Squares, Hats and Hangars

Been awhile since I have been here. Been busy with the normal daily routines of life..work, house work, reading and of course, crochet. Finally figured out a plan so I don't get bored just crocheting one thing. (taking a break from the yo yoghans). CFAC's monthly challenge for June is to make squares. Any size or color desired. I am making these pretty little flower squares. Make four of them, tie in the ends set them aside. (Pattern can be found for these in Country Woman magazine April/May 2009)

Then I make a hat (for CFAC of course). This pattern was designed by Julie Bolduc and is called The Addison Hat. I cannot find the pattern on line anymore. Luckily I printed it out. They are so much fun and easy to make. After that, make a hangar (cover a hangar with yarn like my grandma taught me.) The hangars are for the Christmas bazaar at church.

And for those of you that enjoy reading a good book, I have to point you towards my book list over to the right. Check out Love and Duty. Usually, I don't venture into reading many true stories - and never do I read war stories. But this one is so different and so good. If you don't want to buy it, check your local library to see if they can get it for you. It really puts love, honor, and duty in a new light. Atleast in my eyes. I bought this book while visiting Andersonville, GA. This was a wonderful experience - one that I would love to go and re-do. Mom, Dad and I stayed at an amazing B&B (Americus Garden Inn). Anyways, back to the book. If you do read this book, please let me know your thoughts on it.

Off to figure out what to feed my growling belly. Toodles!

Suggestions Please

A couple weeks ago, my friend went to Ireland and brought this back for me. I have never worked with wool, but I am told it is just like working with WW - unless you are allergic to wool. But I have no idea of what to make with this hank of wool. I could make a hat or two for the reservation, but in my heart, I want to make something for me since my friend bought it with me in mind. Living in Florida, a wool hat or scarf just is not practical. One of my friends suggested the crochet hook case by Priscilla Hewitt. But I wanted to see what my other crochet fanatic friends come up with too. Any ideas?

Life has kept me away from the computer and crocheting for quite some time. Work has been going haywire. We house/dog sat for my friend (yes the one who went to Ireland) for 2 weeks. My hubby's brother passed away. 2 1/2 weeks later on Palm Sunday my best friend passed away. And hubby's granny passed away a little over a week ago. My mind frame is finally getting back to the hook and yarn. Yo yoghan #2 for the year is on the hook. It is a little over half way done. The same scarf is still in progress - no further along from the last post. I was able to make 12 - 7" squares for CFAC and send them off to one of our members for assembly. I am anxious to finish the yo yoghan and start on a new project.

Looking forward to hearing your ideas for the wool.

It's Either Feast or Famine

Ever have those times where you are just not sure what you want to do with your crochet/crafting time? Nothing seems to spark that interest in you, so you just pick a project and later set it aside 'cuz it just isn't doing anything for you. So you start another project. That is kinda where I was at. Knowing that I needed to work on a yo yo ghan, but just not in the mood for it. So I started making saltines just to pass the time (and destash). My last post I mentioned buying the yarn to make my next Tulip afghan as a RAOK gift. I was so excited to finally have that project that was going to light the fire under my behind and get me motivated. I was so excited when the package of yarn came! And I know exactly who will get this RAOK gift. Can't say. Not sure if this person reads my blog or not. So, this tulipghan (done in shades of blue instead of my normal shades of burgundy's and pinks) is about 1/4 the way done. Good thing, as I am getting lots of yo yos in the mail lately and have be put on notice that more are on the way. Love making these lapghans, just think I was getting burned out on them. Now I am ready and raring to go.

To add to these projects, a friend from church asked me to finish a hat that was sent to her for finishing. It is made with fun fur - and the person who was making ran out. PLUS...another friend asked me to make a couple baby bonnets. She gave me the pattern. Said she had tried to make it, but it just wasn't working for her. Bought the yarn for this project today.

So, let's see, tulipghan, yo yo's, fun fur hat, baby bonnets....

Oh, and I wanted to share these pics with you. This is the bread store that I have mentioned in a past post where my knitting friends (and this one lonely crocheter) meet up. Isn't this the coolist place to relax and enjoy some time with good friends and yarn?? The credit for the pics goes to Kate - a member of the Knead to Knit group on Ravelry. We met thru Rav, but have not yet met in person. She goes to the Thursday knit group and I go to the Saturday one. What is really sad, is that she lives about 4 blocks up the road from me.

