Stashbusters

I'll take a break from the fair posts to show you what I've finished for the Stashbuster Challenge this week.

Stashbuster #3

Granny Heart Bunting

(don't forget the link to the photo tutorial)

After much deliberation, I decided to leave them plain. I like the simplicity of the hearts by themselves. I ended up making 2 buntings from all the hearts I made (15 total), one for the living room and one for the dining room.

Stashbuster #4

Teeny Tiny Hearts

These were so much fun to make! I think I'm addicted to making tiny crochet: yo yos, hearts, etc. There's just something about miniatures.

I'm almost done with Stashbuster #5, the No Beginning Chain Egg Blanket, so pics yet.

Stashbuster #6

From the Heart Bunting

More hearts! I love the lattice look in the middle of these, plus the two-colored chain was fun to make. And more miniatures: tiny clothespins to hang them! 

Stashbuster #7

Joe Penguin

It's finally happened; I've crossed the border into..GASP..AMIGURUMI! I made my first stuffed animal. He came out cute, but I still don't like sewing the pieces on.

And here are my Photo a Day Challenge pics for the last week:

February 7, 2013

Your Name

This is my name badge for my jewelry business. After 7 years, it's a little beat up; I really should order a new one.

February 8, 2013

Something Orange

I love navel oranges. So bright and cheery. 

February 9, 2013

Guilty Pleasure

For me, it's definitely Girl Scout Thin Mints. Every year, I buy 2 boxes, one for the family, and one just for me. I put mine in the freezer. There's nothing like a frozen thin mint. Yumm! I think I should go check the freezer to see if I have any left...

February 10, 2013

3:00

Of course, we were at the fair at 3:00 on the 10th. I love pictures of Ferris Wheels, but I don't like riding them. Too high!

February 11, 2013

Entrance

Missed this one, but it probably would have been the entrance to the fair.

February 12, 2013

Where You Ate Lunch

A nice little place called home :-) Here's my pizza going in circles in the microwave.

February 13, 2013

Walking

Before my shift started at the fair, I took a walk over to the iced tea booth. On the way, I passed a tractor exhibit. I like the pink one best :-)

February 14, 2013

Love Is...

A hand drawn picture from Hope. I think it's sweet how she incorporates my love of owls in every card she makes for me. This one also includes my love of coffee.

February 15, 2013

Inside Your Fridge

There's not much in there; because of our hectic schedules this week, we've been either eating out or cooking quick convenience foods (very bad for us; we'll have to do some serious redeeming when this week is over!).

I hope you have a FUNtastic Friday!

Thanks for reading.

Blessings :-)

Daily Inspiration

The Food

At the fair, you can find just about anything to eat:

Some things you can find ONLY at a county fair:

On my list to try this week

Both delicious!

Not brave enough to try one of these yet

We did partake in a few things: cheeseburgers, fries, chicken strips, cotton candy, a walking taco (that would be an open bag of fritos with chili and cheese added), and of course

FUNNEL CAKE!

Thanks for reading!

Blessings :-)

The Rides

We took Hope and one of her friends to the fair today; they both had wristbands so they could ride any ride they wanted to as many times as they wanted to.

This was a big hit; they rode it a lot.

Not a favorite; too rough.

Similar but different; they liked this one better.

Hope wouldn't go on this one, but her friend did.

Waiting for the Tilt-a-Whirl to start

Going into the Starship (my personal favorite!)

These swings go a lot higher than when I went to the fair as a kid

But nothing beats the fair at night with all the rides lit up in bright colors.

Thanks for reading!

Blessings :-)

County Fair Craziness

For the next week and a half, I won't be posting much about crochet (for once!); instead I'll take you to the County Fair! Most places have their fairs in the fall; all of ours are in the late winter, early spring. Because we work the fair for 4-H and I have a booth there for my jewelry this year, I'll be living at the fairgrounds for most of the next week. Great opportunity to take some pictures so you can come, too :-)

Last night, we went to the Demolition Derby:

It was just a little one, and we had really good seats. 

Tonight, Tim and Hope went to the Father-Daughter Dance.

Hope looks so grown up! (Wipe away a tear..)

We were at Hamfest (that would be ham radios, not the food!) most of the day. Among other things, we saw this:

 This car is completely covered with pennies! Every inch has pennies glued to it, even the inside!

After walking so much, I'm beat! So, I'm enjoying a nice, quiet evening at home. Just me, some Domino's pizza, and my crochet hook.

I hope you're having an enjoyable Saturday too :-)

Thanks for reading!

Blessings :-)

WIP Wednesday

I hope everyone's having a great week so far :-)

I need to get more black yarn for my polka dot blanket, so it's on the back burner for now. I need to find a home for my granny stripe blanket; maybe it'll help make it more of a priority.

I have been working on my Stashbuster #3: The Granny Heart Bunting:

If you clicked on the link I gave on Monday, it'll take you to the Ravelry page. But the pattern may seem confusing to some; luckily for us, Sandra at Cherry Heart also provided a wonderful photo tutorial to go with her pattern. So I've been having fun making these.

