Buttons Galore!!

I have recently purchased a BUNCH of buttons. Here's a look see:

The reason for this is... A button purse!!! I made my mom one a few years ago and it turned out awesome. She made it a bit smaller than I did, because it was so heavy, but she still uses it. She's gotten a lot of compliments on it over the years, and she loves it. I sewed every button on, and I'd be willing to bet that it was well over 1,000. just buttons. I also added beads to fill in the spaces that the buttons left open. I didn't just do this once, I messed the first purse up sp bad, i had to take it all apart, every button and bead, and redo it all within two days. I did it though! My fingers were hurting so bad that I didn't want to see another button until now. So I think it's time. I'll be looking for some good sturdy material to make it with, and then I'll be on my way!!! I'll be posting to sell it once it's done. I probably will NOT use all of these buttons. The majority, yes, but not all. I have a bunch of very pretty buttons that I'd like to see on other things. But we'll see. So I'll have to keep you updated on this project! I'll give a tutorial also. :) Maybe it'll inspire someone else to make something so painful and pretty!

Until next time,

Tonya@ Woollyghoulie

Sublime Stitching

Hello there!
Today I'm blogging about hand stitching. I absolutely LOVE it. I'm still not very great at it, but it's something I'll have to practice more at. That means, I'll have more stuff to decorate my walls with!! I'm excited about that! We don't really have much on our walls, and I'd love to have them almost covered.
So I do have one finished project I was able to get a picture of. It's the white rabbit from Bad Birds blog. It's a free pattern and they're great for taking them and changing them just a tad. Here's what I came up with

Now, I didn't change the pattern a lot, just a little.

So, I got some books with patterns for hand stitching. Here's a great site for pretty much everything you need to start and finish your hand stitching projects. Plus there's so much free info on their, it's really worth checking out. Here you go, Sublime Stitching. There's really so much cool stuff there. It really makes you feel comfortable about starting a new craft. So if you're not into hand stitching because it's never been something you tried, just give it a shot. You don't know how awesome you'll be at it, if you don't try it, at least once. At best, you have an awesome piece to give as a gift, frame for yourself, or sell. At worst, you have something you tried and found out if you liked it or not. I hope you enjoy yourself with any project you try. So, I encourage anyone that happens upon this blog, to try something new! Share your progress or your issues with it!! There's bound to be someone that can help you! And if you're not a skin, we can't help.

Until next time,

Tonya @Woollyghoulie

Granny Square-O-Rama!!!

Granny Squares are an easy crochet pattern for anyone with some yarn and a hook. I like them because I can knock them out in hardly any time and use whatever color scheme I want. I can keep email all the same, or change them up. I can make them as small or as big as I want. I can put them in any pattern I want, it's all up to me. The granny stitch is pretty versatile on its own. You don't have to keep it square. Make as many corners as you can, or keep it round. Use different yarns for different textures, just as any other stitch.
The squares I've got here, are for a blanket I'm making for our bed. It's going to be very vivid and bright and awesome.
I've been using Schachenmayr Original Bravo yarn for this project. The same yarn I use  to make the perfect triangle scarf I posted about before. Same colors too! I love this yarn so much. It's an acrylic DK weight yarn made in bright colors. I order this yarn from Craftsy. It's usually on sale, and I can get it a decent price. They've listed other yarns made by Schachenmayr also.
To make these granny squares, I've been using a size D/3 hook. I really like the stitch tightness with this yarn and hook together. Smaller hook doesn't work out, and neither does a bigger hook. So I suggest using a D Hook with this yarn.
Well, I hope this inspires someone to hook up a neat granny square blanket, top or pillow or something.
Until next time,
Tonya@Woollyghoulie

Tree Bark Planter

Hi folks!
I've been doing some time outdoors! The weather has been super lovely and bright, permitting some gardening. So my garden is tilled up, ready for some carrot seeds to be stuck into the ground. I have four trays of Zennias, different varieties, started and a tray of different varieties of sunflowers. Once these next few days have gone and passed with the cold weather, I'll be planting my bulbs! I have Double Freesias and Ranunculas to plant in an old rusty wheelbarrow we have. I have more sunflower seeds to plant, but I'll wait until the weather is a little better, that way I have sunflowers all spring and summer. I also have some extra Zennia seeds I'll start in a couple weeks, to give me different stages.

