Photo of the Week

I love watching artisans perform their craft. One of my favorite crafts to watch is glassblowing. Leslie Pierce of Historical Glassworks demonstrates glassblowing several times a day at the Georgia Renaissance Festival. She's fascinating to talk to and spent time sharing information about the Glass Age with us.

Knitting Fun

I absolutely love knitting. From sweaters and socks to hats and even doilies, I've knit it all. It's my favorite way to relax and keep stress levels down, especially in the last few years. 

I also love learning about old knitting techniques and tools. Patterns from the early 20th century are always an adventure, but so much fun to try. And the tools that were used in the past are making a comeback for their usefulness, beauty, and simplicity. One of those tools is the nostepinne. 

The nostepinne, which means "nest-stick" in Scandinavian, is the original yarn winder. It needs no batteries and you don't have to plug it in, so it's very portable. Its also the easiest way to wind a center-pull yarn ball. While they can be as simple as a tapered dowel, most feature some decoration. My sister turned this one on the lathe for me for Christmas. It's my new favorite yarn tool. If you need me, I'll be winding all my yarn into balls.

DIY Ornaments From Disney Parks

The Disney Parks Blog has created several amazing Paper Parks printables in the past. From full park models to adorable Christmas ornaments, there's something for everyone. This year, they have a set of 12 ornaments representing each of the Disney Parks around the world. To download your set, just visit the Disney Parks Blog here.

It's Earth Day, So Here's An Earth Friendly Knitting Pattern

I love knitting. I find it very calming. It helps me keep my stress level under control. I also love knitting things that are reusable. Dishcloths are one of my favorite things to make, and so are little scrubbies for washing my face. They are a great substitute for single use face wipes. In honor of Earth Day, here's my pattern for a simple cotton scrubbie.

Reusable Cotton Face Scrubbie

Supplies

• Worsted weight cotton yarn such as Peaches & Creme
• Size 6 (4mm) knitting needles
• Yarn needle for weaving in ends

Instructions

Cast on 15 stitches using the long tail cast on.

Row 1 - *K1, P1*, repeat * to * across row, ending with k1

Row 2 - Slip 1, *P1, K1*, repeat * to * across row

Row 3 - Slip 1, *P1, K1*, repeat * to * across row

Row 4 - Slip 1, P1, K11, P1, K1

Row 5 - Slip 1, P1, K1, P9, K1, P1, K1

Row 6 - Slip 1, P1, K11, P1, K1

Row 7 - Slip 1, P1, K1, P9, K1, P1, K1

Row 8 - Slip 1, P1, K11, P1, K1

Row 9 - Slip 1, P1, K1, P9, K1, P1, K1

Row 10 - Slip 1, P1, K11, P1, K1

Row 11 - Slip 1, P1, K1, P9, K1, P1, K1

Row 12 - Slip 1, P1, K11, P1, K1

Row 13 - Slip 1, P1, K1, P9, K1, P1, K1

Row 14 - Slip 1, P1, K11, P1, K1

Row 15 - Slip 1, P1, K1, P9, K1, P1, K1

Row 16 - Slip 1, *P1, K1*, repeat * to * across row

Row 17 - Slip 1, *P1, K1*, repeat * to * across row

Row 18 - Slip 1, *P1, K1*, repeat * to * across row

Bind off knitwise. Weave in ends.

I throw these in the washer and dryer with my towels to clean them and they hold up quite well. I hope you enjoy making them as much as I do.

Please respect designers and copyright. Although this pattern is free for you to use, direct copying is strictly prohibited. If you would like to share the pattern, please Pin it, or share this page’s link. If you share this pattern, you must add this page’s link. While free, this pattern is for personal use only. Do not distribute, copy, or use for commercial purposes. 

Haunt Your Home With These Printables From Disney

All images: Disney

Disney has a fun new series of Paper Parks printables to haunt your home. The black and white images are designed to be cut out and colored before turning them into amazing 3-D models. 

