Projects from Class

Last Thursday I taught a juice pouch notebook class at the East Branch of the Somerville Library.  It was a full class (15 kids), and everyone walked away with a juice pouch notebook.  I made an orange Kool Aid one.  Then 5 of the kids stayed longer and made paper beads to add as a tassel on their notebooks.  Four of the kids were girls, and they wanted to learn how to make paper bead bracelets.  So I did a mini demo of how to make them, and sent them home with supplies.  My demo bracelet is in the above picture.  Here is a past blog post that shows what the bracelet looks like when finished.  That particular bracelet was made as an example for another class at the other branch of the Somerville Library.  One of the kid's brother asked if he could have it, and how could I say no?  :)  

Friendship Bracelet Class & Yoga Mat Bag

Yesterday I taught a friendship bracelet class at the Wayland Library in MA.  I love how this library looks from the outside.

Here is my class set up before the kids showed up.

There was a 15 kid limit for the class, but I made 18 bracelet kits.  I like to give the kids options.   Because less than 15 kids showed up, they were able to take home an extra kit for a friend or family member.  The girls were amazed at how easy it was to make these complicated looking bracelets.  

Here are my tools / materials.  The screw driver and the knitting needle help to make a hole in the center of the cardboard circle.  The scissors are for cutting out the cardboard circle, add the 17 notches in it, and for cutting the embroidery floss.  The crochet hook is for pulling the threads through the center hole.  For directions on how to make the bracelets, please see my previous post.

This is the bracelet that I made on Monday for the class.

Here is the bracelet that I started making during my class.  The photo was taken at the beach that same afternoon.  It was a busy but fun day for me.  I taught the class in the morning (and had fun), then my family and I went to the beach that afternoon, and that evening I took my oldest son to see the Harry Potter movie at the theater (discount Tuesdays at our theater).

Here are some of the pictures that I took at the beach. 

If you want to see more photos by me, click here.

I started crocheting a yoga mat bag this week.  The photo on the left was taken yesterday at the beach, and the one on the right was taken today at the park.  I love portable crafts.  I'm going to have to hunt down another skein or two of that yarn tomorrow, because it is almost all used up.

Friendship Bracelet Class Tomorrow

Tomorrow at 11 a.m. I am teaching a friendship bracelet class at the Wayland library.  

Here are the 18 bracelet kits that I put together along with the one that I will be demoing on.
I cut out a cardboard circle, then I drew on it with marker. Next put a hole through the center and cut 17 notches around it. I number the notches 1-17. Then fold 8 threads in half and pull through the center hole. Knot the folded side on the back of the cardboard. Put the 16 threads in 16 notches leaving one empty. Count 3 threads from the empty notch and then move that thread to the empty notch. Repeat until you have the size bracelet the you want. Split the remaining thread in half, braid each half and knot the ends. Now you have a bracelet.

Pincushion, Class Prep, and Soda Tab Chain

Yesterday while my friend and her 2 daughters were over at my house, I showed them how to make a bottle cap pincushion.  One of them was having a few friends for a sleepover tonight and she wanted a simple craft project to do with them.  I wonder if they made some.  

I finished sanding 31 cardboard tubes for my class tomorrow, and I counted all of my soda tabs to make sure that I had enough.  I'm teaching 26 teens and tweens how to make cardboard mailing tube bangles and soda tab bracelets tomorrow.  The tabs in the chick paint can are all the large tabs that I have.  I didn't expect to have that many large ones.

This is a soda tab project that I have been working on.  I think that it looks like a bike chain.

Flowers, ATCs, and Gifts

Yesterday it occurred to me that I haven't even started making end of the year teacher gifts.  My kids have 2 weeks left of school.  Yes I know its late, but they say that its because of the snow that we get here.  I need to make 3 in total, one for a male teacher and 2 for female teachers.  The male teacher's wife is having a baby soon, so I'll be making an amigurumi item for him for the baby.

