Tree Hat Gnomes, an Update

Retro artificial tree hat gnomes

It's been a minute. Again. But that doesn't mean I haven't been making stuff. Of course. I shared my first tree hat gnome here. But they are so cute, and a friend of mine told me I needed to make a tinsel tree. OF COURSE I DID!! But, here's the thing. I couldn't find yarn locally that read "tinsel" to me. I did find something that was almost as good, a white yarn that would work for one of those white artificial trees. You know (I hope) like the ones from the 60's and 70's that were a thing about the time the tinsel trees were a thing. So yes, that tree hat gnome happened, too. First even. 

White artificial tree hat gnome

So, there were some changes I made to this pattern, of course. First the "fuzzy" yarn is the kind they sell to make kitchen scrubbies with. It has a lot of fibers to it, that are not really soft. I used it, combined with the cotton yarn, to make this gnome's beard, but when it came to the tree, I did an extra row of crochet on the crochet strip that goes around and around the hat to make the tree. I also crocheted some to the brim of the hat. I really like the effect that has. I also extended the length of the strip so that the tree "branches" would be fuller. I have had issues with that on some of the gnomes, making the tree strip cover the hat to my satisfaction. I also wrapped the hat and then kind of spaced it the way I wanted before I sewed it on. Why didn't I do that before? 

I ended up finding some metallic yarn online, and ordered a variety to see which one I liked best, and would fit with the cotton yarn and the tree hat project. My plan was to make tan hands and nose, and a dark green shirt with the tinsel tree gnome... So, I better show you how he turned out...

Tinsel tree hat gnome

Did you notice that his shirt isn't green? Me too. I got started on that tan yarn, and didn't realize that it was shirt, not skin until the gnome's body was finished. Darn it! As you can tell, I did not take it out and do it again. I did add a little metallic yarn detail on the ends of the sleeves, hoping that would make it more shirt-like. Sigh. I did not add the extra row of metallic thread crochet on this tree because the metallic thread was easier to crochet with. I actually used a metallic, and a white with a teeny metallic strip in it together, which - I think - brightened the overall effect.

I really like how these guys turned out, and I will probably enter them into the fair this year. I finally feel like the tree part is as full as I like it. I ALSO figured out with these that the pattern used a smaller stitch and fewer stitches on the part that goes on the top of the tree than near the bottom of the tree. OHHHHhhhhh. I see now... lol.

Southern NM State Fair, 2025 Edition

 

I enjoy entering my crafts into the fair every year. I don't think state fairs get the attention that they used to, but I do think it should be a valuable place to compete with other makers, growers, and artists. It could be a way for us to see what others are doing and making. I really love seeing what others are making! And, if you are thinking about getting paid for those skills, it can be a way of gauging your skill growth. Unfortunately, the fairs don't draw like they used to, and the competition is only sometimes stiff. At least when it comes to making. I don't enter stuff because I have to win. I enter stuff because I don't want the venue to die out.

I'm going to share what I made and entered with you, but I'm also going to share what a few of the competitors entered, that I thought was cool.  

Time for sharing the fair entries and results.

First were my crocheted items. Since the fair last year, I made a couple of stacking ring toys, that I entered.

Stacking ring toy Sheep

Stacking ring toy Snowman

Along with these, I entered several of the Christmas eyeballs I made this year. I didn't get a photo of them with their blue ribbon, but here they are, on their way to the fair...

Some Christmas eyeballs, ready for the fair

They look pretty good, right? But here was their competition...

This crocheted spider was beautifully done! 

Yes, the spider won best of lot. I can't complain. It looks beautiful!

I also entered some sewn items. I made a bunny for my aunt, and a wardrobe for that bunny. I took the bunny and a friend, so I could show how the outfits fit the bunnies.

These cuties!

And I entered the wardrobe as one entry. 

