Tag Archive | Ravelry

Anoka County Fair 2017

This is my 3rd year entering into our local county fair, and this year everyone but Ken had some sort of entry. It was a bit of a struggle to get everything done in time for entry, but we managed. I think next year we will plan in advance to include some school projects in our entries. Maybe make some pointed attempts to craft according to fair themes?

Well, from youngest to oldest… Echo! She was adamant she wanted a RAINBOW ribbon. This happens to be the participation ribbon for the children under 13. So there was a bit of a worry that she WOULD place with both of her pieces and thus get what she sees as the less pretty and therefore less wanted ribbon. Well, not a problem. While she did an amazing job, both of her pieces did not place. And she was still happy! Score! Crayon drawing was done using Art for Kids instructions (we love this site and pay for the subscription). 20170801_141417_HDRHer Legos  were a free form piece.20170801_140908

Trinity was a bit more prolific. She got a camera for her birthday (thanks again Gammie!) and wanted to send in 4 of her photos. 4 categories… animals, people, nature and flowers… all in colour. She didn’t do half bad!

Neko-Chan

Neko-Chan

Flowers

Flowers

Brothers

Brothers

Flowering tree

Flowering tree

And for her Lego piece – one with instructions.

In the cabinet since when we took it home we had to take it off the board and such.

In the cabinet since when we took it home we had to take it off the board and such.

Emanuel had 3 pieces this year. He remade his minion he had made and not entered last year with all Lego blocks, drew a picture and wrote a 4th Haiku to go with a seasonal series he had to write for an assignment. He copied out, arranged and glued down the whole written piece. Something to definitely be proud of!20170801_140932

20170801_14133820170801_141126Gavin put in 3 pieces. We tie dyed as a family, he chose to enter his shirt. Then it was a repeat of his Chinese New Year t-shirt theme – drawn on dragon! His third was, again, a dragon – this time in pencil. Not bad, not bad!20170801_141522

20170801_141611_HDR20170801_141437_HDRZander was a bit of a push. He was not motivated to make much of anything. I was really hoping he would work harder on the rug kit he got for Christmas, but we have hope for NEXT year with that one. This year it was his tie dye shirt and that was that.20170801_141641

I went all out this year trying to do a variety of pieces that will later be given out as gifts. According to the judges my top entry was my set of flower fairy dolls. They were entered under crochet dolls pair and ended up a Sweepstakes winner (I am still a little dodgy on what that means entirely, but the ribbon is pretty).20170807_143603

My personal favourite was the Haku dragon I entered under crochet storybook character. You can read all about our adventure to create this one and get the link to the pattern I used HERE. I have plans to make another in the near future.20170801_141739

I had a whole series of baby pieces this year. Many of which are slated to head over to a friend’s for her little one. Hat, booties, sweater, blanket. Not a bad little selection. I am still hunting for the perfect sweater pattern. This one was cute, but I agree with the judge, using the buttons it called for (toggles) was not quite right. So now that I have photographed it, time to remove the toggles and replace with some black buttons.20170805_142418

20170805_14234820170807_14373620170728_194446My second blanket entry this year was also a baby blanket. Just over sized to a toddler size really. Based on a blanket seen on the tv show Call The Midwife, I lucked out with a super deal on factory remnant yarn and ran with it.IMG_20170805_150002_388

I went all out with the critters as usual, Haku, the dolls… I also did a mini flower fairy as my solitary entry under doll. She is a small version of a larger one I entered last year. I also used a leaf pattern I had from another project to create a little leaf basket on her arm. 20170801_142351

For animals, my poor bunny lost out to FOUR Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. (although I have to say, aren’t they more storybook than…).20170805_142327

For the first time I also entered a doll I dressed with my own creations. My 18 inch doll was done up in a fall theme. Not bad for a first go!20170805_144032_HDR

I had 2 doilies… one in yarn and one in thread. The thread was with beads and everything – a wedding ring piece that I will now have to make as a belated wedding gift. (maybe)20170805_142232

20170801_142242I did up 2 Christmas ornaments – one in cross stitch (cardboard and beading) and one in crochet.20170801_142014

20170801_141954That leaves clothing… Adult hat (which made Karyn laugh when I made it), scarf (sloth), purse (it was a challenge!), and slippers (cuz I was hoping for suggestions to improve… nope).20170801_142310

20170805_14230120170801_14221220170801_142425

My other category was a fun one – a mermaid sack!20170801_142117

2 of my pieces did not place – my pot holders and my child hat. Not a huge surprise. Next year I will have to go with a funkier hat!

Sailor's Knot

Sailor’s Knot

Lacy Leaf Bonnet

Lacy Leaf Bonnet

So… Ken and I went on the Friday to see the pieces first hand. We had our poutine and cheese curds, got the kids cotton candy, and enjoyed ourselves! Another year’s fair experienced, we definitely have plans for the next! Wish us luck! And if you have the chance, enter a fair near you!20170728_191706

This entry was posted on 15/08/2017, in Uncategorized. 2 Comments

A New Year and A New Project

Happy 2016! 

Not only has a new year begun BUT so has a major project that is utterly exciting. A dear friend has asked me to make a lovely rainbow ripple blanket for her. She has chosen the colours, the yarn brand and we worked together to find a good pattern (of course I will alter it slightly, remember who you are reading about!). Along with this journey I have decided to make a photo journal. So let’s start at the very beginning – January 1st! 

