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.

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.

FO Friday, 11.23.12

How did I miss this??? Last week I showed you the Moose and two hats. Well that same week I also finished a UK Wildcat. Here are those photos as well as some more of Byron the Moose and of another Maria the Owl I finished yesterday. Hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving (for those who celebrate it) and aren't getting trampled in Black Friday shopping today. All are Fresh Stitches patterns except for the Cat and the gift.

I also started and finished this little guy yesterday -- All I can say is he is SO FLIPPIN CUTE! I may have to keep him for myself! I brought him to Thanksgiving dinner with me and he enjoyed himself.

I also finished the gift I have been working on and will show that next Friday as the recipients will have it by then.

Happy Friday! Checking in with others and their Finished Items over at Tami's Amis.

WIP Wednesday, 11.21.12

Good morning and happy Thanksgiving-eve! Headed to my in-laws tomorrow for dinner at 4, which means LOTS of crochet time in the morning/early afternoon! Which is good because I am still trying to build up inventory and this last week was a slow one.

I have a little owl in the works, another Fresh Stitches design. The two major parts -- head & body are done so now it's just the little details that make him an owl to finish. Should be done tonight, that's my goal anyway.

I also have another project that needs a boarder and to be blocked, but I am not going to show that just yet as it is a gift. I will show you soon enough don't you worry.

I guess it would be considered an FO but I re-organized my studio yesterday and now has more room for yarn and a spot for shipping supplies. Most of this is thanks to the fixtures & boxes I got from Sears while it's in liquidation. It went from this:

To this:

Much more yarn storage as the shoe holder (white plastic thing on the left in the top photo) could only hold 24 skeins. Now I can stack the skeins & balls and get much more in the same area with the new shelving. I also used two metal risers on the back of my work table which gives me much more working area. Now to just use it! Which is actually where I am heading once this post is complete and posted on Tami's Amis with all the other WIPs in our yarny blogasphere :-)

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!

Unplugged

A coworker of mine recently suggested the blog Down to Earth. In a recent post she explained how she went electric free for a weekend. I find this idea interresting and would love to try something like that.

However living on Maine, mid-November is not the time to do that. If I had a wood stove that would be a different story, but as our furnace requires juice to run it may be out of the question for right now. Plus trying to convince my husband may be another battle. "Honey it would be like camping less the bugs, sleeping on the ground and s'mores." Perhaps if I promise I would make him s'mores he'd agree to it...

What I can do, however, is go without electronics for a few days, no tv, computer, cell phone or ereader. It's daunting to "disconnect" like this and I find myself making excuses. "What if I miss an important call or email?" "What if a rush order comes through my Etsy shop?" But that's all those are, excuses. I can update my voicemail to have urgent calls reach out to my husband and set up a similar auto response for emails and texts and put a notice up in my etsy shops. Excuses begone! Now when should I start this? How about this weekend? Who's with me?

Unplugged weekend 2012, November 17th & 18th

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!

WIP Wednesday, 11.7.12

Good morning all! I was hoping that I would get this little guy started and finished in one day, but that didn't happen so you all can get a WIP post today after all!

A little dino. He will be headed to Nova Scotia once finished. He is a Fresh Stitches design. I was asked to do sewn eyes and still haven't decided on how to do those. Guess you will have to wait until Friday!

Also almost forgot about this, but seeing as I have worked on it recently (should have been on the WIPW post last week) and it still isn't finished I will show you my tshirt rag rug as well. I'd say I am about 1/2 way there. I am wondering if it is something my parents will sell in their shop....

I have a special treat for you guys on Friday, something that is finished, but not necessarily crochet. However, something I am really proud of and has been on my to-do list for a looooonnnnngggg time!

Until Friday! Have a great rest of the week! Checking in with Tami's Amis to see all the other WIPs, you should too!!

To-do Tuesday, 11.6.12

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
• VOTE!!!
• Buy Stuffing
• Finish Hippo
• Mail Hippo
• Bank
• Work on Dinosaur
• Dentist

Crochet Queue
• Dinosaur
• Mosquito
• Liam's blanket (In Progress)
• Rag Rug (In Progress)
• UK Cat (for Melissa)
• Kira's Birthday Present
• Giraffe
• Hippo (for Tracy)
• Moose (for Jodi)
• 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 (?)
• KaitLavin Photo Logo
• 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)



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, 11.2.12

Thought I would have a larger project to show you today as well as my little owl. However we had the appraiser come to the house yesterday so I felt that my crochet time would be better used as cleaning time. So one FO Friday is a super clean house, and I love it!

I do have a little miss Maria the Owl to show you today. She is headed to Indianapolis. She is a Fresh Stitches design and super cute as always.

Now on to more little critters, and some hats as I just got new yarn in :-) My stash is growing, but buying yarn is so addictive!

See others finished projects over at Tami's Amis!