WIP's and Doggy Updates

Well, Hi all.

As you can see it has been a very busy couple of weeks. How, you say? Just by the mere fact that I have not had the time to write or share thoughts patterns with you!


I have finished getting my store together.


I have finally completed some of the patterns for my doll dresses and have put them on Ebay. They are going rather well. Click on my Ebay store on the side over there--> to see! I finished several items I was previously working on. "Pride and Prejudice" dress is done all but the ribbon. I still can't find the ribbon I want to put on there. That dress basically sucked the creative juices dry. I cannot find the desire to create anymore doll items right now.


However, I have been working on my Pokemon critters again. I finished 'spoink' today and am currently working on 'jigglypuff'. I will post the patterns when I get time.


I have made two purses this past week/weekend out of Lion Suede. OMG...love that yarn. I made the first one for a sample for a class I'm holding this month. Then my daughter decided she absolutely had to have one for her next trip to the Mall of America in a week n a half.


What else?!? Ohhh. Made a mitten for a friend whose hand got partially amputated by a snow blower and he needed something to keep it warm.

Now I'm struggling to think of what else I've done....can't think...can't think.....

**Doggy update**Dogs are getting along great. They play great together. Bailey is NOT in heat...darnit...Mack has acclimated rather well to a new dog in his house. Bailey has not completely stopped beating Mack up, however, Mack is now fighting back. My mom has nicknamed them 'Mack-N-Cheese'. Cute huh?

TTFN!!
Biz

Frog Hat

Ok. Here's the pattern for this uber cute hat! I will admit I didn't come up with the 'idea' for the hat. It was inspired by a little kids hat, BUT, the pattern is mine, so enjoy!!

Frog Hat by Elizabeth Mareno

Adult Size 22"

Materials:

4-5 oz Lt Green WW (I used Red Heart "Spring Green")

1-2 oz Dk Green WW (I used RH "Dark Sage")

scraps of black and white WW

small amt of stuffing

Lg eye needle for assembly

H hook

Hat body

Note: Hat is worked in continuous rounds. Do not join unless indicated.

With lt green, ch 2

Rnd 1- 4sc in 2nd ch from hook

Rnd 2- 2sc in each sc. (8)

Rnd 3- 2sc in each sc. (16)

Rnd 4- sc in each sc.

Rnd 5- *2sc in next sc; sc in next sc; rep from * 7 times more. (24)

Rnd 6- Rep rnd 4

Rnd 7- Rep rnd 5- (36)

Rnd 8- *2sc in next sc; sc in next 2sc; rep from * 11 times more- (48)

Rnd 9- Rep rnd 4

Rnd 10- *2sc in next sc; sc in next 3sc (60)

Rnd 11- Rep rnd 4

Rnd 12- *2sc in next sc; sc in next 4sc (72)

Rnd 13-32- Rep rnd 4. sl st to first sc. Finish off.

with Dark Green & bottom of hat facing away from you:

Rnd 33- Join with dark green to 'join' of last round. , ch1, In Front Loops Only, sc in same st; sc in each sc around. join with first sc. (72)

Rnd 34-36- ch1, turn, sc in both loops in each sc around. join with first sc.

Finish off. Weave in all ends.

Ear Flaps:

with light green: bottom facing away from you & working on rem loops on row 32:

#1

Row 1: sk 10 st from back join. Sc in next free loop and in next 10 loops. (11)

Row 2-4: Ch1, turn, sc in ea sc.

Row 5: sc dec on both ends, sc in ea sc. (9)

Row 6: ch1, turn, sc in ea sc.

Row 7-12: rep rows 5 & 6 alternately, ending with 3sc.

Row 13: sc dec, sc in next sc. (2)

Row 14: rep 6

Row 15: sc dec.

Row 16: ch1, turn, sc.

Row 17: ch 26, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and each ch. Finish off and weave in ends.

#2

Skip 30 loops on row 32. Follow directions for ear flap #1.

Frog Feet:

Note: Do not join rounds unless noted.

With Dark Green, ch2

Rnd 1: 4sc in 2nd ch.

