UntouchableFace's post reminded me that I haven't posted my beer cozies here yet!  I made these for the Represent Your Hometown challenge:



Here's the original post:
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=231566.0

I'm in love with felted cozies now....especially since they're relatively easy to fit to the bottle while they're still damp from felting.

Denver, my new hometown as of a few months ago, loves microbreweries.  Colorado has more microbreweries than any other state.  And I am all for celebrating the rebirth of good beer    So, I figured some beer cozies needed to be made to celebrate my new hometown!



I started by crocheting a circle a couple rows larger than the base of a beer bottle (since I was going to felt, and shrink), then just worked even up to the right height.  I thought it would be cute to replicate the label on the cozy, so I worked a contrasting color in the size of the standard beer label.
Here’s a pic of changing color for the label:


And the embroidery stitching I did for the letters:


And before and after felting (the ‘N’ was my tester):


And one more pre-felting pic with all the cozies ready to go:


Anyways, I love how they ended up, after felting, looking like the letter is cut out of the label……or something   And, I love the idea of everyone at a party having unique cozies so no beers get lost!

Oh, and I'm not advocating the beer in the pics....those are just what we have left over    I am advocating all the fabulous brews that are concocted here - Fat Tire and such.

I am absolutely in love with our new hometown - Denver is a fantastic place to live - especially downtown!

I just finished a couple of things for a friend that just had a baby boy and decorated with a jungle theme...

Monkey & Elephant!


I got the pattern for the elephant bib here:  http://crochetcafepatterns.blogspot.com/2005/04/elephant-pacifier-bib.html
The cutest thing about it is that it holds a pacifier in its trunk!


I got the pattern for the monkey here:  http://quesera.ojaru.jp/osaru-pattern.html
And, I think the monkey is just too cute!  I stitched the baby's first initial onto the monkey's shirt.  I left off the suggested mouth because I think that the implied O mouth (made by the circular stitches  - not sure if you can see it in the pics) is better than any mouth I could stitch on.


I'm so bored making the same things for all my friends that are having baby boys!  This project was different and I loved it   Anyone else have good ideas for 'alternative' crocheted objects for babies?  I've still got 4 baby boy projects to go!

What's better than a big reusable bag?  A big reusable bag that fits into a cute little crocheted bag!


My resolution last year was to stop using plastic bags.  I was mostly successful....  My only problems arose when I unexpectedly purchased something that needed a bag. 

So, my resolution this year is to totally stop using plastic bags, and to help my friends achieve the same goal.  To do this, I needed a little bag that was always with me - for those unexpected purchases and for places where I didn't feel comfortable carrying in my own bags.  I saw a few manufactured bags, but wanted to make my own - with materials I had on hand - for myself and my friends.

The process:

I've only sewed a couple things and never ever without a pattern, so this was a new adventure!  I used some sheets that I had purchased many years ago at Urban Outfitters and never used..


I think the finished bag turned out super cute....but I am a sewing newbie


Finally, a part I'm more comfortable with - crocheting.  I made a base the thickness of the folded up bag then crocheted up until it was the right height.


Then, I made the flap by slowly decreasing until I reached a point - leaving a buttonhole somewhere in there.  I sewed on a clasp from a broken purse strap to make it more convenient to attach - to a backpack or a purse...





So, now I have a pattern for the big bag and the little crocheted bag, so I'll make as many as demanded   I've started my second one with a thinner fabric so that it will hopefully be more compact.  Total cost - about a dollar for a big bag of buttons!

Okay, just wondering if you all have any brilliant ideas for what I could make my hip grandmother for her birthday in a few days.  For Christmas, I made her a bright blue shawl - so I think another shawl in less than a month would be a little odd..........  She loves designer clothes and designer furnishings.... 

Any ideas you could give me would be so appreciated!  TIA!!

So, I just started sewing again this weekend for the Craft Challenge - and realized that my plastic box of straight pins wasn't cutting it.   So, I did a search on crocheted pincushions today and found this super cute pattern - http://www.crochetville.org/forum/showthread.php?t=32761

And now, the results:




If I was to make it again, I would make the donut larger.  Although she says she made it larger to keep pins from poking out, I still had to insert my pins at a sharp angle to keep it safe 

I like that it turned out pretty similar to The Simpsons Movie donut 

Hey, I'm brand new to Craftster and so excited!  Here's a couple of the projects I've completed recently (just to get my foot in the door )


Here's a scarf for my husband - we just moved to Denver from Phoenix so we were completely unprepared for the cold!  He's never worn warm stuff, so it's hard to find anything he'd be comfortable with. 
We finally agreed on this basic scarf.  It's Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick and Quick, I think, just with double crochet in back loops only.


Here's a beanie that I crocheted for the host of Food Network Challenge while attending a taping.  Sorry about the picture, but I had to take it without a flash on the seat next to me since they were always filming. 
Anyways, the host was complaining that his head was too big to wear any hat and he said that all he ever wears is blue, so I whipped out this XL blue beanie.  Then, it turns out he's opening a dessert shop a mile from our house, so he gave us his card. I stitched on the logo for his new shop - I was impressed that I was able to make the 'd'....I was scared about that curve


And finally, a couple finger puppets I made with scrap yarn.  The patterns are from the Jan/Feb '08 issue of 'Crochet Today'.  I totally struggled with the green guy's teeth - but my husband diggs them, so they stay.  I love the curled octopus arms 

Anyways, I hope I posted the pictures correctly and didn't say anything stupid and I'm so excited to have found a group of insane crafters like myself