Artikaur Creations

On vacation

2011-12-30T17:57:00.000-08:00

Hello folks...long time since I've blogged on this thing. What have I been up to? Well, right now I'm on vacation escaping the cold winter weather...I've read some interesting books, and worked up a pair of booties and a tea cosy. I will see if I can post some pics later...

Another baby gift set!!!:-)...

2011-04-27T18:46:00.000-07:00

A relative of mine is pregnant, so I am off to making another gift set!!! I have already made the hat and one bootie...just have to get the other bootie finished up. I am doing the set in white, because even though they know the gender of the baby, I still am never 100% sure until it is actually born...

I will be posting pics soon!!! The pattern for the booties is a free one from Vanna White off the Lion Brand website. It is a simple garter stitch bootie. I think it took me about 1 hour to do one. The hat pattern is from a local hospital that I knit for... Speaking of which, I need to post some of the hats that I have made for them!!! lol...

In other news, I taught myself how to knit in the round...I ordered the wrong size needles, and had to re-order and return the incorrect needles. Lesson learned- do not order knitting needles in the middle of the night!!! lol...

I also tried working a pair of booties in a pattern from my grandmother, but unfortunately some of the writing on my copy was not legibile, so I will have to have a look at the original, or else try again at some point.

In other news, I plan on taking my knitting on some adventures in the next couple of weeks. When I was at the art museum with my sister and cousin, I realized that the weather is so nice right now, and there are so many nice park benches, that I have decided to treat myself to a day out by taking my knitting with me, and relaxing around the art museum area. I will pack my lunch, and just enjoy the day sitting outside, soaking in the sun!!! Will let you all know how it turns out, and what I decide to knit up!!!:-)...

That's all for now folks!!!:-)...

Baby's layette/gift set

2011-01-28T11:21:00.000-08:00

Hi all,

Happy (belated) new year! How is everyone doing? It's been a long time since I last posted, and I have something new I am working on right now. I am knitting a baby's layette. The set will consist of a pair of baby booties, a loom knit hat, a ball/rattle, a bib, and a blanket. The blanket is not knitted- it is a receiving blanket from the dollar store, to which I added an iron-on transfer, and am embroidering over top of that.

I will try to get some pictures posted later.

Now, why don't you tell me what you are working on??? :-)...

Things I've been up to lately...

2010-10-05T17:17:00.000-07:00

Sorry I've been away for so long- I went on vacation for a bit. While on vacation, I picked up yet another interesting hobby- latchhooking!!!:-)... I also learned how to use a sewing machine!!!:-)... That was a lot of fun.

So, what have I been up to? I've been working on an embroidered pillow. I've done the first flower, and already made a mistake...lol...I ripped out the first mistake, but I'm leaving the other one in, b/c it doesn't really show lol...

What have you all been up to? I'd love to see/hear :-)

And the winner is...

2010-09-10T07:22:00.000-07:00

Waterdew!!!

Congratulations on winning. Your ball of thread will go out in the mail sometime next week! Please take some pics when you make something out of it.

Thanks everyone for entering!!! It was really exciting and fun to pull the winner.

Giveaway

2010-09-06T21:23:00.001-07:00

Hi all,

I am sponsoring a giveaway. Comment below for a chance to win one 10g ball of DMC Perle Cotton in size 8. It's a beautiful navy blue color. All you have to do is comment below. I will then draw the names out of a bowl, and the winner will be announced on my blog. The comments period will end at midnight on September 9th, and I will do the drawing on Friday September 10th.

Hope you all like this giveaway!!!:-)...

Sock Loom

2010-09-04T18:10:00.000-07:00

You're probably wondering what the picture is of. I won't keep you in suspense any longer- it's my brand new sock loom!!!:-)...

I have always wanted to learn how to knit or crochet socks, but for some reason, I never got around to doing it. I have loom knitted hats in the past, but never a sock. This loom is by Knitting Board, and it came with a DVD that shows you how to use the loom. I think knitting the heel and toe will be the hardest/trickiest part, but hopefully it turns out okay.

I have also been playing around with my new tatting shuttle. It's a wooden one with a crochet hook on one end, and it appears to be vintage. The opening for the thread is very narrow, and so it won't accomodate size 10 thread, but it works pretty well for size 80, and Lizbeth thread. It's a nice lightweight shuttle.

Well, what have you all been up to? Keep me posted!!!:-)...

