Projects - Page 3 of 9 - Solarbrations

Knitting, 2015

Oct 09 2015

Ravelry members can find more information about these projects in my Ravelry Project Notebook.

Beaded Knitting Sampler

Started and completed 2/19/15
Stitches West class

Claire’s Chunky Cowl

Started 12/24/14, completed 1/2/15

Parritch Bonnet

Started 4/4/15, completed 4/26/15

Serpiente

Started 4/21/15, completed 5/3/15

Irisa Scarf

Started 2/19/15, completed 5/11/15

Beyond Antares Cowl

Started 7/21/14, completed 10/3/15
Modeled by my office moose, Borg

Blue No-Noro Hat

Started 8/15/2015, completed 10/18/2015
Modeled by my new hat model, Blanca

Gray Ribbed Hat

Started 12/17/15, completed 12/20/15

Snow Queen Hat

Started 12/20/15, completed 12/24/15

Canto de Sirena Shawl

Started 10/25/15

Categories : Knitting

Tags : hats

…And Your Little Dog, Too

Sep 29 2015

Stealth project related to the commissioned quilt

Started 8/8/15; completed 9/20/15

Two-sided quilted pillow cover with a zipper for the recipient’s dog. It is made from the leftover Hawaiian shirt fabric used in the commissioned quilt. I used the same green batik fabric for the border and used the Dean Miller surfboard fabric for the inside. I made a custom, removable pillow insert.

Categories : Quilting

The Hawaiian Shirt Off Your Back

Sep 29 2015

Commissioned quilt
Started 3/14/15; completed 9/27/15
Added hanging tabs at the request of the client: 5/22/16

Notes:
I work a full-time job, so much of the work was done on the weekends, and in the last two weeks, in the evenings after work.

Design selected by the client 3/28/15
Borders selected by the client 7/15/15
Top completed 8/2/15
Waiting for backing fabric to arrive 8/3/15
Machine quilting 8/22/15 through 9/19/15
Burying threads 9/20 through 9/26/15
Binding and finish label 9/26 through 9/27/15

Categories : Quilting

Tags : commission, stealth

Cross Stitch Needlerolls

May 27 2015

1999

Spirit Needleroll

Started 08/1998, completed 03/1999
Spirit Needle Roll 1998 class by Lorri Birmingham Designs

Garden Needleroll

Started 08/1999, completed 09/1999
Garden Roll kit by Shepherd’s Bush

Stitcher’s Needleroll

Started 10/1999, completed 10/1999
Stitcher’s Roll kit by Shepherd’s Bush

2000

Shepherd’s Needleroll

Started 06/2000, completed 06/2000
Shepherd’s Roll kit by Shepherd’s Bush

Bee Kind Needleroll

Started 09/2000, completed 09/2000
Bee Kind Needle Roll kit by Lorri Birmingham Designs

Folk Heart Needleroll

Started 09/2000, completed 09/2000
Folk Heart Roll kit by Shepherd’s Bush

Halloween Needleroll

Started 08/2000, completed 09/2000
Halloween Roll kit by Shepherd’s Bush

Thanksgiving Needleroll

Started 11/1999, completed 10/2000
Thanksgiving Roll kit by Shepherd’s Bush

Millennium Needleroll

Started 12/2000, completed 12/2000
Millennium Roll kit by Shepherd’s Bush

2001

By the Sea Needleroll

Started 09/2000, completed 01/2001
By the Sea Needleroll chart by Eventide Designs

Pansy Needleroll

Started 11/2000, completed 03/2001
Pansy Roll kit by Shepherd’s Bush

Long May She Wave Needleroll

Started 08/2002, completed 09/2002
Long May She Wave Roll kit by Shepherd’s Bush

St. Nick Needleroll

Started 11/2000, completed 11/2001
St. Nicholas Roll kit by Shepherd’s Bush

2002

In My Garden Needleroll

Started 04/2001, completed 07/07/2002
In My Garden Roll kit by Shepherd’s Bush

Americana Needleroll

Started 09/2001, completed 09/2002
Americana Roll kit by Shepherd’s Bush

Beehive Needleroll

Started 06/2002, completed 09/2002
Beehive Roll kit by Shepherd’s Bush

2007

Birdhouse Needleroll

Started 07/2002, completed 01/20/2007
Birdhouse Roll kit by Shepherd’s Bush

Snow Fall Needleroll
Started 11/2001, completed 01/27/2007
Snowfall Roll kit by Shepherd’s Bush

