Jen's Craft Blog

Yes, I am still alive!

2009-03-16T08:49:00.000-07:00

Wow, it's been about a year since I last posted on here. I don't know how much I'll be posting from now on, but I just wanted to update you all on some things!!

The Toy Archive is gone. Please don't send me messages asking about it; nobody offered to take over for me, and I needed to take if off of my server for space reasons; you can still find the free patterns at some of the other archive pages, and you can search places like Etsy to find the ones that are for sale.
In June of last year we moved and got a dachshund puppy!!
I got laid off in October, and have yet to find a job - full or part time. For a few months I tried getting my jewelry business going, but discovered that I hated a lot about it, including the whole business side of it, and also the whole feeling-like-a-factory-worker thing when you have to make multiples of the same thing over-and-over again; I still make and sell some things, but I'm not aiming towards it as a goal to live off of it anymore.
Because of the previous item, I did a lot of soul-searching and decided to go back to school for Graphic Design!! I started the beginning of January, and am enjoying it immensely!! You can see some of what I've been doing at this link.

I'm not doing a whole lot of knitting or crocheting lately, but I am getting close to being finished with the Sampler Afghan finally!!!

Colts Pillow Charts

2008-03-22T06:03:00.001-07:00

Just so I have a place that these are posted, because people ask for them a lot, here are the charts for the Colts pillows:

sigh

2007-10-20T20:39:00.000-07:00

I know I haven't posted in a long time, and I know the toy site is really out of date. I'm not sure what I'm going to do about that, actually. I'm graduated and have a real job now, and don't really have time for it - and it feels like a chore now. Someone could take it over if they want. They'd have to move it to their own web domain, as it couldn't stay on mine, but let me know if you're interested and we can work something out. I'm just so tired... And my time is so full of so many other things now. I barely even have time to knit and crochet, much less make a website about it!

I'm on Ravelry now!! My username is Aglaranna; add me to your friends list if you're on there, too! I hate that I finally got my invite DURING the first week of my new job, tho, lol, so now I don't have much time for it! I'm slowly getting stuff in there. I've got my past projects all put in now. Slowly working on my needle/hook list, and planning on doing my stash at some point.

I am working on some things. I've started my Christmas projects this week.

I HAVE been knitting/crocheting once a week, tho. I started a new knitting & crochet group! I'd been trying to find a good one down here so I could meet new people (I can't remember if I mentioned it in past posts - we moved to Indy in June), and I got so frustrated with finding stuff on my side of town that I just made my own.

Hope you're all having a good weekend!!

Creative Limits (or Horizons)

2007-08-14T05:52:00.000-07:00

Stole this from Ladylinolem's blog. I won't tag anybody, but you can steal it, too, if you like!

1. I have no interest in the following activities:
basketry (I had a bit of interest as a kid, but not anymore), participating in choirs (horrible stage fright), pottery (have done it, but it's just not my thing; I like to look at it, tho; this and this guys' works are awesome!), ice sculpture, spinning, hand-felting, lace making, wood carving/woodworking (again, not my thing, but neat to see other peoples' work!), leather working, marquetry, doll-making, play writing, acting, public speaking, welding/steel sculpture (hated doing this stuff in school...), large sculpture making of any kind, upholstery, flower arranging, mask making (tho this artist's masks are amazing!), digital collage, video game design, beading (did some as a kid, tho)

2. Would love to try these things:
tapestry weaving (have done some basic weaving), artistic/applique quilting, glassblowing (maybe, but it looks pretty scary to me), stained-glass, Precious Metal Clay, dying, batiking, carved candles, making my own cabachons (too scared to try faceted stones, tho!), Flash animation (if only I could figure out the stupid program, argh!), photography

3. I do or have dabbled in these things:
embroidery (I stink at it), weaving (floor loom), tatting (failed miserably), stamping & scrapbooking, sewing, painting (oil, acrylic, watercolor), serigraphy (artistic screenprinting), lithography, other printmaking techniques (intaglio, woodcut, monoprinting, etc.), chainmaille, felting (the kind where you make something out of wool yarn and throw it in the washing machine), latch hooking, origami, bookmaking, baking, cake decorating (would love to do more), graphic design, writing, Scherenschnitte, Celtic knotwork (at one point this would have been under #4; still up there, but I had to cut it off somewhere, and I don't do it much anymore), digital painting, one-stroke decorative painting (yes, I know... in highschool I had a connection with a basketmaker, where I painted on the baskets they made and sold)