Rnd 2: (2sc in next sc, sc in next sc) twice. (6)

Rnd 3: (2sc in next sc, sc in next 2 sc) twice (8)

Rnd 4: (2sc in next sc, sc in next 3sc) twice (10)

Rnd 5: (2sc in next sc, sc in next 4sc) twice (12)

Rnd 6: (2sc in next sc, sc in next 5sc) twice (14)

Rnd 7: (2sc in next sc, sc in next 6sc) twice (16)

Rnd 8: (2sc in next sc, sc in next 7sc) twice (18)

Row 9: sk first sc, [(4dc in next sc, sc in next,)twice, sk one sc, 4dc in next, sk one sc] twice. sl st in last sc.

Finish off leaving long end for sewing. Stuff lightly and sew closed matching up "toes", finish stuffing as you sew. Weave long end up the side of foot and use same string to sew heel of foot to hat strings.

Eyes: Do not join rounds.

Back: Make 2

with lt green, ch2

Rnd 1: 6sc in 2nd ch.

Rnd 2: 2sc in each sc (12)

Rnd 3: (2sc in next, 1 sc in next) around. (18)

Sl st to first sc. Finish off.

Front: Make 2

With white, ch2

Rnd 1: 6 sc in 2nd ch

Rnd 2: 2sc in 3sc, (chg to black), 2sc in 3 (12)

Rnd 3: (chg to white) *(2sc in next sc, 1 sc in next sc) 3 times*, (chg to black) repeat *to* once.

Finish off.

Eye Assembly: Holding wrong sides together, join with sc thru both thicknesses on black side (sk 1 black sc from bottom) crochet in remaining black and white sc around to last white sc, then sc in last 2sc ONLY thru front thickness, not both. Finish off, leaving long end for attaching to hat.

Attach to hat about 4 rows down from center on each side. Stuff them before sewing on.

Embroider big smile on frog's face with black.

Good luck and have fun!! Let me know if ya like it!

biz

Chatter

We interrupt this day for a spicy lo mein break. Yum!

The 'pride and prejudice' AG dress is no further along today than it was yesterday. I guess I just needed a break from my crochet hook.....*gasp*....did I just say that out loud?!?

I have now gotten to the point that I neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed the 2 and 4 inch peg hooks that were supposedly shipped to me last Friday to actually show up so I can finish putting my store together. It has been in a state of limbo for almost two weeks now.....ARGH!

My chocolate male is currently trying to 'show dominance' to the head of my yellow female. She still won't give him her butt....however in her 'dancing' about he has wound up on her butt end and he goes into action rather quickly. If I were commentating the life of my dog (which I do often just for fun) this is what Mack would be saying in those times. "OH MY GOD...the butt, the butt....hold still....*bounce, bounce*....wait...quit moving...come back....come baaaaack!"
Just when you think...do they even know what they are doing? They sort of find what they are looking for.
The latest in the saga de Bailey is she is still a toy thief (she snagged a Pokemon plushie from Teo's room this morning and a skein of $6.00 yarn from the shelf yesterday) and now she thinks that if its near her hand she should bite it. Hands, mittens, dogs, shirts.....whatever....its all good. I mean God provided her with teeth so she could demolish all things good and evil, right?!? Other than that she is an awesome snuggler. She loves to have her tummy rubbed. And she is slimming down a little bit since coming to live with us. After talking with someone close to her previously she was probably not eating hi protein food and she is now. She's a beautiful dog. She will fit in well with us especially when she stops biting everyone and everything.

Other than that, today is homeschoolers R us at our friends house. I am looking forward to the fellowship. The kids were supposed to go sledding today, but the snow melted yesterday and today its just cold. We shall see what kind of snowage they have at their house. Otherwise, I think we'll drag along some board games for the kids.

And...drumroll please...I just proved why you never have a full glass of OJ on your desk near your computer. :) good times...good times.

later all
b

WIP Roadblock and Chat time

I have hit my first roadblock in the American Girl dresses I'm designing. The sleeves on the 'pride and prejudice' dress don't want to do what I want them to do. I think I'm going to end up doing them seperate and sewing them on. And the peplum? Um, no. I forgot to leave a row for attaching it and ya know what? It's just going to have to live without it. All in all this pattern is making me unhappy. Is it because I am semi-repeating a design with a few tweeks? (It follows the nightie pattern for the first 18 rows) Or is it because I have a 'sweater and leg warmers' that really wanted to be made first? argh. I don't know what it is, but scuze me while I pause to soothe my frazzled mind with some pepperoni rip n dip bread.....brb.....

How do you spell 'luscious'? I-T-A-L-I-A-N food! I feel better now.