Tatted Candy Cane Doily

2010-09-03T10:42:00.000-07:00

Hi all, what have you been up to? Lately I have been tatting a candy cane-inspired doily for the holiday season. It is sure to brighten up your home decor. It is my own pattern. I tried adding an extra round, but after a few rings and chains, I didn't like the look of it, so I left it as is. It is available for sale in my etsy store- www.artikaur.etsy.com

What do you think of it? It is a very simple doily, made out of size 10 crochet cotton thread, and I can make it in other colors. What other color combos do you think people would like? Do you think doilies are outdated? Would anyone buy it? I guess only time will tell :-)

Tatted Doily

2010-08-18T11:55:00.000-07:00

Here is a doily that I have started to make using my grandmother's tatting thread. The thread is ecru, and because it is vintage, sometimes it gets knotted, which can make it tricky to tat with. I am currently adding another round to this doily, and am thinking of adding a fourth round with clover leaves after that. The pattern is my own.

Let me know what you think of it.

My lil hedgie

2010-08-14T18:46:00.000-07:00

Hi all, It's been a while since I last posted. Here's what I've been up to- I've been embroidering this lil hedgehog. It was a free kit with a cross-stitching magazine. I still have to finish up the other bumble bee, and his other foot, and outline the whole thing in black in backstitch.

What do you guys think of it? What have you all been up to?

What I've been up to lately...

2010-05-26T20:02:00.000-07:00

New projects I'm working on:- For some odd reason, I've picked up my interest in cross stitching once again. I'm working on a bookmark and a Margaret Sherry Hedgehog kit that I got free with a cross stitching magazine. I was a bit disappointed in the free kit- it did not come with enough peach thread, and now my hedgie has an weird-looking face.

What have you guys been up to???

La Belle Smoke

2010-03-22T15:57:00.000-07:00

The other day I was in Michael's, when I came across a package of craft thread in various colors. Although probably not the best thread for tatting (it is a bit fuzzy, and not as crisp as a cordonnet), it still worked sufficiently well for me to tat up a pendant out of it. I added some very pretty hot pink seed beads, and a black velvet cord necklace. I used a commercial necklace, but the extender looked a bit unfinished to me, so I added a small white faux pearl. I think it gives it a more completed look.

In other news, I have sent out my very first tatting exchange!!! I am so excited, and I hope it reaches its recipient by the end of this week.

Thanks for looking!!!:-)... Let me know what you are working on...

Monogramming...

2010-02-12T20:32:00.000-08:00

So, I recently purchased a vintage pattern on etsy for making letters. I practiced making my own inititials, and am working on attaching it to a small drawstring bag I got when I purchased some earrings. I do not usually store my jewellry in bags, so I didn't know what to do with the bag, but I've decided I will use it as a tatting bag. When I finish it, I will try to post it up on here, so hopefully I can get some feedback.

I also added a new necklace to the etsy store- it's a green tatted triangular motif. I made it out of yarn using my Tatsy shuttle. The shuttle was weird to work with since it was so big, and took some getting used to, but I love the results!!! (See photo above, or else you can check it out at the store at www.artikaur.etsy.com) The pattern is an antique pattern I obtained online. I think it looks nice as a pendant, but I guess you could also make it work as earrings.

Since my last posting, I have also learned how to do thrown/floating rings off of a chain!!! I am working on a small purple/white doily. I like the new look of the chains with floating rings attached- really adds drama to the piece!!!:-)...

I wish I had more photos to share, but I am so tired right now, and feeling too lazy to take pics of stuff lol...

Well, let me know what you guys have been working on!!!:-)...

Thanks so much for looking!!!:-)...

Happy 2010!!!:-)...

2010-02-06T16:57:00.001-08:00

Hi everyone- I realize I have not posted in a very long time, but I was busy with exams, and the holidays. Because I am snowed in, I thought it would be a good time to catch up on my blogging.

I made this Sunbonnet Sue pincushion using ordinary felt and embroidery floss. I stuffed it with cotton balls, and decorated it with an off-white tatted medallion I had lying around the house. I blanket stitched around the edges, but had to use invisible thread to ensure that the pincushion was closed thoroughly, so the cotton wouldn't come out. This pincushion is available for sale at my etsy store- www.artikaur.etsy.com

This is a Sunbonnet Sue needlecase I made using a vintage pattern. I had to adapt the pattern to my needs because I didn't have some of the fabric/materials mentioned, and I was using different sized threads than what the pattern had originally called for.

Below is the interior of the case.

The pattern for the case was the inspiration for creating the Sunbonnet Sue pincushion.

