November 20th, 2013.
TIS THE SEASON and I'm recycling those 5,000 plus used and unused Christmas cards I bought as a folly for pennies.. Tis time to get it done. made from two used Xmas cards. I ofund a pattern off Pinterest, my favorite crafty site, search for recycled Christmas cards and see what you find!
**Also my first bunch of Kellys in their packages went out the door yesterday to one charitable organization.**

widgets May 24, 2013

Love this widget  on the left with the cat
http://sachsenrose.blogspot.nl/2011/10/verschiedenes-gewerkelt.html

 studying widgets now. bear with me.... see bottom of blog for the Suzy cat.. so cute
UPDATE: she removed the cat that was so cute but her blog is sweet.

Micro Knooking May 3rd, 2013

I became interested in Knooking (knitting with a crochet hook and a satin cord) because I needed  to be able to knit and couldn't teach myself. Knooking offered a way for me to call it knit. But I have small 4 to 6 inch dolls and Hittys, so the ones they were offering in Walmart or JoAnns were way too large... I needed one for fingerling yarn or string even. 
So I thought up this:

I had my dh go to the shop cause i knew he would never let me use his tools *wink, one way to get him involved...* and flatten one end with a vice of a size 10 metal crochet hook and the same for a size 7.
This is what he came back with... wow wonderful! So I also had him make one of those metal caps that go on the ends of a Crochet hook. This is so I can change the size of my knook hook.
this is the photo of what he made

This works for what I needed. add a smaller diameter satin cord or something that not only fits thru the hole but also when you transfer the work in progress loops over the string double.
I experiment with all kinds of loop cord or thread and right now some lacing.

So i will give you a pattern for my SHAWL for Hitty...

Start with a LOOSE crochet chain of 40. 
turn and first row. I want you to pull a loose loop through each chain and leave on the base of the hook like this below:

 then gently pull onto your cord.

* Turn and 1 set of 2 loops, condense and make one loop and then make a loop for each one until the end and take the last two loops and make one. 

Pull out the cord from 1st row and put the new loops onto the cord.
turn and repeat to *
It will decrease as you go.
When you get down to the last three loops on hook so a Single crochet.

I like to make a hdc around the whole project. with my regular cro hook seen below in photo in which i found on YOU Tube instructions to make those fimo handles to relieve some of the death grip one gets during too much crocheting and causes of hurtful hands after time.
Below are some of the projects i have made  doing the crochet Knook method and a combo of each. Anywhere where it straight, like the skirt of the dress or pinny, I use the knooking hook.

March 8th, 2013, Make your own Mini Bear Rug

I used to make crocheted and fabric minibears under the name of Meribears. And also I not only made them but i designed the patterns also. Then came  along a person who said that this was their pattern, even though she came on the scene 8 years after me and the pattern i created was the first one I had ever made. I would like to share some of the minibears i have made with my own patterns. and then below is the pattern for a bear rug for a dollhouse or just for fun for you to enjoy.

The Easy Bear Rug (for beginner bear makers)

Easy Bear Rug Body by Marylou of Meribears©

Use a size 10 crochet thread..with a size 11 or 12 hook...

Use white for Polar bears

brown for brown bears..

black for black bears

reddish brown for Grizzly bears..

***And** you don’t have to use thread..you can use yarn (The larger sized yarn or thread

the larger the rug will be and visa versa).. just make sure

When you size your hook there arent many gaps in the rug body itself..

If there are ..you need to downsize your hook and make your stitches tighter.

