Showing posts with label crochet pattern. Show all posts
Showing posts with label crochet pattern. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

B movies, crochet, paperdoll basics and Tummy Mint tea

'allo!
(British, informal, 'hello')

I'm feeling like a  home-body today.
Some days are just like that.  Good days to curl up with a book,
or do some beading while listening to music.
I'll play a little piano (no, my piano is full size!!!).
Tanner will get lots of pets, and we may watch a movie.
I have another couple of loads of laundry to do today, so that can fit in with the other stuff. I have hamburger cooked and a load of fresh veggies to make into dinner.  Who knows? I may even try to pull a few weeds (although Michael has scolded me and said I was NOT to do any weeding - sweet man).

c.1918



I have 'promised' my self to finish learning how to crochet in September.
I have wonderful instruction books, easy patterns
and a sister-in-law that lives with me, who crochets beautiful things.
I have yarn.
Lots of yarn.
I'll let you know how it goes.


embroidery pattern by turkeyfeathers
 Don't forget to check out her very nice blog.

Think I'll make a comforting cup of tea.
We toured Celestial Seasonings plant in Boulder, CO, USA.
very nice!
We found one of our faves - Tummy Mint.
It is just a wonderful mint tea that is very calming.
We haven't been able to find it in the stores for like 3 years,
so we bought a case! That's just 6 boxes, but it sounds impressive!

photo by fitnessista.com

c.1918

Here is a pattern for a very simple apron, by turkeyfeathers.
This could easily be done in an afternoon.
Change the fabrics, and you can make a variety for most occasions!

Remember, right click on the image and it should come up larger!


DOW Jamaica, Barbie 1992

I love her bright apron!

Here is a book I have been meaning to purchase for awhile.
I have gobs of fabric, and the one yard wonder sounds just perfect!

you can find this book easily on amazon

You know, I may have to make some more Collage Art Dolls,
or work on my paperdoll prototype.
Making your own paper doll clothes is very fun and very satisfying!
Here is a good basic doll you can use to get you started:

She is from 'Sugarland Sally'.

Here is a more adult version of a basic paperdoll:

She is from 'Sue, the Airline Hostess'; a British paper doll I believe.

This one is for those glamorous movie star-type paperdolls!
from a vintage 'Connie Francis' set of paper dolls

Oh do, please, send me photos of your paper doll clothes!
I wouldn't complain if you sent me the actual clothes either!
You can always send things to me here:

I was watching a horrible vintage science fiction movie last night.

Voyage to the Prehistoric Planet
1965, Color, with Basil Rathbone

The dialogue was trivial,
and spoken like someone was not placing the cue cards up fast enough!

The color went in and out. Sometimes the guy had a red face, or the gal had a blue face, or all the guys in the space ship were blueish black and white,
except for a natural color stripe at the top!
Ah, I do love those cheesy sci fi vintage movies though!


It was too bad that Basil Rathbone only had maybe a dozen words to say in the entire movie, with maybe 3 minutes total screen time.


Any way, while I was watching there was plenty of time to do something else,
so I cut out magazine pictures to make Collage Art Dolls,
and snipped a few arms and hands that will work nicely while I was at it.

I was enjoying the papercutting, so I decided to watch the follow up movie:

Voyage to the Planet of Prehistoric Women
1968, color with Mamie Van Doren

Oh my goodness.
I can't believe they got funding to do this.
I can't believe they wasted cameras and film to make this.
wow.



While I was going to do a brief review, I found this one by "Kestifer".


He puts things so well, I have just copied them for you.
Check out his blog, he has some great humourous blogs on B movies!

 'A lot of old B Movies I’ve been watching certainly deserve a fair amount of ribbing for bad effects, acting or storytelling, but most of the time it’s of a good natured sort. I don’t usually “hate them” hate them, because with the best cheesy B Movies, there’s at least one or two elements of quality and/or effort involved.

The next film flat out pissed me off. So much so that I almost decided to throw in the towel and quit this entire reviewing project. It was THAT BAD. So instead of doing that, I figured I could try and briefly explain why 1968’s Voyage to the Planet of Prehistoric Women almost did me in.

