All Quiet on the Blog Front

It's been a bit quiet here this week and I apologize. I have been crocheting and finished off two stuffies, a giraffe & an owl, but haven't been too up to blogging, and this is the reason behind it:

Lewiston Sears to close in January | Sun Journal
http://m.sunjournal.com/news/lewiston-auburn/2012/09/28/lewiston-sears-close-january/1257573

This is the store that I was just recruited to from another, perfectly good job. Been here a month. This little bomb was dropped on us Wednesday. Been a kinda crappy week.

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 :-)

To-Do Tuesday, 9.25.12

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?

Crochet Queue
• Liam's blanket (In Progress)
• Kira's Birthday Present
• Giraffe x2 (one for Amanda, one for Bianca) (One in Progress)
• Hippo (for Tracy)
• Moose (for Jodi)
• Elephant for Drew
• Pink & Purple Giraffe for Dani
• Monkey for Conrad
• Rag Rug (from t-shirts/sheets)
• 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
• Clean Stove

Business
• Post Crystal & Bryan's Wedding Photos on KaitLavinPhoto.com
• Make a coffee table book for Crystal & Bryan
• Post Melinda & Chad's Wedding Photos on KaitLavinPhoto.com
• Post Charest Family Photos on KaitLavinPhoto.com
• Work on Amie & Craig's Wedding Photos
• Post Amie & Craig's Wedding Photos on 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)
• Work on Crystal & Bryan's Wedding Photos

• Skunk (See Her Here)
• Owl #3
• Clean out Fridge
• Work on Melinda & Chad's Wedding Photos
• Work on Charest Family Photos

• Purple Stitch Project Scarf (See it here)
• Hippo (See him here)
• Owl for KK

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!

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.

WIP Wednesday, 9.19.12

Only a little bit of crochet ADD this week....

From left to right:

• Pieces of an owl, feet, eye circles & top of the head.

• The first few stitches of a scarf for myself using Poems Silk yarn that I got on sale at Craftsy.

• The first motif of my purse. Bought the pattern ages ago, finally starting it. The pattern is written poorly and I find myself having to guess as to what I think she means. I should do the second motif as written in her pattern and see how that comes out...

• Worked a bit more on motifs for Liam's blanket. 

So what does this all mean? It means I need to get off the computer and actually crochet so I can finish something :-)

Checking in this week with Tami's Amis.

To-Do Tuesday, 9.18.12

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?

Crochet Queue
• Owl for KK (In Progress)
• Liam's blanket (In Progress)
• Kira's Birthday Present
• Giraffe x2 (one for Amanda, one for Bianca)
• Hippo (for Tracy)
• Moose (for Jodi)
• Elephant for Drew
• Pink & Purple Giraffe for Dani
• Monkey for Conrad
• Rag Rug (from t-shirts/sheets)
• 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 (In Progress)
• Dishes (In Progress)

Business
• Post Crystal & Bryan's Wedding Photos on KaitLavinPhoto.com
• Make a coffee table book for Crystal & Bryan
• Post Melinda & Chad's Wedding Photos on KaitLavinPhoto.com
• Post Charest Family Photos on KaitLavinPhoto.com
• Work on Amie & Craig's Wedding Photos
• Post Amie & Craig's Wedding Photos on KaitLavinPhoto.com

Other
• Mara's Birthday Present -- Got a new idea for this, it includes a doily, now just need to find one.

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)
• Work on Crystal & Bryan's Wedding Photos

• Skunk (See Her Here)
• Owl #3
• Clean out Fridge
• Work on Melinda & Chad's Wedding Photos
• Work on Charest Family Photos

• Purple Stitch Project Scarf (See it here)
• Hippo (See him here)

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!

Sanford the Hippo

Meet Sanford, a happy little hip-, hip-hop, hip-hop-anonymous, I mean Hippopotamus. But don't let his smile fool you, be hasn't always been the happiest Hippo around. That's because he used to be awful hungry, and when he is hungry he gets grumpy. I'm sure you know others just like that. So to keep Sanford happy all you need is to feed him a bit and have a friendly conversation with him and he will be a happy loyal hippo for years to come. 

He sits about 7" tall. Sanford is crocheted with Red Heart Super Saver in Grey, Pink & White. With a G hook from a Fresh Stitches pattern.

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.

WIP Wednesday, 9.12.12

Evening all, writing this from the bowling alley tonight. Been a whirlwind day, started early by heading to a neighboring Sears store to help them reset/remodel their apparel department. We worked, and we worked hard! And holy cow am I tired! There is a very slim possibility that I will actually be awake for more than two minutes once I get home.

