Taking a step back

Life with a baby is something entirely different. Add a dog, a cat and. Husband to that equation (as well as returning to work) is enough to feel a little overwhelmed. And unfortunately the hubs has felt it the worse, what with working 2-3 jobs a week in addition to going to school. He is also my main support, so when I'm unhappy he usually feels it. That being said I'm going to give myself some slack in certain areas in order to try and lighten his load.

I'm a terrible housewife, but if I want to stay with my chickadee instead of sending her to daycare I have to step up some traditional duties or swallow my parental instincts and entrust the care of my lil'gal to a stranger. Since neither of us want that, and basically half of what is make full time would go to her care, and  what I'll make part time will be roughly equivalent to the other half of full time pay that would be taken home, we've decided that I'm going to stay part time. And because I don't foresee myself being that awesome at a full time job followed by 2 part time jobs (even though John has rocked that routine like a champ) I'm going to be taking my shop down at the beginning of summer. 

I have no idea when it will reopen, but when it does there will be some changes. 

I'm not sure what direction I'll head in, but I'm sure the current one I've taken isn't for me. Sure that stuff I make is cute, but I don't feel likes it's my life's work. While I don't see geekery leaving my life ever, it certainly doesn't rule it either. I've felt like this way before I even opened MegaWench Workshop, so that I think has a lot to do with my success (or lack thereof)

I'm hoping a real break will clear my head, make clear my priorities (as far as creating) and when I come back I will have focus and purpose instead of just hoping for the best. I thank those who have given me their patronage and support, and I hope to see you in the future!!

And on that note, I plan to continue blogging once a week (possibly more when I get better at time management) and letting you in on what I'm working on, because let's face it, I'll probably always have a project (or a few) going on at any given time, it's just who I am. On top of that I need to refine my style and find my voice as far as writing goes.

PS: I will continue to do commission work (if you email me with what you want, I'll do my best to make it) 

PPS: I really finished my sweater! For reals! Look I have proof! (Note it's frumpiness) Begin photo on slot!

My week in photos

You can see what I'm up to during the week on Instagram (as long as you don't mind a cute baby or dog or cat thrown in there occasionally.)

 

I finished the words on my Hypnotoad cross stitch.

  

I started the "black work" I decided to do last minute as well. Not convinced I like the color scheme so far.

 

I really, really finished my sweater, for reals. That's it blocking.

 

You can't really tell here, but it is FRUMPY. My groodness, so much frump! I'm hoping it will shrink a bit with blocking, but I'm not holding my breath. :/

 

I'm in the process of getting some new items ready for my shop... I'm kinda excited for it! I hope people like them as much as me!

 

I made some brooches! I have some fine tuning, but I'm hoping to have them in the shop by next friday. :)

What have you done this week?

Random WIPs

 This week Ive been working on catching up on some things I've fallen behind on (hello thank you cards for my shower that was back in OCTOBER!!!) And this is my long stretch of birthdays, so I've been churning out presents. So far I've been pretty smart about it, making sure I'm not biting off more than I can chew as it was. I've picked things that are quick, easy, don't require much mental thought and can be done while nursing. She does demand my attention when she is awake these days and tries to 'help' when I work in front of her. So here are some snip-its of what I've been working on this week:

 

I made a pair of socks for my brother's birthday. He really likes the socks I make him, so I try to get him a pair at least once a year. I based it off of Thuja, which is a go-to sock pattern for me. I used a grass stitch instead of the seed stitch rib.

I also made a shawl for my madre. It's more of a kercheif (as the pattern suggests) but she loves it just the same. The color(s) are right up her ally too.

I'm sure you've seen these shirts on Pinterest, it says: "I'm sorry for what I said when I was hungry." It's kinda like a family motto. We all need one.

 

And I'm still working on Hypnotoad. It never ends! I keep making design changes so, that probably has something to do with it too. I'm thinking of adding some black work in the neon colors to imitate the wavy-grooviness in some of his pictures. What do you think? Anything you're working on?

A Scarf for Whit

I have been pretty much exclusively making presents for my friends and family  for nearly a decade now. My skills have vastly improved since my beginnings crocheting scarves for all my fitness in high school. That being said, I know that my taste and choices for gifts aren't always on par with the recipients. It's a game of chance making instead of buying, there are no returns or exchanges and there's the added knowledge that the gifted spent hours if not days weeks or months salving away on your gift. It's intimidating. And I know I get it wrong a lot. There are a few people I have no problems finding things to make for- my brother and husband wears holes in the socks I make for them. My mom has her scarves on. Seasonal rotation. I've given up on my dad, but he's impossible to shop for too so that's a wash. Then there are my friends. I know I'm always a color or pattern choice away from something they will love or put on that fake smile and say/ "wow, how neat!" (You know you've done it too)

We'll, I think I nailed it this time. I decided to ask what Peoria wanted this year (not the first, but I usually get: "oh you know what I like." (No I don't, I wouldn't be asking if I did!) and this particular birthday girl said "I want something like a scarf or hat so I can wear your art!" Well, I made her a hat before but I will admit that 'art' is not an adjective that applies to it. And so I decided against what I initially was going to make her (which I now may make for myself because I like weird nerdy things) and did as asked, and I think I nailed it!

And I'm glad I did because I love the pattern and yarn so much I may make one for all my other friends too! I picked a stitch from my stitch book (which I almost changed because it's been a rather warm winter and I was afraid it wouldn't get much use) and I am in love with the effect! It almost looks like cables, but it's only knit and purl stitches. And it was So. Easy. I mean really easy. I could knit in the dark! (Which was nice since a little someone won't go to bed if it's not dark) and it took me less than an hour a night for roughly a week. Which is how long I had to get it done, since I started knitting it so late.

