Crochet Cuff in Broomstick Stitch

Back when I made this cowl, I also made a cuff as a gift for another friend. And yes, I'm just now getting to posting it. I'm way behind on posting things. I'm crossing my fingers so hard that I'm getting muscle cramps that I will get my new camera this month, and then I will probably run around my house looking for new subjects, so that will probably get a lot of the projects that need to be photographed, photographed, and up the likelihood of them ending up here for your viewing pleasure. But, I'm attempting to go to school full-time this semester, so who knows. My goal is to post twice a week though. I give you permission to start nagging me if I don't.

Anyway, here's the cuff. I seriously need to make one for me, because it turned out darling! I used this pattern found on Raverly and used this video to figure out how to do the stitch.

I tend to crochet with a very tight tension, so I ended up using a paint stirrer stick to wrap my yarn around instead of a knitting needle, but part of that was the weight of yarn I used (worsted). It worked up pretty quickly, particularly with this size.

Crud. Now I want to crochet instead of doing my assignments. Thanks, Internet, you big ole distraction.

I've started a new blog: Come follow my crafting adventures on my new blog. Find me at: creativeirony.com.

Obessive Much? A Whole Slew of Bracelets

So, I already showed you the bracelet I made as a giveaway (it's closed, sorry) and the two I made using smocking, but there are more.

Yeah, because I like variety, so I want a lot of different options when I go to wear something, and because when I get on an idea and I want to explore that idea. And then beat it to death. And then try to resurrect it and then sail around the world with it and kiss it shyly and marry it, and I think I'm starting (starting?) to mix my metaphors.

Anyway, most of these were done using the soda can tutorial. I ended up using the basic instructions, but then sewing the base fabric on and then hot gluing the embellishments on top of the base fabric. Very, very carefully so as little hot glue would show as possible.

And this isn't counting the three I made my sister for her birthday and the two I made for my friend Heidi and neglected to photograph. And. . . I don't think I'm done.

On the left is the front and on the right is the button closure.

I've started a new blog: Come follow my crafting adventures on my new blog. Find me at: creativeirony.com.

Smocked Soda Can Bracelets

Picture this.

Woman sitting a craft room, creating like mad. There are bits of fabric flying. Random buttons may be flung as projectiles at any moment. Elastic snapping. Sewing machine whirling. Faint whiff of hot glue in the air.

Woman muttering to herself. She probably hasn’t brushed her teeth yet. Hair possibly, but if so, it has not been attended to in some hours.

Two children are playing on the computer next to her. They may or may not have earned the computer time like they are supposed to have done.

Bits of elastic and trim litter the carpet. There are boxes piled around. The piano bench has been dragged in from the front room, and sitting on it is a smallish ironing board (thrifted) and an iron (not thrifted) and a pair of scissors and various other bits and pieces.

And the mad woman sits up from her chair, and exclaims, “I’ve got it!” with a sort of frantic, creative screech. The kids don’t notice. Too common of an occurrence to warrant much concern. . .

I’d been making soda can bracelets all day per this brilliant tutorial with a few modifications (since when can I ever leave anything alone?), and I suddenly envisioned a perfect marriage of her idea and my smocking tutorial. I have this impulse to start inserting wedding and light bulb metaphors, even Big Bang ones occurred to me, but I’ll just say that I really, really, really loved this idea.

It’s perfect if you’ve been wanted to try smocking but don’t want to give up hours of your time.


The red one I used a large swiss dot as marks. It didn’t take me long at all to work up.

The blue one I marked up with a quilting ruler. I stitched it while watching a movie with David. It was his turn to pick and he picked Pan’s Labyrinth which was a deeply moving, beautiful, very disturbing and brutal movie. It’s also in Spanish with subtitles. Yeah, not so good for the stitching. I still managed to miss very little of the dialogue and finish up the beaded smocking. Super easy. I just added a bead to the last step.

I've got about 5 more to show you, but I couldn't wait to show you these two smocked cuffs!

Linking Up Here:

I've started a new blog: Come follow my crafting adventures on my new blog. Find me at: creativeirony.com.

Share-A-Craft Link Party!

I've been toying with the idea for a while of hosting a link party. I think I'm finally going to try it. I absolutely love the idea of seeing some of your projects and some of your blogs. I promise I will do my best to comment on all the projects linked. And, of course, I'll be picking my faves to be featured next week.

Tell your friends. It's going to be fun! I'm grinning from behind my keyboard.

And of course, I'm going to continue sharing my own crafts. So, on to that. He he.

I realized I've made a whole drawer full of jewelry I never shared on the blog. I picked out my favorite pieces, you know, the ones I actually wear, and I'm going to start sharing them every so often.

I love this double strand necklace. When I first started making jewelry, I didn't have many of the same bead, so I had a ton of necklaces that were tons of different beads. I soon found out I never wore them. I prefer the simple repeating ones like this. Whenever I wear purple, I reach for that one.

I think that might be my favorite bracelet ever. I've worn it dozens of times since making it. I believe I was inspired (ok, ok, you got me, I downright copied it) by one in Bead Trends. The long silver parts are woven seed beads that are then wrapped into tubes. It was tough to get the right length, since I'm picky about bracelet length and it took me hours to weave those beads with a needle. I adore it. It goes with absolutely everything.

Link party rules:
Link to the actual post, and not your blog main page.
Comment on one other link.
Please, link us to something you made, not something you are selling or an unrelated post on another topic.

Yep, that's it.

Can't wait to see!

I've started a new blog: Come follow my crafting adventures on my new blog. Find me at: creativeirony.com.

Aubrey's Trademark Bracelets

Aubrey has one accessory she can't leave home without: her bracelets. She loves these and holds out her arm when I ask her to put one on. She calls them "pretty" and giggles when she gets a new one. She seriously loves them. I love making them for her too. As soon as she gets a new outfit, I'm making her a bracelet to go with it. They are such fun and quick projects, and totally adorable. She gets compliments on them all the time.

Here are a few:

I've started a new blog: Come follow my crafting adventures on my new blog. Find me at: creativeirony.com.

Some more jewelry

I've been so busy lately. Things have just been crazy around here. However, I have had the chance to make a few more jewelry pieces, as that is what I like to do while David and I watch movies occasionally at night to unwind. And we end up staying up way too late too. :P

I've also made five or six bracelets for Aubrey, all of which are too big. She has such tiny wrists and small hands that if you are off by just one bead, it's too big and falls off--I have one that is too small. I guess I'm stockpiling for when she grows a little bit. Speaking of her, she is getting so big and cute and is starting to sit on her own, which I'm looking forward to. Then maybe she will get some hair on the back of her head at last.

I've started a new blog: Come follow my crafting adventures on my new blog. Find me at: creativeirony.com.

Jewelry Making Time!

Ok, I am loving this new hobby. I'm going to have to really use some self control to get my scrapbooking assignments done. Yikes.

Anyway, I've learned tons in the past few days and here are a few of the pieces I've made. I'm going to need a new storage system for my jewelry soon. :)

I've started a new blog: Come follow my crafting adventures on my new blog. Find me at: creativeirony.com.