But there go the dogs again. We got a 2 year old yellow lab named 'Bailey' on Saturday. "Big Dog" does not begin to describe this animal. She is HUGE! Needless to say our chocolate lab Mack (literally half her size) has been extremely intimidated by Bailey. She bit him if he sniffed her butt, she growled at him if he came to close to her, she stole his toys and then would bite him if he tried to take them back....the list goes on and on and on.....but, yesterday, Mack had enough. She started to wrestle with him and for the first time in three days he wrestled back. Well, needless to say they have been wrestling off and on for the last two days...including bedtime last night. It's quite comical to watch. And really if we ever want them to mate, this all needs to take place cuz as of right now she's lookin at him like.."Uh- Uh Baybeee....I dun theen so! Jou take tha bouncin butt a yours and go sunwhere else!" The whole bouncing butt thing is hilarious. Mack would be like...a foot away from her with one leg front leg on her and his butt would start bouncing because he was going to 'show his dominance' over her. Men are the same no matter what the species.

What does the rest of this week hold for me? Work, payroll for the other office ...tomorrow is friday nd my high school employee gets off of school early, so the kids and i are going to go visit another home school family so the kids can hang out and mom's can get mom time in. Saturday we go to Famous Dave's for supper to celebrate Stef's birthday. Joyous day! Sunday we go over to some friends house after church for lunch and card games. And heck all next week has something scheduled for every day. busy, busy, busy.

oker doke. i have rambled long enough. i need to get the kids back to school and at least pretend like i have a job to do.
buh bye!
b

HAPPY BIRTHDAY STEFANI!!! 12 YEARS OLD!

OK. At 4:37 this very morning 12 years ago I was laying on an operating table listening to my first born scream. After 13 hours of hard labor (we won't go into details) they finally decided to take her out. Come to find out she was stuck on my pelvic bone and had a small wrinkle above her right eye for weeks because of it.

She is beautiful and joyful and vibrant and one of the pride's of my life. Through 2 years of chemotherapy she displayed a maturity and strength that many adults would be hard pressed to put forth.

So..............FELIZ CUMPLEANOS CHICA!!! TU ES MI AMORE!

Sorry....she's watching the 'cheetah girls 2' (birthday present) right now and I was overtaken by the need to speak spanish!

tah

b

Vest Dress and Shawl done

Ok. This is the vest dress with shawl. The shawl proved to be very interesting to create. I tried doing it from the bottom up, but it was just turning into this great big triangle. Not what I wanted. So I went from the top down and I got what I wanted. :) Yay.

I am almost to the point of typing the instructions out on all of the patterns. I haven't quite gotten to organizing all of my scribbles into legible english.

Current WIP is the dress I forgot to mention last time in my long list of patterns to create.....Stefani wants me to create what she calls the "Pride and Prejudice" dress. It is an empire waist dress with a teardrop neckline, long sleeves and a peplum of sorts. One thing I am thankful for is that time period had LOTS of straight lines to their designing so I don't have to futz with a ton of foo-foo frills. (I hate frills). So 'sweater and leg warmers' is on the wait list now while I finish the 'pride and prejudice' dress. The new dress is being done in an eggplant purple. I hope it turns out the way my head sees it.

b

Doll Nightie Set Pics

Hello again. Here are the pics of the doll nightie set complete with slippers. Do we like, do we like??? I do. The robe turned out more 'housecoat-ish' but I was going to run out of the yarn I was using and decided it needed to be a short jacket. :) Hence the housecoat. The slippers turned out uber cute! I couldn't have been happier with them. But like I said last entry, the nightie wanted to be empire waist and have a square neckline.
Oh well. I can't just sit here and tell you how awesome the pattern turned out.

That would be bragging....

tah for now
b

WIP's

Hi.
Works in progress are these:
American Girl sized nightie, robe and slippers. (They got sidelined because the original nightie transformed itself into a very pretty evening dress that now requires a shawl for completion of outfit.) The nightie will be completed tonight, then onto designing the robe and slippers. Nightie, it turns out, wanted to be made from the bottom up and have an empire waist with a square neckline, not a fitted bodice like originally planned ...who knew?!? Shawl is on the wait list until robe and slippers get done. BUT then it is on to an adorable "long sweater with leg warmers" set that has been dancing the 'white man's overbite' in my head for two days now. (ok, you have to be familiar with 80's eddie murphy standup to get the white man's overbite comment). The designs are coming faster than I can crochet at this point. What to do...what to do???

