Back to the Grind

I'm grasping on to the last little bits of summer. I've got a few short days to prepare for the semester - classes start this coming Monday and there is a lot to do. There is a lot on my plate this semester, and I hope I can keep up with it all. I am both excited and intimidated by this last year of school.
As far as my studio work goes, I've been off to a productive start. I just finished this painting, part of a series of lace paintings that are framed in formerly gaudy salvaged frames.

These paintings are done from observation: hand drawn from commercially produced vintage lace. They are done in ink, with a brush and an ink pen. I draw the general layout with pencil first, and then fill in the negative areas each by each. They are part of a larger series that is exploring handmade items, and their commercial counterparts.

I am also working on a wall sculpture/installation that deals with some of the same issues, but from a different approach. I've sewn, structured, and stuffed eight little pieces so far, and I am in the midst of seaming them all together, and crocheting doily panels to cover the tops of them.

It has been a really peaceful and cool morning, and I'm hoping to make some progress on these today. I think I'll also be posting later on my garden. It has gone nuts! We've been eating so well these last few weeks!

Tying Up Loose Ends

I am so glad summer break is here despite feeling a little bit under the weather. It was a rough end of the year, I'm not really sure why, but it seemed like there were a bunch of little things that were bogging me down. I'm ready to get past that now, and move on to happier things!
I've been cleaning my apartment the last few days, along with trying to relax and finish up some projects that have been on hold for quite some time. The first thing I wanted to finish was my Ripple Blanket. I love how it turned out.
I only modified a few things. I used a larger hook size and made it a lot larger than the original. Also, I thought it looked a little boring with the straight edge, so I crocheted the two rounds around the outside through the back of the loop only, and then for the last row, I decided to add a little picot edging.
I also started working on some quick little projects for baby shower gifts. These are simple garter stitch bibs loosely based on KrisKnits' pattern. I made three of them with one skein of kitchen cotton yarn. I used size 8 needles instead of size 6, and cast on 25 stitches for the base. Also, the strap is thinner, and I added two button holes so they can be adjusted.
I still haven't figured out how I want to decorate them, or if I even want to decorate them...
Lastly, I picked up this fabric shaver yesterday, and I LOVE it!! I had been really frustrated with our couch because it had been getting little pills all over it from our cat's hair, and we had been trying everything to get rid of them. I was so sad because it is a pretty new couch and it looked like crud with all of the little pills on it. So I found the fabric shaver at the grocery store, and figured for $5 it was worth a try. It worked amazingly!! Our couch looks brand new. I know it sounds corny, but it was such a relief to have it looking nice again. I also took all of my ratty old handknits and totally rejuvenated them! I could not believe how awesome it made my old knits look. I should have taken a before picture, becuase these things were really ratty looking, now they look brand new. Seriously, every knitter should have one.
In other-than-knitting news, I am excited to have a social life again this summer! Although I am a little freaked out about going in to my last year of grad school. Lets not think about that just yet....

Hope you all had a great week!

Old Sheet to New Rug!

We needed a new bathroom rug, so I looked around online and found a bunch of people making rugs from old t-shirts, but I didn't really want to take all of the time to cut all of the shirts. I thought I would try this with a bed sheet instead. Here is the finished project! I love it, it is super cushy and the texture is really fun.
The sheet I got was a king size flat sheet (for $1!) and it was 100% cotton. To get it into a continuous strip, I cut off all f the edges, and then I cut a notch about 1" from the side and tore it almost to the end of the sheet. Then I cut another notch and tore it in the opposite direction making one really long zig-zag strip. Then I crocheted it into a big rectangle until I ran out of yarn. I love the texture!!I had a little bit of the sheet left over and so I decided to make a little pot holder. I also got a little wooden box at the thrift store. I love tiny boxes and containers. I always fill them with buttons or beads.Tomorrow the show that I'm in opens at the Jack Olson Gallery on campus. The opening is at 4:30pm! I have two pieces in the show, so if you come out, make sure to say hello!

Cassiemarie's Crocheted Soap Saver - Free Pattern

About this pattern:
This soap saver is perfect for holding bar soap, recycling small soap pieces, and for using up leftover yarn scraps. It will save you a little money as well. It is crocheted in the round from the top down. The drawstring is crocheted separately, and then woven through the holes in the top of the pouch. You can use the drawstring to hang the soap saver in your bathroom.

