Divalicious

Yesterday was my eco-craft sessions at Diva Day at Thrive! Naturally where I taught wonderful ladies how to turn old, used t-shirt into Nuno-Zori (Japanese cloth sandals).

T-shirts all cut up into strips.

Weaving the strips of t-shirts.

Braiding the straps

I had such a great time getting to know all the ladies and was so excited to see them be able to make something to take home. If you are interested in making yourself a pair there's a great tutorial here.

Hope

You too can help.

go here, and here

Fuzzy browny goodness crochet earflap hat pattern

Finally got around to making this earflap hat pattern. "Yeeesh, Long enough!", I know, I know. It my first ever crochet pattern written down instead of it being in my head some place. Writing a pattern is easier said then done. Even though this is a very simple pattern, I still had doubts on whether it had the right number of rounds, double crochets, etc, etc. So here it is and please let me know if there are errors or if it's difficult to understand.

Materials
1 Red Heart Light & Lofty, Brown Stripe, Color: 9991. Light and Lofty yarn gives it that fuzzy look, but any other super bulky weight 6 yarn should still work.

10.00mm (US 15) crochet hook

Finish size
6-12 months (16"-19" head circumference)

Pattern
Hat
Rnd 1: ch 2, 6 sc in second chain from hook, join beginning sc with a sl st.

Rnd 2: ch 2, 2 dc in each sc, join with sl st. (12 dc)

Rnd 3: ch 2, * 1 dc in next dc, 2 dc in next dc*, repeat * around, join with sl st. (18 dc)

Rnd 4: ch 2, *1 dc in next 2 dc, 2 dc in next dc*, repeat * around, join with sl st. (24 dc)

Rnd 5: ch 2, *1 dc in next 3 dc, 2 dc in next dc*, repeat * around, join with sl st. (30 dc)

Rnds 6-8: ch 2, 1 dc in each dc around, join with sl st. (30 dc)

Earflaps
Row 1: ch 2, 1 dc in next 6 dc (6 dc), turn,

Row 2: ch 2, 2 dc tog, 1 dc, 2 dc tog. (3 dc), finish off

Skip 10 dc and rejoin yarn to work on second earflap.

Finishing
Sc around the edge and finish off.

Perfect as is or you can add yarn braid and tassels to bottom of earflap. Go here for a tassel tutorial at Serendipity Crochet.

Hat shown here on my boys is without braid and tassels and made a size bigger for toddlers.

Enjoy!!

Say click, take a pic

I was at my parent's place in Edmonton this weekend and found this wonderful thing hidden in one of the drawers of an old office desk in their basement. It belonged to my grandfather, 爺爺(ye ye). My dad brought it over from Hong Kong when we immigrated to Canada back in 1981. And it's just been hanging around the basement collecting dust until now.

It's a Voigtlander Vito CLR. It's says on it that it's made in West Germany and I believe around 1960. Vintage camera experts out there, please correct me on that.

I am wondering if this camera still works and quite anxious to get some film and test it out. Do they even develop film anymore at the local grocery and drug stores?

Merry xmas present for me

Those that know me well knows that I'm a huge fan of Project Runway (7th season premieres tomorrow! Yay!!) Designing, creating, sewing, cattiness, what's not to love? I make Darcy watch it with me, he likes it too and don't tell him I told you that, and every time I watch it I would say "oh I wish I had one of those dress forms so I can learn how to drape garments like those designers." So for Christmas this year he got me one and it came in the mail yesterday.

Yippee!

Oh, just a little sip.

How was your weekend? We finally had bearable winter temperatures, -8°c to -4°c, which called for outdoor fun in the snow. Much needed for the restless boys. Along with some hot chocolate and homemade chocolate chip cookies, it was the perfect little weekend.

I've been looking at a lot of movie trailers lately and one of the movies I am quite anxious to see this year is Alice in Wonderland directed by Tim Burtons. I've always been a fan of Tim Burtons cinematography and his surreal worlds he creates in his movies. And Hello?!, Johnny Depp, yes please! Haha! So of course I needed to create my version of Alice. "Some biscuit with your tea Alice?"

("Drink me Alice" - watercolor, ink)

The curious case of Jeanie's buttons

Holidays are done and back into the routine of things. Been busy organizing, cleaning, creating, and deciding on which direction I like to take that creativity to. The thought of an Etsy store is going through my head a lot lately. Hmmm??

In the meantime though, you should go check out the multi-talented Jeanie's new Etsy store. Not only does she make cards, stamps, natural deodorant and lipbalms, she also makes one of a kind jewelry.

These button rings of hers are just absolutely original and gorgeous!
Good luck girl with your new store! I hearted it!

(Cute as a Button Ring // Josephine - Jeanie Andronyk)