Adventures in Spirals - February 2015

I think I speak for all of us when I say that at least on occasion we all like quick, cute projects.  At least, I do.  They're encouraging because they work up quickly so progress can be seen.  Here, I came up with these cutie products: a spiral hat and matching fingerless mitts.  The spiral hat can actually be worn as a beanie with a cuff or as a slouchy beanie making it versatile as well as cute.  The matching fingerless mitts also worked up nicely with the same spiral concept.  I used Lion Brand Homespun yarn for quickness and light and dark blues for contrast.  

I hope you enjoyed this post!  As always, feel free to contact me by email or Facebook message for more information on any product or service.

Blessings!

Tabi  

Tabi's Creating Adventures

TabisCreatingAdventures@gmail.com

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Adventures in Tatting - January/February 2015

One of my desires from several years ago is to learn how to tat.  It's amazing how things work out.  I had been involved in social embroidery and appliqué classes at a local quilting shop in Marysville, WA last year and as we were in the process of moving back to Port Orchard, WA there came about a tatting class through the quilt shop with a guest teacher.  Of course I jumped on the opportunity and learned to tat!  Here are the first few little products I made with tatting.  

Above: A small ring which was supposed to be a circle but I read the pattern wrong.  I think it will work well for a doll halo, though.  (I have some 18" doll models and a pattern for making 18" doll clothes.  I'm excited!)

Above: This red and pink heart worked up nicely.  It is about 4" at the widest point and would work well as a bookmark or a decoration.

Below: This red and pink 6" bookmark also worked up nicely.  I am very pleased with how these came out.

Above: My first three products in tatting with the ends all weaved in.  I sent the heart and the bookmark to my mom and sister for Valentine's Day.  

Above: For the last class I learned how to incorporate beads into tatting and made a beaded Christmas wreath, it's about 2" across.  

Below:  As a variation on the beaded Christmas wreath I made this using shimmering gold thread without the beads.  

Above: I liked the Christmas wreath pattern without the beads so much I made more of them and strung them together to make a bookmark measuring 6" in length.  As of this writing, the Christmas wreath bookmark is available through my Facebook page in the "Available for Purchase" album.

Below: A coworker of my mom and sister sent me some tatting supplies and a book.  One of the patterns in the book is a cute edging I think works well as a bookmark.  So, I made a 6" bookmark from the supplies she gave me and sent it to her as a thank you gift which she appreciated very much.

I hope you enjoyed this post!  As always, if you would like more information on any product or service, please contact me through email or Facebook message (listed below).

Blessings!

Tabi
Tabi's Creating Adventures
TabisCreatingAdventures@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/TabisCreatingAdventures

Adventures in Christmas - November 2014

I don't know about you, but my family has requests of me on occasion.  Yup... sometimes those requests are big or even short notice.  My sister asked for small dog sweaters and my mom asked for a cardigan.  In the end they both appreciated the gifts I made for them.  

I found the pattern for the small dog sweaters (above) in a Google search.  I really liked the Grannie Square pattern and the contrast between colors.  I used the same variegated purple in each of the sweaters, but in one I used a light purple contrast (right) and the other I used a pink contrast (left).  I definitely want to make more critter apparel because it's fun and quick.  Not to mention there have been plenty of people asking about pet accessories.

For Mom, I finally found a pattern I liked that fit her description of what she wanted in a cardigan.  It is light and airy for the feel and she even picked out the color.  After searching online, printing a variety of cardigan/sweater patterns, and looking through my stash of other patterns, I finally decided on the star patterned cardigan from the back of a skein cover of Lion Brand Chenille yarn.  Of all the places I could have found a pattern for this I was actually surprised that a skein cover would have the pattern I needed.  Needless to say, I'm glad I searched all my stash and found all those patterns.  Maybe someday I'll be able to make some more from those patterns I found.  

I hope you enjoyed this post!

Blessings,

Tabi

Tabi's Creating Adventures

TabisCreatingAdventures@gmail.com

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Adventures in House Boots - November 2014

I was given a pattern for some super cute house boots and then immediately the person requested a pair.  From that, several other people wanted similar pairs!  Let me tell you, there was a good while where I had a pair of house boots hanging off my needles!  Also, it's always fun to find colors people specifically request... especially when the colors are not labeled specifically how I'm looking for them.  None the less, I found all that was needed and everyone was ecstatic over their house boots.  

Above: House Boots in cobalt blue wool with reflective buttons.

Below: House Boots in cobalt blue wool with matching buttons (and different lighting).

Above: House Boots in periwinkle acrylic with white buttons.

Below: House Boots in Angel Hair pink with reflective buttons.

Above: House Boots in purple wool/acrylic with white buttons.

Below: my very first pair of House Boots, the prototype of learning how to make them.

I hope you enjoyed this post!  Look for more information at my Facebook page!

(Note: I cannot share the pattern here because it is not my pattern to share.  If you would like more information on this product or the pattern you are welcome to contact me by email or Facebook message.)


