Monday 26 December 2016

Ella the elephant

I have more than one pattern from the lovely Lorraine Pistorio at Rainbo Designs that I am itching to make =) 

And finally in October I got around to making Ella - she is a really cutie - just check out those ears!!!!



I hope to make more of those "as yet to be made by me" patterns soon 
-
 keep your eye out, you may see one that fits someone you know!

Monday 12 December 2016

2016 - what a year!

2016 has been a BIG year for Betsy's Boutique!!!! 

Take a look at just a few of the adventures I have had!


Thanks to all my customers! It has been a great year - lots of learning new techniques and refining older techniques ;)

Looking forward to 2017 - so many days to try new patterns!!!!

Please contact me with YOUR order! =)

Which on, by the way, is YOUR favourite???

Monday 28 November 2016

A delightful duo!


Early next year a little boy will be born in America. As he grows up he will learn that his bedroom is the one which looks delightfully like a woodland. And I am hoping that his favourite little "friends" will be the above pictured bunny and his matching friend, seen below...


And yes, that hat comes off - I can't decide when he looks cuter!!!!



Putting them together, you can see just how well they match - that little boy will perhaps be thankful that his grandparents and auntie got together to decide on "welcome to the world" presents!




I am hoping it will be possible to do more combinations like this - it was a LOT of fun!





Thursday 24 November 2016

Bunnies, bunnies and more bunnies

It is pretty obvious that so far, bunnies are most popular request at Betsy's Boutique.

Here is the gallery of those done this year, though I am working on another order now which includes a bunny! =)

I love the way that the different yarns change the bunny to make it so individual, and even as the producer of these bunnies, I find that there are some of them that I really love more than others! So far, I have enjoyed the small bunnies most - they are not too big and not too small...


Which one is your favourite?

Tuesday 6 September 2016

The process of producing a wonderful toy

Just in case you are wondering what goes into this great job I have - turning fairly boring looking balls of yarn into something amazing, I thought I would show you....

So we start:

with yarn and needles.
 I am a little different to most and  I always, always knit with circular needles - that is knitting needles that are connected - can't lose one, and they don't stick up my sleeves! 

I have a pattern - these patterns from Lorraine at Rainebo Designs are just BRILLIANT!


I bind the pages for each pattern together with yarn - makes it easy for me to take the pattern wherever I go =) 

I have LOTS of patterns - many of which I have not made yet, so customers have a good range to chose from. And they also need to decide which colour yarn they wish to be used, and what "extras". So far there have been hearts, a scarf and overalls in that category, but in time there may be more!!!

Then I knit up the pieces:


and then comes the REALLY fun part of putting them together 

 and LOOK!!!!!




These bunnies can be varied, so here is a few takes on what I have done so far ;)


This bunny is for a little boy - and to me he IS little boy! With movable limbs, he will definitely be a treasured and loved friend =)


Next I was asked to make a princess. And with a change in her stripes, and those eyes which have appealed to many, she is a real girl's girl =)




Did you see that tail? Amazing, huh? I love to work with my customers ideas, and often they are far better than mine - this bunny had a few differences from the "original" design, but they are a real winner =)


Another customer really wanted these gorgeous overalls - but didn't like the idea of the tail being hidden, so we have abandoned the idea of overalls for HER bunny, and they are available for someone else!

Here they are being modelled on that boy bunny (seen above). I think they are real cute, but I guess I could be a bit biased.

I am really hoping that others will see the overalls and get ideas, because once I got the hang of them, they were REAL easy, and could be done in other colours and look amazing!!!




Wednesday 3 August 2016

Recent orders fulfilled

I continue to receive orders for the blankies - here a dog requested on a candy pink blankie. 
It is great to see all the variety in these blankies =)



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More hippos!!!!

I love these hippos - every time they are just so cute! 

The customer decided to get moveable limbs here - all the more fun for the little ones who will receive them! =)



And another hippo ordered for a little grand-daughter! 
This time I posed with the hippo, to give an idea of the size...



They are so cuddly!!!!

A BIG project just for me!


With lots of wool left over from previous projects, I thought a big blanket for myself would be great! And warm! I notice the cold more than I would like, and already the blanket has had much use!

It took about a month to knit... Drove me nearly crazy in some ways, but it was fun to change colours and to watch it grow...

I don't plan on offering these for sale, or even on order. 

Just thought you might like to see what I have been up to! =)

Thursday 16 June 2016

Look at those ears!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2016 has been a big year for new products, and here we have another!

A friend contacted me looking for a toy/friend for a little one, and after showing her what was available, she ordered a little bunny...


"Oh, he's adorable!" - her reaction on seeing this picture says it all, doesn't it?


With moveable limbs, standing 32 cm tall (and this is the smallest of his family) and just gorgeous - this really is another great product from Rainebodesigns!

So, sorry, this one is sold - but please feel free to contact me with your order (contact form on the right) for your own. Options for colour, size, etc are available...