Part I includes:

• a miniature version of Disneyland's pumpkin topped gates
• a "Welcome Foolish Mortals" sign
• Haunted Mansion paper chains 
• bat stanchion decorations
• ghostly shadow puppets

Part II is perfect for a Haunted Mansion party:

• a placemat inspired by the gate sign
• phantom five cup sleeve
• napkin rings
• gargoyle place card holders
• Doom Buggy snack box

Part III is a model of the Magic Kingdom's Haunted Mansion complete with:

• entrance gates
• hitchhiking ghosts
• conservatory
• and portrait chamber

Part IV includes more rooms for your Haunted Mansion model, including: 

• Madame Leota's seance room
• ghostly ballroom dancers
• cemetery accessories 
• As well as Hitchhiking Ghosts masks

These printables would be a fun activity for the whole family. Just click on the links to download them from the Disney Parks Blog. You'll have a hauntingly good time.

Rattling Bones To Decorate Your Home

Disney

One of my favorite Halloween cartoons is The Skeleton Dance, an old Silly Symphonies short. Its delightfully spooky with fun, silly music and, of course, dancing skeletons. If you'd like to add a few of these restless bones to your Halloween decor, try this printable craft from D23.

• First, save the image found here. 
• Print at least 5 pages of skeletons on card stock.
• Cut out each skeleton on the black lines.
• Make a small hole on each skeleton’s elbow with a hole punch.
• Thread string or ribbon through the front of each skeleton’s left elbow, across the back, and out through the right elbow, connecting the skeletons into a garland. 
• Hang your Skeleton Dance garland for some spooky fun decor.

Photo of the Week

My cousin sent me this adorable Hula Stitch diamond painting kit last fall. I finally got around to finishing it this week. It's so cute and fun to do that I'm ordering another one!

These Disney Princess Mini Trees are Too Adorable

Disney

If you've been looking to add a bit of Disney Princess to your Christmas decor, consider making one, or several, of these adorable trees. Each one was inspired by the outfit of a Disney Princess: Ariel, Rapunzel, Mulan, Tiana, and Jasmine.

These trees look fairly easy to decorate and would be a fun family project.

Disney

If you'd prefer a Belle or Cinderella tree, instructions can be found here on the Disney Family website. Which tree will you make?

Last Minute Disney Halloween Ideas

Disney

Are you looking for few last minute Disney Halloween ideas? Maybe you need the perfect pumpkin carving template or some sweet and spooky snacks to enjoy with a favorite Halloween film. Well, here are some of my favorites.

Disney Halloween Pumpkin Ideas

Halloween is just around the corner, so it's time to start thinking about pumpkins. I love carving pumpkins, and often choose a Disney inspired design. If you're looking for a little pumpkin inspiration, check out the selection below. There you'll find the perfect design to haunt your pumpkins.

Happy Hobbit Day!

New Line Cinema

Every year, on September 22, fans around the world celebrate the shared birthday of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins. This year's celebration also marks the 80th anniversary of the Hobbit, which was first released on September 21, 1937.

There are many ways to celebrate. I've spent the week rewatching all of the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings films. I still love them and discover something new everytime I watch them.

Today, I think it may be a good day to eat at least one Hobbit-y meal, though probably not as many as Merry and Pippin would. Hobbits sure do like to eat: Breakfast, Second Breakfast, Elevenses, Luncheon, Afternoon Tea, Dinner, Supper. And its quite likely that the list goes on.

Perhaps I'll knit something from one of the many patterns the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings have inspired. I'm rather partial to the scarf with the wording from the One Ring in Elvish. How will you celebrate Hobbit Day?

Beaker Bottle Planter

Disney

This Beaker Bottle Planter from Disney Family is kind of adorable. I've always loved Beaker, so I may just have to make one.

Disney Christmas Stockings

Disney/Lucasfilm

I have several Christmas stockings that I've loved for years, but every few years, I get the urge to make a new one. Last year, I made my dad an elaborate pirate stocking. This year, I'm helping Bean make one as a gift. (We're thinking Stormtrooper.) If you're looking for a little Disney stocking inspiration of your own, you've come to the right place.

