"All it takes to make delicately scented tablets is a little mixing, some gradual spritzing, and a few minutes of molding."
- Zulema ⋅ spicy cocoa tart
from Bookmarklet
Alternatively eat lots of taco bell pre bath
- SteVe C
"I'll close my shop by the end of May... To "end with a flourish" (hope it's the right expression !), I organize a sale : all my patterns will be at 1.2 dollars !"
- Lix
from Bookmarklet
"Both of these patterns are free and courtesy of the LucyRavenscar blog. The gnome was a wee bit more challenging due to the color changes. But overall, I really enjoyed both of these patterns. LucyRavenscar also has a pattern for a knight cork, and Darcy put in a request for that guy. I thought of a couple of other characters to make using these patterns as a guideline. Wouldn't a Little Red Riding Hood and a Matryoshka / Babushka be cute? I'll be sure to share pictures if I make more."
- edythe
from Bookmarklet
"If the sun seems to peer right into your window, give it something pretty to look at -- and through. These translucent hanging hearts are easy to make from waxed paper and crayons. In return, sunbeams will color your room with cheer. Begin with a 12-by-16-inch sheet of waxed paper. Fold it in half along its length; unfold. Deposit wax-crayon shavings (made with a handheld pencil sharpener) evenly but not thickly across one half of the paper. Fold the clean half of the paper over the shavings. Crimp the three open edges with a 1/2-inch fold to hold the shavings. Protect your ironing surface with kraft paper. Place the waxed paper on the kraft paper, and cover it with another sheet of kraft paper. Iron lightly on medium heat, checking after every few passes. Stop when all the shavings have melted; let cool. Next, trace and cut out hearts of various sizes. String each heart with a silk thread for hanging."
- Anika
from Bookmarklet
I find that although I may look at a pattern for inspiration, my crochet style is much different (i don't believe in joining rounds for instance), so I end up adapting or rewriting patterns to fit my style of crochet.
- Tiddy Bott
I usually start with a pattern and then add other design elements that suit my fancy. Why don't you believe in joining rounds, Mo?
- Nakachi
from FFHound!
I hate seams. Even on my best work or really good work from someone else, my eye is automatically drawn to that tiny seam. I hate it.
- Tiddy Bott
Ah, ok. I've recently started writing patterns, too. I'm diggin' it.
- Nakachi
from FFHound!
Do you think you would sell your patterns?
- Tiddy Bott
That's the plan. I want to offer them on the website.
- Nakachi
from FFHound!
I am mostly strictly pattern. But I have tried modifying a few patterns. So far, I haven't made up anything completely.
- Jyl BlueBott
from BuddyFeed
Mostly from pattern, but I modify as I need to, and occasionally I just go with it. I haven't taken the time to write out anything I've made, though.
- Lix
I'm pretty strict about following patterns, but that's mostly because I'm terrible at math. I kind of panic a little if I have to make something larger or smaller than the pattern states because figuring out the math to increase/decrease without destroying the pattern makes me dizzy.
- Nine
I design, change patterns, adjust patterns for size...add full fashion shaping when needed...all part of owning a yarn store. :)
- furrworld
Both. I like patterns mostly because I am lazy and like to follow directions. I am soooooo a process knitter. But I also modify or create my own if something is not working for me. I find that I modify or create a lot if bag patterns.
- Mary Carmen
from iPhone
Help! How do you get quality photos of your handmade goodies? My inner perfectionist has me hamstrung. Tips? Tricks? I'm about to rearrange my apartment into a bootleg photo studio out of frustration.
Good lighting is really the key, and as much lighting as possible should come from off of the camera (off-camera flash, spotlights, etc.). An on-camera flash can be muted a bit with white tissue paper so it's not as glaring. It also helps to clear distracting stuff out of the background and fill as much of the frame as possible with the object.
