let's talk about knitting!

It is nice to be home.   I am very happy to find so many new followers...welcome!  I am so impressed with all the beautiful blogs that I keep finding and am having a hard time keeping up.  At some point, I will add more blogs that I follow to my blog...please do not be offended if I have not put too many up.  I am making a small-silk-hat tutorial for this weekend.  look for it on my tutorial page.

Small silk hat

 I have had a couple of request for patterns...I never write things down, but I do have some advice that I could share.  I use 6/0 and 7/0 lace needles.  There are smaller needles, but I like  my knitting to have a nice drape, and am happy with my results using what I use.

 http://store.buttercupminiatures.co.uk/knitting-needles/cat_4.html  here is a link to a website where you can purchase needles.  There are different ways to size knitting needles, and this site has a nice chart to help you out.

I like to use fine sewing threads to knit with because they drape nicely.  There are also larger needles and if I were to use a wool, I would use a larger needle--to keep a nice drape.

this is a  #100 silk thread that I knit with 6/0 needles.  When I block it , I will add some drape to it by shaping it to the bed

this is a 130/2 silk thread that I knit on 6/0 needles.  Notice that this piece drapes with no coaxing from me...I love it.

same lace panel.

Some tiny garments knit on 7/0 needles

I don't know if you can see this but, the blue gutermann's silk thread is #100 and  feels like  it is two time larger than  the YLI #100 silk thread and the #80 Madera cotton.  Size of thread seems to be uncoordinated.  Not all fine threads knit well...I do not like Ping Ling # 100, I think, because it is too tightly spun.

Au Ver A Soie is my favorite silk to work with.  Until I started looking on-line, I did not think I could buy it anymore, but I have  found it. I will give the links under a new link list that I will make this week end.
I am going to put together a mini knitting resource list and put together some tutorials to help you start knitting yourself.  I will try to give each fiber that I use a separate posting so that you can choose what you would like to knit with   We can start with bigger needles and Needlepoint -wool...it will be good.

Thanks for looking ,
Lucy 

Sculpting in Femo

    I am leaving for vacation this week and will be back on April 30.   This is what I did this weekend.

She is not easy to photograph

 I have been trying to find a new clay to sculpt in.  I have been using porcelain, but I find it irritates my eyes, sinuses and skin...not good.  I have used cold porcelain now for flowers and this weekend I tried to make a new born out of Femo.  I was happy with the form, but  not with the surface finish.  I will have to keep working.

  

Mini Basket Tutorial

Good Morning,  I have had my blog for a little longer than a week and I am so pleased to have any followers.  Welcome and thank you.  I am trying my hand at tutorials and have added a Tutorial page.  My first tutorial is for a mini basket.  My email is lucy_coles@netzero.net, if you have any questions.
Have a wonderful day,
Lucy

Getting Back on Track

Iwanted to thank Sumaiya Mehreen of The Mini Food Blog for putting my pictures in her postings for Easter and giving me the impetus to get started--an Easter deadline.
 Now I must get back on track. Today I worked on my climbing rose.  I decided to add buds and I am glad that I did, I like them.  I am using cold porcelain and food coloring.  I also Started Posy's bed.  I am using a Cassidy Creations kit--Single Rope Bed 5001.  You can get these kits at Scale Designs http://half-scale-miniatures.com.  They are well worth the effort.  I find that they go together easily and are delicate but sturdy.

One last Easter picture...the actual cake with models.

New rose buds.

Getting the first leaves on is difficult for me...I am in awe of all the flower makers out there.

New buds.  I clip the tails off with a nail clipper when they dry

Today's Work

I am trying my hand at painting.

Thanks for looking,
Lucy

   

Happy Easter

Posy got a new knit bunny and an Easter basket for Easter.

Posy plays with new bunny

That chocolate bunny looks  mighty tempting.

The girls did a nice job sitting for their Easter pictures...my real children behaved well today too.

I forgot Posy's hat.

One inch scale doll house display.

An Easter display for Annabelle's future one inch scale dollhouse.

Still preparing for Easter

One inch-scale cookies.

 A little chick lives inside.

One  inch  scale bunny house and bunny cookies,

Two wreaths that I made for fun.

Plate of  Cookies

Easter Cakes

Nothing to do with Easter, I just like the shadow.

A Bunny House for honeysuckle cottage.

One of my family's favorite Easter treats is lamb cake.  I will make the actual cake Saturday night.  It will be almond flavored with a butter cream "fleece".

This is the basket filled with Easter goodies.  I am going to have a tutorial on Mini Basket Making.

More mini baskets

Guacamole and chips

Annabelle made this tray of Guacamole and Chips after watching a tutorial on YouTube.  I was in the other room and did not help her at all...sorry, I do not know what video she watched.  Annabelle is my very real seven year-old daughter!