Bleu Arts

New book: Feltique

2009-05-31T16:15:00.000-07:00

There is a new book out about working with felt titled Feltique. I am excited to announce that I have contributed three tutorials to this book. I have not had a chance to see the final product yet, but judging by all the amazing artists that contributed to it, I know it will be fantastic.

Summer Garden 2009

2009-04-07T18:15:00.000-07:00

I had success with last year's garden, so I have planted another this year. Because I live in a concrete jungle, I need to use flowerpots.

I managed to squeeze in:
20 strawberry plants
6 herbs
2 tomatoes
1 pepper
1 mandarin tree

I am already enjoying the delicious strawberries and am really looking forward to harvesting the rest. You can see a photo of last years garden here.

Barbie's 50th Birthday

2009-02-13T14:17:00.000-08:00

Happy 50th Barbie!

Coraline the Movie

2009-02-07T00:48:00.000-08:00

I rushed out to see the Coraline movie on opening day. It was fantastic. I saw the 3D version and the glasses took some getting used to, but they worked very well. The artwork was superb and the music and story were just right. I highly recommend this move.

There are a few fun crafty links for Coraline over at the CRAFT blog including a knitting pattern for the Coraline sweater and a button poster.

Be sure to check out the map on the Coraline website. It is interactive and shows you a bunch of neat stuff.

Free Pattern: Top Hat for 1:6 Scale Dolls

2008-11-24T21:56:00.000-08:00

I have been working on creating a mad hatter tea party diorama with my dolls and needed a top hat, so I made one. I am posting a pattern and instructions so you can make one too. This pattern is for personal use only.
Model: Mattel Top Model Head with Volks Neo EB Body
Outfit: Mattel
Necktie & hat: me
Teapot: Rement

Materials
Scissors
Heavy card stock
Pencil
White glue
Tape
Acrylic paint
Paint brush
Ribbon

Directions
1. Cut out all three pattern pieces and trace them onto card stock. Trace and cut out two hat brims. Test out the opening hole inside the hat brim to make sure it will fit your doll’s head. I made this hat for a doll with a ponytail, so the opening for the head is a bit large.
2. Fold the pointed pieces to 90-degree angles. The pointed pieces are used to attach the parts of the hat together.
3. Curl up the wall piece of the hat and stuff it into the hole of one brim piece. Glue the ends of this piece together and tape it closed from the inside. Glue the points at the base of the hat wall to the underside of the brim. Glue this brim down to the other brim you cut out so the points will be sandwiched and hidden between two pieces of card stock.
4. Place the top on the hat, concealing the points inside the cylinder of the wall with glue.
5. Let the glue on the hat dry. Apply several coats of acrylic paint, allowing it to dry, then embellish with a ribbon hatband.

Great Holiday Indie Shopping around LA

2008-11-02T11:01:00.000-08:00

Yikes! The holidays are almost here. Here is a list of great upcoming shows that handmade gifts.

Art & Pottery Market
November 7 & 8
American Museum of Ceramic Art, Pomona

Annual Art Fair
November 7-9
Creative Arts Group, Sierra Madre

Patchwork Indie Arts & Crafts Festival
November 9
Santa Ana museum district, OC

Xiem Fall Ceramic Art Fair & Studio Sale
November 14th & 15th
Pasadena, CA

Felt Club
November 16
Shrine Auditorium, LA

Holiday Staff Boutique
December 12-14
The San Gabriel Bead Company, Arcadia

Handmade Galleries
Always open, Sherman Oaks

New Knitting Pattern: Doll Sweater Tank

2008-10-24T16:23:00.001-07:00

The girls had a get together today to catch up and have a drink at home. They had to take a group photo to show off their new sweater tanks. The perfect item for any fall wardrobe.

This new knitting pattern, sweater tank, fits most medium and small busted 1:6 scale dolls including Barbie, Obitusu, Volks, and J-Doll. I used Cotton Classic yarn by Tahki Stacy Charles. It is an inexpensive yarn that comes in a rainbow of beautiful colors.

The pattern is available at my etsy store.

Barbie is my gateway doll

2008-10-03T18:51:00.001-07:00

The other week, I was at the bookstore picking up the latest Vogue Knitting magazine and came across Haute Doll. I could not put it down and ended up purchasing it. Inside there were all these beautiful photos of "Barbie like" dolls set-up in lush dioramas with amazing outfits.

As a kid, I had always coveted Barbie. I had the Skipper doll, The Sunshine Family, and other non-Barbie 1:6 scale dolls, but not an actual Barbie. To make amends for this, I purchased a Barbie about 6 months ago. She was cool, and I made the knit mermaid tail for her, but it was frustrating that her posing abilities were so limited. My need for 1:6 scale dolls was satiated, or so I thought.

In the pages of Haute Doll, I discovered ball jointed dolls (bjd's) and became obsessed with researching all I could find online. My first purchase was a Tonner doll, but I soon discovered the diy Asian bjd's such as Volks and Obitsu. Many of the Asian bjd's allow you totally customize them by choosing wigs, painting their faces, and changing their hands or feet. I also pre-ordered a J-Doll and discovered the wonders of Re-ment 1:6 scale miniatures.

I had not realized that I liked dolls so much. I guess Barbie was my gateway doll. Luckily the mermaid tail fits my new 1:6 scale bjd's. More doll knitting patterns will be on the way.

I have a Volks doll up for sale over at e-bay this week that comes with acrylic eyes. I over bought.

New Knitting Pattern: Squared Up, fingerless Mitts

2008-09-20T12:53:00.000-07:00

I adore fingerless gloves because they keep your hands warm and still let you do things. The design for this Squared Up pattern was inspired by the open floor plans of loft living and the clean geometric lines of mid-century modern furniture.

This pattern calls for 3 colors of Sock by Shibui Knits. It is a really soft superwash merino wool in semi-solid colors. The pattern for Squared Up is available in my etsy store and includes sizing instructions for small, medium, and large sized gloves.

New Knitting Pattern: Mermaid Tail for Dolls

2008-09-09T21:39:00.000-07:00

Transform your Barbie into a siren of the sea with this new knitting pattern, Mermaid Tail for Barbie.

The pattern, which requires knitting in the round, increasing, and decreasing is now available in my Etsy store, AnsleyBleu.

The pattern calls for 1 skein of Cotton Classic yarn by Tahki Stacy Charles and US 5 dpns or a long circular needle.

Katamari Hat, COMPLETE!

