Poison Ivy

Poison Ivy is for sale in my Etsy shop.

Copper Duck

If you know me, you know i LOVE copper. So when I found this duck head, I was in heaven! I mounted it to a blank copper plate and stamped "Quack" underneath. I LOVE it!

For sale in my Etsy shop, $29.

Henry Hugglemonster: FREE PATTERN!

A commission piece for a friend. There were no patterns for him that I could find, so I improvised!

Henry Hugglemonster is for sale in my Etsy shop.

Here is the pattern!:

Materials Needed:

F Hook

120 yards of worsted weight yarn in body color, I used Sugar'n Cream in Sunshine.

Small amount of blue and green

Small amount of white felt

Safety eyes

Red button

Two blue pompoms

Gauge is not important, just be sure to use a hook small enough to where the stuffing will not show.

When crocheting amigurumi, I always recommend using a Amigurumi Invisible Decrease, tutorial found here. 

Magic circle tutorial found here.

SC-single crochet

HDC-Half Double Crochet

Dec-Decrease, using the Invisible Decrease technique

Sl St-Slip Stitch

Ch-chain

St-Stitch

Feet: (Make 4 pieces)

*Each foot is made of two pieces that are then SC around to sew together. Leave two pieces with long tails for connecting together. 

Sc 6 into magic circle.

Row 1: 2 Sc in each St around (12)

Row 2:  *Sc, 2 Sc in next st. Repeat from * around (18)

Row 3: * Sc in next two Sts, 2 SC in next St. repeat from * around. (24)

Row 4: *2 DC in next st, DC, HDC, Sl St, Ch 1. Repeat from * around 

Finish off.

Take one piece with a long tail and one piece with a regular tail and stack them together. pieces should line up nicely. SC around piece, Sl St between each toe. Leave a small opening and stuff with a little polyfil or cotton ball. Finish connecting and weave in ends.

Sl St on the top of the foot to make leg, Ch 20, finish off. 

Hands: (Make 4 pieces)

* Each hand is made by crocheting two circles, then adding fingers while sewing the two together. Leave two pieces with long tails (about 36" in length) for connecting together.

Sc 6 into Magic circle 

Row 1: 2 Sc in each St around (12)

Row 2:  *Sc, 2 Sc in next st. Repeat from * around (18)

Finish off.

Sandwich two pieces together, one with long tail. With that long tail, Sl st the two pieces together. 

*In next st, Ch 2, DC, Ch 2, Sl st. Sl st in next st. Repeat from * three more times.

Sl st around the hand to close. Weave in ends.

With new yarn, Sl St to the "wrist" and Ch 15 to make arm. Finish off.

Head:

Sc 6 into magic circle.

Row 1: 2 Sc in each St around (12)

Row 2: *Sc, 2 Sc in next st. Repeat from * around (18)

Row 3: *Sc in next two Sts, 2 SC in next St. repeat from * around. (24)

Row 4: *Sc in next three sts, 2 Sc in next st. repeat from * around. (30)

Row 5: *Sc in next four sts, 2 sc in next st. repeat from * around. (36)

Row 6: *Sc in next five sts, 2 sc in next st. repeat from * around. (42)

Rows 7-10: Work even (42)

Row 11: *Dec, Sc in next five sts. Repeat from * around. 

Row 12: *Dec, Sc in next four sts. Repeat from * around. 

Row 13: *Dec, sc in next three sts. Repeat from * around. 

Row 14: *Dec, sc in next two sts. repeat from * around. 

Row 15: *Dec, sc in next st. Repeat from * around. 

Finish off.

Cut two eye shapes out of white felt. Cut tiny slits in them where the safety eye should go. Insert the safety eye through the felt and through the head where the eye will go. Snap on the back to the eye. Repeat for the other eye. Hot glue the felt down to head. Stuff head firmly. Sew on the button for the nose, and then dab some hot glue on the back. This is not necessary but if you are going to give it to little ones, it's good to do. 

Body:

Sc 6 into magic circle.

Row 1: 2 Sc in each St around (12)

Row 2: *Sc, 2 Sc in next st. Repeat from * around (18)

Row 3: *Sc in next two Sts, 2 SC in next St. repeat from * around. (24)

Row 4: *Sc in next three sts, 2 Sc in next st. repeat from * around. (30)

Row 5: *Sc in next four sts, 2 sc in next st. repeat from * around. (36)

Row 6: *Sc in next five sts, 2 sc in next st. repeat from * around. (42)

Rows 7: *Sc in next six sts, 2 sc in next st. repeat from * around. (48)

Rows 8-10: work even.

Decrease three stitches each row evenly around until you reach 18 sts.

Work 3 rows even.

Finish off and stuff firmly.

Sew the body to the head, then the arms and legs to the body.

Wings: (make 2)

ch 12

sl st in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next 2 sts

next st: sl st, ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch from hook, sl st in starting ch.

hdc in next 2 ch

next st: sl st, ch 4, sl st in 4th ch from hook, sl st in starting ch.

DC in next 2 sts, sl st in last ch, ch 4, sl st in 3rd ch from hook, sl st in starting ch. 

finish off, leaving long tail for sewing to body.

Horns:

Work 8 SC into magic circle.

Work even with blue for 3 rows.

Switch to green, work even for 2 rows. Dec at the end of the row.

Switch back to blue, Pinch together and SC 3 Sts across, turn and SC 2 sts. Finish off. Sew and glue one pompom to each horn. sew them onto the head.

Spikes:(Make two blue and one green)

Work 6 SC into magic circle.

