Category Archives: gifts & easy to make gifts & presents

June 22, 2013 · 11:05 am

A brooch to ponder

Last night, we were at a wonderful birthday party – it was such a pleasure to feel so much love focused on our friend!

He deserves it.

Jim and I were sitting with friends, basking in the lovely time.

One of our friends is a young woman who is a gifted musician.

She opened her bottle of Jones soda and read out the ‘fortune cookie’ written inside the bottle lid.

It said: “You will be confronted with limitless opportunities”.

She contemplated it for a minute and said: ‘Confronted with limitless opportunities….. hmmmm’…..

and that began a heartfelt conversation between us…..

‘Confronted’ with limitless opportunities really does speak to the necessity of developing discernment and wisdom, doesn’t it?

She is a woman of deep heart and great intelligence – and she is a wisdom seeker.

I felt that this small ‘fortune cookie moment’ was filled with significance, so I  asked her if I could take the bottle cap and make a brooch for her with it.

I spent the morning working on it, and have just finished it.

I hope that she will feel the love and tenderness in it……

(Update: Yes, she does like it 🙂 )

 Ending on a personal note, and speaking directly to my friend:

Jordan, my dear, may you be blessed on your journey! 

You are a gift and a blessing and you make the world a better place. 🙂

As an older woman-even though I was born with the name: Crone, I am living it now 🙂  –

speaking to a younger woman,

I spread my wings,

and I wish you well, well, well….

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay http://www.crone-findlay.com

13 Comments

Filed under eco crafts & green projects, gifts & easy to make gifts & presents, jewelry, weaving & handwoven

Tagged as , , , , ,

August 25, 2012 · 9:09 pm

Two more pouches for the Soumak Pouch Weave Along

I’ve been shooting videos for the weave along  that begins on September 2nd.

As I was shooting, I was weaving along on a couple of pouches.

Here they are:

A Stripey one, with some beads and other embellishments:

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay

and the back:

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay

I wove it with Lion Brand Bonbon yarn- cotton for the body of the pouch and metallic for the embellishment.

The size 8 beads along the sides are from Mirrix and the bone beads at the lower edge were in my stash.

The medallion on the back of the pouch is one that I snitched from a box of stuff that my daughter in law was going to give away.

(She gave it away, but to ~me~ instead of giving it to ‘anonymous’ 🙂  I can be shameless when it comes to pretty goodies! )

My daughter in law grinned at me when she saw the finished pouch, and said: ‘This one is yours, isn’t it, Mum?’

‘Yes! but how did you guess?’

She just laughed.

I guess it’s because I adore these colors and use them all the time!

I was concerned about this pouch:

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay

Why?  Well, because both my daughter and my daughter in law declared that they loved it and would love to have SantaMamma leave it in their Christmas stocking.

I didn’t want to make two pouches that were exactly alike, so I had to have a big old think about it.

And, I came up with the perfect answer!!!!!

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay

TADAH!!!!   I wove it up in the same colorway, but used wool yarn instead of cotton.

 

Here’s the back of the woolie pouch:

Kreinik supplied me with the gorgeous embroidery thread and edging cord for this pouch.

Here are the links for them:

The edging is 3/8 ” trim:  # 170 Natural Pewter
http://www.kreinik.com/kshop/product.php?productid=17023&cat=0&page=1
The embroidery thread is: Ombre: http://www.kreinik.com/kshop/product.php?productid=622&cat=0&page=1
1000 – Solid Silver

I love the combination of the soft loftiness of the wool with the sparkle of the metallic embroidery floss.

By the way, the embroidery thread is soft and lovely to work with. Some metallics can be barky and sharky.

This is soft and nooshy.

!AND! 

Happy dance!

and   ~whew~

My daughter in law (who happens to be an incredibly gifted and talented handspinner, so she is naturally inclined to be more drawn to wool),  likes the woolie pouch –

HURRAH! SantaMamma is so relieved!

My girls will have their lovely pouches in their Christmas stockings, and they are ‘sister pouches’…. similar, but each unique!
 

Alright… time for me to get back to editing video…..  🙂

10 Comments

Filed under gifts & easy to make gifts & presents, Loom & looms & small loom weaving, weaving & handwoven

Tagged as , , , , , , ,

March 13, 2012 · 5:06 pm

Woven Bunny free pattern

I designed a bunny for Lion Brand, using the Martha Stewart loom (which I love) 😀

and, the bunny pattern is now available, freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee on the Lion Brand website.

Here’s the link: Bunny pattern

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay

Happy weaving! and happy bunny fun! 😀

8 Comments

Filed under doll & dolls & dollmaking & doll making, gifts & easy to make gifts & presents, Loom & looms & small loom weaving, tutorial & how to, weaving & handwoven

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , ,

December 18, 2011 · 6:49 pm

Nifty ‘V’ and ‘U’ shape scarves to weave on the potholder loom

For this last year and a half, I have been designing up a storm, but not getting the designs out into the world.

I made a promise to myself that I am going to get as many of the new designs up and released as possible before this year ends.