For the 2 female teachers I made flowers pens that go in a terra-cotta pot.  Six pens each.  To make them you need fake flowers, scissors, pens, and floral tape.  Next I want to make some egg carton tulip flowers with a lollipop center, and then I'll tie a nice bow around the pot.  This is something that they can keep on their desk.

I've been working on these artist trading cards recently.  I found some super cute fish stickers that look like playing cards.  I put them on the pre-cut cards that a friend sent to me.  Then I found some ocean themed haikus and watercolor painted over them.  The picture above is of me adding some glitter glue to them to spice them up a bit.

I have the best online friends.  Yesterday I received 2 packages from 2 people in my ravelry group.  This was from my friend Gekko who lives in Australia.  Gekko and I were Christmas swap partners, and we are Doctor Who lovers.  

It is AWESOME!!!  She did not make it, but she thought that I could use it as a template.  You bet I can!  She also packed it full of tea and buttons.  I am floored by this gift.  Thank you so much Gekko!

My 2nd package was from LadyKatka who lives in Canada.  She was another angel who sent me blue items for the Crayon swap.  Angel = someone who sends something out of the goodness in their heart and wanting nothing (but maybe a thank you) in return. 

She went through my ravelry queue and found the pattern for a knitted globe that I had wanted to make but was to intimidated to make.  It is fantastic!  Then she made me some blue paper bead stitch markers and a crochet beaded bracelet.  Just lovely!

Then she took the first artist trading card that I had made and made a needle felted version of it.  OMG!  I literally had tears in my eyes when I saw it.  This image, unknown to her, is the wallpaper on my cell phone.  I can't believe she did this for me.  It is AMAZING!  I want to frame them together.  It is incredible!  Thank you soooooooooooo much LadyKatka!  I am just blown away by your package and kindness.

I just wanted to share some pictures that I took yesterday from my back yard.  This spider just would not get out of my seat.

Here is the roadrunner sculpture that my uncle made for me out of railroad spikes.  He camouflages well in my flower garden.

I did finish a crochet projects yesterday that I LOVE, however it is for a swap so I can't show it off just yet.  I can't wait to share it with all of you.  I consider it a work of art and not a crafty item.

Cable Cowl & Crochet Soda Tab Bracelets

I finally finished knitting this Kool Aid dyed cable cowl last night.  Its a late birthday present for my mom.  When I got here, all I had left to do was the ribbing, but I could only work on it while my mom was asleep or at work.  I finished it last night and gave it to her this afternoon.  She liked it, and it is her favorite color.  She had requested it after seeing the one that I made for myself last year.  To bad she really can't use it until the winter.

This pattern came from an issue of Vogue Knitting.

I Kool Aid dyed the yarn last year.  It is lionbrand fisherman's wool.

Here are 5 of the 6.5 small soda tab bracelets that I crochet today.  I'm using a rainbow yarn that I bought yesterday.  I lined them up so that you can see how the color changes in the yarn.

Bangles part 3

Today I taught a bangle class at the library.  I had made the base of these bangles out of cardboard mailing tubes.  I brought in all kinds of things for the girls to use to decorate their bangles with.  I showed them how to coil / wrap yarn to create a certain look,  but it was completely up to them how they wanted to decorate their bangle.  The girls were able to make up to 3 bangles.  Everyone seemed to enjoy it.  I made the above bangle during class using fabric, buttons, and glue.

Two types of wrapped ribbon.

Wrapped ribbon and buttons.

Wrapped ribbon.

Ribbon and buttons.

Ribbon and yarn.

Fabric and ribbon.

Wrapped ribbon and yarn.

Sponge Bob fabric and buttons.

Three kinds of ribbon.  One ribbon has a straight stitch running through the center, and then it was gathered to create ruffles.

Ribbon, yarn, and fake flower petals.

I was not able to take a picture of all of the bangles.

Some of them also had fabric flowers with button centers on them.

It was a great class!

Aside from the link parties on the right hand side of my blog, this is also linked in Lamb Around.