Pom Pom Place holders

The other day I was catching up with some of my fellow etsy sellers in the etsy chat room and came across a most wonderful product from one of the chatters, imeondesign. It's not surprising that is caught my attention, after all they are pom poms:

What a neat idea! Pom place holders! Perfect for all of you hosting holiday dinner parties and craving a little more pom pom in your decor! The super bright crisp pictures really sell me on them I mean look at one of them in white:


Lovely! And since I'm becoming quite the master of pom pom making these days I may actually be able to pull some of these off...except that I have no plans of any parties requiring place holders....minor details...what do you think of them?

kate's adventures in pom pom making!

As many of you know, I am a big fan of the pom pom. I've been brainstorming, blogging, and dreaming about the wonders of those little yarn fluffs for quite some time and whenever given the chance I've snapped up all the pom pom makers I can get my hands on! Well the time has finally come for me to share my pom-tastic experiences with you and critique the three pom pom makers I own. Excited? I am! Let's go:


I picked up this gem at the bargain basement loveliness that is dress sew in vancouver. It seemed like such a deal for 99cents! I mean it's magic! and proudly boasts an exclamation mark! The added punctuation surely means it's a steal right? The directions seem simple enough too:


Yup, just wind your yarn around, tie them together, and cut! Then a little tease and tidy and you're set! Pom pom magic! Sounds like a dream! Here's how it actually went down:


It was initially super awesome. I really enjoyed being able to wind that yarn around the prongs so quickly and the grooved edges made snipping a breeze! Then its awesomeness plummeted quite drastically when I discovered my magic pom was actually a messy hashbrown looking haystack thing. It's ok. Just a little tease and tidy right? Wrong. Dead wrong. I am pretty sure I spent 30 minutes trimming that awful mess trying to make a round ball. Whew! And what a mess! The resultant pom pom was about half the size as the original scruffy ball and there was a ridiculous amount of wasted yarn. *Sigh* But it did start out fantastically...and pom pom magic lets you make two different sized fluffs:


So my verdict? Pom pom magic = fail. That exclamation mark is false advertising. I am additionally bitter about this product because I snipped my hand during the excessive trimming stage. Boo. Oh well...moving on...


Welcome pom-pom pals book and craft kit! Perhaps the hyphen is more promising than the previous products exclamation mark! Plus this one didn't cost me a penny because I got it for xmas last year! And when I took it off the shelf I found a $10 bill inside from the last time I used it! Double win! This trial is looking up already! Check out the contents:


Added bonus - amazingly clear (and illustrated) instructions:


Let's see how I made out:


I must start off by saying that this pom pom would have been amazingly frustrating to make if I had actually wound a single strand of yarn around the circle like the instructions show. Instead I used my keen crafting senses and wound multiple strands (hooray for added efficiency!). After I wrapped an outrageous amount of wool around those card circles I did have a little difficultly snipping around the edges, but at least the resultant pom pom sort of resembled a ball shape! Then just a little trim (very little waste pile this time) and fluff and voila! A gorgeous large pom! And no...this kit doesn't make your pom poms magically change colour...I just wanted to keep the image montage consistent...

Biggest downfall of this kit? The super cheap card circles they give you. I highly doubt they would last very long (depending on your pom pom production) but check out how sad they looked after two poms:


But they did do the job. Plus the kit is really all about the book of pom pom pal patterns (whew alliteration!) so I still think it was a good investment! Any excuse to make more pompoms! Yay!

Now for my final trial:


This gadget I picked up for about $3 in smithers (of all places) while visiting my sister this fall. I liked the idea of the 5-in-one versatility and it didn't exactly break the bank. Check out their instructions (once again illustrated and uber simple):


Wait a minute...pom pon?


