Nail Polish Flowers

The first day home on spring break, I found a great new craft idea on pinterest - nail polish flowers! When I saw them I didn't really believe that it would work so well, but I still had to try.  I have to say, they work quite well and hopefully this tutorial will be helpful for anyone who wants to try!

The first step is to gather nail polish from your sister who has more than any person could ever need (sorry, Sarah).

Then get some wire and needle nosed pliers.  The wire should probably be a little thicker than 24 gauge so the loops don't get crinkled easily, but not too thick that it is difficult to work with.  Needle nosed pliers may be helpful, but I found myself using only my hands to make the petals.  

The next step is to create the flower shape.  This step is probably the most difficult one.  In order to make the nail polish stick to the wire and create a film, the petals should be small.  But if you would like larger petals, then be sure to make them narrow.  The petal's wire loop should be a fully closed circle, otherwise the nail polish film will pop.  

When you get to the filling-in part, start at one end of the petal and drag the brush to the other side.  If you can not get the film to stay, then keep trying.  If that doesn't work then squish the petal in order to make it narrower.

Let the nail polish dry for a while.  Even if it appears to be dry, it may still be a little tacky.  

Even my ~6'5" brother wanted to join me with this craft and make a couple of these.  Here are some of the first flowers that I made: 

 

Once you get the hang of it, you can make some nice floral arrangements just in time for spring! Hopefully some warmer weather is on it's way so we can see some real flowers blooming outside!

If you have any questions or comments, please be sure to send me an email or comment on this post! Thanks for viewing!!

Too little time

The start of the new semester has really taken off and I simply can't find enough time in the day to do all that I want! The other day when I wanted to relax for a few minutes, I started working on some mittens that I had started a little while back.  I was making up the pattern as I went and after a little while I decided to try them on.  I tried putting them on, and because of my tight knitting and the fact that I was doing a five color zigzag pattern, they were so tight! I got frustrated and decided to take them out.

I wasn't sure what to do next, but then I decided to attempt my first sweater!  My mom got all of the materials ready for me two Christmases ago, so I think it is about time.  This project is a big undertaking for me, but I was sure to make a gauge (since my knitting is always too tight), and now I am on my way to finishing my first sweater!

I realized that I never posted my most recent project.  They were simple striped mittens and the pattern can be found here.

They are also for sale in my Etsy shop.  Other items are still listed there! Please check them out and pass the word along!

It is now time for some pre-bedtime knitting after a long weekend of woodsmen competition and homework! I'll keep you posted on my sweater progress and feel free to comment/contact me for any questions or information!

Thanks for reading!

Jan Plan Projects

Here are pictures of the fingerless mittens that I mentioned in a previous post.  I loved the quick pattern that I found on ravelry.  These are now available in my etsy shop!! 

And here is a picture of the gray pair on the knitting needles.  I had to show off the adorable sheep knitting markers that I received for Christmas!!

 Last January when I was taking my writing course, I decided to make this hat...

I thought that this pattern was found on ravelry, but after some searching I don't know where it is from! Because of my tight knitting (which is more under control now), this hat does not fit an adult.  But if there is a child that would like this hat, please let me know, because I would love to sell it and get it off my hands!!

Past Knitting Projects

This morning with not much to do, I decided I would take some pictures of my past knitted items.  I've always knitted gifts for my family, so now it seems that everyone has a full wardrobe of my knitted creations!
Mom helped me to take pictures and model, but I must say, we are not too good at it!  I think the best model was Sunny...

Sunny was kind enough to model Robert's 2013 Christmas present.  That was a long project.  I got the original pattern from ravelry.  Rob has a large head so I needed to be sure it was going to be big enough for him, which is why I changed the needle size.  I also adjusted the rim of the hat and the pattern because there was one specific part of the pattern that I did not like (I won't go into more detail).  The finished project was quite the large hat, but my great mom sewed in felt and elastic so it would be sure to stay on Rob's head.  

I don't remember when I knitted these next items, but here are some pictures of them anyway!

These two patterns were either from this book or that book.  Both books are definitely good knitting books to check out!

In addition to the two previous mittens, Mom has received this scarf.  It is a zig-zag scarf and the pattern  is found in one of the books that I just mentioned.  

This hat was made for Sarah and it was a great pattern.  I especially like the star that it made on the top of the hat.  Once again this pattern was found in the books that I mentioned.

Now to finish this post, here are some pictures of the best model I know!

Hand Models Needed!

As the end of my Janplan semester nears, I am dreading the time where I won't have as much time to knit and relax.  Already in the past few days, I've made two sets of fingerless mittens and one mitten.  The fingerless mittens are all washed and ready for sale.  But before that I want to get some pictures to show them off! Unfortunately, I need to find some hand models before I can finish my task.  Good thing I'll have my mom to model them for me when I go home tomorrow!  Get ready for pictures to come, but for now enjoy this picture of my room mate who keeps crawling all over me as I type this post.

Maine Woods Mittens

I made this pair of mittens for Luke this past Christmas.  It was a great pattern (and pretty easy) found on ravelry.  

I altered the pattern a little by adding a different cuff.  It was a knit purl knit purl ribbing.