2008-09-07T11:03:00.001-07:00

I am so excited. I finally finished my Katamari Ball Hat that I started a year ago. I think I was afraid to make ear flaps for some strange reason so I put it down.

The other night I felt the desire to pick it up again, and it was done in just a few hours. I really like how it turned out and I love the colors, although they remind me of frog eyeballs a little.

I used an i-cord knitting machine for the "chin straps" and then sewed them to the corners of the ear flaps. You can read more details about what I used here.

Here are the directions for how I made the bumps. The pattern is based on directions by Easily Amused and The Knitting Fiend.

Materials
US 7 DPNS
Merino Style yarn by Knit Picks (3 Colors)
8 – 2” Styrofoam Balls
Thin batting
Tapestry needle

Directions for Bumps
Using top down method mentioned by the Knitting Fiend
With waste yarn, CO 6 sts, knit
Transfer sts to 3 DPNS
Round 1 knit
Round 2 KF&B, 12 sts
Round 3 KF&B, K1, 18 sts
Round 4 KF&B, K2, 24 sts
Round 5 KF&B, K3, 30 sts

Change Color

Round 6, knit
Round 7 KF&B, K4
Round 8 - 10 Knit

Change Color

Round 11 – 18 knit

Repeat 7 more times for a total of 8 bumps.

Bind off all sts, leaving a long yarn tail to be used to sew bump to hat later.
Trim away the CO waste yarn and close up the top of the bump and weave in the ends.

Slice off one side of a Styrofoam ball, cover it in thin batting, insert into a stocking to keep the batting on the ball, and insert it into the knitted bump. The sliced off side should face out so that the bump will lay flat against the hat. I used Styrofoam balls inside the knit bumps so that they would retain their shape over time.

Free Gift Box Templates

2008-08-23T09:50:00.000-07:00

The Senri International School website that has over 35 templates for boxes available for free that you can print out on your own card stock. There are some really great designs available that are perfect for little gifts. I really like this one for a pyramid.

Twist Collective - New Online Knitting Magazine

2008-08-17T10:44:00.001-07:00

Twist Collective is a new online knitting magazine created by Kate Gilbert and her knit designer friends. I am excited about this new format and the patterns available are lovely. The main difference with this magazine and other online knitting magazines is that the patterns are for sale.

It is a sad fact that knitwear designers get paid much less for their design work today than what they were paid in the 1980's. Although I enjoy a free pattern, I am more than happy to pay the small fee of $7 for a knitting pattern. This way individual designers make money for their talent and also retain the rights to their work. There is nothing like good pay to inspire great work. I hope this project takes off and sets a new standard for the fair treatment of artists.

There is a nice interview about Twist Collective with Kate Gilbert on episode 90 of the Ready Set Knit podcast.

Jenny & Nicole of Stash & Burn podcast also discuss this new magazine in episode 59.

There was a great discussion about the fair treatment of knitwear designers over at Cast On podcast, but I can't seem to find which episode it was on. Lily Chin also touches on this topic during her interview on episode 67 of Craft Sanity.

Book Inspired Knits - Twilight Series

2008-08-13T11:29:00.001-07:00

This summer it has been hot, so I have been doing much more reading rather than crafting. About a month ago I was bitten by the Twilight series written by Stephenie Meyer. They were so much fun to read. I also started listening to a great podcast about the series, Imprint.

As with many other books, this series has inspired a number of knitters. Two that stand out are this great pair of Eclipse socks by Shiny Knits that were inspired by the Eclipse book cover, and this pair of Twilight socks by Chicken Betty that were inspired by the Twilight book cover. I may have to start knitting socks!

Last Day to Enter the Bag Challenge

2008-07-31T14:28:00.000-07:00

Today is the last day to enter CraftStylish's Tote Bag Challenge. I just completed mine tote bag. I am calling it the Eco-Chic Floral Tote. I entered the eco-chic category. You can read and see more details about it here.

The Tote-ally Crafty Bag Challenge

2008-07-25T10:23:00.000-07:00

CraftStylish is hosting a tote bag challenge, Tote-ally Crafty Bag Challenge, where the Grand Prize Packages consist of an official CraftStylish tote bag filled with crafty items worth over $250. The categories are Play Ball, All That Glitters, Eco-Chic, and The Omni-Crafter Special. The deadline to enter is 11:59pm ET on July 31st. Yea!

This weekend: Cirque Berzerk in LA

2008-07-24T22:44:00.000-07:00

This weekend, July 24th - 27th, Cirque Berzerk presents Beneath, a full length theatrical circus experience.

I had the great fortune to attend this evenings amazing performance which was loosely based upon the story of Orpheus. There were beautiful male and female aerial acrobats, a contortionist, clowning, a cabaret performance, and fire stunts all set before a live original score. If you get the chance, I highly recommend it. It is taking place under the big top located within walking distance of the LA Metro Gold line, China Town stop.

Tickets are available here.

Free Pattern: Merbaby

2008-07-23T11:28:00.001-07:00

Angry Chicken has a great how-to up for this adorable Merbaby. I have been wanting to create a mermaid doll for a while now, but have not gotten to it yet. I love this idea and think it would make the perfect gift for one of the little girls in my life.

How to: Outdoor water fountain

2008-06-28T14:39:00.000-07:00

I have made a few small indoor water fountains in the past, but I found them to be a bit irritating rather than soothing. They splashed too much and the sound of it water made me think I had left the water on outside. So, I decided that this is an item better left outside.

I just came across this nice DIY Bubbling Water Urn over at Gardener's World. It looks really easy and fairly inexpensive to make.

New Online Knitting Magazine

2008-06-21T21:03:00.000-07:00

I just stumbled upon Knotions, a new online magazine with free knitting patterns. Yea!

New Knitting Patterns at Berroco

2008-06-21T20:39:00.001-07:00

Although LA has had record breaking heat the last two days and it is almost unbearable to even look at knitting, I am smitten with this new sweater pattern, Crotona, over at Berroco. It is knit in Cuzco which has a gorgeous color pallete. If I do get a chance to make it, I would probably shorten it to hip length. This pattern and a few other amazing patterns can be found in Berroco's Booklet #281.

The Cutest Cupcake Contest Winners

2008-06-20T19:37:00.000-07:00

A while back, there was a Cutest Cupcake contest over at Martha Stewart. They have a whole photo album up of the finalists and winners. There were a ton of entries, so judging must have been pretty hard. I really liked this labor intensive one that made it to the finals by Just_Maryam.

