FO Friday, 2.1.13

Seriously now, why can't I just sit home and crochet (and blog about it) all day? There are way too many things on my "to-crochet" list and I want to get to them all! I think this feeling of wanting to crochet all day stems from the fact that I haven't been able to do as much as usual lately. I started a new job within the same company but at a different location -- remember how they were closing down the store I worked in. So now at the new job my schedule is all changed -- working primarily early mornings instead of closing -- and there is 2 hours wasted in the car driving to and from work instead of 30 minutes! I could have a small ami finished in that time! Alas there is something in the works, but it's not being a stay at home dog mom who crochets, cooks & cleans all day. Maybe I should have a baby so that I can be a real SAHM (not going to lie, the thought has crossed my mind) but then I remember that taking care of a baby will probably mean LESS crochet time than I have now, and all those messy diapers...

I digress... Even with less time & schedulde changes, I have been able to get some things complete -- these FOs are from 1/12-2/1 so for the time span I think the FOs are a little light, but I can't batter myself about it, I just need to get used to my new schedule and make the best use of my time.

Before the store closed I finished a Giraffe for a coworker:

He was a Lion Brand pattern and I used Red Heard Super saver in cornmeal and Bernat super value in dark heather.

I made a lion a while back for one of my close friends for her sons birthday, well now it was time for her daughter! Little miss Emily got a Pretty Pink Horse (I call her Feathers....get it?) I finished this one so close to the deadline (over actually) that I didn't get a chance for a real photo shoot -- that's okay because I want to make this one again and list it online, it really is too cute & I love how the mane was made.

Feathers is the Pegasus pattern (less the wings) by Fiberdoodles by K4TT. I used Red Heart Supersaver in White & Light Raspberry and Caron One Pound in Soft Pink. PS these photos don't do her justice!

I also finished two more Fiberdoodles by K4TT, two little monkeys! They actually had a real photo shoot too! Used Bernat Super Value in Dark Heather & Rustic Heather

And last but certainly not least! The Belize Wrap for my Mom. This was part of my Year of Projects list and I am happy to have something crossed off, it has been quite a while! I really hope she wears it as I love it and hope she does too! This is the one that started off like an acid trip remember? So happy with the new color choices!

I used Lion Brand Wool Ease in Wheat, Rose Heather & Blush Heather.

That's what I have finished for this week, hoping to get more done this week than the last few! Checking in with Tami's Amis to see all the other FOs.

Also checking in with my Year of Projects group.

A Plea to my Readers:
In the middle of February I will be jumping into a lake. No big thing if you are somewhere warm, but I'm not, I am in Maine. The average temp for that day is a cold cold cold 23º.... and that's just the air temp!

A group of my friends make up the team "Crazy for a Cure" (Crazy is right!) that will be jumping into a hole that they cut through the ice with chainsaws all as part of a fundraising event for the Maine Children's Cancer Program. Cancer sucks, and it sucks even more when you are a child dealing with it!

I urge my readers to help out and donate, every dollar helps! And to make it even sweeter for the children who are seen at this facility for every donation made via this blog I will donate a hand crocheted item to a child that visit this center.

How to donate: Visit this link click on the "Give Now" button on the right side. Feel free to comment on the blog or the page that you are visiting from Katesie's Critters. And THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!!

PS I am cold already thinking about jumping in!

WIP Wednesday, 1.23.13

Well we've made it to Wednesday, and I've made it to the blogisphere, hooray for small victories!
I have three things I've been slowly progressing towards completion.

First and nearest to finality is the wrap I am making for my mom. Her birthday was Monday,and I feel slightly bad for not finishing her gift in time. I say slightly because I made a choice after getting halfway through her wrap. I chose to change the yarn and colors completely. The yarns I WAS using were totally her colors, gold, rust orange and dark brown. However put together in the pattern I was using looked like you were looking at an afghan straight out of "That 70s Show" while tripping on acid. To make my decision to start over a little easier (like I needed to...) The yarns I was using was mystery yarns that were probably hidden in some corner of a warehouse SINCE the 70s. So to the yarn store I went on the Thursday before her birthday and bought Lion Brand Wool-Ease in wheat, light raspberry and a soft pink rose heather & blush heather. These colors together remind me of black raspberry vanilla soft serve twist, much better than an afghan acid trip. To say the least it wasn't finished for her birthday, but I am happy with my choice. (This is actually a project from my Year of Projects List)

The next project is a little monkey. It's one of three I have on order and is a fiberdoodles by k4tt design.

