DIY Bamboo Wind Chimes

July 23, 2015July 23, 20155 Comments

About a month ago I got some beautiful bamboo for my garden. Half of it took, and the other half died leaving me with 4 stocks of leafless bamboo. “I have got to do something with this,” I thought. Finally today it dawned on me - a wind chime! I cut the dead bamboo stocks down and made this lovely wind chime with things I had around the house. The best part - NO POWER TOOLS REQUIRED!

Here’s how we did it!

Materials:

9-16 bamboo stocks snapped (or cut) into pieces measuring between 6-12 inches
Worsted weight yarn (Pictured: Vanna’s Choice Wheat)
Wood Beads
Cross stitch hoop ( If you do not have one of these you could also take 3 pieces of bamboo and glue or tie them together into a triangular shape)
Glue Gun and Glue Sticks
Scissors
Finishing Needle

Wrap the yarn all around your cross stitch hoop.

Cut 9 strands of additional yarn that each measure 26 inches. Separate this yarn into 3 piles of 3 strands. At three points in the circle loop 3 strands around the circle and double knot. Braid the remaining yarn and tie all three braided sections together at the top.

Cut or snap your bamboo into succeeding lengths measuring 6 - 12 inches. Use your hot glue gun to attach a wood bead to the top of each stick. Leave the beads holes exposed on the left and right.

Use the finishing needle to thread yarn through the holes of the wood beads and then tie them to your circle. I triple knotted them for optimal security.

Start with the longest stick and work your way around the the circle placing the sticks from longest to shortest. Snip any additional yarn near the knot and hide the knot inside the bead.

Once all your bamboo sticks are attached hang your wind chime outside and enjoy!

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My design style: As easy as possible for an effect that’s as cool as possible

July 3, 2015July 3, 2015Leave a comment

People often ask me what is my “design style.” How do you come up with these ideas? How do you make them come to life? What’s your “signature?” What do you want people to think when they hear the name Bo Peep’s Bonnets?

I’ll tell you my friends! I want them to think: That girl creates freaking awesome and original knits in ways that are are so stinkin’ easy.

Before I started writing my own patterns I was so discouraged by my lack of pattern reading skills. I would pull up a lacy shawl on Ravelry, take one look at the 5 page, 8 point font pattern that appeared to be written in Chinese and promptly slam my laptop screen closed.

There’s got to be a better way!!!

When I have a vision for a new design my first thought is always - can I do this while a 5 year is tugging on my sleeve, while the phone is ringing, while my husband is rehearsing a monologue in the background, while I have dinner in the oven, and while I have a Barbra Streisand album on full blast (yes that’s right - I’m 28 and I love Barbra Streisand).

If I can’t know where I’m at in a pattern with all that going on - I figure out a different way of designing it. I’ve discovered the best way is to stick with simple stitches, arrange them in new and fresh ways, and most importantly have a pattern that repeats in some form or fashion. Why? Because the more you repeat - the more you naturally memorize what’s written on the page.

A memorized pattern is a good pattern.

I also love when you can take a simple knit shape and fold/sew/button it in such a way that you have a cowl, sweater, shrug, or wrap that requires you to only knit one piece.

Currently I’m working on a shrug that’s just a huge circle. You fold and sew it in such a way that you have a collar - sleeves - and a back! I’m so excited!

I also love knitting for the ones I love. My daughter, hubby, and my two cats Buddy and Harry have inspired some of my best selling creations. I designed my best selling cat hat after a day of snuggled up with my furry friends and watching my favorite Doris Day movie Pillow Talk (that’s right - I’m 28 and I love Doris Day). That design has led me to my biggest project to date - I’ve designed custom cat hats for the upcoming feature film Jem and the Holograms (more about that in a future post)!

Lastly, I always love to work with super bulky yarn. It’s all the rage right now and I love that it knits up fast. There’s just something about a chunky knit that feels so modern. I love when you can see each big beautiful stitch. I’m a stickler for perfectly even tension. I always say a hand knit item should look like a machine made it but with the love of a persons hands added to the mix.

One more thing - I stay true to myself! I only knit things I would wear. Things I would want my daughter to wear. I truly believe that when you design what YOU love other’s will love it too. Let’s face it - we’re all fabulous in our own ways. We all have something different to offer. I create what I love and I hope you love it too.

You can see all Bo Peep’s designs by visiting her shop - www.etsy.com/shop/BoPeepsBonnets

DIY Orange Bird Feeder

June 26, 2015June 26, 2015Leave a comment

I love crafts of all kinds. The word DIY is a constant in my vocabulary. So when you can combine mommy/daughter time, a DIY project we can do together, and a way we can all get out and enjoy the garden I”m in heaven (Insert Fred Astaire singing in the background 🎶 Heaven I’m in Heaven 🎶 )

Here’s a fun easy project you can do with items you have around the house - An Orange Bird Feeder!

