August 2011

Thanks to everyone who entered our Third Anniversary Giveaway, and to everyone that sent us such lovely emails. We love what we do, and your support keeps us going. As always, we greatly appreciate your comments, suggestions and encouragement. Consider them payback for the FREE patterns and ideas we share at Wee Folk Art. Your involvement here, helps keep the blog alive :)

Now, to announce the winners that were drawn at random. 

Happy Anniversary!
Submitted by Momma Roar on Fri, 07/29/2011 - 20:04.
I love the baseball jersey and the pajamas! :)

I just found you this week and I've been searching a LOT! I love your creations and can't wait to spend more time lurking (I've already spent a lot of time, but I know there is more!)

Thanks for sharing your creations!

Leigh Ann

AND....

I love the beach tote.
Submitted by Robin (not verified) on Fri, 07/29/2011 - 12:16.
I love the beach tote. Congrats on your anniversary and thanks for the giveaway! Hugs, cokelush at gmail

Congrats Robin and Leigh Ann. Simply email your snail mail address to us at weefolkart@yahoo.com, and we will be sending our gnomey love mug off to you. (You have 1 week to contact us or a new winner will be selected.)

Thanks again, to all our readers. You would think after 3 years we would be running out of ideas, but they keep coming faster than we can craft :)

Also, watch next week for a wonderful Giveaway from Bella Luna Toys. When isn't THAT wonderful news :)

So... here's the low down on the panda... Michelle, you know Michelle, my lovely, talented daughter and partner in crime here at Wee Folk Art? Well, she comes to me a week ago and said:

"I have a request. Can you make a panda applique? I need to make t-shirts for the kids for camp next week, and the theme is pandas."

I really don't have time. Really I don't. But I make the time, because this is Michelle asking for an applique block. I ask ya, if I can't design an applique block for my own daughter, what kind of mother would I be? So I do. And he's cute as a bug's ear.

So, I'm uber busy this week. My mom had surgery, and the whole week has been spent coming and going with her. As the week wears on, I'm thinking... "Where are these t-shirts that Michelle was suppose to make the kids?" So I ask her, "Uh, where are the t-shirts?" And, she looks me right in the eye and said, "I didn't have time to make them."

Take a deep breath and count to 10, right? Well, I hit 73 in about 4 seconds. "Didn't make them? After asking ME to design a panda when I was so busy, and you didn't even use my applique?" And she replies rather sheepishly, "Well, you can still use them on Wee Folk Art, right?"

Truth be told, I really wasn't angry... actually found it more amusing. My craft closet is full of supplies I bought to make a specific project that never got made... like the bear costume for a 3 year old Drew or a quilt I was making for a wedding gift. It happens. But I must admit I was feeling a little deflated. Then, I received this request from one of our readers:

IS THERE ANY WAY POSSIBLE....
Submitted by Amanda on Tue, 08/02/2011 - 22:26.
I absolutely love all your applique blocks! I have spent the better part of the day printing them and pinning them on pinterest so that I can find them in a jiffy. I love the butterfly, and was wondering if there was any way you could make a ladybug applique block and/or a panda bear applique block if/when you have a chance? My sister has cerebral palsy and loves ladybugs and pandas...her room is filled with everything my mom, my little sister, and I can find. She changes her ladybugs and panda bears out daily. I would love to be able to make her something for her room with one of your blocks. Thank you so much for sharing your talent! It is truly inspirational!

How serendipitous is that? So, I'm doing a little dance, feeling oh so thrilled that Michelle asked me to design a panda. I was able to tell Amanda to check my post on Friday. BTW... I have 3 ladybug designs that have been sitting in journal for 2 years. If I get a chance in the next couple of weeks, I'll share 1 or more of them, too.

As always... the block was designed to fit a 6" x 6" block. It can be enlarged or reduced to meet your needs. The pattern for the Panda can be found HERE.

And, Amanda... hope your sister loves the design. Let us know what you wind up making. Love to see pics :)

BTW... panda's have dark eyes, which you wouldn't be able to see... I'm not sure I love the "twinkle", but I also didn't want to make them white. I didn't have enough time to try something different. Anyone have any better ideas or do you like the twinkles?

