a slipper pattern

When I posted here about these simple slippers

I had crocheted,

a reader asked if I knew of any knitted

pattern for a something similar.

While browsing garnstudio.com for

Drops Design's latest collections,

I came across this pattern::

Very close, I think, so if you don't crochet

you might want to check it out.

While you are there,

you may want to wander through

their wonderful patterns~all absolutely free!

Atia of the Julii, inspired crochet dress.

This week......

And last it seems all of last week, I have been mostly making this dress.
 Inspired by the tv series Rome (a must see for the over 18)


It is all fantasy, not real and no history used to create this little
number it's straight out of the Tv Box set.

It's been a while (making dresses) I had been busy with my canvas, but I feel pretty strong about this dress. 
Enjoying getting lost in my stitches, my approach to making seems to have taken even more of a Laberyinth turn.

Up and down, side to side.  The stitches go where the mood takes me.

It all started with the chain crochet cords hanging above.

Then I picked up the chains and knitted a panel.

Then using the shower puff fabric crocheted the under skirt, well the edges of the shower puff together.

Mixed yarns, tape , cotton, acrylic, charity and even a little silk! Juxtapose

For this sleeve I used the milk silk that I had in my stash.  In the photo above Im attaching the sleeve and creating the begining of the neck line.

Attaching shower puff with the tape yarn (silky blue)

Creating the second sleeve using shower puff and a glitter yarn the silver that you can just about see.  I used to mosaic effect as I thought it looked pretty Roman;-)

Attaching the second sleeve, it still not finished, above you can see a huge gap below the sleeve.   But it's the basic skeltion that I needed to create the top of the dress. 

Two wiki below, one about the serise and second the person who played the character.(the one that I was inspired mostly by).  I use inspired loosy as she really was a gutter snipe

(but she played a great character totally hate-able)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rome_%28TV_series%29

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atia_of_the_Julii

Inspiration.
Cleopatra inspired neck line, also the naked delicate fabrics that where
used for many of her outfits in the show. 

Teamed with the almost Eastern feel of the outfits created for the Julii family. 

Appologies for the photos looking slightly drunk, the manniquin is broken and basically swings from side to side.  Making my creating on the manniquin pretty difficult.

  My spelling is awful, i'm not only having issues with my manniquin, but also spell check will not work.  Forgivness required;-(

a couple thrifty ideas

Crocheted facial cloths ~ washable & reusable

I used some organic cotton yarn

and found the pattern here

What a great idea!

And, if you would like to make your own

liquid hand soap,

and save a lot of money by doing so,

the recipe can be found here.

I'll be giving it a try this weekend.

Have a great weekend!

a simple cake & a simple slipper

A bit of baking went on this weekend,

a habit I'm getting back into

as the fall weather keeps us inside more:

~zucchini muffins for breakfast this week

~these chocolate peanut butter oatmeal cookies for snacks 

and

~marie-helene's apple cake

{from Around My French Table: More Than 300 Recipes from My Home to Yours}

no mixer involved, just my old egg beater...

No picture of the finished product

as it was eaten very quickly with

a bit of whipped cream on top.

A simple cake that is just delicious!

~

The slippers are my most recent crochet project.

When I saw a picture of them online,

I couldn't resist purchasing the pattern.

They work up quickly using

two strands of worsted weight yarn

and a larger size hook.

I added a couple of vintage buttons

from my button tin.

On Ravelry here.

'O' whats occuring, Barry gets a crochet duck.

Duck drop Oct 2011

Wales , Barry Island to be precis..........
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Island_Pleasure_Park

For all the Gavin and Stacey fans no explanation will be needed as to why Barri?, but just in case you have not had that pleasure click below.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gavin_%26_Stacey

I'm not sure Nessa slots, should be this close to the photo of Jack Sprat but he's only little so I think he'll forgive me.  

Jack at 18months thought he'd help on the ducklings release date.http://theknittingforartexhibition.blogspot.com/2009/08/crocheted-duckling-trials-continue.html

1st Jack checks the workman ship of my latest duckling , the stitches pass the inspection always attention to detail, just like his father 100%.   

This one should float and be completely clean at the same time, seeing it's made of recycled shower puff.

And hes now ready to release the duckling, set it free.

In the duck pic below the duckling appears to be winking, 

signaling it's readiness to leave the family pack.

A beautiful little beach the sand is white the sea is 

pretty blue and the duck is set down.  

At this point I have to pick up the baby and run, 

whist taking the photos! of course.  

Now that's what I call multi tasking.  

The tide had turned, so wet shoes for me.

And the waves washed in.

The duck tipped.

And washed back in again, chicken.........

The duck chuck

Nothing else for it the duck got chucked, chucked not ducked;-)
kind Gem Lou assisted me here.

Oh well! you cant win them all as they say.

Job done , that left time for the arcades, especially the grabber..........

And look what the arcade had to offer, yet more flipping ducks.

I don't see spots, I see ducks!.(better than dead,people so I wont complain)

while I'm away

Granola and yogurt have been made,

there's a pear cake in the fridge,

tomatoes and pears have been dehydrated,

the bathrooms are all cleaned

and bed sheets are changed,

the garden has been picked,

the henhouse cleaned,

and the freezer is full

for my family left behind.

I'm headed to Georgia and Tennessee

to spend time with my sisters, aunts, cousins,

 and mother ~ sure to be much fun!

  Although I'm gone, I'll be guest posting over at

Victoriana Quilt Designs today,

where you'll find the pattern for the dishcloth

pictured above.

Just click on the button below

to pop on over.

Have a great week!!

~ Deb

For the love of crochet

1st thing, this is unforgivably not my home made bread;-) but an example.

don't get me wrong I can bake bread, but I seem to only have to Make.......

Not make and bake like the perfect home maker.  (I try)

Above risen perfect example of bread.

Below not risen and flat (no love)

I'm comparing crochet to bread making. (why because I have crochet issues)


Lately I think it's all gone "Pete Tong" wrong with my tension.
I don't make Sample squares or swatches (free-form) as I don't want to blow my own trumpet but" I'm usually pretty good at what I do."

But

Big butt(mine;-)
 
Lately, the last few projects, my blanket tension is simply embarrassing. 
A frog has happened(unheard of ,I just change what it is I'm making).  but I couldn't save this piece.
 Another blanket.
And now a scarf has emerged instead of a blanket!(ref pic below)

Three reasons, to big, using to much yarn and the third it banana'D, aka completely curved....
 
Why ? because of my angry tension!

I think I have to compare the likeness (alchemy almost) to cooking.

Like bread making,  it takes basic ingredients the world over.  As does knitting and crochet, ball of yarn, hooks or needles, patience and love its works.

I once took a cookery class.(really) With a very elegant French lady.

And her words" if you don't love it it won't work."

Needing with love
Want it to work.
The bread rose beautify, she inspired me. 
(I think I have lost my way, had a blimp of a crochet month)
I need to find my love;-)

Below are some of my one off things that I have added to Etsy

Boho waist coat made with a vintage doily

and below, "Grease lightening "halter neck.

When do you know that you love your dog to much?

ill tell you when!.  When you commission some one to paint his portrait.

This doesn't sound to mad;-) ,but when you consider I have two children either of which I don't feel the need to put there lovely faces onto a canvas.

But Rasmus is a different story. 

This is the photo I think that Ill be using.
watch this space

Crochet Model

Crochet Models