~ Enjoy

~Enjoy

Visit my Etsy Treasury

The absolute softest scarf I have made to date.:)

~Enjoy

This Treasury Was Featured on Etsy’s Front Page

~Enjoy

Made this improvised pattern last night. It’s the first time I have worked in a technique know as Intarsia.

~Enjoy

Here is my latest project, a zig-zag scarf (with a heart) for my friend Arin. It’s all finished, and ready to go

~Enjoy

More knitting, and illustration posts coming soon, but for now I wanted to post the mini project i am working on: setting up a fish tank.

here it is as it stands:

I still need to add some aquatic plants, they are benificial for fish, look better then plastic ones, and are actually pretty inexpensive. I am waiting the suggested week for my tank to be fully ready to add my fish.

I have three goldfish, and have been keeping fish for 8 years, now. I am moving them to this tank, from one that is 30 gallons it will be a 20 gallon difference for them, and I’m sure they will love the extra room.

~Enjoy

I have been in to growing plants for a few years, now, and currently have an orchid, 3 different types of bromilliads (one being a pineapple plant- though you could consider it 2 plants by itself, because it has a pup (baby plant) that needs to be separated, from when it produced it’s first pineapple.), and a lawn (lol) that I have been working on improving. We also have a few other plants growing, but they were mostly planted when the house was built. I don’t really tend to them too much, though, I guess I should (I would rather have tropical plants, cause, face it, they are 10x as awesome)

I ran across some websties, and blogs that had some neat ideas for setting up a terrerium (think: plant aquarium). Some of them were rather simple, and others were works of art.

As I was cleaning out my garrage (which I am breaking into small pieces so it doesn’t become overwhelming), I found an old, large, glass jar (from pier one, I think) and I decided to try my hand at it.

My dad (he is in town at the moment) had taken down a small piece of spanish moss that was growing on our screen here, and I decided that’s what I would try to grow. It’s totally an experiment, but spanish moss grows locally, so the weather would be natural for it. I moved it outside, so it would get partial sunlight, misted it, and away we go.

My dad is also getting a medium sized planter for one of the small bromillieads, that is now 2-3x the size of the planter it is in. They kept telling me that they would bring me up a planter from Ft Lauderdale, and not to get one, but it never happened.

Here are some links online, that I found very useful for this:
Inspiration:
http://naughtysecretaryclub.blogspot.com/2009/06/homes-for-gnomes-top-10-terrarium.html
Blog on ferns and moss (even though spanish moss is actually a bromilliad):
http://www.thefernandmossery.com/
Growing Spanish Moss
http://www.howtodothings.com/home-garden/how-to-use-spanish-moss-in-your-container-gardens

My dinner tonite
Chicken Parm from Recipezaar(Chicken Parm), with my dad’s spegetti sauce, and rosemary and basil just picked from my garden…..yum. (oh, and it’s baked not fried)

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=60139

~Enjoy

P.S. the price of the scarf listed is because of the Memorial Day Sale today, and is not the general price. It’s for today only

Too many to post.

see them here: www.bluebirdknits.etsy.com

~Enjoy

I have taken 2 already. Here is how they came out (unedited):

This one is a little blurry, (I’m gonna re-shoot it) but it definitely shows how the scarf looks much better then laying it on a table does. I’m pretty happy with the mannequin

Yay. I got it today. I am SO happy. Here’s a pic:

I will now have photos where you can more easily see what the scarves will look like on you. Let’s face it, none of us look like a table.

Yep, new photos coming soon. (I might still keep some of the photos of the scarves on the table as part of the 5 photos on etsy, but most of them will be replaced with more realistic photos)

~Enjoy

I have decided to post this one for sale.

I will also be selling the Dark Turquoise Superlong (for fall 2009), after all. (once I take some more spiffy photos.)

~Enjoy.

Here is the photo I took of a turquoise, long scarf I have made for a child. It is for sale at my Etsy shop. (I will also be upgrading the photos as I go).www.bluebirdknits.etsy.com

~Enjoy

Here is the design for the tags I will be using. I just completed it last night.

Here is a much, much skinnier version of the latest scarf I am making. It’s ooohhh so soft, in a way that probably just does not translate well on to a flat computer screen

~Enjoy

I am in the process of ugrading the photos. (I admitely am not a photographer) but here is what I have so far of the scarf. I will be making several of them for Fall. (It is in a color that will go very well with what is slated to go into stores this Fall.