Flower Pot Desserts

2008-06-17T15:02:00.000-07:00

The Pioneer Woman Cooks has a tutorial up for these cute desserts that are made to look like a potted plant.

Garden Decor: Tipsy Pots

2008-06-17T14:55:00.000-07:00

Gardens and Crafts has a great tutorial up for making this pretty garden flower pot display.

Amazing Felt Brooches

2008-06-16T22:25:00.000-07:00

I am loving this collection of wool felt brooches by Canadian based artist Woolly Fabulous that I came across over at Flickr. A number of them are available at her etsy store.

Links are back

2008-06-12T14:53:00.000-07:00

When I updated this blog a while back, the links went away. I have just updated the list and they are now back in the sidebar.

I-Cord Knitting Machine

2008-06-07T22:12:00.000-07:00

I have just purchased an Embellish Knit i-cord knitting machine. I have been wanting one ever since I saw Betz White use one during her pincushion tutorial on the Martha Stewart show. I opened the packet and, after a few cranks on the handle, got it going fairly easily. I made this pile of i-cord with the yarn provided, which would have taken a few hours if hand knit, in just a few minuets.

One thing I noticed is that the tension of my cord is a bit uneven in a few places. I think this is because I waited a while to move the weight up the cord. This is not a major issue and I will be sure to remember to change the position of the weight more frequently.

This little machine only has four stitches and uses sport weight yarn or thinner. I think I may get one of theses little machines or possibly this one too. I think they will be a great help for making knitted toys.

DIY Vingear from Leftover Wine

2008-06-02T20:18:00.001-07:00

I was listening to one of my favorite food podcasts, The Splendid Table, and one of the guests was talking about making your own vinegar from leftover wine. They have a tutorial written up over at their website, Gang of Pour. It sounds delicious.

DIY Upholstery Tutorial

2008-05-29T23:27:00.000-07:00

Pie Knits, who has some super cute knitting patterns, has just posted a tutorial for DIY upholstery. She did an amazing job re-vamping this settee. I did a similar, but smaller scale, project once and it just about killed my wrists and hands. I love the result though.

Tutorial: Knitted Dish Scrubbie

2008-05-23T20:45:00.000-07:00

I just came across this tutorial for a Knitted Dish Scrubby written up by Berlin's Whimsy. She uses tulle fabric combined with yarn for good scrubbing action. What a great idea and cute too!

Knitted Car Cover

2008-05-23T10:20:00.000-07:00

I came across this photo of an amazing knitted Volvo car cover over in the flickr's The Knitting Club photo pool by secretagentmartens. You can read more about the Manifest festival that the art car was created for here.

New Knittng Pattern Love: Praying Mantis

2008-05-21T08:53:00.000-07:00

I totally adore the creature knitting patterns of Seattle based artist Hansigrumi. They are completely cute and a little creepy at the same time. She has just completed a new knitted toy, a Praying Manits, which I love. Her work is so detailed and well crafted. I will have to make one of her patterns soon. You can purchase her knitting patterns at her etsy store.

Sewing Pattern: Twist-It-Up Bandeaua Top

2008-05-16T21:01:00.000-07:00

I just came across the pattern for the cardi-wrap in an hour that I wrote about a while back and thought I should visit the Threads website again. They have a free pattern up right now for a super cute Twist-It-Up Bandeau Top that can be worn several ways. The pattern looks really easy and should be a fun thing to wear out on a summer evening.

They have a few other cute patterns up right now too in addition to this great sewing tips & tricks guide.

New Knitting Pattern: Sparkle Beetle

2008-05-07T12:05:00.000-07:00

Metallic beetles fascinate me. Their beautiful colors and body structure are striking and sometimes creepy. I wanted to create a toy that captured that glitter and form, but also had a sense of humor. So, the Sparkle Beetle knitting pattern is born.

This knitting pattern uses 4 balls of Shine Worsted yarn by Knit Picks where a thin metallic yarn is held together with this soft cotton yarn so the beetle sparkles.

The beetle measures 12” long x 11” wide, from leg to leg.

The pattern is available in my etsy store, ansleybleu.etsy.com

Softie Awards Winners Announced

2008-05-07T12:01:00.000-07:00

The 2nd Annual Softie Award winners have been announced. The Knit Carrot & Mandarin did not win in the picnic food category, but who could resist those cute mice! Thanks to everyone who voted for me.

Voting for the Softie Awards is now open!

2008-04-28T10:55:00.000-07:00

Softies Central is hosting another Softie Awards competition and I am honored to announce that my Knit Carrot & Mandarin have made it to the finals in the Picnic Food Category. This time there are five categories with five finalists each.

Voting is open now through Tuesday, May 6th at 8pm PST and winners will be announced on Wednesday, May 7th. Voting is taking place here .

New Knitting Pattern: Carrot & Mandarin

2008-04-27T22:40:00.000-07:00

There have been so many babies amongst my family and friends lately that I decided to design a few knitting patterns that could become baby gifts.

This cute pattern is for a knit Carrot and Mandarin is a really versatile project that can be made into a baby rattle, sachet, or pincushion. It is a quick and inexpensive gift to make. I used one skein of orange and green Lamb's Pride yarn to make both toys with yarn to spare.

This pattern and the Rolled Brim Baby Hat with Stripes are both available in my etsy store.

Curiobot, an archive of strange and wonderful things

2008-04-24T11:15:00.000-07:00

I just came across Curiobot. It is a site that selects interesting products that are available on the internet. Some of the items are mass produced, but many are handmade. There are a ton of neat things there. They have listed my fleece Leia Wig among their products . Yeah!

Light Carpet

2008-04-11T13:10:00.001-07:00

I just came across this amazing Light Carpet by Finnish architect and artist Johanna Hyrkäs. Light Carpet is made up of a light rope that is enclosed in a crochet cording. You can see more of her work including more Light Carpets at here website.

This piece was part of a design exhibition titled Extremely White, which was organized by Otro Diseno which is located in Amsterdam, but specializes in Latin American design.

Knitted Innards

2008-03-29T13:14:00.000-07:00

I just stumbed across these images of amazing knitted innards at the Sarah Illenberger website. This site is mainly in German, so I am unsure if she knit or photographed these pieces, but I love how the mohair yarn has captured the feel of the pieces.

