Crafty Pants!

Multimedia message

2006-05-11T17:25:00.000-07:00

Multimedia message, originally uploaded by arrrghmatey.

Multimedia message

2006-05-11T17:19:00.000-07:00

Multimedia message, originally uploaded by arrrghmatey.

I'm Moving!

2006-01-10T16:34:00.000-08:00

I mainly use this blog as an archive of my projects and as a way to keep track of good patterns and idea. I found something called 'wordpress' that allows me to have categories, which is a great feature! I'll miss my cute kitty layout (how I labored on thee) but that's life. Her is my new address:

http://craftypants.wordpress.com/

I love the 80's

2006-01-03T20:37:00.000-08:00

Inspired yet again by a post on craftster, I made some cute retro fuse bead coasters for my brother. He buys and restores arcade cabinet, so I thought he'd enjoy them. Two of them are diskettes, one is the Galaga ship, and the other is a space invader. I would have made more but I ran out of grey and black.

Lovely Sewn Patterns

2006-01-01T20:52:00.000-08:00

I adore these sewn fawns, and now the pattern is online! I think I may make one, this summer when I have my sewing room back.

Present for me!

2005-12-29T12:33:00.000-08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

While making all these presents for other people, I realized that I haven't kept a single crochet project for myself. I decided that I really need a hat, seeing as I only have one. It's about 15 degrees every morning as I walk to class, so my one hat has seen far too much use.

I wanted a beanie with a brim, but couldn't find any patterns, so I just winged it. It turned out ok, but I didn't add any increases in the brim, so when I put it on it is pulled flat, into more of a flap. At first I was annoyed (hence the angry picture taken at 2am) but now I kind of like it. It's..... subtle.

The red arrow points to where the brim actually begins, but is pulled against my head.

It has more of a brim when I take it off:
But it's VERY warm, and that's all that matters. I will try again later with a brim pattern I found online.

Christmas Presents: Part II

2005-12-29T12:24:00.000-08:00

I saw this ruffle scarf pattern online and fell in love with it. A few days later I saw it at some snooty, expensive clothing store, and knew exactly who I'd give it to. :P I used Joann's Angel hair, and it was a dream to work with. The scarf turned out so incredibly soft! It is a thick yarn, so I used a larger hook and didn't crochet the last row. The recipient is a very bold woman, and I think she will really wear this scarf well.

This it what it looks on:
It's pretty thick so I made it short. It's more decorative than functional I think, which is fine because the recipient works in Seattle.

Christmas Presents: Part I

2005-12-29T12:08:00.000-08:00

Now that Christmas is over, I can finally post the presents I made. This holiday season was really quite fruitful! I just wish I could have so much free time all year! I won't be able to make anything in one sitting until next winter break rolls around:(

I crocheted this hat using Patons Divine (which was a PAIN!). I didn't use a pattern again! :D When it started to get a little big, I added some decreases. I thought it looked funny at first, but the recipient has very large, curly hair, and it keeps her hair in control quite nicely. My mother made the scarf on the smallest knifty knitter (I love those things!) and I crocheted the matching flowers.
And here is what the hat look on:

I hate taking pictures of myself, it's very awkward. I needed a mannequin head, but I think it'd creep me out...

I'm Productive!

2005-12-17T13:24:00.000-08:00

I feel very proud of myself. For the first time ever, I haven't been posting not because I'm lazy, but because I've actually been busy making things! I'm nearly finished with everything, but I haven't gotten around to taking pictures of everything.

Today I managed to sneak some pictures of my Incredible Emoticon Hat. It's crocheted using wool-ease thick & Quick, and I used some cheap worsted weight to make the eyes and mouth. The features have velcro on the back so you can move them around. It was my first hat, so I just winged it (no pattern!), and it turned out really great! Here are some of the faces you can make:

And here a bad picture of what it looks like on:

Mind you, I have a really small head, and the recipient has a really big head.

PS. Aaron, if you are reading this.... Pretend you didn't...

Puppy Sweater

2005-12-08T11:47:00.000-08:00

Awwww. My puppy (I call all dogs puppies) is getting old, and I can tell the weather is affecting him. He is always missing from view now, sleeping under our beds where it's warm. Maybe I'll make him this cute dog sweater for the winter! He puts up with wearing hankercheifs, maybe he'll like this!

