Author: bkgriffinsnest

I am a 50 yr old mother of two. I have self published 6 books, and I am currently working on one more. I write mostly fantasy and gothic horror, but I have published two books of poetry and one romance book to date. I am a fiber artist, and I enjoy the outdoors. I like cats, reptiles, bladed weapons, medieval history, medieval architecture, Greek culture, myths, legends and a great deal more! I am a big reader, and I read all kinds of things fiction and non-. Ask me anything, and I may just answer.

Market Recap #3

Market Day was a bit of a bust for us this past weekend. The weather was overcast, damp, cold and very windy. It was more like Autumn weather than Spring to be honest. We didn’t have much of a crowd, and the wind got to be too much to deal with for most of us. Bad thing was, after 2pm, the weather turned beautiful with the sun coming out, and the wind disappearing.

Still, we did okay. Here are the pictures Em managed to take and post to her Facebook and Instagram pages:

I managed to sell two small octopi and one large one before we gave it up for the day. I might replace them at a later date but for now, I’m going to be making a few other smalls instead. I also have some other projects getting completed slowly but surely, and I’ll show you what they are when they are done. 🙂

The crocheted basket next to the woven basket with the jewelry in it has book marks in it just in case you were wondering 🙂

See you on the flipside and don’t forget your towel and sonic screwdriver!!!

Crochet Friday : Bohemian Vest by Edge of 17

This project took me all week to do! In fact, I finished it about 2pm today. It’s a gorgeous piece. I’d sold one this past weekend at market so I decided to make another one in a different color.

That’s the one I made last year and sold last week.

Here is the one I finished today:

This is <a href="http://<a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/b?_encoding=UTF8&tag=griffinsnest-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=f1bc576129e27e49b32692c6a1260c7d&camp=1789&creative=9325&node=262625011">Red Heart It's a Wrap in RomanceRed Heart It’s a Wrap in Romance.

The above is an affiliate link, and I will get a small commission if you decide to buy the yarn.

You can find the pattern on Etsy from the designer’s own shop : Edge of 17.

I think the vest turned out beautifully even though it’s not as long as the green one is. I used a different yarn for it. I think it was a Mandala yarn, but I don’t remember for sure.

I’m looking forward to market day as there’s a family event going on at the same time with rides and such so should be lots of people. 🙂

If you decide to get the pattern and make this vest yourself, please let me know. I’d love to see what yours looks like.

See you on the flipside and don’t forget your towel and sonic screwdriver!!

Market Recap #2

Em and I went to the VFW here in Lufkin where they’re allowing vendors to set up, and the VFWs auxillary has been running a snack bar in the building. Proceeds from the snack bar as well as half of the table fees goes to support the VFW, and I’m happy to help as I can. Em feels the same way.

These were the only pictures I had time to take before people started arriving. We stayed busy from around 8:30am to around 2pm when we packed up and called it a day.

We met a lot of very nice people, customers and fellow vendors alike. It was nice hearing how some of them had missed us last week when we didn’t go. 🙂 One of our fellow vendors bought an octopus and a skull from Em to use as inspiration for some pieces he has in mind to make. That really made her day.

Going to market once a week has had a positive impact on both of us, and we’re going to keep going as often as we can. Both of us are introverts and not happy being around people in general, but we’ve actually gotten used to this venue so, we’re happy to keep going.

I’ll be adding items to my Etsy shop this week for sure. I just need to get pictures taken. At least here, you can see more of the smalls I’ve been making 🙂

Suggestions for what to make for market are welcome too, just leave them in the comments below.

See you on the flipside and don’t forget your towel and sonic screwdriver!!

Stitching Saturday: Current Progress on All WIPs #14

It’s been a long day, but I’m still making this post 🙂

I’ve been primarily focusing on Gwen, formerly known as Witch, and she’s nearly done now. Here is what she looked like last week:

And here is where my lovely is now:

All of the spaces in the dress are where beads are supposed to go, and the flowers have beads in them as well. I’ll get to those this week, and I already have an idea on how I want to finish this completely.

I didn’t keep track of stitch count and since this a knock off pattern of a Nora Corbett design all I can tell you about the fabric is it’s 18 ct, and the floss is cotton. The beads are an off brand as well. I highly recommend buying an actual pattern by Nora Corbett so she gets paid for her talent.

Peppermint Purple SAL

This is still such fun to do! I’m enjoying all the different fillers this designer is coming up with. I decided to drop my membership to the “club” because I didn’t see where I was getting all that much more than non members were getting where the SAL is concerned. I can still get the fillers as a non member.