EDIT: For all you lovely people that are helping us, and for anyone else that hasn't signed up yet, to easily find your assigned months, go to the Archive's Link found in the left column under More Wee Folk Art. Here is the direct link to the Archives: http://weefolkart.com/?q=node/433

It has long been a pipe dream of Michelle's and mine to make our way through our archives to make sure links are working and the proper photos are in place. For all of our good intentions, we are so busy with the here and now, we can't seem to find the time to fix the past! We know there are many mistakes. We switched our hosting server 18 months ago, and many of the old blogs really got messed up, with broken links and mixed up photos. Also, we have tabs across the top of our blog, right under the header, that are direct links to listings of our patterns, applique blocks, recipes, stitch glossary, coloring pages and homeschooling curriculums. Sometimes we get sidetracked and unfortunately, some of our projects have never been put in the galleries, so they seldom get viewed.

It is easy enough to check our past blogs for accuracy, but you can imagine how time consuming it would be for us to do it all ourselves? Then we got a brilliant idea... why not ask our readers for some help? Would you be willing to help us out by taking a month or two of our archives, and just check to make sure all the links work, that the correct photos are in place, and that the projects are included in the appropriate galleries?

We are hoping many of you will be willing to help, making the process fast and simple. If you would like to lend a "helping hand", simple email us at weefolkart@yahoo.com, and let us know if you would help by editing 1 or 2 months, and we will reply assigning the month/s to you. Then simply scroll through that month, read over the blogs, and make sure we included links and that they are working, that the photos are correct, and that they are listed in the appropriate gallery. If you find a problem, record the DATE, BLOG TITLE, and PROBLEM. When you have finished with the month, simply email the data back to us. Remember, many hands make light work. We are hoping to get a great response and lots of readers willing help.

Michelle and I can then focus strictly on making the corrections for problems our readers found! You will be our editors. This will make the whole WEE FOLK ART experience better for everyone. BTW... don't worry about spelling or punctuation. We're not perfect and we can live with that :) We just want to make sure the website is working properly.

So here's your chance to give something back to WFA. Much thanks in advance for your help!

BTW... The pattern for our Helping Hands Applique Block was made to fit a 6" x 6" block. It can be enlarged or reduced to meet your needs. The pattern can be found HERE.  

All photos, text and patterns are copyright protected. You may not copy, reproduce or redistribute any material found on WeeFolkArt.com without written permission. Wee Folk Art retains all rights.

In between other, larger projects (with more on that to come, including a peek at my Double Secret Probation Sweater) I've been whipping up a few smaller, fun fall knits. I've been using this as an excuse to take a tour of other blogs looking for free knitting patterns. The one I've started with is Soule Mama's Rosa hat (available as a free Ravelry Download). I've done it twice now, in both cases using some of my own homespun yarn working at different gauges. I love the mock-cable ribbing and the quick shaping done at the top that creates a ruffled star texture on the cap. It is super cute on my girls.

Here are some of my notes on the pattern for my own reference... just thought I would share if you are interested. In general I find that the pattern runs a tad small if you are actually working on gauge. At the given gauge of 5.25 sts per inch... for an adult hat I would be tempted to cast on 108 sts or use size 7 or 8 needles and work as written looking for a 4.5 sts per inch gauge. The 80 sts for a child size seems to work up more at a toddler sized hat (maybe try 92 sts).

My greenie hat... worked up at 5 sts per inch. I was running out of yarn and had to start decreasing at 7.5. Although it fits me... it just fits me. Fairy has claimed it... and I'm debating taking out a few rows... because the width is good for her but it is a tad too long.

My purpley hat worked up at 6 sts per inch. I CO 100 sts and worked as the adult size but used the child's length. It was a perfect fit for Pixie! She loves it and has been wearing it around the house. LOL.

We've had some chilly nights recently (such a nice treat after that blasted heat and humidity) and the girls donned their new hats while chasing fireflies in their PJs. Too cute!