Does this mean I will be able to take my pom pom making to the next level? The pom pon level perhaps? Or is it a typeo? Apparently not...it is on the package too. Hmm...let's take it for a spin:


Once again I went for the speedy route and used multiple strands of yarn at a time. Although I did notice that these instructions suggest doubling up your yarn so it is step up from the last kit! Time to wind that yarn! It quickly became apparent that smaller poms are much more difficult to make once your circles get covered. Don't know about you - but my fingers are much to large to pull those strands through that tiny center hole! Crochet hook to the rescue (another genius move thanks to my crafty senses):


Also a convenient shot to show off my pom pom magic wound - darn you! Anyways...I used a 3.5mm hook which worked quite well and made the crafting much easier. Then to trim around the edged (made fantastically easy with that sweet V-groove), tie it up, and rip those plastic circles off (somewhat difficult for my weak hands - but I managed). Plus it already looks pretty ball like! A quick little snip here and there and you're done! And hey - that is only the inner pink circle guide. You've still got 4 other sizes to chose from:


Great! Certainly an upgrade from the disastrous messy pom the first trial gave me and the V-groove and plastic construction made me appreciate them more than their cardboard relatives. I would have really appreciated not having to unwind huge quadrupled up strands of yarn to annoyingly thread through that tiny middle hole - but all in all the pom pon making was a success. All the pom pom makers I've found that remedy all my yarn winding woes aren't very practical purchases for me since the shipping to canada pretty much triples their price tag and a little yarn struggle isn't worth a $30 price tag in my books...or at least not yet...

So what's next for my adventures in pom pom making? You'll have to wait until I've made a big stash of poms to see...but I am enjoying my darling yarn fluff babies I've lovingly handcrafted so far:


Does anyone have any tips or tricks for pom pom making? Trials and tribulations perhaps? I would like to think I'm not the only who suffers from so many crafting injuries...but pom poms are just so awesome! I can't help but get carried away with my snipping with pom poms on the brain! How pom-tastic! Pom-cellent! Pom-derful? Pom-velous? Pom-sational? Yes! Pom poms for the win!

Waxy Poms!

To continue on with my pom pom holiday trend I thought I'd share yet another pom-tastic tutorial the girls over at nice package have so kindly put together! If you're not a yarn fan - perhaps you enjoy the wax paper pom! Just check out it in all its opaque glory:


Perfect for holiday package decorating, or even (my personal fav) on a string of xmas lights! What fun! Now to find some spare time amidst all my crazy holiday preparations to whip up a few of these! What would you use them for?

Pom Holiday

Amidst all the hectic crafting I've been doing over the last few months (for craft show, xmas sales, and custom orders) I find myself craving pom poms more and more! I really want to figure out a way to get more time out of the day so I can sneak some pom pom decorating into the holiday season! Look how adorable this pom pom garland is from millalove:


Handmade decorations are the best - especially when they involve pom poms! In fact - I think I am going to make 2010 my "year of the pom pom" and try to come up with some interesting pom related decorations for my house! After all, this will be my first year with an entire rental to make festive and so far that string of lights I got for my craft show is all the decoration I've got! Whew! Can't believe that december is so close around the corner? How do you plan on decorating this year?

DIY Pom Pom headband

Last friday I posted about the wonderful designer I met at my craft show last week and her fantastic creations! Of course you will not forget her fantastic pom pom pompadour (in cilantro) I thought was super fantastic:


That picture actually really reminds me of my friend amy who is extremely good at keeping a straight face in silly situations. I also really enjoy bobbi's description of her creation, "This pom pom is huge and so scrummy. It stays on your noggin with a yarn wrapped headband and gives you some serious added height. Made from a wool/acrylic blend yarn." Well! To my surprise sonia rykiel (a french fashion designer) also does the giant pom pom headband (so no mocking - it's high style!) :


And to top off the pom pom fun 'out of order' even did a tutorial on how to recreate your very own! And all for about $4! I think it is time for me to get pom pom making! Anyone care to join?

