Something Crafty(knitted) and Just for fun!!

 Just for fun and a break from schoolwork and such, I knitted up this cute little hedgehog. I won a kit to knit it years ago in WA state when my favorite yarn shop Sweet Stitch went out of business. I miss that shop and don't even live anywhere near it anymore. So I pulled out this kit and knitted away, I actually changed the color to a more purplish color from a hot pink that was in the kit. Above this is a photo of him all knitted and ready for felting. I did my felting in the dryer! I loved it so much better than felting in the washing machine. I stuffed him with some plastic so the front and back didn't felt together, it was faster and less messy. I got a bowl will hot water and a small amount of laundry soap and soaked him, zipped him in a pillow case and put him in the dryer. I checked it about every 10 minutes, half way I soaked him again and put him back in the dryer! I loved this process! If haven't felted this way, I recommend it!

 Here he is all finished and sewn up. I think he is just adorable!! Too cute. I ordered some safety eyes from etsy for him.

Just another angle, He's fluffy and puffy. He needs a name! Any ideas???

Getting Crafty!! and it's about time!!

Well everyone, I have seemed to 'misplaced' my nutrition book. (under a pile of yarn, laundry, or I am just not looking very hard for it, it just happened to show up as I was waiting for photos to upload) Too bad, I get to finish my post now!

I has been too long since I have posted anything much that is crafted. Not for lack of wanting to. I just haven't finished many projects until now... YEAH! and best of all I have MORE in the works!

This is a close up of the needle felting I did for my neices slippers... My first needle felting project These are a photo of the slippers. They were knitted and felted. They were a fun project to work on. The pattern was from a kit from knitpicks. This is my second needle felting project. Did it like a paper piecing project but with felt and then needle felted the penguins on the slippers. I love how the penguin turned out. Thanks to Brian for helping cut out the tiny tiny pieces! Here's the completed slippers. I debated about putting laces in these guys and decided not to. I can if you girls decide you want them! Just let me know! Here is Sackboy. I have never seen the game. My youngest has played this game with his friend, and since his friend is moving away, it's his gift from us as a going away present.. Shh don't tell.. ha ha Nikolas already told him before I got the yarn! What a stinker! Here's Sackboy in pieces... my first knitted toy, so much fun to make. I will definitely be making more knitted toys in the near future! I already have plans for some more things! For now they are a secret! Not entirely crafty, unless fixing the hole in the wall and painting is crafty; however, I did sew up the curtain. One more bathroom to go and then we have to get painting outside and pretty much start painting the inside all over again. (sigh)

So any of you crafting anything fun out there? Please share!

Sewing project #2

This is project bag number two. I have done more sewing in the past few days than I have in a long time. I am clearing up my table for a few days and getting back to the books. It was MUCH quicker the second time around!!! This one is for me!

Here's the inside of the bag.... The fabrics were fat quarters, I want more! They only had fat quarters though...

Knitting projects coming soon! I am amazed at how much I have accomplished in the past few weeks, in projects especially with how busy I have been with the kids and school. It is GREAT to be so productive and the weather is warming up and I can see my compost pile again. I bought a bin I will put up this year, I love the sunshine and warmer days!

My first REAL sewing project

I can't express how excited I am that I have completed this bag! I have been a beyond beggining sewer for as long as I have owned a sewing machine, today I ventured out to make this cute little knitting tote for my daughter! She's 8 and picked the fabrics herself. Cheeta on the inside and birds on the out! This is the first time that I have sewn anything that was any other shape than a basic rectangle and it looks pretty good. I learned a few things about the project and now I can make my own without to much of a hitch! She's gone to bed so she won't see it complete until the morning!

Inside the bag has a small pocket for your pattern, counter or markers, and a divider (complicate to sew but I got it) in the center of the bag for knitting two socks at once or two small projects and even yarn feeder loops. Most knitters will understand that last thing.

Journey Through the World Of Books

The Journey through the world of books was the theme of an exciting program called PARP (parents as reading partners) sponsored by our school PTA. I had the pleasure of being the chairperson for the planning committee (it was a committee of two, see how important I was?) For two weeks the children were encouraged to read nightly with their parents, tales and stories from around the world and log their reading into their passports. The last night proved to be fun and rewarding for all and we were so pleased with the participation of parents, students and teachers alike. We had three guest readers, the one pictured here a retired teacher dressed up, and read stories about the Inuit people, you can see that she was sitting near her student built igloo of recycled milk cartons! The children were enthralled with the tales. We also had our principle dressed as a penguin reading stories about penguins and Arctic living, and a princess from England with her castle and fables from her land.

