Holly Jolly Blog Bingo

Here is a fun little Bingo game being played over at In Stitches go there and join in on the fun! There are great prizes!

Free Crochet Christmas Stocking Ornament Pattern

I wrote this pattern down after I wrote my Busy with Yarn post. I have a complete inability to make the same thing over and over, but I am working on more ornaments with slight variations, I thought there might be someone else out there who would like the pattern :)


MATERIALS: Size H hook, single strand 4 ply or 2 or 3 strands baby yarn.
Made in rounds.
Row 1: Ch 12, sc in 2nd st from hook, sc in next 9 sts, 3 sc in end (toe) st, continue along the other side of the chain, sc in next 10 sts, 3 sc in end (heel) st. Do not join.
Row 2: Sc in each sc, 3 sc at end of each row.
Rows 3, 4, 5: Sc in each sc, do not inc.
Rows 6, 7, 8: Sc in each sc, dec 3 sts at toe, sc in sc to heel.
Row 9: Repeat Row 8, at heel, join with sl st, ch 1.
Rows 10-16: Sc in each sc around.
Row 17: Sc in each sc around. Join with sl st.
Row 18: Change colors for “stocking cuff”. Chain 1 and make 2 Sc in first sc and then 1 sc in each sc around. Join with sl st.
Row 19-23: Chain 2 and make 2 Hdc in first sc/hdc and then 1 hdc in each sc/hdc around. Join each round with sl st.
Row 24: Sc in each hdc around.
Join with sl st and break off. Weave ends into work. Turn cuff down over stocking and add a small piece of yarn in a bow to the top back for hanging.

If you find any errors, please let me know so that I can fix them!
Thanks for reading and have a Happy Thanksgiving (in the United States)!

Free Crochet Webkinz/Stuffie Sweater Pattern

Here is a pattern for the crochet version of my easy stuffie sweater that makes a quick and easy gift :) Thank you for reading :) If you find any problems with the pattern, please let me know so that I can correct it, thanks! I'm working on the stocking ornament pattern too :)

Super Easy Crochet Webkinz/ Stuffie Sweater

Supplies:

Worsted weight yarn (two strands- can be the same or contrasting colors)

Size N and G  hook

Instructions:

With size N hook, chain 18 for a lil’ kinz and 22 for a regular size webkinz.

You may want to leave a 6-8 inch tail for stitching at the end.

Row 1: Sc in second chain from hook. Sc in each sc to end.

Rows 2-7 Sc in each sc.

Row 8: (for regular size webkinz, add 4 rows here): Sc in each sc.

Optional: you may add a few rows here to make it longer

Row 9- 13: At beginning of row, skip one sc (or any decrease) and then sc in each sc to last two, skip another sc (or any decrease) before last sc.

Row 14: Sc in each sc.

Row 15: Chain 14 with the size G hook and break off yarn, leaving a tail for finishing.

Finishing:

Sew sides together (first 8 rows).

For a different look, you may easily change the stitch pattern to all sc, ch, sc and have a lacier look, or use any pattern stitch.

Benefit for Malaria

My 10 year old daughter made a painting to raise money to purchase mosquito nets for families in Africa after learning about the devastating effects of Malaria and how easily it can be prevented. 100% of the proceeds will go to a charity that purchases mosquito nets for families in need.

You can purchase the original or a print at my ETSY shop.

Welcome SITStas!

Hello all my fellow SITStas! I am so excited to have you all over for a visit!

Around here, I like things to be pretty and practical. I believe there is joy in using beauty and art in everyday life and that everyone has creativity of some sort (yes, that means YOU!) I mostly write about my family and all sorts of crafty projects I have going. I like to quilt, knit, crochet, scrapbook, and I'll try just about any crafty thing at least once! I like to make art and craft for good causes and I'd love to get in touch with others who do too! It seems I am always finding a new project :)

I grew up 11 miles down a dusty road from a tiny country town in Colorado. I became a "jane of all trades, master of none" while in the Navy, college, graduate school, and being a high school teacher in the public school system. I am now blessed to be a stay at home mom and wife to a pastor in central Florida. I am in my first year of homeschooling our two elementary age kids (gratuitous photos follow!) Welcome!

Here are a few links to some of my favorite posts:

More About Me

One of My Projects (a quilt)

A Knitting Pattern I Wrote (super easy knit stuffie/webkinz sweater)

 

Busy with Yarn

I have been busy making a few little things for a few friends :) Here are a couple of my latest projects... a baby bib and booties and a pattern I made up for a Christmas tree ornament. Oh, and a really interesting insect we found on the wall of the house...