Blessings,
Tabi

Tabi's Creating Adventures
TabisCreatingAdventures@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/TabisCreatingAdventures

Adventures in Amigurumi

The craze has finally come to Tabi's Creating Adventures!!  My first Amigurumi is a little lion!  Based on the first picture, I think our kitty does not like the Amigurumi kitty.  But that's okay, because she doesn't have to, I like it enough for both of us!  Needless to say I don't have to worry about the little lion becoming Skipper's play toy.  

Have a great day!

Blessings and Peace!

Tabi

Tabi's Creating Adventures

TabisCreatingAdventures@gmail.com 

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Adventures in Charity Pieces

I don't know about you, but I personally want to help as many people as I can.  Since I have been given quite a bit of yarn over the years I have come up with the idea to use some of that yarn for what I like to call "charity pieces."  Basically, I work up a product from yarn which has been donated and sell it for what I normally would sell it, but instead of putting the approximate material costs back into the business, I take that extra little bit and donate it to a local charity-type cause.   Partially it depends on where the sale is made as to which charity-type cause I donate to.  If I am in the Everett area in Washington, then I would donate to the Evergreen Home for Teen Mothers, but if I'm in the Bremerton area in Washington then I'll donate to Coffee Oasis which helps to minister to homeless teens.  You get the idea.  

This hat here is my first charity piece.  Many plans are in the works for other charity piece hats, scarves, fingerless mitts, bags and purses, and other items.  I look forward to telling more people about this soon!  Don't forget to visit my Etsy store (website below)!

Blessings and Peace!

Tabi

Tabi's Creating Adventures

TabisCreatingAdventures@gmail.com 

www.facebook.com/TabisCreatingAdventures  

www.etsy.com/TabisCreatingAdven 

Adventures in Cup Cozies - Fall 2014

I've been experimenting with some applique motifs for cup cozies for my upcoming classes at Craft Mart.  For ever motif I create at least two variations, at least one for knit and at least one for crochet... depending on how much I like the subtle differences there may be more than a few for either.  Look at the pumpkins in the first picture for an example, they're all crochet.  In fact, the only knit cup cozy currently pictured is the last pumpkin, at the very bottom (Fall Cup Cozy 6).  As for the majority of the motifs, I have found quite a selection from Ravelry.com (to which I will give credit for the patterns as I share them).  Motifs are certainly fun to work!

Fall Cup Cozies 1, 2, 3

Flower Cup Cozies 1, 2, 3, 4

Solid/Plain Cup Cozies 1, 2

Fall Cup Cozy 4

Fall Cup Cozy 5

Fall Cup Cozy 6

Stay tuned for more cute motifs and applique ideas!

Blessings and Peace!

Tabi

Tabi's Creating Adventures

TabisCreatingAdventures@gmail.com 

www.facebook.com/TabisCreatingAdventures  

www.etsy.com/TabisCreatingAdven 

Adventures in Team Spirit!

Here in Western Washington, the Seahawks football team is the big team that everyone is talking about!  Especially since they on the Super Bowl last year.  So, here are a few products I have made for those die-hard fans!  Yes, I know, the shade of green is very important!

TS Stripes and Cables Cap

Mohawk Hat

Cup Cozies

Blessings and Peace!

Tabi

Tabi's Creating Adventures

TabisCreatingAdventures@gmail.com 

www.facebook.com/TabisCreatingAdventures  

www.etsy.com/TabisCreatingAdven 

Adventures in Bookkmarks

Recently I had an opportunity to consign some items at a local bookstore.  Since then there has been much interest in the bookmarks, mostly from the ladies at church.  In response to this interest, I made a series of bookmarks and gave them as gifts.  All of the photos are on my Facebook page, so check them out!  

Some of these bookmarks are my own design and some of them I made from a pattern book.

Large Cross Bookmark

Flower Bookmark

Spaced Shells Bookmark

Japanese Flower Bookmark

Small Cross Bookmark

Birdhouse Border Bookmark (2 colors)

Birdhouse Borders Bookmark (solid)

Fanciful Fans (variegated)

Fanciful Fans (variegated)

Fanciful Fans (2 color)

Fanciful Fans (solid)

Blessings and Peace!

Tabi
Tabi's Creating Adventures TabisCreatingAdventures@gmail.com www.facebook.com/TabisCreatingAdventures  www.etsy.com/TabisCreatingAdven 

Adventures in Lace and a Purse!

As I am starting to branch out into lace, I realize I'm taking this one step at a time.  This product is the Diamonds and Eyelets Purse.  It's a cute over-the-shoulder, bag-style purse with a single button on the front for secure closure.  It is also lined with black felt material on the inside so even pens and pencils stand no chance of escape!  Simple and elegant, it's a must-have accessory for anyone on the go!

Branching out into lace has proven to be fun and slightly challenging.  Even so, I am beginning to see the patterns in my work (reading my work) and I look forward to incorporating similar designs into future products!

For more information about products, classes, or resources, please contact me through one of the means below.

Blessings and Peace!

Tabi

Tabi's Creating Adventures 

TabisCreatingAdventures@gmail.com 

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www.etsy.com/TabisCreatingAdven  (Use "summerfun14" through 7/31/14 for 15% off your purchase!)