~Enjoy.

This is what my knitting machine looks like. I know it was made by Brother, and that the company does not make them anymore. They are still made by other companies, but can also be picked up “pre-owned”

Paraffin wax, is also apparently needed, to wax the yarn. It keeps static from building up, and everything working as it should. However, the mini block that is usually used with it was missing. I looked online, and found that a general block of paraffin wax can be used, which was admittedly still tough to find. I also heard that the wax needs to be undyed, so skateboard/surfboard wax is not what you should use (because of the dye).

A super-nice lady at Home Depot (the second store I tried) called around to a few stores in the area to finally locate it at ACE Hardware. They held it behind the counter, and I drove out there, happy to finally be able to find it. Mission Accomplished.

~Enjoy.

Here’s the newest addition to the shop.

www.bluebirdknits.etsy.com/

~Enjoy

P.S. it’s my shop’s one month anniversary, lol.

Here is a new scarf that I just added to my shop on Etsy. http://www.bluebirdknits.etsy.com more children’s scarves to come, and an adult one as well. (a superlong)

Block 4 is finished!

(Now, have to draw a new map for the next 4 squares.)

~Enjoy

Well, I am done with the 3rd block of the blanket. I have been really busy lately, and this block took a while. I like that this blanket is knit in small, manageable pieces, It makes it much easier to stop, and start again when you feel like it. Anyway, here are the pics:







~Enjoy

that’s my name, don’t wear it out.

link: bluebirdknits

I finally set up my Etsy shop. If you are not familiar with it, Etsy is like Ebay for crafts. Check out it’s home page, while you are there. It’s display changes every hour, and features really awseome handmade or vintage items.

Enjoy

These were borne out of a conversation, of what on earth I was going to do with bright orange yarn. It was a fun conversation. Apparently, I should make mittens for a lady I know who is a crossing guard, so, I did. (and yes, they really are this bright)

~Enjoy.

I finised the second square block of the blanket. I have to say, I really like the way it is turning out.

~Enjoy

Hey, Everyone.

I just wanted to let ppl know that I will be at two events this week, selling scarves and iPod/iPhone/electronic/etc. cosys. I will have a table set up at both Expo-Tees at the Social on Tuesday night (March 3rd, 9:oo pm-2:oo am), and at the Audubon Community Market (located in the Stardust/Bold Hype Parking Lot) on Wednesday night (March 4th, 7:oo pm – 11:oo pm). Come out and say “Hi”, and feel free to pick up a scarf if your neck gets chilly. They are all handmade, locally, with love,  by yours truly. You will also get a sneak peek at one of my many works in progress. They always look better in person (and they feel much softer, too.)

~See you there

The mitered square blanket is coming along. I have one and a half blocks done so far.







~Enjoy.

The first block is complete. I am very happy with how it is turning out.
The map I sketched out is below (in the post before this one). You can see that this is the top left-hand block.







~Enjoy

Here is a photo of a work in progress. It will be a blanket. I am sketching out the color changes as I go, trying to make it look a bit random.







~Enjoy

Here are my latest creations, two striped scarves. Both have turquoise in them, somehow. I am very happy with them. If you want to see them, or any of my other scarves, in person, I will have a table set up at The Social for the next couple of Tuesday nights. Come say “Hi.”







~Enjoy

I have wanted to make buttons with illustrations on them for quite a while. I set some up on Zazzle, with some illustrations I have made, at one time or another. Here are the first ones I have available.

http://www.zazzle.com/maryelawson

I will have many more available as time goes on, as I plan on making some illustrations specifically for buttons. I also plan on having some made locally, to be sold in stores.

Here’s the new Spring 09′ version of my logo. (I change the colors according to the Pantone Color Report each season.)

~Enjoy

They are starting to take shape. Here are the photos from my work on them, tonight. There will be plenty more cards to make, and photograph, as you usually need about 40 (i think) to fill a Rolodex.

