Merry Christmas!!!

Today is Christmas Eve!! I'm officially overdue with our little elf baby, and so I decided to pick up a new craft...I took the plunge into KNITTING!!! I've had a full set of knitting needles for years and learned to knit when I was little (along with crocheting). So I've been finding all kinds of tutorials online to brush up and learn the things I didn't know. I'm starting with a basic scarf with alternating with white and red :) here is a pic of what I've started so far

Ruffled leg warmers :)

I got a request from my dear Aunt Kat to make her two pairs of ruffled leg warmers so she can be cozy while still being stylish when at her events. So naturally I said yes! Right away we brainstormed and figured out the style and I let her pick the colors (her wardrobe and all). Well I got a package in the mail this afternoon and got right to work! I started at 3 pm and by 10pm (continuing daily routine with two pixies under my feet) I finished one from the first set :) so here it is just to get a feel. These can be bought for $35 a pair postage paid. Turn around will only be a few days after supplies are bought ;)

You can visit my Aunt's website to view her fine art and like her on FaceBook for both her fine arts, and jazz band! Look for Kathleen Cavender and tell her I sent you!

http://www.kathleencavender.com/kath.htm
FB- Kathleen Cavender Fine Art

Oh sewing machine!!!

This week I have been and will continue to create things for my little elf baby on-the-way. The owls and bubble minky will be a blanket for him. The snowflakes, terry cloth, and organic bamboo velour will be transormed into soft absorbent flat diapers for him to wear under all the wonderful wool covers I've been making him! I'm in the process of crocheting another set of wool shorts. I'm not sure if ill be selling these or keeping these for him yet. But here is a picture of the colors I've chosen. The link to the free pattern is here

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/widdershins-soaker

The ribbed waistband is made from Patons classic wool in "new denim". It's 100% pure new wool medium weight. The body is made from Bamboo Ewe by stitch nation in "twilight". It is a wool blend of 55% bamboo viscose and 45% wool. Very soft and warm and absorbent.

After I get done with these shorts I'm going to spend some time washing and lanolizing all my handmade wooly projects :)

Homemade laundry soap!!!

A few weeks ago, right before our big move from apartment to house, my hubby suggested that we make our own detergent as we were running low and I knew we'd have tons of laundry to do before and after. So I'm finally running my first attempt at homemade laundry detergent!! I found the "recipes" on

tipnut.com/10-homemade-laundry-soap-detergent-recipes/

Wish us luck! Ill let you know how it goes

Apparently after I grate my bar of Fels-Naptha I will need to run it through my food processor because I've got some pretty nice chunks. But it should wash well ;)

Adult size leggings

Well I FINALLY finished them up last night and I've already worn them to the store! Definitely needing more of these colors in my wardrobe now! And more accessories for me. Better get cracking on some of these other projects I've got piling up. An over sized cowl and another 2 sets (different pattern) of adult leggings are up next. Then I've got cloth diapers to put together and a baby blanket for my sweet little guy on the way :) busy busy mama over here
Total labor of love

Leggings!!

After months of making things for others and my baby boy on the way I've finally started a project for myself! Here is the first legging I made just for me :) I saw something similar for a little girl on Pinterest and decided I loved them so much I had to have some. I cannot wait to finish the other and embellish them so I can wear them all the time! Since I didn't have a pattern to go off of, ill just have to write out my very first pattern for these pretties :)

first projects

My first projects after "Crochet School" classes 

 pattern for this style diaper cover is found at http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/adirondack-babie-crocheted-soaker-pattern  this is my go-to diaper soaker pattern, I've made many for my belly baby to wear.

 partial yarn stash!

 the first hat I ever made. Made for a very special teeny tiny micro-preemie that is dear to my heart.

One of the diaper covers made by me for belly baby.

 The very first wool cover stash to cloth diaper my baby

this was a wool diaper cover made for my friend for her brand new baby girl. I still adore the color combo of the pink/purple/green