Pads

Over a year ago I made SaddleCover for MyDearFriend. (At the end that white fabric turn out useful because it is old army fabric and easy to keep clean and care!)

This Christmas MyFriend will have a special gift. She'll have extra warm pads under Her leg wraps. I designed and made them. I used 100% sheep wool TeddyFabric and 100% mixed wool (FinnSheep & arctic dog wool) HomeMadeFelt. They are again very practical white ☺ for the RanchUse but these were the only shades available so they must do just fine. At the end they are machine washable so that's quite fine then. And they come for the use in cold arctic Finland at the end... not so muddy around here.

Cold does good after the exercise. These pads' meaning is to warm up the old joints and ligaments better to prevent damages before and during the exercises.

DecoupageGlassJars -tutorial

 

Need a low budget last minute gift idea for someone special by Christmas? Here is one my own design decoupage project. You need empty glass jars (I am sure there's some in your or your mother's kitchen), a piece of fabric (I used BiasTape for the edges, see tutorial for HomeMade BiasTape), elastic band or ribbon, pictures, Decoupage glue and some sweets.

Before starting make sure the glass jars are clean and dry. You need pictures cut off from a thin paper or fabric. Make sure your glue is suitable for the materials. I didn't have glass glue but such universal decoupage glue for paper, wood and all the surfaces that can be paint. It seems to work just fine with these decoration glass jars. I was afraid of it won't stay on with the picture.

Cover the table by newspapers. Then apply the glue by a paintbrush on the jar and background of the picture. Place the picture on the glass and apply the glue all over it. Let it dry a bit and apply the glue twice more.

While waiting it all dry out proper make the fabric cover to decorate the lid. You can also just cut off the fabric and fray the edges a bit.

Use elastic band or ribbon to fasten the fabric on to the jar. You can also use a cut off fabric ribbon. It will look pretty and rustic.

Place in what ever you desire; sweets, buttons, ribbons... And ta-dah: it's ready to be given away to make a happy smile.

MerryChristmas!

Despite this is not MyLastBlog post for this year I want to wish you all Very Merry Christmas Season! I wish you all will have happy, quiet and peaceful time. I also ask you to do some charity, not only ByXmas but when ever you can. Charity doesn't always need to be up to money donating. To someones that is the easiest way and of course it is needed too. But so is needed your time and sympathy. And not only by Xmas; it is needed all year around. Be polite, gentle and understanding. Don't judge, blame or throw stones at anyone. If you really really don't know people you don't know what they are up to; good or bad and for what reason. If you don't know or get confused; ask... and listen to it what they say. If you pick up just a word here and there you can get any message out of everything and it all get confused and mixed up.

PS. The fox is my own cross stitch design and there's a little bit of bling bling on it to bring shine and glory into the polar night darkness.

LOVE YOU ALL

AAW GoodNightSocks

These are MyBrandNew sleeping socks. I designed and knit them to match with AAW Owl HandWarmers.

They are so warm because they are made of our own ethic produced arctic angora wool AAW. I used SingleCable to decorate them and left toe part open to let MyLittleToes to breath, not to make the socks to be so HotHotWarm and to prevent Me to walk around the house and woods wearing them all the time.

It is Special SleepyKit for Me&MySelf. A little bit of pampering MySelf by ChristmasSeason. Last time I did SleepyKit (Dream Blue) for Me&MySelf almost three whole years ago!!! I just threw it away. It has looked quite awful already for a while so I really needed a new one.

AAW Owl No1 HandWarmers

 

This time I designed and knit something for MySelf. It is a pair of HandWarmers to keep my hands, wrists and arms warm during the cold, long and dark arctic nights. Sleeping in a bit cooler temperature makes your dream better but also saves the energy and so it is quite ecological thing to do. In my bedroom the temperature is just +18 Celsius degrees. That is great to guarantee deep good sleep. But keeping your hands warm makes good to prevent and ease muscle and joint pain.

I used our own AAW yarn so I can have MyAngoraRabbits in MyBed all night along! The yarn has 50% of our own ethic produced angora wool so these HandWarmers are extremely warm.

I used HorseShoeCable to create the snag on which the owl rests. Just look at the owl's eyes. Aren't they really nice and real looking? I must tell you these are recycled buttons I've saved (can't remember from which cloth I took them) and only now -when seeking buttons for the owls- noticed how they actually look a lot like an eye!

AAW OWLS!

Tree

On the last September I started this my own design pewter bookmark. Well, I use tombac for it instead of pewter. I finished this TreeBookMark on the begin of this month when I started to work with my angel project.

When you look carefully you can see it is different from the back side because of the method I use. Despite I use tombac the idea is the same as with pewter.

CherryBubble

A pair of woollen sock is finished. I used Novita 7 veljestä yarn (75% wool, 25% polyamide) (150g = 300m) which I still have small amounts left. It is my own design. I use BubbleStitches too and from the tutorial you can see how they are created.

Suomi100

6.12.1917 - 6.12.2017

Suomi100

Angel

This weekend was again for Silver Craft Course. I started to work with an angel. This is not my own design. I lost the name of the book and designer. I will do my best to seek it and will tell you later on who has designed this beautiful work and inspired me for this a bit different project.

I used tombac as I did on the last September to practice a bit before getting on this main project. I didn't finish this yet. It is going to be ChristmasTreeTop but will be ready for the season 2018.

Edit. The designer is Mary Maguire whose Treetop Angel was represented on Decorative tinware book edited by Simona Hill.