Related:
Brain Embroidery at Monster Crochet
Knitted Digestive System at Craftster
Other Fiber Brains at Museum of Fabric Brain Art
Womb at Knitty

New Knitting Pattern: Rolled Brim Baby Hat with Stripes

2008-03-22T10:11:00.000-07:00

I have created another hat pattern, but this time it is for baby. It is called the Rolled Brim Baby Hat with Stripes. I made this little hat for the same friend that I made the Strawberry Baby Rattle for. She wanted a baby hat for the little guy when he comes home from delivery, and I am happy to be able to fulfill this request.

I used Merino Style yarn from Knit Picks. So this is a very soft, yet inexpensive gift to make. I have really enjoyed designing for baby I will probably do more. This pattern is available in my etsy store, ansleybleu.etsy.com.

Knit Strawberry Baby Rattle

2008-03-19T18:56:00.000-07:00

I wanted to make something for a friend of mine who is having a baby soon. While browsing at patterns over at Ravelry, I came across this adorable Knit Strawberry pattern by Pez Diva. I saw it and knew that it would make a perfect baby rattle.

I used two yarns held together, Lamb's Pride and Berkshire, so it would be large and have a pretty variegated effect.

For the rattle, I filled a small plastic egg with peppercorns and sealed it with my favorite low VOC silicone glue.

I also added a small plastic ring onto the stem of the strawberry so the toy may be clipped onto a stroller or whatever. To cover the plastic ring in yarn, I used a crochet tutorial which was written up over at Lula Louise.

Crochet Bullion

2008-03-04T18:25:00.000-08:00

This past Sunday, at the LA Fiber Guild meeting, my new friend Janice showed me how to make these adorable crochet bullion.

Janice is a freeform crochet diva and I am a crochet novice. I am thrilled to know this new technique and plan on using them as embellishments on the surface of various projects.

violet: Cascade 220 Tweed, lime: Lion Wool, teal: Lamb's Pride

Loose Leaf Tea Canisters

2008-03-02T23:26:00.000-08:00

I have been brewing a lot of loose leaf teas lately. I wanted to purchase some nice canisters to hold the teas in. Everything I found in the stores was either really expensive or ugly.

I saw a bunch of tin canisters with Christmas prints in the sale bin at the craft store for less than a dollar each. So, I purchased the canisters, some pretty paper by Paper Source and Mod Podge. I covered them with the paper and now I have some nice canisters to hold tea.

New Knitting Pattern: Batgirl gloves

2008-02-29T20:47:00.000-08:00

Introducing a new knitting pattern, Batgirl Gloves. Fight crime and keep your hands warm at the same time. These fitted fingerless gloves allow you to harness the feminine power of Batgirl.

My quest is to create knitting patterns that capture the spirit of feminine confidence and power but also have a sense of humor. Batgirl is an icon that captures this spirit. I was inspired to create this pattern after seeing this adorable photo (scroll down a bit) of Natalie Zee Drieu, Senior editor of Craftzine.

The pattern calls for 3 balls of Merino Style yarn from Knit Picks, so they are inexpensive to make.

This pattern and the two other patterns I have created along this same vein (Leia Wig & Breast Pillow) are a available in my etsy store, ansleybleu.etsy.com. More to come!

Felt Handbag, complete!

2008-02-27T22:42:00.000-08:00

I completed the last project I started at the last LA Fiber Guild's Felt Study Group last month. We all worked on the resist method.

The bag is made in one piece. I used a pre-felt fabric from Outback Fibers for the branch design that I cut out and wet felt onto the bag's surface. I sewed two short seams into the corners of the bag to give it more of a boxy structure. I added rivets to secure the handles in place, and made a felt ball for a toggle closure. I used wool blend yarn to sew a blanket stitch along the top edge of the bag for extra durability. I am really happy with how it turned out and am looking forward to making another.

If you are interested in joining us, the next meeting is at Sunday, March 2nd at 11am.

Knitted Valentine Gifts

2008-02-22T21:49:00.000-08:00

This year I gave knitted Valentine gifts to the ladies in my family. I knitted up a bunch of Mochimochi Land's Hearts using Lamb's Pride yarn. I only washed them once, so they are only slightly felted.

I had intended to make the hearts into pins with some sort of embroidery or beading on them, but I did not like how they were turning out. So, I used an eye dropper to impregnate them with lavender oil. They turned out to be great sachets.

New Knitting Pattern: Simple Stripes Fingerless Gloves

2008-02-19T19:21:00.001-08:00

I have just completed a new knitting pattern for fingerless gloves. They are titled Simple Stripes Fingerless Gloves. I adore fingerless gloves because they allow you to keep warm and still do things.

I was inspired by the bright Lemongrass green wool yarn and came up with this design. These gloves are shaped to fit the wrist and thumb, and have a pretty picot edging for a little feminine touch.

I used Lion Wool yarn from Lion Brand Yarn Co. These gloves knit up quick and are inexpensive to make. They are a perfect project to make for a gift or as a treat for yourself.

The pattern for these gloves are available in my etsy store, ansleybleu.etsy.com

How to: Paper Water Lilly

2008-02-11T19:05:00.000-08:00

I am having a party for my birthday this weekend and wanted few table decorations. I decided not to purchase a bunch of ready-made plastic stuff that would just end up in the landfill. I chose to make paper flowers, which are also perfect for Valentine's Day. The flowers I made look like Water Lilly's. Here is how I did it:

Materials
2 colors of tissue paper
1 color of slightly thicker paper (I used a colored paper bag)
Scissors
String

Directions
Cut four 10"x12" pieces of tissue paper and 1 layer of the thicker paper. Stack the pieces of paper up alternating the colors with the thicker piece of paper on the bottom.

Fold the paper lengthwise into 1" accordion pleats.

Trim the ends into points. Fold the folded strip in half, and cut it along the fold line. Trim these ends into points too.

Cut a notch on both sides of the middle of the shorter strip and tie with string.

Open out the pleats and begin gently lifting each layer of tissue paper. The slightly thicker paper bag paper will become the bottom of the flower.

Enjoy!

Knitting Patterns for Valentine's Day round-up

2008-02-09T13:03:00.000-08:00

My family always exchanges token gifts for Valentine's Day. It is a fun way to remind them how much you love them and how important they are. In my attempt to keep up with the Handmade Pledge, I am going to make little gifts for my family.

Here are a few links for quick Valentine knitting patterns that should all take less than a day to make.