Materials:
- Size H Crochet Hook (Go up to a J Hook if you Crochet Tightly)
- About 35 Yards of Lily Sugar'n Cream Yarn

Instructions:

CH- Chain
SL- Slip Stitch
SC- Single Crochet

1. CH 24, SL to join into a ring.
2. SC 2 rounds.
3. (SC 2, CH 2, SK 2 ST) Repeat 5 more times. This row forms the spaces that you will weave the drawstring through. (1 round)
4. (SC 1, SC 3 in the space left by the CH 2 in the previous row) Repeat 5 times. (1 round)
5. SC into the back loop of each stitch for 10 rounds. This creates a very elastic fabric that will stretch to fit most normal sized soaps.
6. To close the bottom of the bag, lay the bag flat and SC through both sides of the bag. Pull the yarn through the last stitch to create a knot and weave in the ends.
7. To create the drawstring, CH until you have a length of about 12 inches. Pull end of yarn through the last stitch to make a knot. This is your drawstring. Weave it through the spaces created by the chain stitches in the 3rd step. Tie a knot at the end to form a loop, insert your soap or soap pieces, and tie another knot to secure it.
Use of Pattern:
If you would like to post about this pattern on your website or blog, please include a link to this entry. Copyright 2008 Cassie Edwards - All Rights Reserved. You may use this pattern to crochet items for personal use or charity. You may not sell the pattern itself, or items made using pattern under any circumstances, neither individually nor in any compilation of patterns. You may not copy this pattern and post it elsewhere, not on a web page, nor message board, nor via e-mail, nor via any other electronic means. If you make modifications to the pattern, please only post the modifications you made, not the entire modified pattern. Thanks! :)

FO: Bold and Bulky Mini Cardi

This is still waiting to dry as I type. I finished it last night at the local Stitch & Bitch, and I love it! It was made with a recycled 50/50 wool/acrylic mix that was mighty soft and very lightweight. I'll get some pics of it on as soon as it dries.
Here's the shell buttons I used:I didn't post any progress pics because I finished it so quickly!
When I first saw the pattern in Stefanie Japel's book Fitted Knits I wasn't immediately sold because of the colors used in the books example, but after seeing Julie's beautiful cardi over at Team Knit using only one color, I was smitten.

In other news, I started another shopping bag with some yarn in the stash. I may rewrite the pattern with this handle instead. It looks a little bit nicer I believe. :)

I also picked up some sale items this weekend that I'm planning on making into a bag of some sort. Maybe I'll write up a pattern?I've also got to update soon on all of the adventures I've been going on lately. I can't believe how busy this summer has been!

Handspun Yarns, Armwarmers, and a Scarf, OH MY!

What a better time to start making warm things than the start of summer? Oh wait. I think I'm just trying to make up for all of the crafting I didn't get done during the school year...
These are both merino wool:

I really like the top one, I was trying to get some bolder colors with my dyes. The second one reminds me of my wardrobe. It is all of the colors of the clothes I currently own.
I'm also going to take some nice pictures of these armwarmers and write up a pattern for y'all by the end of next week. Here they are in all of their glory:

Also made this week is this scarf I whipped up using scrap and recycled yarns. I think I'm going to make a few more of these as I've got a bunch of bulky yarn scraps lying around and taking up space. Do you like the colors? I think they are a bit manly for myself. I think this one is going to get put in the Etsy shop.

I've also started working out again (well I should say working out on a regular basis - it was hit and miss this semester) and I got a new video which is kicking my butt. I'm so sore!! I usually just do cardio, but this is a strength-cardio-ab circuit with no breaks. Ouch. Hopefully the soreness will wear off soon so I can stop walking around the house like an old lady. :)

New Items AND Happy Birthday Bo & Rascal!

I've been crafting up a storm the last few days in effort to bulk up my Etsy shop!
Here are some of the results:
Two crocheted button cuffs -- these are made from scrap yarns I had lying around the house and random buttons. They are really lightweight and cute. :)I've also been painting some little wood blocks with acrylics. I think they would be super cute in a kids room or any small space that needs to be brightened up.

Yesterday was Bobo and Rascal's first birthday!! Nate and I made them mini catfood cakes and had a nice relaxed night at home. Here is a picture of our happy little kitties ( who aren't that little anymore!) Happy Birthday!!
Thats it for now, I've been relaxing and taking full advantage of the fact that my semester is over. :)
More later!
--Cassie

Bogged Down!