WovenPillows

This time I designed and made these two decoration pillow cases of recycled traditional Finnish woven wall hanging called "raanu". They are made of wool but the warp is traditionally white cotton. Don't try to do this unless you are advanced in sewing and craft. Simply because you need to be very skillful in your sewing skills and understand the structure of woven fabric to avoid the warp to fray out and whole project to turn out to a disaster.

PS. If you google "raanu" you will find many pics of this traditional Finnish wall hanging. They are very colorful like our autumn nature and Northern Lights which both usually inspired the designers. Today "raanu" is not popular anymore because it is often considered too big, needing too much space and old fashion. They used to be hang on the walls to create warmth.

SagaPillows

Do you remember Nordic Collection of Important Items? Some fabric was left over the project so I made SagaBag. It has been MyShoppingBag since that. Now I designed and made two SagaPillows for the living room where also Nordic Collection of Important Items is placed. The blue fabric is from old but unused hammock!

CableJumperPillow

Like Hers also His jumper got old. It got accidental rupture to one elbow. At the end we decided there is no use to fix it. That's why I designed and made another decorative pillow of it.

PlanetEarth

I had a dream...

...and He made it true.

HorseCard

This time I made a horse themed birthday card. I used old calendar for the horse picture and commercial mail for that "wooden wall" theme on the background. So, again paper craft prints are recycled and we can save the planet earth a bit. If you want to use recycled materials for your paper craft, you just need to store it all safe to avoid winkles.

FinlandStripe -socks

I designed and knit socks inspired by FinlandFlag. I used Novita 7 veljestä yarn (75% wool, 25% polyamide) (150g = 300m).

This pair will be a Christmas gift -again- . ☺

NewBornBaby

This time a card was needed for NewBornBaby. To create a card I used an old book bought at local library sale. It is a nice book "Jag vill också ha ett syskon" by Swedish author Astrid Lindgren. The book is illustrated by Ilon Wikland.

I paid just 0,20€ of the book and see how beautiful card I created from it! Now the story and pictures of it can spread around the world by pretty cards I will make by using the book to give new life to it.

Back to Pullover

 

This time I sew a pen case for a friend of mine. I decorate the back side by using old old very old ribbon I inherit from my grandmother who passed away on 2010. I sew it onto a red felt.

For the front side decoration I used cross stitching. I made also the corners at the bottom of the pen case to make more room into it.

I made the lining and used BiasTape to fasten the zipper. I also added recycled piece of satin ribbon to decorate the zipper and make it a bit easier to use.

It is my very own design and includes my own design of Pullover which I stitched last month. Free cross stitch chart is available for it.

CatPillow

Another beautiful my own design pillow has been done. I used last pieces of An Old Jacket of which I've made pillows over 4 years ago. Those pillows still look very fine! For this pillow case I used CatGobelin picture I inherit from my grandmother years ago. Isn't it cut!

JumperPillow

 

YoungLady faced few dramatic moments when She realized She had overgrown Her DearFavoriteCottonJumper that's B L U E !!! OMG!!! Well, I decided to be TheBestMomEver and made Her a special Christmas gift of it. Santa is going to be very nice to Me this year!!!

Using BiasTape and zipper is easy way to open & close the pillowcase. By accident She saw the pic of it but not the physical pillowcase. There's renovation going on in Her room, so this comes for a need.

Knight

This card is made by YoungLady using Scratch Art method and template. It means you need a special paper designed for it. You can -of course- do free hand art according to your own design or use ready designed pictures and templates. Lovely idea is also give a blank card with a ready made design and scratching tool so that birthday hero can do it.

WarmthForMe

Following the same idea which I showed at HotWaterBottleCover -tutorial I designed and made new HotWaterBottleCover for Me&MySelf too.

I used 100% wool teddy fabric. It is so soft and warm. With squared red & white BiasTape it feels like Christmas already!

Velcro is very practical to open and close it up. You don't need to do it very often because most of the time the bottle stays in and is filled up from the top. But when you need to take it out it is so much more practical to make it happen easy and fast.

AAW Mittens No4

Do you remember AAW LegWarmers No1? Now I have finished my own design mittens to match them. I used our own AAW yarn to knit them. They feel so soft and warm because of our own ethic produced angora wool.

Happy with the result!

Failure

On May 2017 I made Trial of new yarn I never tried out before. This autumn I've used these socks and see what happened! I have lived by the arctic for all of MyLife. I've wear hundreds of woollen socks and THIS have never before happened to me. N E V E R ! All I can say I am happy I made only small short leg socks and just don't use it, it doesn't seem to be proper.

A R T

YoungLady's room is finally going to have its final touch. We did the floors and chimney over 4 years ago and the ceiling two years ago. She has not wanted the walls to be done because it would mean She then won't be allowed anymore to tape posters etc. on. Now She has finally gave up -when forced- so the work has begun.

But because She is very artistic YoungLady She asked could She draw pictures on the walls before they'll be done. I said yes... of course. And this was waiting me when coming home from the work. Now I should make my heart frozen and tell Him to nail it all under the wood panels!

 

L O V E    H E R

Welcome November

 Today morning we -again- woke up with the frost. But frost means beautiful sunny day for the start of November. I decided to share few pics with you. The pictures below are taken by my father-in-law and shared by his permission.

During the autumn season we have had plenty of swans on the bay to wait the final escape from the north.

Yesterday they were still there despite there was a thin frozen cover over the ice. Today morning I didn't see or hear them yet...

Rowan trees are so beautiful. All the leaves have fell down but the berries are still on to serve TheAutumnFest for my favorite Waxwings.

Rowan tree berries are extremely healthy despite they taste horrible bitter...