4. Love it! These are my things:
jewelry making and metalsmithing (fabrication, lost wax casting, enameling, wire-working, chain making, etc.; not beaded jewelry - that isn't my thing), drawing, crochet, knitting, cross-stitch

I'm sure I forgot something. I'm always on the lookout for something new to try! :-) Sometimes I discover I hate it, sometimes I find something new that I love! But hopefully this tells you a little bit more about me!

Another Sock Monkey!!

2007-07-29T18:55:00.000-07:00

I made this bag to go with the sock monkey set:

I got the idea from a bag I saw on the internet, and modified this pattern to make it: Jewel Box Drawstring Bag

If I made another drawstring bag, tho, I would do the drawstrings a different way; to close this one you can't just pull it shut - you have to fiddle with it until it closes... Oh well!

The baby shower was today, so I got to give my sis-in-law the set! She loved it!! :-D

Charity Items

2007-07-24T14:48:00.000-07:00

I've been making some things for preemies; there's a woman collecting knit & crochet blankets, hats, & booties for preemies for the March of Dimes - they're for care packages they give to the mothers. Here are a few things I've made so far:

One blankets, some hats, and a couple pairs of booties.

Close-up of one of the hats and the white booties.

I thought that hat pattern was just adorable when I found it online! The first pair of booties I made (the pink ones) I think are too big for preemies; I had to change yarn and hook size to make them small enough. I'm going to be making more; I've started a second blanket (it's granny-square style this time). It's a great use for the massive amount of yarn I have sitting around that I don't know what to do with.

Patterns I Used:

Baby's Round Ripple Afghan
Loving Hugs Preemie Booties (this link is to a PDF file)
Sweetheart Roses Preemie Cap

Sock Monkeys!!

2007-07-08T19:06:00.000-07:00

I made the sock monkey set from the Happy Hooker book for my sister-in-law as a baby shower gift. Her and my brother-in-law are obsessed with monkeys :-)

Close-up:

For the matching sweater I used this pattern.

Also, I'm working on re-doing the toy archive website so it's easier for me to update. The new format will also allow you guys to search it!! Not sure how much longer it will be until it's up and running, but wanted to give you all a heads up! :-D

Crocheting Again!

2007-07-05T16:53:00.000-07:00

Well I got back into crochet this week!!! I've been crazy bored. A couple of weeks ago we moved to Indy. Donovan started his "real" job, I switched jobs within the transcription company I work for at home, and I'm stuck home all day. I've been trying to find a knitting/crochet group in the area, and found a couple of possibilities that I'm going to check out. I need to meet people!!!

So anyways, I finally finished my dad's Chicago Bears pillow as a late Father's Day present for him!!

The flash kind of washed out the blue, but yeah. I think it turned out pretty nice!! :-D

Oh, and I made myself a new username over at deviantArt just for my craft stuff!! Click HERE to see it. :-)

I am also making the sock monkey inspired baby blanket & hat set from Happy Hooker!!! I also found a baby sweater pattern online and made one to match the set! I'm going to be an AUNT this fall!! My brother & sister-in-law like monkeys, so I thought it would be a perfect present. :-D

Jewelry Blog!!

2007-05-18T14:49:00.001-07:00

I decided to set up a jewelry blog, to post about my pieces I am working on, and show in-progress photos and info. Check it out; I did some sketches today and posted them up:

Jen's Jewelry Blog

Websites!!!

2007-04-07T19:34:00.000-07:00

First, I have a new jewelry portfolio website:

JMW Jewelry

I will be graduating in less than a month, and then it's off into the real world where I have to try to make money selling my work!!

Also, Jen's Stuffed Toy Archive has a new web address:

Jen's Stuffed Toy Archive

For now it's a sub-folder of my portfolio; I had to move it because, since I'll be graduating, the site it's on now will be erased!!