Here is where it was last week:

And here is where we are this week:

I’m working this project on 25ct Natural Lugana with the crosses being 2 over 2 and the backstitches being 1 over 2. I’m also using DMC cotton floss. I have about 10,144 stitches in this now. It’s going to be amazing when it’s done, and I may just make a small pillow out of it.

Last but not least is:

Girl With the Pearl Earring

This one has been a bit odd looking, but there is a method to my madness as I make sure there’s enough room to finish her this time. Here is where she was last week:

And here she is this week:

Yup, she’s still weird looking, but I promise she won’t be when you see her next week.

This is a chart based on a famous painting by Johannes Vermeer. I am working it on 14ct black Aida with cotton DMC floss called for in the chart. I’ve worked 623 stitches so far, and they’re 2 over 2.

Once Gwen the Witch is complete, I’ll add Land Baby back to the line up so I can get more work done on it. I might add a small as well but not right away.

I hope you liked what I had for you today. I will have my Market Recap #2 tomorrow.

See you on the flipside and don’t forget your towel and sonic screwdriver!!

Crochet Friday: Some Smalls #1

I’ve been making a lot of small of late, mostly to sell at market, and I decided to share some of them with you. I try not to make the same things over and over, and it’s mostly because it bores me. I’m ADD, and I like variety.

Choker

I found a pattern for a choker, but I didn’t like it as it was written. I changed things up a bit, and here’s the result:

I used Aunt Lydia’s size 20 Fine Crochet Thread for this. You can find it on Amazon here: Crochet Thread. That’s an affiliate link so I will get a small compensation if you purchase using that link.

This can also be used as a baby headband, the ribbon would just need to be trimmed down.

Barbie Sized Coverlet

It hasn’t been blocked yet. This pattern was bought for me from Farthing Patterns Crochet, and it’s called Cranesbill lace Bedspread. I chose the colors of thread to use and sized it up to fit a Barbie doll sized bed.

I got the thread from a friend years ago, and it didn’t have a label on it. The closest I could come to it is called Monet Multi, and it’s by Aunt Lydia’s as well. You can find it on Amazon here: Crochet Thread2. This is also an affiliate link, and I will receive a small compensation if you purchase using my link.

Scrap Yarn Bowl

This was made out of a bunch of scrap yarn I had rolled up together.

It’s machine washable, and it’s perfect for putting small things in even fruit.

I have more things I’ve made, but I have them packed away for market tomorrow. I’ll try to remember to post on Sunday how things went. I’m also going to try to make a small video of it to post on YouTube as well.

I hope you enjoyed this sampling of my smalls. I’ll be selling all of them so let me know if you’re interested in any. I’ll be adding them to my Etsy shop, Gyphon’s Hoard either Sunday or Monday.

See you on the flipside and don’t forget your towel and sonic screwdriver!!

Stitching Saturday: Current Progress on All WIPs #13

It’s been a long week, but I did manage to get some stitching done. 🙂

Witch

I was told this was a Nora Corbett design. I’ve looked online and can’t seem to find it, but the others sold by this same company have others of hers so, it’s a knockoff, unfortunately. Please, forgive me for this, but I really didn’t know. I much prefer buying from the actual designer and/or getting patterns from the designer not a knock off.

As it is, this project is nearing completion. Here is what it looked like last week:

She really is so pretty! This week, I got all the black cross stitching done:

I’m going to do my best to get the rest of the cross stitching done and maybe, the back stitching too.

Here is what she’s going to look like when she’s finished:

Girl With the Pearl Earring

I’m still ekking along with this one. I just don’t have a lot of time to work on all the confetti so I try to do sections with more than 5 stitches of one color.

Here is where she was last week:

That’s actually the curve of one of her cheeks. 🙂 It’s also about 100 stitches – doesn’t look like much of anything.

Here is where I am this week and yes, this is another 100 stitches, at least:

I know it looks weird, but it’s actually a bit of an eye and eyelid.

Here is what she’s supposed to look like finished:

There’s a single red stitch on the very end of the left eyelid, and I have no idea why since she’s not wearing eye shadow… Oh well, she’s coming along slowly but surely. Once Witch is done, I’ll be able to focus more of her and Land Baby.

Peppermint Purple SAL Week 16

This is still one of my favorite projects of the year. Here is where I was last week with it:

Here is where I am this week:

It’s just so pretty!!!

I’ll have more information on most of these projects next week. I’m just too tired to really get detailed today. My apologies, and I will do better next week.

See you on the flipside and don’t forget your towel and sonic screwdriver!!

