WIP Wednesday, 11.28.12

So it's finally happened.... I've had to tell myself that I cannot start another project until I finish a WIP. You want the list?
- Liam's Blanket
- Fresh Stitches Learn to read patterns cowl
- Purse
- Cow
- Archer Mystery CAL
- Disaster Hat
- Stuffie (its a gift so you don't get to know what it is... yet)
- Mittens

Okay so that doesn't seem too bad. The last three though are the ones that I have been working on lately and are shown in the picture. I love how the colors turned out in the mitten. It is the texting mitten from the latest issue of Crochet World (Dec. 2012). I guess I have big hands because I had to modify it quite a bit. I also didn't do the flap and closed off the thumb because it is my fingertips that get the coldest. Also messed up a bit at the tail end and decreased too much so it ends with a funny point but didn't realize this until I had FOd. I have enough yarn to make more than just it's pair so we will see how the second one turns out before figuring out if I am going to remake the first. But I need to get these done, it's getting cold up here in Maine and mittens are needed.

The disaster hat.... our bowling team mate saw Kevin's hat and wants one, all black, but tighter & bigger. Kevin's is made up of HDC in a worsted weight woolease. So I thought, tighter = SC and bigger = bulky yarn. It's really stiff... like more of a barret then a beanie. I will bring it along to bowling tonight and see what he thinks. Otherwise it may get frogged and some worsted woolease will be ordered in black.

Mr. Googley eyes is the start of a stuffie that was ordered for one of my friends as a gift. This is all you will probably see of him until after the holidays when I know he is safe in his new home. I doubt the person reads this blog, but there is always the chance.

That's it for me today. Checking in with Tami's Amis for other WIPs.

To-Do Tuesday, 11.20.12

An update for the To-Do Tuesday, gives an idea of what's on the list, what is slow going, what is getting done, and what I need a kick in the ass to get working on! What's on your To-Do List?

To-Do Today
• Work on gift
• dishes
• laundry

Crochet Queue
• Monkey (for Brittni)
• Hat for Clay
• Liam's blanket (In Progress)
• Rag Rug (In Progress)
• Kira's Birthday Present
• Giraffe
• Pink & Purple Giraffe for Dani
• Monkey for Conrad
• Crochet Clock {like these}
• Square Curtains (will have to find the pattern for these again...)
• Wool Eater out of my scraps {found here}
• Floor Poof from scraps to use at the Studio for Infant Poses
• Post Patterns?

Home
• Laundry
• Dishes

Business
• Make a coffee table book for Crystal & Bryan
• Add more Photos to Facebook.com/KaitLavinPhoto
• New Layout for k8cscritters.blogspot.com (?)
• Online Print ordering from KaitLavinPhoto.com
• Password Protected Proof Albums for KaitLavinPhoto.com

Finished Items
• Boy & Girl Baby Stuffies, only requirement is cute (See them Here)
• Mosquito (See Him Here)
• Lion (See Him Here)
• Cheese from Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends (See Him Here)
• Owl (See Her Here)
• Pig (See Her Here)
• Owl #2
• Hat for Sage
• Lobster (See Him Here)
• Post Joe & Julie's Wedding Photos on KaitLavinPhoto.com (See them Here)
• Headband & Scarf for Mara
• Duck (See Him Here)
• Skunk (See Her Here)
• Owl #3
• Purple Stitch Project Scarf (See it here)
• Hippo (See him here)
• Owl for KK
• Giraffe
• Golf Bag (See it here)
• Work on Amie & Craig's Wedding Photos
• Work on Lee Auto Photos
• 2 Hats for Annie
• Elephant for Drew (See her here)

• Owl #5
• Post Crystal & Bryan's Wedding Photos on KaitLavinPhoto.com

• Post Melinda & Chad's Wedding Photos on KaitLavinPhoto.com
• Post Charest Family Photos on KaitLavinPhoto.com
• Post Amie & Craig's Wedding Photos on KaitLavinPhoto.com
• Post Lee Auto Photos on KaitLavinPhoto.com
• New Layout for KaitLavinPhoto.com  -- AND I LOVE IT!!! Please check it out and leave me some feedback!

• Work on Sabrina's Photos
• Post Sabrina's Photos (Facebook & Website)


• Dinosaur
• Mosquito

• UK Cat (for Melissa)

• Hippo (for Tracy)
• Moose (for Jodi)
• KaitLavin Photo Logo



What's on your To-Do list? I will check in next week to give an update!

Like Lists? Check out my Year Of Projects List!

FO Friday, 11.16.12

There is still two minutes in the morning, so GOOD MORNING!!! Three projects to share with you today as well as a little story.

Hat rack or Moose? How about both! Finished off two hats -- the pink one will probably have a purple ribbon added before it's done done. And the guy with the nice rack is Byron the Moose, he is a Fresh Stitches pattern and so far one of my favorites for sure!!