I made this doily from a pure white (possibly bamboo?) thread. I believe it is a size 10 thread. I got the pattern off of the internet. This is the first all-tatted doily I've ever made, and I made a ton of mistakes. Thankfully, there are so many picots and chains that they are well hidden. I had to starch this doily to untwist some of the picots. I pinned the entire thing down to a styrofoam board, sprayed it with some household starch, and then let it air dry. I did not iron it. The starch gave it a nice, light crispness, but I think hairspray or heavy starch would have given it a nicer "heaviness," but there was no way I was pinning it all over again...hehe lol...

I made this doily using a readymade doily with what appeared to be a machine-embroidered babychick. I edged it using a size 10 burgundy thread (shuttle tatted), and then I attached it by sewing it on using the unworked thread spaces.

Well, what have you been working on? Let me know by commenting below!!!

Things I've been working on...:-)...

2009-11-06T19:25:00.001-08:00

Been having fun trying my hand at some more tatting. Just got my tatting thread in from ebay, and I like it a lot. It's a silver metallic thread (sorry, the pics are kinda crappy b/c I took them with my phone) and it has some nice "stiffness" to it, so you don't need to starch it- it sort of holds its shape all on its own, which is kinda fun...

The top pic is of my new scarf that I am making. I'm using Caron's Spa yarn...the pattern is pretty simple- just single crochet and puff stitches. I'm thinking of writing down the pattern to sell on etsy...

hmmn...that's all for now...:-)...

Starbaby Swap Results!!!:-)...

2009-10-29T10:24:00.000-07:00

Hey guys,

So as you all know, I've been participating in a couple online swaps. Today I received my package from starbaby (http://www.starbabyonline.etsy.com/). It contained two pairs of really cute silver earrings!!!:-)...

Pair #1:- Bali stamped silver with red czech glass disk beads with clear/silver Czech glass seed beads.

Pair #2:- Honey Jade cubes, czech glass seed beads and silver chain.

I LOVE them...sooooo cute!!!:-)... I like how the orange ones have a nice dangly chain thingie, and I love the large silver rectangular bead on the other pair...

I encourage you all to visit her store, since she has loads of jewelry at affordable prices!!!:-)...

*Disclaimer about my blog: I do NOT review products unless I purchase them, or trade for them. I have never received a free product in exchange for a review, and I do not do reviews for free products.*

Swap Results!!!:-)...

2009-10-20T17:43:00.000-07:00

So, my package from http://www.whosies.blogspot.com/ arrived. She sent me a cute cupcake potholder and a quick stitch kit to make an owl. Can't wait to make the owl...maybe over the holidays when I have more time...

If you like what you see, she sells patterns for the cupcake potholders, and I think she also sells the owl kits on her etsy store, so go check it out!!!

www.whosiesandwhatnots.etsy.com

I am also doing a CreateCrochet Team Swap with Mamta and Sheila, and I'm also crocheting up a scarf for Debby...So much swapping...so little time!!!:-)...

If you've never tried swapping, I suggest giving it a go- it's a lot of fun, you get to interact with other fun etsians, and you get to try something you've never done before!!!:-)...

For sale

2009-10-01T19:33:00.001-07:00

So, I've been destashing some yarn lately, and came across this lovely little ball of Red Heart Super Saver... I've used Red Heart in the past to make some really cool scarves. I find it's one of the best yarns out there in terms of color selection and price.

If you're interested in buying this yarn, here's the listing:- http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=31894234

In other news, I got my the contact info for the two people I'm supposed to be swapping with...should be fun!!! Have to decide what I will be swapping with them!!!:-)...Will keep you all posted!!!

Swapping Items...

2009-09-23T13:14:00.000-07:00

So, I signed up for a swap!!! I signed up for the Shop, Swap and Blog!!!

Here it is:-

I encourage everyone to join in the fun!!! You have to sign up by Sept. 30th, and you have to get your items out by Oct. 30th, and then blog about what you received...sounds pretty darn simple to me!!!:-)...

My adventures into tatting...

2009-09-22T21:25:00.000-07:00

So recently, while scouring youtube for probably yet another crochet video, I somehow came across a video of someone shuttle tatting, and I thought it was the coolest thing ever...I decided I needed to try it.

I did a little background research, and found out there are 4 basic ways to tat:-

1. Needle tatting- very easy, especially if you buy the DVD from Handy Hands. Be very careful with the needles though, as the thinner ones have sharp points.

2. Shuttle tatting:- This is probably the most traditional method, and it's the one that drew me in because of all the fancy shuttles. Plus it just looks so darn cool!!!:-)...