* ALSO* I have the rug in picture turned different than in the previous picture to show you

you can do it either way.. Put the head and tail on the long sides to make the rug stretch

out or put the head and tail between the two sets of legs..So its legs stretch out in front of

him. Either way is good..

ch - chain sc - single crochet

st - sttitch hdc - half double crochet

sl st - slip stitch dc - double crochet

sk st - skip stitch tog - take two stitches dec to one

dec - decrease. Make sure you see all the photos at the bottom of instructions, please

ch 29, do not twist the chain.

row 1 - in 3rd chain from hook start hdc.. counting the two start ch as one hdc.

hdc each st in the ch.. ch 2, turn over (27st)

row 2 - hdc across, ch 2 and turn over(27)

row 3 - hdc across, ch 2 and turn over (27)

row 4 - sl st 7 st, sl st in nx st and ch 2 (counts as one hdc), hdc 12, ch 2, turn over. This

makes the middle of the body. (13 st)

row 5 - 13 hdc, ch 2 turn turn over (13 st)

row 6 - 13 hdc, ch 9 turn over (13 hdc,9 ch)

row 7 - keeping ch straight, hdc in 3rd ch from hook (counts as one hdc, 6 hdc, 11 hdc, ch

9 turn over (18 st, ch9)

row 8 - hdc in 3rd ch fm hook(counts as one hdc), 6 hdc, then continue down the body part

and do 11 hdc, and over to the other leg continue and make 6 hdc , ch 2 turn. (24 st)

row 9 - hdc across, ch 2 and turn over ( 23 st)

row 10 - hdc, ch 2 and turn over

row 11 - 1st 2 hdc tog, 6 hdc, last 2 hdc tog, ch 1 turn (8 st)

DO NOT tie off.

OUTLINE

You want to give your rug a finished look.. so we are going to outline it.

First fold back legs to find a center and mark it with a small piece of different colored

thread for later.

*now go back to your hook and place a sc all around the exterior of the rug..when you

come to a corner.. 3 sc around each corner..

* * Tail.. when you come to that piece of string.. in one st, sc, hdc, 2 dc, hdc, sc and go on

with your outline.

This should be noted as the top of the bear body.

Now you have finished your body rug.. lets do the head.

Head of the bear for the bear rug

Leave a tail in string for pulling through and use for counting rows.

Row 1 - ch 2, in 2nd chain from the hook, 8 sc, continuous rounds.. (8st)

row 2 - 2 sc each st (16 st)

Row 3 & 4 - sc each st (16 st)

Row 5 - 4 sc, 2 sc each st x 8, 4 sc (24 st)

Row 6 - 8 sc, 2 sc each st x 8, 8 sc (32 st)

Row 7 & 8 - sc each st around

Row 9 - 10 sc, 2 sc tog, 6 sc, 2 sc tog, 11 sc (29 St)

Row 10 & 11 & 12 - sc each st around

Stuff partially

Row 13& 14 - Start decreasing.. * 2 sc tog, 1 sc* repeat from *

Row 15 - sl st every other st to close..tie off

Ears:

ch 2 - in 2nd st from hook; 2 sc, 2 hdc, 2 dc, 2hdc, 2sc, ch 1 and turn

row 2 - sc in back loop only to end .. tie off leaving a string tail of 12" for sewing onto bear.

Attach the ears to head.. make sure they are straight.

sew on two black beads for eye.. Placement of eyes.. use 2 ball headed pins.. replace with

beads..

nose: use a straight stitch from: . _______ .

and then go around it: clockwise till full and give it a line in center down to a mouth..you

can add a small upside down " Y " or leave it straight.

Attach the head to body...place head on the top of the bear body.

Congratulations..you have made your bear rug...

You may use this pattern to make as many as you like.. and yes you can sell them.

But no part of this pattern MeriluOriginals© may be sold as it is copyrighted..by

Meribears™

March 2005

NOTE* Because a friend made a mistake and turned the body so its

outstretched arms were in front of the body instead of on the side..We decided this was

good too ./.. simply put the tail inbetween the two back legs like the directions state.. only

turn the body..* I liked this way so much better its how I make them nowadays.

Either way is great..ML

Please make as many as you want, sell them, trade them or give them away, just dont sell

my pattern.