I've also started Stashbuster #4: Teeny Tiny Hearts but haven't taken any pictures yet. I'm using the same yarn as the Granny Heart Bunting. The pattern can be found over at Attic 24.

And I've started Stashbuster #5: No Beginning Chain Egg Blanket:

While perusing my yarns, I noticed how much baby yarn I've somehow accumulated. I had 4 skeins of Baby Homespun to use, and I remembered seeing this pattern over at Mama's Stitchery Projects.

Seems like a lot, but I'm trying to jumpstart my crochet mojo. It seems to be getting better; I'm still struggling with pattern comprehension, but I also seem to be making less mistakes.

I also made a few dishcloths yesterday and today; number #28 is my favorite. 

Thanks for reading!

Blessings :-)

Dishcloth a Day #25

Granny Corner Dishcloth

This one's kinda neat looking; looks as though I cut off the corner of a blanket :-) My stitch count didn't come out the same as the pattern's, but it still looks good.

Dishcloth a Day #26

Ladder Stitch Dishcloth

This one has a nice texture to it. My edging's a little wonky; I'm still struggling with "single crochet evenly around". Without a number, my sides aren't the same.

Dishcloth a Day #27

Eyelets Dishcloth

This was a nice simple pattern with alternating rounds of single crochet and half double crochet. I really love the colors; looks like a swimming pool surrounded by brown tiles.

Dishcloth a Day #28

The Crazy Cloth

I was so impressed with the way this one came out. When I first read the pattern, I said "no way". It sounded too complicated. Even when I started on it, I had misgivings. If she hadn't put a great photo tutorial with it, I don't think I would have gotten it. But with her pictures, it was very easy and came out very nice. I may have to keep this one instead of putting it in the gift drawer :-)

Photo a Day February 5, 2013

This is actually funny. I was unable to do this one. The prompt was Something You Smelled. I  don't have a sense of smell, so I couldn't participate in this one :-)

Photo a Day February 6, 2013

Today's prompt was Soft. This is an extreme closeup of the Homestyle Baby yarn I'm using in my Stashbuster #3 project.

Daily Inspiration

Stashbuster #2

I'm still going to do Mini Monday projects, but as often as I can they'll be my Stashbuster projects. I'm still having trouble comprehending patterns; I can do them, but I make a lot of mistakes and have to frog a lot. And there are more and more patterns I just can't understand. This sounds crazy, but I'm wondering if the sinus infection messed up something in my brain. How would I explain that to a doctor? For now, I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that this problem goes away soon.

This is Stashbuster #2: The Sunset Slouchy Hat

I shouldn't take pictures of myself; I look cross-eyed!

It was a quick, fun project :-) I think I'll give it to Hope's horseback riding instructor; she was asking about one recently.

I made another 2 Ruffled Scarves.

These are shorter than the other ones I made-about 3 feet versus 5 feet. Better for us vertically challenged people :-)

I have my yarn and pattern picked for my Stashbuster #3. I'll be making the Granny Heart Bunting.

That's all on the crochet front. We've been up to our eyeballs in county fair preparation.

Securing the wiring on her gameboard

Making a tri-fold board on Healthy Eating

 Hope finished and turned in 13 projects for 4-H this weekend; they'll all be judged and displayed at the fair starting Friday. She still has 2 baked goods to make this week and turn in on Thursday.

Today is Tim's birthday so I'm off to take him to lunch and then make him a pumpkin pie, his favorite sweet treat.

Have a Marvelous Monday!

Thanks for reading.

Blessings :-)

Dishcloth a Day #23

I'm quite a bit behind on my Dishcloth a Day Challenge, but I'll catch up.This is the dishcloth pattern that Astri over at Apple Blossom Dreams came up with. It was super quick and easy to make. I didn't like my picot stitch border (hers looked great, though), so I took it off. I'd like to make another one with the stitches in the back loop to give it the ridged look like hers; I didn't read the pattern before I started it or I would have known to do that :-)

Dishcloth a Day #24

This is the Ball Stitch Dishcloth from Kristine over at Ambassador Crochet. It's nice and big with a great texture - perfect for washing dishes. I messed this one up, too, or I think I did; my stitch count didn't come out right and I had to improvise at the ends of the rows. I also ran out of cotton three rows short so I had to finish it a little smaller than the pattern calls for. I still like it :-)

Photo a Day Challenge February 1, 2013

Friday's prompt was Fork. I couldn't think of a way to take an interesting picture of an eating fork, so I took a picture of the Fork in the driveway leading to Hope's horseback riding lessons.

Photo a Day Challenge February 2, 2013

Saturday's prompt was Pattern. We had to go to Home Depot to buy wood to make a birdhouse. I really liked the pattern on this crown molding.

Photo a Day Challenge February 3, 2013

Yesterday's prompt was Something Beginning With "E". These are Hope's favorite Earrings; she's a big fan of animal print and peace signs. Typical pre-teen :-)

Photo a Day Challenge February 4, 2013

Today's prompt is Hope. How funny is that? So, of course, I had no choice but to take a picture of Hope. Doesn't she look thrilled?

Daily Inspiration