Dual Sided Spiral Scrubbie *With Tutorial*

Hey there ladies and gents!

I made this scrubbie over a one hour period this weekend and thought I would share.

It's great for exfoliation, taking off make up, dishes and household cleanings! Best part is, make a bunch then throw them in the wash and use them again! They don't take up a lot of yarn either so take out your yarn scraps and lets get going!

What you'll need:
Yarn.
Size 5 hook.
Stitch marker.
Scissors.
Yarn needle.
Optional: For a soft and courser side, use a softer yarn for the front or for a dual colour scrubbie use two different colours.

Row 1 - Chain 4 (optional: use colour one/softer yarn), slip stich into first chain from hook. (4)
Row 2 - Chain 8 into loop. Do Not Turn. (8)
Row 3 - Start spiral by single stitching into 1st chain of row 3. Single crochet twice in each stitch. Chain in front loop only. (16)
Row 4 - *Single crochet in next stitch then two single crochet in next stitch* repeat until start of row. (24)
Row 5 - *Single crochet in next two stitches then two single crochet in next stitch* repeat until start of row. (32)
Row 6 - Chain one. *half double crochet in next three stitches then two half double crochet in next stitch* repeat until start of row. (So make things easier, sew in beginning tail here.) (40) (optional: change to colour two/courser yarn)
Row 7 - Chain ten (or however long you want the "thumb" or hanging bit to be), connect to next available stitch with a half double crochet. Single crochet in each stitch (40) and over "thumb" loop (about 20 stitches or enough to cover whole "thumb"). (60)
Row 8 - Turn. Single crochet into last stitch of row 7. Working in back stitches, single stitch until center of spiral. (Approx 40) Slip stitch into sixth chain from hook. Finish by sewing in tail. Ta - da! Done!

I would love to see photos of anyone who tries it! Let me know if there are any mistakes or if you would like an in-depth photo tutorial, too! I made this after the fact and had to go by memory.

NOTE: Feel free to make these as gifts but do not claim this pattern as your own and please do not use this pattern to sell.

Keep Crafting!

Trying Something New...

Hello all,

For the past few days (weeks? Everything is blending together) I've been busy working away at my A Very Potter Musical Craft Swap so everything is all "hush hush" about what I'm doing.

My boyfriend is on board and he is helping in every way he can. WHICH IS FANTASTIC! - since I have no idea what I'm doing for this one aspect and he kinda does... Totally Awesome, no?

So, yeah. A five point swap which means either 1 medium (two points) or 1 large (three points) item with a whole bunch of smalls in between.

I have one small/medium item already done... which is great! I had fun doing it and I did something new.

I'm working on a medium/large item now - it's taking me forever!!!

And I have a whole lot more planned and I hope I have time to work on it. Here's hoping I have a few days off next week to relax and to get this stuff done!

Cheers,
Nessa

P.S. Keep Crafting!

Flash Your Stash!!

I was tagged by the lovely Lee from Totallee.net a while back to "flash my stash".

It's actually scary. I tried to get a photo of all of my stash but as I type this, my dad found a bunch of stashed yarn behind the sofa *sheepish grin*.

I have found places to hide things in this tiny house of mine I'm forgetting where I have them all. I am trying to organize and keep them (somewhat) clean...

Here goes: (Ye be warned: mess follows)

My main stash. Container full of other containers filled with beads, cross stitch, magnet and jewelery supplies, paint, clue, and other odds and ends. On the book shelf is my embroidery floss, markers and in the bag is fabric.

Top view of above.

Back/side view of the bead containers. Glue guns, cross stitch fabric, tissue paper, and more sewing supplies...

On the bookshelf rests a basket of craft swap supplies: Paper, ink, stamps, watercolour pencil crayons, wax crayons, frame, white/cork board, stickers...

All my sketch pads, note pads, beading books, cross stitch patters, crochet book and sewing books...

Current crochet project with more beads and glue and my crochet hooks in their hook roll (green flowers in bucket)... Stain glass window Afghan WIP.

My cork board with my pins and the place I put my handmade thumbtacks and my friends business cards...

GIANT TOTE IN CLOSET FILLED WITH YARN, FABRIC AND FELT!!!!

Under my "clothes dump" director chair: Pillow form, My Tucan and Sam needlepoint project and another WIP lap blanket...

Other side of closet: Purses, fabric, bags, blank shirts for printing/altering, finished crochet projects...

Above closet: Magazines, photo books, hats and costume supplies...

Basement storage: fabric tote (note the blue satin bow from the unfinished Sailor Venus costume), All bags filled with fabric and tulle and lace or fake flowers. Cutting board/ironing board in front.

Box filled with feathers, fabric, paper supplies. Underneath rests my two totes filled with neckties.

Sewing corner (note Arnold my sewing machine is not present since I lent him to my great aunt visiting from Italy). My sewing box named Burt on top of muslin and in the H&M bag is my vinyl.

Well, that's it... for my dad's house. I have a lot more at my moms and hiding around the house.

My boyfriend promises me a craft room once we get our own place. I better get one!!!!

Keep Crafting (and stay clean and organized!!!)
-Nessa

Firefly/Serenity Fruity Oaty Bars

Last summer I got into a felt craft faze where I tried to create a bunch of felt stuffies. I only have one that I was happy enough to continue making. I based it off Firefly/Serenity's Fruity Oaty Bars commercial. I loved it. I made my own version since I didn't know how to master the octopus head just yet so it has more of a squid look to it. Ah well, I love him.

This red and black stuffie was made for my sister.

Ooooh.

They are about 9" long from head to tentacle.

Taking a ride on my daddy's head.

This is Oaty. I sometimes use him as a pin cushion. He doesn't mind.

I don't know if these are good enough to sell on Etsy. As pincushions and the like. If not, I'll post a tutorial since I documented everything while making Oaty.


I planned on making a seahorse one in the future... Any other ideas for stuffie pin cushions?

Keep Crafting,
Nessa

Quarter Life Crisis.

So. It's been a long time since I posted last and a lot has changed. I have changed my mind on what I want to be and am still searching for it. I am no longer interested in going to Dalhousie (as you can see, I'm still on the big T.O. with nothing to do not even a job).

It's hard to find out what one wants to do in life and as I have been catering to what my family and friends wanted of me since I was young, I have realized that what they hoped for me was not what I wanted in life and wouldn't be happy if I continued on the route I was on. Rather than have their dreams come true, I put everything aside on a useless journey of self discovery. Since April I have been searching within myself to find what I enjoy on life or find interesting to turn into a career. I was tired with holding dead end retail jobs so I joined with a temp agency. Although nothing has come of it yet but one three day job, I hope that something will hit my brain like lightening and I will suddenly know which direction to take and finally start my life.

There are a few constant things in my life that I can be thankful for. For one, my other half (Alex) whom I met in November of last year has been a pillar of constant support and love. He encourages me to be myself and to go for my dreams (whatever they may be once I figure it out) and to never give up. The second, my best friend who, like my boyfriend Alex, puts up with my constant crazy and my changing my mind. In a way she is my costuming/crafting mentor and in another she is a role model. Not only has she found what she wants to do in life, she has grabbed it by the horns and is now in Halifax studying costuming. And finally the last is my creativity. It comes in leaps and bounds and there it never seems to dry up. My hands are constantly itching for new projects to try and things to get dirty. These three things have kept me sane the past few months and will keep me going onwards.

I have many dreams and ideas in life on what I wish to accomplish. Many will stay that way. But for others I hope they become a reality.

To open a shop with all my hand made items.
To work in/open a candy shop.
To work with computers either in graphics or IT.
To become a teacher.
To create and sell my work.
To become an actress.
To get my license.
To hold a job with health care.
To get married.
To have kids and dress them up as the justice league for Halloween.
To find a job I am content and satisfied with.

As you can see, I have no idea what path in life I want to take. If being a stay at home mom and running my own business from home was a job where I could have a stable income, I would. I know I'm not cubicle material. I truly consider myself someone who will always be off the beaten path and is a little more... original (crazy, outgoing, quirky?) and wish to find a job that represents me as well. It's unrealistic, I know, but as a dreamer and a crafter, I know it in my soul that I was meant to do something unique with my life.

So, this blog will be a way for me to post crafts and updates from my social life to keep me sane and a way for myself to reflect over my life and where it leads.

-Nessa