Friday Find: made by human hands

I met so many awesome crafty folk at the fabulous finds craft show this past weekend that I thought I'd share some of my favs during my friday finds segment I do here on the blog! This week is the wonderful Bobbi who sat directly behind me at the show. She is a super talented design school dropout with awesome bizarre taste and attention to detail! She runs two etsy shops "made my human hands" (which I'm featuring today) and "search and rescue" (full of vintage goodies). Take a look at some of her rad items:


The head pieced might be a little more difficult to pull off but I'm sure a few of my fantastic friends could do it. I especially love the giant pom pom pompadour in the top left corner. At the sale she had a more subdued minty ice blue one with two poms I drooled over and really wanted to buy for quinn (seriously quinn you would rock it). It also gave us the lovely opportunity to bond over our love for building the perfect pom and (the next day) we even discussed doilies! What a gal! And if outlandish accessories aren't for you she has quite the selection of cowls and scarves to chose from too! Yet again making me wish I could knit (and had time for it!). What do you think?

Paper Pom Poms!

Well I'm back from the fabulous find craft show and....I'm exhausted! So here's a post I pre-scheduled to tide you over until I have time to blog about the show later in the week. Hint - it was awesome! but hey, so is this....

The ladies at nice package do it again - make the most fantastic packaging I've ever seen inspiring me to amp up my gift giving! Plus - pom poms! Oh my!


I'd love to modify this one for xmas wrapping - and heck! maybe I will! In the mean time check out their fantastic tutorial! Hooray!

Pom Pom garland!

Nothing like a good old fashioned pom pom project to perk up the week! Check out the awesome pom garland:


Cute! The girls at honestlywtf are really tempting me to splurge and order some clover pom pom makers! They make it look so easy and with all the poms I crave in my life I'm sure I'd put it to good use! And it isn't that the makers are that expensive (they run about $6.50 US for a two-pack) but the shipping to Canada is outrageous! It sort of reminds me of the time I tried to order an old issue of Bust magazine online. The magazine was only $4 but once I got to the checkout I realized they were charging $26 shipping! Yeow! Needless to say I didn't complete that transaction...but those pom pom makers are calling me! Looks like I need to wait for a few more etsy sales to fill up the paypal account then take the plunge! Think of all the wreaths we could make lindsay! Or the rugs leslie! Sweet pom pom goodness for everyone! Yay!

pom rug!

As most of you know (or at least I'd hope you know if you're a blog reader), I'm moving into a charming little house in september (which is frighteningly only two days away)! As many of you don't know - my new place is carpet-less and as such I've been keeping my eyes peeled for neat rug/floor covering related crafty projects to warm up the living room a tad. Well, I'm sure you can imagine how excited I got when I saw this lovely rug online:

Eeee!!! A pom pom rug! And I'll even be percy-less so it will be safe from the yarn devouring mouth of that evil kitty! Design crisis has a whole article on the pom pom phenomenon and how super rad it is to work some poms into your household decor! Even though their link doesn't have instructions, I'm sure I could figure this one out. Bring on the spare time and yarn and then bring on the pom poms! Yeah!

Not enough pom poms

I'm not sure about you, but I feel like I've been sorely lacking on the pom pom posts these days! No better way to remedy that then this great tissue paper pom pom tutorial courtesy of smile and wave:


I love how they turned out and am especially fond of how they were just a cleaning procrastination product! I think they'd make great decorations for a party or perhaps a baby's room? What do you think?

Paper Pom Pom Garland

Clearly I have not had enough pom pom related posts going on these days, so here's one courtesy of Hambly Screen Prints! A paper pom pom garland! Take a look:


Pretty cool! Simple too! Check out the tutorial - all you just need one of those large circle punches and a little spare time! Although I must say I am a big fan of the pom, the paper pom isn't quite as cozy as the yarn pom poms I drool over. Mind you I bet you could use these little paper ones in some of the other pom pom tutorials I've shown you for extra exciting results! Imagine rainbow pussy willow paper pom poms? Ooo! The possibilities! Just bring on the spare time please!

More pom poms?

Since I'm long overdue for another pom pom post - here's some cute pom tutorials from maedchenmitherz! First off is an adorable pom pom bunny! I really like the pictures she's taken for this one (hooray for gingham!) and easter is just around the corner after all...


