Knit Baby Sweater

I was planning a visit to see my cousin's new baby and wanted to make something for her. I picked up 3 skeins of gorgeous blue-purple gradient Australian wool and followed along with a booklet to make this little baby sweater. It's a little big for her still, but she is growing quickly, so it will be perfect for layering in the winter!

collar

using several needles to hold different portions (body, sleeves)

starting on a sleeve

left sleeve complete

both sleeves complete; starting on the body

knitting complete, and seams bound!

completed sweater after adding three black buttons

back view

button close-up

This was the very first sweater I have ever knitted (or crocheted). I'm proud of how it turned out and am excited to see the baby wearing it! It took about a week to make, working long hours and late into the night, because I wanted to complete the project before the trip! The pattern is supposed to have a leaf design along the collar, but I realized too late that I have been knitting for purl stitches and purling for knit stitches (I guess I've always done them backwards...), so it's nice that the color gradient gives the sweater a texture, despite the pattern being wrong! I think it still turned out looking lovely, even with the mistakes. Too much of a pattern in the already-textured yarn might have also taken away from the beauty of the piece by making it too busy, so I actually like how it is!

<3 Mandy

Fruit Watercolor Paintings

Lemons and figs are two of my favorite fruits - they look beautiful and taste good with many of my favorite dishes. I decided to sit and paint one day, and made a watercolor painting of each of these fruits.

Enjoy some delicious fruits this summer.
<3 Mandy

Embroidered Denim Tank Top

I bought a denim tank top at a thrift store, and though I liked the shirt, I was inspired to embroider the back of it with little flowers.

 

begin with bright pink/orange flowers; add mini flowers in more neutral colors

add little lavender flowers with leaves

add lavender flowers on another corner

burst star flower, reminds me of Staryu from Pokemon

lavender grains

added stems to the lavender bursts, adding another flower with French dots center

roses like Whitney's "Light Upon the Lake" album cover

my favorite part - little flowers

sunflower petals to fill in the empty spot with yellow

sunflowers for my sister

I'm so happy to have finally finished embroidering this top after sewing over the course of several months... it took almost a year to make, with a few hours for each flower section. I'm very pleased with how it turned out and want to wear it all the time! I plan to only hand-wash the shirt (though my dad accidentally threw it in the laundry when I was in the middle of sewing a flower since I had left the project on my pillow), so that will keep me from wearing it ALL THE TIME!

<3 Mandy

Woodsy Themed Decorations

For a retirement party at work, I was requested to help out with the decorations because of my love for crafting and "artist eyes". There was a woodsy theme for the retiree who loved the outdoors, so I helped to put some plants together, make "Reserved" signs, and make a corsage and boutonnière for the honoree and his wife.

After having a log cut in half lengthwise, someone helped to drill a little hole for a stick to make a standing table sign. I painted "Reserved" with little decorative leaves on the face of each log to make a sign to place on each of the two center tables.

back side, with stick stand

blank faces of the log halves

backs of the log halves

design drafted in pencil

completed signs

Using an assortment of white flowers, leaves, miniature duck figurines, small pinecones, feathers, and some floral tape and ribbon, I made a matching corsage and boutonnière for the honorees. I made a bouquet of flowers, leaves, and feathers and wrapped the stems in floral tape. I wove in some pinecones attached to thin wire, and filled in more flowers and leaves where the bundles looked empty. I wrapped the stems with thin hemp string, and tied a bow with some shimmery light brown ribbon.

completed bouquet with floral tape

completed bouquet with hemp string

wrapped in ribbon

comparison to inspiration I found online

attaching the flowers to the corsage bracelet

boutonniere and corsage, side by side

I had a lot of fun putting together the decorations, and celebrating at the party. Everyone else seemed to be having a great time too. I always love making things, especially when other people can enjoy them too.

welcome/check-in table

continuing the duck theme

<3 Mandy