BearyAnn Crafts

It’s been a busy week. I committed to spend last weekend making a couple of small bears for someone and also to test a teddy bear pattern for a designer. Here is a look at the finished projects.

Panda and Teddy are approximately 6 inches tall.

This “Gift Bear” holds a gift card in the front pocket.

I then looked with frustration at the disaster that is my craft room.

and struggled to make it look like this:

There really is a carpeted floor under all that!!  I found a lot more “unfinished” items in the mess to add to my list. I also managed to fill a trash bag to dispose of and 3 bags were sent straight to Goodwill before I could change my mind.

It seems sometimes like the more I try to get ahead, the further behind I get. For example, finding more works in process. But I have learned that I work best when I have a TO DO list in front of me. That is how this blog is currently helping me. It’s a TO DO list and commitment to myself to move forward. 

So, I added a few more items to my ‘unfinished projects’ list and I still started a couple more teddy bears for fun.  I’ll post some of those pictures next week.

Until then, my unfinished life goes on,

According to Teas Etc, January is National Hot Tea Month.

My grandson and I started having our tea parties when he was 2 years old. Now approaching 8, he still looks forward to our tea time. As a Christmas gift this year I received a clear pot with flowering teas. I can’t wait for our next tea party.

In the meantime, I am considering making some Tea Cozies. What is a Teapot Cozy?  According to CarefreeStore dot com they are sweaters for your teapot, to keep the contents warm. There is nothing worse than your hot tea turning cold during your tea party.

Here is a list of just a few of the tea cozy patterns I have found that I like the best. I thought I’d share them with you. Some are knittted, some crochet. Why not brew yourself a pot of tea and sip while you browse these patterns.

Daisy Teapot Cozy.  This one also has coordinating apron, dish cloth, and place setting. Start now to make the complete set as a Christmas gift next year.

Ridge Tea Cozy. This set includes patterns for 2 different sizes and has ridges to set off its beauty.

Tea for One. This pattern is for a set with the teapot that sits over the teacup.

Granny Tea Cozy. Using the granny stitch, this teapot stays warm.

Coffee – French Press Cozy.  If you are into french press coffee you will like this wrap for your press.

Your Favorite Teapot.  Not all teapots are shaped alike. Ginger Schatz, in her blogspot post, show how to make the right cover for your teapot.

A Little Girls Teaset: Red Heart offers up this cute crocheted playset, including crochet cookies for your little girl and her imaginery tea party.

I have enjoyed Crochet Concupiscence for some time now.   Recently I have had the pleasure of corresponding with its blogger, Kathryn having won 3 (so far) of the 31 Days of Giveaways this month and sponsoring one of her giveaways this month. She is a very pleasant person I enjoyed conversing with.

She faithfully blogs every day and is planning now what daily entry she would make in 2012. She blogs about crochet books and artists. She reviews various yarn and highlights crochet in the news. If crochet is involved, she blogs it. Looking back over her past entries, she has decided in 2012 to photograph what she is wearing each day and how crochet is part of fashion.

I am impressed by this and want to do the same – posting regularly, not offering pictures of myself, I am not photogenic and I have the pictures to prove it.   I need to make a commitment to myself and move forward. Pain has brought a stop to much of what I do, I need a goal to help get back on track.  I may try to make it 52 things and see if I can manage to post once a week faithfully.

Now the question is…. what to focus on for 2012.

Any ideas or suggestions?  What would you like to see?

I have enjoyed Crochet Concupiscence for some time now.   Recently I have had the pleasure of corresponding with its blogger, Kathryn having won 3 (so far) of the 31 Days of Giveaways this month and sponsoring one of her giveaways this month. She is a very pleasant person I enjoyed conversing with.

She faithfully blogs every day and is planning now what daily entry she would make in 2012. She blogs about crochet books and artists. She reviews various yarn and highlights crochet in the news. If crochet is involved, she blogs it. Looking back over her past entries, she has decided in 2012 to phtograph what she is wearing each day and how crochet is part of fashion.

I am impressed by this and want to do the same – posting regularly, not offering pictures of myself, I am not photogenic and I have the pictures to prove it.   I need to make a commitment to myself and move forward. Pain has brought a stop to much of what I do, I need a goal to help get back on track.  I may try to make it 52 things and see if I can manage to post once a week faithfully.

Now the question is…. what to focus on for 2012.

Any ideas or suggestions?  What would you like to see?

I was looking over my posts and thought I’d help you with some last minute Christmas ideas by posting links to past Christmas posts.

You still have a few days, and I am sitting here typing instead of knitting those final projects.

A Christmas Muff: these tree decorations can also offer surprise gifts.

Fingerless Gloves and Pedicure Socks: stay warm get a mani/pedi.

