Elsewhere: Make A Music Fan Pop-Up Card

For my latest project featured on CraftFoxes.com, I created a simple pop card using sheets from an old music composition. This project is a great way to reuse old books, and makes a beautiful card to give to a loved one.

Get the full instructions to make your own here. 

A Yarn Infuser

If you are working on a small crochet or knitting project, store thin yarn in a tea infuser for safekeeping while traveling. It's sort of like your own mini, covered yarn bowl.

I purchased my tea infuser from a thrift store. After thoroughly cleaning it, here is how I transformed it into my "yarn infuser:"

The supplies I used were a pair of pliers (particularly made for jewelry-making), mercerized cotton yarn, a small clasp, a small jump ring, a pair of scissors and, of course, my thrifted tea infuser.

Make sure that the yarn you use is thin enough to go through your infuser's holes.

First, I removed the hook attached to my infuser with my pliers.

Then, I open up my jump ring with my pliers, and inserted the clasp in the jump ring. Once the clasp was inserted, I put the jump ring through the top of my tea infuser's chain and closed it. 

Then, I created a ball big enough to fit into my infuser from my yarn. A good tutorial for creating a yarn ball can be found here.

Then, I inserted the end of the yarn ball through one of the top holes of my infuser.

Finally, I put the lid on my infuser, and attached it to my favorite bag. 

If your crochet or knit project is small enough, you might be able to fit it in your infuser along with your yarn. Be sure that the top and bottom edges of your infuser are thoroughly cleaned, though. Otherwise, it may leave a mark on your yarn. 

If it is too big, you can simply carry a pouch to store your yarn infuser and your project together. 

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The Benjamin Bag

In a previous post, I showed a picture of a hat that I was in the middle of creating. Being a habitual multi-tasker (I'm working on fixing that), I set that project aside for a few months and created my Kim Shawl. Now that the Kim Shawl is completed, I resumed working on this project. Reuniting with it, I've decided that this hat-in-the-making is better suited as a bag. I have named it Benjamin.

I am adding a little right triangle in the bag's design. I think I will add this to each order for this bag I get. I intend to sell it in my shop once it is finished.

This bag is similar to the "Process" bag I showed in my very first blog post. However, instead of having the strap wrap around the bag like that one, I am going to have a simple drawstring bag. It will also be unlined.

Simplicity.

Paper Rings

A few weeks ago, I created a paper craft project on CraftFoxes. I wanted to offer a variation on the traditional paper ring garland, so decided make a wider, somewhat more sculptural version.

Expanding on this idea, I decided to create a larger version using leftover printer paper I had. 

It is easy to do this project. All you need is strips of paper and glue. The time it takes to finish depends on how long and wide you want your finished result to be. Mine measures about six feet tall.

In/Within

After much hard work, my first collection of poetry and creative writings is now complete. Meet "In/Within."

Many of the works in the book reflect my belief that true revolutions occur in the smallest of moments first. The importance of these moments inspire me, so a lot of my writing tends to focus on just a few of them.

Other works in the book share my fascination with the beauty of words, and how words can be used to evoke these small revolutions (the title, "In/Within" is meant to reflect the subtle differences between going deep and going deeper), as well as how the sounds of words themselves, and the interpretive movement of the mouth as it says them, often play an important role in articulating their meaning (for an easy example, think of "fat" or "long").

Most of the works are very short because I wanted to get down to the essence of my thoughts. The thought "What do I really want to say?" is my life's challenge.

There are 17 individual works, and the book measures 3 1/2 inches wide and 4 7/8 inches long. Short and sweet. I designed and printed the cover, printed each page with my small ink-jet printer (a.k.a. The Little Printer That Could) and then hand-bound each book with a simple pamphlet stitch.

I learned so much while creating this book, and am so proud to finally share it. Purchase it here, then tell me what you think of it :) [Update 10/29/2012- No more copies are available at this time. However, more will be added soon!]

The Kim Shawl

A few weeks ago, I finished a long shawl that I had been working for about seven weeks. It is made in LB 1878 wool yarn from Lion Brand, in plum. I have named it "Kim," after my beautiful Aunt.

It is approximately 5 feet 3 inches long and about 3 feet 2 inches wide.

Since it is made in wool, the texture is a little coarse. I like this, though. It makes the shawl a bit more masculine and present when I wear it.

I always prefer scarves and shawls that are long and wide. I want to be wrapped. A beautiful shawl really adds depth and intrigue to an outfit.

The item will be available for sale soon in my new shop, which I am currently designing. [Update 5/10/2012] - This shawl is now available in my new shop.