Of course it was time to break out the yarn and lucky enough, they fit nice and snug in the box they were mailed in. The central colour of our rainbow, the colour all the other colours were picked around was the lovely orange. Talk about vibrant and gorgeous, it is one of my favourite oranges ever. The brand for this project – Bernat Super Value. And 6 lovely colours – red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple. 

I wish I could get that green colour right in the photographs. I promise to try different lights and get it right eventually!

I wish I could get that green colour right in the photographs. I promise to try different lights and get it right eventually!

First step was to find hook and pattern and start the chaining. 

So many chains... 178 to be exact!

So many chains… 178 to be exact!

And then right into it. I couldn’t believe how easy this was to get off the ground with the right count and everything. In the past I have found it a bit frustrating to get the chaining right. Not a problem this time. And my final measurement was 47 inches instead of 40, so a nice big snuggly size with a 5.50 mm hook.IMAG2099

So… a good start to a new year and a photo project I am beyond excited to share. If you want to make one yourself the pattern I am using is Rainbow Ridge Afghan by Yay For Yarn Patterns on Ravelry HERE.

Two rows as suggested in pattern was nice...

Two rows as suggested in pattern was nice…

But 3 was better!!!

But 3 was better!!!

And My Hint Remains Unfulfilled

As in Ken has NOT given me his resource list… so sit back and enjoy the crafty goodness parade! These fingers have been BUSY!!! I must say RAVELRY is a godsend AND CrochetSpot a great place for advice and free and pay for patterns. You can access those places HERE and HERE respectively! Now for the craft show!

I am rather proud of Lil' Unicorn. I have sold TWO of these! One in colours requested and the other the same as pictured only with safety eyes for an infant. I have this cutey listed on Etsy!

I am rather proud of Lil’ Unicorn. I have sold TWO of these! One in colours requested and the other the same as pictured only with safety eyes for an infant. I have this cutey listed on Etsy! HERE

This adorable cuddle toy is thanks to Little Yarn Friends HERE.

Cuteness the Fish. What I love about this one is it makes up so .... CUTE. She is for sale on my Facebook page

Cuteness the Fish. What I love about this one is it makes up so …. CUTE. She is for sale on my Facebook page

Cuteness is thanks to A for Amigurumi. You can visit their site HERE.

Amigurumi Chinese Kokeshi doll. I love the detail on this one. Her little buns and hanging hair have flowers in front of them. She does not stand on her own, but is just adorable and I used safety eyes so it is infant safe. This one is posted up for sale on my Facebook page. HERE

Amigurumi Chinese Kokeshi doll. I love the detail on this one. Her little buns and hanging hair have flowers in front of them. She does not stand on her own, but is just adorable and I used safety eyes so it is infant safe. This one is posted up for sale on my Facebook page. HERE

 The Kokeshi doll is thanks to Studio Ami HERE. They have some absolutely ADORABLE amigurumi.

I am in love with making little deserts. There is a swiss style roll, a strawberry pudding and a cookie. These are on sale on my Facebook page HERE.

I am in love with making little deserts. There is a swiss style roll, a marshmallow pudding and a cookie. These are on sale on my Facebook page HERE.

These three deserts are thanks to Creative Crochet Workshop HERE.

I have done up a bunch of these heart rings. They make great tiny gifts as they ship at a steal. I have these up for sale on Facebook HERE.

I have done up a bunch of these heart rings. They make great tiny gifts as they ship at a steal. I have these up for sale on Facebook HERE.

These sweet crochet rings are thanks to Little Yarn Friends as well (link above).

Itty Bitty Lunch. The sandwich is lettuce, tomato and cheese. And for sale on Facebook HERE.

Itty Bitty Lunch. The sandwich is lettuce, tomato and cheese. And for sale on Facebook HERE.

This little snack is thanks to Abigail’s Crochet World HERE on Ravelry.

Candy Corn!!! The one in the middle is considered a Thanksgiving themed corn. I love how roly poly these are. They are for sale on Facebook HERE.

Candy Corn!!! The one in the middle is considered a Thanksgiving themed corn. I love how roly poly these are. They are for sale on Facebook HERE.

These amigurumi snacks are thanks to Josephine Wu on Craftsy HERE.

Soft baby blocks. This set of 3 are so sweet. I love variegated yarns. These are not the least bit stiffened so wonderful for any age or to display. For sale on Facebook HERE.

Soft baby blocks. This set of 3 are so sweet. I love variegated yarns. These are not the least bit stiffened so wonderful for any age or to display. For sale on Facebook HERE.

This baby friendly design is thanks to CrochetSpot. I totally would recommend them for a membership but also to watch for their freebies HERE.

Little owl pouches. Owls seem to be totally in right now. I actually made one of these myself. They are a small pouch with safety eyes (so they do go into the pouch a little bit) there is a button on the back for the loop to latch. I have them for sale on Facebook HERE.

Little owl pouches. Owls seem to be totally in right now. I actually made one of these myself. They are a small pouch with safety eyes (so they do go into the pouch a little bit) there is a button on the back for the loop to latch. I have them for sale on Facebook HERE.

These useful items are thanks to 1 Dog Woof HERE. And that is the show! Hope you all enjoyed it!