Painting Haul

 I have really been enjoying painting. I placed an order for more supplies from Jerry's Artarama and my order arrived. I was thrilled! I was excited about my paint and brushes but on top of that they gave me three samples of Soho professional acrylic paints and a voucher for $100 off (with a $160 purchase) in wine from a web site that debuts small winerys! I couldn't believe it!

 I really like Jerry's. I was able to get canvases in bulk. I also ordered System 3 paints by Daler & Rowney. They are student grade but with much higher pigment than most student grade. I did a quick painting the other day to try it out and they work very well along with coming in a HUGE tube! I love my samples of Soho as well. It is so buttery. I think I will order more of it. Something I noticed that is nice about Soho is that all of the paint is priced the same. It's is professional grade and affordable.

  I have been using the Simply Simmons brushes like Cinnamon Cooney recommends and I love them. They really do hold their spring and keep a sharp edge. So, I would also recommend them! I will post a few pictures below of some goodies from my order!

Painting Too!

I have always loved painting and I have done a few pieces over the years but this is something I want to get more serious about learning. It is so relaxing like crocheting and knitting. Realizing that it is a learned skill just like fiber arts hit home with me and has given me the courage to just start REALLY doing this.

I plan to do 4-5 paintings a week. So I will be posting those along with my fiber arts on here. I am thrilled with the way today's painting turned out! If you are interested I followed this tutorial. The one thing I am sure of..... I need to get an angle brush!

Video Tutorial for Crochet Heart

Here is my first video! I am still learning how to manage my crocheting while looking at it through the camera ;) I hope you enjoy!

Valentine's Tree!

  I love decorating for holidays. Christmas is my favorite. I love the warmth of a glowing tree. I decided to keep that around this year.

  Just after Christmas JoAnn Fabric and Crafts was having a sale on all of their Christmas stock. I couldn't believe it when I found a 2 foot white tree! I had this idea before and always thought that white would be nice for a year round because it would show the happy colors of Valentine's Day, Easter, spring and summer flowers so well. I grabbed my little tree (which cost next to nothing on this sale) and happily brought it home and set it in out living room.

  With Valentine's Day coming I wanted to make little hearts to place all over my tree. I used the tutorial Chic and Cheap provided on You Tube. I grabbed a few yarns from my stash and began making them.I used worsted weight in red, white and pink. Then for a touch of fun I used a variegated sock yarn in blues, oranges and yellows. I should add that this is not a hands off tree. So, little ones play with and rearrange the hearts.

 I then made a garland using Tuff Puff in the conch colorway from Knit Picks. I made this by simply chaining a long chain fitting it for my tree. The yarn was so thick, being super bulky weight, that I didn't need to do anything else.

  Last, I made a nice, big, fluffy pom pom for the tree topper. I took my white and pink yarn and wrapped it around a children's book (it was right beside me) until I had the thickness I desired. Then, I carefully slid it off of the book and tied the center with a strand of yarn. It was then time to cut, cut and cut the ball until it looked even and full. I tied it to the top of the tree and voila! A Valentine's Day tree! Yes, there will be goodies around this tree Valentine's morning. I will post more about those later.

  I am going to try making a video of how I made my pink hearts. They are bigger and shaped a little differently than the others. I think I will try this tomorrow. We will see how it goes! I hope smoothly as I plan to start a crochet/knit podcast shortly and I am leaning towards a video podcast. Happy crocheting!

  Updating this to let you know that the video is now up on the blog here!

Crochet Airplane

 I loved this pattern the moment I saw it. It was perfect. You see, I just got a chance to do something that has been on my heart for a long time.

  First, let me say that I am not looking for a pat on the back. I am writing this to encourage other fiber artists. I want to encourage you to use your talent to help others. I know many, many other artists already do this. This was my first chance and it was a blessing to me!

  A friend from my crochet group posted about a little boy in her family that is fighting cancer. She wanted to put together a package for him so, she asked ladies in our group, if we were able, to make something for the package.

  I have always felt that the Lord gives us talents and we should use them to help and bless others. I always had good intentions of reaching out somehow with crochet, but I never did.

  I new I needed to do this. It may seem like it's just a little toy plane but the joy he will feel when he gets his special package from all of these dear ladies will be healing for him. (Proverbs 17:22~ A merry heart does good like medicine...) I felt so much joy as I made this, it really was a blessing to me too. I also got a chance to pray for him and his family as I made this. I would like to ask others who read this to pray for him as well.

  There are many organizations that fiber artists can donate to. I would encourage you to look them up in your area and donate if you are able. This is something I plan to do as well.

  And as for the adorable pattern, it is called Crochet Airplane. This plane is just too cute. I love how bright and colorful it is! I was so inspired, I ran straight to my stash and found different worsted weight yarns that looked great for a little fella's plane and away I went. The writer did a wonderful job with this pattern. It is easy to follow and I made it in a day. My own little guy saw this and loved it, so I am making him one too! I figured that was also a good sign that the other little boy will like it as well. It is a perfect size for little hands and there is just something endearing about a chubby little plane I think!

Double Layered Braided Cowl

If you haven't seen yet, the Double Layered Braided Cowl is all the rage (self explanatory once you see it). I just finished mine yesterday and I love it! This can actually be made from start to finish in just a few hours. I made one braid before bed one night and made the other one in the morning. I wore it out that evening! Another great thing is that it is a free pattern!

I used yarn from my stash for this,YAY! I ordered a bag of ten, Wool of the Andes in Brass Heather from Knit Picks on a Cyber Monday sale in 2014. They are just 50g skeins and it took less that two. Not bad at all, I still have tons of yarn for who knows what else!

Completed Cowl Neck Baby Sweater!

I finished! The bottom edging was quite simple. Attach your contrast color the the bottom edge of the sweater with a ss, ch2,dc in next stitch and in each st around. ss into first st, ch2 and turn.Work 1dc in same st, 2 dc in each st around, ss to first st to join.Ch2, 1 dc in each st around. ss to join and finish off. I just love the ruffles!

Textured Cowl Neck Baby Sweater

I've been working on the Textured Cowl Neck Baby Sweater by Amanda Chapman. It is a quick little sweater to work up. I am changing the sleeve and bottom edging to ruffles for mine. I am on the sleeves now. Just in case someone else would like to do the same with the pattern I will post what I have done. I changed to the edging color and just followed the sleeve pattern for three more rows. After joining with a ss, I worked a ch2, turned (begin in next stitch) then did 1 dc in each stitch around. I joined with ss, ch2 and turned. Then I worked 2 dc in each stitch around joining with ss, ch2 and turn. I then worked 1 dc in each st around, ss in last st and finished. Once I finish the bottom edging I will post my alterations for it as well. Here is a picture of the progress so far.

New Yarn!

I just finished up another great Woolfest in Wamego Kansas last Saturday! I have also just opened up a new Etsy shop and placed my first eight skeins in. More yarn and antler buttons are coming this weekend. Some more exciting news is that I plan on starting a crochet/knit podcast that will be posted on the blog within the next few weeks. It will be audio and I am really looking forward to this! I plan to discuss patterns, yarn, review books and magazines and of course some fun crochet and/or knit alongs with prizes. How about a yarn picture for this one?