So with all of this dirt playing, I've done some crafting too. Not a bunch yet, with the garden, but there's one neat thing I'd love to share. It's a planter I fashioned together from tree bark and an old plastic pot. We had a log cut up in the back yard for our wood stove, and I used a section of it as a seat. Well, I noticed that the bark had begun to separate from the log. So I got it off in one piece and decided I wanted to do something with it. Paul suggested a planter, and I thought it was perfect. So I took my rotary tool, drilled some holes in it to lace it back together, and shellacked it to preserve the bark and stop any further breaking. Here's my outcome:

It will look much better when I get my plant in there. I'm not sure what I want to plant in it yet, maybe a fern or something else leafy and green. I'll share it once it's full. Also, I realize I did a sloppy job on the lacing, but I was just trying to get it to stay together. It broke off and I had to double lace it. I'll just put it towards the back. 

Well, I hope this got your mind going on how to get crafty in your gardens! Enjoy the weather, and get out of the house!!! 

Until next time,

Tonya@Woollyghoulie

Its a new year, folks.

I'm not making any resolutions! Nope, because I always break them. It's pointless. So instead, here's what I will do! I will live life to the best o  my ability. I really do need to get off my ads more often. I want a bike! But I'm not counting on it. I will be working on my craft more. I've already said that. And I've been doing that. I'm going to be getting out of my pajamasalmost every day. =)

Here's what I've been working on this week. It's taking me FOREVER. I don't know if it's because I haven't felt good, or because I have a few other things I've been working on. I ordered some yarn for myself for Christmas, from Craftsy. They've had some awesome sales going on. So I've taken advantage of that a couple times. So here's a look-see

I highly recommend this yarn. It's Cascade Yarns in Cherub DK weight. I'm using two natural, two ruby, two silver and one peacock. I LOVE the peacock and wish I had ordered a bunch more. Now it's not available through Craftsy, and I don't really want to pay any more than the sale price. So I'm just using the peacock sparingly through this shawl. I'm obsessed with triangle scarves/shawls. I like that there are so many ways to wear them. So I've made one already. I posted it a couple weeks ago.  Now I'm working on this one. I will probably be selling this in my etsy shop. I've been neglecting it lately, an  I have plenty to post. So one day this coming week will be a complete etsy day. I'll post that when I've done it. Maybe you'll see something in there that you can't live without, or want in different colors or something. I'm willing to work!!!!! Just tell me what you want!!!!

Oh, by the way... I've been collecting Lalaloopsy dolls for a bit now, as I've posted before. And there's so many that I love, and my collection has grown a LOT since October. So I will be starting a new blog about my collection of dolls. It won't be just lalaloopsy dolls. I have a couple of other things I have, and different from th  lalaloopsy dolls. I'll post about that here to. It will include the clothes I'll be making for them, and hopefully selling, and customizations to them and other dolls. I'll take you on the journey that brought me to collecting dolls. So as soon as I get that going, I'll let us know. And even if you aren't into dolls, you can see some of the projects I'll be working on. So I hope you'll read and follow both of my blogs, and shop my etsy shop when I get it all posted!!!!

Until next time,
Tonya@WoollyGhoulie

Dream Catchers and Tea.

A few months ago I happened upon a picture of a dream catcher. It was made with a doiley and some ribbons and trimmings. I immediately felt like I had to make one. It was going to happen. I just needed to figure it out. So here's what I did. I spent a few weeks searching for a doiley pattern I couldn't live without... didn't find one. So I decided it wasn't going to be made with a doiley. I was going to make it with something else. Like a motif for a sweater or something. I couldn't find one. Then it hit me. I'm going to be crocheting over glass ornaments for the craft show. I found a pattern I kinda liked and wanted to spring off of in my Crochet Today magazine for Nov/Dec. 2013. Tromme Balls I think.very pretty and simple. So I took that pattern, made just the bottom part a LOT bigger using cotton twine. I crocheted around a clothes hanger I formed into a circle and attached the ornament pattern to that. It looks really cool just like that. But I needed to add pretty things to make it complete. I used twine I got from Family Dollar and its beige. So I wanted to keep it kinda vintage looking. Well, I have this huge bag full of old zippers and hem tape and lace and trimmings. Just a bunch of old stuff. And by old I mean from '68-'89. So I cut that stuff into various lengths, added some beads and buttons to the mix and tied it all to the part of the circle that I twisted together. It hides the lumps very nicely. Here's what I need up with.

I hung it up in the kitchen window to get a picture with light, but ridding turn out too well.  Either way, you get the idea. I LOVE my dream catcher. I'm making smaller ones now, different center. I'm aiming to sell them. I'll post them on etsy after Christmas... probably. Any questions, just ask!!!! 

Until next time,

Tonya @WoollyGhoulie