My DIY Labels...

So I have searched the web and come across many nice labels used on handmade items especially quilts and blankets. I found out about Spoonflower a few months back and I love the endless possibilities this site offers for printing not only fabric but wallpaper, decals, and gift wrap. Jay Bird Quilts has a great tutorial on how she made her labels on Spoonflower and it helped me out a lot. This is what I came up with...

I created these using Adobe Illustrator, a free trial can be downloaded here. This was my first time ever using Illustrator and with the very useful YouTube I figured out enough to make this design. I have other colors along with the yellow as I was curious as to what the other colors would look like. Hopefully they come out nice. I pasted a few repeats on the page and added lines to make for easier cutting to add to the quilts and blankets I make. 

Then uploaded them up to my Spoonflower account and placed an order. I think for my first Illustrator experience I did ok. In hindsight I wish I'd added more empty space around the design so I could write in a date and quilt name if I wanted to. I can't wait to see how they come out.

 

Thanks for stopping by,

 

T. Mitchell 

 



It's A New Day for a Maxi Dress...

Lately I have been able start a few new projects that I've been wanting to do. I broke out my sewing machine and some fabric that I had in my stash. I purchased the fabric from Fabric Art Shop  on Etsy. I came across the Regal Maxi Skirt  on Pinterest and immediately checked out the great blog of MiMi G.......I love her style. I looked at the skirt a few times and ordered the pattern. Those that know me know that this is me all the way and I think the sash drew me in. I've had the pattern for a while now and hadn't used it because I didn't have the right amount of fabric (and I still don't) but I knew I would like to use this fabric for this skirt. I initially was going to make this Maxi dress which is attached to a tank top, hence the one in the picture....I think I may still make this once I find the right fabric.

No, I don't have the amount of fabric the pattern calls for but I'm going to see what I can do with what I have. We'll see how it turns out.

Quilting Newbie......

I have also always wanted to make a quilt. I had some fabric in my stash so why not try this out before I go buy more fabric and plus this will be a good add to my Eysy Shop. After looking at many designs I decided on the half square triangles because there are so many design options that can be made with these little guys. I don't know if this was a good choice for my first quilt but we'll see. I have made squares and cut them into triangles and sewn so that one triangle is patterned and the other black.

I have more patterned material than shown in the picture. Since the picture I have started sewing the squares together. At first I was going with a chevron design but that's changed, it seemed to be harder to get the lines to match up like I wanted then to so I'll have to revisit that at a later time. I instead went with more of a flying geese type design.

I still have to decide on a backing. More photos to come. I hope to get this done soon.

Thanks for stopping by.......

T. Mitchell

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lollo the African Flower bear...

My Afican Flower Bear is done. She has been done for a while now and I realized I didn't post any finshed pictures. I enjoyed working this up and I think it came out great. More details on her as well as the yarn and colors used can be found on my Ravelry page and original post . And you can have one like her or to your liking through my Etsy shop.

She sits 23in tall and is 31in standing. I originally made her to sit on my desk until I realized she was waaay too big for that so now I think I will put her away and enter her into the Washington Parish Free Fair this year.

Thanks for stopping by,

    Have a great day,

T. Mitchell

More African Flowers....

Can't get enough of those African Flowers. I'm still working on the African Flower blanket and plan to be finished by next months end. I purchased the pattern for Lollo the african flower bear by Heidi Bears, It's been sitting in my Ravelry library for months now. I was waiting to order the right type of yarn but then I thought why not use what I already have and see how this comes out before ordering more yarn. I had tons of Caron Simply Soft in solids and brites, which I was going to use for a sweater, but why not use for this bear. I chose gray for the base color and a rainbow of colors for the flowers. I got the idea from granpen's lollo African flower bear done in a rainbow of colors.

I was looking forward to finishing this but now the hook needed to complete the last hexagon for the body as well as the entire head is now missing. And of course I have tons of hooks but only one in that size. I'll probably find it once I go buy another. Now I have time to find eyes and buttons for the joints. Thanks for stopping by.....

T. Mitchell

Cold Weather = Harlequin Hoodie

I have seen the pattern for the Harlequin Hoodie many times as well as on Ravelry. After looking at it I decided to make this. I figured it would be perfect for the upcoming cold weather over the Thanksgiving week. All the yarn used was from my stash probably all Red Heart which worked out really well because I didn't have to spend any money. Of course I didn't have it finished by then but it's complete now just in time for the next snap of cold weather.

                                  
I am happy with the way it turned out. I did add ch stitches to the hood as well as the cowl and added a few more rows to the hood so that it would be more oversized vs close fitting. I also tappered it off in the back with decrease rows so it would be sort of rounded instead of square. If I make another one I will follow the pattern exactly and make in a solid color except for the edging rows. And use a differnt type of yarn. Looking foward to wearing it soon.

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY.....HAVE A GOOD DAY!!!

Christmas Stocking & More...

I haven't posted in awhile but that doesn't mean that I haven't been crafting. I've been also trying to get back into taking surveys which in the end can help fund my projects. Lately I have gotten back into baking...cream cheese pound cakes have been in the cake plate a lotaround here. I started slippers for my son...still need to attach the sole on one. I've also been drawn to those darn African flower hexagons and started a blanket using them in shades of blue and green.

I'm trying to attach along the way as well as sew in or crochet in the ends so I won't be stuck with that daunting task in the end. I don't know how big it will be I plan to go until the yarn runs out. I want to start a pair of these slipper boots in gray and cream with maybe a hint of blue- green color.

I saw these on the Cozy Made Things blog and really liked her take on the slippers. The original pattern uses less hexagons for a short slipper but I like the taller version. I originally bought some plastidip to put on the bottom but after further research I also bought a roll of jute that I will use for the bottoms. This way I can wear them out the house if I please. I was going to go this alone but I found a pattern on for crochet soles - turning slippers into street shoes, which I think will be very helpful.

After going through my stash, even taking yarn from other projects (rainbow puff stitch blanket) I decided I wanted a hoided scarf. I refuse to buy what I can make and this time went with the Harlequin Hoodie on Ravelry.

African Flower Christmas Stocking

After making African flowers for the blanket I thought this would make a unique Christmas stocking. There is a Etsy shop that sells a pattern but I figured this was one of those things I could figure out on my own. I used this pattern for the Polka Dot Christmas Stocking to help piece the motifs together.

I attached them differently at the toe and took out two motifs from the toe as well as a full row at the top of the stocking. Instead I added half hexagons to make a straight edge along the top and some rows of single and double crochet. I liked the finished product and decided to list this in My Etsy shop.

Nacho Baby's Typical Blanket

I had an interesting request for a custom order baby blanket. A nacho chip including the cheese and a jalapeño. All I knew is that the chip needed to be a triangle shape and a slight idea of how to do the rest. I could not find any patterns anywhere for a jalapeño slice so I had to figure it out and go from pictures. In two weeks time this is what I came up with. 

 

Thanks for looking......T. Mitchell