Cancer Survivor’s Ribbon Shawl: A project for someone special experiencing the pains of cancer.

Earbud cover: Decorate that plain wired earbud.

Toddler hats and Baby Sweaters: these work up quickly for little ones on your gift giving list.

Loaf Pan Totes:  since making these, I determined cotton would be better than acrylic for the heat.

Towel Toppers and Character Stockings:  These work up quickly and make great gifts.

Cat Hat:  every cat needs a hat.

Toddler Purse:  Little girls need purses too! Here is one I designed for my granddaughter.

Scarves:  Add a pocket to a scarf from these fun patterns.

Looking back I found references to projects I need to finish, projects I wanted to make but haven’t started and even reminders of projects waiting to find a recipient.

And now…..

back to the pedicure sock.

   Merry Christmas and happy stitching.

A couple of weeks I won, not one – but two giveaways during the 31 Days of Giveaways by Corchet concupiscence.

Overjoyed at my winning I grabbed a few items of stash and offered up some items myself.

Go to the giveaway posted on her site RIGHT NOW and enter.  There are only a few hours left, so don’t delay.

Click here to go to the giveaway.  Thank you Kathy for hosting this fantastic month of giveaways.

Here is a sneak peak at the prize package.  Wouldn’t it be great to start the new year with some yarn and patterns – and a tote bag to carry your latest project!

When I read my sister-in-laws facebook post “A Nurses Christmas Poem” I was reminded of a poem I saved several years ago. With some searching I finally found it.  I have not found the author in any of the posts so I cannot give credit.  Sorry. So for a moment, while you try to get those last stitches in before the kids come in screaming in search of their Christmas treasure, please enjoy “A Knitters Night Before Christmas”. 

P.S.  crocheters will enjoy this too

Knitters Night Before Christmas

‘Twas the night before Christmas and all around me
There was unfinished knitting not under the tree,
The stockings weren’t hung by the chimney with care
‘Cause the heels and the toes had not a stitch there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
But I had not finished the caps for their heads.
Dad was asleep—he was no help at all.
And the sweater for him was 6" too small.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I put down my needles to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash.
Tripped over my yarn and fell down in my stash.

The tangle of yarn that lay deep as the snow
Reminded me how far I still had to go.
When out on the lawn I heard such a noise,
I was sure it would wake up both Dad and the boys.

And although I was tired–my brain a bit thick,
I knew in a moment that it must be St Nick.
Yet what I heard left me very perplex-ed
For nothing I heard was what I expect-ed.

"Move Rowan! Move Patons! Move Koigu and Clover!
Move Shelridge! Move Starmore! Move Spinrite! Move over!
Lopi, don’t circle around, just stand there in line.
Pay attention you sheep and you’ll work out just fine!

I know this is hard as it’s just your first year
But I’d hate to go back to 8 tiny reindeer."
I peered over the sill. What I saw was amazing:
Eight wooly sheep on my lawn all a-grazing!

And then in a twinkle, I heard at the door
Santa’s big boots stomping on the porch floor.
I rose from my knees and got back on my feet.
As I turned around, St Nick I did meet.

He was dressed all in wool from his heat to his toe
And his clothes were hand knit from above to below.
A bright Fair Isle sweater he wore on his back.
And his toys were all stuffed in an Aran knit sack.

His hat was a wonder of bobbles and lace
A beautiful frame for his rosey red face.
The scarf on his neck could have stretched for a mile,
And the socks peeking over his boots were Argyle.

On the back of his mitts was an intricate cable.
And suddenly on one I spotted a small label:
"S.C." in duplicate on the cuff.
So I asked, "Hey, Nick, did YOU knit all this stuff?"
He proudly replied, "Ho, ho, ho, yes I did.
I learned how to knit when I was just a kid."

He was chubby and plump, a well dressed old man,
And I laughed to myself, for I’d thought up a plan.
I flashed him a grin and jumped up in the air,
And the next thing he knew, he was tied to a chair.

He spoke not a word, but looked down in his lap
Where I had laid my needles and yarn for a cap.
He began then to knit, first one cap then 2–
For the first time I thought I might really get through.

He put heels in the stockings and toes in some socks,
While I sat back drinking a scotch on the rocks.
Quickly like magic his needles they flew,
Good Grief! He was finished by two!

He sprang for his sleigh when I let him go free,
And over his shoulder he looked back at me.
I heard him explain as he sailed past the moon,
"Next year, start your knitting sometime around JUNE!"

                             Author unknown

When I was a child (50 some odd years ago) my grandparents didn’t provide gifts for all the grandkids.

Instead, each year they made “muffs” and hung them on the tree with each child’s name on it.  Inside each muff was a dollar bill (hey, 50 years ago that was big money to a kid!)

