A sweet crochet Puffin

A Newfoundland Puffin 

 I made my little guy from a wonderful Puffin pattern
from the beautiful book
Animal Friends of PicaPau 
by the very talented author
Yan Schenkel
 
Here in Canada we are lucky to have a large colony
of Atlantic Puffins along the coasts of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Unfortuately, like a lot of other animals,
 Puffins are having a hard time
dealing with the warming of the earth.
Fish that they normally would eat have
been moving out of the warmer waters.

But they are tough little birds
so hopefully these beautiful animals can adapt.

Good bye February

Positives from this month.

-I finally tried 2 new projects

(embroidery and stamp carving)

and I'm dying to do more.

-I set myself a challenge and completed it

even on those days 

that I didn't feel like it.

-I made some projects that have been

on my to-do list for a long time.

-I used up a LOT of scrap supplies.

-I came up with a couple patterns

plus loads of ideas.

-I've always seen my 'slowness' of

completing a craft as a negative.

I now realize that it gives me

time to change the pattern around if I want 

or to redo a part that I'm not happy with.

I'd like to do this again next
year but I would change a 
few things to make it a

little easier on myself.
The most important would be
to line up all the project ideas
(plus a few extras)
and their supplies
well ahead of time.
 This would help if the
unexpected happened...
like when my sewing machine
broke down or when
I underestimated how 
amazing the Olympics would be!


Also I would start one day early
so that I could take project 
pictures during the sunny hours 
so that at least some of the
colours would be true.


So I would highly recommend
this to anyone who's considering it.
Next year I'd like to sign up for
the official Thing-a-day.

And thanks to my cheering section!!!

Day 3: A spring bird

I've been wanting to make this

for a while ever since I saw this

great tutorial by Attic24.

Today is overcast so
this pic isn't quite as cheerful
as in real life.
I had these tube shaped beads
which turned out to be 
perfect for it's eyes.
I'll eventually make four birds,
one for each season.
This one is spring.

----------------------

New supplies for this project $0

Cost so far $0

If birds could crochet....

they would make tiny nests like this.

Marie Claire Idees spring 2009

The spring issue is in my hot little hands and, as always, gives me a chance to practice my French.
I particularly love their take on owls.
This lovely was created using a paper mache technique, so simple yet so sweet.


Look at these...a small owl made of felt hitches a ride on the back of a scarf;
smooth pebbles get a lick of paint to form a parliament of owls and
a small loaf of owl bread is cooling off on a kitchen table waiting for the kids to wake up.

A free crochet owl pattern

First Marcie Nishioka posted a pattern on how to knit a ball on Ravelry.
Then some knitters turned those balls into a parliament of owls in sweaters... first by doctorhectic and then by others such as dubb, KimberlyPye, Anniepurls and arc.
All of them are adorable!

So I decided to make one in crochet and share the pattern with you.
My pattern is untested so please let me know if you find mistakes.
Mine is 2 1/2 inches in diameter; I used a 5 mm hook and worsted weight yarn.
I worked mine in a spiral and used a marker to mark the beginning of each round, moving it up with each round.
(In Row 2 you will start in the first stitch of Row 1 which joins the ring).

Body
Row 1: In magic ring crochet sc 6. (6st)
Row 2: *2sc in each st* repeat until end. (12 st)
Row 3: *2sc in first st, sc in next st* repeat until end (18 st)
Row 4: *2sc in first st, sc in next 2 st* repeat until end (24 st)
Row 5: *2sc in first st, sc in next 3 st* repeat until end (30 st)
Rows 6-7: sc in each stitch (30 st)
Row 8: *sc decrease, sc in next 3 st*repeat until end (24 st)
Row 9: *sc decrease, sc in next 2 st* repeat until end(18 st)
Row 10: *sc decrease, sc in next st* repeat until end(12 st)
Stuff firmly
Row 11: *sc decrease* repeat until end (6 st)
Finish off and sew seam closed with tail yarn.
Add buttons for eyes and embroidery or sew on felt for nose.

