Monday Morning Musings with Madge

No rest for the wicked!  I spent the weekend cleaning house (with a LOT of help from my hubby) and working on my website.  I had a gorgeous website once upon a time, but it was totally static.  Every little change that had to be made meant waiting for someone else to do it.  I loved the way it looked, but I didn't love the lack of dynamics.  Have I mentioned that I'm impatient?  So I decided to ditch that lovely website and forge my own.

This weekend I changed the website banner to match this blog template, reworked the layout of all of the pages, added some fresh content and I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.  I got a quick Photoshop layers lesson from my uber talented mom and played with a couple of pics for the main page and the 411 page, they turned out pretty cute, but I'm just stumbling around in the dark really.  The swirls on the picture above are layers of letters in various opacities in the King and Queen font.  I am dying to learn more about layers, it's  fascinating.  If only there was more time!

We don't have the money to pay someone to build a new website from scratch right now.  I'm using SquareSpace and I like the platform but it has some limitations in terms of layout capability, fonts and colors unless you really understand HTML code.  It would be nice to be able to add a pretty frame for the site pages and I hope I can figure that out soon, but for now it's clean, easy to navigate and dynamic.  I can add new information anytime I like and that's the way I like it!  Check it out and let me know what you think! The banner is from the fine folks from The Cutest Blog on the Block.  Love their templates! 

I had lunch with my dear friend Robin Beam last week.  She crocheted two gorgeous flowers for me and added a bonus felted flower to the bunch!  How sweet was that?  Robin can do anything.  She's like a crafty super hero.  Plus anything she does, she does meticulously.  She is not an impatient crafter at all.  Robin is the director of education for AC Moore stores and I can't think of a better person for the job.  She's endlessly creative and smart and funny.

Speaking of friends, the one and only Andrew Thornton was in town for WireFest and we invited him out for a visit.  We had a delightful evening that was capped off by some divine cheesecake Andrew brought.  Andrew is a fine artist and a jewelry maker, his work is nuanced, subtle and layered.  He's thoughtful and smart and has a wonderful calm nature that is diametrically opposed to my frenetic personality.  Spending time with him forces you to slow down, breathe, dive in a little deeper.  We're going to hang out a little bit this morning and then he's heading home.  It's nice to see my friends 3-D every once and a while.

Avalon came up with the cutest project for tomorrow's teen crafts blog, wait until you see it!  I love that kid!

xoxo
Madge

Obsession Confession

Margot's Collar

Avalon's Pink and Yellow Collar

Avalon's Tri-Color Hat/Collar

I'm a visual learner.  I can't concentrate on patterns, my brain starts to wander off and think of other things.  I can figure things out easily if I can see them dimensionally.  I first realized this when a teacher finally showed me that algebra wasn't just numbers floating in space, it's actually related to geometry.  Then the big light bulb in my head went off and I couldn't believe how easy math became.  For me, everything needs to have structure.  It's how I design.  I don't think in flat surfaces, I think in 3-d. 

In the winter it is always cold here in our little schoolhouse.  We have huge 6 foot windows and unless we board them shut, they disperse cold air.  I often wear hats and scarves at work.  The thing about scarves is that they can get in the way of my crafting efforts and they can be kind of bulky.  I love endless scarves, but most of them are kinda long.  I came up with the idea of a knitted collar and then I grabbed my trusty Knifty Knitter and went to work.  They needed something...crocheted flowers! 

I tried learning how to make the flowers using a book I have on needle arts, but it was not computing.  Then I watched some YouTube videos, but they all went so fast!  I found one on Threadbanger that I stopped frame by frame until I figured it out.

Avalon liked the collar I made so much she took the Knifty Knitter from me and made a bunch more!  I love her color sense!  The green and orange model is mine, the other two are Avalon's delightful creations with Mom's crocheted flower accents and vintage buttons.  This model is smaller than a real person, so these fit more like a collar than an off the shoulder scarf.  These are really fun to make and super snuggly to wear.  I think we're on to something here!

Two fun contests to announce!  If you order from iLoveToCreate they'll send a free bottle of Aleene's Tacky Glue with your order...in honor of Aleene's Birthday month!

The folks from When Creativity Knocks are in the midst of the Great Crafter's Tool Hunt 2!  Go see what the buzz is all about!

