The coming of Día de los Muertos, home baking and more crafty stuff

Day of the Dead (Spanish: Día de Muertos) is a Mexican holiday celebrated throughout Mexico and around the world in other cultures. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. It is particularly celebrated in Mexico, where the day is a bank holiday. The celebration takes place on November 1 and 2, in connection with the Catholic holidays of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day. Source wikipedia.

And so this is a sugar skull I made - the reason I originally made it was because I became involved in a 'day of the dead' themed swap....but when you delve into the traditions and reasons for the celebrations it becomes quite an intriguing and appropriate way to acknowledge and remember our dead :)

 

 Home baking for my family - nothing too fancy but ripe bananas means banana custard pie and banana puff cookies which were originally based on the sweetened condensed milk cookies but I instead omitted the cup of sugar and blended 2 ripe bananas with only 100g of butter.

This is a yarn bombing piece - I tied them around a sign post in my area. It's been so dry and hot lately that everything just looks crispy....the landscape needed a boost LOL

This one is a special piece - I decided this will be our baby No 7's first blanket.....wrapping a newborn in a rainbow is just so perfect I think......................
 

And just for a giggle here is my Ole King George's skeleton LOL .......he comes complete with his royal cape and staff and of course all his aquired jewels (lucky he wasn't tomb robbed *giggle*)
I made him up as I went so it was a lot of creating fun - he is going up for sale in a darkness showcase on facebook, 31st Oct!

Quick stick - crochet

Set of coasters for a swap....

A Mapleton (pattern on ravelry) as a RAOK....

My first ever knitted blanket.....

Alot of firsts went into this blanket - My first ever knitted blanket and it was also my first knit since I had health issues (my right arm wasn't functioning well enough to knit) and it's a first 'bassinet sized' blanket for me too - a joy to knit it took me a week which is amazing because I always thought knitting a blanket would take so much longer!
I'd love to share the pattern with you but it's still in test knitting stage at the moment so as soon as it is released I'll pop up a link for you!!!!!
Now if only we find out that baby number 7 is a girl ......... 

Star Wars Amigurumi!

Finally finished the bunch of Star Wars figures! I'm still not a Star Wars fan LOL but they did turn out pretty good and if you want to make any of your own the patterns by http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/lucyravenscar-at-etsy are excellent and well written!!!!!

Crochet stuff!

Cos I've been having a hard time knitting with my wonky hands lately so crochet has been my crafty option :)

Inspiration...............

Inspiration is easy to come by for me - I have crafty bits and pieces everywhere in my house but lately I haven't had the commitment behind it.......So many ideas for projects, half finished knits, just started knits, the desire to crochet a blanket before it gets too warm, I go to bed thinking and planning these ideas but just haven't had the 'starting (or continuing) commitment needed lately - it's left my crafty mind in disarray.
Where is the mojo needed to move my hands I wonder?
I have been working on custom orders - these are easy, they don't require anything except someone elses desire for an item and a deadline is always great motivation for me. At the moment my list is filled with crocheted items.....Star Wars amigurumi, dinosaurs.......

Free knit pattern - 3 way rib kindle cozy

I had a very special 50g ball of yarn and decided a kindle cozy was something I would use all the time and hence be able to enjoy the yarn....I did remember to write my pattern up as I went for once so here it is :)

3 way rib kindle cozy!

3mm, 30cm circular needle or DPN's
Worsted yarn - I used 'Nerd girl yarns' Luscious....worsted merino silk
stitch marker

Cast on 64 and join in the round

K2 P2 rib for 2 inches

Knit 5 rounds

K2, P1 around til last two sts, P2tog
Repeat K2 P1 rib for a total of 2 inches

K 5 rounds

K1 P1 around til last two stitches, P2tog.
Rep K1 P1 rib for 1 inch.

Next we will be finishing with a 3 needle bind off.
transfer half your sts to another needle and then complete the 3 needle bind off.
Turn inside out then weave in ends :)

Notes:
The cozy can easily be made longer by adding extra rounds to each set of ribbing.
You can also leave it right side out if you prefer the knit look with the rib rather than the purl bumps.
The pattern can also be easily adapted to knitting flat if you prefer and sewing up a few seams.

Another option would be to add an eyelet round so you can thread through a cord at the opening: 
K2tog, YO, P2 around. Next round continue as K2 P2.
KristieM

Blog post #365

Chinatown hat in fingering.....

New shop item!!!

Fresh produce from our garden

Test knit of fjaril

A new top for my littlest princess

A matching set!

Slouchy hat and boot toppers.....snuggly snuggles!

And hang on now....

Didn't think I didn't have any crafting to show did you?  LOL

Crocheted bookmark.

A mat for my table.

A grey birdy.

A newborn pressie.