Sold Out! New Shawl Pins Are A Hit!

 I'm so excited! I sold all seven shawl pins today!  

 Had to hurry home and deactivate them from my Etsy Shop.

I wasn't so sure when I started my new product line if I was going in the right direction. But this is so encouraging, I'm just going to run with it for a while and see how far it takes me. And now that I have my method perfected the next pins shouldn't take as long. Fingers crossed. Plus, I've got another custom tea cozy order to make. Things are looking up!

Pretty in a Pink Scarf

 It's been so long since I've posted and I feel bad about that but life has just been darn hectic lately. I got myself a part time job without realizing how much time a part time job would take. Oh well, maybe I'll win the Lottery and go back to bunnying. In the meantime, I'm back with some pics. Not bunnies, but shawl pins is what I've been working on. And scarves, beautiful scarves. 

When I started this project I thought these pins were going to be fast and easy but they've been giving me more trouble than their worth. Though I'm happy with the results, the process is murder. This one I call Diamond Branch and Leaf. 

I had to redo my pretty Amber Renaissance Style pin because getting the finish perfect has been majorly difficult. I don't know why I'm having such a problem getting the varnish to go on smoothly. It always ends up with tiny little bubbles that won't pop with a pin and dry into tiny little bumps that make me want to -- grrrrr -- not be very nice. 

When I do manage to finish one, I love it. All this fretting is really making me want to get back to my bunnies. This was only supposed to be a small bunny break. 

Though I still have a ton more pins to make. Oy! I think I'm over doing it. 

ALL THE BEST IN 2013!

Ten-cup teapots at The Cobblestone Cottage have finally arrived!

And what do you know? The extra large tea cozy they asked me to make actually fits! AND accommodates a pot with a helper handle, no less. I didn't know what a helper handle was til I went into the store to photograph my cozy and said, "Eeeps"! Then, "Whew" when I saw it was no problem. 

So, now I've finished my first chunky infinity scarf, knitted in simple Moss Stitch that you can wear in three different ways. As a shawl, when you sit by the fire, doubled around your neck for a stroll around town and even doubled around you neck with a hood for those windy days in the park or invigorating walks through a tornado. 

I made this scarf from a free, online pattern using Lion Brand, Wool-Ease, Thick and Quick Yarn in the colour Oatmeal and 9mm circular needles. It's really cozy. 

Here's my own design inspired from the free pattern. I changed the stitch count, added a border and changed the overall pattern from single Moss Stitch to Double Moss Stitch. The yarn I used was Berroco's Vintage Chunky in a lovely red, colour 6134, no name which is sad. Half the fun of buying yarn is the colour name and 6mm circular needles. 

At the moment, I'm working on a shawl pattern to show off my new shawl pins, though if you ask me they look just as nice on a scarf. But then I would say that, wouldn't I? 

These pins came about because I've been trying to think of some new products to add to my Etsy shop and shawl pins seemed perfect. "Fast and easy,"I said. "Piece a' cake," I said. Not. Many days and many disasters later I've managed to perfect my product. Here's what I start with, oak branches cut into slices and some store bought chopsticks. So after much whittling, sanding, drilling, staining and sweating, in a very loud way.

I give you two, pretty little shawl pins. 

I'm probably more pleased with myself than I should be. I just hope this isn't one of those things you work your fingers to the bone over, thinking you're so great, then somebody comes along and says, "Ehh." 

Oh well, I really like them and I'm already expanding on this design idea to include other items that I'll keep to myself for now, but here's a little hint. 

Think Hare accessories!