I'll be back tomorrow with a new project for iLoveToCreate.  Until next time...craft on with your bad selves.

Cheers,
Madge

Supersized Saturday TastyLinks!

Madge's Knifty Knitter Collar Project

Sad, Sad Little Crocheted Flowers

Is it just me, or is crochet kinda hard?  I can do a basic chain stitch, I can even make jewelry with that stitch...but I'm trying to make a crocheted flower and every tutorial written or video leaves me totally baffled. The videos all go too fast, I need you to slow    it    down.  Make the video in slow motion so I can see how you're connecting stitches to create petals.  Yes?  I feel like I need to drink about ten cups of coffee to keep up with these people!

Here's my thinking, the problem with most instructions is that the person writing them makes far too many assumptions about the skill level of the person attempting to learn.  I think when it comes to things like making a simple crocheted flower, the assumption must be that the person attempting to learn really doesn't understand basic crochet.  Am I wrong? Is it wrong to want patterns that are written for people who don't get the little shorthand?

Maybe I'm asking too much.

Have I ever mentioned that I'm impatient?

I spent a few hours working on a little Knifty Knitter collar that is really going to be super cute.  I love the Knifty Knitter because it makes even the knitting challenged like me feel as if we can accomplish something.  I've made lots of dorky elfin hats through the years...but I wanted to attempt something new.  I love the endless scarves that are out this season, but I wanted something a little smaller.  So far...so good.

I want to attach crocheted flowers so I'd end up with a sort of fiber jewelry collar.  I have butchered about ten flowers so far...mostly they look like yarntastrophes as you can see above (and these are the better efforts.)  I have watched about ten YouTube videos and consulted a variety of written instructions.  What in the hell do I do with the tail on both ends?  Why is this being kept secret?!  Is there a vast crochet conspiracy?

I am determined to make some freakin' fiber flower accents.  Martha showed this really cool flower making loom in Living recently and I'm going out in search of it today.  I will have a floral embellished fiber collar galdangy...as this blog is my witness...I WILL.

I am going to remember this as I create instructions for jewelry making...and remember if you need help with the basics you can always go to my YouTube channel and watch my Crafty Quickies videos.

(Thanks to the folks on Facebook who have already answered my pleas for what to do with the yarn tail!)

Big thanks to Jenny Barnett-Rohrs of Consumer Crafts for sharing my Sweetheart Foam Necklace tutorial on their blog.  Gotta love it!

Also a bloggy shout out to the folks from Art Glitter Institute who 'tweeted' my Foam Necklace link!  I am simply mad for their glitter.

Finally thanks to the folks from Craft Crave for the Linky Love to my I Heart U Valentine's Day Pin Card for iLoveToCreate.

Check out what's new at When Creativity Knocks!  They've gone HiDef and expanded their video offerings!  Plus they're having The Great Crafter's Tool Hunt Part 2!

And here's your weekly dose of crafty treats from the Crafty Bloggers Gang:

About Family Crafts
Need an easy, last-minute Valentine's Day gift or card? Sherri has some great ideas for you!

Aileen's Musings
Aileen's offering some whimsical freebie postcards for you to download and send to a friend!

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
Craftside is in love with a free tattoo style Valentine graphic from the book Design Parts Sourcebook: Rock and Street Culture, a how-to on making a freeform monoprint, dresses folded from maps, and a lovebird puppet.

Crafty Princess Diaries
Tammy reviews a new craft book she received: The Perfect Handmade Bag by Clare Youngs.

Cross Stitch at About.com
Since Connie can't crochet, she decided to create some Cross Stitch Doilies simple enough for beginning stitchers.

Margot Potter The Impatient Crafter
Valentine's Day is looming and Madge shares a swell idea for a combo pin/card your teen can whip up for Mom or Grandmom. These would be cute anytime of year!

Mixed Media Artist
Cyndi's "question of the month" is what's your top ten list of mixed media art blogs to read regularly?

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
How to make a button covered headband with a recycled t-shirt inspired by a project from the book The Paper Bride by Esther K. Smith

The Artful Crafter
Do you dream of designing and making your own jewelry? Here are some tips from Eileen to help you get started.

The Crochet Dude
Drew offers up a great review on the new Debbie Stoller line of yarns "Stitch Nation".