And that yarn! It's nothing fancy, Simply Soft in Harlyquin I bought at Michael's. But let me tell you, it's so soft and cozy and that COLOR! I fell in love when I saw it and knew I would make something out of it. And since it's acrylic I can be sure that of she tosses it in the wash and dryer it will not be ruined! And I have to say, I think I hit the 'art' part on the mark!

I also did something I usually don't do- I added a crochet border.  I think that if I had used a rib or other border on it it wouldn't have turned out so nice. It adds a bit of fancyness without taking away from the beautiful simplicity of the stitch!(at least I think so) I think I'm going to try and turn this into a pattern (I have a few knots I want to do that to) and see how that goes!

What do you think? Anything turn out surprisingly good/easy/beautiful for you? 

Casserole Caddy

Have you seen these floating around? They're pretty nifty, and since I promised a friend of mine for her birthday last year, i finally got around to making one!

 

I'm fairly happy with the outcome, although there are a few things that didn't work out the way I wanted. Let's take a look shall we?

 

I used this pattern from Joann's. It was nice not to have to measure and worry about math, but as you can see i did some modifications. As cool and convenient it is to do the handles as the serving utensils, I personally find wooden handles to be not all that comfortable, and add a heavy dish full of food and I foresaw the actual carrier getting 'forgotten' in lieu of just carrying the casserole itself. Maybe that's just me. Either way, I didn't want to lose the convenience of having a place for serving supplies, so I just added a little Velcro strap to hold 'em.

 

You can see that the Velcro doesn't quite line up, the reason being isn't because I screwed up. Oh no, my 13"x9" dish is actually 13.25"x9.25", what weirdo designed that? But even with my unnecessary extra 1/4" sides it still fits pretty well.

 

So what didn't turn out the way i wanted? Well, I used flannel instead of the decor weight recommenced fabric and while I think it looks cuter and will function just was well, it proved a bit difficult to use with the 'insul-bright' batting. That being said I have never used any type of batting before, so there's a very strong chance my issues with it have everything to so with my lack of experience. Basically there was lots of shifting of fabric which led to puckers and some of my seams got shifted.

Oh, and I forgot to mention I put it together wrong first, and didn't discover my error until I had cut away the bulky seams and clipped corners! I blame it on the fact that it took me 2 weeks of 15 min here, and 20 min there to assemble and sew it together. Call it mom-brain if you must (thought you got your brain cells back after giving birth? Haha! Not a chance!)

I am overall happy with the outcome and will be experimenting with insul-bright again. Maybe a lunch bag for work? We'll see. I just hope the recipient likes and used this as much as I do/would! :)

My week of lame

(i know it's Tuesday... I totally forgot to hit publish instead of save Sunday! whoops! so just pretend its Sunday still :)

What did I do this week? I finished the catio my dad made/provided supplied for my birthday while he hung out with the kiddo. (I promise photos once the weather provides some nice light :)

 I had planned on being done with a friends birthday present, but I got a case of mom brain and did it totally wrong!! So frustrating, as it was the roughest (or so I thought) part of the project. I'd been done too, except I'm doing handles instead of dowels and adding some other fun things to the design. What is it you ask? Well, when it's done I'll show you! :) (for fear the recipient might stumble across this page, but who am I kidding really? Kenna, your the only consistent one reading this thang)

I also started another birthday present this week that I will hopefully get done in time ( these birthdays are on the 30th and 31st btw). This one is knitting, so it's been a bit easier squeezing in a stitch or two while nursing or when she naps (which has been a battle this week, let me tell you. Apparently there is no better bed than mom) but still. What do you think of the colors?

Oh! And one more thing to round out this random post, I finally got around to taking photos of the gloves I made my mom for her birthday last year! I plan on releasing the pattern soon (my first one!!!) and if it goes well you may see more of my designs in the future… A girl can dream though! :p

 

ps: I sold 3 things!!! So excited about that! So it will push those presents back a bit, because money makers take precedent!

Hope you had a wonderful week!! :)

Sewing machine cover complete!

This has been a dragging project for me, not because I didn't like making it (I quite enjoyed myself actually) but because it was sewn a seam here a seam there for WEEKS!! Ugh, I could have finished it in an afternoon, but I rarely get more than 15 isolated minutes to myself (I blame the butterball sleeping right now) but it's not just her- I have the cat and dog to blame too, I still have to shower them with love lest they think I've forgotten about them. Whatever, here's what you care about:

I'm so happy with how it turned out!! I really enjoyed the paper pieces portions too, I see more of that in my future I think!  But alas, this cover is not perfect. For one thing I screwed up my measurements (or ignored the bias completely… probably both). For I  a lazy sewer, often neglecting my iron and trying to cut shapes with out patterns… oh well. 

Anything I would do different? Remember I bought a paper pattern for this years ago and use that instead of winging it.

See that? Not long enough.

Same deal here, but I also sewed the extender I made to the wrong side… and didn't fix it. It's on the lining and really, no ones looking but me. It would have been a different story if this was a gift but it isn't so I don't care. I'm just happy it's finished!

And since we all love a good photo of others craft space, here's a few shots of my miserable excuse for a sewing station:

We moved in November, but I'm still unpacking. I mostly just don't know where all that crap is going to go. I do have some plans… perhaps if my scheming comes to pass I will update you in the future?

What do you think? Ever have projects turn out different than you plan but you still love them?