February 27 2013

I didnt do much of anything yesterday because my son came to visit and we went to every thrift store in town ...
So last night i got a head start on crafts for today.. this is as far as i got.. more shrunken goodies from recyclable clear plastic containers and 3 Hitty collars made, adding buttons now. Then will poke holes  for necklaces in the shrunken tiny pendants..  These are sitting on top of one of these containers on its top and you can see thru to the bottom and see the larger seahorse. I took it and made another 2 from it to the size of tinier on top of the container.

February 25, 2013, fun fun fun

Im still having fun with this shrunken recycled plastic..
this is my treasure making for the day...
I've researched out what others do with Aileen's shrink-it and this stuff, some are pretty. Some have no imagination of what you really can do with this stuff. I'm like floored.
so in this next pix, I drew out the seahorse, but if you can't draw, use a picture. You know you could even trace a child's pix from under. Watch copyright laws but if you wanted to trace a pix from a special book or photo or picture published, (I like children's books) Its ok as long as you do not sell this or sell as your own..  Look up copyright laws. What I like to do is poke a hole with a red hot pin and add a chain loop and put it on a chain and wear it.. or a pin back glued on.. or charms on a charm bracelet.
That's why I draw my own, so no-one can say i stole it... 
So make things of for yourself... you can never have too many things you made yourself for yourself and the pride of doing it.
The others the dragonfly and butterfly were made from my Sizzix punches pictured so you can see the size of these tiny things that are fingertip tiny. There is about a 65 to 75% shrinkage from my recycled plastic containers. 

February 24th, 2013, Shrunken Hitty Heads

I've been playing with this clear recyclable plastic containers and shrinking it for other uses. So much fun. Yesterday I was making Shrunken Hitty heads. thought i would poke a hole in the top of the head where i have these small circles and add a chain loop for necklaces. Then I got the idea to try and make cameos . the first ones I added the head to a circle or mis-shapened square punch i had, and i painted them with pearl nail polish and the head stuck up too much, but it melted into one form alright, but the polish  turned yellowish in the oven. hmmm so next time i got the brilliant idea to paint the back of the so called cameo and put the silhouette on the front.. hmmm lets see what i can do with this? I will show the finished item later. the finished cameo came out to 3/8 of an inch after the plastic shrunk it. Tiny heh?

February 22, 2013, Rycyled products fun tutorial

From those things we always toss in the trash below.

 The kind food comes in from the bakery

mostly

To this below:

Did you know it shrinks like Aileens shrink-it?

Some work, some recycled product do not, I find the plastic boxes with the most crinkle do. Test them. Oven at 250°, it will have to shrink all the way so about 10 min, set a timer or watch the clock.
Do a test bake with a small  1" square, make sure it shrinks and see how much. Mine shrink to about 60% of size. 

To the left are made from a butterfly and dragonfly punch out. 
paint and glitter before baking, let the paint dry. Quick go dig in the kids room, find all those cute punches you bought them or your scrap booking stuff...
 Second one down is a 1 inch square, I drew a pretty rose on with a colored fine point sharpie, it shrunk too. Can't draw? Place a pix under and trace it. I burned a hole in all these with a hot pin made red-hot from a BIC lighter(not for kids project) use a pair of pliers to hold pin or burn yourself. What fun this is.

 

my special Kelly dress

Make this Kelly dress, my pattern (Aka Annie)
 Kelly Dolls are for the Toy Drive in Florence Oregon at Christmas time. I find them in Garage sales, in thrift stores and look for the great deals. People donate Kelly for me to make these clothes for good causes, for little girls who need a small friend. I make sewn clothing as well and putting them into packages. This is my cause for life, to make small lil girls happy, as I only had sons and doing this makes me happy.
I also make clothing for Barbie and Skipper and if they are decent and new looking or if I can clean them spotless. Some i have collected have been loved a bit too much... and stay with me.


