Tag: acrylic

I gave them wings

On By CarynIn Craft

When we hide rocks for the Kindness Rocks project, we put some simple instructions on the back. I wanted to put something similar on my worry worms. I started with a scarf idea, with a simple slit for the attachment and words burned into man-made felt. After a couple tests, I thought the scarf looked more like wings, so changed my design in Adobe Illustrator, saved it as an SVG, and imported it in my laser cutter’s program.

Photo description: three worry worms with a scarf (left), wings with a bold font (middle), and wings with a thin stencil font (right)
Photo description: yellow and orange felt in the laser cutter, there were definite cutting differences between colors, in this photo the orange cut much cleaner than the yellow with the same settings
Photo description: purple glow worry worms with a with purple wings that say “Hi! You found me! Keep me or pass me on” with more worms and wings in the background

I just love their little wings! I did find it interesting that the thin stencil font was easier to read than a bold stencil.

I took these to my regional chorus competition and my chorus had a great time “hiding” them for other competitors to find.

Unexpected cat

On By CarynIn Craft
Photo description: Sophie the dilute calico sitting on my lap as I cast on a new knitting project

This is not my usual lap cat. Sophie, the outside cat that adopted us and moved inside, has decided that laps are warm and cozy, especially with a fuzzy blanket. She has not learned knitting etiquette yet, though, and thinks the yarn is for play. We’re working on it. Right now it is a balance of encouraging lap time and gently discouraging yarn gnawing.

The new project is a meditative piece using yarn gifted to me by my youngest. It will be a wide scarf done in garter stitch, so no pattern lines to follow, no perl stitches, just knit and turn.

Throwback Thursday: crochet star blanket

On By CarynIn Craft, throwback

In 2012 my youngest was hospitalized for a total of 33 days with pneumonia and complications. I was a wreck. To maintain sanity I asked my family for yarn and sat in the PICU crocheting. I learned how to make star blankets and made two (I don’t have pictures of the first).

Photo description: green eight pointed crocheted star blankets and laying on a hospital bed

I still find crocheting a calming activity.

Worm problem

On By CarynIn Craft

I may have a worm obsession. I went at making these crochet worry worms with a fervor, using up all my scrap yarn and getting more acrylic yarn. Yes, I bought acrylic yarn. For someone who spins and adores natural fibers, it was a telling sign of a distraction gone rogue. The main advantage of acrylic, other than the low cost, is that the yarn is less likely to cause allergic reactions. There are many people allergic to animal hair or plant fibers, so making a solace gift that could cause allergies feels… icky.

Photo description: crocheted spiral worry worms made from variegated yarn with sewn on eyes

My biggest downfall was the Mary Maxim yarn that was red, white, and green with silver sparkles. Maybe I should find a local addictive crochet support group.

Chicken rock

On By CarynIn art, chickens

One of my friends enjoys painting and has quite a flair for it. She had painted rocks at the chorus craft fair and I just had to buy the one that looked like Wing Ding! And then take a picture of Wing Ding with her effigy.

Photo description: Wing Ding the Black Star hen in molt standing behind the painted rock with a black chicken that I’m holding. Painting by Corinna Standlee.