What you’ll need:

2 oranges
3/4 cup oats (I used Nature’s Promise quick oats from Giant)
1/2 peanut butter
Yarn (I used my favorite Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick and Quick)
Knife, Spoon, and Bowl
A nail
A finishing needle (optional but very helpful)
Handful of Raisins/peanuts/sunflower seeds (Your pick - just use what ya got!)

Step 1: Hollow out oranges

STEP 1: Cut the oranges in half and hollow out the oranges. I used a knife to loosen the fruit and then let my daughter scoop out the insides.

Step 2: Make holes and add yarn

STEP 2: Use your nail to poke a hole on the sides of each orange rind. Make sure the holes are directly opposite each other so that the orange will be level when you hang it (I learned that the hard way). Thread your finishing needle with yarn and thread the yarn from one side to the other.

Step 3: Make filling

STEP 3: Mix oats, peanut butter, and a handful of raisins/peanuts/sunflower seeds. We used raisins.

Step 4: Fill the oranges

STEP 4: Fill the oranges with your oat/peanut butter mixture.

Step 5: The fun part - decorate!

STEP 5: My daughter’s favorite part! Decorate! Use extra raisins/peanuts/sunflowers seeds to make smiley faces, hearts, stars - whatever makes you happy!

Step 6: Hang em’

STEP 6: Hang your feeders from a tree or shepherds hook. I found it’s easiest if you wait to tie the ends until you have it on the tree.

Step 7: Enjoy!

STEP 7: Enjoy! Why not set a special tea party and watch for chickadees, finches, and cardinals to partake in the goodies you made for them while sipping a cup of earl grey. Or take it from my daughter and strike a fabulous pose! Viola! DIY fun for everyone!

More DIY fun in my shop - www.etsy.com/shop/BoPeepsBonnets

How knitting saved my life

June 20, 2015June 29, 20158 Comments

Okay so maybe that’s a little extreme - but I used to be an actor so I like the added drama. This was the situation - my husband had just lost his job, my mom had just been diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer, we had a 2 year old - and I didn’t know what the heck to do.

My mom lives 4 hours from me so I felt helpless. I couldn’t go there everyday to help and I didn’t know if she was going to make it through the chemo. I had just seen my Grandma lose her battle with uterine cancer and I couldn’t bare the thought of losing the other the woman in my life who I held so dear.

My mom, me, and my daughter after her first chemo treatment

We needed money. My husband had been working as a professional actor for a decade and now there was no contract to be seen. Despite the financial woes all I could think was - I have to help my mom - I have to help all the people who are going through chemo - I have to do something - and I have no money to work with (don’t worry it gets better).

A shop had just moved in down the road called Sweet Charity (which is now Fresh Vintage by Amy if you want to check it out). They sold artisan made products that were dedicated to giving back. Immediately, I knew what to do. I walked down to the shop with 5 handmade hats and a mission to donate one free hat per five sold to Nemours Children’s Hospital. The owners graciously excepted my work (which is a far cry from what I offer today) into the shop and the rest is - as they say - history.

The first hat I ever sold on Etsy

The first five hats I took down to Sweet Charity - oh how far we have come!

The demand for product got bigger so I started to sell on Etsy. The need for donation hats that could be shipped straight to patients became apparent so I coded my own website that would allow that.

All of a sudden I needed to hire staff, order in bulk, turn my cat closet into a knitting studio, and knit round the clock. God had turned what I had seen as curse into a blessing. I had all the money I needed to completely fund the charity thanks to my wonderful Etsy customers and I had enough left over to help pay the bills.

My knitting studio

Now for the important part - my mom is healed! After extensive surgery and two years of chemo she is alive - beautiful - and healthy! Praise the Lord! As for me I must also praise the Lord. I am able to stay at home with our daughter while running a legitimate business. A business that I would have never thought of had difficulty not struck our lives.

Me and my mom a few months ago - in matching hand knit cowls of course

So be encouraged my friends. Someone high above and mighty is looking out for you. He loves you. He cares about you. And he will provide for you.

Work hard. Pray hard. He will show you the way.

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LABADIE LOOMS

June 20, 2015Leave a comment

This shop full of locally sourced hand-dyed yarns and fibers in Lancaster County is a quaint spot filled with lots of great threads and gives you with that warm fuzzy feeling we all crave. Upon entering the shop my daughter I were greeted by the owner, Donna, with a warm spirit and an obvious love for fiber arts. She told me all about the weaving and spinning classes she offers (note to self - must take lesson) and even showed us a bit of weaving on her beautiful loom.

The back room filled the hand died roving is absolutely delicious. The colors are rich, original, and I wanted to buy one of everything!