The 3" to 4" Doll request to make clothes
Crochet by MeriluOriginals ( your lil ole Annie)
  
This is a Kelly Doll, she is 4"- inches small. 
Materials I used. You may want smaller hooks.
I have a sz 7 metal hook.
and I used fingerling baby  yarn in pink. 
*I also want to mention*: ****When you go down with st's and ch and then turn and go back, use a reverse crochet stitch. In case one does not know how to do this, its simple, go thru the post on the bottom row instead of thru the loop(s). I used this method on both dresses I believe, for sure the one on the right. This covers the ridge made when you leave the back open and ch1 and turn and go back...***


Ch 21 loosely, turn, skip 1st ch
R1 - sc back in each ch to end (you should have 20 sc's)

R2 - sc -sc- 2 sc in of the next 5 (this will make 10 sc in 5 st's) 6 sc's down the row and then again 2 sc in the next 5 st's, 3 sc's to the end, ch 1 and turn <30 sts>

R3- sc in each st across and ch1 and turn

R4 - Confusing, here's where you just do it, do not read ahead.. one at a time. 4 sc, 2sc in next st, sc,  2sc in next st, sc,  2sc in next st,  9 sc across the front,  2sc in next st, sc,  2sc in next st, sc,  2sc in next st, sc to end, ch 1 and turn

R5 - 4 sc, ch3, and skip 10 st,  8 sc, ch3, and skip 10 st, sc to the end. ch1 and turn (this sets the sleeves in. ) i lost count of st's, play it by ear.

R6 - This is the start of the skirt. You have to increase so it fits around and hangs right on the doll. So 2 sc in one st and then 1 sc, repeat. EXCEPT that ch 3 just make sc in each of the st in both of the ch 3. 
do that repeat across, now ch2 and turn

R7 and down thru all the rows, they are all te same. 1st - try it on your dolly. does it fit? like in my pix, that was what i was doing, making sure it fit.
Now I like to make HDC = yarn over and pull thru all three loops, still going thru the post for the reversed stitch. It looks nicer... repeat this R7 down, long as far as you like it to be.


The Last row
I like a finish look so i will scallop the bottom edge. in each st make sc-hdc-sc or every other st. up to you..I even sometimes go around the sleeve edge. Just to give that extra touch of finishing.
Annie

January 25th, 2013

Today has big plans of staying home (its  a rainy day) and working on projects. I have my bingo project to get ready...(No I'm not telling yet But I promise this is different and hopefully a fun bingo game in our dollhouse Yahoo group) I also want to make my own stamp with a Hitty Head on it. Something I can use a stamp pad over and over.. since I use this feature  alot on the back of my envelopes. So I learned how to do this on PINTEREST . They said go buy a block eraser and draw on your design and carve around it with a small scoop carving knife, which i just happen to have. you can see in my photo, I've started. Found the Erasers at the Dollar Tree Store. You really have to search them out and that's why I have included the package, an easier find. Carving on an eraser is easy, even my old sore hands can do this... go slow and be accurate.

And also Some nice member of our Group PIFFed us bingo players a small Glow in the Dark Fairy to go along with this Bingo story of fairies. So nice of her and I want to thank her.. She sent me 4 of them...I plan to make them into the Ice Fairies from the story today. I just figured out how to make them twinkle. 

And I want to start a new art brooch/pin today... I made another Dorset button last night while watching TV.So let's see what I can get done.

I did manage to finish this rubber stamp made from an eraser.. It came out GREAT

One project down.. more to go...

I love a rainy day!

Lora: a Friend of mine blog with crafties and art

January 20th, 2013

I found these nifty Dorset buttons tutorials on Pinterest and have tried my hand at them...
I like them... hee hee

Anyhow they were from centuries ago used for closures on real fancy outfits (men's included and mostly until women took over and did some adjusting.)Then somewhere in time in London, factories allowed women to make these at home so they could be with their children. I think they also got the children involved. They were given the meager supplies needed and used real bone rings to make them into the sizes needed. They had to make a gross per day... Imagine having to make 144 of them... It was truly one of the few jobs women could do without the husband's objection. Just making Buttons? But see it paid 3 pence if they got it done within a day.I imagine they turned them in for money and restock their new supplies to make more of. I even think they mayhave stayed up many hours at night to finish what wasn't for the next morning.
Now it took me a long time to make the first one (purple) but the second one went rather smoothly.
I made one of my  felt neck purses with crochet edging along with the purple one, in case you want to know what that might be...
the second one I will try and incorporate into one of those felt brooches.

