Monday, December 31, 2012

Possibility

As we say goodbye to 2012, I am so thankful for this year.  There have definitely been some challenges to it.  However, I believe the trying times make the peaceful times all the sweeter.  As always, I am so thankful for my husband and our two beautiful, sweet, talented, head strong daughters.  My husband says I am the glue of our family but it is their love that helps me hold it all together each and every day.

In just a handful of hours we begin 2013 and I am thinking about the possibilities ahead in a very hopeful way. I hope my family continues to be healthy.  We are making a huge lifestyle change and converting to clean eating.  I really hope this transition goes smoothly because I really believe in it and fortunately, so does my husband.  I am also strongly considering selling my handmade items.  This is something else my husband really believes in and that loving support is huge for me.  I am also really, really hoping that this is the year I finally get published as a writer.  I stay positive on that front and have to believe that counts for something.

Finally, I am very excited about all of the other artistic possibilities of 2013.  I have a friend who gave me items to learn to knit.  I'm going to take that on.  Also, once I finish the afghan (that happens to be for the same friend) I am making my daughters new afghans.  They each have one that were actually my second and third ever made blankets.  It's nice that they love the blankets but they are riddled with beginners mistakes.  While I am happy with how far I have come as a crocheter and see those early blankets as a sort of learning curve - I want my girls to have afghans that are well done.

So, this group of colorful yarn definitely speaks of possibility to me:

These are the colors that the girls have chosen for their new blankets.  They both want hearts so I am on a mission to find just what they want in order to make what I hope will be the most awesome afghans for them.

What possibilities are you looking forward to for 2013?

Happy New Year to all!

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Christmas Cushion

Front View

Back View

Close-Up Back View
 
I crocheted a cushion cover as a Christmas gift for one of
my girlfriends.  I am happy to say that this beauty was well
received.  In fact, it was well-loved by my family.  Even
my husband loved this pillow.  He didn't want me to give
it away - which is huge from him because he generally
wrinkles his nose at the idea of decorative pillows.  He
actually made me promise I'd make another like this in the new
year.  I'm going to make one in the colors of our living room.

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Peaceful Crochet

December is usually such a busy month for me - as for most, I know.  This month is no exception.  However, I have had a few peaceful moments for crochet.  And honestly, crocheting by the beautiful glow of the Christmas tree lights is a wonderful, relaxing treat.


Tuesday, October 16, 2012

One-aDay Tuesday's Tallies

I have not made much progress on my One-a-Day afghan.  I know I better get moving on it if I want it done by Christmas, though.  I do have the excuse that I've been working on a baby afghan for the silent auction at my kids school but still.  I guess a little progress is better than none:

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Tuesday's Tallies - One-a-Day

I am so excited to have a new One-a-Day project to share.  This ia an afghan that I am making someone -who shall remain nameless for the foreseeable future - for Christmas.  I'm pretty certain that said someone does not even know about, let alone read, this blog.  Still, to be safe, no names.  Just pictures of the progress:

This photo has turned out rather odd.  The squares are all the same size, at six rounds each.  I have no idea why they look like different sizes.  It's probably the way I took the picture.


This looks like I'm making a scarf rather than a blanket.  It's meant to show a close up of the colors, though.

Sunday, September 23, 2012

A new One-a-Day Project

I've started a new One-a-Day project.  I know it's not Tuesday, but I'm excited to show it off a bit.  This is the start of an afghan that is going to be a Christmas gift.  I'm positive the people that it's for don't know a thing about my little blog here but still, no names mentioned.  So, here are the first few squares:



Sunday, September 16, 2012

100 Days Until Christmas

I can not believe that it is only 100 days until Christmas! I know the time is going to fly by, too.  I have several afghans in the works to give to family.  Fortunately, all but two of them are begun.  I am going to HAVE to work on them a little each day if I want to complete them, though.  Life is so busy and seems to get busier and more filled with responsibility each day.  Not that I'm complainig.  I am very grateful for my life.  I just can not believe that Christmas is in 100 days and it feels like there is so much to do! Oh well, at least I'm aware of my time and trying to get it done.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Work In Progress


I am almost done with this project.  I'm really excited with how it is coming together.  Hopefully I'll be sharing the completed item in a couple of days.  In the meantime, my daughters grabbed this ((bigger and shaped slightly differently now) a little while ago and were running around saying it was a robot.  They make me laugh every day.