As we can all see I failed immediately at posting every day. C'est la vie. What are ya gonna do?

later
b

Backpacks

Wow. I'm going to see how long I can keep this posting everyday thing up. Now watch tomorrow I'll forget.

There's nothing really very exciting to share. Oh wait. I made a backpack set yesterday. One for a little girl and one for her doll. And by five thirty this morning my right arm was throbbing in pain and going numb. I think I need to get this carpal tunnel thing checked out.

Anyway. I thought you might enjoy the adorable color combinations. My daughter picked them out. And even though I've already made her her own backpack(two years ago), she wants this one. I've told her no. But she is a professional nagger...I mean she could make money doing this. She is almost 12 (in 7 days) and has had mannnny years of practice. She knows she can break me down. I want to be resolved about this, but I always feel guilty. Don't ask me why, its not like she is lacking for ANYTHING! When she was diagnosed with cancer she really learned how to tweek the old 'precious moments' eyes and then go in for the kill. I'm telling you she could earn a living.....

I will talk to you later. I have a doll nightie, robe and slippers to design. It's sitting in my head just screaming to come out and be worn by an American Girl!!!

TTFN

bizzer

Doll Dresses Finished

I forgot to get a picture of the purple dress. It turned out unbelievably cute. I used silver buttons with daisies on them to finish off....I'll have to get a picture of it in three weeks when I see my niece again. Meanwhile, here are the other two girls....

What do you think?

b

Pokemon Look-Alike Torchic

Here is the Torchic pattern and pics.

Torchic-guy designed by Elizabeth Mareno 10/20/06
And I was going to be silly and say...Can you see the difference?...but with a big ole tag hangin off the one guys butt, its not hard...

Here's his pattern:
Materials: F hook, Sport weight yarn, Fiberfill, Large eye needle for sewing parts on,

Body:
**Do not join rows unless indicated**

Row 1: Ch 2, 6 sc in second ch from hook. (6)
Row 2: 2 sc in each sc around (12)
Row 3: (2sc in sc, 1sc in next sc) around (18)
Row 4: (2sc in sc, 1sc in next 2 sc) around (24)
Row 5-8: 1sc in each around.
Row 9: (dec 1, sc in next 2sc) around (18)
Row 10: (dec 1, sc in next sc) around (12)
Row 11: (dec 1, sc in next sc) around (8)
Row 12-13: 1 sc in each around (8)
Row 14: 2sc in each around (16)
Row 15: (2sc in next, 1sc in next sc) around (24)
Row 16: (2sc in next, 1sc in next 2 sc) around (32)
Row 17-21: 1sc in each around. (32)
Row 22: (dec 1, sc in next 2) around (24)
Row 23: (dec 1, sc in next sc) around (16) Start stuffing!!
Row 24: (dec 1) around (8)
Row 25: (dec 1) around (4)
Finish off and weave in ends.

Feet: (Make 2)
Row 1: Ch 2, sc in 2nd ch from hook (1)
Row 2: ch 1, turn, 2 sc in sc.(2)
Row 3: ch 1, turn, (2sc in next, 1sc) (3)
Row 4: ch 2, turn, (sl st in 1sc, ch 2) twice, sl st in last sc.
Finish off, leaving long end to sew to bottom of body. Sew feet to the middle of the body on or about rows 1 and 2. Try to leave some toe floppy and hanging off out front.

Neck Feathers: (Make 1)
Row 1: Ch 12, sc in second ch from hook and across (11)
Row 2: ch 3, turn. (Sl st in sc, ch 3)twice, sl st in next sc, Ch 4, sl st in next sc, (ch 5, sl st in next sc) twice, ch 4, sl st in next sc, (ch 3, sl st in next sc) four times.
Finish off, leaving a long end to sew to neck. Pin one end of neck feathers to one side of neck and start sewing on the opposite side. They should not meet in the middle. There should be a small space(look at pic for reference). Pinning them down just helps hold them where you want them. Make sure the feet are centered to the neck feathers.

