Showing posts with label Crochet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Crochet. Show all posts

Saturday, August 30, 2014

Love You a Ton

Did you know that Stephanie Smokovich, owner of Bella Blvd. is having a little boy next month? She is and all of the design team members are anxiously awaiting his arrival! I've been passing the time crocheting a blanket for their little one and created this Tiny Tots card to go with it. 




The animals in this line are just cuter than cute! I especially love the little elephant, don't you? 

Stephanie and Steven have been putting together a darling nursery using many of the colors and critters from the Tiny Tots line. One of those colors is navy in which I used for his blanket. 


I crocheted a diamond patterned design for the blanket which will be perfect for the summer months...and for winter it can be doubled up to make baby extra snug. 


I added some pretty ribbon and shipped it early this week! 

Congratulations Stephanie and Steven! Hope you enjoy all the special moments with your new little one! 


Wednesday, June 25, 2014

More to Crochet About

Hello! It's been a little while since I've shared my most recent crochet projects so I thought I do that today. I've been making a few smaller pieces and love that most of them can be made in an evening...instant gratification! 


Since it's too hot to wear warm chunky scarves right now I decided to make this summery decorative one. I love this shade of green and the twisty curly design. I'm thinking of making another to wear together. Three would probably make it warm enough for winter...and imagine the color combinations! 


I whipped up this little friendship bracelet for our niece who was here visiting last week. Wouldn't a few of these in different color combinations be fun too? The pattern is not in English but can be translated or you can just follow the pictures. 


Before we know it autumn will be here and as soon as I saw this adorable little crocheted pumpkin, I wanted to hook it! It's cuter than cute and I think a little trio of them would be perfect for displaying through the fall! 


Oreo claimed this one for his own! I suppose every black cat needs a pumpkin? ;) 


For my last project share...this frilly little Ball jar topper. Isn't it darling? And guess what? I'm getting to the point with my crocheting that I was able to create this on my own without a pattern. Pretty cool! I'm wondering if I should make a pattern/tutorial? Would you be interested? Leave me a comment....maybe if there's enough demand, I might. :)

I hope you enjoyed my projects and that you feel inspired to pick up a hook! Thanks to all you creative crocheters out there who so generously share these great patterns! The yarn for all these creations is Cascade's 100% Ultra Pima Cotton Yarn. I love that it's all natural and super soft. All these projects were also created with a Clover 3.75 mm F Hook.

Are there any knitters in the house? I've been trying to learn to knit these past few days and oh boy is it challenging! It's like learning to play a guitar or piano where all your fingers have to work together..... Tell me it gets easier? I really felt last night that my hands couldn't move the way they needed to for knitting or that my index finger wasn't long enough! Crochet seemed to be so much easier to learn. Do any of you do both crochet and knit? Any suggestions for me? 


Monday, June 9, 2014

Ode to Crochet

Every time I crochet something new I'm always amazed with the results! Do you ever get that feeling with your crafty projects? You stand back, take it in and feel so proud? For so long I wished I could crochet and make all the fun little things I'd find on Pinterest and now I can! 




This lovely little decor piece is a crochet embroidery hoop...you know those simple wood ones from the craft store? I used my favorite Cascade Ultra Pima Cotton Yarn and Clover 3.75 mm Crochet Hook. I found the pattern/instructions for making it here.


I also made my first cat toy last week. I wish I had taken a picture of Oreo playing with it...he was dragging it off to another room! This was created with a Raverly pattern that you can find here.


If you saw my crochet post from last week I told you about this book on Tunisian crochet. There's my first little swatch. Learning this reminded me of crocheting for the first time where I was all thumbs. My hands just wouldn't move the way they do now with a regular hook. Learning something new isn't always easy, but it is very rewarding and isn't that stitch pretty? 

Next on the list of things to learn is sewing. I have a sewing machine collecting dust in my craft room...not good! 

Anyway, enjoy your Monday!


Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Crochet Day

Over the weekend I finished my latest crochet project....this colorful sampler scarf. It started out to be a blanket, but I decided to make it into a scarf because I thought it was too fun and colorful not to!  I almost can't wait until winter to wear it! ;) I think I'll still make a blanket a little later. 




Thanks to Wooly Wonders Crochet's YouTube video tutorials, I was able to follow along on this project with relative ease. There we a few stitch samples that I messed up on and had to redo. Par for the crochet course! ;)


Aren't these colors and stitches fun? 


For some reason, my popcorn stitches didn't pop as much as I'd hoped. Do you see the little blue dots on the green strip. I'll have to play around with that next time and see if an extra stitch in the cluster helps.

So....I was so jazzed about my new scarf that I played hooky yesterday from my usual paper crafting projects and went to the store to buy some more hooks and yarn and the Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Tunisian Crochet.


Trying this new style of crochet was awkward...just like when I started crocheting. You have to practice to get it down and to get your hands to move the way you want! My hands were sore after learning the basic stitch! I was so tensely holding onto the hook! 

To give myself a break I picked up my regular crochet hook and made this little project that I pinned awhile back...a crochet votive candle holder or jar cozy.


I used the same hook size and cotton yarn as the scarf above...


...along with this Ravelry patterned found on Pinterest. 


It was a quick and easy project I did in just a couple hours. I think it would be perfect filled with treats and given as a gift. Oh....like a little spa jar with candle and couple bath products. Sounds delightful, huh? 