Hearts from Mochimochi Blog
Heartfelt from Berroco
Valentine Candy Pillow from Domiknitrix
Heart Sachet by Vicki Sever for Interweave Knits
Love Rocks! Mitred Heart Neck Garland from Vickie Howell
Heart Cloth from Purple Duckie
Crest of the Wave from Baxter Knits
Lace Heart Bookmark from Page by Page
Peruvia Rose from Berroco
Calla Lillies by Heather Broadhurst for Knitty
Flower Corsage by Rachel Henderson for I Love Knitting
Knitted Flower by Strikkelise
Perky Poppy Pins by Nora Rezzatano for Mag Knits
Knitted Rose Pin by Knittingknonsense

The Story of Stuff animated short

2008-02-05T18:10:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine just sent a link to this great animated short called the Story of Stuff with Annie Leonard. The Story of Stuff is a wonderful little movie that is very eye opening. I wanted to post about this in an attempt to continue occasionally writing about environmental issues.

New Year, New Look, New Knitting Patterns to Come

2008-02-02T23:49:00.000-08:00

I have been wanting to change the look of this blog for some time now. I have been hesitant because I was not looking forward to re-listing all the special sidebar information again. But, it is a new year and a great excuse to create a fresh look.

I have a few new ideas for knitting patterns I will be designing this year. I am a big fan of fingerless gloves. You may have seen a pair or two that I have knit up before. So, if all goes well, I will be designing three new fingerless glove patterns. One is nearly complete and may make a good Halloween accessory. Stay tuned!

LA Fiber Guild Felting Study Group Meeting this Sunday

2008-02-01T20:47:00.000-08:00

The second meeting of the Felting Study Group for the LA Fiber Guild is this Sunday, February 3d. Meetings are from 11am - 4pm and take place near downtown LA. There is also more info on their LAFguild yahoo group.

We are going to be doing the resist method. I have plans to make a bag. I have just purchased a bunch of fibery goodness from Outback Fibers and I am ready to go.

All are welcome. If you choose to join us, there is a small fee to join the guild.
You can see what I made at the last meeting here.

New Knitting Pattern: Breast Pillow

2008-01-09T18:30:00.000-08:00

Breasts are a very powerful feminine symbol of nurturing. I created this knit pillow pattern in the spirit of honoring the feminine spirit, but with a sense of humor. It was a present for my boyfriend this past holiday. It makes a cozy addition to our couch pillows.

I dyed my own yarn for this project using Knit Picks Bare Peruvian Highland Wool with Jacquard acid dyes. I wanted colors that referenced the 1960's Playboy cartoon artist, Eldon Dedini.

This 9.5-inch diameter knit breast pillow pattern is worked from the top down using double pointed needles or a circular needle. A circular piece of fleece fabric is sewn into the bottom of the pillow for finishing. The pattern is available in my etsy store, ansleybleu.etsy.com.

New Knitting Pattern: 3 Ribs Brim Boyfriend Hat

2008-01-09T18:16:00.000-08:00

I have just published a third knitting pattern in my "Boyfriend Hat" series. This one is called 3 Ribs Boyfriend Hat. It is made up with a worsted weight yarn and has 3 simple ribs that travel the circumference of the brim of the hat. This pattern along with the other two are available in my etsy store, ansleybleu.etsy.com.

The first in the series was the Rolled Brim Boyfriend Hat. The second was the Ribbed Knit Boyfriend Hat.

LA Fiber Guild, Felting Study Group, 1st project

2008-01-06T23:24:00.000-08:00

The Los Angeles Fiber Guild had its first wet felting study group meeting today. We discussed what type of projects we are interested in, had a show and tell, and played with a bit of fiber.

I had been saving up all my wool yarn clippings from past knitting projects that I shared with the group. We made felt balls. I had intended all of mine to become kitty toys, but I liked them so much I ran home and made this felt ball necklace. I had some restraint and saved two balls for the kitty to play with.

If you are interested, this group meets 11am-4pm the first Sunday of every month. If you would like to receive messages, join the LAFguild yahoo group.

More Handmade Holiday Gifts

2007-12-30T19:36:00.000-08:00

Every year I make jewelry for one or more of the women on my holiday gift list. It makes me feel like I am giving something really nice and the projects are usually really quick to make. Here are the three pieces that I made this year. All projects were inspired by items I had seen while browsing at etsy.

These pink Sapphire & Sterling earrings were made for one of my cousins.

These pink Swarovski crystal & Sterling earrings were made for another cousin.

This felt and glass bead necklace was made for my step-mom. I really liked how this one turned out, so I think I will make a few more of them.

Felt Ball Tutorial

2007-12-29T14:05:00.000-08:00

I just stumbled across another tutorial for making felt balls with the wet felt method over at Coco Knits. She used wool scrap just like the tutorial I posted awhile back, but her balls have a Styrofoam ball center, so less wool is used. Coco Knits also has a few other great knitting tutorials too.

Bed to Lounge, Ikea Hacker

2007-12-27T21:17:00.000-08:00

When I moved in with my boyfriend last summer we both had beds, but no couch. Our loft is fairly spacious, so we decided to convert one of the bed frames into a lounge couch for the living room. This way, we have the benefits of a couch and a guest bed too.

We took the headboard off of a full sized Dalselv bed frame from Ikea and re-attached it to the long side of the bed. We marked equidistant spaces for the bars, drilled holes for them, and purchased another piece of lumber to cap the top of the headboard.

I purchased a futon cover for the mattress, and covered some giant pillows for the backrest. I used cotton fabric including a bunch of Amy Butler prints. It is so comfy that I may not ever be able to go back to a regular couch.

Handmade Holiday Dessert

2007-12-26T18:37:00.001-08:00

I wanted to make a fun dessert for the holiday dinner. When I saw this cute Icebox Peppermint Yule Log Cake posted at Craftzine, I knew this is what I was going to make.

I could not find Peppermint extract at my grocer, so I decreased the amount of sugar and substituted Peppermint Torani syrup.I did not purchase enough whipping cream either, so my "bark" did not come out as pretty as the original. I used Droste cocoa powder in the whipped cream tasted like an outstanding chocolate ice cream.

Handmade Holiday Gifts

2007-12-26T18:25:00.000-08:00

This holiday I made a bunch of gifts for my family members. All the women in my family received a wellness bag from me. This is what the kit included:
-eye pillow that was inspired by this project from Sew, Mama, Sew!
-soy wax jar candle, supplies from General Wax.
-a CD of meditations from the Meditation Oasis podcast.
-a bar of felted soap.

Free Pattern: Felted Knit Mushrooms

2007-12-26T15:49:00.000-08:00

I have just come across these adorable knit and felted mushroom patterns by Kathryn Ivy. You can see more photos of her work at her flickr page.

