Knitting Dragonflies

Spring is coming, soon, really! But until then, lets try some new crafts. A few I like are below… Spoon ring tutorial from ThroughTheFrontDoor . Remember these? I don’t have any left, take off to a Goodwill, or Salvation Army store, or hit some yard sales and your all ready. And check out this video for an amazing fork bracelet with stones! Thanks Mr. YoBeano! . From AgirlandaglueGun, make some cute flower for your hair, or bag! Or make a whole bunch of them! Try making this BillyCardi from NoBigDill , she has so many fun ideas! And another fun bracelet from VanessaChristenson , a jersey knit bracelet! This teaches finger knitting! A great project for adults and children! Get crafty!!

I started with homemade deodorant! post here , I’ve made more, I’m so crazy about it. Now I’m in the middle of cleaning my house and trying to simplify and de-clutter. In the process I started experimenting with homemade cleaning products. Supplies I used: Tea Tree Oil, Baking soda, Vinegar, Lemons, Oil of Clove, and Lavender Oil. Just Google any of the essential oils and you will find an incredible list of uses for them. Oh and a couple of squirt bottles, I reused old ones. You can find them for about a dollar if you need to get some, try the dollar store! I did try the homemade laundry detergent and returned to using Tide, it didn’t clean as well as I had hoped and was a bit icky http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/04/09/making-your-own-laundry-detergent-a-detailed-visual-guide/ If anyone out there has a good one, let me know! Want to start super simple with just one bottle of all purpose cleaner? Try watching this! Really just one bottle, give it try. I have totally given up on the ...

Happy Holidays!!

This probably comes under the TMI clause, but I’ve had to rotate deodorants since I’ve begun using them. I usually have at least 3 in the rotation, due to what I like to call “fire pits”. For me this is a extreme rash, bumps and sometimes hive like condition, while using deodorants. I’ve used about everything on the market, even stopped shaving my pits, (which I couldn’t stand and really didn’t help). I had a really bad flare up recently, and twice now I’ve come up with big lumps. So I thought, OK, off to the blogosphere to see what others have come up with. My first success is the Crystal Rock , The link above will bring you to the website and the “Crystal Story” . This is made from natural mineral salt, and works well. It comes in a roll on also, and lasts for an amazingly long time. Irritation free, and pit happy this is a great product.  The only issue I have with this, is that is is a deodorant, not an antiperspirant. so while I love this product, I was still using someth...

I have been waiting on some yarn to be shipped to finish my sweater. In the meantime I didn’t want to start another big project. It all started with one laptop bag for a girlfriend, and turned into a bag marathon. I discovered that this pattern is good, not only for laptops, but a knitting bag, papers for work, magazines and books, and I’m thinking of making it smaller for a cute lunch bag and/or clutch. I’ll include the pattern for anyone that needs a fast, and fun bag. Bag is made holding two strands of yarn throughout, I use worsted weight. I’ve tried everything from acrylic to wool and cotton. Great for stash busting, make a striped bag! Single crochet, this tight stitch, allowing for a sturdy bag. If using cotton yarn, it makes the bag very sturdy. I go around the handle opening with slip stitch, and/or a sewn backstitch around each stitch, this makes a decorative handle that is very sturdy, and doesn’t stretch too much. Also think about lining your bag, I haven’t lined a...

I’ll start with a lovely long draw spinning video from Ruth Macgregor! The music gets me into the mood also. This is a free pattern on http://www.petitepurls.com/winter10/winter2010_p_jack.html , you can make the balloon and Jack Frost, or I’m planning on just Jack himself to hang on my tree! I found a top down knitted, Shapley Boyfriends Cardigan on Knitty by Stefanie Japel , I’m off to look at my stash, I think I have 5 skeins of Cascade 220 in an odd green color that would be perfect for this. Well, I’d have to tweak the gauge, perhaps…. I’m interested in this self intersecting basket weave stitch, it is a free ravely download , check out how it looks. It looks like everyone is knitting the GapTastic Cowl, free download on Ravelry! May your knitting needles fly as fast as dragonflies…