Monday, May 12, 2014

Crochet Afghan

What I started on my birthday in March, I finished last night on Mother's Day...an Afghan for my father-in-law and his wife. It's a very easy granny square design using Ultra Pima Cotton Yarn in Lavender, Sunshine, White and Primrose and a Clover F/3.75mm hook.


I didn't follow a pattern, I simply made 49 basic granny squares (10 rounds) and attached them together with a one row border. If you would like to know how to make a granny square, click here for a simple tutorial with excellent photos.


I love using all natural fibers such as cotton. It's so soft and great weight for afghans.


As I was photographing the blanket, my assistant Oreo had to come see what I was up to. :) 


Mother's Day weekend was awesome! My boys really spoiled me! Dan did the grocery shopping and brought home some gorgeous tulips and filet mignon for dinner....he cooked too!


We went strawberry picking at Vollmer Farms. Same farm where we get a weekly box of produce as part of our Community Supported Agriculture program.


Just look at these red ripe berries! A great crop this year! 


We can't go to Vollmer Farms without indulging in some of Farmer John's famous homemade ice cream! The strawberry one is mine...I can never wait for the picture to start eating! ;) By-the-way, we save our cups and spoons, keep them with our berry-picking buckets and bring them back for a refill...conserving where we can! :)

Hope you had a great weekend too and a good start to the week!


Friday, April 11, 2014

Let's Crochet!

As many of you know, I've learned to crochet recently and I'd love to share my latest project with you...this pretty diamond mesh stitch warmer weather scarf. It's perfect for cool spring and autumn days!


If you're interested in learning to crochet, it's super easy! All you need is a ball of yarn, a hook and the free video tutorials from Yarnspirations.


My scarf was so simple to make following this tutorial. I used Lime Ultra Pima Cotton Yarn and a Clover Crochet Hook, size F, 3.75mm.

I'm off to the store this morning and I think I'll wear my new scarf! :)

T.G.I.F!

Friday, March 28, 2014

Crochet

I'm posting a little later today then usual since I decided to get the grocery shopping done first thing this morning. Funny thing happened while the young man who bagged my groceries helped me out to the car...he asked, "Any exciting plans for the day?" I felt a little embarrassed to admit that my exciting plan was to spend the afternoon crocheting, but I did. Then he blows me away by saying, "Cool! I knit!" Maybe I should mention that I shop at Whole Foods and perhaps this guy was a bit a hippy? Anyway, I thought that was pretty awesome!



One of the goals I have for my blog this year is to share some of the other crafty things I do besides playing with paper...like crocheting this cute little granny square banner. What do you think? I love how it looks in the family room with other handmade items and vintage treasures. 

Currently I have a few crochet projects in the works......I like variety. 


My father-in-law is turning 90 this year so I started an afghan similar to this for him.


I'm also working on a fishnet style, warmer weather scarf for me. I always need a sweater/layers in the summer when we go out to eat since restaurants are almost always over air-conditioned.


A third crochet project I'm working is this gorgeous shawl. I'm not really a shawl person, but I love this one!

I'll share all of these projects with you when they're completed.

So, what are your exciting plans for the day?


Saturday, March 22, 2014

Currently...


...looking forward to indulging in the slice of Godiva cheesecake brought home from the Cheesecake Factory during last night's birthday celebration!

...remembering how delicious the Craig's Crazy Mixed Up Carrot Cake Cheesecake was!

...playing with yarn on a daily basis. I have OCD (obsessive crocheting disorder)!

...streaming Grey's Anatomy on the iPad.; usually while crocheting.

...trying to always find the positive in every situation.

...eating a healthy diet of fish, lean meats and fresh organic fruits and vegetables (when I'm not stuffing my face with cheesecake).

...pinning this precious photo this morning.

...crafting with paper, always crafting with paper!

...scrapping our Project Life album. I'm keeping up with it even though my dead printer isn't! New printer on the way.

...going on a walk today. It's supposed to get up to 77 degrees!

...loving our flowering plum tree. It's right outside the living room window...like a giant bouquet of flowers!

...hating that winter will rear it's ugly head again early next week when the high for the day will be in the 30's!

...discovering a few more gray hairs. Ugh!

...enjoying that my wonderful husband is doing the grocery shopping for me today!

...thinking I'd like to start another, small cross stitch project.

...feeling thankful that my family is happy, healthy and life is good!

...hoping that Christopher gets into summer camp this year. We're on the waiting list. This would be the first time it didn't happen for him in the past seven years. He really really looks forward to it!

...listing to the smooth jazz station on Pandora most afternoons.

...smelling coffee! I love and savor my morning cup!

...finishing a warm weather fishnet scarf in a beautiful shade of green.


...starting on an afghan for Dan's father who is turning 90 next month.

So what's currently happening for you?


Friday, February 21, 2014

Oh Boy!

Have you seen the latest baby collection, Special Delivery, by Pebbles? It's absolutely adorable and I couldn't wait to dig in a make something to share with you! 






I created this layered look using a nesting set of stars and clouds dies from My Favorite Things and a sentiment die from Papertrey Ink.

For those of you who are following my crochet adventures...here's a look at one of my latest projects...


...coasters! I created these with a free pattern from Tuts, a craft tutorial site I discovered on Pinterest. As a beginner of crochet, I found the pictorial tutorial easy enough to follow and I love them! So far Oreo kitty hasn't wrecked any...although he has knocked them to the floor on a couple occasions! ;)

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