Sick again

Not me! The computer. Tim's been tinkering with it the last few days trying to make it work better. It keeps freezing up and it's slower than molasses. I've been terrible about responding to comments or making comments on other blogs because I don't have the patience to sit here for hours waiting for pages to load. That's terrible, I know.

Mini Monday

I'm almost done with the shawl, just two more rounds of the border. My CADD (crochet attention deficit disorder) set in and I put it down for a couple of days. 

I did start my new project for the week last night. 

It's the Ombre Basket pattern from Crochet in Color. I finished the bottom and two rows of the sides last night. It's murder on the arms and wrists working with 4 strands at once! But I love the way it looks. I don't know what it'll look like when I'm done; I don't have enough Sunshine Print to do the whole basket, so I'll be changing colors soon. No plan on what colors, just whatever makes me happy. This one's for me :-)

Two Tuesday

Two things I'm grateful for:

1. A cup of coffee waiting for me when I stumble out of bed, thanks to my sweet hubby :-)

2. Being able to homeschool Hope. We started our studies again yesterday after the Christmas break and I marvel at the blessing of being able to teach her. 

Two patterns I think are neat:

1. Happy Pills pattern from EssHaych. We all could use some of these :-)

2. Monster Kleenex Box Cover pattern from Repeat Crafter Me. With cold and flu season in high gear, why not make the tissue box a little more fun?

Dishcloth a Day #6

The Bumped Shells Dishcloth is from JP Fun. I love the look of the pattern but it was cumbersome (for me) to make. It took a while.

Here's a close up of the pattern:

Silly Blogger flipping my pictures!

Dishcloth a Day #7

I needed a quick make yesterday so I fell back on an old favorite. The Rose in Bloom Dishcloth can be made in about half an hour and uses only half a ball of cotton. Love it!

Photo a Day Challenge January 6, 2013

Sunday's prompt was Mine. This is my yarn cabinet. Yummy, yummy yarn! My fingers just itch with excitement every time I open the doors.

Photo a Day Challenge January 7, 2013

Yesterday's prompt was Street. Since I stayed home yesterday, I decided to take a picture of the street I live on. It's a very busy road with constant traffic so I waited until late at night so I wouldn't be run over taking the picture!

Daily Inspiration

I'll be back later with today's dishcloth and picture.
Thanks for reading!
Blessings :-)

This and That

It's been a busy couple of days around here. Horseback riding lessons, errands, a Celebrating Home party and a Harry Potter movie marathon kept me running yesterday, and today we did housework and spent the evening in Orlando. 

I'm still plugging away on the shawl. I'm on the last 5 rows and each row takes forever (kind of like a round ripple). Hopefully, I'll be done soon.

Dishcloth a Day #4

Yesterday's dishcloth was the 29 Stitches Dishcloth from The Good Life. I like this pattern because it works up quickly and easily. I messed this one up, though; I put too many single crochets on the sides so it came out ruffly. So, rather than frogging the round, I changed the second round a little (reverse single crochet, chain 3, skip 2 stitches, reverse single crochet in the next stitch) to make the ruffly work for it. It still needs to be blocked a little but I like the effect. 

Dishcloth a Day #5

Today's was a lot of fun. I wish I had a link for you, but I couldn't find the pattern on the Lily Sugar n Cream website. I found the pattern on the cotton yarn wrapper. It was just called Dishcloth. It was quick and easy with single crochets in chain 2 spaces so it has a mesh-y look.

Granny Square Saturday

I made the first square for my Granny Square challenge this year. This is the Dream Weaver Square from Stormy'z Crochet. I love it! I can picture a whole blanket made with these; I bet different color combinations would look great. 

Photo a Day Challenge January 4, 2013

Yesterday's topic was The View From Here. I snapped a picture of Hope at her horseback riding lesson. It was a little drizzly and cold, but that never stops her from riding.

Photo a Day Challenge January 5, 2013

Today's topic was Movement. I was trying to find something interesting to shoot. This is the traffic on the Turnpike on our way to Orlando. I got a little glare from the windshield even though my flash wasn't on, but it still came out good.

Today's Inspiration

Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have,

and only you can determine how it will be spend.

Be careful lest you let others spend it for you.

Carl Sandburg 

Thanks for reading!

Blessings :-)

WIP Wednesday on Thursday, Photos & Dishcloths

My "delightful" computer decided it didn't want to work yesterday. No reason; it just didn't want to work. So, because it was late and I was tired from a long day, I didn't argue. Today, it seems to be in better spirits.

Now that I'm finished with the yo-yo blanket, I can go back to work on my other blankets. I'm hoping to have some progress to show next week. The Have a Heart Shawl is coming along nicely.

This picture was taken yesterday morning so I'm a little further along than it shows. I just passed the halfway point and should be done by Friday.

Dishcloth a Day #2

This is the Shell Variation Dishcloth  from bestfreecrochet.com. I really enjoyed making this one; I like the way the pattern switches from left to right.