January 15th, 2013

Ive been home designing new designs for these large felt pins. Ive used any piece of paper I can find to draw on. Below is the new one I just made, Pansies and Dragonflies.

On this one, I added a crocheted frame. The two Dragonflies are glittered and therefore take some pretty sad photos because of the glare. 

And today I have a few UFO's(UFO= un-finished objects) to finish up, starting with a pinafore for Hitty. It only needed hemmed. And a few roses.

January 12th, 2013.

For the last two days I've been working on my barbie clothes situation for nude barbies that needed clothes if they are staying here for a spell.  I made skirts and halter tops...



And then in the picture, I finished this piece of art ......
I cant wait to see what my hands will bring forth next. 

Sometimes its as much as a surprise to me as it is you! I made this one for my mother who adores Cardinals. She has one of these in every corner of her home.

This a a piece I hand embroidered on felt. It has three lovely Bullion roses on it and extras also embroidered on and I included my infamous Redbird Cardinal. This is a piece of art wielded by my hand. It has a pin on the back sewn on to use as a brooch and it quite large: 4" by 3" approx.
A lovely piece and its my first of I hope many to come.
I have a non-smoking home.

January 9th, 2013

I finished my embroider applique` pin/brooch ( the blue and black). its 4 inches long. It could be a great knee patch for jeans as well by removal of pin. 
And over on Pinterest, I found the most unique tutorial for making vintage brooches (one needs to be finished  with its starbursts I started) like my grandmother wore on her lapel or above her bosom. My mother tends to wear them on her folded down turtlenecked shirts on the neck. Im sending her a couple as i know this is something she would enjoy wearing. mom is in her 80's.
Ive also finished all those Barbie doll skirts (4) and they are put away....
(3 cheers hip hip hooray) now i need to make 4 shirts to go with them.
and i also need a plain dress for pre spring for Hitty...so onward for my day..I think I'm staying home to day to work.

January 8th, 2013 real life

Yesterday Real life got in my way of playing. I got the hangers done... and got the skirts sewn and worked some on that Applique` as pictured. 
then i decided to organize my life... and stashes.. now i have to clean the mess i made to organize, bear with me.. for the next few days... I tore up my whole sewing room...

These hangers are easy to make.. I use an aspirin bottle to form and twist with my small pliars, make a hook end and remove and then pull with my fingers and indent with my pliars once again.

These are the skirts and embroidery applique` im still work ing on.. maybe able to finish today.

January 6th, 2013 Hitty Dresses and Sizzix Punches

Sunday January 6th.
Its almost sunshining here on the mid Oregon Coastline... Still pretty coolish and brisk, but the air smells so good.
this morning I got up, played my farmville (hee hee) and made two dresses, one for my Mom's hitty "Linda Louise" down in N. Calif and for my hitty Geraldine. They both came out great. I love the snomen... But I wish the manufacture would either put them all rightside up or upside down..I guess they don't trust us to try and sew it right?

Then I went off to the thrift store (Goodwill) to find treasure on a Sunday. They change the color of the tags once a week on Sunday and that means anything with this tag is 50% off. I found two bags worth and it still did not clear 10 dollars... so wooooo hoooo for me...

I did manage to find 3 more barbies to make dresses for the end of the Year toy drive. These 3 dolls were in great condition... and I was impressed... 

