Jofrog is Knitfrog!
March 6 2009
Alison's "Wee One" is 2 today! We spent the morning with them for a "wee" birthday party! Here they are jumping around to some music!
I made a little pink sparkly purse to go along with Wee One's pink sparkly slippers (you can see them in the above photo, word is she wears them every day!). I used the same tutorial I used for my sister's Christmas present; it couldn't be easier!
I lined it with birthday cupcake fabric! Yeah for being 2!
Happy Birthday Wee One!
February 19 2009
As part of "NaKniMitMo" I knit a pair of "Bella's Mittens" in the beginning of January. All in all, it took less than a week of my limited knitting time to make them, and then, with the extra yarn, I knit a cowl to match!
Specs: Lamb's Pride Bulky, Size 8 needles, knit in about a week! More Ravelry
This mittens are really quite warm, and warm enough for almost every Boston day we've had since they've been knit. The hands and thumbs were a bit short when knit, but have grown just the tiniest bit to be perfect. (I was counting on that!)
Yeah for knits for ME! (I just bought a sewing pattern for ME! too. I think a little bit of selfish crafting time is in order, don't you?)Oh Right, I Knit Those...
February 14 2009
I was feeling extra crafty this valentine's day and made valentines for Kaya's grandmas from this template by ThinkingMama.
I changed them just a bit to say "Meme and Pepe":
and "Grandma and Mom" for my mom's:
A few heart pancakes,
...and my mom is visiting so Mike and I are going out to dinner tonight!Happy Valentine's Day!
January 16 2009
Thanks for the great response for the organic shoes! I'm really happy with how they came out, and there may be a few more designs to come in the future too! (Let me know if you have any special requests.) If you are local to Nashville, TN there is a new store opening there today called The Green Wagon. It's being called "Nashville's first green general store" and they will be carrying a wide variety of eco-friendly and sustainable items, including Kaya's Kloset Organic line of baby shoes! Stop by to check them out if you are in the area (4429 Murphy Road in the Sylvan Park neighborhood). You can read an article about them here.
There have been some great reviews of the new organic line on The Cutest Shops Online, My Two Seasons Designs, and Linda B's Blog. (All of them have coupons too!) Thanks to everyone!
My next post will be back to knitting with some warm mittens and an almost completed sweater for Kaya!Thanks!
January 12 2009
For a long time now, I have wanted to add an organic line to Kaya's Kloset. The biggest problem was that it's so hard to find cute fabrics printed on organic cotton. This fall, I finally figured out a way around that. I would paint designs on myself! After a collaboration with best friend, and artist, Miranda Greenhalgh, I can finally offer organic shoes to the public! The shoes are made out of unbleached organic cotton material with reclaimed corduroy soles. They are stitched with organic cotton thread and have new elastic around the ankle. Miranda's original artwork is hand painted, by me, onto each shoe. Each one is a little bit different and entirely fun! You can see all of the designs here or on Etsy. Let me know what you think and any suggestions for new designs when this line expands.Organic Cotton Baby Shoes
January 7 2009
Somehow Carol sucked me into NaKniMitMo (AKA Knit a pair of mittens, or more, in January). Carol said "even baby mittens count", but Kaya has two sets now. I knit her a pair in November, and then my mom made her this pair for Christmas: Mike has two pairs of mittens that I've knit for him, and I wear a pair of fingerless gloves that my mom made me last year, inside of a pair of very loosely knit Peruvian type mittens. ...not great for snow removal! I decided to knit myself a very warm and thick pair of Bella's Mittens. Bulky yarn on size 8 needles makes a very warm mitten and lots of progress on New Year's Eve resulted in one completed mitten already. Pal wanted to model for everyone, so here he is! (Notice Friend in the background with his "A" shirt on too!) And one more pic, just for fun... do you have any clue how hard it is to get three toddlers to all look at the camera and smile together? It's hard, but it happens sometimes! The key is getting the camera to pick it up correctly. I got a new one for Christmas and I'm still figuring out how to get it to do what I want it to do. The reviews say it's possible to take really really awesome pictures with this camera, but that the user needs to know what they are doing... I'm doing my best to learn! (It's also really tiny, so hopefully there will be a lot more picture taking around here because I can throw it in my pocket and bring it anywhere!)NaKniMitMo