Dishcloth a Day #3

This is the Scalloped Dishcloth from Knitterly things and other stuff. I like the way it looks, but for some reason, I had trouble with the pattern. It's written well, but I just never got into the groove making this one. I had to keep checking the pattern as I went.

Photo a Day Challenge January 2, 2013

Yesterday's topic was Something New. This is my new diary for 2013. I like the quote on the front: "When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us." - Helen Keller

Photo a Day Challenge January 3, 2013

Today's topic is Heart. This is a Teeny Tiny Heart I made from a pattern over at Attic 24. It was quick to make and I'd like to make tons more (hostess gifts, Valentine's gifts, decorations...)

Thursday's Tickle

EXERCISE

Some motivation required.

Thanks for reading!

Blessings :-)

Four Challenges

Because I'm an overachiever (read that "crazy"), I've decided to give myself 4 challenges this year.

The first is the Photo a Day Challenge. I did this a little last year and really enjoyed it. I'd like to do it all year this year. The details for January can be found here or by clicking on the Photo a Day January button on the left under Challenges.

Photo a Day January 1, 2013

Today's topic was Today. What did I do today, the first day of a new year?

I worked on the turquoise and brown yo yo blanket all day. I had 5 rows to add on and then the border.
And....

TA DA!! It's finally done!!!

The second challenge I'm doing this year is Dishcloth a Day. It's simple enough; I'll make a different cotton dishcloth each day and post a picture of it with the link to the pattern.

Dishcloth a Day #1

Today's dishcloth is the Ocean Grove Round Washcloth from Lion Brand yarn.

It came out nice although I had to block it to make it lie flat because I crochet so tightly. Before I blocked it, my sweet hubby said, "Oh, that's cute. Is it a bowl?"

The third challenge is Granny Square a Week. It's along the same lines as the dishcloth a day challenge; I'll make a different granny square each week and post it on Saturdays with the link to the pattern. At the end of the year, I'll take the 52 squares and make them into a blanket.

The fourth challenge will be Mini Monday. Each Monday, I'll start a small project, something I can finish by Friday. I haven't taken pictures of this week's project, but it's the Have a Heart Shawl from Red Heart yarn.

I'm hoping these challenges will not only use up the large amount of yarn I own (so I can buy more!), they will also help better my crocheting skills. And I'll be making gifts for friends, family, and charity. Bonus!

Thanks for reading!

Blessings :-)

Happy New Year!

Two things I'm grateful for:
1. A new year. 2013 can be whatever you want it to be.
2. Bacon for breakfast :-)

Two patterns I think are neat:
1. New Year's Shawl from Lion Brand. It's very light and pretty.
2.Despicable Me Minion from All About Ami. It looks like a lot of work, but it's so cute!

Today's Inspiration

Thanks for reading!
Blessings :-)

Peace and Quiet

It's all over for another year. The cookies have been baked (all 200 of them!), packaged and given away..

Peanut butter cookies, yum, yum!

The gifts have been made (3 scarves, 12 pairs of slippers, 2 hats, 3 owl purses, 2 sock monkey cozies, and 2 hot pads) and given away...

Love the minion hat! The pattern can be found here.

Bear hat for my baby nephew. Too cute! Pattern is here.

Everyone loved their slipper socks! Pattern is here.

My dad had a wonderful time here and has gone home to Ohio...

Horse riding for the first time in years

Driving go carts with Tim at Fun Spot

Playing with Hope and a remote control helicopter

Now, it's time to relax and breathe. Time to enjoy the peace and quiet. In a few days, the new year will start and the busyness will begin again. But for now, it's quiet.

Another Year Older

My birthday was Wednesday. I turned 33.
Tim made breakfast for me and bought me roses...

Hope made me an adorable card and bought me a cute little sign...

I received a few other gifts: a JC Penney gift card from my mother in law, three baby owls from my friend Jenna, and a Christmas owl from my friend Helen.

So adorable! Can't decide which is my favorite!

Then Helen and I shopped until we dropped. We went to Kirkland's, Michaels, JC Penney, and Walmart.Here are a few goodies I found:

Christmas ribbon (70% off!) and some new hooks

Of course, I had to buy some yarn!

Owls! The brown one is a candle holder, the white one is a vase, and the black one is a Kindle holder.

I love baskets! I've already filled them with WIPs.

Lots of new paper for making cards

Crochet and knitting supplies (I don't know how to knit, but I'd like to learn.)

Containers for next year's Christmas cookies

It was a very enjoyable day :-)

The weather's been crazy the last few days. 40's in the morning, 70's in the afternoon and rainy. I'm taking advantage of it by staying indoors and finishing the blue and brown yo yo blanket. I promised her it would be done by New Year's.

I hope you're having an enjoyable weekend wherever you are :-)

Thanks for reading!

Blessings :-)

Today's Inspiration

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