Happy Veteran's Day!

Today is Veteran's Day in the U.S. I just wanted to say a HUGE Thanks to all my fellow Veterans today for their service! God bless you for your willingness to give! I was blessed to be a part of the United States Navy and I know many people who give so freely of themselves for the preservation of our freedoms :)

Scrappers Give Thanks!

My kids and I are doing a great challenge called "Scrappers Give Thanks"! We are so excited to send cards for soldiers to use to write home to their loved ones ♥
If you have scrapbooking supplies (paper, hybrid, or digital) on hand, consider making a few cards for this cause!

Scrappers Give Thanks

OPAM finish for October

I can hardly believe that I have finished a single project this month, but I have. It is small, but complete! It's a cute little skirt for a friend's daughter :) It's recycled denim (my old jeans) and a piece of the sheet from the girl's little pet shop curtains I made.

OPAM Finish for September

Here is another very small project, an embellished dish towel. Homeschooling has been keeping me from sewing, much to my frustration!  However, the homeschooling is going VERY well. My DS is like a new child and has his happy back :) I really can't ask for more than that!

This is one project that has been on my to do list since July when I found this cute fabric about friendship. The one section says "The journey to a friend's house is never too far to travel". This is just a little gift for a friend :)

A Worthy Cause/ATC Challenge: Edited

This is a challenge from a very courageous woman!

My name is Michelle Major.
I am a mother, a teacher, an artist.
I am also a survivor of domestic violence.
In August 2008, my husband tried to murder me in an act of domestic violence. Before beating me and strangling me to unconsciousness, he took a butcher knife and slashed ninety-four of my paintings. Through my artwork, I have moved from victim to survivor and I have turned my second chance at life into advocating for victims of domestic violence. I am spreading my story by sharing my butchered artwork through gallery showings and speaking engagements. I have turned this passion for shining a light onto the ugliness of domestic violence into an organization called BAVA: Be A Voice Arts to provide healing through artistic expression.

For Domestic Violence Awareness Month, BAVA is hosting an "Artist Trading Card" challenge. An ATC is a small card, about the size of a playing card on which people write , draw, paint, collage, use photographs and more. ATC's are a worldwide art form where people often have 'groups' , create 'themes', and then create miniature works of art to trade and collect. They are almost like modern day baseball cards to some folks! I have complete details on my website: http://www.beavoicearts.com/i-have-a-voice-atc-challenge (***There is a 5.00 participation fee that will be waived if someone participates through a group home, therapy session, or some other type of organization designed to promote their healing). BAVA wants their voice, not their money!!

The theme is "I HAVE A VOICE!".
My creative vision for these ATC's is this:
I want to create a work of art where the cards hang on my wedding dress as an interactive gallery piece. The reason I am creating this wedding VOICE piece comes as an outcropping of a painting I did called "Til Death". 'Til Death' is a painting of me as a bride, tortured and hopeless, with 'X's" over the mouth to symbolize the secret and shame and inability to speak up during a relationship of abuse. After viewing that portrait, one would think that my wedding dress would be a symbol of the loss of hopes and dreams for a marriage and a future, yet in actuality, the dress will be transformed to symbolize the literal artistic VOICES that have come together as one to "Speak Up Against Domestic Violence". I want to hang all the submitted cards from the dress skirt and viewers can come up, turn the cards over in their hands, move around the piece and experience the "Voices!" I am hoping to generate enough response to fill up the skirt. I think it will be a very powerful piece and full of hope!
Help me fill the dress with YOUR artistic voice. You may save a life.
http://sites.google.com/a/beavoicearts.com/www/i-have-a-voice-atc-challenge

Edited to add:

When I (Rebecca) was 17 I became a victim of  violence at the hand of my boyfriend. I won't go into the details, but because of that event, this contest really spoke to my heart. It took me a long time to even realize that I was violated and didn't deserve it, let alone to heal and see myself as valuable again! I found a lot of that healing through the love of God. I want to pass along the hope that you CAN heal.

Here is a photo of  my entry. I don't feel like it is any great work on it's own, but it comes from the heart and shows the hope of healing from me. The gem stands for the value of hope. The stitched up heart shows the healing that can happen in a person's life. I hope to give others the hope of healing from abuse.

Zoo Trip

We went for a little trip to the zoo to kick off the school year (this was a couple of weeks ago and I am just now getting to posting...) We rode the zoo train for the first time and it was fun. It could have been a longer ride for me... I needed to relax! The kids enjoyed the petting zoo tremendously! They even got to pet an armadillo :)