Story
First, some context. The bulk of the footage is from a 1962 Soviet film called Planeta Bur which features a group of cosmonauts and their robot landing on Venus and fending off various monsters as they explore it. It was dubbed with some new footage of Basil Rathbone dropped in to make 1965’s Voyage to the Prehistoric Planet, and then the new footage was replaced with newer footage of Mamie Van Doren as Venusian leader Moana and a group of bored looking clamshell clad women standing around on a rocky shoreline and all new dubbing.

So basically, this movie is thrice recycled. Which is a bad sign. The plot jammed together from this awful collision is something about American astronauts (with suspiciously red stars on their rockets) trying to rescue a downed exploratory rocket on Venus and as they wander around, one of them thinks he hears a woman singing and frequently gets distracted. The search party eventually shoots down the Venusian women’s pterodactyl god Terah (I wish I was making that up) and after some surprisingly boring gyrating, the women conjure up several natural disasters for the astronauts.

It’s godawful.'
Definitely time to look at something prettier:


Wild Rose Pot holder to crochet

Size: About 9” diameter
Materials: Worsted Weight Cotton Yarn – 1 ½ oz, 72 yds, White (W); ½ oz Pink (P); small amounts Green (G)
Crochet Hook: Size I-9 (5.5 mm) or size needed to obtain gauge.
Gauge: With 2 strands of yarn, Rnd 1 = about 2”
Special Stitches: V-stitch (v-st): (dc, ch 1, dc) in indicated st.
Popcorn (pc): 5 dc in indicated sp, remove hook from lp of last dc, insert hook into top of 1st dc, pick up lp from 4th dc, draw lp through top of 1st dc.
NOTE: Use 2 strands of yarn throughout
Directions:
Rnd 1: With 2 strands W, ch 4, 14 dc in 4th ch from hook; join with sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch-3. (15 dc)
Rnd 2: Ch 3, dc in same sp as joining, 2 dc in each dc around; join. (30 dc)  Finish off W.
Rnd 3: Join 2 strands G with sl st in any dc, ch 4, dc in same sp as joining, skip next dc, (v-st in next dc, skip next dc) around; join. (15 v-sts) Finish off G.
Rnd 4: Join 2 strands P with sl st in any ch-1sp, ch 3 (counts as first dc), 4 dc in same sp, remove hook from lp of last dc, insert hook into top of 1st dc, pick up lp from 4th dc, draw lp through top of 1st dc, ch 3, (pc, ch 3) in each ch-1 sp around; join with sl st to top of 1st pc. (15 pcs) Finish off P.
Rnd 5: Join 2 strands W with sl st in any ch-3 sp, ch 3, 3 dc in same sp, 4 dc in each ch-3 sp around; join. (60 dc)
Rnd 6: (Ch 4, skip next dc, sl st in next dc) around.  (30 ch-4 lps)  Finish off and weave in all ends.

Here is a charming vintage paperdoll from Berlin, West Germany
1940 - 1955


I'm thinkin' that cup of tea is sounding better and better.



Time to start that new book too.
I just finished Michael Jeck's "The Bishop Must Die".
I am out of Knight Templar books now, so I will need to go to the second hand store, Barnes N Noble, and Amazon to see what I can find.

Ta-ta!
inkspired



Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Pansy Dreams

A cheerful hello to you!
pansies photo


Pansies? You praise the ones that grow today
Here in the garden; had you seen the place
When Sutherland was living! Here they grew,
From blue to deeper blue, in midst of each
A golden dazzle like a glimmering star,
Each broader, bigger than a silver crown;
While here the weaver sat, his labor done,
Watching his azure pets and rearing them,
Until they seem'd to know his step and touch,
And stir beneath his smile like living things:
The very sunshine loved them, and would lie
 Here happy, coming early, lingering late,
Because they were so fair.”
- Robert Williams Buchanan


greeting card from cnegeleart.com

Pansies have always been a favorite of mine for the garden. I planted some the first year we moved into our new house. They still amaze me by returning each year - not as many, not as vivid, but they are still smiling! I even have pansies through most of the winter - and we live in the Rocky Mountains, so they get snowed on, and the wind blows fiercely, and yet there they are! I have been experimenting with different colors - there are so many! My absolute fav will always be the purples I think, but some of the others are a wonderful accent.
c.1922 from Indiana Music libraries

A pretty crochet pansy pattern for you:
Placemats and napkin rings with pansy details. Crochet the whole set in Bernat Handicrafter Cotton.
Here is the pdf file:
http://www.bernat.com/data/pattern/pdf/Bernat_HandicrafterCotton530102_08_cr_placematrings.en_US.pdf


“I pray, what flowers are these?
The pansy this,
O, that's for lover's thoughts.”
        - George Chapman
Here is a charming paper doll drawn to look like a vintage bisque doll.
I love all her flower outfits, and of course, the pansy flower costume!


