Its been a while since I actually added a blog post, however I've been busy filling in my stock and gearing up for the transition to Revisioned in Tacoma.  This project is a bit off my beaten path, but along these lines.

It all started when I was out picking some oddities from a friend and came across this chandelier like thing that I recognized from the 90's as having those goofy glass panel things hanging.  So the first picture is how it started.  Next, I had to figure out how on earth I was going to make a "sheet" of tabs.  I figured some mason line would be handy in trying to handle the "sheet" once it was started so it didn't twist on itself.

To attach the tabs, I only cut them with some diagonal pliers on the lower right corner, and worked progressively attaching them to each other.  I got the sheet started across my little work table, and then figured out it only went about halfway around the top level.  Also in the first hangings, I figured out that the spacing worked out to about every other tab to attach it to the pegs..

So there's 28 pegs on the upper level, times two for the every other, times 13 levels, plus the 28 hanging tabs.  Plus for the lower level, there's 12 pegs and also 13 levels, plus the 12 hangers.  That makes for 756+324, which is a lovely round 1080, or around 6 cups of tabs.

A plug and some lightbulbs, and voila.  There are six 15w bulbs in the upper level, and a single 10w bulb on the lower level which makes for a great showoff.  Come on down to Revisioned and check it out - they'll be having their grand opening on September 6th.

Last Saturday I was at a Street Fair street market down in Tacoma and found this lovely ball of fabric yarn and I think I've found a material more difficult to crochet than plarn.  But it was all worth it for this handbag.  It is hard to explain the texture, but is definitely something interesting~

Spring sprung somewhere.  I'm not sure where with the rain here, but maybe.  I have a few of these baskets which can have many uses from desktop storage to garden collecting. 

Today was a day of adding to existing collections with some lovely results.  First up is the second available bag in the Tabtastic collection which just happens to also be a zippered purse!  The tabs add some structure to the bag and it is also edged in mason line.

It's not often I venture into other stitches with plarn, but with this piece in the Purple Things collection, it was quite doable to use an adaptation of the linen stitch.  This one crosses over into the Fabric collection also, but the best part is the zipper.

The latest addition to the Market Totes brings a medium size tote that is great for the heavy frozen or refrigerated items from the store.  There are two of these available and what is special about these is that its likely the last big items made from Top Foods bags!

Its been a busy few days, but I got some sewing done and here's the first batch of fabric strap bags.  From the left, the conventional printed burlap on a tan/black bag combo [Fred Meyer].  In the middle is a tan/blue flower print that goes well with many styles [Jackson's - white with red/grey specks].  And to the right is my crazy side showing - some lace with black netting backing  and I decided to add a small flap with a magnet just for variety [Wino - white with red & black].

I'm in the process of getting a schedule for May going, so watch Facebook for the latest events where you can check these out in person, plus I have an even more wild one to add to this collection in the works!

The first piece in the new Tabtastic collection!  Theres about 25 Target bags accompanied by about 150 soda can tabs to add some bling to this new style.  There'll be some tweaking on this particular bag, but you get the idea, its a handy bag for the essentials and there's already another in the works~

The Market Totes!  These are my most popular bag by far and for good reason!  The design is different than anything else out there, and I've built these for durability - from the pattern to the handles.  For the handles I use local-cut bamboo attached to the full side of the bag to disperse weight evenly and the strapping is tubular nylon so it is soft to carry and has more than enough strength.  I designed the pattern I use for this style of bag to be a continuous style, so that means no seams to create weak spots.

What does my over-engineering produce?  Quite simply, the large Market Totes I wouldn't blink an eye at putting 3 bottles of juice or 2 gallons of milk in them.  They have some give to them, but they don't noticeably stretch!  The Mondo Beach Bag I wouldn't fill with cement blocks, but its more than capable of containing a couple towels, a full change of clothes, and all the other beach essentials including a lunch.

The colors on the 3 large Market Totes are a bit of a story, and part of the beauty of plarn.  On the right in yellow and red is Grocery Outlet, the striping wasn't designed, but when it starts working that way, it is feasible to continue it.  In the middle and on the Mondo Beach Bag in tan with black is Fred Meyer, the most common color and from a distance looks more like jute or burlap even.  On the left in tan and a variety is a rare variety bag - Exchange, Albertsons, Ace, Value Village, and Long's produces this tan base with lighter highlights and flecks of blue, red, and black.

The large Market Totes take about 80-100 bags depending on usable material and size.  I'll be working on some medium size Totes as well which are nice for a shoulder bag while out browsing this Summer's events in the area!

Here's the latest experiment, a bit of a combination and a test in how it works. Each row is a different style of connecting the can tabs, and personally I like the middle on the best because it is least obtrusive inside. Much like plarn itself, there are many ways to work with it and attach can tabs, and each crocheter has their own style! This particular little thing is the right size for soap samples from +Pip & Lola's Everything Homemade  that I have with me at bazaars and events. Stay tuned for some items along these lines for the summer season.

I've worked with paint chips before, but this will be the first piece available for purchase.  Its a lovely gradient design in a 11"w by 15"h reclaimed picture frame.  Come check it out at my upcoming event 2014 Flea Market and Awesome Stuff put on by the Puget Sound Women's League on March 22nd in Tacoma~

To be entirely honest, I've never made a hat.  I was talking with a friend on why a plarn beanie would be a bad idea, and decided to make something just to show why its an awkward idea.  I figured what the heck, I can make a planter, and that's round, so lets go from there.  The first one was the tan and turned out with a fun ripply brim; the second is a bit larger and flatter brim; and the third is a bowler style with some fuzzy and local Seahawks love.  I've used a bit of yarn where the brim attaches to adjust the sizing as well as the upper shape.  Watch for these at the upcoming events!

The well loved Market Bags are getting a couple new colors - and there won't be many of these made!  First up is the yellow/red Grocery Outlet bag, and second up is White/Red Thank You bags.  These are the two opposite ends of the spectrum as the yellow is quite soft but the white is very stiff and incredibly strong.  Both are their finished size; just awaiting their handles.