot glue, a bobby pin, measuring tape scissors and fabric. You can also have the option of beads or buttons for a center. I used three different kinds of fabric tulle, organza, and silk. You can also use chiffon.

Then you take your measuring tape and measure circles 3.5 in diameter of the silk. Cut two of the circles and set aside. The you do the same with the organza but with 3 in circles. Then measure 2.5 in circles with the tulle. Continue in the pattern making the circles .5 in smaller each time (2 in silk, 1.5 in organza, 1 in tulle), You should have 12 circles total, two of each size.

**For Serena's headband I simply cut the amount of circles in half and did two smaller flowers. Start with 2in circles and move down from there.**

Then I take a lighter, I use one of those larger bbq lighters because I actually burned through a small lighter! I didn't even know that was possible! Well the things you learn crafting! Carefully burn the edges of the fabric, keeping in mind that tulle will not curl the way the other fabrics will. This is how you get the curled look that you see in the pictures.

After you have burned all of the pictures, you need to attach all the layers together. I have finished these two ways. One simply with a hot glue gun or by sewing the layers together. I prefer the hot glue. This provides extra strength to them as long as you don't gob on too much glue. You can even glue multiple layers at a time because the glue runs through the thin fabrics.

After you get the, glued together you can add your center. I have used buttons and beads, but go ahead and be creative!! You can also glue bobby pins or clips the back of the flower to easily secure them in your hair.

Well there is a starting point! Go ahead and get creative with these!

Harry Potter Gloves

The youth group at my church left for their mission's trip to South Africa yesterday.
After realizing that it is cold this time of year there, one of the girls asked me to knit her gloves that match her Harry Potter double knit scarf I had made for her awhile back. I immediately had the idea of making these convertible gloves! I love how the colors look. Sadly I didn't realize that the second picture was blurry until I had already dropped the gloves off! I still love these gloves and think thatthere may be a pair in store for me this winter!

I had a few patterns that I had looked at previously to doing these gloves and kind of just did what I thought would work out best changing things around with different techniques. I will post the pattern later I just wanted to get the pictures up!

I am on craftgawker!

I received an email today that informed me that one of my photos was accepted by craftgawker. It was actually the photo I had posted on my last post so I am sure most of you that are reading this have already seen the photo. As of right now it is still on the first page of the website so go check out craftgawker.com

I have been really trying to get a better grasp on photography skills. I have a fairly nice Nikon camera that has the ability to take nice picture, must be the person behind the camera that has yet to figure everything out. Needless to say, I am very pleased that some of the work I have been putting into taking better pictures has somewhat paid off. There are many bloggers who specialize in photography and have some great tutorials so check them out!