Vagrant Pansies
“They are all in the lily-bed, cuddled close together—
Purple, Yellow-cap, and little Baby-blue;
How they ever got there you must ask the April weather,
The morning and the evening winds, the sunshine and the dew.”
- Ellen Mackay Hutchinson Cortissoz

Years ago, when we were selling our first house and things were not going well,
a neighbor gave me a flat of johnny-jump-ups from the local market. It was the end of the day, and they were pretty pitiful. The flower seller was going to throw them away, as they weren't good enough to sell anymore. My neighbor thought of me (!) and brought them home for free.

That summer I worked out many a frustration by lovingly planting each of those johnny-jump-ups. I would be out there, in the sun (good for improving your mood, among other good things), snipping a little deadhead off, or watering, or just fussing. Those flowers BLOOMED!! They loved the attention and I needed their little smiles. I have never forgotten the kindness of that long ago neighbor.

Here is a pressed pansy flower bookmark, by desertdangles, etsy:

This is a vintage German color clip with an angel and pansies:
“The beauteous pansies rise
 In purple, gold, and blue,
With tints of rainbow hue
Mocking the sunset skies.”
- Thomas John Ouseley, from The Angel of the Flowers

I hope you have enjoyed our little stroll through the pansy garden.
I'm sure that we will have more pansy thoughts later!

inkspired
http://www.inkspired.etsy.com/
http://www.inkspiredmusings.blogspot.com/
dominoes@myinkspired.com
http://www.myinkspired.com/

Friday, April 1, 2011

Having a daffodil dazy day!

Merry April Fool's Day!
Today I am in a Daffodil Daze.
My first daffodils have bloomed, and they make everything look soooo cheerful!
I also have one giant grape hiacynth. No more, never has been. I have no idea where this lovely came from but I sure do like it!


“If you've never been thrilled
to the very edges of your soul
by a flower in spring bloom,
maybe your soul has never
been in bloom.”
~Terri Guillemets

Daffodil crochet afghan:

MaggiesCrochet.com
1-888-454-2101
from 40 Free Patterns

I apologize that the picture is not better. It's what came with it.