Stitching Saturday: Current Progress on All WIPs #12 Plus My First FO of 2023 and a Restart

Lots going on today!

First off, I’ve decided to focus more on Witch this week as I want to get it done. I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the WIPs I have on the go so you’ll be seeing more of her.

Speaking of:

Witch

Here is what she looked like last time you saw her:

I’ve got bit more of her done this week:

I’m leaving the beading for last in this section just like I did in the big section.

Peppermint Purple SAL

This lovely is moving right along! I missed posting last week so you’ll get to see two new blocks. Last time it looked like this:

And now, here we are!

I like the more delicate looking blocks, but I’m still having fun with the entire project.

My First FO of the year!

Stitchinati the All Seeing Eye If I’ve already told you about this, I’m telling you again just because that’s how chuffed I am getting this done!

It’s not perfect, but I don’t care! I love how it turned out! 🙂

Restart

Girl With the Pearl Earring

I’m doing this one on Black Aida 14ct so it won’t be as hard as working on Stitchinati which was done on 25ct Lugana. It’s a small start, but it’s a start:

In addition to all of this, I’ve been crocheting things to take to market today. I’ll post about that tomorrow so keep an eye out for it!

Thank you so much for stopping by!

See you on the flipside and don’t forget your towel and sonic screwdriver!!!

Market Day Recap – Sorry It’s Late

I do apologize for making this post so long after the day. Emmy and I both ended up with two much sun – she actually got sunburned, and she was wearing sunscreen! I just ended up really tired, and my back was killing me.

Still, we did have fun. We met some great people, vendors and customers alike. We got some great feedback and some really good ideas for things to make for market later.

Here is what our table looked like:

I also brought two vests I made:

We both had more stuff in totes so when what was on the table sold, we could add more. 🙂 I didn’t get a picture of everything we brought.

Some things will be going into our shops as we rotate some things out in order to take new things to market.

I did post a very short video on YouTube, but it’s not a very good one so, next time, I’ll do better.

This has been a learning experience for Emmy and me, and we’re learning from our mistakes. One of them is getting shade so Emmy doesn’t burn again. We’re getting a large umbrella until we can get something better.

I hope everyone had a great weekend, and I promise to post sooner next time!

See you on the flipside and don’t forget your towel and sonic screwdriver!!

My First Market Countdown – Oops Missed A Day, and Only 1 Day Left!

I’m sorry I missed a day on the countdown. I got very in the zone on one of my stitching pieces and ended up finishing the stitching on it at 1:30am this morning. While I’m super pleased I got it done, I did forget to post.

Today is the last day before Market Day!

The weather here has been weird with warm weather during the day and storms at night. The last two days have been windy during the day but sunny with rain coming at night. It’s storming right now in fact. There’s a 10% chance of rain in the forecast for tomorrow so, we’re crossing our fingers the wind is light and there’s no rain,

The car is packed with almost everything we need for tomorrow. We’re leaving food and drinks for the morning. I’m also washing the tablecloth we’ll be using on our two card tables to make things look a bit nicer.

I’m so jittery you’d think I was getting married for the first time again! LOL

Emmy and I are both nervous as can be, but we’ve decided we’re doing this unless the weather says otherwise – specifically rain. We can deal with a bit of wind I’m sure.

Wish us both lots of luck!!

See you on the flipside and don’t forget your towel and sonic screwdriver!!!

Big Crochet Project #2: Crocheted Wedding Veil

I got a free ebooklet from CrochetMe.com years ago with different wedding patterns in it. I kept it for just in case purposes and now, I’m going to try my hand at making the bridal veil in case my future daughter in law wants to use it for her wedding to my son. 🙂

The pattern was created by Christina Marie Potter, and it consists of the veil’s trim. flower embellishments and the cover for the comb everything will be attached to once it’s complete. I did find the pattern for this project on her Ravelry page:

Wedding Veil and Purse Project

I’ve begun work on the trim which is whatever length you choose the veil to be. The veil I’m going to be making is 5 meters(16.40 feet) by 48 centimeters(19.3 inches). Yup, it’s going to be long, but it has to be to be flipped up over her face.

It consists of 3 steps repeated making a “flower”

Each flower is about an inch long(2.54 cm), and I have calculated I need to make about 192 of them. I have about 33 of them done so far.

This could make a lovely lace collar don’t you think. 🙂

The flowers are easy to make, but it can be monotonous making them so I’ll be watching television while I make them. Stay tuned to see more progress on this veil 🙂

See you on the flipside and don’t forget your towel and sonic screwdriver!!