I also added lots of new crochet patterns, as well as a few knit ones, today!!

Updated Site, Etc.

2007-02-13T13:46:00.000-08:00

Hey guys, I updated Jen's Stuffed Toy Archive over the weekend and added TONS of new links to patterns, plus went through and took out all of the broken links and fixed some things. PLEASE do not e-mail me asking what happened to a pattern and if I can give it to you; I only archive links, I don't keep copies of everything that I link to, so I can't help if it's gone.

Found this adorable pattern while I was updating the site and am going to have to make some cuz they're just so darn cute:

Miniature Bear Rugs!!!

I'm almost finished with the Exchange Bag I posted about in my last post, and I'm onto my second piece for the cabled blanket!!!

Scarf Finished & Other Projects!!

2007-02-03T06:28:00.000-08:00

I finished my cabled scarf last week, and I love it! I've been wearing it every day :-)

I was taking quick pictures, so please excuse the sucky focus, but here's a close-up of the cabling:

I've started working on a cabled blanket that is on the cover of the book Cables Untangled:

Who knows how long it will take me to finish it, but I think it's gorgeous :-) I'm doing it in a kind of dusky green color:

I'm also working on the Exchange Bag from the book Happy Hooker:

I pretty much just have to do the handles now! :-)

What do you guys think of my new blog layout? I'm gonna try to put some of the extra info stuff that was on here before up somewhere, but I have to have time to fiddle with it first, lol...

Weaving & Knitting!!

2006-12-28T09:24:00.000-08:00

So for my second weaving class, on Twill, I made a scarf for my mom for Christmas:

Close-Up:

Close-Up #2 (this one isn't very true to the color; the last two are):

I designed the pattern myself on some software that my teacher had :-)

I also decided to re-teach myself knitting over break, because I love cables. I've been working on a cabled scarf. Here it is so far (picture quality isn't great, sorry):

I got the books Happy Hooker & Stitch 'N Bitch, and got the book Cables Untangled, which is where the scarf pattern is from. It has some awesome cabled patterns in it, as well as a dictionary of cable patterns!!!

Hope you are all having a great holiday season!!

New Pillow Pattern - Fighting Illini!!!

2006-10-31T17:50:00.000-08:00

Well I have been overcome by the desire to do crochet, despite my problems with my neck/shoulder. I decided to design a Fighting Illini pillow (like the Packers & Colts pillows I have already made) to make for my father for his birthday (it's his college team). The pattern is now posted at my pattern page:

My Pattern Page

I also have designed graphs for a Chicago Bears pillow, which will be posted once I make it.

Weaving!

2006-10-24T18:54:00.000-07:00

That's right, I have picked up a NEW craft! Weaving!!! I'm taking classes with a woman who has a weaving shop in the front half of her house :) I've already finished the beginner's class, and will be starting one in Twill soon! My first project was 4 placemats. I ended up making 2 sets of 2 placemats, to try out a little different technique. Here's pictures of them (I still have to wash them, so they'll shrink a bit & the weave will tighten up some):

Here's a close-up of the second set's detail:

It's still a plain weave, just over 2/under 2. I loved the different look, tho! The first ones look really boring to me now, haha!

Still in pain...

2006-06-26T22:02:00.000-07:00

Sorry not much updating... The neck/shoulder thing is still in the process of (hopefully) being resolved, so still no crochet for me... I also haven't been sewing much, just because of lack of time & been busy doing other things instead. I did start a pair of pants, but I have since discovered that I sewed them together wrong and have to rip a large part of it apart... FUN!!! lol...

I'm going to try to update Jen's Stuffed Toy Archive again soon. It's becoming harder for me to find new patterns to add, so it would really be appreciated if any of you know of any links I don't have that you would let me know! Plus I don't always have time to just browse thru the knitting & crochet forums, especially since it makes me sad that I can't make things right now!!

2006-06-02T14:12:00.000-07:00

Hey, so, I finally got back to sewing a little bit! My husband's cousin is graduating from highschool this month, so I made her a bag/purse as a present:

Not sure why my camera left a streak across the top... It's a cruddy camera. Some day I hope to be able to buy a nice one!

