Things I've Learned . . .

Giraffe legs are long  . . .



And I hate making pom-poms . . .





But I'm really happy with the way my latest project turned out. It's a gift so I'll have to share the full view at a later time but it's way cute. I'm sure she's figured it out by now but this little guy will be for my new nephew who we expect to arrive in mid May. Hope he likes his Auntie's hand made toys, lol.

 Too bad making pom-poms is a pain in the butt, I sort of want one of these:



Doesn't that seem like it would be perfectly squishy under your toes? Wanna try? Pattern found HERE.

I've been writing a bit over at The Examiner. Check out my articles:

New Year, New Crafty You: Counted Cross Stitch

New Year, New Crafty You: Piecework Magazine


Crochet Your Own Swiffer Cover

Warm Up with Faux Fur Sewing Patterns

Learn to Make Floral Clay Stamped Clay Bangles with Paper, Plate and Plane

Free Knit & Crochet Slipper Patterns

Valentine's Day Craft: Gum Ball Necklaces

Thanks for reading!

Ciao ~ RR

Pick Up Sticks

As you know, I've been lacking in the crafty department lately. For some reason I just can't seem to focus. I spend more time staring off into space (or at the TV) instead of creating and it's driving me crazy! My new job takes up a lot of time and I know that is factor but come on! I need to get in gear, right?

While at the retreat in Los Angeles I had some time to myself one morning while Luis was attending the business meeting portion. It was a little over cast so I parked myself on the terrace with my Nook and figured to fill a few hours reading. I'd only been sitting there a few moments when someone asked me if I liked my Nook. Enter Heli, my new BFF.


Heli on the left, me on the right, heading to a nice dinner the night we met.

Heli's husband also won the trip and was in the business meeting as well. She and her family live in Nashville and we get along like a house on fire. She reads, she knits, she crochets . . . oh yes, she is like me but Southeast! :)

We spent the rest of the week together enjoying the dinners, spa and pool with the husbands in tow (who bonded over a water slide adventure) and were sad to say goodbye at the end of the weekend. Fortunately we have email, texting and Facebook and all that good social networking to keep in touch. We hope to visit each other as well. I can't wait!

I helped Heli learn to knit cables in about 2 minutes by the pool fire pit one night. She picked it up so quickly and has already made an adorable cabled Nook cover. Inspired by my new BFF I pulled out some knitting books and got to work:



I've been wanting to make this giraffe forever and the first thing that caught my eye in the yarn bin was some lovely orange cotton. So I drug out the DPNs and got to work. I hope to share my finished toy soon. I also hope that my inspiration lingers and I finish the oh two or FIVE half done knitting projects laying around here as well.

So thank you BFF for getting me back in crafty form. I miss you!

cheers ~ rr

Hat Time

I love making hats for gifts. I've already made a few with a long list still to go. I hate that I don't have as much time to knit and crochet now that I'm working full time but hats are pretty easy and portable for when I can take them with me to sneak in a little work here and there.

I recently finished up this beauty:



I really need a foam head or something to show off my hats! I remember seeing them in abundance at the thrift "back in the day" but I don't recall having seen any lately. This hat is from the winter issue of Knitscene magazine (I think) and is made with Paton's silk angora. It came out a bit too big for both my head and the friend I made it for so I need to adjust it or start a new one and give this to a big headed friend. ;) (Actually, my friend and I have peanut sized heads.)



I know that looks like a silly black circle on the right there but I swear that is a hat, too. Sort of a newsboy style, it's a pattern from a vintage crochet book called "IN Crochets" which is pretty funny don't you think? You see the lady in the snazzy big glasses? She's wearing this hat.



I received it in the mail along with a few other books from Vallen, her majesty of all things good. It was a fabulous surprise! Very fun funky 70s patterns. I tried to get a few good shots of me wearing the hat (it really is cute) but no luck. I am so not a hat person. This was a gift for my sister so maybe she'll take a photo of her wearing it. (HINT HINT MANDI)



This is a puff stitch crocheted beret that is my own pattern. It's cute but a little heavy so I'm trying to incorporate a wide knit band to make it stay in place better. Trial and error!

In other news, remember Ms. Felicity Foxity?



I've entered her in a contest to be a part of the Interweave Crochet Amigurumi 2012 calendar. Wish her luck! I'll need to write out her pattern and if she doesn't win I'll publish it here for everyone to enjoy. She's one of my favorite toys to date.


Please visit me at the Examiner. I have two articles up about getting ready for Halloween Crafting. You can find them HERE and HERE. I'll be featuring some fun Halloween crafts, including my cracker party favors, so please subscribe to get all the fun updates and projects.