Also, I am trying to figure out some form of pricing for them. (I want to sell them.) A lot of work goes into it, and I also have to figure in the cost of the Rolodex itself. The round ones can be $30-$40 on their own, but the flat ones are much less, and would bring down the over-all cost of the “product”. (I like the round ones particularly, so I’m torn.) Maybe I can sell just the cards, and people can pick out & buy their Rolodex separately? hmmm…

Anyway, here are the pics:

I just finished my 3rd scarf of the year. Have a look. It’s black, and very basic, except for a ribbed texture. (it’s for a guy)







~Enjoy

I am finished with the scarf I am making for my friend, Cindy. Here is it in all it’s glory, lol. I am really happy with it.

~Enjoy.

Here are some pics from a found paper Rolodex that I am working on. It has been on my ridiculously long to-do-list for a while now. (I made a similar one for a friend of mine, from high school’s birthday a few years back.)


Lots more pics coming soon, especially since I love taking photos of them. (some more knitting pics coming soon, too.)





~Enjoy.

I took this photo of the shop window of Etoile Boutique, where I am selling my scarves. I brought this one there just a couple of days ago, along with another skinny purple scarf.

~Enjoy

These are just some of them.

~Enjoy

I have these items for sale at a local shop, called Etoile Boutique.

~Enjoy

UPDATE: the Blue & Green  Argyle (diamond) iPhone cosy has sold. The other cosys are sill for sale there, while the scarves have moved onto my etsy site. (only the turquoise wool children’s scarf, and the gray laceweight scarf are mine in the photo, btw.)

I have been taking some pics while working on a new colorwork scarf while I was designing it from start to finish. It struck me that I should make a book teaching how to do do this. I have been doing colorwork for a while and love making new designs and patterns, so it seems like it would be a natural thing to do.

please help me evaluate this, buy answering some questions:

Thank you in advance, for taking the time to help me evaluate this idea. Your help is definitely appreciated.

~Thanks

Mary

Well, they are finished! Here they are, in all their glory

~Enjoy

I have finally finished the knitting for my sister’s scarf! I just need to add the fringe. I will save that, and taking the photos for tomorrow. I my sister loves it so far. I also think I am going to add fringe that is alternating rose, and purple. I think that will work out best.

I also have plans to take one of my illustrations and make a color work pattern out of it, using graph paper over a printout. I plan on using it in a hoodie, that will possibly have edges with a contrasting color (that will be ribbed). I want to offer these for sale in 4 sizes: small, medium, large, and extra large. I will probably use an adaptation of a hoodie pattern that is already out there, and then heavily modify it to suit my taste. I’m not sure yet though, whether I want to use buttons to close the front, or a zipper. I’ll have to decide that latter. (I still have 3 more scarves to make before then)

The upcoming scarves are going to be a blue & green striped scarf, a basic black scarf, and a piano scarf (that will be another time consuming one)

(I also have some illustration work to do, of course)

~Stay tuned

here are some work in progress, a.k.a. wip pics, for a scarf I am making for my sister, and the matching mittens. The mittens were made from the knitty pattern “Tiffany”, with completely different colors, then the pattern called for. (there is also one less color). I took the pattern blocks from the knitty pattern, and rearranged them, and edited them, and changed it from a mitten to a scarf pattern, so I could make a matching scarf.

it has taken a long time to make, but will be finished very soon. I will post pics of the scarf when it is finished. (it should be done within the next few days) I have been working on it since Sept. 15th, and it is now late Dec., but it is turning out great, and was nice to work on, so I totally don’t mind My sister is amazed that I (or anyone else for that matter) can “make something so pretty”.

..really, that’s all she needs to say. I’m just happy she likes it

This is the first pic that I am posting of a finished scarf. (Sorry for the bit of blurriness, btw.)

My mom loves it.

~Enjoy

I just added a MySpace page for my illustration work. It is a public page, feel free to add it if you are a fan of my work. (You do not have to personally know me, for me to accept the request.)

It will feature updates of various different things I am planing to do in the next year, and more.

Here’s the link: www.myspace.com/maryelawsonillustration

~Enjoy

after taking a break from blogging for a little bit, I am getting back to it. I have re-organised my portfolio, so check it out. The styles make much more sense now, and do not seem so random. I also added some new work.

Check it out by clicking on the badge I have on the side column.

I have also been working on some ideas for merchandise to offer, and I am probably going to start with buttons. They seem to be the most do-able. More on that to come.

~Enjoy