Disney Christmas Inspiration

Are you looking to add a little Disney flair to your Christmas this year? Here are a few of my favorite ideas from Pinterest.

Disney Pumpkin Carving Patterns

Cast Member pumpkins at Disney Springs

It's time to start carving those pumpkins for Halloween. Do you need a Disney inspired pattern to get you started? Or perhaps you prefer to decorate your pumpkin with paint and accessories. Well, if you need a few new ideas, be sure to check out my Disney Halloween Pinterest Board.

Finding Dory Inspired Washcloths

I am absolutely addicted to knitting and crocheting my own washcloths and dishcloths. They are so easy to make and fabulous to use that I tend to get rather carried away. I came across some yarn recently that reminded me of Nemo and Dory, so I knew I needed to find a pattern for a fishy cloth. I found the perfect pattern from Judith Prindle on the Dish Cloth Corner Blog (you can find it here.) It is quick and easy to crochet and makes the most adorable fishy. I used Lily Sugar'n Cream yarn in Sunkissed for Dory, Poppy for Nemo and Moondance for one that reminds me of Flo from the tank gang in Finding Nemo. (These yarns are fairly easy to find at your local craft store.) Aren't they just too cute?

Avengers Lowes Build and Grow

The Avengers are returning to Lowes Build and Grow Workshops this summer. This year, the characters are from DisneyXD's Avengers: Ultron Revolution. Each build will feature a character and a base, which when pushed together will form the Avengers logo. The fun starts with Captain America on June 11. Next up is Iron Man on June 25, Falcon on July 9, Thor on July 23, Black Widow on August 13, and finally Hulk on August 27. Kids will also receive a patch with each build, that form a picture when put together. Sign ups begin on May 30, and if last year is any indication, you'll want to sign up early to make sure you can reserve your child a spot.

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day!

If you haven't found a Mother's Day card yet or could use a little last minute gift inspiration, be sure to check out Disney Family's Mother's Day ideas. They have recipes for brunch and sweet treats, printable cards and coupon books, and several craft projects. It's the perfect solution for any Disney lover who forgot to plan ahead. Photo courtesy of Disney

Knit Socks

Have you ever knit your own socks? It is a surprisingly gratifying experience. I have made over a dozen pairs in the past few years and am becoming quite good at it. I love finding new patterns and colors to play with. I'm also quite fond of naming my socks, based on their colors and designs. My most recent pair I've named Mount Doom. The colors reminded me of lava flowing over rock, so I chose a mountainy design to complement them. (The pattern is actually called Bifrost and is available for free on Knotions.com) I'm currently knitting a pair I think I'll call waves on the beach. The pattern is called Zigzags and is available for free on Ravelry. (Just make sure you download the corrected version.) One of my favorite pair I call Mardi Gras because of the green, gold, and purple stripes. I don't remember the name of the pattern, but I love the way it looks. So, are you ready to tackle your own sock knitting project?

Doctor Who Crafts

I've been feeling very crafty of late. I've knit a few pairs of socks already this month, and I made some slippers and mittens last month as Christmas gifts. I also made one very special pair of fingerless gloves for Bean. They were inspired by a sock pattern that I found on Pinterest. The Tardis socks pattern, which is available for free from Ravelry, was easily adapted to fingerless gloves. (Admittedly, I kept making silly errors and ended up frogging one about five times, but it worked out in the end.)

Anyway, I'm on a total Doctor Who kick at the moment, so I've been searching out Doctor Who crafts to try. I've got an entire Pinterest board full of inspiration to choose from. I'm thinking I may try the knit Converse slippers. They're so Ten. Or perhaps I'll make a few Christmas ornaments, so that they'll actually be ready before next Christmas. Decisions, decisions. Well, if you're looking for a few good Doctor Who craft ideas, be sure to check out my board. You never know what may inspire you.