MyLuckyChicken

Boys of Summer

My life this spring has been filled with baseball. I've spent most nights sitting at fields watching games. So when I spotted the outside of a skinned baseball, I promptly popped it in my backpack thinking I bet I can make something fun out of that!

(Here is the part of the post when I think, geez I should have taken before pictures.) 

 

So on my first official day of summer vacation, I decided to finally give that sad little skin a new life as a super cool baseball bracelet. 

 

 

I followed this tutorial over at I Can Find the Time .

 

 

One edge is a little raggedy because I found the skin already ripped off the ball. But if you are willing to sacrifice and old ball, you could make your edges a lot neater.

 

 

A little Murphy's Oil Soap did a nice job of cleaning off the leather. They were a big hit and only took about 20 minutes to make.  Perfect summer craft. 

Swap-bot fun!

I needed a little something to get my creative juices flowing again so I signed up for a swap on Swap-bot.

For those of you new to swapping, basically you find a topic that interests you, say vintage buttons, and look for a swap. You are assigned one or more partners depending on the swap, and you create a little package for them and send it off. It's great because you get to send a package and receive one in return. And you know how I love snail mail!

I participated in a Vintage Button Swap. My package was sent to Australia (for only $3, isn't that amazing? the post office is way under-rated) about a week ago. I think it has reached it's destination and so it is safe to post pictures...

 

We had to send 10 or more vintage buttons, I made a little needle book to put them in...

I used one of the last pieces from my 1930s quilt top and some felt. I love these little books, they are so sweet and tiny. 

My partner's profile said she liked olive green so I went with that theme for the buttons. 

 

They are basted in with the yellow silk thread. (vintage, of course) 

I love sewing with silk, it feels so luxurious. 

 

The thing about swaps is you have a deadline so it's a nice little project that has to get done. And sometimes the pressure of a deadline is just what I need! 

I received a cute package from my partner with some lovely buttons and I will post pictures as soon as I get some good light to take them. So that would be tomorrow morning. 

Sold!

There has been an uptick in sales of my sweet little monster clothespin bags. I love sending them out into the world and I am hopeful that the increase in sales means that more people are using solar clothes driers (formally known as a clothes line).  You could also use them to hold plastic bags, cleaning rags, all kinds of things! I'll be listing most of what I have left this week. 

Just keep knitting, just keep knitting...

I've been wanting to learn how to knit for a while now.

Mostly so I could knit socks. I love socks. Cozy, thick, wool socks. Like these...

And sometimes I would start, but I found it annoying to keep the yarn in my left hand. And after crocheting, having two needles made me feel clumsy. 

A friend told me I needed to knit for 3 hours straight and I would get over it. So I did. I signed up for a class, that I had to pay for. This is my motivation to go because it is at night, after a long day of work, and children, and laundry. It is also 7-10. pm. But I went and knit for 3 hours. It didn't work. I was still clumsy and hated the needles. I actually said, "I think I might hate knitting." 

But those socks were calling to me. The promise of a lifetime supply of thick, cozy, wool socks. As long as I had some needles. and a sheep. 

So I kept with it.

Knit 2 , purl2, knit 2, purl 2.

Forever.

Or maybe it was just 3 weeks.

And look...

my first scarf.

It's finished now and I can wear it.

Which I did today because it is snowing here.Yes, in October. But I am embracing that because it turns out that snowy days are really great for knitting...

another scarf, commissioned by my little guy, to be paid for with kisses. 

Hurricane WIP

We are so fortunate that Irene was downgraded to a tropical storm before it came to us and so far we've kept dry and have only lost a few branches in the back yard. 

I've been watching the news and working on my latest project.

 

Sending thoughts and prayers to everyone dealing with this storm. 

 

My Most Recent Obsession

I've been really infatuated with dolls lately. Specifically, rather small dolls, like the kind you could fit in your pocket and carry around with you. A nice portable friend. I started by looking at the Blythe photos. The are all over the internet. I got my self a mini blythe, but then I moved on. I have a few vintage dolls. (I'll post a picture tomorrow when I have good light). They are sweet but delicate. Then I started thinking about fairies. I couldn't find one I liked so I thought I'd make some. 

She's my first. I was making them in Ireland and quickly realized that I didn't have what I needed to make tops, so they all got skirts. 