Categories : Needlework

Tags : cross stitch, needlerolls, Shepherd's Bush, smalls

Cross Stitch Scissor Fobs

May 27 2015

2000

Purple Rose Scissor Companion

Started 08/2000, completed 09/2000
Kit by Ewe & Eye & Friends

2001

Planted Hearts Scissor Fob

Started 06/2001, completed 06/16/2001
from Planted Hearts Needleroll chart by Lavender Wings for Louise Novicki (Sr.)

2002

Shepherd’s Scissor Fob

Started 07/2002, completed 07/2002
Kit Shepherd’s Bush

Bee Scissor Fob

Started 06/2002, completed 07/07/2002
Bee Fob kit by Shepherd’s Bush

In My Garden Scissor Fob

Started 06/2002, completed 07/07/2002
In My Garden Fob kit by Shepherd’s Bush

Harvest Scissor Fob

Started 10/2002, completed 10/2002
Harvest Fob kit by Shepherd’s Bush

Spooky Scissor Fob

Started 10/2002, completed 10/2002
Spooky Fob kit by Shepherd’s Bush

Snow Scissor Fob

Started 11/2002, completed 11/2002
Snow Fob kit by Shepherd’s Bush

2004

Spring Scissor Fob

Started 06/2001, completed 06/26/2004
Spring Fob kit by Shepherd’s Bush

American Scissor Fob

Started 06/2004, completed 07/02/2004
American Fob kit by Shepherd’s Bush

2007

Pea Pod Scissor Companion

Started 07/2002, completed 01/23/2007
Kit by Ewe & Eye & Friends

2013

Happy Pumpkin Scissor Fob

Started 09/30/2009, completed 08/15/2013
Happy Pumpkin Fob kit by Shepherd’s Bush

2014

Love Scissor Fob

Started 07/2004, completed 06/01/2014
Love Fob kit by Shepherd’s Bush

2015

Scaredy Sheep Fob

Started 6/1/2015
Finished stitching 7/9/2015
Scaredy Sheep Fob kit by Shepherd’s Bush

Happy Wishes Fob

Started 7/14/15, completed 7/30/2015
Happy Wishes Fob kit by Shepherd’s Bush

Sheep Scissor Companion

Started 8/1/2015, completed 8/2/2015
Kit by Ewe & Eye & Friends

Categories : Needlework

Tags : cross stitch, fobs, scissor fobs, smalls

Cross Stitch Afghans

May 27 2015

1991

Nurserytime Afghan

Gift for Ian Flatness, born 2/4/1991 (Susan Flatness)

Completed 4/1/1991?

Designs selected from Cross Stitch Nursery motifs by American School of Needlework

I changed the balloon colors to primary colors and adjusted the designs to fit the 45 x 45 stitch format of afghan squares.

(Images scanned from poor quality photographs.)

Baby Wraps Afghan

Gift for David Novicki, born 7/18/1991? (Ed & Saundra)

Completed May 1991

Bunny, bear, and bird motifs from the Baby Wraps Afghan booklet

1994

Carousel Afghan

Gift for Eric James Eitel, born 5/27/1992 (Julie Eitel)

Completed for 12/25/1994

My first project that incorporated original designs and original color choices. It is based on at least 10 different carousel charts, stencils, and pictures. The afghan has 10 animals on the outside; the center 6 squares are filled to form the canopy. All charts were entered and modified in Stitch Crafts software; no portion of this afghan used the exact layout or colors specified in the charts. All animals used natural colors; primary and pastel colors were avoided.

(Images scanned from old photographs.)

1997

Hardanger afghan

Gift for our niece, Maya Elise Novicki, born June 10, 1997.

Completed September 1997
Based on Rosemary Drysdale’s Spirit of Cross Stitch Hardanger class and Emie Bishop’s designs.

I had taken a class by Rosemary Drysdale for a hardanger afghan that was a good way to learn hardanger. My goal was to get the afghan done in time for the baby’s birth, but I didn’t quite make it. I did finish it in time for her christening.

