MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I hope you and your family and friends have a wonderful, blessed Christmas. Eat some good food, enjoy time with your loved ones, and take a moment to remember the reason for it all. Happy Birthday, Jesus!

100 POSTS!!

Today is post 100! Thank you to everyone who's followed me or checked out my blog this first year. I know I've been erratic with posts (something I'm hoping to change next year), but I have thoroughly enjoyed myself. And without you, I'd just be rambling to myself about crochet and scrapbooking and life (I do that anyway!).

Oh, that's right, there's supposed to be a giveaway, isn't there?
Have I held you in suspense long enough?
Well, here it is!
I got my little Christmas bucket...

put all the names in it...

shook them up and drew out a name.

Our

winner

is....

...........

Crochet dyverse!!!

Yay!!!!

Congratulations!!!!

She is the proud recipient of two cotton washcloths.

Okay, crochet dyverse, you have one week to claim your prize. Please email your mailing address to bookworm187@earthlink.net. And congratulations!

Thank you to everyone who entered, be you fabulous new followers or rockin' regular followers!

One last monkey

I can't get away from them!! I thought I was done, but my friend heard about them and asked me to make one for her to give as a gift. 

I'm still crocheting slippers and owl purses, frantically trying to get everything done by Tuesday. I'm down to 5 pairs of slippers and 2 purses and, of course, the yo yo blanket. Kay and Helen came by yesterday and made 40 yo yos for me while I attached two rows to the blanket. Only 80 more yo yos and 12 rows to go! I don't anticipate it being done by Christmas; it'll be a late gift. My goal now is to get it done this year.

Well, I'm off to get by dad at the airport; he's visiting this week from Ohio. 

Thanks for reading!

Blessings :-)

Today's Inspiration

More Slippers and an Owl Purse

Today is post #99! Tomorrow is the big day. Don't forget to enter my 100 posts giveaway! You have until tomorrow afternoon since most of my posts are written in the evening. Good luck!

Nothing too exciting going on around here. I finished my dad's slippers.

The colors are Carrot and Black.
I made two pairs of slippers for friends for Christmas.

These are Claret and Orchid.

These are Black and Pretty 'N Pink.
All of them were made with Red Heart Super Saver yarn. The pattern can be found here.
I also made an owl purse for my neighbor's 4-year-old daughter.

I used scrap yarn so I'm not sure what colors and brands are in there. It was pretty simple to make, but I was surprised at how small it came out. That's a size K hook next to it. I'd like to make one for my niece who's 10, but I think I'll make it with a bigger hook. The pattern can be found here.

Today's Inspiration

Thanks for reading!
Blessings :-)

The Monkeys are Finally Done!

This is post number 98! Don't forget to enter my 100 posts giveaway!

They're finally done! Those monkey cozies took a lot longer to assemble than we thought they would.
First, we had to sew on the eyes.

We had to stitch the mouths and nostrils on the muzzles, then stuff the muzzles and sew them to the bodies.

Finally, we had to sew on the ears.
And, ta da!

All 25 monkey cozies were delivered to the church group. They loved them! Now, please don't mention the words "sock monkey" to me for a long time!

Today's Inspiration

Thanks for reading!
Blessings :-)

Senseless Tragedy

We remember and pray for the residents of Newtown, Connecticut. What a senseless tragedy.

Trading Crochet for Cookies

This is post number 96! Don't forget to enter my 100 posts giveaway!

I put the crochet hook down for this afternoon to make some cookies. We were having a cookie exchange at our ladies night.

I made Red Velvet Cookies with cream cheese icing.

There are lots of good recipes online for these, but I use the one from Joanne Fluke's murder mystery, Red Velvet Cupcake Mystery. 

Because of the icing, I didn't want to put them in sandwich bags to hand out. Then I remembered the containers I bought on clearance after Christmas at Walmart.

These were the smaller of three containers I got for $1.50. They each held 6 cookies perfectly.

But they looked a little drab. So I added a bow.

Better, but still not good enough. So I quickly crocheted six little snowflakes

and attached one to each container.

Perfect! It's not often I get that detailed on the packaging. The little craft gremlin grabbed hold of me and wouldn't let go!

We had a great party at ladies night; we had the cookie exchange, exchanged gifts, and then started working on sock monkey cozies. We got the eyes, mouths, and nostrils done before I left. They were going to stuff the muzzles and sew them on and sew on the ears. Then they'll be done! I'll post a picture as soon as I get it.

It's almost 2 in the morning where I am. I'm going to bed. Good night!
Thanks for reading!
Blessings :-)

Today's Inspiration

WIP Wednesday

Today is post number 95! Don't forget to enter my 100 posts giveaway!

I've made some progress this week.

I finished the slippers for my friends' kids. These are made with Red Heart Super Saver yarn in Buff and Camouflage.

I started my dad's slippers. Same yarn in Carrot and Black.
I finished the potholders but forgot to take a picture before I wrapped them.

