Raise Your Hand if You Love Bust

Ahhh, Bust. I love, love, love you. You add joy to my heart and it is all the more pleasurable to receive a glossy copy of you in the mail when your pages contain such crafting treasures as "pillow talk"-an embroidery project (p. 023). I have never embroidered in my life, but I thought I would give it a shot as your photo made the project so damn appealing. I had to stop myself from eating the page (I'll admit-I'm oral). So I went to my nearest Value Village Thrift Department Strore and miracle of miracles I located all of the materials I would need to complete the project. The fabric was a set of brand new Ikea curtains, the pillows (I suspect were also new) were feather, and the embroidery floss abundant and 100% wool. Oh, Happy Day!!! What a score! I stitched up the cases on my borrowed sewing machine and embroidered with the aid of my grandmother's embroidery hoop-and voila! new throw pillows for my sofa were born. I was so inspired to keep going I made a second pillow (the one with the blue birdies-also a Japanese inspired design). Thanks so much Bust for being so crafty! Love Me

For a look at this fab mag check it out at www.bust.com

Knitting My Way Out of Depression

Depression?

Is this a good way to start off a blog? Well, may as well be honest from the start. I am depressed. Clinically, diagnosably, unquestionably depressed. How long? Well, all my life it seems. Sometimes I have fallen into a deep, dark pit of sadness and hopelessness and other times it has only been a shallow ditch-if you will-of feeling poopy, sluggish and as though nobody liked me and certainly struggled to like myself. Depression was tough to accept, and hard to understand-never mind trying to get others to understand.

Anywho, I have been on sick leave for a total of three months now and what do you think the Queen of Crafting did? Well, she crafted of course! I knit sweaters, felted bowls, crocheted hats, embroidered pillows, beaded jewellery, sewed curtains, painted pictures, cut paper and spent countless hours in search of the perfect supplies.

Creating makes me happy, satisfied, accomplished. I love, love, love to make things. I have to tell you, if you suffer from depression, or illness (physical or mental) I highly suggest taking up a new crafting hobby. My twelve year old son told me "there are no mistakes in art". And I will tell you the same. Just try it and you'll see-I promise.

Stitch and (Soccer) Pitch leads to Knitting Kids

I am a soccer mom. My son plays on a rep team and is trying out for a district team (tryouts have lasted 1 year), so needless to say I am a very busy woman. Of course being a knitter and a soccer mom leads to very opportune times to get stitchin'. Usually practices last 2 hours, so there I am with one of my 10 projects I have on the go.

It seems that the knitting bug has bitten some of the siblings of soccer players. I am now teaching a nine year old girl and a seven year old boy how to knit. The young man called me at home yesterday to say "Remember you told me you would teach me how to knit? Well, I am going on vacation in a couple of days so can you show me tomorrow?" How exciting! I am teaching the next generation of knitters!

For a soccer inspired knitting pattern take a look at:

http://needle-exchange.ca/2006/06/11/world-cup-soccer-ball-knitting-pattern/

Mad Hatter

Hey, I'm back for another bloggetyboo. I have to admit, I kind of like bragging about my projects. Yeah, I know I'm good. You wish you were me. So check it out. I'm hattin' like crazee. I picked up a bunch of chunky cotton at my LYS sale bin and started crocheting these babies. My goal is to have a shop on Etsy. Ya know, Etsy is the ebay for handmade junkies. I am building up my stock. It's difficult not to wear my creations, I want to keep everything-but I have to find some way of supporting my habit. Why am I never satisfied? Why is my thirst never quenched? I am feenin' for more! Should I sew that curtain for my bathroom window? Yeah, I think so. It's almost midnight but what the hell. The only side effects are tired hands, sleeping legs and a seriously sore ass.

Buy Handmade my friends at http://www.etsy.com/