Mt. Rainier and Lenticular Clouds - Dec. 2008 copyright: JMM

February 1, 2017

January Crafts

Facebook's really becoming a nasty place these days.  I cannot stand all this nonstop bickering about politics.  What's done is done and we're stuck with it for four years.  Honestly I have more going on in my real life and I just don't have time to think about what's going on in the news.  It's better for my mental health anyway.  I spend a lot of time on FB hiding stories, and I'm spending less time on there in my spare time as well.


Back in Dec., I blogged about the 5D Diamond Painting kit I'd gotten off amazon.  This was the design that I chose.  I started it in mid-December but then had to take a break for the holidays.  

I picked it up again after all the decorations were put away and I admit, I was intimidated by what looked to be a very daunting project...one that would likely take six months.  Here is the progress as of January 6th.

However I found that it went very quickly and is really zen when you get into the rhythm of putting the tiles into place.  This is January 14th.

January 18th saw one side done...a little more than half...as the right side was wider than the left.

The second side went much faster and I finished up on January 29th.  I love how it came out.  This was one of the most fun projects I've ever done.  I would love to do more.  It's faster than cross stitching and no counting required.

I'd gotten myself some prickly pear cactus candy in December and god forbid I throw out the box. With 24 spaces, the first thing I thought of was 'advent calendar'.  So I went to my go-to miniature website, Tiny Things Are Cute, and ordered some tiny holiday items.  This is just a prototype layout to see how the stuff would look and I'm really excited to start working on this.  I'm not sure what to do for the doors, but I'll figure that out later.  

Val & I were out shopping and she spied a purple bottle and mentioned how good it'd look with lights inside and frosted.  This took about a half hour.  Drilled the hole, sprayed the bottle, stuffed the lights inside and done!

While in the livingroom, I worked on my second latch hook, a rainbow swirl tie dye.  I tried to do five rows a day, or more.  I can do about 3 rows per hour. It still takes me awhile but I'm getting faster.  

The back looks pretty too.  Probably going to make a pillow out of this once I get some stronger thread and more backing fabric.

I also wanted to make a no sew blanket for our grandson, who just turned a year old.  I couldn't decide on which fabric to buy so Val suggested I do a reversible one.  The colours even matched.  

I was a little concerned that it was going to be way too big.

It got a little smaller once the strips were cut and tied but it's still pretty big.  


Finally, I treated myself to a rather elaborate Grateful Dead dancing bears in a butterfly cross stitch from Valentina's Collectibles, on ebay.  This is the first multipage kit I've ever attempted.  I have to give them a shout out for the awesome way they sorted the floss.  Made it so much easier to jump right in.  I've started it and am sure this will take awhile to do.  
I've pretty much finished all my small kits and designs so now it's time to tackle the more time consuming designs!

22 comments:

  1. As always, love all your projects - but those vibrant rainbow colours are great! Could be tempted to do one :)

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    1. Thanks Suzanne!! You totally should! I need more latch hook kits! They are a lot of fun.

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  2. Wow, you have been busy!!! All very nice projects. Love, love love the Owl.... Have to check out the mini site also, looks interesting. I noticed the boxes have 24 inserts that could also be used for a advent calendar. Hugs, LJ

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    1. Thanks Lady Jane! That's what I did, make an advent calendar. I'm just trying to figure out how to do the doors.

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  3. That owl looks very classy! The latch hook is coming right along, very nice. Cute figures on the baby blanket, it will probably be a favorite. That cross stitch butterfly will be gorgeous. You find such pretty crafts to do - interesting winter work.

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    1. Thanks SJ! I hope he likes the blanket...it's kinda big for a one year old.

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  4. Anonymous4:21 PM

    You are the most creative person I know. That owl is so awesome! You're doing a great job on it. Also, I love the bottle. Such a pretty color.

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  5. The 5D diamond painting kit came out great! As did the tie-dye latch hook!

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  6. aww!! all the projects are so so lovely..

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    1. Thanks Krishna! I had fun making them.

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  7. You are industrious. That owl looks fantastic. You have such a variety. Good start to 2017. I am impressed and I feel lazy!

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  8. As always, I love it all. That bottle, though, sticks with me. It seems symbolic - beautiful, simple, hopeful.
    Cyber hugs to you, JoJo.

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    1. You can have the bottle if you want.

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  9. lovely work! my older daughter had one of those no sew blankets that she still keeps ... her's is purple with polar bears (she was always partial to polar bears)

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    1. Thanks! I did a Seahawks no sew but I didn't tie them tight enough and a bunch have come undone. I should've cut the ties longer like I did with this one. I'll have to fix it one of these days.

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  10. Hi JoJo, waiting to see your next cross stitch... I didn't do cross stitch.. I've plans to do that..but when I don't know ha ha ha..

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    1. Well this one is going to take a loooooong time. I was looking at the full pattern the other day thinking, 'what have I gotten myself into?' lol

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  11. Anonymous12:31 PM

    Holy smokes! You are one creative crafting woman! I LOVE all of your projects. It's a good thing we don't live close because no one would ever find us. We'd be hidden away crafting somewhere! Wonderful stuff as always.. <3

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    1. Thanks Karen!!!! I would love to craft with you! Wouldn't that be fun??

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