I finished the monkey ears. We still have 6 "bodies" to make before we can assemble them tomorrow and Friday.
Just keep crocheting, just keep crocheting... (If you haven't seen Finding Nemo, that doesn't make sense.)

Today's Inspiration

Thanks for reading!
Blessings :-)

Two Tuesday

Two Things I'm Grateful For

1. Time alone. I love homeschooling, but that means I'm with my daughter, Hope, almost all the time. She started babysitting the little neighbor girl a couple of weeks agos for a couple of hours a day.  Those two hours are my quiet me time. I play on the computer, watch TV, crochet, whatever I want, as long as it's not housework. It's peaceful and quiet :-)

2. Free crochet patterns. I have no problem buying patterns and respect those who have them for sale. Everyone has to make a living. But I especially love finding free patterns on the web. A big thank you to all those pattern designers out there who share their creations with the rest of us. 

Two Patterns I Think are Neat

I'm an owl fanatic, so in case there are any more out there, here are a couple of cute owls you could whip up in time for Christmas.

This adorable purse pattern can be found on Mama G's Big Crafty Blog.

The pattern for these cute little guys can be found on Hopscotch Lane.

Speaking of giving credit where credit is due, I forgot to post the links to the patterns for all the items I've been making and posting pictures of.

Slipper sock pattern can be found here.

Pot holder pattern can be found here.

Monkey cozy pattern can be found here.

Yo Yo blanket pattern can be found here.

Good luck to everyone who's entered my giveaway so far! If you haven't had a chance, you still have a few days to become a follower of my blog (if you're not already) and leave a comment on this post.

Today's Inspiration

Thanks for reading!
Blessings :-)

100 Posts Giveaway

I can't believe I have almost 100 posts! To celebrate this occasion (which should happen early to mid-next week) I'm having a giveaway.

You'll have your choice of prize:

Prize #1

Two washcloths made with Sugar N Cream cotton yarn in Melonberry.

Prize #2

Ladies slipper socks (fits sizes 5-10) made with Red Heart Super Saver yarn in Candy Print and Amethyst.

Prize #3

Baby booties (should* fit sizes 9-12 months) made with Red Heart Super Saver yarn in Pink Camo.

*I say "should" because I'm going by the pattern only; I don't have any babies to test them on.

The giveaway is open from now until the day I make my 100th post. I'll do a random drawing on that day and you'll have one week to claim your prize.

Here's how to enter:

1. Be a follower of my blog.

2. Let me know which prize you like.

That's it! As a bonus, if you mention my giveaway on your blog and leave me the link, you'll get an extra entry in the drawing box!

Good luck to everyone!

Today's Inspiration

Thanks for reading!
Blessings :-)

Crocheting Fiend

I've been up to my ears in crochet projects the last week and haven't lifted my head from the hook long enough to even glance at the computer.

It started innocently enough: I wanted to make presents for a few friends. Nothing big, just little things. You saw the scarves. All I needed to make was a pair of slippers and a couple of pot holders.

Simple enough. But then I started adding names to the list. Not too many; just 5 more. To make it simple, they're all getting slippers. I have the yarn all ready.

So, one potholder to finish by Thursday (our ladies' night) and 5 pairs of slippers by Christmas. All my blanket projects are on the back burner until after Christmas. The only one I'd like to finish by Christmas is the yo yo.

I still have a ways to go, so this may be a late Christmas gift. 

So, I was a little busy but not too bad. Then my friend asked if I would make slippers for her kids for Christmas if she bought the yarn. She's a good friend and I've watched her kids grow up, so I said yes.

Two pairs for the girls.

And yarn ready for the two pairs for the boys. 

Then another friend decided she wanted to make sock monkey cozies for her church group. All 26 of them. She's a beginning crocheter so another friend and I offered to help. I was going to make the ears, one was going to make the muzzles, and one was going to make the bodies. 

We made 9 last week. My friend made 8 this weekend. I made these 4 and added the pink to the fifth one today. I have four more to make by Wednesday (just the dark brown parts). Then we have to sew on all the little parts to, hopefully, be done by Saturday.

Tim says I need to learn how to say no, but how can I when they're my friends? I love making all these projects, but when you throw in teaching school, Christmas shopping, and work, I'm a little overwhelmed. 

But it will all get done in time. I'm confident :-)

Today's Inspiration

Thanks for reading!
Blessings :-)

Another Scarf and More Christmas Cards

I made another Seashells Scarf, the last one I need to make for Christmas.

At first, I didn't like the Plum Pudding, but the colors looked a lot richer when I added the white border.

I also finished the last of my Christmas cards today. I had missed one of the classes but was able to make it up tonight.

Both are very simple designs, but with the 3D elements, they're very nice. Now that I have all 60 done, it's time to mail them.

Today's Inspiration

Thanks for reading!
Blessings :-)