I can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel with this semester! I've still got a few papers, paintings, and presentations to do, but I've gotten a few of the major things out of the way. The weather has also been wonderful for the last week or so, and it was fun to see the field behind our apartment turn from brown to bright green in a matter of two days.
One of the big things I got out of the way last week was my Eco Art Project. I ended up making 7 reusable crocheted grocery bags, 10 reusable sewn tote bags, 22 skeins of hand-dyed recycled yarn, and a free pattern to boot. Everything I made was handmade from recycled material or yarn, so it fit within the 'eco' concept.
My favorite thing is this shirtdress that I made for the 'fashion show'.

The top is knit out of hand-dyed recycled yarn, and the bottom is made from a XL mens t-shirt. It is super cute, and I will try to get a picture of me wearing it at some point, but for now it is being shown on my handy dandy packing tape dress form that is stuffed with old plastic bags.

Also, here is Mr. Bo, he is so happy we can open the windows finally!
Even thought this semester has been nuts, I've been making a huge effort to cook more. This is something I whipped up last night, but I do believe it will become a staple in this household. It is my 'random ingredient' tomato soup with open faced brie sandwiches. Yum. I'll try to write down the recipe next time so I can share it with you all. :)

Free Reusable Crocheted Grocery Bag Pattern

ECO FRIENDLY SHOPPING BAG

Materials:
• Around 150 Yards of Lily Sugar'n Cream Yarn
• Size H or J Crochet Hook (Go with the J or larger if you crochet tightly)

Gauge:
The gauge of this pattern is not important because it will stretch.

Construction:
This bag is crocheted in the round from the top down. It might be helpful to use a paperclip or a stitch marker to define the start of the round.
Instructions:
CH- Chain
SL- Slip Stitch
SC- Single Crochet
DC- Double Crochet

Top & Handles:
1. CH 86.
2. SL 1 to join chain into a circle being careful not to twist the foundation row. SC the next 86 ST (row 1). SC two more rounds.
3. The next row you will be separating the handles from the body of the bag. SC 13, CH 11 (Skip 17 to create first handle), SC 26, CH 11 (Skip 17 to create second handle), SC 13.
4. SC 74 (one round)

Body
1. CH 4, {Skip 1, DC 1, CH 1} ←Repeat the bracketed stitches until you reach the end of the round.
2. DC into the opening created by the chain stitch openings of the previous round. {CH 1, DC 1} ← Repeat the bracketed stitches for three more rounds.
3. (CH 2, DC 1} ← Repeat for one round.
4. {CH 2, DC 1} ←Repeat for four more rounds.
5. {CH 1, DC 1} ← Repeat for one round.
6. {CH 1, DC 1} ← Repeat for one round.
7. Bag Bottom: At the end of the previous round, lay the bag flat so that the handles are lying on top of one another. While holding the front and the back of the bag together, SC through both sides to close up the bottom of the bag, and tie a knot at the end.
8. Weave in ends.

Use of Pattern:
If you would like to post about this pattern on your website or blog, please include a link to this entry. Copyright 2008 Cassiemarie - All Rights Reserved. You may use this pattern to crochet items for personal use or charity. You may not sell the pattern itself or any items made using this pattern under any circumstances, neither individually nor in any compilation of patterns. You may not copy this pattern and post it elsewhere, not on a web page, nor message board, nor via e-mail, nor via any other electronic means. If you make modifications to the pattern, please only post the modifications you made, not the entire modified pattern. Thanks! :)
Fun Facts:
--Every year, each person in this country uses about 1,000 plastic bags.
--Using reusable bags will lower your carbon footprint and also save about 1,000 bags over the lifetime of the bag.

Getting Back in the Groove

We had the week off from classes, so I tried my best to get some of the things that have been piling up on my back burner out of the way. Also, Jacki came down for a visit. It was a pretty chill visit, she had a job interview here, and we went out for Thai food and did a little shopping. It was a good time, and I brought my camera, but still somehow failed to take pictures. I did however take pictures from a couple weeks ago when our good friends came down for Nate's birthday. It was so nice to catch up with our Oshkosh friends, we've been missing them!
We've had a busy last few weeks around here, and I've still managed to be somewhat productive. Here are a couple of projects I've recently finished (or gotten around to taking pictures of). The first is a baby blanket for Nate's cousin's new baby boy Jeremy.This is a hat I made for my sister that is on the way to her in the mail. It is super soft and cozy and I love the yarn. It is Farmhouse Yarns lumpy bumpy yarn. Can you find the naughty kitten?I wanted to thank all of you who replied to my last post and who e-mailed me, we are doing a lot better here. Classes start back up again tomorrow, and I hope with that the healing process will begin for our campus. I hope you all are doing well too.
:)