I made this knitting needle case last week:







I am not entirely happy with it. I like the way that it looks, but I found the fabric difficult to work with, and I didn't decide to do the ribbon edging until I had already sewn the seams, and so the edges are bulky and not as nice as I would like.

So...anyone want a slightly wonky needlecase?

I participated in another stuffie swap, and my partner and I have both received our new little friends. I got this adorable Totoro:


He is super soft and squishy, and makes a great pillow, and I love him.

And here is what I made for my partner. His name is Phineas:



And, a closeup of his cute face:

Have spent most of the week working on a mobile because I volunteered to be an angel for a swap. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but you know what? Making mobiles is frustrating. Especially if you are kind of anal retentive and want the damned thing to hang straight. It's been a lot of -add a bead to this side...now add two beads to this side...and hope that at some point it all works out. Stupid math, interfering with my crafting. *sigh*

However, I did have time to finish spinning up some yarn, mostly because I wanted to get it off the bobbins so I could play with my new fibers. :)




I've been very into the autumnal colors, but this one is a bit too orange. I don't know what ever possessed me to buy orange fiber. Unless maybe I was going to needle felt some pumpkins or something? Who knows.

Finally, I wanted to share an action shot of the apron I made for the Day of the Dead swap, cause it looks better on a person.

My Halloween swap partner received her goodies, so I thought I'd post some pics.

This is the graveyard jewelry box:


and inside:


A foam skull mobile:


Spiderweb candle holder (purchased from a thrift store and painted to look all pretty and stuff):


Crocheted slippers (these actually ended up fitting the recipient, which I was worried about, because they seemed so small, but she wears a size 5):


The "zombie attack" hoodie:


And a stenciled Jack tote bag:


Have I mentioned lately that I love Halloween?

Was just realizing that I never posted pics of the stuff I made for the Firefly/Serenity swap, and I thought I would share.

First up, we have a Serenity logo bag, with a pretty satin brocade lining (my first attempt at sewing something with pockets, so go me!

I am pleased with how it came out, but I never want to work with that fabric again. I had little bits of it everywhere.

Next are some strawberry shaped stitch markers made from felt.

I was really just looking for an excuse to make cute felt foods.

A set of felt backed coasters (seen here with my crafting partner: Smirnoff Twisted Watermelon)


A handmade journal, inspired by Kaylee's room sign (inside also has rub on flowers and butterflies)


A Kaylee inspired windchime (there were originally supposed to be tool parts in here as well, but I couldn't get them to work, but I still think it is cute and colorful and makes pretty noises)


And finally, Zoe and Kaylee dolls. I am not as happy with these as I would like. I don't know what was wrong with me, but I just couldn't get them to work the way I wanted, and almost considered not sending them at all. I am definitely having another go at this project when my wrist feels better.

I have been a busy little crafting bee. I needed to keep myself occupied this past weekend so that I didn't spend too much time thinking, and I got all of my Firefly/Serenity swap items completed (just in time, too), and also dug out the sewing machine to work on stuff for a knit/crochet goodie bag swap. I never did much sewing at the Crackhouse, as I didn't really have a good space for cutting out fabric and the like. It's amazing what having a table on which to work will do. I am really enjoying the whole sewing thing, and can't wait to share some pics of my stuff (once my partners have received, of course).

Also, I got a very nice message from my partner in the little stuffie swap, telling me that her husband was impressed by my stuffie. There's nothing like an unasked for compliment to make my day.

And finally, jadefu, I might finish these mittens sometime before it gets cold again, but I hope you don't mind if I don't do the thumb gussett. For some reason, I am currently completely incapable of performing this function. Don't know why. I have done it successfully several times before with no problems, but I have had to rip these out 4 or 5 times and am getting kind of frustrated. Hope you understand. :)

I was realizing, as I was going through my photos, that I never uploaded and shared the pictures of what I received for the Fairy Tale Swap. Some of you may remember that I ran into a bit of trouble with this swap. The pictures of what I made are in this post, along with some other stuff. The swap items were 2 of the handspun yarns, the knit bag with a swan on it, and the little Robin Hood and Maid Marian figures. I also included in the package a couple of Robin Hood retellings that I had and was getting rid of, a nerf crossbow, and some glow in the dark stars. I mailed it off, and the confirmation information indicated that it had been delivered, but my partner insisted that she hadn't received it.

Then, when she sent, she didn't get a delivery confirmation number (at least not that she told me). But she had been really active in the community, and in communicating with me via e-mail, on my journal, and through messaging in Craftster. I never received the package. She offered to remake the stuff for me, and I was going to make her a new package as well. And then she fell off the face of the planet. I went to contact her to say that I wasn't going to have time to make another package (this was when I was starting my new job, and doing all that commuting, and I was stressed out). I sent a request to the mods to get her an angel. She didn't respond. And then I went to her journal one day, and it had been deleted. I was seriously heartbroken. Not only was I sad that all of my hard work had maybe gotten lost in the mail, or at the very least was not appreciated, but I had been so excited about this swap, and it had gone bad so quickly.

Thankfully, the mods were very understanding and they got me the best swap angel I could have asked for (RowdyVampRaquel). I know, I know....on to the pictures!



Tote bag - The Goose Girl. Handmade tote, with a quote from the story and geese and goose girls stenciled/painted on it.


A swap journal - East of the Moon, West of the Sun themed, has a satin bookmark with a bell on it attached.


Slippers - The Twelve Dancing Princesses. Sadly these don't quite fit me (literally just a fraction of an inch too small), but they are adorable, and I think I will hang them in the new apartment somewhere...probably in the craft room.


Falada stuffie - The Goose Girl - yes, she made me a decapitated horse's head as a present. What can I say? I inspire weirdness in others. I absolutely love this present.

And last, but not least:

This is a card made for me by my partner's 8 year old sister - with a Barbie Twelve Dancing Princesses theme. Isn't that just about the cutest thing ever?

She told me later that she had never read any of my chosen stories before, but that the Goose Girl became one of her favorites, too. I am so very pleased with all of her hard work, and grateful that I got such an awesome swap angel.

With everything else going on in my life, I realized that I completely forgot to talk about how much fun I had visiting heathertea and everyone for crafting day, back on the 16th. Her new place is really nice, and there was lots of room for me, heathertea, ladygwyn, and sryder to spread out our crafting (and food) supplies. (In case you didn't know, food plays a very important part in crafting day.) So, it was much better than trying to squish us all into my living room. It was really great to see everyone. I've missed heather and am glad she and jon moved back to this general area, and even though they live nearby, I don't see enough of sarah and gerry, so it was cool to hang out with them too. So, thanks guys. You all were pretty much one of my only bright spots in this holiday season. =)

Also, I got a significant amount of knitting done, which enabled me, ultimately, to meet my goal of finishing my stepsister's and niece's presents by Christmas. Too bad I didn't actually get to see them, but that's a story for another time.

For now...enjoy some pictures:

Mmmm...cookies

( more pics! )

Bub 2, and the knitting needle case have both made it to their new homes, and seem to have been warmly received. Yay! I am always glad to hear that people have liked their gifts.

I started working on this little handbag in July. I've been finished with the knitting part for some time, but actually had to drag out my new sewing machine to sew a lining for it. I was excited to use the sewing machine for the first time (not the least of my excitement had to do with the fact that this bargain purchase actually worked). I sewed the lining in by hand, and then realized that the handles, which I had taken off of another bag which I was throwing out some time ago, needed be to put on before the lining. Ripped the lining out, attached the handles, and sewed the lining back in. Upon further reflection, I should either have gotten smaller handles, or made the bag bigger, but in any case...here's the finished product: