Knittin' Needles A Flyin'!

The weather has been so nice these past few days, it makes it hard to spend time inside and in my studio.  Carol had left a comment about a better photo of the blanket I posted earlier in the week, so I thought I'd share a little better photo as well as another knitting project I just finished the other day.  Here's the blanket - I hope to get it in the mail along with a boat load of other things that have been riding around in my car for a few weeks.......

And a second project - A new pair of felted slippers (minus the felting at this time) for my Sister at Heart Shelly.  I'd made her a pair a few years ago for Christmas and after much love and wearing, she has worn out the bottoms and needed a new pair.  So, these were my Survivor knitted pair of slippers (Shelly and I both love Survivor...our hubbies do too, so that's when I knitted these).

And that neat box with the red flowers on it - it's from my mom - she finds some of the neatest boxes.  I love these storage boxes and this new one is just FABULOUS!  Thanks Mom!

If you're looking for a fun challenge - make sure you stop by Shelly's Images - today is the Terrifically Thrilling Thursday Challenge.  The photos alone will make your day!

Thank you all for stopping by on this lovely day! I'm so glad you were able to spend a little part of your day here.

Happy Craftin'!

Min

Welcome to the After Christmas Edition....

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas.  I know we had three days of celebrating Christmas with our families this year.  Lots of LATE nights/EARLY mornings - I'm not sure which it is when you go to bed at 3 AM.  It was wonderful spending time with our families.

This year I think I mentioned, everyone was getting felted slippers for Christmas - it's a joke between my dad and I every year (we have a few jokes - including $10, but that's a story for another day!).  Every year about September, my dad has worn holes in the bottoms of his wool slippers, regardless of how thick I make the soles.  Sure I could get suede bottoms to sew on these slippers, but a new pair of slippers every year is our joke.  :o)  Anyway, I ended up making 25 pair of slippers (yep, 50 slippers total). 

This is Glen's Uncle Stash showing off his new head mitten, er, slippers.

This year in addition to the big people's slippers, I wanted to find a pattern for the little people in our family - the kids.  And amazingly enough, I DID find a pattern, and it's nearly identical to the big peoples pattern but knits up A LOT FASTER!!!

I had to show you just how cute these little peoples slippers turn out.

This is Gizmo helping me knit the slippers up - - -

And these are the slippers BEFORE they're felted. 

When Colin gets his slippers on Saturday, Amy will felt them to fit him perfectly.

They are just WAY TO CUTE, aren't they?

Well, hopefully tomorrow I'll have a chance to get back into my studio and do some creating - I spent yesterday cleaning up after Hurricane Min that went thru my studio at Christmas.  I was amazed at some of the items I unearthed!! :o)

We're gearing up over at Scrap-Friendzy for the Super Sketch A-Thon that begins on New Years Day!

Make sure you take a few minutes to stop by & be inspired!

I hope you're getting some crafty time now that the holiday craziness has lessened.

Happy Craftin'!

Min

2 Days until Christmas!

Can you believe it?!  I'm typing to you today with the 'knitting claw' hands.  I've been knitting felted slippers since we finished our Christmas cards (Actually since September).  By the time Christmas comes and goes, I will have knitted 25 pair of slippers.  Can you believe it?  That's a lot of WARM, TOASTY Piggies.  I was so excited a few weeks ago to find a pattern identical to the one I use for big kids (adults) 'foot mittens' as the Pearson kids calle them, but this pattern was for little kids.  And they are just way too cute!! 

Anyway, yesterday I got up early (weird body clock, can't let me sleep in while on vacation).  So, I headed to my studio to finish off these little beauties for a few of the little kids in our family.  They're the mini-glass blocks (about 5" square).  I have two more to do, but I'm still designing them for my nephew and his new baby sister arriving February 2010.  :) 

The boys blocks (The Tractor and the Football) both have Brown Grosegrain Ribbon wrapping the block (can't see 2 boys who like tractors and football wanting ANYTHING to do with BOWS!!!).  The girls blocks however, HAD to have bows!!!

All vinyl cuts were designed in Cricut DS and cut with the cricut.

Carts - George, Every Day Paper Dolls, Life's a Beach, Paper Dolls, Sports Mania and Zooballoo (I think that's it).

Ribbon - from my stash (usually either from Michaels or Joann)

Lights - string of 35 or string of 50 (Hobby Lobby or Target - Targets were cheaper for 50 than HL was for 35).

Vinyl - from my stash, originally purchased last winter when Lowes was getting rid of their wall pops

Glass Blocks - Mini's from Michaels, but I've also seen them at Joann and multiple sizes at Hobby Lobby.  I think Lowes carries the larger ones pre drilled around the holidays too for a lot less in cost than M's does.  Take your coupons if you're headed to the craft stores to purchase them........

So, that was yesterday's project before Christmas.  I have one more pair of slippers to finish and some nut rolls to make today, so wish me luck.  Hopefully I can get the rest of the gift wrapping done at some point today too.  Oh, and I've got a chipboard album I need to finish too.  Whew, guess I'd better get movin'!

Happy 2 Days Before Christmas!!

Happy Craftin' and Holiday Enjoyin'!

Hugs - Min

The Felted Slippers

So, on top of scrapbooking, card making & my mini albums, I also knit.  A few years ago when both my mom & I were 'relearning' how to knit, we'd try to take a class together each fall or winter.  One winter about 6 or 7 years ago, my mom and I took a Felted Slipper Knitting class.

I think everyone thought we were looney when we brought home a 'slipper' that looked like something a clown in a circus would wear.  However, because they were knit with wool, you throw them in the washer and guess what happens?  Yep, they shrink up like sheep in the rain and into something FABULOUS!!!

So, every few years, after the recipients wear the bottoms out, I start from the beginning and make everyone a pair of felted slippers for Christmas.  My dad and Glen usually get a new pair each Christmas.  My dad usually wears his out in 8 months, so it's gotten to be a funny gift between he and I.  This year I'm making 21 pair, hence getting started on CHRISTMAS gifts in September........

So, here's my start -

I made two pair last week (the purple & green) and have begun the first pair for this week.  I've made 6 pair in the last few weeks (I usually knit while we watch tv in the evening or sports.  My mom and I have also been known to take our knitting to football games, baseball games and pretty much any place else we can 'get away' with it.  You wouldn't believe the conversations we end up in with other people wondering what we're doing......:).

So, this is a slipper from the side, prior to felting - you can see the stitches much more than the second photo below.  This one is about 16" from end to end, just to give you an idea how they shrink down.

This is the felted slipper from the side (my mom made me these last winter).  I wear a 7 1/2 ish just to give you an idea of size.  They are the warmest slippers I think any of us have ever had and we haven't had a complaint from anyone yet.

 So, that's the story of the felted slippers. 

Hope you're having a great day!

Happy Craftin'!

Min