3. Cro-tatting:- If you know how to crochet, then this is definitely for you!!! Just buy a good cro-tat hook from Annie's Attic or I think Lacis also sells them, and use regular crochet cotton. It's the crochet way of imitating tatting, and you can make some pretty neat things...:-)...My goal is to cro-tat a scarf...we'll see how far that idea goes, since I'm already crocheting up 3 scarves!!! lol...

4. Hook tatting:- A Japenese method similar to cro-tatting, but with a double-ended hook. My cro-tatter friends all say that the Japanese hooks are better than the Lacis ones. I bought the Lacis ones, and they were crappy...can't even use them because the hook part is shaped really weird...so, if you want to give this a go, I'd recommend splurging on the takashimbari hooks ( I believe they are available on Lacis).

I'm adding a picture of my very first shuttle tatted butterfly!!! And yes, I am aware the picots (thread loops) could probably have been made more even, but I don't care- I still love it!!!:-)...

I'm also adding a picture of my aero tatting shuttle:- I like the lightweight design, and I like that you can wind the bobbins up with thread beforehand. I dislike the hook at the top- the crochet hook is sooooo tiny, and makes it difficult to straighten out picots, not to mention it keeps getting caught in the thread. I also don't like the weird pointy thing on the end (I use it to help me wind the bobbin, cuz that's what it said to use it for on the ebay listing). The other reason I dislike it- it's butt ugly... I hate the grey color, and I the pointy end makes it look like a rocket... Overall though, the price was good, and it works well, so I would give it like a passing score!!!:-)...

Well, that's all for tonight folks...I'm off to bed!!!:-)...

FREE Crochet Scarf Pattern

2009-09-21T18:43:00.000-07:00

So, here it is:- An easy enough crochet pattern for a warm wintery scarf that even a beginner crocheter can enjoy making!!!

Supplies:- One skein of Red Heart Super Saver acrylic yarn (appx. 6-7 ounces) and a size I or K hook (depends on how loose or close together you like your stitches). Guage is not critical for this project.

Step 1:- Chain 15 ( It is important to chain one stitch more than you will need, because it will "disappear" when we start crocheting :-)...).

Step 2:- Now, the stitch we are doing is the single crochet. To do it, insert your hook under BOTH loops, yarn over, pull through, and yarn over again and pull through. If you want to make a scarf like my beige one in my earlier posting, simply place your hook under the back loop ONLY. This will created a ribbed stitch appearance.

Step 3:- When you have reached the end of your row (you should have 14 stitches- not 15, because one should have disappeared) chain 1. This chain 1 is called a turning chain, and allows you to turn your work.

Step 4:- Repeat Step 2 until the scarf is as long as you would like it.

Step 5:- Finishing your scarf is a very important last step:- Cut your yarn, leaving a 6 inch tail. Using a tapestry needle, weave it in between the stitches. Do this same thing with the beginning tail.

Wrap the scarf around your neck and enjoy!!! For cool videos on how to crochet, I highly recommend youtube...It is an awesome resource!!!:-)...

Crochet Scarf Madness

2009-09-20T19:42:00.000-07:00

I am currently working on THREE scarves for this holiday season...not sure if I am going to list all of them on my etsy store, or else just keep them for myself.

These two scarves are the ones currently in my desl. The beige one is made with a flecked worsted weight yarn I believe, and the other one is a nice soft fluffy white one made out of Caron Bliss.

I can't rave enough about the Caron Bliss yarn- it's soft, luxurious, easy to work with, and it helps that I got it for a steal!!!;-)...

The other scarf (not pictured) is being made from sari yarn that I traded for online for a bloom loom.

I decided to work on my crocheting, rather than jewelry-making, b/c it seems the jewelry market on etsy is already flooded, and competition is just too stiff... I've also been experimenting with tatting (both needle and shuttle), so we'll see what I can come up with. I'm thinking of doing a Sunbonnet Sue wallhanging for my room...I have a vintage pattern that I am dying to try out!!!:-)...

What are YOU working on, my fellow bloggers???:-)...

What I've been up to...

2009-09-20T12:52:00.000-07:00

Studying, ordering things online...

Not a whole lot going on...planning on getting this blog up and running really soon, though...

What have YOU been up to??? :-)...

New to blogspot!!!

2009-09-17T00:15:00.000-07:00

Attention world:- I have finally joined blogspot...

We'll see how long this lasts...hehe lol...

In the meanwhile, I encourage everyone here to check out my etsy and artfire stores-

www.artikaur.etsy.com
www.artikaur.artfire.com

Have a good day!!!:-)...