Idea Alert!

2005-12-06T13:28:00.000-08:00

I saw a domokun crochet hat, and it made me think that I could make an explodingdog (me bro is a fan). I could either just make it white and crochet black eyes and a mouth, or crochet a whole body and applique it on... I'll have to sketch this out....

Planning for Presents

2005-12-05T20:54:00.000-08:00

I just finished a mini scarf using some moda dea swirl yarn that I got as a secret Santa gift, but I am looking for the perfect button for it. The colors are not me, but I think my boyfriend's sister would really like it. I am going to start next on this ruffle scarf for my boyfriend's mom. I can really see her rockin that, especially if it is fuzzy. Also, I think my brother would appreciate this billed hat. He always wears the same grungy beanie every year, and it is time he updated his look! Come to think of it, I want that hat! In pink, of course.

However, all this will have to wait one more week. It is finals week and I am completely and utterly burnt out. My boyfriend said he knew I was done for when I opted to watch football instead of study. So true! I have taken an hour break to relax and look at crafts, but now it is time to study for my final at 8am. Please, let it end!

Craftsters back!

2005-12-04T11:11:00.000-08:00

Yay, Craftster is back! How I missed thee....

2005-12-01T14:14:00.000-08:00

I made two more birdies. I love the white and green one, but the brown one didn't turn out as well as I had hoped. I made it in the car, so I guess that's my excuse. I love these little guys so much, but I can't keep them:( I'm going to sell them at the local craft fair to help fundraise for a group I'm in. I'm going to set the price high, around $10 or $12. They took a lot of work, so I don't want my efforts wasted. And hey, if they don't sell, I can keep them (and give them as gifts). I'm devious like that!

Crochet Hook Case

2005-11-29T00:29:00.000-08:00

I don't get much time to crochet, so I use any time available; I'll crochet a few rows in the car, before class, after dinner, etc. I have a small drawstring bag that I've been carrying around with my yarn, hooks and pattern. However, I just kept my hooks in a plastic bag, and they kept poking holes in it and falling out.

So over this thanksgiving weekend I made myself a hook case. I actually made two but the first one didn't fold over so my hooks had a chance of falling out (which defeats the purpose). I made it out of a placemat, elastic and blue binding (all things I already owned). While it isn't perfect (machine problems) I really like it, and it is very practical. I love making things I actually use!

Here's what it looks like opened up:
I got all those hooks at goodwill!! I'm expecting a few more sizes for Christmas, so I made lots of extra slots.

Free Pattern Fri... Monday.

2005-11-21T18:49:00.000-08:00

The weekend was crazy, and not exactly enjoyable, but one thing I did get to do was crochet. Only for an hour, but I've never been able to sit and crochet for more than 15 minutes at a time. I'm nearly done with another birdie, and I plan to make a million for christams pesents, but I'm not sure if I'll have the time. I'm thinking I'll actually make five.

I found another pattern that I'll definitely make after christmas season is over. It's a cute Baby Triceratops. But I think I'll make it in pink.

Addicted to craftlogs

2005-11-18T00:45:00.000-08:00

I'm addicted to reading blogs about crafts. There, I said it. I read more about crafts than I actually craft. It's a nasty habit that I'm trying to break, but it's so hard to not look at such beautiful creations. One tool that has really helped me read a billion blogs at once is bloglines. I wish I found this earlier! I have about thirty differed blogs that I subscribe to, and I never miss an entry. Which might not be a good thing, because now I'm addicted to checking my blogline feeds...

English Amigurumi Patterns

2005-11-16T09:37:00.000-08:00

There are a million gorgeous amigurumi books, but nearly all of them are in Japanese (and cost a fortune!). Eventually I want to buy a Japanese book and learn to read the charts, but in the mean time I found this book with English patterns! It's very inexpensive too. From what I see in the picture, I only really like the giraffe. But for $7.99 it's hard to beat. Plus, I'd love to learn how to make all those different shapes. I could combine them and make my own creature. Mmmm, franken-creatures....