As summer is drawing to a close, my thoughts turn inward... not philosophically, but rather to the inside of my house. I don't do spring cleaning, I do fall cleaning, and much of the change inside my house occurs in September and October, before the holidays. As I was wandering through my house this morning, tablet in hand, taking notes on ideas I have, I was reminded of this article I wrote for the now retired blog, One Generation to Another. It was first published November 27, 2007. Hope you enjoy! 

            I have been accused (accused, hmmmm, sounds so harsh) ok, it’s been suggested that I do not handle change well. Truth be told, I normally have to be dragged kicking and screaming into change. It’s not that I’m dissatisfied with end results, case in point, THE INTERNET, but that’s a whole ‘nother story, it’s just that I cringe at the process of changing. Although I can be impulsive, spontaneous, and rather fickle, I put a lot of effort into fine tuning and tweaking my decisions, and once I do, I settle into them and see little reason to go through the process again.

            Perhaps the only place in my life where this does not hold true is in decorating. I view houses as living, breathing, organic entities that must continuously evolve or face extinction. Let’s face it. We’ve all been in prehistoric houses, often our grandparents. (Hmmm, must remember I’m a grandmother when I say things like that!) They decorated their houses 30 years ago, and other than removing the protective plastic sofa cover, they’ve changed little. Repainting means finding a shade that most closely resembles the color already on the walls, and their new furniture must fit into the dimples already created in the carpet from previous furniture. Over the years they’ve added their children’s graduation pictures to the walls, and the shelf above the couch holds a growing collection of souvenirs from their road trips, but nothing significant changes, ever.

            I, on the other hand, am ALWAYS in the throes of decorating. You know how some people feel about a new car smell, to the point of buying “new car” potpourri when the original smell has worn off? Well, that’s how I feel about the smell of fresh paint or recently sawed wood. It’s intoxicating! Once that freshly decorated smell goes away, I get the wanderlust for a new project! And it’s not decorating for the sake of decorating. Oh NO, far from it! It’s more like listening to your house and responding to its needs. A couch says, “I’m tired of looking at the fireplace. Let me look out the window for awhile. ” A wall screams for a splash of color. And the laundry room is pleading with you to restore order by installing cubbies. In my opinion, you would be heartless to ignore their needs.

            I realize it takes practice to learn how to speak “house”. Just like new parents need to learn to interpret their infant’s nonverbal cues, so must a homeowner learn to listen to their house. So, grab a cup of coffee, herbal tea, or favorite libation and take a “day trip” through your house. Visit each room and sit in a variety of locations. It’s amazing how different a room looks from different vantages. Start a home journal. I like to use an 8” x 11” sketch book that you can write, draw and paste in. Record your ideas and possible changes. You can use the journal to collect photos and ideas when looking through magazines or surfing the net. Then use the journal to record your changes, including pictures and info for future reference. One of the biggest secrets to decorating is learning to separate the screams from the whimpers. Just like parents know the difference between their child’s whine for a superfluous unfulfilled desire and the scream of pain, our house’s needs vary in intensity. Don’t get overwhelmed by everything you want to do. Prioritize and realize that decorating is an ongoing process, and to the chagrin of everyone I’ve ever lived with, never complete!

            Obviously, budgets are a large factor when planning any change; however, many alterations are relatively inexpensive or free and produce dramatic results. Rearranging your living room to create an intimate “chat corner” costs nothing more than a few sore muscles. Bringing color into a room through freshly painted walls or a new wall hanging can be worked into most budgets. Just remember, there’s no way you would be happy wearing the same outfit day in and day out, neither does your house. Change, gulp, is good, at least where your house is concerned. Consult it frequently and listen when it speaks! 

I use sketch books for the house and garden. Over the years they’ve gotten banged around and often abused…case in point, one fall I needed to get a shipment of plants in the ground before a trip, so I was out working in the garden, in a steady drizzle, with my trusty sketch book haphazardly wrapped in plastic while providing the blueprint for planting. Not only do journals become a great resource of collected info and plans, but a wonderful diary of the life of your house and garden.

My mom bought a basket full of this yarn (Lorna's Laces Green Line Dk which has been sadly discontinued), with no real project in mind. I've been stealing skeins of it (shhh) here and there to make some Christmas tree garland. It is a simple 4sts I-Cord. The quick rainbow color switches work up beautifully this way and although I have miles to go... I am not growing bored of the color-way.