Printable Holiday Gift Tags Round-up

2007-12-22T11:04:00.001-08:00

I use a lot of gift tags during the holidays. In the past I have purchased them, but was always unsatisfied with how they looked. I have came across a few free downloads for beautiful, non-cheezy gift tags:
Paper Seed
Kitty Genius
Delicious Days
Angry Chicken
Liquid Paper, via
Matthew Mead
Seussville
HGTV Canada
Bella Dia has a printable gift tag round-up too.

Decorated: Table top Christmas Tree

2007-12-17T14:15:00.000-08:00

I wanted to find some type of garland to decorate my table top Christmas trees. I looked in several stores and nothing was inspiring me. I finally found what I was looking for at Michaels. It was a beaded wire with large sequins attached to it that was made for decorating gift packages. Now my dinner table is complete. Yeah!

Knitting fingerless gloves

2007-12-13T13:43:00.001-08:00

I get cold hands all the time, especially when browsing on the computer. I like wearing fingerless gloves and have started hunting for a new pattern to knit up. I have already made three pairs. Two of them were patters from Interweave Knits which you can see here.

While browsing I came across this great list of free patterns for knit mittens and gloves over at Knitting Pattern Central. Although they would not really help keep my hands warm, I really liked these Mushroom Pulse Warmers over at Hello Yarn. I am still searching for my perfect pattern.

Where to buy handmade for the holidays

2007-12-10T13:53:00.000-08:00

Many of you may have taken the Buy Handmade pledge this year, where you pledge to purchase handmade goods for presents and ask that others do the same for you. Here is a little list of places to shop that can help you keep this promise.

Online
Etsy.com
a few of my favorite etsy shops:
madebymoxie.etsy.com
katiekristin.etsy.com
jennifermorrisbeads.etsy.com
pinkladyjewels.etsy.com

Felt Club Vendors

Indie Fixx

Around the Los Angeles area
Creative Arts Group, Sierra Madre
Handmade Galleries LA, Sherman Oaks
Hollywood Farmer's Market, Hollywood
Eagle Rock area

Be sure to check the ads in the back of magazines for great indie finds too:
Ready Made
Bust
Juxtapoz
Craft

How to: Table top Christmas Tree

2007-12-07T10:27:00.000-08:00

I am hosting the family holiday dinner at my house for the first time this year. I do not want to buy a tree, but feel like their needs to be some sort of décor, other than a pretty table. So, I decided to make a set of three small trees that could be arranged on a tabletop and used year after year. I still have to decorate them. I like the idea that, because they have a Styrofoam base, these trees can be re-decorated each year for a different look.

Materials
Styrofoam cones
Felt fabric (I used a wool blend yardage)
Straight pins with a small head
Scissors
Pinking shears
Cardboard tube
White glue
Craft knife
Marker
Ribbon or other decorations

Directions
Cut felt fabric into 2” wide strips.
Trim the bottom edge of the strips with the pinking shears.
Cut the strips of felt into smaller rectangular pieces.
Use straight pins to attach pieces of felt onto the Styrofoam cone. Be sure to start from the bottom and work your way up, overlaping your layers as if you are putting shingles on a roof.
On the next row up, stagger the next row of felt, like you are laying down a wall of
bricks.
Trim the cardboard tube to the length you would like, and use white glue to cover it with felt fabric. This will be the trunk of the tree.
Trace the circumference of the trunk on the base of the tree.
Use a craft knife to cut a channel to fit the trunk of the tree into.
Glue the tree trunk into place.
Decorate the tree with ribbon, mini pom-poms, or whatever you desire.

You can see the trees all decorated here.

I am knitting a Katamari Ball hat.

2007-11-19T12:29:00.000-08:00

I have been working on a knit Katamari Ball hat based on instructions from Easliy Amused. I am using Merino Style yarn from Knit Picks in colors Storm, Asparagus, and Cinnamon.

I entered the gauge from my knitted swatch into the pattern generator for an ear flap hat that was created by The Knitting Fiend as suggested by Easily Amused.

I wrote up a pattern for the bumps which I will post when the hat is complete. I am filling the bumps with 2" Styrofoam balls that have the bottom trimmed off so they have a flat side. I covered the balls with a thin layer of batting and then stuffed them into the feet of stockings before they received their knitted cover.

I can't wait to see the finished product.

DIY Pore Clearing strips

2007-11-15T14:23:00.000-08:00

I enjoy creating handmade bath and body products. I can have control over the quality of the product while making the whole house smell amazing. I like giving handmade body products as gifts because I feel like I am giving a really luxurious present for a fraction of the price.

I just came across this site, Bath and Body Recipes, that has 787 recipes for bath and body products. There are many many sites out there with these types of recipes, but this is the first time I have seen a recipe for making your own pore clearing strips.

You can read an article I wrote a while back about how to create your own lip balm recipe here.

Knitted Bangle Tutorial

2007-11-09T12:57:00.000-08:00

I was browsing over in the flickr Crazy for Knitting pool and came across these fabulous knitted bangles by See Mi Knit. She has written up a tutorial for how to create your own. You can see more pictures of her finished knits here.

Vote for Holiday Softies now!

2007-11-06T18:50:00.000-08:00

Voting has begun for the 2007 Holiday Softie Awards over at Softies Central. Mr. Hankey did not make it to the finals, but there are tons of others that deserve your vote. Winners will be announced on November 14th.

Color on Color pt. 4, COMPLETE!

2007-11-05T10:39:00.000-08:00

I started this Color on Color scarf designed by Kathryn Alexander from the Scarf Style book by Pam Allen back in early 2006 (or was it late 2005?). The wonderful ladies at Unraveled were hosting a kal. You can read earlier posts here.

This was my fist "large project" and I could not have completed it without help. I learned intarsia, fair aisle, i-cord, 3 needle bind off, how to pick-up and knit in another direction, and how to make button holes.

I used Merino Style yarn from Knit Picks. Merino Style is a nice yarn with beautiful colors, but if I were to do it again, I would have not used the red and pink. I would have dyed some yarn a fuchsia color and maybe a few other colors too. Or, I would have used the Paternayan yarn that was called for because it comes in so many many colors.

I would also have knit my i-cord longer and thinner. As it is, I ended up cheating a bit and braiding the pieces on the ends, otherwise this scarf would have still been sitting in a bag incomplete. I adore all the color, but I think this piece is a little too colorful.....and it looks like it belongs in the circus. Oh well.