Wing Pattern

2005-11-16T09:35:00.000-08:00

Here is basically what I did for the wings:

ch 10
treble in 3rd ch from hook, treble, dc, dc, hdc, hdc, sc, in last stich before turning(sc, sl st, sc)
sc, hdc, hdc, dc, dc, treble, 5 treble in end st. Join with sl st in top of 1st treble.
finish off.

I love fat birdies!

2005-11-15T21:15:00.000-08:00

I finished my fat little birdie using this pattern. I improvised on the wings because I didn't like the original ones. She (my boyfriend insisted it was a girl) was actually pretty quick to crochet, and I only messed up a few times. I'm loving crochet; I never really got into knitting. Knitting hurt my elbows for some reason, and it felt sloooow.

I'm planning on making a bunch of these little guys and donating them to a fundraiser! I have a bunch of yarn I got from goodwill, so there are gonna be some funky color combinations. I'm thinking I want to buy hot pink too- for some reason I can see these birds in hot pink and brown. Call me crazy, but I think it'll be cute.

Yet more future projects

2005-11-13T15:20:00.000-08:00

I always have a million projects planned, and I have an entire room of 'to be made' projects to prove it. I also have a whole dresser dedicated to unfinished projects, but that's an entirely different story. Right now, I'm really hooked on crochet (no pun intended, I promise!) and I have about 75 different free patterns bookmarked.

What really determines what project to crochet right now is solely based on what yarn I have available. I have about a paper grocery-sized bag full of thrift store yarn, so color and texture varies greatly. I couldn't make the amigurumi bunny because I didn't have anything similar to 'brushed acrylic.'

So right now, I'm making these cute wee birdies. I'm about halfway done, and it will be pale blue and white. My next project will be this pudgy penguin, because I do indeed have black, white and yellow/orange worsted weight yarn.

Christmas will be exciting because I have been looking at getting yarn FOR a project, rather than having to find a project for my yarn.

Free Pattern Friday!

2005-11-11T22:25:00.000-08:00

There are so many different memes going around the internet today, ones like 'self-portrait Monday' or something of that nature. But if I were to make one, it'd be Free Pattern Friday. Everyone could all post links to their favorite knitting, crocheting, sewing, origami or whatever pattern. There are thousands of free patterns out there, but only dozens of them worth looking at. If people post their favorites, it would be easier to find the projects that are begging to be done.

Well, here's a link to my free pattern for this Friday. It's the darling Ugly Duckling crochet pattern (PDF). I think it'll be my next project after the amigurumi bunny!

Needle felting!

2005-11-11T15:45:00.000-08:00

I've been dreaming of needle felting for the past month or so. I have seen so many cute critters, but I hadn't the slightest idea how they were made. Today I saw this needle felting kit and I know what I want for christmas! It lookds like two other people have used this kit and had adorable results.

Plans for the future

2005-11-10T19:20:00.000-08:00

Next project: This Amigurumi bunny from the roxycraft website. It calls for 'brushed acrylic' but I'm not sure what that is. I have this fuzzy white yarn, but it doesn't have the label on it. I guess I'll just have to try it and see!

你酷我在

2005-11-10T01:39:00.000-08:00

I can't read the text, but this site has some wonderful illustrations.

Hoot! Hoot!

2005-11-10T01:05:00.000-08:00

Another one from roxycraft.com!

Testing Something!

2005-11-08T17:41:00.000-08:00

2005-10-26T17:29:00.000-07:00

I made this! Pattern by roxycraft.com

2005-09-01T13:18:00.000-07:00

Granty pants and I.

Vanity

2005-05-26T09:15:00.000-07:00

This is the mess that I call my makeup desk.

Not my arm.

2005-05-10T18:34:00.000-07:00

St patties day bruise.

I am awesome!

2005-05-10T18:31:00.000-07:00

Exactly 60k miles.

I love parades!

2005-05-10T18:28:00.000-07:00

Shriners in mini cars!

Vroom!

2005-05-10T18:23:00.000-07:00

Vroom!, originally uploaded by arrrghmatey.

After my awesome Harley ride during Apple Blossom!

2005-03-08T22:39:00.000-08:00

Grant's V-Day present. It's a "magic bean" that says "I love you" on it when it sprouts. There is a heart with an arrow through it on the other side. I got it from http://johnsonsmith.com if you must know.