- John (bird whisperer)
Have a 'hot' side ... more light on one side of the object (I have two lamps on one side and one on the other), also find someone on Etsy whose presentation you like, and look for clues there :D
- Shannon - GlassMistress
What everybody else said. Our pics have improved tremendously since we improved our lighting. We bought a piece of white felt from a craft store. That serves as our background. Two pieces of poster board sit to either side just out of the frame. I use 3 lamps (two desk lamps and one of those tall goose neck lamps) all purchased at Walmart. Nothing fancy. Another trick I just came up...
more...
- DB Botts - Just DB Botts
A lot of people on cooking blogs Kesha follows say natural light is best. I totally agree but our apartment has horrible natural light so we make due with what we have.
- DB Botts - Just DB Botts
"This is such a fun project to do with the kiddos. My girls and I had ball gabbing while we were prepping the crayons. After that it was a perfect opportunity to have a color class while we created our crayon concoctions. From start to finish this is an easy and elegant Valentine treat that your little ones {or big ones} will love to share with their friends this Valentine's Day!!"
- Anika
from Bookmarklet
"Italian textile designer Luisa Cevese noticed the amount of cloth wasted during the production process and sought to give these remnants a new life. In her unique designs, Cevese utilizes these scraps, collected from all over the world, by capturing them between layers of plastic. Durable and striking, the finished product is a marriage of color, shape and function, with an ecological benefit."
- edythe
from Bookmarklet
Blue Moon Fiber Arts, BFL Sport. 100% Blue Faced Leicester wool. Color: Valenscummy. I call this my Abe sweater since he sat on my lap the whole time I knit it, slept on all the pieces and then sat on it while I seamed it
- Mary Carmen
That purple one is another future laptop case of America. Can't remember the last time a design was so challenging! JFC. Simple pattern, Y U MAKE ME COUNT SO MUCH? The red one looks more complicated, but was so much easier.
"Step 7 When the surface of your ball is completely smooth and uniform, the felting process is complete. Squeeze any water out of the ball, then press the ball in a towel. Once excess water is removed, roll the ball in your hands one last time to round it out, then allow it to dry for at least 12 hours before using."
- edythe
from Bookmarklet
I think I am the only knitter who keeps failing at making a clapotis. I start it and then it never works out. My stitches don't look correct, it always fails. I think I am a very accomplished knitter. WTF is with this one project?!?!?
Which stitches don't look correct? The Twisted stitches?
- Hedgehog
Yeah. I think I fail at purling in the back stitch.
- Mary Carmen
i am intimidated by the idea of a clapotis. i have no patience for long-term projects.
- ~Courtney F.
Hmmm....maybe you're untwisting when you get to it?
- Hedgehog
I knit mine on faith, hoping it turned out. I also knit it over the course of a year, bringing it to every vacation at my grandmother's -- we do a lot of quiet sitting on those trips, so ... it worked out. And I lurve it, so I wish you fortitude. :)
- Jenica
I started one but stopped early on due to issues with winding of the yarn (I'd started it off the unwound skein--yes, I know I'm an idiot), and haven't picked it up again. It's currently in storage with the rest of my yarn in Chicago.
- Katie
I haven't even tried. And I've had the yarn for it forever.
- Lix
My first one failed badly. My second one is just OK - they are more complicated and difficult than they seem at first. I kept trying to knit during football games (warm wool on my lap in the cool fall evenings = perfect) and getting distracted, though.
- Webgoddess Needs A Drink
It's similar to Manos, single ply. I find it a little softer. It's sticky as hell though--do not try to do a Clapotis out of it or you'll have to unpick every single dropped stitch by hand.
- Hedgehog
Okay, you just reminded me to start another thread....
- Mary Carmen
baby alpaca. no question. that said, I loved the blue moon Twisted that I used to make my clapotis. A lot.
- Jenica
I'm with Hedgie on the Malabrigo (especially the original: Worsted), and as a fiber I tend toward the luxury fibers (like everything else it seems). I've been working with BMFA's Woobu for a Goodale cardigan for myself and *love* it!
- Katie