Rattie - the new kid on the block!


Like all rats in the wilds of Sydney, this Rattie is loving with some battle wounds.

As a young rat, he was strong and courageous, but sadly his left arm was hurt in a fierce fight.


Or wait, maybe Rattie is trying out a new dance move?


Why not give him a home? 15cm tall, measuring 18cm from toe tip to tail tip, make of 100% acrylic, he could be yours???


Thursday 26 May 2016

New product range

Many of the knitting patterns I use are from the amazing Lorraine at Rainebo Designs! 
I LOVE her work - it is just amazing!!! 
My dream would be to design knitting patterns as beautifully as she does =) 
One day, maybe....

I noticed recently that she has a baby animal range, and so went and bought a few of them =)
And as soon as I had got my custom orders under control, I went to work making my first.

Take a look here:


Those little wings just look ready to fly! =)


My kids love these toys, and are SO good at gently picking them up and giving them a gentle hug - because if things went their way - they would keep the lot!!!! =)

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At time of writing, little ducky was not sold, I wonder how long it will take before that happens?

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Would you say ducky is a girl or boy? Debate is fierce here ;)

A few custom orders!

April was busy with an order for a poncho, which expanded to include 3 beanies! 
They were all in black yarn, which made me feel old - my sight seems to be changing and black was harder to see, but I got it done, and have some very satisfied customers! Yah!!! =)


Made with 10ply 100% wool, this is a very warm poncho for a colder climate, and although winter has not started, has been much used =)


A friend is having her first little bub, and I had the dream of making a baby mobile from hearts - 


How do you think it looks?

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After my success with a poncho, I knew I just had to make one for myself =) So although mine is not as long, nor in 10ply wool, it suits my purpose and I am very happy with it!

 

Yet another blankie has been made - this being my 58th!



Monday 18 April 2016

Hippo Happiness!!!

Recently I was contacted by an expectant mother. She wanted a knitted toy for her baby boy. We discussed options, and she decided - with the help of her husband - that a hippo would be lovely.

Personally I think hippos can be really cute, so I was only too happy to oblige =)

And this hippo sure came out looking just too cute!

See for yourself!


I wonder what his name will be...


His arms just stretch out to give a hug - don't you think?

 

That cute heart on his foot!!! He does wear his heart where all can see it! =)


Did you spot his little tail?

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Contact me, if you want something knitted but aren't quite sure what is available - I love to try new toys!

Saturday 16 April 2016

A little girl's dream present

One day while scouring the internet for knittable presents, I came across a Baby Love Dolly Sling. 
So, here is the one I made for one of my little nieces =)



My daughter loved modelling the sling, and naturally has asked for one of her own...



This certainly would be good for a girl who wants to have her "baby" close at hand, but still be able to use both hands to play with other toys...

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If you would like one, please contact me using the contact form on the left of this page!

Monday 11 April 2016

Autumn Competition Prizes

In March I had a competition on my Facebook page. Inviting my viewers to guess how many pieces of Duplo were in this tub...

To my surprise I had two ladies guess the EXACT number of blocks!

I very nearly fell off my seat! =)

There was 310 pieces - just in case you were wondering...

The prize winners could chose anything from my shop, and both (unsurprisingly) chose blankies. Being my most popular item to date, I really didn't expect anything else!

So here they are:


Yet another elephant (the most popular choice for a blankie) - now with the new improved trunk!


A lamb - one of only two produced with a special yarn, which makes it look even more like a lamb!

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Keep an eye out for my winter competition in June!


Wednesday 30 March 2016

Betsy Hearts to Show Your Love

Some time back I found a pattern to knit a heart, and I was so happy when I knitted it, 
because it came out  
looking like a heart! 
Might sound funny, but so many of them just don't come out right! 
So you can imagine how happy I was =)


As you know hearts can be such a great way to show you love someone, whether a spouse, friend, sibling, parent, grandparent, niece, cousin, etc, etc! So I thought this might be something I could sell - and I thought I would first experiment...


I asked some precious people's favourite colours... Then knitted up these hearts....


Don't they look lovely? Plump hearts full of love! 

And then I boxed them up, with instructions on top about how they were to be treated with love and care!


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I did some more, for some other precious people who live far away and I don't see very often - just so they always have that reminder that I love them =)


Those precious people couldn't pick just one favourite colour, so I made them a different colour on each side! And I think they look great!

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If you just need a little something more 
- to show you love someone who is far (or close), lonely, sick (or healthy) - 
that you are thinking of them and sending them love 
maybe you would like a Betsy Heart too?

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I am thinking I could make some with lavender in them too... 

Contact me, on my Facebook page, with your order!


Monday 29 February 2016

A family of love

I knitted a jellybaby family, and was SO thrilled that it was sent all together for a little girl and her two brothers! They have spent hours playing with their little friends!


Polly the pineapple jellybaby


Belinda the berry blue jellybaby


Rufus the raspberry jellybaby


The whole family!