This afghan is stitched with Caron Watercolors and Wildflowers; the name is stitched in Caron Waterlilies silk

Unfortunately, my photos are less than clear.

2002

Classic Winnie the Pooh afghan

This is a one of a kind afghan for a very special little girl who became an Angel in 2011.
Savannah Lynn McCann (7/25/2002 – 1/22/2011)

Started March 2002, completed 8/25/2002

I translated classic Winnie the Pooh images that I found on the internet to cross stitch designs. The layout and color choices are mine.

Note: I took down the photos of this afghan at one point because when I denied someone’s request for the design, she told me that she was going to download my photos and copy my designs anyway. Please don’t spoil this special gift by stealing my images or my design!!

Categories : Needlework

Tags : afghans, crossstitch

Other Needlework

May 27 2015

1995

Internet Memorial Quilt Square

Started 04/30/1995, completed 05/02/1995
Two Hearts Together chart by Stoney Creek
Internet memorial Quilt (IMQ) project for Oklahoma City

2000

Blue Mist Dragonfly Aromatherapy pillow

Completed 5/2000
Dimensions Daydreams aromatherapy pillow kit

Bleu Butterfly Bottle

Started 07/10/2000, completed 07/11/2000
Daydreams kit by Dimensions for Michelle Johnson

Crystal and Silk Trinket Box

Started 10/1999, completed 03/2000
Design by For Stitchers’ Sake
Cross Stitch Festival class

2004

Butterfly-Pansy Box

Started 06/2004, completed 06/27/2004
Kit by Dreams of Stitches

Cloisonné Box

Started 06/2004, completed 06/27/2004
Kit by Dreams of Stitches
No picture…hated it!

Categories : Needlework

Tags : boxes, cross stitch, other

Sewing, costumes

May 15 2015

I started making Halloween costumes for our daughter when she was 4 or 5. The early costumes were pretty simple, mostly to make it easy on me to get her in and out of them. As she got older, she requested pretty complicated costumes.

Typically, the Husband made his own costumes, but I also made costumes for the two of us (Zorro and the Mexican peasant maid, Robin Hood and Maid Marian…).

Note: I’ll upload photos as I find them.

Stegosaurus

Gizmo the Gremlin

Pink Panther

This was the last “big” costume I made for our daughter. After this, she chose to make her own costumes.

Categories : Sewing

Tags : costumes, sewing

One of a Kind

May 14 2015

These projects of the one-offs, created out of necessity, as a gift, or just because I wanted to try it out.

Rainbow Collection

June 2006

For our daughter’s graduation from UCLA (M.A and MPH), the Husband and I made a box of quotes to give her inspiration when she needs it. We collected the quotes from various quote web sites and from books. I also included some inspirational quotes from her favorite movies and wrote a few “mom” quotes as well. I printed them on different colored card stock and laminated them so they’d last. We placed them in a silk-covered box.

We named it the Rainbow Collection (a take-off on a Muppet Movie song lyric, “Someday we’ll find it, the rainbow connection”) that she used to sing when she was little.

Homemade Lazy Kate

3/18/2007
I didn’t have one and didn’t want to order one yet because I didn’t know what I needed. This worked until I bought my spinning wheel, which came with a Lazy Kate.

I used a small basket, some metal knitting needles, point protectors, elastic, and a few wooden wheels and beads from Michael’s.

Begin to Spin Kit

April 2007

As a birthday gift for a friend, I compiled instructions, photos, and videos that I created describing the process of spinning from my point of view. I started with a kit from Carolina Homespun that had a very generous amount of fiber and went from there. The kit included:

Cascade Little Si spindle.
Lined drawstring bag for the spindle, in blue polka-dotted fabric.
Fiber to spin: three sampler-size bumps of Corriedale, a large amount of brown wool fiber (type unspecified), some Ashland Bay dyed Merino, and some pre-drafted Corriedale.
Spin It book
Instruction binder: 18 pages with photos, 1 page of links, and some fiber samples of what things should look like at various steps.
CD containig a PDF version of the instructions, 6 short videos showing the major steps in the process, and other useful PDFs.

