Staying Crafty with Mini Knits

Sunday, October 25, 2020

A lot has been going on since my last post in January! There hasn't been too much crafting happening here during the COVID-19 pandemic & shutdown -- I cast on a number of knitting projects, sewed some masks, and finished one crochet cardigan -- but it's been hard to focus so not too much to share. One project I took on & finished was an entry for Anna Hrachovec's 2020 Mochimochi Photo + Video Contest & I won a Bonus award for "BEST BIRDS IN FLIGHT"! This was really uplifting and a great thing to experience in September.

If you're not familiar with Anna's Mochimochi Land you're missing out - check her out at https://mochimochiland.com.

When I saw the contest this summer, I decided that a tiny project would be a great motivation for me to start & finish something within a reasonable amount of time. I chose her Bluebirds of Crappiness pattern as inspiration and started knitting....

Eight birds later (one isn't pictured), I had to come up with a video theme! Of course I left this for the last minute so looking up at a decorative birdhouse on my wall, I came up with a plan for "The Great Escape".

How Long Does it Take to Finish a Project?

Friday, January 31, 2020

Wanting to start fresh for the new year, I'm cleaning up some buckets I've got stacked in my craft room. The first one to tackle - unfinished projects.

One by one I'll address whether each of these will be donated, finished, or the materials recycled into something new. Even though they're just craft projects, the mental weight of thinking of them off and on for so long is something I've got to let go of. I don't want these taking up space in my head anymore (let alone my craft room) - once these are gone, I'll definitely feel freer.

2 comments living creatively

DIY Foam Stamps

Thursday, September 12, 2019

This project was fun and quick to do.

Being creative doesn't mean you need to go out and buy lots of new craft supplies - you can use things you find around you! Projects don't need to be fancy or complicated to be creative and fun.

At first glance ... I wondered if this one was share-worthy. Is it snazzy enough to share online? Do I need to put up step-by-step directions in this era of "find everything on the internet, there's probably a YouTube video for it"? Does anyone send handmade cards anymore? Does anyone care?

Well, I care. This is what I do, I make stuff, and share it online, so here it is. Experimenting and having fun are part of being creative, and this project was a spur-of-the-moment idea that I tried out with some success. Read on for how I made a simple stamp and created a few base cards that lend themselves to embellishing. It's more personal than a text + bitmoji & I hope it inspires someone to create a card or two.

Leave a Comment creativity, mail art, paper, rubber stamp carving, tutorial, use what you have

Wild Chickens

A week doesn't go by without me seeing someone's chickens roaming around the neighborhoods in my town. I couldn't resist stopping to take a photo of this bunch posing down the street from my house, and then of course - turning it into an art project.

six chickens on the side of the road photo by tamdoll visit society6

Visit society6.com/tamdoll for prints (affiliate link).

Leave a Comment creativity, mixed media, photography

Felted Wool Bunnies

Saturday, April 13, 2019

Dust, Hoppy, Tiny, and Oatmeal felted wool bunnies.

Springtime = bunnies, right?

Photos Around Boston

Tuesday, March 26, 2019

"Boston Harbor" - The idle boats in the fog was otherworldly. While eating lunch at the Boston Aquarium I looked out the window and snapped this picture. A little digital manipulation boosted the color, and added the clouds.

"No Parking" - The texture and urban decay of this scene caught my eye - I just had to stop, but was only able to get a quick shot. The worn signage only added to the eeriness of it, and as I drove off I thought "This looks like the cover of a horror novel."

Easy Unisex Crochet Project

Wednesday, March 13, 2019

tamdoll's Unisex Wrist Warmers Quick Crochet Project for Instructables contest

Instructables had a call for entries in a "Warm & Fuzzy" contest recently, and I thought this would be the perfect category to finally enter something. I love the Instructables website and a good challenge, so I brainstormed about a problem I've been having in order to figure out a solution.

My coat sleeves are always too short so the idea was easy to come up with - customizable cuffs that can bridge the gap between sleeve and glove, and I created my first Instructable with this "Unisex Wrist Warmers Quick Crochet Project".