The red ribbon is Second Best of Lot

Not a bad result, right? I know these judges have seen dressed bunnies before (because I've entered some before at the very least) BUT this time I altered the patterns some, giving a little different take on the outfits than before. Yes, that black outfit the bunny on the right is wearing is a ladybug costume. I did that a couple different ways, for different people (and one had butterfly wings). I was pretty happy with them!

Another ladybug, just to get the idea

Finally, I have to share another entry, not my work. Someone created the sock monkey version of the Little old woman who lived in the shoe. Check out this cuteness!!

Sock Monkeys at the Fair!

What will the entries next year be???

General Update

 It has been almost 3 weeks since I've posted here. I don't know that I have an entire cohesive post to talk about, but I don't want to loose the habit all together. That's too easy to do. So here are some updates:

I've made additions to the Christmas is in the Eye of the Beholder Collection. Here are a couple of group photos of my progress:

Group shot of 1 - 7

Then we have numbers 8 and 9

I got some gold yarn that I like in the mix. You can see it on the far right in the top photo and in the eye in the lower one. I also got a silvery one that you can't see very well in the left one on the lower photo. I like that silver pretty well and I wish you could see it better. 

It is becoming the eyeball army, and I'm looking forward to picking out some to enter into the fair this fall. I'm still interested in feedback on them.

Next are some sewing projects. I finished this little dress for my annual kids' clothes project. I make kids' clothes because I like to. I donate them for kids who need help getting school clothes. In some ways, I wish I could hear how the new owner likes what I make. On the other hand, maybe I don't want to know... Sigh. Kids are allowed to have opinions, and to decide what THEY like. I'll just pretend in my head that there's some kid out there that's going to have their new favorite outfit. At least they will get to have something new.

A cheerful dress

Finally, I'm going to update the progress that Charitable Crafting has been makin on the second quilt we are making as a group. We are in need of only a few more blocks. Several rows have been sewn together, and I have another one it my bag to sew together. Ok, I also have a couple of the last blocks we need, too. This project has really taught me some about the process of quilt building. Block building, too, actually. While there is no "wrong way" to finish these blocks, some accuracy makes a difference. I'm learning to pay attention to it. It's kind of cool to me, even.

Some blocks

Maybe I'll even take more pictures of the work I've done on this quilt. Or maybe the next one. Of course we're already talking about the next one!!

Christmas is in the Eye of the Beholder

 

Not too long ago, when I was making eye monsters, I noticed something about the eyeballs. They fit perfectly into the palm of my hand, like a Christmas ornament. A Christmas ornament??? Yeah. pretty much. I know you might think it is weird to think about a Christmas ornament eyeball, but that is exactly what I did. 

Crafting isn't just about following a pattern, or making what someone else has made. It is about exploring, and creativity, and taking something, and running with it. So I did.

Festive, right?

I can't tell you how much these amuse me. I picture them hanging in a decorated tree, and watching all the festivities (or the pets, sniffing around the tree). Are they judging? Are they gathering info for their alien masters? I dunno. Maybe. I know, though, that they aren't everyone's cup of tea. Nothing is everyone's cup of tea. Not even cups of tea.

They go pretty fast, and are really pretty easy, once you're familiar with the pattern, which is perfect for making a set of them. How many is in a set? I dunno, probably somewhere between 6 and 12. Depends on whether I get bored or tired of making them. Or how much Christmassy/festive yarn I find and want to buy.

Here's looking at YOU, kid!

Things that I have done similar to other eye creatures I have made: I used different yarns for the irises. I like how that gives a little depth to the eye. I've done a black with a little hint of color in it for the pupils, and not added a plastic safety eye in there (which I did use in the others). I will experiment some with the eye colors of these, because the results will interest me. For example, I made this one with a red eye.

Sauron is looking a little festive this year

I like it, but it could get too much, I think. I hope the outside kinda tones it down a little. What do you think?

Yeah, festive.

Talking about yarn, the yarn for the eyelid of this one was a brand I don't usually buy, but it was a color I hadn't seen, and had that strand of silver in it for that festive touch. But the hook went through the yarn easily, as it isn't wound very tight, and that made it difficult to crochet with, since I'm using kind of a small hook. Sigh.