Will have to take him outside one of these days for a photo shoot however I have been baking this morning so no time for pictures. Making Boston Cream Pie Cupcakes -- it was a slightly modified recipe from Confessions of a Cookbook Queen -- skipped the glaze and just heated up some store bought chocolate frosting and went cupcake style. I just started following her blog, and she is hilarious!!

Now for the story. I bowl, this is the second year I have been on a league  That being said I am not that great--last year it was a goal every game to break 100. We go more for the social aspect and a guaranteed date night with Kevin -- he's on the league as well. Last year I got the most improved bowler award and last night I also received a rising star award from the local chapter of the USBC. **YAY**

Anyway, I had one of my best series, tied my all time high score, then bowled at or above my average the rest of the night, I was in the zone! Usually I psych myself out and over compensate for where I think the ball should go or just don't concentrate enough on each little part of my approach-- start, marks, release, followthrough and everything in between. So what was different this week? I crocheted in between every turn, so calm and collected :-) Pretty sure I will be bringing some easy projects to the alley from now on!

Checking in with Tami's Amis.

WIP Wednesday, 11.14.12

Good morning! Working on a moose and a hat this week, will have some other FOs to show you on friday besides these two as well. Been cranking right along with the crochet!

Here is the beginnings of a FreshStitches moose, once finished it will be going to one of my previous bridal clients.

I haven't started this one yet but plan to today, that's a WIP right? But it will be a hat like the one I made the husband last week. A relative of mine saw it and wants one to gift. Not going into detail about who because the giftee may be a reader of my blog :-)

So for right now you get a picture of some yarn. This is Lion Brand Woolease that I will be using for the hat.

That's it for today! Now time for some crochet!!

Catch up with other WIPs over at Tami's Amis!

An update for the To-Do Tuesday, gives an idea of what's on the list, what is slow going, what is getting done, and what I need a kick in the ass to get working on! What's on your To-Do List?

To-Do Today
• Drop off Wildcat
• Dishes
• Laundry

Crochet Queue
• Hat for Mike
• Liam's blanket (In Progress)
• Rag Rug (In Progress)
• Kira's Birthday Present
• Giraffe
• Moose (for Jodi) (In Progress)
• Pink & Purple Giraffe for Dani
• Monkey for Conrad
• Crochet Clock {like these}
• Square Curtains (will have to find the pattern for these again...)
• Wool Eater out of my scraps {found here}
• Floor Poof from scraps to use at the Studio for Infant Poses
• Post Patterns?

Home
• Laundry
• Dishes

Business
• Make a coffee table book for Crystal & Bryan
• Add more Photos to Facebook.com/KaitLavinPhoto
• New Layout for k8cscritters.blogspot.com (?)
• Online Print ordering from KaitLavinPhoto.com
• Password Protected Proof Albums for KaitLavinPhoto.com

Finished Items
• Boy & Girl Baby Stuffies, only requirement is cute (See them Here)
• Mosquito (See Him Here)
• Lion (See Him Here)
• Cheese from Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends (See Him Here)
• Owl (See Her Here)
• Pig (See Her Here)
• Owl #2
• Hat for Sage
• Lobster (See Him Here)
• Post Joe & Julie's Wedding Photos on KaitLavinPhoto.com (See them Here)
• Headband & Scarf for Mara
• Duck (See Him Here)
• Skunk (See Her Here)
• Owl #3
• Purple Stitch Project Scarf (See it here)
• Hippo (See him here)
• Owl for KK
• Giraffe
• Golf Bag (See it here)
• Work on Amie & Craig's Wedding Photos
• Work on Lee Auto Photos
• 2 Hats for Annie
• Elephant for Drew (See her here)
• Owl #5
• Post Crystal & Bryan's Wedding Photos on KaitLavinPhoto.com
• Post Melinda & Chad's Wedding Photos on KaitLavinPhoto.com
• Post Charest Family Photos on KaitLavinPhoto.com
• Post Amie & Craig's Wedding Photos on KaitLavinPhoto.com
• Post Lee Auto Photos on KaitLavinPhoto.com
• New Layout for KaitLavinPhoto.com  -- AND I LOVE IT!!! Please check it out and leave me some feedback!
• Work on Sabrina's Photos
• Post Sabrina's Photos (Facebook & Website)


• Dinosaur
• Mosquito
• Hippo
• UK Cat

• Hat
• Hat
• KaitLavin Photo Logo


What's on your To-Do list? I will check in next week to give an update!

Like Lists? Check out my Year Of Projects List!

FO Friday, 11.9.12

Good morning!!! I have four finished projects for you today! Two I just finished this morning (and it isn't even 9 yet!!) One isn't crochet but it is the thing I led on to in Wednesdays WIP post.  So in order of completion here they are!!

I started & finished updating my website for my Photography business, KaitLavinPhoto.com. Previously it was a modified blog layout that had an about me, pricing and some examples of my work. And honestly, it was a bit blah and totally not what I really wanted it to look like. You can see the older version here. Please, please, please, let me know what you think! I love that I am able to easily upload new images so that I can let the site grow as my portfolio does. I still have more images to add but this was a start.

The last three FOs are actually crochet, so here you are!

This little Dino is headed to Canada (Katesie's Critters has gone international!) He is a Fresh Stitches pattern and oh so cute!

Another Fresh Stitches pattern is this little Mosquito headed to NY.

And lastly is a hat for my dear husband! Believe it or not it is the fist item I have crocheted for him. No pattern used, just HDC around and around then added in some DC, HDC & SC brown stripes at the bottom. Blue and brown is one of my personal favorite color combos, let's hope he likes it as well, he was expecting a plain blue hat.

That is it for me today friends! Hope you all have a terrific day & weekend! Headed over to Tami's Amis to check out everyone else's FO Friday!

FO Friday, 10.26.12

Not one, not two, but three things to show you today! (With a 4th possibly being finished by the end of the day)

It's been a productive week for me and I've got to say, I love it. I am feeling more myself, not sick, and not as bummed as I was about the whole job issue so I am back on a roll with my crochet! And this makes me happy.

A friend of my sister's asked me to make a golf bag & club set for her son for his halloween costume. She found the pattern here but didn't know how to crochet. I was certainly able to help with that aspect :-) I ended up using Ella Rae Classic Wool yarn because that was the only yarn I could find at my LYS that had all the correct colors I needed. I am happy with the finished results.

I was also able to finish a little elephant this week. I've named him Eli, however if the recipient gets back to me I may make a little yellow bow and change her name from Eli to Ellie :-)

And lastly, my cousin asked me to make her a plain black beanie. So that's just what I did. She also wants a black slouchy beanie which is in progress right now and hopefully done by the end of the day, in which case I'll add a photo of that as well. Both are simple HDC's around and around and around. The plain one was made using Patons Shetland chunky and the slouchy one is using RedHeart Soft.

(please excuse the awkward mirror self portrait, no one else was home to take the photo)

Check in to see what others have finished this week at Tami's Amis.

WIP Wednesday

A pictureless post for you all -- I left one WIP at work w/o having taken a photo and the other one hasn't really been started yet, but it will be started, if not finished, by the end of the day!

Picked the Elephant back up and am working on getting her finished. Also was asked to make two plain black beanies for my cousin, one regular, one slouchy. The regular one is done, now to start on the slouchy one.

Be sure to check back on Friday as I certainly will have plenty to show you!

Maybe the guys & gals over at Tami's Amis will have more interesting posts than mine.

FO Friday, 8.3.12

Short & Sweet today as I have an Owl to finish before my vacation starts tomorrow at 2pm....

I have for you another Charlotte the Pig (who I think turned out better this time than last time) and  a little hat. The multicolor stripe in the middle is some of my cascade yarn for the purple stitch project, just using this little bit makes me want to do a whole project in it, it's so niiiiice! May have to splurge for more in different colors to make something special for me, but need to find a pattern first :-)

That's it for me! I appologize in advance if next week is slim on blog posts, we will be enjoying ourselves in New Orleans for the week!

PS TSA says crochet hooks & scissors with blades smaller than 4" are ok! Now I just need to figure out what project to bring, I'm thinking one of my YOP projects.

That's it for me, linking up with Tami's Amis to see all the other FOs out there!

WIP Wednesday, 8.1.12

August already? This is awesome in the fact that Mumford & Sons concert & vacation is just days away but not so awesome when I think that summer is almost over! Good thing I'm not in school anymore otherwise I'd really be bumming.

Only one WIP today as I had some FOs yesterday. (One of which I used some of my Cascade yarn and I am itching to work with more of it! It's a dream to work with, feels amazing!)

While on our mini vaca with the family last week I made a bunch of hats for the kids in the family. The DH thinks I will sell more of these than the stuffed animals come the holiday/winter season so I will try to make one in between every stuffie so that I have a bit of an inventory.

So one of my FOs yesterday was a softie so its on to a hat! I am using the Divine Hat pattern I found on Ravelry. So far so good!

While I was working on the other hats and especially the wine cozy last week I noticed that when I crochet in the round I go counter clockwise while a lot of the video tutorials go clockwise. Does this make a huge difference when getting into more complex patterns?

This current hat uses fpdc and what I have always thought as the "wrong side" seems to be the side that is getting the texture in it. Hmmmm will have to see how this turns out. Maybe the next hat should be identical but going clockwise and I will examine the differences.


Also --- any suggestions on airplane safe hooks & scissors?


That's what I'm up to, check out other WIPs over at Tami's Amis.