I-Cord Tutorial aka Christmas Tree Garland (Ravelry link)

Making an I-Cord is very easy. If you can knit at all, you can do it. You need two double pointed needles (alternatively you can use a knitting hoop or spool). I am making my garland on size 8 needles using a DK weight yarn... you can of course play with you needle size and yarn weight.

Cast on 3-6 stitches depending on the weight of your yarn and how thick you would like your cord to be. After playing with it, I chose to work with 4 sts. Knit across, do not turn.

Instead, slide your 4 sts down to the opposite side of the needle, keeping the yarn to the back.

Bring the yarn across the back and knit another row, pulling the first stitch tight to eliminate any gap across the 4 sts.

Continue in this manner (ie sliding after each row without turning) until you reach your desired length. You can either bind off as normal or cut the tail and pull through all 4 sts and tie off.

To make it into Christmas Tree Garland you will need to make several yards of it... well many yards of it if it is a big tree and you want lots of coverage. This is a great way to show off some of your favorite fun or funky yarns and add some wooly goodness to your holiday decor. To help break it up, have a lot of different family members add a few inches which will add to the charm and truly make it a family keepsake.

I started to answer this question in response to a comment I received yesterday but I thought that it might warrant it's own post. I know I've been linking to a site called Ravelry a lot lately in conjunction with all my knitting projects. But if you are not already a member there, you might be asking yourself, what is Ravelry?

Ravelry is a social networking site dedicated to the yarn arts (knitting, crocheting, spinning). The base features are all free to use (store front pro and some advanced user features do have a cost). Within your profile you maintain a database of all the projects you are currently working on or have completed including notes, pictures and yarn details. The best part of all is that the projects are all linked to the original patterns. This means that you can peruse everyone else's notes and photos to see how a pattern works up in different yarns/sizes. Follow someone else modifications to customize your project. You can also keep records of your yarn stash both store bought or homespun. Just bought a couple skeins of a cool yarn but don't have an exact pattern in mind, search by the yarn and see what projects other members worked up with that yarn. Or run out of a yarn mid-project and need more of the same dye lot, search for it and you might find someone willing to sell it or trade you for it.  In fact you can use the database features to search for just about anything... free, knit, child, sweater, cables... brings up 179 patterns in clothing. Thinking of purchasing a new pattern book (especially when shopping online), look it up and see all the patterns offered before you buy. You can also link to patterns you have wrote or record projects you have improvised. There are also forums that feature groups dedicated to everything from your local yarn shop to fans of a tv show to completing service projects to using a specific technique... which is where the Wee Folk Art Knits group is located. Basically whether you are a new yarn lover or a dedicated fiber artist Ravelry is kinda "the place to be" for yarnies on the web.

In order to check out all the cool features you will have to set up your free account. And just so you know, we do not get anything... at all... by sending you to Ravelry. There is no affiliation... I just LOVE all the features it offers. BTW when I'm hanging out on Ravelry I go by the name WeeFolkMom and my mother (who I generally have to post her knitting pics for her because she is so busy here) goes by the name of KimaraWeeFolkArt. Wee Folk Art Knits is the group forum for Friends and Fans of Wee Folk Art... which is pretty quiet atm since it is new but stop in and say hi.

I've had a very busy week and Michelle has been doing a great job of holding down the fort. I do have a couple of things to share this week. First, a couple of weeks ago, one of our readers shared an Etsy shop with us on Facebook, specifically the artist's little Knowmes. (Thank you, Jessica)

Well... I fell in love with them and ordered 3. I just had to do a quick share. This week I am working on fall decorations, and these will make a beautiful addition to our Autumn Cupboard. Watch for more later in the week.

And, oh yes... if you'd like to take a look at the Etsy shop, you can visit Home Again Pottery HERE.

(BTW... before I get 100 emails... I bought the ceramic mushrooms at a street fair and I'm afraid I have no idea who the artist is! If they look familiar to anyone, please share. I know our readers would be interested :)