On that note, I am happy to announce that I have finished another pattern- Whee, whew and yay!!!!

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay

The Viva ‘V’ and “U’ shaped scarves are so comfortable to wear!

The clever shaping means that the scarf stays in place without a lot of extra yardage.

It can be made in several different ways. It can be a ‘V’ shaped scarf or cowl, or a ‘U’ shaped scarf or cowl.

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay

It’s a wonderful way to showcase art yarn, and other special hand spun yarns.

Instructions are given for how to weave all the different shapes using regular weaving with yarn techniques on the potholder loom,

AS WELL AS: How to weave with bulky yarns on the potholder loom.

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay

Instructions are also given for how to make big arty buttons from dead branches.

The lightweight version works well as a ‘keyhole’ scarf – one end pulls through an opening in the other end of the scarf.

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay

Adding a spool knitted edging is optional.

There are soooooooooooo many ways to express your creativity with this nifty scarf!

The best part is that it is so quick and easy to make, and a real delight to wear!

The pattern can be ordered from: http://www.crone-findlay.com/Crone-FindlayCreationsPotholderLoomWeaving.html

Happy Weaving! 😀

2 Comments

Filed under gifts & easy to make gifts & presents, Loom & looms & small loom weaving, potholder loom, weaving & handwoven

Tagged as , , , , ,

November 22, 2011 · 9:58 am

Monster dear and snuggly bunny on the Lily Speed-O-Weave loom

I am a dyed in the wool doll maker. No matter what loom or fiber arts tool I am working with, it doesn’t take long for me to wonder how I could use it to make a doll.

So, it’s no surprise, that as I was designing projects for my new book on the vintage Lily Speed-O-Weave loom, (that’s a link to my website to see more) I had to come up with some fun dolls and stuffies.

Lily-Speed-O-Weave-monster-designed by Noreen Crone-Findlay (coppyright)

Monster Dear was inspired by a book that my daughter loved when she was a very little girl.

It was about a monster who was afraid of the dark. She loved him, so of course, I had to make her one.

This is a new version of ‘Monster Dear’.  I think he’ll chase away bad dreams!

And, a ball of squishy soft yarn inspired me to make the snuggly Bunny dolly:

Lily-Speed-O-Weave-Snuggle-Bunny-designed by Noreen Crone-Findlay (coppyright)

I’ve always loved rabbits and bunnies, so I’ve designed and made countless versions of them over the years.

These two fuzzy friends delight me.  Ah, the joys of yarn- it’s endless!!!!

1 Comment

Filed under doll & dolls & dollmaking & doll making, gifts & easy to make gifts & presents, Loom & looms & small loom weaving

Tagged as , , , , , ,

June 9, 2010 · 2:44 pm

My mother’s pincushion

My mother has unwillingly had to let go of her lifelong passion for needlework.

Because of health challenges, she is not able to handle independent living anymore. Reluctantly, she has moved out of her condo and into a different living situation where she gets the support and assistance that she now needs.

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay

Most of her possessions are now being lovingly shared out among her kids and grandkids and nieces and other kith and kin.

There were a couple of things that I really really wanted to have…..

She was a spectacularly gifted embroiderer, and so I really wanted to have some of her threads.

The other thing that I reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelly wanted was a pincushion doll that I had given her when I was a child.

When I was a little girl, I saw the most beautiful thing I could have ever imagined…. it was a pincushion of an Elizabethan Lady….

I would go into the shop, and visit the Lady, and stroke the velvet skirt, and be filled with longing.

I decided that I HAD to buy it for my mother to show her how much I loved her.

So, I asked the lady in the store if I could pay for the Lady in stages, and she agreed to that. I don’t know if she had ever had a child make such a request, but she was so kind about it!

Every week, for weeks, and weeks, I would take my allowance in, and give it to the shopkeeper. She would then bring ‘The Lady’ out, and I would cradle her in my hands… and then sigh, and hand her back….

Eventually… the little bits of allowance added up and up, and – ‘The Lady’ was mine!!!

She was swathed in tissue, and placed carefully in a box, and I secreted her away until Mother’s Day.

I don’t know if my mother knew how much effort went into buying her ‘The Lady’, but I think she felt the love and excitement that I had in presenting her with my treasure.

And now, ‘The Lady’ has come home to me…. and some day, she will be gifted to my daughter…. with love…. always with love….

20 Comments

Filed under doll & dolls & dollmaking & doll making, gifts & easy to make gifts & presents

Tagged as ,

March 22, 2010 · 12:00 pm

Celebrate Springtime with adorable doodled paper eggs

I love making little presents that I can just pop in an envelope and mail to family and friends.

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay

Yesterday, I had a flash of inspiration…. well, really it was several flashes of inspiration that came together ever so nicely!

Lately, I have been blogging   about doodling, Link and Link , so that’s kind of noodling around in the outer reaches of my brain.

And, a week or so ago, my daughter blogged about very cute embroidered Easter Eggs: Link

And, then  Linette blogged about some papier mache Easter eggs that she had just made: Link

These all got me thinking about threads all came together and inspired me to design and make some oh so sweet paper eggs that can hang in a houseplant, a tree or be used as a bookmark or in scrapbooking.

