Icky weather today!

Well, winter just had to be a stinker and put in another appearance. Icy sleet and rain most of the night. My son's high school is on a 2 hour delay. My poor husband will have to be doing phone work in the rain today. Ugh. I don't envy him.

Needless to say.......I proclaim today a crochet day!! Gonna sit by the gas logs and just not worry about what it's doing outside.

Oh the weather outside is frightful, but crocheting is delightful. And since I've no place to go.....let it snow, let it sleet, let it rain!!

TTFN!

Where I've Been :o))

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New Patterns & Spring-like weather

I'm really enjoying the warm weather we've been having here lately. My camelia bushes are just gorgeous.



I got a new pattern book from AA yesterday, and my first copies of two magazines I ordered from them. I like the patterns in Annie's Favorite Crochet. I am a little disappointed with Crochet World though. When I used to subscribe a few years ago, the issues were just full of patterns. Now there are a lot more full-page ads. There are still quite a few patterns, but I really expected less advertisement and more magazine content.



I finished making a thread angel bookmark today. I made up the pattern as I went along. It's being tested by my friend Karla. I'll post the pattern when she's done checking my directions for boo-boos. :o)

Look what the baby can do!!

Joshua surprised me today and figured out how to stand up. He loves to push buttons, so I'm not surprised he used daddy's printer to help him stay up. lol. I told hubby not to set it on the floor....too much of a temptation for a button-pushing baby. :o))




Now I'll have to keep my sewing basket put up, or he will be in it!

TTFN

Juli

My WIM list just got longer!

I bought two new pattern books over the weekend: 3 Dozen and One Bookmarks and 63 Easy to Crochet Pattern Stitches. I bought yarn to make the afghan this morning:



I don't really care for pink, so I substituted burgundy. Hubby will like that. Burgundy is his favorite color. :) I'm going to join in on the 63 squares crochet a long on Crochetville. I've almost bought the pattern book several times in the past because the squares are so pretty, but never did because I really don't like to join squares. After seeing the CAL, it helped me make up my mind to buy the pattern book. I won't be the only one weaving in ends! :o)

Right now I'm working up a pattern of my own for a remote control organizer. We have too many remotes -- the television has a remote, the speaker system has a remote, the DVD/VCR player has a remote and the satelite television system has a remote. And it never fails -- whichever one you need is the one that is under a sofa cushion, in the baby's mouth, or in the remote bermuda triangle somewhere. So I'm making an organizer to hold all the remotes and our tv guide. Then the guys won't get testy when the remote is missing!

I bought some big beads on sale at Walmart (gotta love their craft sale bins!!) , and I'm going to come up with a pattern for a book thong too. I already have the basic design worked up in my head -- just have to get the ol' hook out and get busy making one. And I replenished my supply of large and small cabone rings -- can't ever have enough of those little doo-dads. :o)

I have my kitchen set patterns all drafted, and I'm making a set to see if I find any mistakes. As soon as I get at least the dishcloth and potholder parts done, I will get them posted here to share them with everyone.

Takes me a few extra days to get patterns done because my crochet time is during baby's naps and the puppy's walk times, and at night when baby (and puppy) have both gone to bed. :o)

The community college called me yesterday. They got my enrollment fee for the knitting class in April, and they're sending me out a packet of information. I've been wanting to learn how to knit for a longggggggg time, so I'm really excited about this. It's gonna be hard to wait until April 19th to start!

TTFN!

Juli

Mill Ends!

I live in Spindale, NC -- the home of Elmore Pisgah, maker of Peaches and Creme cotton and America's Best thread, etc. In fact, their plant is about two minutes drive from my house.

Here's the sign outside the mill:



I picked up some mill ends today. They sell mill end crochet cotton for 75 cents a ball if you pick the colors you want and 60 cents a ball if they pick. And they also sell mill ends of the double cotton and thread, and lots of other stuff. They had a whole room slam full of all sorts of colors in balls and cones.

Here's what I bought:



The big green cone is just a bit bigger than #10 thread and has a bit of stretch to it. I thought I could make some holiday decorations and maybe some coasters or placemats from it. There's definitely enough on that cone to make scads of whatever I come up with.

I had a blast!! Never thought I would live in the town where they make my favorite crochet cotton!

Today I signed up to take a knitting class at the local community college in April and May. $45 to sign up. I will finally be able to learn to knit -- I hope! :o) Someone from the Crochetville list let me know that ICC had the class. I can't wait!

TTFN
Juli

Goodies in the mail today!

I got wonderful stuff in the mail today!! :o)

First I got some goodies I ordered off Ebay. Lots and lots of tatting thread -- can't ever have enough stash! I want to make some mini doilies and was having a hard time finding the smaller thread. Gives me an excuse to try out that size 14 hook I have. I want to learn tatting too. Haven't been able to find a shuttle or the needles around here. I guess that will have to be another ebay purchase.



And I got the sweetest card in the mail from my friend Karla. My cat died a few days ago and she sent me a very nice "pick me up'' card, and the cutest Valentine's Day fridgie. Thank you Karla!! The fridgie is on our refrigerator. Here's a picture of it:

The Old and the New

Sometimes I get really attached to an old sewing notion or crochet hook I have and even when I replace it, it's rough to give it up. I just replaced my crochet cotton/thread holder, and even after buying a new one, I will still be keeping the old one. :o)

Here's my old crochet cotton/thread holder:





I'm sure you can see, while being inconvenient, it has great sentimental value. ha ha!

And here's the new one I bought off ebay:





I can't wait to try it out!! It even has holes drilled to hold hooks and a yarn needle. :o)) And, the cotton won't get drooled on! :o) I let my former thread holder keep the yarn that he spit all over, so when I crochet, he has his own to play with. It was an acceptable compromise for both of us. :o))

Hugs!

Juli

SPRING IS COMING!!!!!

Look at what's in my front yard!! :o))





Spring can't be too far away!

I planted two rose bushes in my front yard this afternoon, and I want to get two more to plant this weekend.

That's one thing nice about living further south -- winter ends sooner! I'm ready for spring!

Hugs!!

Juli

Max's Doggie Sweater

We decided on Max as a name for the new puppy. He's such a good boy. I made him a doggie sweater from a pattern on the crochetnmore website. The pattern is really easy to follow, and very easy to adjust to the size of your dog.

Here's Max in his new sweater:





I think he looks adorable! :)

The picture was taken with the new digital camera my husband bought me. I've been having fun learning how it works. Definitely takes great pictures!

TTFN

Juli

My Valentine's Day present!

Look what my husband let me have for Valentine's Day!



He's a Bassett Hound/Heinz57 mix, and 8 weeks old. :) We haven't come up with a name yet -- any ideas???

The cats don't know what to think. They are tolerating him from a distance so far, and giving me dirty looks. :) The rest of us are having fun playing with the new addition to our household.

We've had a rough week here with my cat dying and a friend of the family passing away the next day.....the puppy really brightened up things around here. Hopefully we can come up with a name for him soon. That's the tough part!

I'm going to crochet him a doggie sweater. It's a bit chilly outside for him still, and I don't want him to freeze everytime I take him out into the backyard to potty. Anybody know where I could find an online pattern for one?

Hugs!
Juli

Makin' Squares

Finally I'm getting around to updating my blog. This weekend was soooo busy, but I found time to make a couple 12" squares and an angel dishcloth.



I love making the cable hearts square and the Caring Hearts square. Those are two of my favorite 12" square patterns. The pattern for the angel dishcloth is here.

I found some new square patterns to try. The one I'm working on now was designed by Chris Simon. It's called Butterfly Garden. I'm using variegated blue yarn and it looks great so far. I will post a picture when I finish it.

Yesterday, I received a Dishcloth exchange puffy from Jen Dennison. She sent me a dishcloth and a neat scrubbie made from nylon -- it even matches the dishcloth! See what she sent me:



I'm going to brew the cranberry tea this morning and enjoy it!! Thank you Jen! The dishcloth and scrubbie are great! And thanks for all the label patterns, too!

TTFN!! Juli

Chicken Welcome Sign

I just finished making this chicken welcome sign for my kitchen.

It was a really fun pattern to make. I used Red Heart Worsted Weight for the body, and painted the welcome sign with Apple Barrel paints. I really like their metallic colors!

I'm doing a country theme in our new kitchen. That's the one thing I like about moving -- redecorating!! My next kitchen projects are going to be barnyard animal potholders and oven mitts. I have a really cute cow potholder pattern I've been wanting to try. :o)

Reactiving my Crochet Group

I started a crochet group several years ago, and it was active for quite awhile until there was a death in our family. I didn't do anything with the group for a longggg time. I'm re-starting it now, and am working on updating the craft homepage that goes with it, so that I can post some of my own designs to the web.

If you want to be a pioneer member of the group, feel free to join. :o) As soon as we get some new members, we will be discussing crochet and crafts, playing games, and sharing recipe ideas, links of all sorts, cleaning tips, family stuff -- whatever you want to talk about! New members are very very welcome. After being dormant since 2001, the group only has five members left. lol. The only rules are no offensive comments, and no spamming. I want the members to feel safe, and to know that their email addresses will not be used for unsolicited advertisements, etc. Spammers and flamers will be banned....so feel safe in joining. Your privacy is important!

I am working on updating the CrochetKlatsch website. I will post the URL here when that's done. :o)

Hugs!
Juli