Looms and wheels of all shapes and sizes are always just an arms length away and freshly died fibers are soaking in tubs along the ground. We entered the yarn area full of fun and different yarns - almost all hand died - and lots of great variety and sparkle (which of course my little one loved).

We selected a lovely Lancaster County Rain yarn - a 420 yard wool with sparkle sport weight hand dyed yarn for $24. Donna was kind enough to spin it into a ball for us which was entertaining and educational.

I would highly recommend this shop to any fiber enthusiast. Make sure you leave enough time to soak in all the goodness the shop has to offer and to enjoy a chat with the owner. Now off to design a new original cowl pattern with the yarn I bought there for Bo Peep’s Bonnets! Tootaloo for now ❤ Bo Peep

Store website - http://www.labadielooms.com/

FLYING FIBERS YARN SHOP

June 20, 2015Leave a comment

Flying Fibers is a shop with a fun name, a huge selection, a great location, and a knowledgeable and kind staff. When my daughter and I walked in the doors I had to stand motionless at the entryway for a few moments just to take in all the beauty and cleanliness of the shop.

The store is laid out perfectly and offers a large assortment of locally hand dyed yarns and roving of all kinds. In the center of the shop there are wheels and looms situated around an inviting leather sofa that beckons to take a seat and browse a great pattern book for your next project.

The prices are spot on - and I can assure of this because I have bought directly from some of the brands they carry. I was especially excited to see that they carried my favorite Pennsylvania made yarn - Perfection by Kramer

While the beauty, cleanliness, and selection are all great reasons to stop by this shop, my favorite part - and the reason why I would highly recommend it - is because of the lovely store manager I had the opportunity to meet - Ellen. Ellen was very friendly and knowledgeable and was more than happy to offer me special order services that are hard to come by. She told me all about the spinning classes she teaches (which are offered at a great price) and she said when you take her class you even get to keep the drop spindle you learn on!

After soaking in all the goodness the shop had to offer Little Bo Peep and I popped over to the cafe right next door and enjoyed an iced coffee for mom and a cupcake for the little one. The two being located so close to each other is a special bonus. Coffee, chocolate, and yarn all in one spot? Now that’s a Bo Peep kind of day!

Shop website - http://www.flyingfibers.com/

My Mother’s Butterfly

June 20, 2015June 21, 2015Leave a comment

The vibrant black and orange spread of Monarch butterfly wings takes me back to a time when life was full of wonder and everyday was filled with new discoveries and adventures. I was a brown bobbed, sticky fingered, nature loving, first grader when my mom first taught me how to raise butterflies. When summer came we would locate the milkweed plants where the Monarch’s laid their eggs, and carefully transport the larva to mason jars full of freshly picked and misted foliage and twigs. We would watch the caterpillar hatch from the egg and eat away each day at the fresh leaves we provided for it. After about two weeks the caterpillar would molt and shed its skin. I remember my mother telling me to be very careful during this time not to touch the caterpillar’s habitat! Soon after the molting process it was time for the caterpillar to pupate. A gorgeous green chrysalis would appear on the lid of the mason jar reminding me of a precious jade jewel. Right before the butterfly was about to emerge the chrysalis would darken and then become transparent so we could see its wings inside the cocoon. The next morning we would rise at the crack of dawn to watch the butterfly emerge and practice pumping its wings. What a miracle it was to see the creature’s rebirth! As the Monarch fluttered its wings faster and began to gain strength we knew it was time to release it into the wild. My mother would gently remove the lid of the jar, and if we were lucky the butterfly would crawl up our fingers and take a moment to rest on our palms before flying away to find a zinnia, coneflower, or phlox to pollinate. As I watched the Monarch’s rusty orange and midnight black colors blur to a shade of an autumn sunset as it traveled farther into the distance, I felt a sense of awe for the beauty of life and a special love for my mother who had taken such tender care of the small creature when it most needed her. It’s a fact that in the wild, only about two to five caterpillars that hatch from the hundreds of eggs a mama Monarch lays actually make it to adulthood. Whether due to harsh elements, predators looking for a meal, or bacterial infections from the environment, it’s safe to say that a caterpillar has a rough journey if someone doesn’t step in and become their caretaker. And so, as I sit and write this blog about an isolated event in my mother’s and my lives, my eyes become open to how she cared for me, her daughter, her butterfly, with a far greater love then she had shown to the delicate caterpillars. I wonder how she must have felt when her butterfly flew away from home.

And so today in her honor, I’ll be planting some milkweed in my garden in hopes of attracting a mama Monarch to entrust me with her priceless babies. I know I won’t be as wise and caring as my own mother, but with the perfect example she set for me, I’ll at least have a “fluttering” start.

My mom and I circa 199?

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