Any way, I don't expect everyone to want these. I couldn't make that many anyway. But I would like to get a little feedback. I know, you think I'm weird. But is that a bad thing? I don't think so.

So this set of creatures are called, "Christmas is in the Eye of the Beholder." For those of you who have never been into Fantasy books, or Role Playing Games, Beholders are monsters that look like an eye. See what I did there? Of course you did!

And Now Its 2024...

 Man, if I didn't just almost type 2014.

So I thought I would catch up a little on 2023 crafting. I've already started some 2024 crafting, so hopefully I will blog a few more times than last year.

The birds. I did post about them to start with. I had such a great time crocheting small birds (and bats) last year. My sister-in-law got a dozen for her birthday in November, and I just had to thank her for unknowingly giving me such joy making these little birds. Of course I made more than just the dozen she got. I can't even tell you for sure how many I DID make. Enough chickens to enter a flock into the fair.

Naomi's bird tree

Flock of chickens at the fair. One of my friends got most of these guys to put on her Christmas tree.

Enough to give a couple dozen more out as Christmas Ornaments.

Bats for the Christmas tree!

Enough to gift them to people all around me.

ostrich - YES!

flamingo - OMG the cuteness!

emu - fuzzy!

Enough to start making up some...

I didn't like the black bird in the book, so I made my own, in velvet yarn.

Fox bat - for Ron of course

Turned a peacock into a phoenix.

What would you call a flamingo bat???

On to other projects... I did some sewing, of course. Made some shirts for Raine, and some flannel pants. Some baby blankets, and some fleecy ones. Made LOTS of kid's clothes for the summer Charitable Crafting project.

Here are some of the kid's clothes... I made so many, I think I leveled up a bit.

I was in the mood to dress bunnies this year, and made some new dresses for Ron's mom and sister.

Then his sister couldn't find her bunny, so I made her a new  one, and one for her boyfriend. So they could match. You know, like you do... Which meant more outfits. And a new bunny for me, too! I had forgotten how much fun bunnies were to make and sew for!

Butterfly Princess Bunny

Easter Outfit (with baby chick)

Matching bunnies with matching outfits.

Matching in October!

An autumn dress and bunny for me to keep

An autumn dress for Linda's bunny

Festive 4th of July outfits

And then, my friend Cheryl found some super cute crochet patterns online, and sent some to me to try out. Oh. My. Goodness. Of course I had to try them out! There are evidently many patterns in this collection, which were made by a mom, for her son. It is a collection online called Son's Popkes. Here are some I made:

First up, a fox. I did the first one for Ron, as practice

The second one went to Cheryl

Bumble bee

A striped kitty. I have another kitty pattern to do, still.

Then, I finally finished the cross stitch project I had been working on for about 3 years. The Last Supper. It was 18 pages of pattern. I got done it time to enter it into the fair this past fall, then Carl got it. (He requested it, that's why.)

The Last Supper, with the Best of Show Ribbon.

Last, project for the year, but not least, was inspired by a book that I have enjoyed making several dolls from.

This pattern book has some very cute dolls and outfits in it!

A bear suit!

I didn't have enough of any one yarn to make the suit, but wanted to practice it and see how it worked, so this happened...

Almost but not really a bear suit. With a doll inside.

Well, I wasn't sure how the doll would get into and out of the suit as one piece, so I decided to make the suit the doll's body, which worked out for my purposes, but I did (finally) get that the suit would open up the front to dress/undress the doll. I made it for one of Ron's presents, so, as you may have guessed, I changed the bear to a fox.

Fox Boy!

I enjoyed doing a lot of making this past year. I only wish I had kept up with posting about it! Hopefully this year, I'll do better! If I have a New Year's Resolution, that would be it.

Social Distancing/Pandemic #50

 Saturday, December 5, 2020

So, here we are in December. There are 2 more weeks of school in this semester, and it seems to be going so quickly. Take a deep breath!