Categories : Other Crafts

Tags : kits

Soaps and Spa Products

May 13 2015

I started making melt-and-pour soap in 2002. I always liked the idea of scented soaps, but as I go older, I became allergic to most chemical-based scents. Those types of scents either made me sneeze or gave me a headache. That meant I could no longer wear perfume, use commercial scented soaps, or use scented laundry products.

However, essential oils did not cause the same problems. I research aromatherapy blends, found a good supplier for essential oils, and started creating my own scented soaps. Later I took a class to learn how to make sugar scrubs, bath salts, and other spa products.

Other people liked my soap, so I sold it on a made-to-order basis for a few years. I had to stop taking orders when soap making conflicted with the Christmas baking.

I still make soap and scrubs for gifts and for personal use.

2002 (December)

5 bars Butter Mint soap
5 bars Ginger Cream soap

2003 (December)

10 bars Butter Mint soap
2 bars Evening Blend
10 bars Ginger Cream
9 bars Grapefruit Cassis
2 bars Half and Half soap
2 bars Jasmine Chamomile soap
4 bars Lime in the Coconut soap
2 bars Morning Blend

2004

March

11 Creative Dreams soaps
1 Yoga set (Yoga Morning, Yoga Evening)

June

4 Butter Mint soap
4 Creative Dreams soap
4 Elements: Air

December

7 bars Butter Mint soap
2 bars Celtic Woods soap
1 bar Clearly Grapefruit soap
2 sets 4 Elements soaps
4 bars Elements: Air soap
1 bar Elements: Earth soap
2 bars Elements: Fire soap
1 bar Elements: Water soap
3 bars Evening Blend soap
3 bars Gardener’s soap
2 bars Ginger Cream soap
3 bars Grapefruit Cassis soap
2 bars Green Tea soap
1 bar Jasmine soap
17 Mini 4-pack soap
1 Mini 8-pack soap
1 bar Yoga Evening soap
5 bars Yoga Morning soap

2005 (December)

2 sets Bring on the Day soaps
1 bar Creative Dreams soap
7 sets 4 Elements soaps
1 bar Elements: Air soap
1 bar Gardener’s soap
4 bars Green Tea soap
2 Mini 4-pack soap
3 bars Papaya Coconut soap
25 bars Winter Solstice soap
1 set Yoga Blends (2) soap

2006 (August)

5 Spa gift baskets:
Each contained 1 bar Grapefruit Cassis soap, 1 bar Papaya-Coconut Soap, 1 bar Pina Colada soap, 1 jar Grapefruit Sugar-Salt Scrub, 1 jar Lavender Bath
Salts, 1 knitted washcloth
1 bar Grapefruit Cassis soap
1 bar Papaya-Coconut Soap
1 bar Pina Colada soap

2009 (February)

4 bars Butter Mint soap
4 bars Creative Dreams soap
2 bars Gardener’s soap

2012 (January)

4 bars Creative Dreams soap
2 bars Locus Focus soap

Categories : Other Crafts

Tags : aromatherapy, scrubs, soap, spa

Spinning, 2015

May 06 2015

Ravelry members can find more information about my handspun in the Handspun section of my Ravelry Notebook.

Walking on the Sun Handspun

Started 1/10/15, completed 1/31/15
204.7 yds. chain-ply, 13 WPI

Goat Rock Handspun

Started 2/7/15, completed 2/16/15
204.7 yds. chain-ply, 12 WPI

Meteor Shower Handspun

Started 2/28/15, completed 3/21/15
268 yds. chain-ply, 15 WPI

Gypsy Handspun

Started 4/4/15, completed 4/4/15
48.4 yds. 2-ply thread, 7 WPI

Lilac Handspun

Started 4/11/15, completed 4/26/15
124.5 yds. chain-ply, 13 WPI

Mermaid Bling Handspun

Started 4/4/15, completed 4/25/15
106.1 yds. 2-ply thread, 7 WPI

Wild Turquoise Handspun

Started 5/10/15, completed 5/25/15
188 yds., 10 WPI

Sochi Handspun

Started 5/16/15, completed 6/7/15
176.8 yds, 14 WPI

Halloween Phat Fiber Samples

Started 10/2/2012, completed 6/20/2015
Did not measure the yardage on these samples. I was just happy to finish spinning them!