January 3 2009
I made my dad an awesome lunch bag from this pattern for his Christmas present. (If you send her an Etsy convo, she'll make up a kit for you with the special insulating fabric, handle, velcro, nylon, and binding included, so you don't have to go out looking for it or buy more than you need!) I'd ordered one of these bags when Mike started his new job last summer, and he's used it every day since. It's in great shape still, keeps his lunch cool, and makes him a bit cooler too. ;-) For my dad's bag, I thought about having Cascade make it too, but I knew he'd assume I'd made it, and a pattern is now available, so I did it myself. This pattern was so thorough, and easy to follow. It's definitely possible to finish in one evening, and it's so cool to watch it all come together. This would be a great first day of school present, new job present, or really for any other occasion! I want to make another one now, but I don't know who for! Kaya still has 4 years until Kindergarten, but I'm sure I'll make her one then! ...maybe for the nephews!An Awesome Lunch Bag
December 29 2008
I did a lot of gift sewing this year, and no gift knitting. (Not even Mike's annual Cashsoft DK socks, sorry!)
I love looking at a pile of fabric and seeing what it can become. This was my sister's gift a few weeks ago:
Thanks to this tutorial I was able to convert some of that into a fabulous little purse! I added on the strap (~1" wide), but otherwise I followed the excellent instructions to the letter.
This little pouch, as cool as it is, wasn't quite enough for a gift for my one and only sister though, so I filled it with all sorts of other things.
There is a pocket mirror from Ursula and Olive, a notepad from Books By Bexx, and a tissue holder made by me from this tutorial.
A note on the tissue holder, I almost bought one at a craft fair for $9... I'm so glad that I didn't because this one took me maybe 15 minutes to make, and it matches the bag exactly. I think it's great that someone can make these and sell them for that much, but if you can sew, even a bit... hey, if you've thought about trying to sew, try making one of these and you'll see what I mean!
One more big gift to report and then a few little ones. Overall, in a year where many people were cutting back on presents, I gave some of the best I've ever given and spent very little money doing it. I hope that people appreciate their handmade gifts, and I felt great giving them.Another Gift!
December 22 2008
This is my first attempt at applique, and I totally winged it. I asked Alison a while ago if she wanted to take an applique class with me and she basically responded "why". I figured that was license enough just to go ahead and do it. What's the worst that could happen?
Because it's so close to Christmas (and I just finished this gift now at 2:30PM and it's being gifted at 4:30PM), I didn't get to wash it after I sewed it on. I can't wait to see the fraying that happens or doesn't happen... I really have no clue. Luckily it's for one of Kaya's buddy's and hopefully we'll get to see it in action in the future.
A is for Applique
This gift is being given this afternoon to a little guy that doesn't read my blog... starting next week I can show the other gifts that have been made this year!
December 19 2008
Kaya these days always wants to help me in the kitchen. She's good at scooping, and counting, and dumping (in the bowl and on the floor). My real helper though, is our dog Naomi! Naomi was a stray for a very long time before she came into our home. She's still (6.5 years later) a big scavenger, and raw flour is one of the things she loves the most. (Cooking spray is a very close second!) This is a huge help when cooking in the kitchen with a toddler! Naomi is constantly under foot when I'm in the kitchen, and although I do end up with very "clean" floors, I end up with a messy dog. Exhibit A: She is graying quite a bit these days, but that is all flour on her head and back. Happy Holidays to you Naomi! Enjoy the rest of the baking season.My Kitchen Helper