Over the years this continued, my grandparents passed away and the muff went away.  Every so often my parents would make muffs and place them on the tree.  My brother and sister and I were excited, we knew what muffs meant. (yes, over the years the muffs also followed the cost of living raises and the amount increased)

Last year I decided to revive this tradition with the younger generation now in our families.  But I made a change.  Instead of money I placed small gifts, like jewelry for the girls and hot wheels for the boys.  This year it is Legos for the boys and craft kits for the girls.  I might change it up next year, we’ll see. 

The kids loved the new idea and are already commenting looking for them this year.

So, what does a muff like? Like this!

A muff, years ago, was used instead of gloves.  It is a round piece of warm fabric you wore with a string around your neck. Place your hands inside to keep warm.

So how do you make this small muff?

You need:

empty toilet paper roll

quilt batting

glue and/or tape

card stock if desired

ribbon

I used white card stock and cut it to fit inside the toilet paper roll.  This gave it a clean look.

Cut batting and roll it around the paper roll.  Glue or tape it on, lightly tucking inside if desired.

Cut ribbon to length needed to go through and hang. Tie together.

If desired, add cut out letters for name, or Christmas stickers or tags.

Slip a small gift or currency inside.

Hang on the tree and watch for smiles!

Added 12/15 – This post is part of a FAVECRAFTS BLOG HOP !  December 15 – 21. Check out the other Christmas crafts. Be sure to vote for this post by clicking LIKE on the entry at the bottom of Fave Crafts post.  You will see a picture of the Muff I have posted.  It is titled “A Christmas Muff”.  Thank you beary much.  It will help me win more craft supplies. More supplies equal more crafts. More crafts equal more blog posts. It’s a crafty circle.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all, one more project.

I have been busy this past month finishing up some of the in process items I had going. Happily I am excited to report, not only have I finished off a number of Fingerless Gloves,

I have finally finished 1 of the 2 pair of Pedicure Socks! Socks without the toe.

I started these socks just after Christmas last year.  My daughter and her friend each handed me 2 skeins of sock yarn along with the Patons pattern, and said “I want this”. 

I have only used double point needles (DPNs) once before, so I resisted. I tried to talk them into a crochet version, but no, they wanted this pair.

I purchased the necessary DPN size 3 needles, and got started. Because DPNs are new to me, I kept getting frustrated and setting these aside. But after 6 months I got the first pair finished. I was so excited. Until I tried it on. The toe bind off was too tight and could not be worn. Bummer!!  Knowing I would have to undo the bind off, pick up the stitches hoping I didn’t drop one, try to get these back onto a needle, work a couple more rows then try a looser bindoff.

I started on the 2nd set of socks but kept putting it aside, thinking of the frustration of the first pair.

Last week I finally picked up the socks and snipped at the bind off, hoping to catch all those small stitches. Remember, this is worked on size 3 needles.  I managed to pick them up, work one row K1,P1 ribbing on these needles, then switched to a size 5 where I did 2 more rows in ribbing then I did a bind off where I knit 2 stitches, slide the 1st over the 2nd and off the needle, then I slipped the remaining stitch off the right needle onto the left needle. Now I repeated the process. This essentially knits the stitch twice.  I learned this method a long time ago, but I cannot find it in an internet search to link to.  The end result is a looser edge for the foot.

(I tried to find this method on the internet to no avail. However, I did learn a number of different ways to bind off and achieve a stretchy affect. Try doing a google search on “loose knitting bind off” and see what I mean.)

I hope to have the 2nd pair ready by Christmas so when the girls are together again they can visit their favorite pedicure place and show off their new socks.

I don’t expect the same problem with the 2nd pair. Both girls handed me Patons Sock Yarn, but this particular yarn is not stretchy. The other sock yarn is stretchy so I should not experience the same problem with the 2nd pair.

I just might make myself a pair when I finish.  I decided while trying these on I really like it.

I have a number of items I have made over the past few months.  I am posting some of these in my Etsy shop.

If you’d like to offer up a handmade gift to someone your list, browse through my store.  If you like what you see but want to customize an item, click on the CONTACT ME tab at the left.  We can discuss your ideas.

To tempt you, here are a few of the items available.

Keep your hands warm while working at your computer or on your latest craft project.

This teddy bear is hand knitted.  She is wearing a knitted sweater and is jointed.   Because of the eyes and nose, this is not intended for children under 3 years of age.

Perfect for a newborn, this blanket and tiny teddy bear are super soft to the touch.

Modeled on a Lee Middleton Doll, this cute sweater and hat set are made for approximately 3-6 months child.  Keep her warm and stylish as the outside temperatures drop.

Are you tempted yet?   No matter.  Let me be the first to wish you a Handmade Merry Christmas.

P.S.  Use coupon code  ‘ Christmas  ‘  at checkout for Free Domestic Shipping through December 15, 2011.