Here’s what I did:

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay

First of all, I drew an egg shape, and then I made a tracer or template from a piece of plastic from the recycling box.

Then, I traced around it on a used envelope (gotta love being green! re-duce, re-use, recycle, reclaim, upcycle!) and cut out 2 eggs. (Front and back).

Then I cut out an inch diameter circle of white paper (use whatever color works best for your choice of skin tone).

I snipped about 4 inches of embroidery floss for the hanger.

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay

Draw the  face on the circle and glue it on the front egg.

I doodled merrily away on the front of the egg, and then, because this one is going to my mom, I wrote a message on the back.

Glue the thread in  a loop to the inside of the back and then glue the front to the back….. and Voila!

Adorable paper eggs to celebrate springtime!

Variations: I had brunch with 2 friends yesterday, and I made them eggs, but didn’t do the doodles. I took my colored pens with me, and they doodled happily on their eggs while we visited. Fun!  Here are their eggs:

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay

I also love to use fragments of tatting to decorate and embellish, so I used some scraps of tatting on 2 more eggs…

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay

This tutorial is Noreen Crone-Findlay’s original concept and design. Please DO NOT COPY the text or photos. Please do share the link! Thanks so much!!!

17 Comments

Filed under eco crafts & green projects, gifts & easy to make gifts & presents

Tagged as , , , , , , , ,

February 12, 2009 · 10:05 pm

Tiny Spool Knitted Angel

spool-knitted-tiny-angel-plain-1000

When I am feeling sad and upset, I find it really helps if I make some Angel dolls.

This week has been a corker, with the death of our beloved old horse, among other challenges.

We have done a whole lot of soul searching, and have decided that we just can’t handle having horses anymore. So our dear little girl horse that we adopted a year and a half ago is going to go back to live with her momma and birth brother. She’s going to be well and truly loved and cared for.

This has been one of the hardest decisions we’ve had to make in a lonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnng time, so believe me, I really have been needing to find comfort. (And yes, I certainly do pray, and meditate, so those are the source of great comfort, but making angels is also a HUGE comfort.)

So, in the interests of  invoking Angel Energy for ourselves and for everyone else, too…

I have designed these sweet little, easy to make spool knitted angels.

I began with a design that I had developed a few years back and have re-fined and polished it. I am really happy with it now.

You can make the little angels very quickly and easily and can make them truly one of a kind by changing the yarn (handspun would be perfect)

spool-knitted-tiny-angel-face-button-1000spool-knitted-tiny-angel-cloth-button-1000

and whether or not you add buttons for the face,

spool-tiny-angel-hair-1000

or  add loops or other kinds of  hair…..

I also like to stitch a pin to the back of the Angel, so I can pin it on my lapel, or scarf, or shawl, or bag, or hat….

I need to make a bunch more so I can send them and give them to friends and relations….

The more Angels there are, in every way, the better it is!

You can order the pdf  for the pattern for the charming Tiny Spool Knitted Angel from:
https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/48409301/pdf-pattern-for-tiny-spool-knitted-angel?ref=shop_home_active_3

Please note that the images on this blog are copyright protected

and are NOT to be copied without permission.

Thank you.

8 Comments

Filed under doll & dolls & dollmaking & doll making, gifts & easy to make gifts & presents, spool knitter & spoolknitter & spool knitting & spool knitting

Tagged as , , , , , , , , ,

December 16, 2008 · 6:20 am

What’s on your loom for Christmas?

christmas-08-weaving-3

It wouldn’t be a proper Christmas without at least a little weaving!

My daughter and I are co-creating a present for her husband.

I warped up my Cricket (love that loom!) and am weaving up the bands that she is going to use to make him a pair of suspenders.

I wove about 20 feet of really nice bands…. I’ll show you pics when she’s got the suspenders done….

christmas-08-weaving-2

By the way, my husband made me that shuttle one year for my birthday. Isn’t it gorgeous?

He also built me my inkle loom, which I am working with to weave bands that say different things for different members of the family:

christmas-08-weaving-1

That’s for my son’s camera bag…. hope he likes it.

I love doing pickup techniques on the inkle. It’s slow, but satisfying!

So, what’s on your loom for Christmas?

Happy Weaving!

Image source: Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

17 Comments

Filed under gifts & easy to make gifts & presents, Loom & looms & small loom weaving, weaving & handwoven

Tagged as , , ,

December 11, 2008 · 4:36 am

Christmas ornament

One of our favorite holiday traditions is to make a Christmas ornament for our friends and family.

For this year’s ornament, I decided that I would make an Angel of Gratitude…

so I drew and colored her, and then scanned and printed a flutter of angels.christmas-ornament-2008-1qs

I glued them to wood,varnished them and then cut them out.

christmas-ornament-2008-3qs

I sanded and painted the edges, glued the loops on, cut out the backs and glued them together….

christmas-ornament-2008-2qs

and Voila! This year’s ornament!

Image Source: Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

11 Comments

Filed under gifts & easy to make gifts & presents

Tagged as , , ,