From Lion Brand Yarns for Valentine's Day

6 Simply Sweet Patterns for Valentine's Day Give Handmade & Heartfelt Gifts to Friends & Family

Knit Valentine Pouch Crochet Heart Pillow, Knit Valentine's Day Mittens, Knit Valentine Banner & Crochet Flower Hair Accessories Crochet Valentine  Envelopes

I love the pillow :)

So I was asked a really cool question on facebook...

Hey do you think you could knit one of those beard hats? http://www.beardowear.ca/

Beard Hats

The FB question

So I did a search...

Ravelry Search

Page 1

Page 2

These are available for Free...

These are available online for a cost...

Ok off to check these out and see what ones I like...

Cora

Matryoshka, Babushka, Nesting Dolls...

whatever you call them...I love this style of doll. I have seen some very tradition ones and some really fun and cute ones. A matryoshka doll is a Russian nesting doll (Russian: Матрёшка) which is a set of wooden dolls of decreasing size placed one inside the other. They are also found in Ukraine.


Here are some interesting designs I found on the wiki.....

Matryoshka set in a row

Matryoshka doll taken apart

.

A set of matryoshkas consists of a wooden figure which separates, top from bottom, to reveal a smaller figure of the same sort inside, which has, in turn, another figure inside of it, and so on. The number of nested figures is traditionally at least five, but can be much more, up to several dozen with sufficiently fine craftsmanship. Modern dolls often yield an odd number of figures but this is not an absolute rule; the original Zvyozdochkin set, for instance, had an even number. The form is approximately cylindrical, with a rounded top for the head, tapering toward the bottom, with little or no protruding features; the dolls have no hands (except those that are painted). Traditionally the outer layer is a woman, dressed in a sarafan. The figures inside may be of either gender; the smallest, innermost doll is typically a baby lathed from a single small piece of wood (and hence non-opening). The artistry is in the painting of each doll, which can be extremely elaborate.

They are traditional made of wool but I have found some that are knit or crocheted.

Russian Matryoshka Babushka Nesting Dolls

Nesting Dolls by Ana Paula Rimoli

 

 Nesting Dolls by Katie Startzman

Matryoshka (Russian Nesting Dolls) by Susan B. Anderson

I thought this was cute and made from Susan's pattern.

whirlybird's Nesting birds

Here are some other patterns that are available, they are not dolls but they are the same idea :)

Nesting Penguin Friends Amigurumi by Allison Hoffman

 


Nom Nom Nomsters

Found in Make Me a Monster: A Mish-Mash of Monstercraft

Babushka by Katie Boyette

From the Book: 

Babushka are nesting monsters made with plastic eggs!

Being nesting monsters has so many advantages. Not only does carrying your children in
your mouth make it easier to keep up with them, but it makes many activities much more
affordable. The entire Babushka family can go on vacation for the price of one plane
ticket. They also pay the admission price for one at movies and amusement parks. The
Babushkas practically put the local Chinese buffet out of business, paying for one, but
eating for three, or even ten when the extended family comes along. Being a hollow
monster means being perpetually hungry.

 Babushka's (Nesting Dolls) w/ pattern

There are some on Ravelry that do not nest. I did a search of them. Babushka's 

Enjoy!

Cora

Phase V Open house is happening soon...

Here is the info...

If you are affected by this please stop by :)

Cora

This is about "The Avenue" here...

118 ave (aka Alberta Ave/The Avenue) is an avenue in Central Edmonton that has faced so much since its decline in the 1970's when the Yellowhead was built. when you turned on the news it was about the seedy side of the community: the crime, the drugs the prostitution.

Well this Ave, which is currently under revitalization, is surrounded by 5 communities: Westwood, Spruce Avenue, Alberta Ave, Delton, Eastwood and Parkdale/Cromdale. The news media actually didn't even talk about the communities it was all about the crime.

This is the trailer for a movie that documents One Year in the revitalization period of the Avenue. I am proud to be a part of this. The movie is scheduled to be released May 2012.

'The Avenue' Documentary Trailer

Cora

I came across a couple of interesting tweets on twitter today...

regarding Brian Mason, MLA for Edmonton Highland-Norwood. I say interesting because the issues of Omar Khadar (sp?) are complex...not black or white at all.

So this arrived actually on my FB page first, then I decided maybe I need to follow him and see what is going on...

Then this one was in my search feed...

Here is the the video that he is referring to.

I am going to include some links and highlights about this young man who has been called a terrorist...it is not just about The War on Terror, it is about the rights of citizens. many people were "arrested" and held without   a timely trial by the US under the Bush regime, yes I said regime. It is shameful how this young man who in Canada would have been tried under the Young Offenders Act, instead the 14 yr old boy was held at Guantanamo Bay  without representation, family or any support. He didn't have a chance in hell of anything. His father was up high on the Al Qaeda leadership.

Please read the Wiki for more information

Also this is quite interesting...Omar Khadr as Child Soldier

This is from Global Edmonton News:



Cora

Angry Birds....

Yeah the Bomb Bird is finally done!

Bomb Bird

The gang is almost here:
From Left to Right: Goldfinch, Cardinal
Bluebird and Bomb Bird

Now I just need to crochet the toucan and the white bird. Thwen to add in some pigs :)

Had a request for Big Brother and the Eagle as well.

Left: Eagle  Right: Big Brother

Should be interesting....

So I was at my knitting group lastnight and we started talking about afghans...

Some of us knit and crochet so we started talking about some cute crochet afghans. Jacob's Ladder designs seemed to be quite popular and there are a few of them....

Bev's Country Cottage has two designs

Jacob's Ladder Afghan 

Jacob's Ladder Using 4 Colors

Another Jacob's Ladder, using 4 colors

Jacob's Ladder Looks Awesome in one color as well :)

Jacob's Ladder using a monochromatic look 

Round Jacob's Ladder Blanket for Babies

This one uses 3 strands of wool
together for a tweed look.

Using 3 colors

Uses 3 colors as well, just different
widths of stripes.

Uses 3 bright colors

Bev also has a a cute afghan that is called Kitties in a Row.

Kitties in a Row

(Can also be found as “Remember the Kittens” by Joan Kokaska in the Great Big Crochet Afghan book by the American School of Needlework.)

Pattern is easily adaptable for a blanket for a preemie to an adult. Note that using a different weight yarn (e.g. a baby weight) will require a different size hook.

Blanket is square.

Adult sized arghan is approximately 40” x 60” But you can make it any size you wish by adding more or fewer rows.


I actually crocheted this for a friend's baby shower using Astra and Lewiscraft Baby DK, all in purples. Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures of it :( It turned out very cute! I loved it!

Kitties in a Row-Browns

Kitties in a Row-Blues and Teals

Kitties in a Row-Greys

Kitties in a Row-Rainbow

Kitties in a Row-Black & White

Doll Blanket Kitties in a Row

I plan on crocheting these in 2012. Just need to figure out which one first :D

Cora