Lastly is a valentines themed tapestry. It's my first step in am idea I am developing that needed some tapestry crochet practice first. The design is actually a cross stitch pattern that I am translating into crochet. I am really liking the results.

I appologize for no photos ATM, remember small victories... I will try to post some as soon as I can get some quality time alone with my camera and computer.

Checking in with Tami's Amis.

FO Friday, 11.30.12

Good Morning & Happy Friday!

Here is a FO from last week, it was the gift that I am pretty certain they have opened by now (who wouldn't want to open up wedding gifts asap?) It was my first rug made from recycled t-shirts. It was fun to make from start to finish, so much so that I worked on it so much I got a blister on my pinkie! Halfway through I was already dreaming of bigger and better rag rug projects. I have a TON of red t-shirts and was thinking of making a round rug by using a pattern for a mandala or even a granny square. Then I got on to thinking about dyeing white t-shirts to get the colors I want. So many possibilities! This was also one of my Year of Projects Projects!!

I also have a sweet little Monkey to share with you. Her name is Lucy. I think I will be adding a bow before she heads to her final home. Also I am going to get some better pictures once it warms up a bit today and get her posted on Etsy. She was made from a Fiberdoodles by K4tt pattern.

I was also able to finish this belted galloway cow on the way up to my friends wedding on Saturday. His name is Clyde. This had been in my WIP pile for months as it was started when I had only begun to crochet. Felt good to finally finish it. It is a modified Fresh Stitches design. The other two in the photo were finished last week and are also FS designs.

Headed to my crochet room to work on some more. May have a few more mini owls finished by the end of the day but who knows!

Checking in with my buddies at Tami's Amis.

YOP Week 16, 10.18.12

Year of Projects List

• Crochet Purse

• Floor Poof

• Mom's Wrap (Christmas)

• T-Shirt rag rug

• Crochet clock

• Yarn bomb something

• Crochet dress for Adult Prom 2013 (June 2013)

• Purple Stitch Project

• Akita Amigurimi

• Liam's Blanket (June 2010) (In Progress)

• Carson's Blanket (November 2012)

Missed last weeks post, and this week will be as exciting... Haven't done anything for YOP in a while, been working on custom orders. Also been sick and working a bunch, which is hard to keep positive for seeing as the 70 people there (myself included) don't know if they will still have a job come January. Fun times!

Perhaps everyone else's posts will be more entertaining. Check them out here.

Year of Projects, Week 14, 10.4.12

Year of Projects List

• Crochet Purse

• Floor Poof

• Mom's Wrap (Christmas)

• T-Shirt rag rug

• Crochet clock

• Yarn bomb something

• Crochet dress for Adult Prom 2013 (June 2013)

• Purple Stitch Project

• Akita Amigurimi

• Liam's Blanket (June 2010) (In Progress)

• Carson's Blanket (November 2012)

Liam's blanket continues to grow, with the most work getting done on it this last week. I have all the light green squares done, most of the yellow squares done, what hasn't been put into squares are circles for the yellow, and I have a few of the dark green and mango squares done. I may need to get another skein of the antique white for the connection of the squares and the boarder. Right now it is going to be a crib sized blanket. This will be for my nephew Liam who will be 3 in June. Should I go bigger? He's a pretty big kiddo (his dad is 6' 4") and I would like it to be something he uses. Well part of me does anyway -- I don't know how I would react if I saw him dragging it through a mud puddle.... This is my first pieced blanket, so I am excited to get to the part where I attach the squares to one another. Any hints/suggestions?