Anyway, no pictures (I will try to post some tomorrow morning) but I am working on a hungry hungry hippo, he is another Fresh Stitches pattern. I have also done some more work on Liam's blanket this week as well. I think I have about 10 squares done.

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:

To-do Tuesday, 9.11.12

So the blog has been a little light lately. I think it's my new job and its schedule. With my old job I used to leave the house by 8 at the earliest, so waking up at 6 and blogging while I had my coffee still let me sleep a bit and also left me time to get ready for work. My new job has had me leaving the house at 6:30, so to be able to blog w/ coffee and get ready to go by then I would have to be up for 4:30.... Yeah, that's just too early for me. So I will have to get in the habit of either setting up my blog posts the evening before and scheduling them for the next day, or writing them when I get home, usually around 3:30-4 in the afternoon.

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?

Crochet Queue
• Owl for KK (In Progress)
• Liam's blanket (In Progress)
• Purple Stitch Project Scarf (In Progress -Just being blocked now, watch for it on Friday)
• Kira's Birthday Present
• Giraffe x2
• Hippo (In Progress)
• Elephant for Drew
• Pink & Purple Giraffe for Dani
• Monkey for Conrad
• Rag Rug (from t-shirts/sheets)
• 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
• Post Crystal & Bryan's Wedding Photos on KaitLavinPhoto.com
• Make a coffee table book for Crystal & Bryan
• Post Melinda & Chad's Wedding Photos on KaitLavinPhoto.com
• Post Charest Family Photos on KaitLavinPhoto.com
• Work on Amie & Craig's Wedding Photos
• Post Amie & Craig's Wedding Photos on KaitLavinPhoto.com

Other
• Mara's Birthday Present -- Got a new idea for this, it includes a doily, now just need to find one.

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)
• Groceries
• Work on Crystal & Bryan's Wedding Photos

• Skunk (See Her Here)
• Owl #3
• Clean out Fridge
• Work on Melinda & Chad's Wedding Photos
• Work on Charest Family Photos

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!

Daisy the Skunk

Meet Daisy, the prettiest smelling skunk you will ever meet. She left the woods of Maine to follow her dreams of selling her scent as a parfume, she even had a name picked out: Eau de PU. But apparently two legged creatures don't have the distinguished olfactory glands as her kind and could not tell the difference between her glorious scent and the scent of all other skunks. Not to be discouraged Daisy returned home, but not empty handed. She came back with all sorts of parfume bottles and started a home parfumerie where she makes and sells her Eau de PU to those woodland creatures that can distinguish what a great scent she has. So just remember the next time you think you smell a skunk and are brought to saying "PU" you may actually be smelling a hedgehog wearing Eau de PU.

Crocheted with Red Heart Super Saver & G Hook, used my own pattern. She stands just over 9" tall. Eau de PU not included.

Want your very own Daisy the Skunk? Find her here!

To-Do Tuesday, 9.4.12

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?

Crochet Queue
• Owl (In Progress)
• Owl for KK (In Progress)
• Liam's blanket (In Progress)
• Purple Stitch Project Scarf (In Progress)
• Kira's Birthday Present
• Giraffe
• Hippo
• Elephant for Drew
• Pink & Purple Giraffe for Dani
• Monkey for Conrad
• Rag Rug (from t-shirts/sheets)
• 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
• Clean out Fridge
• Laundry
• Dishes

Business
• Work on Melinda & Chad's Wedding Photos (In Progress)
• Post Crystal & Bryan's Wedding Photos on KaitLavinPhoto.com
• Make a coffee table book for Crystal & Bryan
• Post Melinda & Chad's Wedding Photos on KaitLavinPhoto.com
• Work on Charest Family Photos
• Post Charest Family Photos on KaitLavinPhoto.com

Other
• Mara's Birthday Present -- Got a new idea for this, it includes a doily, now just need to find one.

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)
• Groceries
• Work on Crystal & Bryan's Wedding Photos

• Skunk (See Her Here)


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!

Year of Projects, Week 10

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)

GUESS WHAT! GUESS WHAT! GUESS WHAT!!!!!

I actually did something on my YOP list!!! At least started something. And not even just one thing, but two!

I got the yarn in for Liam's blanket and started working on it! Have 7 squares done as you can see. I am using this Retro Circles Blanket  Also started a scarf for the Purple Stitch Project, the Papillion Scarf. 

I also found the pattern and ordered the yarn for Carson's blanket.

Come blog-a-long with us!