Crafty Rantings

I'm Crafty. I Rant. These are Crafty Rantings!

Tuesday, April 03, 2007

Two Finished Items

OK, I have one picture to post that might take some decyphering. Here's the story.

The last time I went to Ally's, the nice airport people lost the bright ornage "Smart Tag" luggage tag I had on my checked bag. Fortunately I had another tag on it. Yes, I double tag. :) So since I have to take a bigger bag this time, I wanted some way to tell this one apart from the rest. The bag I usually take is smaller and is black with red and easy to spot. This bag is bigger and blue like everyone else checks. So I wanted to put another "Smart Tag" on it (trip to the store required!) so I could recognize the bag.

I've been doing a lot of crochet lately. Probably because I know it's going to get too hot to knit soon. And because I have gotten re-obsessed with doilies. I am going to attempt washcloths again soon but for the moment, I am into doily delight. Anyway...

I had some leftover wool from making a felted bowl once upon a time (can't remember for sure but I think it was wool from Peru... I'd have to check the archives of my postings to be sure!). I hauled out my "L" crochet hook which I used to make the Mary Jane slippers. Then with a chain of 50, joined, and one row of double crochet all around, through the handle, here's the luggage identifier I made. (BTW, don't think *anyone* will have something like THIS on their luggage!)



I don't know if you can see it or not but I crocheted it right through the handle. In order for them to take it off, they have to break the yarn.




And now... here's the second thing. Please do NOT drool on your monitor! This is what I have made for my mother for Mother's Day. Oh yeah, remember, she has no computer and my brother never visits this web page anyway (to my knowledge). I really loved that Mexicana multi-colored thread so I got some to use for Mom. Now I feel an intense need to make one of these for ME. I am also working on another new doily which may or may not go to the swap I started on Swap-bot. Right now it's an experiment... if I really like this design (and so far I do!) then I will add it to the list of ones I like to make often.

For now, though, enjoy my mom's doily.

Sunday, April 01, 2007

A Moment of Insanity

In a moment of insanity, I have set up a swap at Swap-bot.com called "Delicate Doilies" to encourage those who make them to swap them. I tried not to make it too hard. But I love making these things and so few people do anymore that I wanted to give those who crochet doilies a chance to make and receive one. We'll see how it goes.

BTW, what *was* I thinking?!?

Lately


OK, I have been doing some knitting and crocheting lately. Honest. And yes, I'm up to about an inch on the ribbing for the first sock. Unfortunately, yet again, I goofed but I was able to fix it before ripping it all out (very minor) and it's fine. :)
Here's a picture of the Reno scarf together with the "dancing in the livingroom" cap. The cap was crochet and the scarf knit. It's in the "feather and fan" pattern. Both are made out of Lamb's Pride which is 75% wool and 25% mohair. And boy, let me tell you, that mohair sheds all over you when you're working with it! Anyway, here they are together and then below it I will put a close up picture of the scarf so you can see the pattern.











Now here's what I did last night while watching tv. My next door neighbor's birthday is Tuesday and I wanted to make her something. I have been so busy with other things that I have not had a chance to make anything and put it away for gift giving. Since my mother doesn't have a computer, I can say this here - I am making her one of these (probably the same size) for Mother's Day but hers will be in a different color, just not sure what yet. Whatever color I pick, it will be today. I can make one of these fairly quickly (a few hours) and I would like to have that set aside. Anyway, here's Jan's doily (don't tel her Jo!).