Art Website Launch

Well I finally got around to making a webpage. The art bug has been buzzing in my ear again, and I've hooked up a few initial tests or sketches if you like which can be seen in the portfolio. Hoping to do more soon as well as some large scale and installation pieces.

http://kfrances.weebly.com/


Keep an eye out for updates here and on the page itself.

Mandala's on the Mind

Well, I usually have an allergic reaction to New Year's resolutions, so I'm not going to go there... BUT I have decided recently to aim the absent, sort of scattered crochet therapy that I've been known to indulge in between books into a more focused and intent filled practice.

Primarily because I need it, and because I came upon this fantastic book about crochet and healing that got my meditative engines all fired up.

So I've made a series of chakra mandalas, and that was fantastic, but didn't really assuage the mindfulness cravings. Then, a friend of mine put me onto this granny square a day vlog, and that looked cool but wasn't exactly right. Finally, I got around to putting the two ideas together and came up with the Mandala a Day idea for 2016.

Which we all know I won't manage to pull off.
But I'm still going to try it.
We can take bets on how long I make it before folding like a wet paper bag.

In the meantime here are my first four days of January 2016...

and a link to one of the best books on crochet I've seen:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B018BBHCJQ//ref=cm_sw_su_dp?tag=moho-20


And my chakra pattern is available in my Rav store.
:)

 

Pattern: Wrist Work Bag

While the puppet insanity is still in full swing, and I'm making and modifying patterns like a mad woman (okay, not LIKE a mad woman... still) I took a break to do another free pattern. This one is a wrist bag for holding your ball of yarn so you can crochet on the fly. I'd seen a knitted one in someone's project list and decided I just had to have one too.

We all know I don't do the pointy sticks... so, this one is super easy, works up really fast and is useful too.

Wrist Work Bag: 

With H hook and cotton..

6sc in magic ring

*inc around* (12)

*sc, inc* around (18)

*sc, sc, inc* around (24)

*sc, sc, sc, inc* around (30)

join with ss 

chain four, dc in same space

*skip 2 sc, (dc, chain 2 dc, chain 1) in next sc* repeat around for row of dc Vstitches

Work dc V stitch (dc, chain 2 dc, chain 1) in chain one spaces between V stitches of previous row. I did seven rows of V stitches for my bag and it's about the right height for a ball of yarn. 

sc around for three rows

ss together, chain 28-30 (depending on your wrist and length of handle you want) ss to bag top on opposite side.

sc back along chain. 

ss to rim. 

sc back to opposite side

ss to rim

sc back, ss and finish off.

Weave in ends. 

More with Puppety

Well the puppet bug has bit me hard. I have polished up the pattern for the basic hand puppet with variations and it's now available on my ravelry store.
LINK: http://www.ravelry.com/stores/frances-pauli-designs

As much fun as I'm having with that one and the wonderful puppets my test crochet folks have made too, I want to do up a hand puppet that can hold  things and use its arms as well. So, I'm back to the testing/drafting stage and fiddling with some ideas for a simple hand puppet with hands pattern.

So far, I've had one awkward goof and one that I really like. I think I'm getting close to how I want this to look....

She is the spirit of the Eastern Wind, and I'll be doing four in elemental colors. For now, I'm out of black, so her arms need to be longer and I have to come back in and extend the black under sleeve so it covers the puppeteers arm for better performing.

Still needs some refining, but it should be ready for testing fairly soon.

:)

An Old Love- The Puppet [Crochet] Arts

Once upon a time I was obsessed with puppetry. This won't come as a surprise to anyone who knows how obsessive I am. In fact, the list of  my past obsessions, in particular artsy/crafty ones could fill a small library. (okay, really really small, but still)

Recently some puppet links have caught my attention on Facebook. A few posts here and there, my ears perked up, etc. I started a puppet board on Pinterest. There's a pattern here.

Anyway, I got to thinking about crochet and how its something I do a lot of anyway and since I'm a puppet nut, why not crochet some... enter: Waldo the Weasel.