Head Feathers: (Make 1)
with yellow, ch 3
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch and the next ch. (2) ch1, turn, sc in 1sc (change to orange) sc in same st, sc in next st (change to yellow) sc in same st. (4)
Row 2-4: Increase one stitch each side, keeping the yellow the same and putting the orange in the middle.(10) (i know thats not a great instruction, email me if you can't get it)
Row 5: ch 2 with yellow, dc in same st (change to orange) (trc, dc, hdc) in next st, sc in next, (hdc, dc, trc, dc, hdc) in next st, sc in next st, (hdc, dc, trc) in next, (change to yellow), (dc, hdc) in last st.
Row 6: with yellow only(no orange), ch3, dc in next , hdc in next 2, sc in next, sl st in next, sc in next, hdc in next 3, sc in next, sl st in next, sc in next, hdc in next 2, dc in next 2.

I apologize, but don't ask me how many stitches you will end up with.....
Finish off, weave long piece down to the small end and sew to top of head.

Beak:
Follow the pattern for the feet, omitting the chaining in row 4, just do sc's. Tie off and sew it into a cone shape and put on the middle of the face. Lightly stuff if it is roomy enuf.

Ok let me know of any pattern type difficulties. Hope you enjoy.

biz

Pokemon Look-Alike Pikachu

Here is the pattern and pics for the Pikachu (pokemon) look-alike I made for my son.

Pikachu-guy designed by Elizabeth Mareno 10/20/06

Materials: F hook, sport weight yarn (altho i did this with worsted), stuffing and needle.

**Do not join rounds unless indicated**

Row1: ch 2, 6 sc in second ch from hook.
Row2: 2sc in each sc around
Row3: (2sc in next, 1sc in next)
Row4: (2sc in next, 1sc in next)
Row 5: Back Loop Only, 1sc in each around.
Row 6-8: Both Loops again, 1 sc around
Row9: Sc in 3 sc (change to brown) sc in 6sc (chg to Yellow), sc in remaining sc.
Row 10: with yellow, sc in each sc around.
Row 11: Repeat row 9
Row 12-13: Repeat row 10
Row 14: (dec 1, 1sc in next 2) around to last 3 sc, (dec 1, 1sc in next)
Row 15: Back Loop Only (2sc in sc, 1sc in next) around
Row 16: Both Loops again, Repeat row 15.
Row 17-19: sc in each sc around.
Row 20: (dec 1, sc in next 4) around to last 3 sc, (dec1, sc in last sc)
Row 21: (dec1, sc in next 3) around to last 2 sc, dec 1.
Row 22: sc in each sc around
Row 23: (dec1, sc in next 2sc) around to last sc, sc in last sc.
Row 24: (dec1, sc in next) around to last sc, sc in last sc. Start Stuffing!
Row 25: Dec 1 around, sc in last sc.
Row 26: dec around.(4)
Fasten off and sew shut after pikachu is stuffed firm.

Top Feet: (Make 2)
Row1: ch 2, 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook
Row2: 2sc in each sc.
Row3: Back Loop Only, sc in each around
Row4: Both Loops, sc in each sc around.
Finish off. Sew to front of body using picture as reference. Stuff as you sew on.

Bottom Feet: (Make 2)
Row1: ch2, 6sc in 2nd ch
Row2: 2 sc in each
Row3: 1 sc in each.
Finish off. Sew to front bottom of body using picture as reference. Stuff as you sew on.

Cheeks: (Make2)
ch 2, 6sc in 2nd ch from hook.
Finish off and sew onto face using picture as reference.

Embroider eyes, nose and mouth in appropriate spots (look at the picture) using a straight stitch. I went side-to-side with Pikachu's nose, in stead of up and down.

Ears: (make2)
with black
Row 1: ch 2, 4sc in second ch.
Row 2: (2sc in sc, 1sc in next) around.(6)
Row 3: (2sc in sc, 1sc in next) around. (9)
change to yellow
Row 4-8: Sc in each sc around.
Fasten off, stuff, sew to head. Make one cockeyed off to the side (left ear)

Tail: (Make 1, do not stuff)
Row1: ch7, sc in 2nd ch from hook and 5 more. (6) working on opposite side of ch, sc in remaining unworked loops from ch (12) Do Not Join, Do Not ch1, Do Not turn.
Row2-5: sc in each sc around. (This will want to curl inside. The sooner you push the right side out the easier the rows will become)
Row 6-7: (dec 1, sc in next) around.
Row 8-12: sc in each sc around.
Row 13-14: Repeat row 6 (8)
Change to brown
Row 15-16: sc in each sc around.
Sl st to finish off. Flatten end, sew to middle of butt below stripes.