Two crafts were very popular among the children, above are Ariana and Nikolas getting started on their drums from Africa. It was the first stop on their journey. (each family was given a passport with write ups on the activities that night and a schedule of their events to break everyone up into smaller groups) The children really enjoyed finding the flags for each country and rotating to the next activity.

This is a shot of all the drums that the kids made. The just looked so cool all drying on the table.

The kids then tried their hands at Tinikling, from the Philippines. The learned the origination and how it came about. It was originally done with reeds with thorns and was a punishment, today it is very popular and has become a competitive choreographed sport. I was so pleased that there was so much laughter coming from the kids and parents...

They also played a game from Australia called Down, Down, Down, a throwing and catching game.

One of the most favorite activities of all was making the Ojo's de dio's AKA God's eyes. I remember making these in Girl Scouts as a kid but really didn't know there was a history behind them. "In Mexico, The central eye was made when a child was born. Each year, a bit of yarn was added until the child turned five at which point the Ojo was complete. In Bolivia, "God's Eyes" were made to be placed on an altar so that the gods could watch over the praying people and protect them. "

All in all it was a great and busy night. We had prizes at the end in the form of a drawing and certificates of participation and completion for those that earned it. What a great experience it was to be part of the planning and see how much joy it brought to so many people.

A Challenge To Myself

In the past few weeks I have been trying to get myself back on a schedule, time for family, time for self, including a more rigorous exercise schedule, and some crafting.. Really the blog should be called Cook, Study and Dream of Being Crafty! Ha... My blog address is fitncrafty, another ha fit!

One thing I am doing is beefing up my fitness program. I had a goal before leaving WA and moving the NY that I wanted to do a triathlon before turning 40, and unless cooking, cleaning and studying fit the bill, I missed out on that goal. I miss the training group I had in WA and have found no such group here. (please don't get the idea that I should start one, I am clueless about how to train for one) Perhaps that will still come in time. Maybe with increased training I will still finish that triatholon.

Another thing is to finish my produce bags (sewing) that I have been so slowly working on. I am almost there, at least with the gift ones. Then I just have to make a few for myself. Also, on the crafty side I am knitting yoga mat bag (that will be felted). I am not loving the color combo that is going on and I am afraid that I am going to have to FROG it (rip it out) bummer, what's a girl to? I can't see felting this beautiful yarn(brown sheep) and not liking it.. too much investment here.

The truth is I am avoiding reviewing my notes for my conference with my instructor tonight. Imagine that, I just really want to be done with that class (you know the research one that you all helped me do the nutrition study for) Research methods is just not my favorite topic.

So my challenge to myself is. Making it through my review tonight, finish my sewing and knitting, and run, and then run some more. Without neglecting my yoga practice and weights. I would like to force myself back into the pool to do some swimming (gotta get new goggles my current ones are leaking) I will report back on how things are going. I am hoping to feel accomplished with some things really soon!

How about you all, what are you challenging yourself to accomplish???

Crafty and Eco-Friendly

Bye Bye, little plastic bags at the grocery store and farmers markets(yeah it's summer time!), a new guy has moved in to replace you. It's the reusable produce bag! I did something crafty and useful. It's amazing that I did it with a sewing machine and it is actually fairly straight. This crafty little bag was made from tulle and double fold bias tape. I must say that it was a little tough to get the bias tape pinned on at first, but once I got going I just pinned away. The sewing part was actually fairly easy in comparison. I am not to good with patterns(or recipes) I always tend to add my own touch. I had some directions, but they were a bit hard to follow so all I really did was look at the one a friend had made and copied it. The tutorial that she used is no longer online which is too bad, or I would link you all too it. I for one am really happy to rid myself of those little bags, because of the many times the bags have torn and I had to waste another bag just to get my veggies home in one piece. Plus, there is nothing more embarrassing then having your produce rolling all over the place which has happened to me more than once!

I have plans to make several more in various sizes. The one shown here is really big even in my produce world. It will be great for corn on the cob and other large produce. So today, the Earth has something else to smile about and me, I get to take a break and do something relaxing. Plus no little plastic baggies to throw away! Appears to me that everyone wins!