I 

I am having so much fun! Also, I may be writing plays too, not unfortunately for kids, to my son's chagrin. (he is enjoying Waldo quite a bit) Still, I think I'm onto something. I love the idea of puppets not controlled by string, but MADE from it. 

This will be Emi, Waldo's hearthrob.... (sadly she has a crush on Frank Ferret)

Learning a lot as I go about how I want to shape the base structure for best movement and also how to vary the character with different shaping techniques. (and a diverse use of fun fur)

I'm sure eventually, I'll have patterns to post... and maybe videos.
:)

stitch on.

Tapestry Weaving

I have a hankering to weave. Apparently, my son's school has integrated the history of fiber arts quite fully into their curriculum. I love this. He's learning about Persian rugs and Kente cloth and I am itching to weave soooo badly.
So...today i whipped out the kiddie loom I snagged at a garage sale and dove into a Seahorse tapestry.

So far:

We'll see how it goes. The kids did paper weaving:

Well played, K-12. Well played.

Squid Motif

Squidling Motif

Here is a little guy that you can whip up fairly quickly with little yarn. He is good as a bookmark, pin, applique or as I'll show later, add-on to one of my favorite patterns. (not mine) 

 Materials:

G hook

worsted yarn (red heart in examples) in body color

second color scraps for eyes

optional buttons or felt for eyes

Stitches:

dc  -  double crochet

hdc - half double crochet

sc - single crochet

ss - slip stitch

ch - chain

1- ch 3, 2dc in furthest chain (3dc)

2- ch 3  turn dc in same stitch, 2 dc in each dc across (6dc)

this makes the pointy bit at the top of our squid's head.

3- turn, ss in first two stitches. chain 2 hdc in same stitch, hdc in next stitch (should end up with to centered hdc)

4-ch 3 turn, dc in same stitch, 2dc in next stitch (4dc)

5- ch 2 turn, hdc in same space, hdc in next two stitches, 2 hdc in last stitch (6hdc)

6- ch 3 turn, dc in each hdc across (6dc)

thats our body.

now we move on to the tentacles. Sorry, our squidling only has five. :) 

chain 20

sc in first chain from hook

hdc in next chain

sc in next chain

now we'll work back toward the point through the opposite side of the same chains.

sc in bottom loop of last sc

hdc in bottom loop of hdc

sc in bottom of sc 

ss to point, cut and finish off.

should have one tentacle with a pod on the end. 

second and third tentacle are made together. 

chain 5

sc in fist chain from hook, hdc in next chain, sc in next chain ss to last chain

come back down toward the point using the bottom loops of stitches we just made

sc, hdc, sc, 

ss together and chain 15

ss to body beside first leg. 

ss to next legless stitch at bottom of body.

ch 25

sc in first chain from hook

hdc, sc, ss down chain (back toward body) 

then work back toward point through bottom loops of previous stitches

sc, hdc, sc, ss  cut and finish off.

Now your squidling should have three legs dangling from the bottom of his bod. 

chain 5

sc in fist chain from hook, hdc in next chain, sc in next chain ss to last chain

come back down toward the point using the bottom loops of stitches we just made

sc, hdc, sc, 

ss together and chain 10

ss to body beside first leg. 

ss to next legless stitch at bottom of body.

ch 20

sc in first chain from hook

hdc, sc, ss down chain (back toward body) 

then work back toward point through bottom loops of previous stitches

Now, if I did this right, squidling should have five legs. 

You can move onto eyes and weaving in ends. 

(But, if I want to morph him into a badass necklace, I modify the legs making only three spread out more so that one is on each outer edge and one is in center. then I attach him to this pattern: (which I make in the same color) instead of the called-for flower. That gives him an additional three legs and makes him wearable!) 

Squidling's eyes can be buttons, felt circles or crocheted. If I stitch them, I just do six sc in a magic ring and then leave a long tail to whip them onto the body with. 

He's very easy to modify or tweak!