Second comes a little pom owl for all you owl lovers...such as my mom. Great for all owl-y occasions! Look at those extra cute little bird toes! How darling!


I am oozing with jealousy about her pom pom making contraption too! I can't believe such a pom enthusiast like myself is still back in the dark ages of cardboard circles! I need to get with the times. Another awesome thing about these projects? They're tiny! Hooray for instant crafting gratification! My fav!

Rainbow Pussy Willows

Betz White's fantastic rainbow pussy willow tutorial really caught my eye and I couldn't help but share it with everyone! Seriously! Look how amazingly simple and ascetically pleasing this is:


It really makes me want to go hunting for perfect branches to use! And hey, if you're not the felt ball type I bet you could substitute little pom poms! (and you all know how much I LOVE pom poms!) Once again the whole "I live in my parent's basement" thing puts a bit of a kink in the works since there is certainly no room for any more of my design/crafty endeavors. But a girl can dream can't she? Come on mom! Who needs a kitchen when we could have a rainbow pussy willow arrangement? Wait...you don't need to answer that....

Bonus fact for lindsay - I have had this post scheduled since march 10th so don't think that you sending me a print out of this as "item two" in your pen pal-ery lead to this! In fact it just reassures the fact that we are, indeed, the same person. Hooray for pen pal soul mates!!!

Pom Pom-tastic

Because clearly I haven't posted enough tutorials about pom poms (link, link, link), here's another one! Claire from poopscape projects shows us that you don't need a green thumb to bring some whimsy and flowery goodness into your decor!


Those multicoloured ones are calling to me! I think it's safe to say I'm destine to be a crazy old cat/pom pom spinstery lady one day...potentially soon even. Yup. I really love pom poms...

More pom pom madness

As you all know, I've been pretty obsessed with pom poms these days (link, link, and link) and even received a pom pom pals crafting kit from my mom this xmas!!! I have some mondo pom pom crafting in progress - don't worry - I'll update you when I finish my project. Well, today I came across yet another pom pomtastic link to share. This time it's fabric pom poms:


Perhaps a little more fluffy and girly than the traditional yarn pom but still pretty awesome nonetheless. Plus as an extra bonus there is even a tutorial to share to further assist in the pom pom crafting take over! Hurray!

Road Trip: Kelowna

Yesterday I spent the day with my sister and fraser driving to the busy wonders of Kelowna to shop our hearts out and visit my dear friend lindsay! Here are some photographed highlights:




Please pay special attention to my lovely pompom adorned wrapping job of lindsay's present! I really wanted to take some nice pictures of it to share with everyone but I made it on the solstice and we left pretty early in the morning so the lack of sunlight was not favorable to pom pom photography. *sigh*

And even if the trip was pretty much a bust due to the lack of holiday dress purchasing (very much required for new years - eep!) - we did see lindsay, purchase some last minute xmas presents, enjoy the sunshine and clear roads, and eat extra delicious cinnamon buns (hence the excited pic of my sis above). Not a complete loss, but I do wonder what the heck I'm going to wear on new years...

More yarn goodness

Why yes! I am very much still oozing over holiday pom pom decor just as much as I was back in november. These awesome yarn wrapped trees and yarn garland are thanks to Alli over at one pearl button - who seems to be just as stoked about homemade yarn decorations as I am! Well...except more so since she actually makes them...and posts tutorials...(click on images to link). My vicarious love will have to do for now since, as mentioned before, pom poms and string eating spawn of satan cat don't really mix. Just saying...

Pom Pom Crazy!

Never underestimate the awesomeness of the pom pom. Not only do they have a sweet name, but they're also easy and fun to make, and can be used in a plethora of rad crafts! Here's a few I've been eyeing up from bleubird's blog:




I'd really love to do a whole pom pom holiday this year (there's even a tutorial on the pom pom wreath) if I didn't know that it would result in the probable death of one mischievous string devouring devil cat. Alas - I'll have to be a vicarious pom pom supporter for this one. *sigh*.