We had a lovely, quiet, private Thanksgiving, I did the cooking, and we timed dinner so that we could eat together when Ron got home. I made 3 pies (yes, for 3 people), turkey with stuffing (because _I_ like it), mashed potatoes, and green beans. It wasn't a large turkey, but with only 3 of us, we have also had turkey corn chowder made by Ron, and turkey noodle soup, made by me. The pies were a hit, especially the cherry pie, which turned out particularly good, if I say so myself, but I didn't have to. It disappeared first.

The Christmas tree is up, and decorated. I would have loved to add the novelty lights I had collected over the years to the pre-lit tree this year, but last year, after years of not bothering to add them, we tested them to see if they still worked and ended up tossing the lot. Sadly. Particularly sadly because I would really have enjoyed them this year. Sigh. But the tree is lovely, as they are. We included the old decorations that I have kept from my parents, who are gone. It felt nice to put them on the tree this year.

Side view, lots of white and red this year.

I also uncovered a quilted wall hanging that my mom and I had worked on the blocks for. I think it was my first attempt at quilt block building, and today when I looked at it, I could tell. But it also reminded me of us working on it and planning it. We made one for me, one for her, and one for a cousin. It had been packed away for a while, with some Christmas fabrics that I had basically forgotten about, so it was definitely a win for me today. Now to figure out where and how to get the wall hanging up for the season.

Our idea for it was going through the snowy forest
to the Christmas house mine is sketchy on the snowy part.

I have to admit to enjoying a little nostalgia this year. Remembering the past, on the way to the future, really.

I got Christmas cards ready and in the mail during the Thanksgiving break. I also got a nightshirt/robe sewn up for Ron. It was our anniversary during that week: 20 years. Parts have flown by, and other parts, not so much, as I'm sure with most couples. For the most part, I believe we are happy with each other, and pretty well suited to the other.

SNOWFLAKES!

Inspiration and Instructions

I'm making snowflakes. Can you tell? Do you love snowflake ornaments like I do? One year I made dozens, and gave them as gifts, and (of course) kept some too. Now, it's time to do it again.

I have some growing-up young people around, niece, friend's kids, my own kid, and I think about them getting out on their own and how long it took me to amass my favorite Christmas decorations, and how much I've enjoyed making many of them. So, I put two and two together, and thought, what a great gift! Handmade Christmas decorations to get them started when they may not have too much money to spend on them, but still like to be festive. I got a plastic shoebox for each kid, and I'm on my way to adding decorations to each.

One of the easiest - and quickest - are crocheted snowflakes. The last time I made snowflakes, I didn't have this booklet, so I thought it would be a fun place to start. My goal (for this year) is to crochet 6 of each style. I just started the 5th style last night.

Snowflake #5

They are quick to do, and make a great take-along project. Since they are all 6-pointed snowflakes, they will be pretty easy to get starched and stretched, although I will have to set up a starching board, and I haven't yet, so none of these are truly finished.

Snowflake #4

I have a hard time saying which is my favorite snowflake as I think they are all pretty, and I like that there is a wide variety so that I can do a no-two-snowflakes-are-the-same package for each giftee. Cool, right?

Snowflake #3

When I do starch them, I will - as I did before - use a 1-1 sugar water solution to wet them through, then pin them out on a board. I have had no problem with the snowflakes I made before becoming limp, and it has been... 20 years or so since I made them (that long?!?!?). It also has the added benefit of being non-toxic for small children and pets.

Snowflake #2

I found it very helpful last time to make a pattern to pin the snowflakes on. A line for each point helped them be symetric. I also found adding a t-pin, which is a little bigger around, on one of the points a good way to make a hanger point.

Snowflake #1

For the hangers, I used a length of a fairly fine fishing line. If you make a large enough loop to go over a branch, then you don't need a hook as well, and it can pretty much disappear once you hang the snowflakes, Then they really look like they are just falling into the tree. Pretty!

A snowflake in action