Drake’s Bay Handspun

Started 6/13/15, completed 6/27/15
169.6 yds chain-plied, 13 WPI

Sunrise Handspun

Started and finished 7/4/2015;
104.2 yds, thread-plied with copper and gold threads; bulky weight

Tour de Fleece, Day 1

Lemon Lime Handspun

Started and finished 7/5/2015;
139.6 yds, thread-plied with green and yellow threads; 10 WPI

Tour de Fleece, Day 2

Crazy Turquoise Handspun

Started 7/6/15, completed 7/10/15
87.5 yds, worsted weight

Tour de Fleece Day 3 thru 7

Rust Verde handspun

Started and completed 7/11/2015
24.2 yds, thread-plied with copper poly threads; bulky weight

Tour de Fleece, Day 8

Gradient Violet handspun

Started 7/12/15, completed 7/13/15;
102.4 yds, chain-plied; 10 WPI

Tour de Fleece, Day 9 & 10

Wild Shell handspun

Started 7/14/15, completed 7/15/15
95 yds, thread-plied with metallic silver thread; 9 WPI

Tour de Fleece, Day 11 & 12

Wild Nile handspun

Started 7/16/51, completed 7/17/2015
215.9 yds, plied with rayon thread and sequins; 12 WPI

Tour de Fleece, Day 13 & 14

Faerie Purple handspun

Started 7/18/15, completed 7/19/15
117.25 yds. 2-ply, 14 WPI

Tour de Fleece, Day 15 & 16

Clear Skies handspun

Started and finished 7/26/15;
55.8 yds, auto-plied with rayon thread; bulky

Tour de Fleece, Day 23 (last day 7/26)

Categories : Spinning

Tags : handspun, spinning

Weaving 2015

Mar 20 2015

Dreams of Amethyst

Specs

Started: 3/7/15
Finished: 4/15/15
Warped size: 90 inches long, 15 inches wide
Finished size: TBD
Warp: Fiberlady Makimo in Lavender, Berroco Mosaic FX in Charade, Cascade Venezia Sport in White Heaven, 10 dpi
Weft: Fiberlady Makimo in Amethyst

Weaving Photos

A few photos of my looms and tools.

Warping My Loom

Before I set up my studio, I used to warp the loom on my dining room table. The table extends to 90 inches, so it was a perfect length for the wraps and shawls I was weaving.

At the right, you can see the wooden cup rack I use as warping pegs and the blue plastic C-clamps I bought at Orchard Supply Hardware.

Loom perspective

The loom is warped to it’s full width of 20 inches.

My Favorite Shuttle

This is a KCL Woods low profile shuttle. He does the most marvelous things with wood!

Inkle Loom

I’ve also played with an Ashford inkle loom. I need more time to really explore what I can do with this loom.

Categories : Weaving

Beaded Knitting Sampler

Claire’s Chunky Cowl

Parritch Bonnet

Serpiente

Irisa Scarf

Beyond Antares Cowl

Blue No-Noro Hat

Gray Ribbed Hat

Snow Queen Hat

Canto de Sirena Shawl

1999

2000

2001

2002

2007

2000

2001

2002

2004

2007

2013

2014

2015

1991

1994

1997

2002

1995

2000

2004

Stegosaurus

Gizmo the Gremlin

Pink Panther

Rainbow Collection

Homemade Lazy Kate

Begin to Spin Kit

2002 (December)

2003 (December)

2004

2005 (December)

2006 (August)

2009 (February)

2012 (January)

Walking on the Sun Handspun

Goat Rock Handspun

Meteor Shower Handspun

Gypsy Handspun

Lilac Handspun

Mermaid Bling Handspun

Wild Turquoise Handspun

Sochi Handspun

Halloween Phat Fiber Samples

Drake’s Bay Handspun

Sunrise Handspun

Lemon Lime Handspun

Crazy Turquoise Handspun

Rust Verde handspun

Gradient Violet handspun

Wild Shell handspun

Wild Nile handspun

Faerie Purple handspun

Clear Skies handspun

Dreams of Amethyst

Specs

Weaving Photos

Warping My Loom

Loom perspective

My Favorite Shuttle

Inkle Loom

Categories

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