DIY Costume Wings Roundup

2007-10-25T16:00:00.000-07:00

I was over at the Craftzine blog and saw this amazing video tutorial on making your own wings from Threadbanger. I remembered that I had seen a few other tutorials around the web. So here they are:
Simplicity classroom: How to Make Wings
Instructables: How to Make a Pair of Angel Wings
Squidoo: Make your own Fairy Wings, scroll down a bit
WikiHow: How to Make Fairy Wings
CDHM: How to Make Fantasy Film Fairy Wings, these are small for dolls
Craftgrrl: Fairy Wings
Angry Chicken: Fairy Items
Knitting And: Halloween Fairy Wings
Dicey Home: Fairy Wings
Family Fun: Fancy Fairy Costume
About: How to Make Fairy Wings
Sonic: Make Your Own Fairy Wings

Wonder Woman Accessories

2007-10-24T22:02:00.001-07:00

After I created the Leia Wig, I wanted to make more items that represented strong female role models of my childhood. I was a big fan of the Bionic Woman, but she had no iconic costume paraphernalia. Making a bionic ear was a thought, but a little obtuse, and you would not be able to wear it.

The equally best thing was to create something that was wonderfully Wonder Woman. As a young girl I had always coveted those fabulous evil deflecting gold bracelets and fancy gold crown.

And so, I present these Wonder Woman accessories, which are perfect for days when you need a little help feeling like a hero, or just want to play dress-up. They are available in my etsy store.

Yarn made of old newspaper

2007-10-23T15:15:00.000-07:00

De Zeen, Design Magazine has a post up about yarn that has been manufactured from old newspapers. The idea comes from Greetje van Tiem and was exhibited during the Design Academy Eindhoven graduation show. It is a very fine guage yarn and is mainly being used for weaving, although their site shows an image of an automan covered with knit newspaper yarn. Via Dutch Design Week via Mocoloco.

Knitted Scene from an Animated Video

2007-10-23T11:08:00.001-07:00

I was over at the Craftzine blog and came across this amazing knitted scene that toki45 posted at Craftster. The inspiring animated video was for "I Lived on the Moon" from Kwoon's album "Tales and Dreams". The designer and director of the animated short was Yannick Puig.

Wool Breast Pads for nursing moms, Pt.2

2007-10-18T21:40:00.000-07:00

I have received a review for the Wool Breast Pads I made last February for my friend who was having a baby shower. She liked the larger size, but the colors from the silk or dyed wool ended up bleeding when she released milk. They ended up only being appropriate for dark colored bras.

Costume-a-thon contest at Etsy

2007-10-18T14:28:00.000-07:00

Etsy is hosting the ultimate handmade costume contest, and awarding eighteen winners with over $2,000 worth of prizes. These are the categories: Pet, Kid & Baby, T-Shirt Costume, Sci-Fi, Green, and General Awesomeness. The Judges are from Babble.com, Boingboing.net, Craftzine.com, Makezine.com, Tcritic.com, Treehugger.com, and Threadless.com.

I have entered my Knit Leia Wig pattern, and fleece edition Leia Wig. You can see the other entries here.

2007 Holiday Softie Awards

2007-10-16T12:04:00.000-07:00

There are two weeks left to enter the 2007 Holiday Softie Awards going on over at flickr. There are a bunch of fun entries to look at. My Mr. Hankey doll has been entered into the Doll Dress up category. You can learn more about how to enter here. via Craftzine

Craft My Ride contest

2007-10-12T13:39:00.000-07:00

Scion is hosting a competition for handmade car accessories called Craft My Ride. There are only 2 weeks left to submit. So start up your sewing machines, warm up your glue gun, and thread your needles! The best submission will receive a 2008 Scion xD. Yeah!

Buccaneer's Booty, knit sock pattern

2007-10-10T13:42:00.000-07:00

I just stumbled across a knitting pattern for these super cute Buccaneer's Booty Socks. They are perfect for the fall Halloween days that are just a few weeks away. This pattern was designed by Anne Kuo Lukito of Crafty Diversions. I may have to start making socks now.

The Art of Documentary Film

2007-10-09T19:09:00.000-07:00

I have always been a big fan of documentary film. One of my friends has decided to embark upon a documentary project. The film is called Blood & Honey. It deals with the psychological pain of living with chronic illness and diabetes in particular.

Psychological pain is something that western medicine often does not include in its diagnosis and treatment plan. With the number of diabetes cases on the rise, this is an important film. If you are interested in this subject and would to make a tax deductible contribution, you may contact Dr.Bernstein here.

DIY Labels

2007-10-04T22:38:00.000-07:00

I wanted to add a label to my Fleece Leia Wigs that had my business name and online store listed on them. I decided to make them myself so I did not have to order thousands, also I had waited until almost the last minuet.

I had remembered that there were several posts about other crafters who had made their own labels on the Craftzine blog. This one by I Sew Biz seemed the easiest.

I headed over to my local fabric store and purchased the "Colorfast Sew-In Inkjet Fabric Sheets" by June Tailor. They worked out great.

For the first few wigs, I had sewn in the label so it showed. I decided to change this and now all the tags will be sewn into the inside.

Recycled Cardboard Chandelier

2007-10-04T10:25:00.000-07:00

I am a big fan of things made from cardboard. Dutch designer Anneke Jakobs has created an amazing chandelier called the Chiquita Chandelier which is made from old cardboard Banana boxes. You can read more about the chandelier here at Inhabitat.

Be sure to check out some of the other amazing things she has created on her website.

The Leia Wig, Fleece Edition

2007-09-29T10:36:00.000-07:00

I have had many requests from non-knitters for a knit Leia Wig, rather than a pattern from my Etsy store. But because they take a while to make and Alpaca fiber is not cheap, they are a bit expensive. I was thinking of a way to produce them that was not so labor intensive. So, I present the Leia Wig, Fleece Edition.

It took a while to design a pattern that would fit just as nice as the knit version, but I think I finally did it. I will be offering these for sale during The Brewery Artwalk, October 6 & 7, in Unit 642, W-9. I mentioned the Artwalk here.

I will be offering the fleece version of the Leia Wig at my Etsy store in brown and black, just after Artwalk. They cost $49.

The Brewery Art Walk, Oct. 6 & 7, 2007

2007-09-16T09:41:00.000-07:00

The Brewery Fall 2007 ARTWALK is just around the corner.