I have adopted this wonderful family with their smaller children. There is 2 girls (ages 4 and 5) and I have plenty for them to do..when they visit, like dress barbies or skippers or Kellys. They have to help keep the dollhouse straight and such. There is also a small boy and  he needed Gramma house toys too, so I found a whole bunch of matchbox and plastic cars and trucks.. This keeps this child busy for hours and out of the goirls hair when they are trying to dress the dolls. or help me with all my work... 

Oh and I found a great cutting board for my Sizzix punches. Ive been killing my old one which was for fabric not pounding a hammer with these sharp edged designs. I have a lot of fun with these and found many things to do with them. Last year I bought (again at the Goodwill) several combined Occaisional cards all dumped into large boxes like the oranges come in at the supermarket... Mine to use as I please. Some were used, most were not. I always save cards. I like the pictures..

I've made some beautiful pins from Christmas Card stock and glitter and a pin back to be two Dragonflies. These are very durable.

                                   

January 5th, just another day, Saturday

Saturday's are rough when it's cold outside and rainy which seems to be both on the Oregon Coast. So this morning I decided to finish my HITTY dress which I crocheted at the top and Knooked (a form of knitting with a crochet hook and silken cord) See my photos.

                                                                                   

I have to add a pure white ribbon and some sort of closure... I'm calling it the "Snowdrift Dress" Not sure if I'm selling it or keeping it yet. Geraldine Raikes Hitty looks so cute in it..

I have so much to finish today, some i started last night while watching tv and some I got up early to start and finish. 
Also I am still trying to make that tissue paper rose... last night I tried this:
to glue my tissue paper onto regular white typing paper.. pattern on back side and tissue glued and scrunched just a bit. This morning after it dried, I cut it out.. I love the tissue paper look, but i want it stiffer, so it would last.. 

Not sure if this method might be too stiff almost like the card stock..not the Tissue look I had in mind..

so I drew out two patterns last night on my fancy tissue paper and intend on only using them glued together today... I will get back to it.. so much to do, so little time in each day

The other thing is in our yahoogroup:I put in a link in case someone wants to join.

handmadedollsandfriends · Handmade dolls and Friends

• My Groups

We are doing swaps and one of them is a make a small dolly swap... I chose to make a reborn. Reborns are stripped of their selves and remade.. In this case I removed The body and made new, the paint off its face and gave her a new do after tearing off that ridiculous wig... I cant show it till we swap in April, but let me tell you, its real good, so far. I also made her the sweetest pink outfit to fit..

And I made 4 of my paper napkin hats, with glue and hat forms.. I made the hat form from an old medicine bottle top glued securely to a plastic ribbon spool. I have several of these forms to work with. I make these when I have a minute to spare. The napkins I get from the dollar store and even the white glue...
I make them for dolls and sometimes real people as they seem to like to wear them, adding a snap clippie. They call me the ittybitty hat maker gal. But really I started to make them for my hittys and small dollys.

Last year I had a project of finding these lil Kelly dolls(Barbie's smallest sister). I had friends find me these small dolls all over the country in our doll group (handmadedollsandfriends@yahoogroups) in Yahoo. Well we delivered to the Toy drive 23 packages that I made about a dozen different types of clothing for the lil doll and packaged them up to donate to my local toy drive. They also went out to a few other organziations. 
Mostly i found these small dolls in thrift stores and garage sales. Someone so nice helped me out and sent me a few more about 25 of em... Some had clothing...we included one or two dresses in the packages, also.
THAT WAS 2012.
This is 2013 and Im already searching out for more of these kelly dolls to make for toy drives and needy children who need a dolly. 

How about you? Are you finding toys for your local Toy Drives? I know they only want new and unused... but sometimes they make an exception like what I did. This is a photo of my packaged Kelly with clothes. Do you wait till the last minute? Im starting now. If anyone want to help me... make clothing or gather these small dolls, or has these small dollys, I need donations. I can always offer in return to make a package for you and one for me for your own TOY drive. It must be a donation thing. You cannot sell them. 


And if anyone has a great idea what we can do for lil boys, Im all ears and eyes...Something we can make for them...