2005-03-08T22:30:00.000-08:00

Grant and I on the bacony of the hotel we stayed in for New Years Eve. Not that we got any sleep or anything...

2005-03-08T22:28:00.000-08:00

This is a weird picture... But I wanted to show off the earband I KNITTED myself! I made 5 of them and gave them away for X-mas presents. This isn't the best one, but it is the only one I could take a picture of.

2004-10-27T23:04:00.000-07:00

Who's guns are these?!?

2004-10-26T11:33:00.001-07:00

We decided to go 4x4ing and came upon an overturned truck. The top was completely flat, but somehow the guy managed to get out safely.

2004-10-26T11:33:00.000-07:00

Grant and his buddy decided to help. Or is he just constipated?

2004-10-26T11:32:00.000-07:00

Five minutes later, this is what happened to us. It was scarey and a wee bit painful, but we managed to flip it over and continue our trip

2004-10-26T11:31:00.000-07:00

This was the view from the top of the cliff. We are sitting on the ledge of a 1000 ft. drop-off.

2004-10-25T23:45:00.000-07:00

This is now on my bedroom door!

2004-10-25T23:44:00.000-07:00

So Business-Like!

2004-10-25T23:40:00.001-07:00

COOOLD Waters

2004-10-25T23:40:00.000-07:00

HOTTTTT. Literally.

2004-10-25T23:39:00.001-07:00

Kissy Poo

2004-10-25T23:39:00.000-07:00

Awww, a picnic by the falls.

2004-10-25T23:37:00.001-07:00

Sticking My tummy out.

2004-10-25T23:37:00.000-07:00

Walking Tall

2004-10-25T23:35:00.000-07:00

Yay for Butts!!!

2004-09-01T19:19:00.000-07:00

For his profile!

2004-08-25T18:14:00.000-07:00

Old Timey fun!

2004-07-25T12:08:00.000-07:00

Overlooking a beautiful vally just outside of Ellensburg. It was a coooold and windy day!

2004-07-24T13:51:00.000-07:00

Nate, and the cake we made for his 21st birthday. We are very god friends, don't ya think?

2004-07-23T22:17:00.000-07:00

Aww, a present for me?

2004-07-22T18:04:00.000-07:00

Naps are a good. We all like naps. Hurrah for naps!

2004-07-21T16:01:00.000-07:00

Nap time.

2004-07-21T15:55:00.000-07:00

The long walk down the hallways of Alcatraz.

2004-07-19T20:07:00.000-07:00

"I yam what I yam!" says me brother.

2004-07-19T19:45:00.000-07:00

A hand print left on my brother's back after a 'hearty' back slap. His skin isn't really that freaky colored - the lighting was weird.

2004-07-18T21:19:00.000-07:00

Nap time!

2004-07-17T15:36:00.000-07:00

You will respect my authority!

2004-07-17T00:44:00.000-07:00

View from alcatraz.

2004-07-17T00:41:00.000-07:00

Another view.

2004-07-17T00:40:00.000-07:00

Alcatraz.

2004-07-17T00:22:00.000-07:00

My boyfriend and I. He's on a diet...

2004-07-17T00:17:00.000-07:00

First picture taken during my San Francisco trip.

2004-07-16T23:27:00.000-07:00

The three musketeers!

2004-07-16T23:18:00.000-07:00

A blurry picture of Moi. I have much shorter hair now!

2004-07-16T23:11:00.000-07:00

Isn't he pretty?

2004-07-16T23:08:00.000-07:00

One HOT boy.

2004-07-16T23:06:00.000-07:00

What, cookie? Did I hear cookie?

2004-07-16T23:04:00.000-07:00

Sonya, hiding behind the basement door.

2004-07-16T23:03:00.000-07:00

Footprints in the snow.

2004-07-16T22:20:00.000-07:00

So cute, so sad.

2004-07-16T22:19:00.000-07:00

Chewbacca, the coolest dog around.

2004-07-16T22:16:00.000-07:00

My Brother taking a 'cat nap' with Ali.

2004-07-16T22:10:00.000-07:00

My kitty Sonya, after finally capturing her toy mouse.