WIP Wednesday: Something Fuzzy, Something Blue...

As usual, you can find more wips at Tami's Amis.

I have made some progress on my fuzzy cat, but it is slow.  I am knitting so tight that it hurts my fingers, but I like how it's turning out so I will keep going.

I have decided to pull this sweater out of hibernation.  I will probably frog it and restart to make sure that my gauge has not changed.  It's Cedar Grain.

Also, I have been looking at my beads and looking for inspiration.  I have a ton of gemstone chip beads.  They are not something I usually use when making jewelry, so I have been very challenged by what to do with them.  That's why I started a Pinterest Board to gather some ideas.  Some very inspiring stuff.

How are your wips going?  What is inspiring you?

Black Forest Cake Video

Found this video on Trekky Gets Crafty!  So fun!



Black Forest Cake from Marion Ber on Vimeo.

WIP Wednesday: A Large Fuzzy Cat

To see more wips, visit Tami's Amis.

I am testing a pattern for a group on Ravelry.

Pattern:  Rupert, the 20 pound cat

Needles:  Size 7

Yarn:  Red Heart Super Saver and Lion Brand Fancy Fur

I started two days ago and have not gotten very far, but I love how fuzzy it is turning out :)

Dobby, the House Elf (FO Friday)

Dobby spent sometime with me watching tv last night.  He patiently waited in my project bag while I created and added all his necessary parts.

He got some arms first and modeled them (next to my Kindle for scale) (ignore the smudgy screen, please).

Next he got some ears.  Look how bulgy his eyes are!!  I stuffed them with fiberfill when I attached them to his head.

There's his little mouth. It added so much personality to his face, I could not believe it.

I present to you the finished, naked Dobby.  What a cutie!  But he really needs to cover up, don't you think?

I cut part of a pillow case and added some armholes, so he could have something to wear.  I'll leave it up to his new owner to decide if she wants to give him real clothes and free him.

This project is my own design, and I am so excited to see how well he turned out.  Part of me does not want to give him away :) but since I took notes as I created, I am relatively sure that I can make another one any time I want.  I am envisioning lots of different versions of this little guy in different colors.

Ravelry Challenge #1: Marty

One of my resolutions this year is to participate in more Ravelry challenges.  This challenge is from the group: Weekly Mini Knit Alongs.

Pattern:  Marty
Needles:  Size 7 DPNs

I used two different multicolored yarns.  My main yarn has a fuzziness to it that really adds to the eyelash yarn effect.  The beak and feet are Cascade 220, and his eyes are vintage buttons that I bought at a flea market.

Marty will be leaving for Alaska this weekend as part of a care package for a friend who needs some love right now.  I think he is up for the job :)

WIP Wednesday: Dobby

My current WIP is a crocheted Dobby, from Harry Potter.  I am not using a pattern, as none of the patterns I found online were really what I wanted.  I just picked up some yarn and my crochet hook and started designing.  I've been taking some notes as I go, so hopefully I will be able to recreate him if I want.  Here is a front view of Dobby so far.  He still needs some arms and some ears and probably a pillow case.

Here is the side view of Dobby.  He is a little unsteady on his feet, hence the awkward pose.  I stuffed his eyes so they would bulge a little.

Check out more WIP's at Tami's Amis.

Kia's New Sweater (FO Friday)

To see more FO's, stop by Tami's Amis.

My cat, Kia, has been very cold this winter.  We had to get her tummy shaved to get rid of some dreadful clumps this fall, and her hair is growing back very slowly.  She spends a lot of time, standing over the heating vent, doing her Marilyn Monroe impression.

So I decided to crochet her a sweater to keep her warm.  She was unimpressed.

Luckily, it didn't take long to make. 

Now what can I do with a cat sweater?

Books I Read in 2012

I read 35 books total this year.  Here they are:

January

1. Little Altars Everywhere by Rebecca Wells
2. The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
3. Eragon by Christopher Paulini
4. The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan

February

1. The Family Fang by Kevin Wilson
2. Middle School: The Worst Years of my Life by James Patterson
3. Beachcomber by Karen Robards
4. The Titan’s Curse by Rick Riordan
5. The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan
6. The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan

March

1. Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
2. Under the Dome by Stephen King
3. Flowers in the Attic by VC Andrews
4. A Painted House by John Grisham

April 
1. Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

May

1. A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
2. Audrey’s Door by Sarah Langan
3. Never Cry Werewolf by Heather Davis
4. Dawn of the Dreadfuls by Steve Hockensmith

June 
1. 100 Cupboards by N.D. Wilson

July

1. A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin
2. The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan

August

1. It by Stephen King
2. All Will Be Revealed by Robert Anthony Siegel
3. Cosmic Banditos by A.C. Weisbecker

September 
1. A Storm of Swords by George RR Martin

October

1. Island of the Sequined Love Nun by Christopher Moore
2. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
3. Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay
4. Practical Demonkeeping by Christopher Moore

November

1. Write Good or Die edited by Scott Nicholson
2. You Are a Writer by Jeff Goins
3. The Successful Novelist by David Morrell

December

1. Gold and Gods of Peru by Hans Baumann
2. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame Smith

WIP Wednesday: V-Stitch Fingerless Mitts

To see more great WIP's, visit Tami's Amis

This week, I have been working on a few different projects.  I finished a pair of bike helmet ear warmers which I will post for FO Friday.  I have continued working on my Groovyghan, and I started a pair of V-stitch fingerless mitts.

These are for a co-worker.  She wanted a pair of these mitts in our high school colors, red and blue.  I think they are turning out very nice :)

I think they should be finished by Friday.

Happy New Year 2013!

Another new year is upon us which means it is time to review my resolutions from last year and make new resolutions for this new year.  Here are my resolutions from last year.

Resolutions for 2012

1. Read more than 33 books

I read 35 books this year.  I will post more details soon.  :)

2. Start my Etsy shop

Another year has gone by without meeting this goal :(

3. Finish my novel

Two novels started.  Neither one is complete yet :(

4. Complete my sweater (only needs sleeves :) should be easy)

I completed the Swirl. :)

5. Diet and exercise

This was a failure again.  I really need to make this a priority :(

6. Try new things

I tried knitting with large needles and bulky yarn which I love.  I also tried mosaic knitting :)

7. Start playing the guitar again

I failed on this one :(

8. Blog more frequently

I have been blogging more frequently on all of my blogs :)

I achieved 50% of my resolutions.  Not too bad.  Now it's time to make some new ones.

Resolutions for 2013

1.  Read more of the classics.

2.  Start my Etsy shop and do some craft fairs

3.  Work on branding my blogs

4.  Complete first draft of my novels (no NaNo this year)

5.  Diet and exercise

6.  Try more new things, especially designing.

7.  Participate in WIP Wednesday, FO Friday and Ravelry challenges

Do you have resolutions this year?  Happy New Year!