Baby Blanket, meet Bunny

Finally finished! I started this blanket back in August on our honeymoon and finished it just in time for Mary's due date. I'm thrilled with how it came out. It's fun, colorful, and mom friendly: it's already been through the washer and drier with no ill effect. I used this yarn, made 36 squares instead of the 80 suggested for the full size version, and single crocheted the border instead of knitting it.
I made Mr. Bunny too- in 1993! He was a middle school home ec project. Poor guy doesn't get out much, so I thought he deserved a little blog face time.

Amid piles of gift wrap

My furious whirlwind of crafting and days of joyous giving are past. I gifted nineteen homemade presents this year, and just made the Christmas deadline on a few of them, but it was a fun and rewarding race to the finish. Let's see photos of the last few gifts before I wrapped them up and sent them off their new owners.

A knitted bamboo kimono
for baby on the way

Mother of pearl and fossilized coral necklace
for my grandmother

Sugar body scrub with vintage ice cream spoons
for many lovely ladies

Freshwater pearl and swarovski crystal necklace
for the bride to be

Knitted cotton ballband dishcloths
for Mom

Shell and silver necklace
for Mom to look great while using those dishcloths

And one more that didn't get a photo shoot before gift wrap-

The Crumpet beret, modeled by my beautiful aunt, Paula

Hope you all enjoyed the holidays, and here's to a wonderful and inspiring new year!

Sharing the warmth

A neckwarmer I crocheted to keep me warm on Halloween. The button I made as well, it's polymer clay.

Handmade holiday present #3, the Marsan Watchcap. The yarn I used is Miski by Mirasol, it's 100% baby llama and wonderfully soft and warm but remarkably lightweight.

Handmade Holiday

I'm trying to make the majority of the presents I give this Christmas. Here are some pictures of my progress so far.

The bag is Kwik Sew pattern #3643, and the neck warmer pattern is by Kim at Yarn Abuse. I've also got a Marsan Watchcap on my needles. Many thanks to Kristin over at Craft Leftovers for the inspiration of her Hattery Round Up. Stay tuned for completed hat pictures!

Boyie stuff

Why does is girlie a word, but not boyie?


Here's a girlie thing, my half finished (the back half) Tank Girl from Stitch and Bitch. I aim to get it done in time for below zero temperatures! Luckily the recipient is from Brazil, so she could always fly home to find weather she could wear it in.




Here's some boyie stuff....


A knitted English driving cap.
It came out too big for me, but it fits the BF fine, so hopefully Arizona boy has a big head.







It knitted up pretty quick, definitely a good gift for a certain uncle come the holidays. Only, I'll alter from the pattern to make it a bit smaller.

For the rest of the SO swap I made a freezer paper stencilled t-shirt, polymer clay covered pencils, and developed a new skill - bookmaking! I made a coptic bound notebook using directions in The Crafter Culture Handbook. It came out pretty cool, and of course I forgot to take a picture!

Ooh, how cozy

cell cozy, originally uploaded by arcencielgal.

Now I can find my phone in the depths of my bag before the call goes to voicemail. I used Cricket's Technicolor Techno-cozy pattern from Stitch 'N Bitch. The button is decorative, the flap is closed with velcro for quick and easy access.

Short row loveliness

completed zig zag, originally uploaded by arcencielgal.

I flew through this project, it was so much fun.

Next my new cell phone definately needs a cozy. Off to find inspiration...