Saturday, August 4, 2012

Sewn Tote

I used one of the free paper paper/pattern tutorials you can grab at the craft stores to make this tote.  THis came from Hobby Lobby and seemed like an easy project for an absolute beginner like myself.  I'm happy to say it was really easy.  Plus, the tote is sturdy and holds an amazing amount of stuff.  This is a great bonus with two kids who still like to put their things in my bag.  My girls have already requested their own bags and picked out their materials.  Hello Kitty for Miss B and a funky flower pattern with a lot of turquoise for Miss O.  She actually wants hers more like a messenger bag for the upcoming school year.



Friday, August 3, 2012

My First Granny Stripe Afghan



I have started my first Granny Stripe afghan and I absolutely know it will not be my last.  I LOVE this pattern so much! Once the chain and foundation rows are complete - this actually works up pretty quickly.  This particular afghan is a Christmas present though - so I can't really say much more at this time.

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Crochet Summer Tote

I made this crocheted tote at the end of May/beginning of June.  Due to my camera situation, I am only now able to share this colorful joy.  I had a lot of fun making this and even more fun using it on a regular basis.

Close up

The lining - which I did before I had my sewing machine.  Oh boy, did this take a lot of time to get just right and actually sew into place.  I imagine (really, really hope!) this will be a lot easier/quicker to deal with now.

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

My New Toy

I FINALLY got a sewing machine.  My mom suggested this one and so far I am quite pleased with it.  Granted, I've only made two very simple items with it, but still, I am thrilled.  My little fashionistas are already making clothing and bag requests.  I can't wait to play with this some more!

Sunday, July 29, 2012

NaBloPoMo - August 2012

NaBloPoMo August 2012

I am going to participate in NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month) during August. I have been in a blogging rut and I am hoping that by committing to this challenge - I will get out of said rut. I have done this challenge a couple of times before and have happily been successful with it.  Plus, my wonderful husband purchased our family a new camera and I have some crafting pictures to share again.

The theme for August is Sweet. I can either use the prompts provided or blog about my own topics. I'm certain that I will do a combination of the two. If this sounds like something you'd enjoy - click the image above and join in the fun.

Monday, June 11, 2012

Still Crafting

I am still crafting but sadly, I have no pictures to show for anything that has been finished lately.  My camera is not working at all.  I don't even know what exactly happened.  We went on a family picnic two weekends ago and while there - my husband said the memory card for our camera was broken.  I asked him how that could be as I had just uploaded pictures the day before.  He didn't know but said it was an easy fix by just getting a new card.  Unfortunately, this is not the case as the camera won't even power up now.  Such a bummer and I'm not certain when exactly I'll get a new camera.  It has to be sometime this summer though.  I can not go without taking lots of pictures.  I've been taking some with my phone but I don't like the quality of my phone pics as well as my Canon digital camera.

I've completed - and my daughter has given - end of year thank you gifts to her teachers.  We made mini Granny square bags which turned out adorably.  I've also completed mini bags for my daughters and a big Granny summer tote for myself.  At least i can photograph/post about those once we have a new camera.

I've also been working on afghans.  One is for Laura for the Ravelry afghan swap and two are Christmas gifts.  I won't say for whom just in case this blog is being read by any of them.

My daughters have a lot of fun craft ideas that they want to do over summer vacation, too.


Monday, May 28, 2012

Granny Square Afghan CAL

I decided, rather on a whim, actually - to participate in a summer CAL (Crochet-a-Long).  This is a first for me but I am excited.  The Granny Square Sampler Afghan CAL is being hosted at WiseCraft and anyone can join in at any time during the summer event.  As I am attempting to make a few afghans for Christmas presents - this seems like a great way to work on this lofty aspiration.  You do notice that I said attempting to make, right? I've got myself on a schedule and I'm hoping for the best but we'll see where I'm at come December.  I do believe that this CAL will help me achieve the Christmas goal, though.