Family Visits

 My sister-in-law, Deanna came over from Victoria, B.C. on Friday and left Tuesday. Unfortunately she had to cut her visit short because she's a midwife and one of her babies decided to come early. It's a good thing the plane trip from Victoria to Abbotsford only took 21 minutes. Pretty amazing since normally it would have taken almost 4 hours with all the driving and ferry boat riding. Just before she boarded the plane to go home she got a text saying her gal was 8 cm. Yikes! Deanna's friend picked her up at the airport in Victoria and whizzed her straight to the hospital. She made it! Here's a shot with Deanna and my youngest daughter, Daphne. I love this picture. Saturday, Deanna and I sat by the fire in our pajamas knitting and blabbing til 4 in the afternoon! That was fun. While she was here we went to Michael's a couple of times, visited my older kids and grand kids, relaxed and just had a good time. All my family pics turned out blurry otherwise I would've included them. 

   She made all the girls some festive little earrings. These pretty blue ones are mine. We picked up some really fun yarn and I knitted a ruffle scarf. The directions on the wrapper weren't so hot but I found a great YouTube tutorial that explained it perfectly. Straight knitting on only 6 stitches and look at the wonderful, lacy scarf you get. I'm going to list mine in my Etsy shop and hopefully someone will want to buy it. Although I feel a little guilty about that, it's sinfully easy. 

Premier Starbella Ruffle Scarf

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gn3UZrcX3ok

This scarf is made using one skein of net ribbon and you can see there's enough length to wrap it a few different ways. Deanna says there's 50 ways to wrap a scarf, but I only know 2, so here they are.

In this version you fold the scarf in half, drape it around your neck, then stuff the 2 tails through the folded loop. Goes all fluffy and pretty.

 Here I've placed it backwards on my dress form, then brought the 2 loose ends to the front. 

Looks very complicated up close but it's so easy. 

Update! It's 25 ways to wear a scarf and here's the link. Thanks Deanna! =:0) http://www.youtube.com/v/5LYAEz777AU?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0

 I was going to make a bunch of ruffle scarves until I saw a pattern for a beautiful chunky infinity scarf done on big circular needles and I just had to make one, plus the yarn was on sale at Michaels. 

Here's a link Deanna sent me when she got home. It's the Christmas story told by children from St. Paul's Church in New Zealand. So very cute! 

https://www.youtube.com/embed/kWq60oyrHVQ?rel=0

Custom Cozy for Dear Deborah!

My monsterly talented friend, Deborah Velasques thrilled me to death by ordering my Scandia Style tea cozy. She's an amazing artist in love with bright, bold colours and beautiful words. 

 I was a little nervous when I saw her teapot. Price Bros/ England/ 1950's A gorgeous set she picked up in Wales.  

And not the same shape at all as my little Brown Betty. Yikes!  She chose her colours, black, cream, green and said she was very fond of orange. She told me she liked the Marimekko look. I had no idea what that look was til I Googled it. 

     Marimekko is a Finnish company based in Helsinki. They are particularly noted for brightly coloured printed fabrics and simple styles.

Here is the finished tea cozy bright and cheerful, just like Deborah. 

With ceramic owl bead tassels and added stitches at the bottom to accommodate her lovely teapot.

I remembered around a year ago a post she did about owls and how she really liked them. This is her design, carved and block printed into cards. Aren't they cute!

So wasn't  I surprised when hunting for just the right beads for her cozy I found; owls! And orange, cream and black ones, to boot. So thank you Deborah for putting a modern twist on my traditional cozy! 

Here's another fantabulous piece by Deborah Velasques. She really does love cream black orange and green!  I'm hoping she decides to become a fabulous fabric designer. If you want to see more of Deborah's incredible work, check out her Blog:

http://deborahvelasquez.blogspot.ca/

Or better yet, click on the World Art Group link below to purchase one of her beautiful word path posters!

World Art Group

Happy Christmas everyone!

Ho Ho Ho!

 

Santa's on his way! 

And so are the bunnies! 

I'm making some cute new cards! You can find this one and many more of my designs at
Little Cricket Gift Gallery in Ft. Langley, B.C. and Strung Out On Beads in Abbotsford, B.C.
Not in the area? Don't worry, you're always welcome to pop on by my shop,
Rare Rabbits Designs on Etsy.

Cozy Crazy!