Handmade Gift

Springtime coasters done with Red Heart sport yarn and super saver fleck yarn

Little Pineapple Pouch done with fingering acrylic yarn

I've been swamped these few weeks. I had a project in progress that I had failed to chronicle here so here it goes.

Since I'm graduating soon, I wanted to make some handmade gifts for the people that helped me all these years. I decided on making the Little Pineapple Pouch I found on the web. It's wonderfully lacey and elegant.

Then, I found a pattern for these lovely coasters on Ravelry and filled the pouch with them. Hope she likes them!

Fingerless Mitts

Finished pair!!!!

Used Circulo Yarn "Anne 65" in Light Gray (8414) It's thicker than the lace used in the pattern but I think it looks good and will hopefully be warmer...

Phoenix Mitts by Julia Vaconsin

Although here in Puerto Rico we have nice non-glove-requiring weather, I will soon begin a residency in a very, very cold hospital. I had already spent a month-long rotation there and found that sometimes I'd lose all feeling in my fingers while writing my notes, so I have embarked in a new crochet project ( like I needed the excuse ;-) )

I found the Phoenix Mitts Pattern in Ravelry and just finished one glove!

Scrubbies!

May 8, 2011: Made this one from Sugar n' Cream Naturals Sonoma Print, 100% cotton

100% Leftover Acrylic Yarn

Hi, I've been away a while, but that doesn't mean I've stopped making things. These are my new obsessions: crochet scrubbies. Made one with 100% cotton worsted yarn for bathing and another one with a 100% acrylic for cleaning. I must say, both came out very good and come quite handy!

I found the pattern in Crochet Patterns Only and also watched the video tutorial for clarification: Spiral Scrubbie Video

addendum: The acrylic scrubbie is p.e.r.f.e.c.t for cleaning. I just cleaned a wine bottle that I'd been saving to use in a project but had failed to remove the glue residue from the labeling...

Hyperbolic Crochet

HyperPeony

 

In process...

This is my first attempt at creating a hyperbolic model of space with crochet. The shapes that can be achieved are simply amazing. Learned about this from a post about a museum exhibition made entirely by crocheting a life-sized coral reef...

This takes crochet to a whole new level for me. So many different shapes can be achieved; so many options!

The Institute for Figuring

Cues from Nature - Season of Poppies Etsy Treasury List

 

 

 

 

Season of Poppies

 

 

 

Poppies are one of my favorite flowers. They boast a vibrant orange-red color and yet possess a kind of ethereal presence. I even made a poppy brooch a few weeks ago... Aren't they breathtaking? Take a look over the treasury list, see what inspires you.

Oriental Poppy

Poppy brooch

Amigurumi

My own Rupert the Owl from irenestrange in Etsy

Made this little penguin for a friend's daughter... She's delighted, just as I am!

Researching for patterns on the web, I came across the art of amigurumi. I can't believe I went so long without knowing about it jeje. There are literally TONS of patterns online and they're awesome. Just awesome. I have about 6 patterns, and will make some more later on. Found a useful video on youtube to understand the basics of amigurumi. Have fun! Please add any interesting links you might find useful.

Here are some patterns I found incredible:

Rupert The Owl Pattern

Ewok Star Wars Pattern

Penguin Amigurumi from LuvlyGurumi Pattern

Realistic Cacti Garden

Bobba Fet Star Wars Pattern

Alien Rabbit Pattern

Crochet Everything

Oriental Poppy Brooch from the book Crochet Bouquet by Suzann Thompson

When I was a little girl, my grandmother taught me how to sew, crochet, etc. I never thought, not for one minute, that I'd go back... first came the sewing... then came the crochet. I decided this year I'd dust off my crochet abilities (thank God for YouTube) and right now, I'm obsessed.

I have bought every color thread under the sun, and later on, I will attempt to dye my own threads. I've already dyed feathers with food coloring and vinegar, so the process shouldn't be that different.

The Poppy pattern was fun to make, and the result is just breathtaking. I made it into a brooch, but the possibilities are pretty much endless.

Here is a helpful link to crochet, I find that once you know the basics all you really need are libraries of stitches to help you decode the million patterns found in the web:

http://www.needlecraftuniversity.com/libcrochet.htm

Rosettes

My Christmas gift to myself

Feeling Festive

I am frankly amazed by the fact that intricate delicate things are coming back to fashion. Of course, I love the minimalist look, but I always find myself leaning toward the touch of something with substance, a statement that's both delicate and bold.

Naturally then, when I came across rosette bib necklaces, I was instantly obsessed...

Threading the proverbial needle

Trinitaria (Bougainvillea) from my garden

I was recently perusing the idea of going back to writing on a journal. I felt the need to document my projects, as it seems my hobbies have officially taken over my life. But then, everywhere I looked, someone close to me was posting things on their blogs. First my father and now my younger cousin, something had to be done.

I'll try to keep it simple. Anyway, there's only about a couple zillion blogs out there relating exactly to the same thing: creative endeavors, crafts and hobbies.

I will start with the basics: I craft to survive. I craft to make sense of the world. Somewhere in the middle of having an idea and giving it tangible form, something magical happens. I know, cliché, right? Well, they're there for a reason, and that's hitting us over the head when we finally understand we're right smack in the middle of one.