Anyway, I'm very excited to get started with this.  Fortunately, it just started on May 18th and it's a weekly thing so I'm not far behind at all.  Oh, and thank you to Casey at Plus 3 Crochet for posting about her involvement in this CAL.  That's where I learned about this.  So, if you decide to participate, please let me know! One of the things I'm really looking forward to is seeing the progress of other participants.

Sunday, May 27, 2012

A Shawl becomes a Shrug

Last month I received a wonderful package from Laura - who is my Afghan Swap 2012 partner.  The package contained several skeins of Hobby Lobby's I Love This Yarn.  One of the skeins is called Summer Happens and I love it.  I almost immediately set out to make a triangle shawl with it.  I finished the shawl today but it is too small for me or any other adult.  Luckily, my daughters loved the shawl.  Since it's the perfect size for them - I gave it to them.  And yes, I know I could have simply purchased another skein of the yarn and made the shawl bigger but my girls really wanted this one.




Of course, as they are little girls, the concept of a shawl just does not work.  They quickly got irritated with the fact that the shawl kept falling off of their shoulders as they were playing.  So, I made a few single crochet stitches up each side of the shawl in order to make armholes.  A shrug was born and my girls are thrilled.  So am I.





Laura, thank you once again for the awesome package and yarn.  I've put a couple of the other skeins to use making more teacher appreciation gifts - to be revealed soon.

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Teacher Appreciation

It's the time of year to say thanks for the wonderful teachers! Fortunately, Miss O has been very lucky with the teachers she has had so far in her school career.  I so hope this continues.  Anyway, she has two teachers this year plus an absolutely amazing reading tutor.  In three months her confidence in her reading has sky rocketed and she's jumped up a grade level.  So, as a way of saying thanks, Miss O designed - and picked out all the materials - her a purse and I made it.




I'm happy to say her reading tutor loved her bag.  And, as it turns out, she's getting married and this exact yellow and green are her wedding colors! How cool is that?

So, one teacher appreciation gift done, two to go!

Saturday, April 28, 2012

A Bright Square

I am in the process of making a very bright project for Summer.  I'm hoping to be done with it this weekend and will share it during the week.  In the meantime, here is a teaser of one of the colorful, bright, summer squares:


Thursday, April 26, 2012

A Wonderful Package

I received a great box of exciting crochet yumminess the other day.  I am part of a group on Ravelry called Afghan Swap 2012.  The idea (and it's a great one, in my opinion) is to get to really know one person through the year and share three swap packages with one another - the last containing, you guessed it, an afghan.  Well, I feel very lucky with the person I was paired up with and do believe we are becoming friends.  We both sent off our first packages last weekend and received them on Tuesday.  I'm happy to say that both were quite the success.

Here are some photos of my wonderful package:

In the box were: A beautiful purse for me, Hello Kitty purses for my daughters, five skeins of I Love This Yarn (which I'd never tried but now definitely do love) in shades of my favorite color green, 'Crovheted by' labels, yarn sleeves, a crochet hook with a bamboo handle (which is very comfortable to use), a book with different Granny square patterns, an adorable card and chocolate bars - yum.  I feel very fortunate and quite spoiled.  I've already said thank you to her but I'm going to say it once again - THANKS! 

A close up of the Hello Kitty bag (of which there were two).  My girls absolutely love them!

My beautiful purse - in shades of blue, also a favorite color.

Close up.  I think the pattern may be African flowers but I'm not positive.  I need to find out because I love them and want to give it a try.

The YARN! It's fabulous, really! I've already started making something out of the ombre one (which is called Summer -something, I can't find the label) and it is quite pretty.

Another close up!

Thank you, thank you! I feel so very blessed and yes, spoiled.