Saturday and Sunday
October 6 & 7, 11am - 6pm

Come visit me and over 100 other working studios of Brewery artists and purchase art at studio prices.

2100 N Main St
Los Angeles, CA 90031

directions are here
list of participating artists with links here

FREE ADMISSION
FREE PARKING

images of previous ARTWALK's here

My New Kitchen

2007-09-13T14:55:00.000-07:00

I have a new working kitchen! The new loft came to us without closets or a kitchen, which was a trade-off. Although we have had to do a lot of work, we got a 1,200 sq. ft. place within an art colony for a decent price.

We purchased almost everything from Ikea. The cabinets are from the Akrum series with Applad doors, Lansa pulls, and Capita legs. The counter tops are Pragel. We got the steel sink, which is discontinued, from the as-is bin for half price, and chose the Edsvik faucet. The spice racks, shelf, and paper towel holder are from the Grundtal series. The flooring is Armstrong's Standard Excelon industrial composition tile. You can see images of the progress on our kitchen here.

Knit Wonder Woman Sweater (Jumper)

2007-09-04T12:39:00.000-07:00

Practical Polly has created an really fantastic knit Wonder Woman jumper (sweater). Hopefully the pattern will be available to us soon. via Craftzine

Art Exhibition: Form and Imagination, Women Ceramic Sculptors

2007-08-30T13:04:00.000-07:00

September 8^th - November 24^th, 2007

Opening Reception: Saturday, September 8^th, 6-9 pm

Form and Imagination: Women Ceramic Sculptors exhibits the figurative art of fifteen female artists from across the United States whose narrative work has been inspired by their experiences as children, mothers, women, artists, wives, or simply as human beings. The sculptures, intricate and embellished, include figurines, dolls, torsos, and still lifes. Some contain a playful twist or fairytale-like quirkiness, while others specialize in irony or satire.

Featured artists include:

Lisa Clague, Cynthia Consentino, Debra Fritts, Linda Ganstrom, Marie E.v.B. Gibbons, Margaret Keelan, Coeleen Kiebert, Beth Lo, Janis Mars Wunderlich, Kathryn Rush, Kathy Ruttenberg, Esther Shimazu, Nan Smith, Cheryl Tall, and Patti Warashina

Special Events:

Forming the Figure in Clay – October 13^th, 12-4pm, Fee: $10 adults, $5 children 12 & under. Learn how to form a simple figure in clay. This workshop is for children and families.

Guest Lecture with William Catling – Saturday, November 10^th, 5pm

Pottery Market – Saturday, November 10^th, 12-9 pm, free

Southern California potters sell their original ceramic artwork.

American Museum of Ceramic Art

Bathroom Storage, Ikea hack

2007-08-25T11:13:00.000-07:00

I was in desperate need of bathroom storage in our new loft. The sink is mounted to the wall, so there is no counter space. When we were shopping for our kitchen I came across these BYGEL accessories. Now there is space for hand towels, tooth brushes, and other bathroom items.

Shoe Storage, Ikea hack

2007-08-25T10:47:00.000-07:00

I have been working hard at organizing my new loft living space. We had to install a kitchen, bathroom stuff, and build closets. I purchased a PAX closet from Ikea, but still did not have room for my shoes. I had purchased an AKRUM wall cabinet for the kitchen with the APPLAD doors and LANSA handles. We ended up changing the floor plan of the kitchen at the last minuet, and the cabinet would not fit. I realized that it was the perfect size for all my shoes. I purchased an extra set of the CAPITA legs, and now my shoes have a safe home where nobody has to look at them.

Vintage Ads, Modern Products

2007-08-23T21:28:00.000-07:00

Worth 1000 has a few contests going on for advanced Photoshoppers. Boing Boing points to this contest using vintage ads to promote modern products. There are a ton of great ads there, but I really like this one for the Nintendo Wii which was created by gugacardo.

Free Pattern: Sabinette

2007-08-17T12:29:00.000-07:00

Berroco has come up with a free pattern for scarf just like this one created by Queen Mud that I posted about a few weeks ago. Berroco's pattern is called Sabinette. I like how the architectural structure of the "rungs of the ladder" pop out like fringe when wrapped around the models neck. You can also see an un-felted version of this scarf here on the Berroco site.

Art or Not on TV

2007-08-16T15:49:00.000-07:00

Ovation TV has a new program called Art or Not. I do not have this channel, but was pleased to see that they have many video clips available on their website. I wish there was more programming like this available on a regular basis.

Sewn Felt Slippers

2007-08-09T13:39:00.001-07:00

Martha Stewart has a template to make your own sewn felt slippers from commercial felt. I would like to make a pair of these with a rubber sole so they can be worn around town.

The Draft Vader Helmet

2007-08-09T10:31:00.000-07:00

The talented Ladylinoleum of Monster Crochet has just pointed me to her fantastic Draft Vader helmet creation. She suggested that her Draft Vader should date my Leia Wig. I could not agree more.

Ceramist, Laura Zindel

2007-08-02T19:06:00.001-07:00

A few weeks ago I was browsing through Ceramics Monthly magazine and came across an article about ceramist, Laura Zindel. As an admirer of bug and beetle designs, I became an instant fan and placed an order immediately for her tumblers. They arrived in the mail and are gorgeous.

If you like these too, you may want to check out the ceramics of Catherine Reece of Village Clay Works.

The Amazing Moxie Does it Again

2007-07-26T10:00:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite needle felting artists, the amazing Moxie, whom I wrote about earlier, has once again wowed me. Her finger puppets make me giggle with glee, and this new fuzzeh one has put me over the top. You can see more of her fantastic needle felted creations on her flickr page. She also has an etsy store.

Felted Scarf in rainbow colors

2007-07-20T13:59:00.000-07:00

I really like this knitted & felted Rainbow Scarf created by Queen Mudd from Sweden over at flickr. She has a ton of fantastic photos of knit items. Many of them are of lace. You can see a before felting photo of her Rainbow Scarf picture here. She also has a blog called Queen Mudd.

DIY Glowing Hoop

2007-07-13T14:14:00.000-07:00

A while back Psi-hoops came out with these amazing hoops that have LED lights in them. They are really beautiful. I wanted to purchase one, but was scared away by the $200 price tag. You can see a few videos of them in action here.

Recently, jeffkobi posted a how-to on making your own LED Hula Hoop over at instructables. He said he spent about $15 in materials. Yeah!

To learn more about the hooping phenomenon, go to hooping.org.