It was a Simplicity "It's So Easy It's Simplicity" pattern, #4625:

JMW Art Updated!

2006-05-10T20:09:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd let you all know that I updated my art portfolio website, JMW Art, in the last few days! You can see 6 new Metals pieces there.

Since I don't have a section for it on my website yet, to view my pieces from my Bookmaking class (there are five) you will have to see them at my Deviant Art site. My metals pieces are there as well, and you can leave comments on my pieces at that site!

Baby Romper Dress!

2006-04-27T16:50:00.000-07:00

I finished a baby dress for Elizabeth (my cousin's daughter)! And let me tell you, it was a pain, because I had never sewn in a zipper before... BUT it turned out really cute! Here's a pic, although it didn't turn out that great. You can barely see the collar. But I'm so excited with it's cuteness.

It's a little romper dress, so it had the "shorts" attached underneath the skirt. I also had to deal with elastic, lol, but it wasn't too bad.

The pattern I used is this one: (Simplicity, #5115)

2006-04-22T08:14:00.000-07:00

I finished my first shirt!!!! Unfortunately our camera is being dumb, so the pics are kinda fuzzy. And excuse the weird expression I have on my face in the second picture; I think he could me mid-way through smiling, lol...

Sewing!!!

2006-04-20T20:24:00.000-07:00

This week I made the plunge and bought myself a sewing machine! I've wanted to learn how to sew my own clothes for years, and now I'm finally getting to it! My first project was PJ Pants:

Changes to the website!!!

2006-03-27T19:01:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone! "Jen's Stuffed Toy Archive" has undergone a change! I have now separated it onto two parts: crochet patterns & knit patterns. I've decided to expand the amount of knit patterns that I include, so anyone who also visits knitting forums, could you let them know it's available? I don't personally knit, but I know many people who do.

There are LOTS of new patterns, especially in the knitting section!!!

Also, don't forget that I have a mailing list so you can be notified whenever I add new patterns!!!

Enjoy everyone!

Oh, and there are now 196 people on the mailing list :)

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So I haven't crocheted in a while now. The last thing that I made was a baby jacket & some booties for a friend (shown in the below picture, along with the other two outfits I bought for her):

I've been cross-stitching instead. Although I probably shouldn't even be doing that, lol... I FINALLY got a diagnosis from a rheumatologist. I have tendonitis. I've been taking an anti-inflammatory, and I've been feeling like it's helping some. When I first started the medicine the pain got worse for about 5 days, but now it seems to be getting better. Lets hope that I can eventually get back to my crochet!!

126 Subscribers!

2006-02-05T19:13:00.000-08:00

The mailing list for Jen's Stuffed Toy Archive is at 126! And I get notification e-mails almost constantly! Crazy! I'm glad everybody likes the site so much! :)

I haven't been doing much crochet for a few reasons: too busy, motivation to crochet has kind of piddled down, plus my shoulder is still bothering me. I go to see the doctor again this Wednesday. The guy wants to do a CAT Scan; I've already had an MRI, and it showed nothing. I think the CAT Scan is a waste of my time and mine & my insurance company's money. I'm gonna try to get a referral to a rheumatologist.

What I HAVE been working on (slowly) is some things for my friend Mandi who is expecting her second baby (a boy!) in May. Not gonna say what, cuz she might read this. ;)

"Pattern" for Patrick

2006-01-31T09:40:00.000-08:00

I've been asked about a pattern for the stuffed Patrick that I made. Here is where I got the instructions; you have to go to page 2. It's more guidelines, really, so if you're the kind of person who needs to have step-by-step instructions, I can't help you out... sorry... But he was really easy to make, so I would suggest trying anyways!

Sick...

2006-01-16T08:40:00.000-08:00

So I haven't done any crochet since I finished all of my Christmas presents. Largely because I'm a bit burnt out, but lately because I am sick... I am fighting off bronchitis...

Someone asked me about the fish that I made for my dad and whether I made it up. I got the pattern from a booklet called "Hooked On Fish."

Sorry I don't have more to update...