38. Daffodil Afghan # 2
Size: 46” x 66”
Materials: Worsted Weight Yarn; Lt Yellow (Y) 24 oz, Gold (G) 22 oz, and White (W) 16 oz
Gauge: Square Motif = 4 ¾”
Crochet Hook: I-9 (5.5 mm) or size needed to obtain gauge.
Diamond Motif: (Make 32)
Rnd 1 (right side): With W, ch 1 (center ch), ch 4, (dc, ch 1) 7 times in center ch; join with sl st in 3rd ch of beg ch-4.  (8 dc)
DO NOT TURN EACH RND.
Rnd 2: Sl st in next ch-1 sp, ch 4, * (dc, ch 1, dc, ch 3, dc, ch 1, dc) in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, (dc, ch 1, tr, ch 3, tr, ch 1, dc) in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, dc in next ch-1 sp, rep from * around; join with sl st in 3rd ch of beg ch-4.  (20 sts)  Finish off.
Rnd 3: With Right Side Facing, join G in any ch-3 sp between 2 tr, ch 3,  (dc, tr, ch 2, tr, 2 dc) in same sp as joining, *2 dc in each of next 4 ch-1 sps, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next ch-3 sp, 2 dc in each of next 4 ch-1 sps, (2 dc, tr, ch 2, tr, 2 dc) in next ch-3 sp, rep from * around; join with sl st in 3rd ch of beg ch-3.  (54 sts)  Finish off.
Flower Motif: (Make 45)
With Y, ch 12, sl st in first ch to form ring.
First Petal: 
Row 1: Ch 2, hdc in same st as joining, 2 hdc in next st. (4 hdc) Ch 2, turn eaCH row.
Row 2: Increasing at beg and end of row hdc across. (6 hdc)
Row 3: Rep Row 2.  (8 hdc)
Row 4: Decreasing at beg and end of row, hdc across.  (6 hdc)
Row 5: Rep Row 4.  (4 hdc)
Row 6: Rep Row 4.  (2 hdc)  Ch 1, turn.
Sl st along side of petal back to starting ch.  Sl st in same ch as last of Row 1 of Petal.
Next Petals:
Row 1: Sl st in next ch of starting ch, ch 2, hdc in same ch, 2 hdc in next ch.  Ch 2, turn eaCH row.
Rep Rows 2-6 of first petal.
When 6th petal is complete, work the following rnd:
Rnd 1: Sl st along side of rows 6 and 5 of petal, * ch 3, sl st in side of 5th row of next petal, working behind petal, ch 4, sl st opposite end of row 5, rep from * around, ch 4, sl st in same sp as joining.  Finish off.
Flower Center:
With Right Side Facing, join Y in any unused lp of beg ch-12. 
Rnd 1: Working in unused lps of beg ch-12, ch 2, (2 hdc in next ch, hdc in next ch) around; join with sl st in 2nd ch of beg ch-2. 
(18 hdc)  Ch 2, do not turn. 
Rnd 2: Ch 2, hdc in each st around.  Join.  (18 hdc)  Finish off Y.
Rnd 3: With Right Side Facing, join G in any st, ch 1, sc in same st, * (sc, ch 3, sc) in next st, sc in next st, rep from * around; join with sl st in first sc.  (27 sc) Finish off leaving long end.
Next Rnds:
Rnd 2: Join W in any ch-4 sp of Flower Rnd 1, ch 4, dc in same sp, * ch 1, (dc, ch 1, dc, ch 2, dc, ch 1, dc) in next ch-3 sp, (ch 1, dc) twice in next ch-4 sp, rep from * around; join with sl st in 3rd ch of beg ch-4.
Rnd 3: Sl st in next ch-1 sp, ch 4, (dc in next ch-1 sp ch-1) twice, * (dc, ch 3, dc) in next ch-2 sp, (ch-1, dc in next ch-1 sp) 5 times,
ch 1, rep from * around; join with sl st in 3rd ch of beg ch-4.  (42 dc)  Finish off W.
Rnd 4: With Right Side Facing, join G in any ch-3 sp, ch 3, (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in same sp, * dc in next ch-1 sp, 2 dc in each of next
4  ch-1 sp, dc in next ch-1 sp, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next ch-3 sp, rep from * around; join with sl st in 3rd ch of beg ch-3. (84 dc)
Finish off G.  Weave in ends except for long one.  Use long end to tack cup of flower flat as shown in photo.
Finishing:
Sew 5 Flower Motifs Across and 9 Flower Motifs Down.  Fill the spaces in between by sewing in the Diamond Motifs.

shaped soaps from www.SatinAndBirch.etsy.com

here's a simple daffodil for you to color: 

A simple card technique:
These cards are a form of dimensional card making. It involves having several copies of the same picture. You can make these on a copy machine, just watch that the ink doesn't run.

1. In my Daffodil Daze, I would choose the daffodil ones! You start with the first one, the whole flower.
2. Then you cut the second one, with only the leaves and bottom layer of flower. Glue on top of the first.
3. Third, you cut out only the center of the daffodil, and glue in place.
These especially pop if you use double sided sticky foam dots - you can find these in most hobby/craft stores now. Definitely in a rubber stamping store if you are fortunate to have one in your area.
.....You can also make it look more realistic by slightly curving the top 2 layers over a spoon or wooden dowel before glueing in place.
4. Optional: you can brush a clear coat of acrylic sealer like JudiKins Diamond Glaze (my favorite) or Ranger has one that is also good, over the flower.

c.1912

A special gift from my sister. Those really are daffodils in her garland!


Here is another darling Joan Walsh Anglund paper doll for Spring and Easter:
yes, there is a daffodil in her bonnet!

"Everything is blooming most recklessly;
if it were voices instead of colors,
there would be an unbelievable
shrieking into the heart of the night."
 

-   Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters of Rainer Maria Rilke  

Go look for some blooms today! Make it a search and find with the kids when you take a walk! Practice addition with them while you are doing it!
inkspired