Year of Projects, Week 13

Year of Projects List

• Crochet Purse

• Floor Poof

• Mom's Wrap (Christmas)

• T-Shirt rag rug

• Crochet clock

• Yarn bomb something

• Crochet dress for Adult Prom 2013 (June 2013)

• Purple Stitch Project

• Akita Amigurimi

• Liam's Blanket (June 2012) (In Progress)

• Carson's Blanket (November 2012)

Nothing has really gotten done this week on any YOPs. Finished up an Owl for my aunt and working on a Giraffe for my coworker but other than that just worked, worked, worked this last week. It showed in my paycheck too. Working hourly + holiday pay + overtime meant I ended up making more than my husband, that's a first :-)

Year of Projects, Week 12

Year of Projects List

• Crochet Purse

• Floor Poof

• Mom's Wrap (Christmas)

• T-Shirt rag rug

• Crochet clock

• Yarn bomb something

• Crochet dress for Adult Prom 2013 (June 2013)

• Purple Stitch Project

• Akita Amigurimi

• Liam's Blanket (June 2012) (In Progress)

• Carson's Blanket (November 2012)

So I sent off the Papillon Scarf to the Purple Stitch Project, had there not been a huge line at the post office I would have taken a photo of it going into the mailer and with it all addressed, yes I am strange like that. But this means I can cross the first item off my YOP list! Yay!

I also worked on Liam's blanket a bit this week as we found ourselves taking a spur of the moment road trip to Belfast & Bar Harbor on Sunday & Monday. Which meant lots of car time. I probably could have utilized the car time for more crochet but I enjoyed talking with the husband and watching the scenery go by -- it was like a trip down memory lane as we have been to Belfast many times (I grew up there and my parent still live there) but I probably haven't been to Bar Harbor or any of the towns between Belfast & Bar Harbor for 10-15 years, and never with Kevin so I was pointing out different things to him.

I even went ahead and started a new YOP project! But only because all my WIPs were left in the truck the day before and Kevin took it to work with him yesterday so I found myself with time to crochet but no current WIPs.... So I started on my Crochet Purse. I do have to say though, I am not impressed with the way the pattern is written. I don't believe english is her first language and there seems to be a lot missing. Lets just say had I started this pattern when I bought it, right when I began crocheting, I probably wouldn't have continued with the purse or crochet even. Now I am a bit more experienced and able to guess as to what she actually means -- or what is missing from the pattern. I will crochet the next motif EXACTLY as the pattern is written and will post the comparison.

No work has started yet on Carson's Blanket crochet wise, however I did use my new ball winder and would up all the skeins into center pull cakes/balls.

That's it for me for this week. Check in with other's progress here.

FO Friday, 9.14.12

I have two things to share with you tonight, one is my Papillon Scarf for my donation to the Purple Stitch Project which is one of my Year of Projects Projects and the other is Sanford the Hippo.

I will be taking better pictures of Sanford tomorrow when I actually have light. He is a modified Fresh Stitches pattern.

Linking up with Tami's Amis.

Year of Projects, Week 11

Year of Projects List

• Crochet Purse

• Floor Poof

• Mom's Wrap (Christmas)

• T-Shirt rag rug

• Crochet clock

• Yarn bomb something

• Crochet dress for Adult Prom 2013 (June 2013)

• Purple Stitch Project (In Progress)

• Akita Amigurimi

• Liam's Blanket (June 2012) (In Progress)

• Carson's Blanket (November 2012)

And the first finished YOP project is....

.....drumroll please.....

..... The Papillon Scarf for the Purple Stitch Project! It is currently being blocked. I will have my husband take some photos of me with it once he wakes up. I made it around 40" long as it's for a child. I also added some tassels. I really like how it came out and will use this pattern again, it is very simple to memorize the repeats. This was my first attempt at blocking, I don't have any blocking pads, but I do have a blanket over the foot of the chaise lounge that KC has claimed that worked just as well. It grew from 3" wide to 4" wide. I will check the length once it is done. Stay tuned for photos!

I also picked out the pattern and ordered the yarn for Carson's blanket. It came in the other day but I haven't started on it yet as I am waiting for my ball winder to arrive so I can ball these skeins up.

There is this Fiber Arts College in Searsport every year. This was the first I had heard of it, and it was too late for me to get the days off. However, my mom lives 20 minutes from there and she went. They have vendors & classes. She took some classes and I asked her to talk to some spinners about spinning dog hair & she got some good leads for me! I will start collecting KCs brushings and hopefully have some yarn spun from her soft soft fur. (Maybe make the Akita Amigurumi from it.....???) Next year, I will take the days off and go with my mom for sure!

UPDATE: Papillon Photos: