Scarfocopia

I've been on a scarf making kick lately. Here's a picture of a few of the ones I've made from the Christensen pattern at lion brand. I've changed the pattern just a little, mainly making it a little longer, but it's basically the same. These are all at least 6 ft long.


from left to right: (click on the picture to see a larger image)

1.Gray homespun (it might be the Metropolis color, not sure) Ebony Suede & FancyFur Stained Glass.
2. Homespun Windsor, Ebony Suede, Gray Homespun(?), and a Blue Boa (by Bernat).
3. Homespun Windsor, Ebony Suede, Homespun Montana Sky and Peacock Green FunFur (I think this one is my favorite.. wild colors)
4. Homespun Barley, Spice Suede, Homespun Sierra, and Bernat Disco Mr. Brown.
5. Homespun Sierra, Scarlet Suede, Gray Homespun(?) and Paton's Divine Black.

And finally:
6. Homespun Sierra, Spice Suede, Homespun Barley and some strange funfurish type yarn I got at BigLots.

I didn't consider this when making the photo, but the last one on the list is the first one I made. :)
Now I'm working on hats, by my own pattern, to coordinate with the scarves. I'm not doing the funfur stuff on the hats, just the homespun and possibly the suede. I'll get pics of the hats up as soon as I can.

Other news.. the Disco Throw has morphed into an afghan and is complete. And my daughter doesn't like it. Too many bright colors. Oh well.. such is life. I can remember not liking some of the things my mom came up with too. I will find a good home for it.

Other things have been completed.. but not yet photographed. Will post about them when photos are available.

Friendship bread?

****Warning**** NON CROCHET POST*****Warning******

Found this while cleaning off the bathroom counter (what was a recipe doing in the bathroom? who knows..I remember making this stuff years ago when kids were young. I must've been busy, set it down and forgot about it. I'm not the world's most organized person!!! )

Please be sure to read this ALL THE WAY through.. there's information at the end that will be very helpful.

Amish Cinnamon Bread

RULES:

1) Do NOT use metal bowls or utensils

2) Do not refrigerate starters, leave out on the counter.

3) Use PLAIN flour (not self-rising).

4) Let air out of bag periodically; it is NORMAL for the batter to ferment & thicken.


STARTER:

1(.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water (110 degrees F / 45 degrees C)
3 cups all purpose flour, divided
3 cups white sugar, divided
3 cups milk

(the instructions aren't clear, but I think you put the yeast, water and 1 cup of each flour, sugar & milk in a large (gallon size) ziploc bag. With all the fermenting and squeezing going on, I think I'd use the name brand bags too.)


Instructions (10 days)

Day 1: do nothing

Day 2: leave on counter, squeeze several times a day.

Day 3: leave on counter, squeeze several times a day.

Day 4: leave on counter, squeeze several times a day.

Day 5: leave on counter, squeeze several times a day.

Day 6: add 1 Cup Sugar, 1 Cup Flour, 1 Cup Milk, squeeze into mix until combined.

Day 7: leave on counter, squeeze several times a day.

Day 8: leave on counter, squeeze several times a day.

Day 9: leave on counter, squeeze several times a day.

Day 10: In large bowl, combine batter with remaining Sugar, Milk, Flour (1 cup of each). Mix with woooden spoon (remember, no metal).

Place 1/2 cup of mix in each of 4 gallon ziplock bags and label each as day 1 of starter. Give 3 bags away (with a copy of the instructions) and keep one for yourself.

To what is left in the bowl add:

1 Cup Oil
1/2 Cup Milk
3 large eggs
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 C Flour
1 C Sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla
1 small box instant vanilla pudding
1&1/2 tsp baking powder

Mix well with wooden spoon and pour into 3 well greased loaf pans (about 2/3 full). In a seperate bowl, mix tsp cinnamon and 2 Tbsp sugar. Sprinkle on top of batter. Bake at 325 for approx 1 hour or until done. Slice and serve. Enjoy.

~~

since it had been so long since I had made this, I went digging through google to see what I could find to verify my memory. I found these instructions at http://bread.allrecipes.com/az/AmishFriendshipBrdStrtr.asp

seems I remember almost correctly. And very nice to know that the starter can be frozen.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
• 1/4 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
• 3 cups all-purpose flour, divided
• 3 cups white sugar, divided
• 3 cups milk

---

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in water. Let stand 10 minutes. In a 2 quart container glass, plastic or ceramic container, combine 1 cup flour and 1 cup sugar. Mix thoroughly or flour will lump when milk is added. Slowly stir in 1 cup milk and dissolved yeast mixture. Cover loosely and let stand until bubbly. Consider this day 1 of the 10 day cycle. Leave loosely covered at room temperature.
2. On days 2 thru 4; stir starter with a spoon. Day 5; stir in 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup milk. Days 6 thru 9; stir only.
3. Day 10; stir in 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup milk. Remove 1 cup to make your first bread, give 2 cups to friends along with this recipe, and your favorite Amish Bread recipe. Store the remaining 1 cup starter in a container in the refrigerator, or begin the 10 day process over again (beginning with step 2).

Editor's Note:

Once you have made the starter, you will consider it Day One, and thus ignore step 1 in this recipe and proceed with step 2. You can also freeze this starter in 1 cup measures for later use. Frozen starter will take at least 3 hours at room temperature to thaw before using.


Also take a look at this: http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/388/Friendship_Fruit_Starter14094.shtml

Gmail troubles

Gmail has been wonderful.. until some id-i-ot has figured out how to use gmail for file sharing. Ever since that became common knowledge (Nov. 28th) Gmail has SUXXXXXDDDDDD. I can log in, but mail doesn't arrive. Mail was down yesterday, I complained and it came back. Now it's down again. Here goes another complaint email.

And NO, I won't tell anyone how to set up their gmail account for file sharing.. my mail is slow enough as it is. The info is out there if you know how to look.

Here's to hoping that the powers that be at gmail shut down this service so our email can continue. If not, I'll be moving my accounts back to yahoo mail.

I'm a strong supporter of Electronic Freedom, but as the saying goes, your freedom ends when it starts impinging on mine!!!

Listening to: Robert Earl Keen "Merry Christmas from the Family" Love this song. :)

Two Baby Blankets

A blanket I made specifically to donate to the Linus Project. No pattern, I just grabbed a hook and some RedHeart Baby clouds that I had in various colors and started. I intended for it to be a square, but it wanted to be a pentagon. ~~shrug~~ why fight what it wants to be.

colors used were Pale Yellow, Lavendar, Pale Blue, Cotton Candy and one of the Pink shades of Baby Clouds (don't remember the name and too lazy to go find the wrapper).

I took it to one of the drop off places today and the lady taking it thought it was very pretty. I may try to make some more like this.. I kinda like how it turned out. This one is about 35 or 36 inches across. Hope that's a good size for a baby blanket.

Here's another baby blanket made for some online friends of mine who had a baby this past weekend after many attempts and disappointments. This is Red Heart Baby Clouds in Pale Yellow and the pattern is from Lionbrand. It's their Little Victory baby blanket. I usually do this one in white and then border it in the appropriate color, but decided to go monochrome this time, just to be different. Mailed it today. Hope they like it.

I finally heard today from my friends from Chalmette, LA. THANK YOU GOD, they are safe and with family in Florida. Their house is likely gone, but thankfully they have another house on the north side of the lake (where they rode out the storm), so at least they have some options.

I just haven't been able to post about the storm, I've been so worried. We're still trying to contact the ASPCA folks to see about fostering or adopting a pet from the storm. Can't get through to anyone yet.

I'm being urged to finish the honeycomb shawl instructions. The more people ask, the more I don't want to work on it. I understand the urge to make something and am flattered by the admiration of my work, but with the stress from the storm, work, my husband doing the work of two (a colleage has taken ill with metastatic cancer, so my husband is trying to work his job, then drive 30 miles and do another job), a son that I have to sit on to get him to do his homework, and dealing with all the repercussions of lightening striking the house last week.. I'm just not in the mood to write a pattern. SORRY FOLKS!!!

Now that I've had my little rant.... I need to get offline so my son can do homework.

Watch out FSU, here she comes!!!

Letter Pillows I made for my girls dorm room.



KamoKitty that I made for her last summer, to help her being away from her real cat. Don't remember where the pattern came from, but I do know it was online. If/when I do find it again, I'll link it here.



The cat she had to leave behind. :( No animals in the dorms. (other than goldfish type fish)
Don't worry momma, Thunder still gets the Tuna juice on his dry food.



Dads truck, partially packed, getting ready to go.



Ready for FSU!!

They actually left Thursday and moved her in on Saturday. I just haven't been able to emotionally look at the pictures till now. Even now it makes me want to cry to see her pretty face and not be able to talk to her any ole time I want. I know I must let her go and let her grow.. but it's hard. If I let go, she'll be more willing to come back.

Procrastination Pays Off

I've been wanting to go to HobbyLobby for over a week now, and kept finding excuses not to go...too tired, too hot outside, gas is too expensive to make a run JUST for yarn, I got too much yarn already, etc etc etc. And I was really having a battle with myself because the Omega Sinfonia that I like is.. now was.. on sale. But I ended up not going.

I was GOOD!! I was RIGHT!!! I am VINDICATED!!!! Hobby Lobby has the TLC Essentials that I want for my Cathedral Window afghan on sale this week. I'm going first thing Monday Morning and get it. I usually go to work first, then go play, but with all this heat.. I know I won't go shopping if I wait till the afternoon. Thank goodness for part-time jobs that let you set your own hours.. woohoo!!!

Difficulties

I'm trying to write out instructions for the Honeycomb Shawl and Word crashes on me just as I'm putting on the finishing touches and thinking about asking for testers. Lovely. I hope I saved most of it before the crash.

I'm having a hard time settling into doing anything. Restless. Talked to John today, he told me some of the trials and tribulations of getting S. settled in the dorm room.. he said it was extremely hot. I believe it. I remember how bad it was in June when I was there for orientation. I've tried calling her dorm a few times this afternoon and the phone just rings and rings. I know she's probably having the time of her life.. but I need to hear from her.

This is so hard.

Pictures?... We got pictures

Pink shawl made from "Conny" yarn. It's a vintage all acrylic imitation mohair yarn from Israel. I don't know the name of the stitch. It looks like a honeycomb to me and that's what I'm calling it till I learn different.

I took a stitch I saw in a japanese pattern book and made it slightly lacier. Maybe someone else knows the name of the stitch. I don't know if I want to fringe this or do anything to the neck edge. I really love this, it's so soft and light. The pattern works from one fingertip to the other, so the sizing is extremely variable. The pattern increases every row and when the shawl is about half the size you want it, then you start making decrease rows.



Close up of the pattern work. (yeah I know it could've used a better background, but I was lucky to get my teen to model at all). I want to call this an "interlocking ring" or "honeycomb" pattern.



Hooded cape from "Wrapped in Style" booklet. I made it with Light n Lofty instead of Homespun, and have not put the funfur on the edge. I dont think I'm going to either, as this was made simply because I had the L&L at an almost free price, and was making this just for the heck of it. I also chose not to go full length. It will probably be given away to someone.



back view. uh.. that's not a tail on the thing, I just didn't have time to weave in the ends before picture taking time. My daughter's best friend is very graciously modeling for me.



Serafina Shawl made in Homespun & M size hook. I think the color name is Antique. Funny story, I made this same shawl in the Mission color for my daughter's theatre teacher, then made one just like this for my son's long suffering English teacher. Then my daughter decided she didn't like the Mission color and wanted one in Antique for her theatre teacher. soooo back to the hook I go. And in the middle of making it, I found multiple flaws in the yarn.. so I write to Lionbrand and they send me not 1 replacement skein, but 3!! so I had enough to make a 3rd shawl. Which I don't know what it's eventual fate will be. Right now I wear it while on the computer when it's cold. I may give it to a friend.


Wrap from a Crochet! magazine (I'll look up which one). The one in the magazine was made with Paton's Grace in Apricot with a multi-color edging of Funfur. This one is made with Omega Sinfonia. I think it's still too short and I'm not sure I will edge with funfur.. maybe just do a picot or a small shell edging.

Close up of pattern stitching.

I have found another pattern book I want to add to my collection. It's Leisure Arts "Stunning Crochet Shrugs". Michaels didn't have it last week and I haven't been able to make it to HL yet. Maybe Thursday of this week. Hope so cuz they've got the Sinfonia on sale. Wouldn't you know it.. when I just bought some 2 weeks ago. Sheesh.

Comment Spam and Yarn shopping

Oh good grief.. I just got spammed for the first time in my comments. The perpetrator didn't even have the cajones to leave their real name.. just Anonymous. Yeah, right, like I'm going to invest in something unsolicited and from an ANONYMOUS poster. Where do these people store their intelligence? In the freezer? If intelligence was something that got used up.. they'd certainly never run out.. because these spammers don't USE what little they have to begin with.

Made a run to the "big city" to get Meningitis shots for oldest, school supplies for #1 (& only) son, got battery for key with alarm for older car, and scored big on an estate sale. Just ran in on a whim to see if they had any silverware or plates that daughter could use in her dorm. Lady told me we could have anything in the kitchen except the Microwave.. for FREE. She also gave us two small round particle board tables and a wallhanging. She also offered us 3 TV's, but we turned them down.. they were too big and my daughter's roomie is supposedly bringing a TV. I'm really happy about the things we got for free. Not that buying any of that would break us, but it helps to have somethings free, with paying out of state tuition.

I think I have some of the yarn for my Cathedral Window afghan. I really wanted to use Paton's Canadiana.. but I found TLC Essentials on sale at Michaels..for 2.75 a skein. Only problem is that they didn't have a great selection of the variegated. I did get the Shaded Blue Jean, and then some Navy blue and some Steel Blue and some white. Thinking I could use the Steel Blue in place of one of the variegated and the Navy in place of the Black. Then I started looking at other places that carry TLC Essentials and found a place that has a variegated called Dream, that I think would work well with the Shaded Blue Jean, but their prices are higher than I would like to pay.

I really meant to also go to Hobby Lobby today, but ran out of energy. I was so tired and weak I wasn't sure I'd be able to make it home tonight, so passed on HL. Maybe they will have a variegated of TLC essentials that will work with the BlueJean, and I won't have to order my other variegated. I also need to go swimming in my bathtub full of yarn and see what I have of TLC in there.

Mood: Tired, but accomplished.

Music: G&R: Sweet Child of Mine (haha.. what the kids have on their "confuser")

Pre Semi-Empty Nest

My oldest leaves for Florida State University in less than a week. I'm already beginning to feel the labor pains of letting go. These are emotional (of course) rather than physical, but hurt just as much. I just hope we don't have a fight before she leaves.

Here's a Tip

When using very fine, mohair like yarn.. be very careful not to make mistakes... it's hell to frog. I only noticed the mistake about 10 rows away...>>sheesh<<

Crochet Kroshai Crotchet Krahchit

Interesting little post I ran across in the Daily Chaos blog, about the history and meaning of the word Crochet.

Now I know why I'm krahchitty when I can't kroshai.

Yarn Addicted.. who me?

Do you think you might be addicted to yarn? Then Ya gotta read Cerridwen's post about yarn addiction. Although she is a knitter (sigh) she has a great sense of humor about how yarn can take over a life. I wish I had written her post.

I dropped a ball of yarn in ranch dressing this afternoon. NO, not on purpose. I kept watching the yarn jump around as I crocheted and thinking I needed to move the bowl before it happened.. and then it did. I guess I get to try out the "yarn in a pair of hose" laundry trick. I already rinsed it off, and it's sitting near the dish drainer. I suppose DH will think I've really gone bonkers, seeing yarn in the dish drainer.

I'm working on trying to figure out this stitch:


I found it originally as a Poncho, but I want to make it into a shawl. I can't find it in my Complete guide to Knitting and Crochet Stitches. I NEED a copy of the Harmony Guides #6 & #7. I hope Josi over at Weird Mirror gets some in soon. I may have to break down and pay a little more than what she sells them for. I have soooooooo many ideas bouncing around in my head.. the number of WIPs keeps growing and growing. argh.

I'm also going to join the Crochet-a-Long at Crochetville for the Catheral Window Afghan. I'm not a big fan of Annie's Attic patterns, but this one is drop-dead-in-your-tracks gorgeous. This one is too pretty and too complicated for me to use plain ole red heart. I will have to find something nicer. After I get the pattern. LOL.. that's going to be a challenge as it's out of print. And I'm too scots to pay too much for it.

1 more day left on my current eBay sales. Gotta get more listed. And that means more pictures..

And need to get 18 y/o a meningitis shot before she heads off to university next month...and she missed her dermatologist appt...and 16 y/o needs to take Spanish 3 final.. and enroll for part-time college classes (to satisfy DAP ~distinguished achievement program~ requirements) .. You'd think it would slow down some over the summer.

Our coffeepot stopped working today too.. Monday isn't going to be a good day.

Too good to miss

PostSecret is an ongoing community art project where people mail-in their secrets anonymously on one side of a homemade postcard.

At first thought, you think.. so what. So go check it out.. it's different than anything I've seen before.

Kinda reminds me of an online/postal confessional. (and no, I've never been to confession, not a catholic, so please don't get offended if I'm way off base. This is just what it reminds me of)

More soul sharing at http://www.thefatmanwalking.com/

This guy is brave. I admire him for his efforts and his honesty. You GO Steve. You're the man!!

Blogging For Freedom

The Electronic Freedom Foundation is sponsoring a Freedom Blogathon.




Info from their newsletter below.

* EFF Announces "EFF15 Blog-a-thon" - Blog for Freedom!
July 19-August 2

For the past 15 years, EFF has been fighting to preserve
the constitutional right to freedom of expression on the
Internet. In the last few years, we've seen an explosion
of expression as new web publishing tools emerged,
providing countless netizens with their own personal First
Amendment machines. This month is our 15th anniversary
and to celebrate, we're putting these publishing tools
front and center. We're holding an EFF15 Blog-a-thon
where you're invited to blog about your personal
experiences fighting for freedom online - a project to
celebrate new publishing tools, attract new EFF members,
and mark our 15th all at once.

We want to hear about your "click moment" - the very
first step you to took to stand up for your digital
rights - whether it was blogging about an issue you
care about, participating in a demonstration, writing
your representatives, or getting involved with EFF.

As a thank you, we've enlisted an independent panel of
judges to choose from among your posts for "Most
Inspirational," "Most Humorous," and "Best Overall."
At the end of the Blog-a-thon, we'll announce the
names of the three bloggers with the best posts on our
website and in EFFector. We'll also publish the three
best posts on our site and send the authors a blogging
"kit" as an extra thank you: an EFF bloggers' rights
T-shirt, special EFF-branded blogger pajama pants, a
pound of coffee, and a pair of fuzzy slippers!

Follow the links below for details on how to participate
and watch the Blog-a-thon - and for extra inspiration,
check out the posts by EFF staff members and interns
describing their first steps in fighting for online
freedom:

Join the EFF15 Blog-a-thon!

eff15

Free Patterns, Until Sept 1, 2005

After Sept 1st, these supposedly will be gone gone. so grab them while you can. (there's some there for knitters too).

Italian Styling

cd holder granny style bag

skimpy little top

cloche

ivory shawl with flowers

Very cute things from an Italian magazine called Mani di Fata. Thanks to the Crochet Partners member who posted the url to the magazine.

I'm almost monolingual (I can mangle espanol un poco), but am able to decipher most of the above patterns because.. HURRAY...they show them in English.

And to the KnittersInOurMidst.. they do have some knit patterns. It's up to you to find the free ones though. There's also a ton of embroidery available.. not sure if much of that is free though.

What time does the train leave?

Do you think he knows his servant is leaving home next month and he's trying to catch a ride?

Mystery Thread

I received in an ebay auction some mystery thread on a blue spool. No markings and no clue to where it came from. I thought I had enough to make a shawl. Wrong. Posting this to solicit help in identifying it. It feels like it's all cotton and has a beautiful sheen. It's bigger than size 10, I think it's about size 5.




Above is the shawl in progress, and then there's a bit of the thread next to a size G Boye hook.

Any ideas anyone? I'm thinking maybe the Perle cotton on a spool from Herrschners might be a match. Or maybe some of the thread at Elmore-Pisgah? I'm really leaning towards the Herrschners though because if you look at their picture closely, you can see that the interior cone is blue, the same shade that this thread was wound on. Unfortunately, I can't find the cone this morning.

Thanks to any who can suggest somewhere else to look. I'll probably just order the thread from Herrschners and if it doesn't match.. I'll use it for something else.

Feeling Irish?

5-Ring Rose


I've been playing with Irish Crochet recently. I didn't feel like using the tiny thread that IC is supposed to use, so I used some Aunt Lydia's fashion thread. I think it's size 3. Also used a G hook. I think it turned out ok. The ends haven't been woven in because I don't know if I will keep this, or what to do with it now that it's made.

Picot-petal Rose

Here's another one. Same deal, ends not secured because I have no idea what to do with the thing. Both patterns came from "The Ultimate Sourcebook of Knitting and Crochet Stitches" which I got at 1/2 price from a Barnes & Nobles that was going out of business (lost their lease).

5-Petal Flower

And here's one that is in progress. It's a little different in that I'm making it in size 10 thread. It's not great thread, being a cheapo brand.. but it was on clearance and is good enough to play with when learning stitches or experimenting. I don't mean to be a threadsnob.. but there IS a huge difference in thread. If you can afford the better thread, I'd advise using it.. it's so much easier on the fingers.

In the above pattern the leaves are added on seperately after the flower is completed. I used a size 5 steel hook (boye.. my preference.)

Comparison:













Demonstrating what a huge difference thread and hook size can make.

Binding by the Hook

Been on an international kick lately. First Japanese amigurumi, now Russian crochet. The russian sites are interesting, very often they will post the instructions with the finished work. While I can't read russian (even with the help of babelfish, it's a bit on the weird side).. I CAN read crochet diagrams. So this has opened up a whole new world of freebies.

Here's some of the places I've been visiting.

www.melissa.ru/forums

www.melissa.ru (put this into babelfish to figure out where to go..they have patterns on the mainsite without having to go into the forums)

http://forum.knitting-info.ru/index.php?showforum=60 yes, i know it says knitting, but it has lots of binding by the hook also. :)

http://www.ntl.narod.ru/rukodelie/shali/ (GORGEOUS shawls here> the download files won't work.. at least for me they wouldn't, but the pictures load nicely.

some of them I've found have links that only work when they are NOT in babelfish. So the thing to do is to open the page twice, once in Russian and the second time in babelfish.. and then flip back and forth so you can see what you're doing. This works best in a tabbed browser like Firefox.

A couple of clues or things I've learned: Charles is the Russian term for a Shawl. Napkin is a doily.

Stupid Pattern

One of the stupidest patterns I've ever seen. A shoulder wrap? grief. It's just a scarf that is joined at the ends. And LB has it mislabeled too.. at the top of the page it says Microspun and the pattern calls for Moonlight Mohair. someone was really sleeping when they added this to the site.

Have to take my son back to camp so he can attend the final sessions initiation.. he doesn't want to borrow my van, he'd rather ride back with his sister after camp ends tomorrow so he can torture her for another hour.

Then they're both home for what's left of the summer. Not sure whether to celebrate or mourn. Little of both I suppose.

I was crocheting when crocheting wasn't cool

Just got through reading a couple of rants and thought I'd share them. The first one by Bellalinda blogging her thoughts regarding Debbie Stoller and her coming to the rescue of crochet. I'm ambivalent about Ms Stoller coming out with a crochet book (someone alert Xavier Hollander..LOL).. sure it's great for "the other art" to be recognized.. but hey, we've been here all along and don't need to take a back seat to anyone or any other craft.

LadyLinoleum at Monster Crochet has a great blog .. with several pertinent posts, but this is one I really agree with.. Knitting Yarn? When did yarn become soooooooooooo specialized? I'm waiting to see some "Crochet Yarn" .. probably will happen after DS's book is published.

Oh, and I found a really great site for patterns.. only it's mainly in Russian. I don't read Russian, but I can figure out some diagrams (or schkemas as they call them). Babelfish to the rescue.

Amigurumi-lust, Blogger frustration

Ok. I think I know what's going wrong. I've been trying just to copy & paste from an email into blogger and evidentally the two don't get along. Sheesh.. try to take a shortcut and end up going miles and miles out of the way.

Anyhow, back to Amigurumi. For those who don't know (like me a week or two ago) Amigurumi seems to refer to single crochet in the round, and specifically to the making of small toy animals with this technique. I don't speak or read japanese, so I'm going from what I've seen on pattern book covers and reading in the crochetville forum.

They're very similar to occidental patterns, but the japanese style seems to be somewhat rounder, and the eye placement seems to be almost parallel with the creatures nose, instead of above.

Want to join in the fun? Check out this blog.

If this post works, I'll add some links to patterns. Cross fingers that this will go.

Yippee.. it worked. so here's some pattern links. Not all are japanese, but are still cute and could be made to look oriental with very little effort.

Bunny

da tame Bunny (I think) different link.

flamingo

PocketAnimals

Bee

Marsupial

Dragon

Panda

Monkey

Baby Harp Seal (ugh.. pdf file. I hate pdfs.. espescially when I'm using dialup. )

What's up with Blogger?

Test to see if blogger has fixed its problems with posting yet.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

I've been sitting here for at least 40 minutes trying to post and blogger keeps telling me a required field can't be blank. Dang computer gremlins.

Disco Throw

I'm in the process of making an afghan or throw. What's the difference? I'm guessing it's the size of the thing. Anyhow.. here's a picture of one of the squares being blocked. I don't have a fancy-schmancy blocking board, I just measured out 11 inches with a piece of paper (8.5 x 11, ya know) and marked the edges with some irridescent headed quilt pins. Then stretched the dampened square out to meet the shiny pins and then pinned it down with yellow quilt pins. Not the most professional job in the world, but it works for me.

And here's the throw with 12 of the 20 squares joined. The pattern calls for the squares just to be sewn together, but I DESPISE sewing blocks together, so I used the flatbraid method. I also decided to use a contrasting color to put them together and will go around the outside with a couple rows of the black (really it's a black/grey blend) and then a couple rows of the disco. The pattern is from the wrapper of the Homespun, called homespun crochet lacy blues throw. It is NOT on the Lionbrand site, but I have written to them and asked that they consider addding it.

NOTE: They finally added it.. on July 18th.. Lacy Blues Throw.

I've done much more than this lately, but taking pictures is not my favorite thing to do. I will get them done and uploaded though. We've been very sick here, an awful stomache flu going around that will knock you on your butt for several days. I was so sick that I couldn't even pick up a hook.. and believe me that is SICK. So glad I'm all better now. Just waiting for the last child to get it so we can be finished with it.

Orientation and Crochet

Let me tell you... Florida is HOT HOT HOT. And HUMID HUMID HUMID. I've about died the past two days while going around campus with my daughter. She loves it here.. says she's finally warm. Bless her heart, must be awful to be always cold. Not like I'd know how that is!!!

I'm typing this on her brand new Dell laptop for college, while she takes a nap before going out tonight with her cousin. The two girls are going to go see Mr & Mrs Smith. Growing up 1000 miles apart, I hope the two girls learn to be friends.

I got the nicest comment to my last post..Thank you so much for enjoying my warped sense of humor. :) I promise I'll try and get pics up as soon as I can.

Hoping to get to local yarn store while here. Supposedly the proprieter keeps the door locked until a customer knocks on the door. She only lets you in if she likes the way you look. I've ran across that in cities like Chicago, but never before in the south. Funny!!!

I know crochet is supposed to be big on campus, but haven't seen anything crocheted here yet. I guess it's the heat..it's been near 100 the past two days.

Well, time to get back to my hooking obsession. :)

Crochet on the Road

I can't believe it's been almost a month since I blogged. What's been happening?

Well, I have two teens here and me sharing the same computer (yeah, mine is down, again) and with school out for the summer, that creates some logistics problems.

My oldest graduated High School on May 26th... I'm still trying to make it real. The beautiful baby, the terrific toddler, the graceful ballerina, allll grown up.

We are supposed to leave tomorrow to go to the university she's planning to attend to start orientation (the university messed up their scheduling and she needs to attend two different orientations!!.. argh) and I haven't started packing yet!! Something tells me I'm not too enthusiastic about this move.

I had made a gorgeous trellis shawl to wear for graduation, but then it was too hot to use it. oh well. it's put aside for future use.

On the crochet front, I've made 3 seraphina shawls (teacher gifts, no time for pics) and a hooded cape (just for the fun of it, and will make a pic to upload later). I'm in the process of making a wrap from one of last year's Crochet! magazine patterns.. it's supposed to be out of Paton's Grace, but while lovely, it's generally too rich for my blood, so I'm using Omega Sinfonia. Only problem is that I thought I bought enough, but now I find I need 2 or 3 more skeins. ouch. Oh well.. this happens to me often enough that I should know better by now.. to buy double the amount I think I'll need.. LOL.

Now I have to figure out what to take for crochet on the road and while in hotel room. I'm thinking more serafina shawls.. easy pattern and easy to find yarn that works.. but might I get bored with it?

Off to wash more clothes. Wouldn't it be wonderful if going nekkid was more comfy? Sure would cut down on the clothing budget. :) I was going to postulate that it would also cut down on water use, but maybe we would wash MORE if we were more nekkid.... hmmmmm

Growing Up in a Resort? I didn't know!!

I just got through reading a review in last Sunday's Dallas Morning News (yes, it takes me a whole week to read that paper.. it's huge and I'm busy) of Francis Ford Coppola's newest venture: Resorts in Central America. He has 3, Blancaneaux Lodge in Belize; La Lancha in Guatemala and Turtle Inn, also in Belize.

While reading the review, I was startled to find that must've grown up in a resort!! No, I didn't spend my childhood in Central America, it was spent in rural North Florida, USA; but the similarities are striking.

"guest quarters are free of telephones and TVs and DVD players (although Internet access is available at the front desk). Cell phones don't work and you have to stand in line to use the house phone"

Well, in my childhood, we had one phone in the house, and you certainly had to stand in line to use it. There was one TV in the house and it was in the Living Room and we received one channel (sometimes we could pull in a second channel, if the weather was just right). Who ever heard of cellphones, DVD's or the Internet in the 60's.. if they were in the conceptual stage, I was too busy being a child to know about them. :)

Water for Blancaneaux is supplied by a river "so pure you can drink while you swim"

HUH? It never occured to me as a child that any river wasn't pure enough to drink while swimming. How sad that our "progress" has ruined this for some parts of the country.

"In place of air-conditioning, there are wooden ceiling fans and louvered windows"

I grew up with God's air-conditioning.. whatever breezes he chose to send. Along with room fans and cold cold water from an underground stream. And when at home and in private, the bare minimum of clothing that still allowed for decency.

"Gardens of rows of eggplant and cherry tomatoes"

Yep, and we also had corn and beans and peas.. I spent many an hour in the summer shucking corn and shelling peas. I enjoyed listening to the adults talk while I worked.

"Guided hikes..to small mayan ruins"

Well, while I can't verify the age of the ruins, we could walk a ways into the woods near our house and find the remains of an old house, old bricks and bits of pottery.

The reviewer goes on to talk about falling asleep outside on a hammock and being awakened by howler monkeys.. He was lucky it wasn't palmetto bugs and mosquitoes!!!

I wish I could make this funny, as I am amused that the things I took for granted as a child, people are now paying exorbitant fees to experience. Coppola's resorts run from $95 to $180 a night...and to think, I got all he offers, plus more (Coppola's resorts don't seem to offer the experiences of feeding chickens, horses, goats; collecting eggs; hanging out laundry; planting the garden with your dad; climbing trees; etc.) for free. What a wonderful childhood I had. Thanks Momma and Daddy.

Knotty Thoughts

Wow, is my brain a jumble of thoughts this morning. Before I get on to the Crochet portion, this is important.

I'm continuing to follow the Jessica Lunsford situation. The florida petition has been successful (I saw a short video on Fox news last night with Governor Bush signing the bill, and I recognized Mark Lunsford there. Watching Mark's progress through dealing with political situation is like watching the transformation of John Walsh. My heart goes out to those families. I also saw some young women and wonder if they were Sarah Lunde's family) and now they're moving on to a national campaign. I urge everyone to go to that site and print the petition, sign it and mail it in.

To keep the crochet theme going, I'm in the middle of a crochet-a-long with the crochetbags yahoo group. I'm almost through with part 4 and waiting for part 5 to be posted. I usually feel compelled to keep up with these things, but I'm beginning to learn to relax a little and not feel panicked if I'm not ready when the leader posts the next group of instructions.

I'm also trying to make a lightweight lacy shawl to wear at daughter's HS graduation. I'm using the Paton's Grace Lavendar (found it on clearance at Michaels for $2.00/skein, I have 6 skeins of same dyelot and 1 that is very very close.. hoping that 6 will be enough, but if not, will fudge with the last) and the Trellis Shawl pattern from the Wrapped in Style booklet. I have made this thing twice, so far.. lol. Made it once and it was too small, so decided to try a BatWing shawl, well as much as I LOVE that pattern, it's not lacy enough for a summer wrap (and late May is summer here in E. Texas). So I've frogged it (after getting 3 skeins worth into it) and now I'm making the Trellis Shawl AGAIN, but have enlarged it by half again. So far so good, but I must say it looks HUGE, but I'm a big girl, so this might work. Hope so, time is running short.

Things not crochet related:

I desperately need to clean this house, I have relatives coming in 2 weeks that haven't been here in 14 years.. and the house looks like it hasn't been cleaned in all that time >>almost a joke<< seriously, I still have things in boxes from when my mom passed away in 1997. What to do, what to do.. if I put them away in the boxes, they'll still be there when I pass away. Then there's the teenagers rooms.. shoot.. I'll just close those doors and lock them. My living room is still full of yarn, I have a couch that is ripped (need to get the upholstery man out to see if it's a hopeless case). And then there's the hail-storm damaged roof. Horrors.

I may just have a nervous break-down. Wonder if I can take my crochet hooks and yarn to the mental hospital or is the only craft they allow basket-weaving? (No offense intended to the truly mentally ill). I can take plenty of grape-vine and learn another craft.. grief.. is OCD setting in or what?

My son is currently on a band-trip to Chicago. He promised he would call when they got there, and he hasn't. I'm trying very hard not to go nuts over that. Daughter is in a community play, Dinner Party by Neil Simon and it starts this weekend. Then later this month we have Band Banquet and Senior Banquet. Too many activities and too little time.

OH, and thanks to my local Freecycles, I've received a whole bunch of vintage Workbaskets. YAHOO!! only problem is storage. Is packratism a disease? Probably so. I may end up on Oprah as an example of how not to live. LOL I gotta watch O this afternoon, she's supposed to have an update on a lady who was an extremely bad housekeeper. eek, could've been me!!!

Well, I guess I better go get started on this mess. Wish I could stay and talk some-more.

A Prayer For The Children

We pray for the Children
Who sneak popsicles before supper,
Who erase holes in math workbooks,
Who can never find their shoes.
And we pray for those
Who stare at photographers from behind barbed wire,
Who can't bound down the street in a new pair of sneakers,
Who never "counted potatoes,"
Who are born in places where we wouldn't be caught dead,
Who never go to the circus,
Who live in an X-rated world.

We pray for children
Who bring us sticky kisses and fistfuls of dandelions,
Who hug us in a hurry and forget their lunch money.
And we pray for those who never get dessert,
Who have no safe blanket to drag behind them,
Who watch their parents watch them die,
Who can't find any bread to steal,
Who don't have any rooms to clean up,
Whose pictures aren't on anybody's dresser,
Whose monsters are real.

We pray for children
Who spend all their allowance before Tuesday,
Who throw tantrums in the grocery store and pick at their food,
Who like ghost stories,
Who shove dirty clothes under the bed,
Who never rinse out the tub,
Who get visits from the tooth fairy,
Who don't like to be kissed in front of the carpool,
Who squirm in church and scream in the phone,
Whose tears we sometimes laugh at and
Whose smiles can make us cry.

And we pray for those
Whose nightmares come in the daytime,
Who will eat anything,
Who have never seen a dentist,
Who aren't spoiled by anybody,
Who go to bed hungry and cry themselves to sleep,
Who live and move, but have no being.

We pray for children
Who want to be carried and for those who must,
Who we never give up on,
And for those who don't get a second chance.
For those we smother and . . .
For those who will grab the hand
Of anybody kind enough to offer it.

by Ina Hughs

Paisley Passion

I recently bought an old magazine off ebay, called Good Housekeeping Needlecraft. It is the spring/summer 1978 issue. I bought it because I want to make this shawl. I think it appeals to the hippie in me. :)

Now to find the appropriate yarn. The yarn it calls for is Berroco Mirabella, which is no longer made. I asked the members of Crochet Partners and contacted the company, and they all gave me the same information:

Mirabella was 87%wool and 13% nylon. 105 yards per 50 g skein, with 4 sts = 1" on a number 9 needle.

Hmmm.. so now I need to find a yarn (that is 20% wool or less.. allergies, mine and husbands) that will work up about the same (or bigger. I don't want smaller) and have lots of colors.

After doing some looking at yarn sites and at stitchguide.com, I've
come up with two or three possible substitutions for the Mirabella.
I'm open to other yarn suggestions, but I need to be able to get these
colors (or close to them): Raspberry, Saffron, Lime, Turquoise,
Lilac, Natural, and Rose-Mist.

1) Paton's Melody ~ a little on the chunky side, but has many of the colors.

2) Lionbrand Woolease ~ many of the colors and low amt of wool.

3) Caron Dazzleaire ~ discontinued, but still sells on eBay, and I have a few skeins.

I'm still looking around, but I think these are the main contenders.

Wool Gathering

I wish I could wear wool. Look at this GORGEOUS coat.

Some fiber related Haiku. This is my favorite:

(One more stitch... One more row... Ah..? It's dawn.)

And one other thing: I recently emailed a small yarn supplier, praising the patterns (all knitted) that one of the owners had asking if by any chance they were available in crochet. They very kindly took the time to write back, but one of their first sentences was "I hate to crochet".

I know it wasn't intended as a personal insult, but it feels like one. I've pondered this for a few days and haven't responded to the person. While I much prefer crocheting and knit very poorly now, I once could do a decent stockinette stitch. I would never say I "hated" knitting.

Perhaps it's from my upbringing, Momma would always tell us that hate is such a strong word and to save it for when we really needed it. And she grew up with a father whose strongest expression was "Tarnation"!

Back to the knitter who hates crochet, I guess I should feel sorry for her, her scope is limited.

Before I forget, here's one more site of lovely work. I want the pattern for the Pineapple shawl in the middle. And CrochetMe's Halcyon Shawl is pretty too.

Sister #2 wants a Fleuri purse in RED RED.. and Sister #1 wants a larger Fleuri purse ( I made her a mini version for her bday). The extra bridal purses went over well.. except now I have an order for another royal/navy blue one. Success is wonderful, non?

I WON!!!

Some time back I had joined an email list at one of the online crochet stores, just to keep informed of when they get new patterns. Yes, I did notice that they had a monthly give away, but thought nothing of it, I never win anything.

Saturday, April 2, I got an email saying "Congratulations! You are the lucky winner of the Fashion Stole Kit from Yarn Obsession."

Wow.

Read it again

"Congratulations! You are the lucky winner of the Fashion Stole Kit from Yarn Obsession."

Double Wow.

Ok, I think to myself, I won a pattern, that's great. Then I read more in the mail.."Please contact me and let me know which color you would like and where I can send the package."

HUH? Patterns come in colors?

Ok, time to mosey over to the site and see what I didn't remember about this place. Zoiks!! They're not giving me JUST a pattern, they're giving me a pattern AND the yarn to make it.
A Fashion Stole Kit!

oh boy oh boy oh boy.

Looking at the colors listed, it sounds like Homespun for the body and trimmed with Funfur.. oooohhh I love this stuff, I dont care what other people say about working with it, it's soooo soft and cuddly when made up. And I haven't had that much trouble finding where to put the stitches.

Nouveau & Chocolate; Carribbean & White; Edwardian & Black; Ranch & Copper; Covered Bridge Red &Champagne; or Corinthian & Copper are the color choices. I've made my selection, but not telling what I picked out just yet.

I've got more news, but will save some for another post. Now off to find a place to hide this free yarn... LOL.

WORRIED

I'm sitting here worried out of my mind because it's 10pm, a school night, and my senior student hasn't come home or called yet.

The drama dept at the HS had the UIL (University Interscholastic League) 1 act play competition today, and I expected her to be somewhat late, but not THIS late. We drove up to the HS around 8:30 and left a note on the car she drives to CALL HOME NOW. Also left messages at her teacher's home number and with the local civic theatre where she has been rehearsing several times a week.

I'm going to have a long long talk with this young adult when she finally gets home. Her dad and I provide a cell phone for her safety, and she either leaves it in the car (they're not supposed to have them on school campus) or doesn't turn it on. So what good is having one doing? She recently went to Dallas for a school function for a few days.. and never called to say they arrived. We had to call the hotel late the night of their arrival to verify that the group did arrive. Her excuse for not calling us when she got home? "I didn't know how to make a collect call"!!!! What is wrong with this child that she can't read directions in a phone book or ask an operator or a friend?????

As I type this her dad just came in the room and said she had called, they were just now leaving the restaurant in a town an hour away from here. So, she will be home around 11 or 11:30, if all goes well.

This has been a long long day. I finished the last of 4 more bridal purses for the mom & aunts of the bride, two in what I hope is a salmon pink ~two because I couldn't decide on what kind of beads~, one in royal navy with darker glass beads. Then when I was almost finished with the Navy blue one, I found out the sister it was destined for has decided now to wear Sage green. ACK. So finished the Navy one..and then being there was NO TIME to go shopping for some good thread.. I used some southmaid thread in a spruce color, with pale green "pearls". I just hope it's close enough to sage green to work out.

No time for pictures, I just packaged them up and mailed them with a note of explanation. If they want to use them fine.. if not fine.

While that was going on, the plumber/field line man showed up. I've been having trouble with the grease trap for 2 years.. ever since I started teaching the kids how to cook. Little did I know that when I told them to drain the hamburger.. they were draining it straight down the sink instead of into a bowl to throw out later. $1500.00 later, we've got a new field line, but they still have to pump the grease trap. Seems my contractor poured a cement slab over it when they were making my patio some 13 years ago. I remember them putting a cap on the grease trap then.. and I remember being worried about what would happen if it needed pumping.. but the contractor was.. dont worry, we can just crack the cement... well joy joy.. it's not quite as easy as he made it sound. Live and learn I guess.

Oh, and the field line man had to take down part of our chainlink fence to get his backhoe in.. and we have a dog that is psychotic...and attacks our little dog, so we're having to deal with that too. Can't let them outside at the same time. Seriously, the big dog wants to kill the little one.

I think I need a stiff drink. As soon as the kid who's giving me all the grey hair comes home, I just might have one.

Jessica Marie Lunsford

If you live in Florida, and are a registered voter, please take a moment and click on the banner, or manually go to www.ProtectFloridaChildren.com and download, print and sign the petition.

Please help prevent what happened to Jessie from ever happening again. Thank you.

For more information, visit www.JessicaMarieLunsford.com


P.S. You may have seen some online petitions regarding this issue, those are not authorized by the Lunsford family.

Here comes the Bride (well, the purse anyways)

Here's the purse I made for my niece. This is cebelia thread and 4mm pearls. The pearls are crocheted in place. The pattern calls for them to be sewn on. Not this chickie.. LOL. So, on the next attempt, I threaded the "pearls" onto the Cebelia before starting the purse, and devised a way to incorporate them into the purse as I went. It worked beautifully, see below.

And here's everything I made. There's one purse with pearls (as above) One without pearls but Krenik blending fiber is worked with the Cebelia (this is the one without the drawstrings). The purple one is worked with Cebelia and variegated quilting thread held together, with pearls crocheted in place. I never tried using quilting thread before.. I quite like it. I'm keeping the purple one for myself.

Sorry for the poor quality of the pictures, we were trying hard to get these in the mail, and I didn't double check what my daughter had taken first. The wedding is April 2 and we were mailing these on March 18.. yikes!!

I just finished another little bag (no pics yet) with Cebelia, quilting thread, and silver DMC metallic embroidery thread [the kind that comes on a spool]. It's stiffer because of the metallic thread, but nice. I may try to sell it on eBay as a prom/special occassion bag.

Also included are a garter and two different sizes of Lucky Pennies (one made with size 6 [1.80mm] hook and the other with size 1 [2.75mm] hook). I left them unfinished because I can't find a penny with the right year. I will let the mom of the bride take care of that detail (or the bride, or one of the other aunts.. there's a ton of us).

~~~~I made two of the LP holders because when I made the first one with the size 6 hook, I looked at it and thought "there's NO WAY I can get a penny into that", so away I went with my size 1 hook. Hahaha.. turns out I COULD get a penny into it. I have no current need for a lucky penny holder, so I sent them both to the brides mom and she can decide what to do with the extra. If I find I need one, they don't take long to make up.~~~~

Please excuse the loose ends. Normally I finish things completely, but this wedding is 1000 miles away from me, I can't go (boooohooo) so I'm leaving things to where the bride or seamstress (the brides other aunt) can finish things to their liking. I'm considering making little bags/purses for the 3 aunts of the bride.. but doubt if I will have time to do so. Oh well, less stress for me that way.

Late Birthday Gifts

I've been big on handwarmers lately, made this set for my eldest sister. The bag is from CrochetMe's latest issue.

And this is what I made for youngest sister, who is into doing some historical recreation. The pattern for the bag is from Michaels, it's the blue cotillion purse, only I only went 6 or 7 rounds on the base, instead of 10.

And here are matching mesh mitts to go with the bag. I made these from the basic handwarmer pattern posted on this blog, but used thread and dc. They're modeled by my teenage daughter.. hopefully they won't be so loose on my sister. 

Sick today

I wanted to post some pictures today, show everyone why I haven't posted in a month, but I really don't feel very good. I will try to get the pictures up, no promises though.

I've finished birthday presents for two sisters, and a brides purse, lucky penny holders and a garter for a niece who is getting married in early april. Almost have a shawl of my own design finished, did finish a reverse Sierpinski shawl... along with keeping up with my AngelsForHope projects.

One of our dogs had a seizure yesterday too, so I'm having to deal with that... and my senior daughter keeps waiting till the last minute to mail applications for programs that she wants to get into at FSU, and that is driving me batty.

Sorry about the delay. I'll try to get better and do better soon.

some funny~weird stuff

Fryup

Strange Proposal

Brave New World

Had a study group over here last Thursday... senior AP English class had a project to do on Brave New World ( I dont know how I managed to escape reading that in High School, guess I have to mend my education now) and these girls waited till the night before to pull the project together. Typical!

Although I can't really blame them, I do my best work when under pressure. Something about having a deadline somehow makes thoughts conjeal into something worth putting on paper.

Anyhow, this girl was walking through the house just amazed at all the yarn I have.. I guess it takes "new eyes" to see what we are used to. I started thinking about it and I have yarn in every room of the house except the kids rooms, the bathrooms and my husband's closet. Oh dear, sounds like I have let it get out of hand. :( Time to stay away from eBay for awhile.. ouch!!! Either that or SELL some of it that I bought on sale.. (which is why I bought it to begin with, thinking I'd make a profit..LOL.. now I can't stand to let it go)

I started showing my daughter's friend some of the things I've made, and she fell in love with the purple handwarmers.. so I gave them to her. She just went on and on.. How did you know my favorite color was purple.. I love these.. thank you so much. I am so glad to see them go to someone who will enjoy them. My own offspring wont wear anything I make.. sheesh.

Btw: the people who put out the SnB book are going to do one for crochet. Check out the post at getcrafty.

almost 6am, time to wake the youngins...and to look at new templates for this baby...

Linkster

just a couple of links today:

poptop hat

yes, it says knit at the bottom of the page, but it truly is a crochet pattern.

crocheted carrot (for dieting?? hehe)

and I soooooooooo want this bag:

I sent an email to hubby asking for it (the bag, duh!), too bad valentines has already passed.

I've been so busy with cleaning house (omg, the mess a teenage boy can make.. I think we cleaned 3 large black trash sacks out of his room and there's still mess, but at least now you can see the carpet in about 85% of his room) and setting up new computer and work that I've hardly had time to crochet. Last night I tried to crochet but fell asleep with the hook in my hand.. LOL.. woke up several hours later still holding it.

My approximation of a Sierpinski shawl is coming along nicely. Instructions I started with are here. Alternate instructions here. Mine won't be an exact Sierpinski because I wanted more of a curve to fit over the shoulders, so I'm making some alterations to the pattern. I think I like it.. who knows, maybe I'll frog it and start over. eek.

I'm making it out of some vintage Bernat Savannah, which is an acrylic/cotton blend. The color is misty blue. I had 7 skeins which I think it going to be just enough, but I started getting panicky that it wouldn't be enough around skein #5, so went looking for more. Luckily, the YarnBarn had 3 skeins available and a wonderful price (not being sarcastic.. 1.50 a skein) so I got them, sight unseen, just hoping they would match. They arrived yesterday and I think they will match (haven't checked numbers yet, way too busy) and even if they don't.. I can do something else with them.

ok, i hear the hook calling me....

PS. sorry about all the goofed up links.. think I got them all fixed now... what I get for trying to post while child is waiting to use pc. That's my story!! :)

What Kind of Yarn are YOU??

You are Dishcloth Cotton.
You are a very hard worker, most at home when
you're at home. You are thrifty and seemingly
born to clean. You are considered to be a Plain
Jane, but you are too practical to notice.

They don't know me too well.. while I do like to stay home, I sure don't like to clean. :)


What kind of yarn are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Alienware Rocks!! kinda

Finally had the time to finish cleaning out my little "hole in the wall" where my old computer resided before aol ate it for lunch...thanks for the memories aol.. never never never install anything above aol 5 on an older system...it wrecks havoc and the damage is almost always unrecoverable from. :(

So, since my system was nearly 4 years old anyways, decided to get a new one.. went with alienware this time instead of micron..

So far the system is great... but installing starband hasn't gone well, and the case on the main cpu is cracked. :(

Fortunately the damage is only on one side.

We will see what happens next week when Customer Service receives my email with the pics of the damage. :::keeping toes crossed, can't type with crossed fingers::: 

Hats & Hoods & Scarves, Oh My!!

a beret and scarf made with Caron's Simply Soft brites

Hooded scarf, I think the pattern is from www.lionbrand.com. I made it tri-color to use up scrap yarn.

back view, with tassels.

hooded scarf in red. seriously considering donating the hooded scarfs to the band booster's garage sale. we'll see.