I'm working (rather slowly) on some new ones now. They are about 6 inches tall and only lightly stuffed. I think they are the perfect size to put in your pocket and take on an adventure. 

Finally.

So my photo card wouldn't let me upload pictures to my mac. Being a new mac convert I wasn't quite sure what was wrong or how to fix it. This, ridiculously, has stopped me from posting here or from listing to etsy. So finally a new card was purchased and volia! a post. 

 

Last fall I made what felt like a million of these little clothespin bags to sell at a craft fair to benefit the local animal shelter. They were well received and I even sold a few. Since spring is coming and my afore mentioned photo card is cooperating, I thought I'd list some to my little etsy site. 

I probably should have ironed before taking the photos, but honestly I just wanted to get them up. Maybe I'll reshoot if they don't fly off the virtual shelves. 

They are all made using some kind of vintage materials. The blue is a vintage cotton/poly blend that I had from my grandmother. I made iron ons for the hands because that made them a lot easier to then applique. 

 

This is one of my favorites:

the hands are a 1920s ish quilt top that I snagged. It was completely beyond repair but some pieces were useable. I love that a little bit of the quilt has a new life. 

The Making of Things Shall Recommence!

Oh yeah, this blog is supposed to be about making things...

   

This is my new design for my clothespin bags. It has been suggested to me that my other bags were a little monster-esque, so I decided to go with it.  They could also be used for plastic bag holders or just-about-anything holders. 

The reason for this sudden burst of inspiration: a deadline. 

I was thinking of applying for a big craft fair and needed a fun picture of my Monster Clothespin Bags. But I needed to make one first, so I did. He's been in my head for a while this guy, and I'm pretty happy with how he came out. I need to figure out a faster way to do the appliqué but other than that he's pretty simple and fun. For directions, you can check out my tutorial (minus the hands, they're new). 

So then I actually read through the application for above craft fair and saw the entry fee. I thought, maybe start smaller? There is a local craft fair to benefit the animal shelter, I applied and was accepted and so volià, another deadline. 

The idea here is to use as much vintage and repurposed materials as possible and to inspire people towards a greener lifestyle. 

Stay tuned for more fun!
 

Valentine's Day Presents

Small lavender sachets hand stitched on linen by the boys for their teachers. I did the finishing but they stitched the hearts. I think it's important that they understand that giving a little piece of themselves by giving something they made is the best kind of gift. Plus they are super cute! 

 

The light in the kitchen this morning...

Spring it coming... I can FEEL it!!!

  

Third Time's A Charm

I have been trying to make this scarf for three winters now. First I tried to learn to knit. I don't have the patience for it really, and the two sticks thing throws me. Maybe I will get back to it. But until then I decided to crochet one. 

I unraveled the 3 inches of knitting I did and started a single crochet scarf (this is the only crochet stitch I know). It was way too wide. So this winter I unraveled it, again, and made it skinner. 

I should tell you that I have this idea in my mind of what this scarf will be. It will be skinny and wrap around my neck 4 or 5 times in a luxurious 'oh this old thing?' kind of way, while still looking quite chic and fabulous. 

So I begin again, hopes high, spirits undaunted. Now my skinny, but not skinny enough, scarf is turning out stiff and frumpy (not in a good way) looking. 

Talking to my friend this morning and telling of my dilemma, she said, 'Oh yeah your using a hook that's too small'. I tried to play it cool like 'yeah that's probably it', but I was thinking, crap, why hadn't I thought of that? Soooo, now I am about to unravel it again and start over with my new bigger hook. 

 Yes, I know the hook is ugly white plastic. My afore mentioned friend also said you can get hand made hooks on Etsy that are beautiful. But I put my fingers in my ears and said 'lalala I didn't hear that', and haven't looked because really, I spend way too much time fantasy shopping on Etsy and I needed to go cold turkey for a bit. 

Ok now my third time, it's going to be great!  and Hopefully done before the spring. 

A little catching up from Christmas...

 Presents made for friends, reusable snack bags, which were a little huge but that make them more versatile right?

 and a fun take along tic-tac-toe game. We stamped on the chickens (what else?) and tractors, and the board is made from a cotton ribbon. 

Please excuse the dark and too light photos, I am still working with my giant lens, and since my car needs repairs, the purchase of a new lens will have to wait.