Sweater pattern
Repeat body rows 1-4 (after row 4 you will have 24 st)
Rows 5-11: sc even (24 st)
Row 12: *sc decrease, sc in next 2 st* repeat until end (18 st)
Finish off and weave in thread.

Please note that all content and images are mine and are protected by
copyright.

Lovely embroidered owls from vintage book

I'm lucky to be able to find a lot
of vintage craft books from our 
library and from second hand stores,
mostly from the 70's and 80's.

This book I own, 
it's called Needleplay by Erica Wilson
printed in 1975.
Most are made using rug yarn.
I'm in love with the owl
at the bottom left!
But also look at those flowers!

Owls and colts and tea... Oh my!

I was involved in a swap over 
and received a wonderful package
of handmade goodies from Star.


She knows that I love owls,
am learning to knit,
that I love tea and that
I went to Paris this summer.
How spoiled am I!
Everything is gorgeous..
from my very cool owl potholder,
to my stitch markers, to my tin magnets.


This is what I sent to her.
Star is a great believer of making
lists (she's such an organized woman!)
so I made fabric covers
for 2 small notebooks.
One fabric has flowers and the
other has colts which is part
of her username.
The wristwarmers are to keep
her warm on her daily walks with Reba
on cooler days
and the cozy is for her morning
coffee which, lets face it,
we can't function without.


 
Thanks for the wonderful swap Star!

A needlepoint with a few problems

This was supposed to be part of a swap project
for a good friend but I decided not
to finish it. It was to be a pincushion,
with a needlepoint on one side
and fabric for pins on the other side.
It all started really well.....
The design was based on her avatar.

I started stitching the bird and flower first and
I was happy with them. But the background white
caused problems for me,
I used a larger stitch and my tension
turned out to be too tight,
which badly skewed the whole canvas.
When I blocked it, it squared up a bit but
the tension was still too tight.

But I think I learned from my mistakes.
Next time I will use a frame and
keep all of my stitches the same size.
I'll also relax my tension
(maybe with the aid of a glass of wine).
I would really like to have another crack at
this because I do think it could be a
pretty little project if done well.

Birds of a Feather

#1 www.flickr.com/photos/harthillfarm/2408794822/
#2 www.flickr.com/photos/11878641@N00/149535249/
#3 www.flickr.com/photos/florenceforrest/277299308/
#4 www.flickr.com/photos/23472119@N06/2270626220/
#5 www.flickr.com/photos/lovely_textiles/418687556/
#6 www.flickr.com/photos/mmmfruit/149314422/
#7 www.flickr.com/photos/panash/2436669310/
#8 www.flickr.com/photos/andreasee/155260587/
#9 www.flickr.com/photos/22609510@N03/2510847937/

Birds are on my mind, and in my house.

A few weeks back I had my back door
open, enjoying the warm weather when 2 large robins decided to fly in and visit me.
You have no idea how big robins actually are until you
have them flapping around your room..in a blind panic, tossing themselves against walls and windows.

My two dogs, happy that their master had provided them with a fun new game
started to bark and lunge at them.
That put me into full panic mode!
I did eventually manage to
get my canines out and away from the birds.

I decided to stay in the next room to let the robins settle
down and after a few moments one even perched on the back of my comfy chair.
For a few minutes we each sat perfectly still, content to just look at one another.
It was a perfect moment.
After a while I looked over to see
what robin #2 was up to.
I could see it quietly sitting on the window sill and then I happened to glance
over to see my cat, who I had totally forgotten about,
staring at it, in full hunting mode.

To make a long story short, my high-pitched shriek somehow got my cat to retreat and the robins eventually found their way back out through the door.

No I didn't think to get my camera, but that image of the robin sitting
on the back of my favourite chair watching me is one that I won't ever forget.
I've been thinking of somehow
creating that moment in fabric.
But for now here are some lovely birds from some very talented crafters
...who knows what stories led to their creations!