O.K. Toodles for now. Have someone heading up this way to give me a quote on redoing one of our bathrooms.

January Update

Can't say I have done a whole lot this past month. The baby afghan for a co-worker was completed and a few scarves were made. These were sent to a shelter for abused women on the Pine Ridge reservation. And I made lots of hangers - some for the church to sell and a few more the the CFAC Web store (check it out. All monies raised goes to buy propane for needy families on the reservation). Hmm..reading this, more things were accomplished than I thought.

Last week I ordered yarn to make another Tulip afghan. The girls in the Knead to Knit group had decided to each enter one knit project for the county fair. Krista said that I should enter a crochet project too. I was truly excited at this thought. After the meeting, I went home and ordered the yarn. But disappointment was soon to come. There are categories for sewing and knitting, but no crocheting. Boy was I bummed out. But this is o.k. The tulip afghan is going to be made anyways and given as a Random Act of Kindness gift. Like the one I made last year. It was so much fun to do it, that I have decided to do a RAOK gift atleast once a year.

Off to play with my new yarn stash. Toodles!

Amazing Quilted Items

Just had to share this Etsy site with you. If you are looking for something unique and beautiful for a present, take a look at Sarah's Quilts and Crafts. I have a table runner she made - it looks store bought. The stitching is perfect, the colors are ohhh so pretty. She has everything from quilts to pot holders. Her pricing may look high, but her quality is like non other I have ever seen.
Back to work now. Toodles!!

Goodbye to 2008 ~ Hello to 2009

Mom has always told me that as you get older the years go by quicker and quicker. She wasn't joking!!! Can it really be that 2009 is less than a week away? How can that be? There were so many things I wanted to do in 2008 that just have not happened.

But, the hook has been flying away. Since my last posting: 2 hats, 2 scarves, Aubrey's Travelghan - all of these have been completed. Still working on yo yoghan #12. This is a slow project. Needed some instant gratifications. And some quick stash busting. So the hats and scarves were completed. Good thing as CFAC is having a scarf CAL for January! Yippee!! For once I can say I am ahead of the game. lol

Yesterday I was able to meet up with the knit group at the local bread store. They love me even if I cannot knit. We spent 3 hours playing with yarn and talking about life. No phones, no kids scraming...just female adult time. And I tried starting a baby blanket, but I was too busy talking that I just never got my stitch counts right. That's alright. I figured it out when I got home.

Last week on the news, I heard that a Toys for Tot's distribution center in Orlando had run out of toys. This broke my heart. Especially since a family member of mine had to rely on this program this year. Luckily, her distribution center was not affected by this. Usually I will buy one toy and put in the Toys for Tot's collection box. But for 2009, I am going to buy one toy a month. 12 toys by December. They may not be the big expensive items, but a board game or a book. Maybe even a soccer ball or a foot ball. With the way the economy is going, next Christmas will be the same, if not worse, than this year. Christmas is about the the birth of our Lord and Saviour. And I feel like He is calling upon me to do a little more for others and less for myself.

Here I Am

Seems like I am posting only once a month lately. Does this mean I am not on the computer much?? I guess after being on this nasty creation all day at work, I don't much feel like hopping right back on when I get home.

The crochet hooks have been keeping me occupied during my ups and downs of the past few months. (yes, still traveling down the path of uncertainty.) Can't remember what had been completed when I last posted (should I have read it first?? Probably). If I repeat myself, please just skip over whatever you already know.

Let's see...A grannyghan was made for a friend going thru radiation treatments. (he received it yesterday and was speechless. Definately NOT something he is.) Yo yoghan #11 has been sent and # 12 is already about 30% done. A no brainer scarf pattern was used and made in 2 days. Made a travelghan for the infusion center. This was such an easy and fun project, I decided my granddaughter should have one for Christmas. All that is left to complete this project is to put 2 buttons on it (that have to be bought yet) and to make the handle. There are several bookmarks that just need the ends tied in. Did about half of them a couple nights ago. Now to just sit and do the rest (worst part of crocheting is sewing in those nasty little ends.)

Oh, and I have been asked to make 3 pair of bunny slippers -yes!!! Commissioned work!! The colors requested?? 1 in purple and 2 in orange. Don't ask about the colors as I have no clue. But hey...commissioned work!!!