Work even for 3 rows. pinch together and work 2 sts across top. finish off. sew them onto the head.

Belly Stripes:

with green, ch 4

sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across (3)

ch 2, turn. work 2 dc in first st, dc in next st, 2 dc in last st (5)

ch 2, turn. DC in next two sts, 2 dc in next, DC to end. (6)

switch to blue, ch 2, turn. dc in first 3 sts, 2 dc in next st, dc to end (7)

ch 2, turn. work DC across. (7)

switch to green, ch 2, dc in first 3 sts, 2 dc in next st, dc to end (8)

ch 2, turn. work Dc across to end. (8)

switch to blue. ch 2, work DC across to end. (8)

repeat last row

switch to green. ch 2, work Dc across to end. (9)

ch 1, sc in next 2 sts, HDC in next st, TR in next two sts, hdc in next two sts, sc in last st.

finish offand weave in ends. leave long tail for sewing to the body.

Hook Set, With Vintage Forks and Reclaimed Cedar Shingles

Remember those funky forks I got? Well, I bent them into hooks and mounted them onto some old cedar shingles. I love that you can see the outline of a door handle that was once there. Attached with mismatched screws, the look is slightly primitive/industrial chic. I love it :)

For sale on my Etsy page, $8.

Junking Adventures

Just a few of my latest junking finds!

Vintage Morton's Salt Tin

Vintage Copper Fireplace Scuttle Bucket

Metal Star

Chinese Calligraphy Brush, Goat hair and bamboo handle

1950s Cowboy Pin Up Set

Vintage Cooler Planter

I found this old metal 1950s? cooler at the Salvation Army for $4. I grabbed it up and took it home!
But, I couldn't decide what to do with it...and then, inspiration struck! It'd be a awesome planter! I had this trellis in the back yard. I put it in and put some plants in. That's it!

It even has a drain hole in the side already! How perfect!

VIntage Baby Scale

Isn't this vintage baby scale I found today just the cutest??

For sale in my Etsy shop!

Vintage Candlestick/Plant Stand

I just love the sinuous, almost dragon-like carvings on this one of a kind candlestick/plant stand I made. I also love the color, a bright chartreuse. I love it so much, I'd like to keep it, but I can't trust my one year old around it. So, it is for sale on my Etsy page!

Vintage Star Wars Masks

I just love these vintage Star Wars masks I found! They are handmade, signed on the back and dated 1981. The set is for sale on my Etsy page.

Cutting Board into Cookbook Stand

I found this old ugly cutting board at my local ReStore. I had seen these on Pinterest and knew it would be perfect to make one of my own. While at the restore, I found a piece of wood (no idea actually what it is, maybe a curtain rod holder). I glued it onto the back for the stand with some all-purpose adhesive. I had some True Blue Krylon Dual Paint + Primer spray paint on hand, so I sprayed on a quick coat of it and let it dry. Then I used my stencil I used for my UK tray tables and stenciled on the logo with some white craft paint. I then painted and glued on a Scrabble tile rack for the holder. I wanted it to look somewhat distressed, so I sanded it roughly with some 80 grit sandpaper. I love how it looks!!

Vintage Mirror

I picked up this ugly old mirror at the local thrift store for $.50. I unscrewed the back and removed the mirror, leaving just the frame. I then sprayed it with some teal spray paint. Teal looks good on about everything, don't you think?

Then, I cut out some scrapbook paper in the shape of the back and mod podged it on. Looks so cute, don't you think?

UK Tray Tables

I had an order of True Blue spray paint come in from Krylon, along with some other colors, so I had the idea of making these old tray tables in a UK theme.

 I simply sanded the tables, and gave them a good spray with the paint. It really only took one coat, this stuff covers so well! Then, I needed my UK logo. I printed out the logo on some heavy weight photo paper, and cut it out with an exacto knife. Then I layed the stencil onto the top, and blotted some white craft paint on with a sponge. (Be careful not to use too much)

And that's it!

Drum Table

I saw this table on Pinterest,

 I was inspired to make my own!

I took a few of my hubby's old forgotten drums, one without the "drum" part, and stacked them. I glued the two drums together with all purpose heavy duty adhesive, and put the glass table top on top. My mother in law had given me two of these tops. I just need suction cups for the top and...

maybe legs? I haven't decided. But if and when I do add legs, I will be sure to add the pic!

From Trash to Treasure, Lawn Chair Edition

I got these metal lawn chairs out of the trash heap at my local antique dealer place. They were, admittedly, in rough shape, but I knew I could make them cute again. I wiped off all the dirt and began painting with my favorite spray paint, Krylon Dual Paint + Primer.. This is how they turned out! Cute, huh?

Penguin Amigurumi

Penguin is for sale in my Etsy shop.

Based on this pattern by Lion Brand.

Cosco Metal Kitchen Cart Makeover

This sad little Cosco Mid Century rolling cart was just screaming for a makeover when I found it at Goodwill for $3.50. I loved the little clear wheels on the bottom! It squeaked and was very rusty from neglect, but I knew I could make it really cute!

I sanded the whole thing with 80 grit sandpaper, making sure to remove any excess paint, dirt and rust, then sprayed the whole thing with Krylon Paint + Primer (my FAVORITE spray paint!) in a beautiful Sun Yellow. 

So cheery and retro, don't you think? This is after one coat.

I perhaps should have taped off the wheels, but i think a cotton ball with fingernail polish remover will take off the excess. I squirted some WD-40 on the wheels and let it soak in, to help with the squeakiness.