Being as I'm a bookish sort of a person. It doesn't cast a superduper amount of light, but it's bright enough to read by if you sit close

Le making Of:








And the whole nasty process (not that it was nasty really) is outlined here.

Sorry for the influx of posts (if 2 = an influx!) but this came to me as I drifted off to sleep last night, which makes me think it's been done, but anyways.

Challenge: Create a shrine in a tin or box for your favourite craft.

EDIT: Oops, missed it on the first reading, but it's been done. A repeat mebbe? lol

My idea is that for a challenge, people work in their preferred craft, but swap a material for something form another craft. Does that make sense? eg. Scrapbooking with fabric rather than paper, mosaic with yarn rather than tile...

Does anyone happen to know where I could get a free or cheap pattern for an amigurumi roach?

I have three Giant Roaches as pets and I'd like to honor them lol.

This is my hat. It's only a hat but it's also the first crochet project I've ever actually finished.


All double, with the crown worked in the round so I can sound fancier "Oh sure, totally worked in the round yaknow".

This is described in the chart as a "pique stitch" but I can't seem to find a visual guide, is there another name for it?

Pique stitch: yo, insert hook, yo, draw through a loop, yo, draw through 2 loops, yo, insert hook in same st, yo, draw through a loop, yo, draw through 4 loops on hook.

[highly]

So this weekend I'm shaving my head for charity and considering it's winter coming up and I've never had REALLY short hair before, I thought I'd make a hat. This one is the Newsboy Cap pattern from Wild Ginger (the freebie accessories software).

If you're planning to use the software, I highly recommend making a prototype first. I ended up chopping 2 thirds off the brim (and it's still huge) and also the pattern bits and the instructions don't match on the numbers (eg, the pattern says "cut 6" the instructions say "cut 8" and I actually needed 7).
However! I am pretty happy with my hat which is made from a skirt I bought on sale (XL? Pfft. Shoulda tried it on, but the fabric was so nice) and also an old sarong that was worn out.




(This is why I call it the Hidden Sunset Hat)


MASSIVE brim there dahlinks! Remember, I cut two thirds off that puppy!


And playing with potential feature button or brooch locations in order to not walk into stuff.

Generally speaking, my sewing ability is more "optimistic" than "Skilled"

I'm still very very new to plushies and sewing in general (have dabbled since I was a kid, but not to any great skill level). Anyways, my pajamas have a cartoon of a pointy looking cat on them and after a while I figured "Hey I could make that".

I sort of did, but this poor kitty has some wonk issues, as well as some Not Very Well Sewn issues.


(Also It looks like his tail is attached to the back of his head, which it isn't)

So my mother was supposed to be doing a demonstration of lino cutting at work today for a mini craft expo, but couldn't make it sooooo I ended up having to do it. Eeeep. Been a long long time since I cut any lino! So, I present my 2 demonstration pieces (hahah, bad art anyone?).


Book plate which I prepared beforehand. It seemed apt, since i work in a library. I was all for skipping the lettering (as you can see - with good reason!) but Mum wouldn't let me get away with that!


I call this one Library Girl since she was drawn, transferred to lino and cut in about 15 minutes. She's rough, but I kinda like her.

Having decided life is too short to wish I was doing something like oil painting, I'm diving in and giving it a try. I just have one tiny question.

I've googled this, but am still not sure of the answer. If I slap down a base coat of acrylic paint on my surface, will that be okay or do I need to use gesso?
Thanks!