Distracted

I have plans to make some really cute Birdie Decorations, but then I found this little ditty on Ravelry and had to make my own version.  I think I'll make a few more with some red sock yarn.  I'll let you know how they turn out.

Sunday's Crochet

If you have been reading my blog for a while, then you may remember that I have a slight aversion to spiders.  By slight, I mean full-blown panic attack at the sight of them.  In recent years, I have been undergoing "Exposure Therapy" wherein the patient is exposed to the source of fear and therefore made more immune to the panic response.  Well . . . that's the idea anyway.

My sessions have all taken place at the cabin where I have had several late night sessions with spiders of monstrous size on my way to the outhouse, and yes, sometimes while I'm IN the outhouse.  Also, while I'm sitting on the dock and sometimes when I'm sitting on the porch.  Inside the cabin is spider proof - don't ask me how, it's fairly complicated and involves duct tape.

Why am I telling you this and how does it relate to the fiber arts?  Last summer, I found a drowned spider in my glass of water that I keep filled on my nightstand.  Don't shudder too hard - I found it in the morning, NOT in the middle of the night while taking a sip.  Thank you Lord.

I came across a pattern for a tradition jug cover.  It was probably something they used in the south to cover the lemonade.  That's what I imagine, anyway.  So now that I'm crocheting like a mo-fo, I whipped out my own version of the Traditional Jug Cover from Learn to Crochet (edited by Sally Harding).  I did not have fancy, artsy beads, so I raided Belle's craft bin and found enough to finish the deal.

Isn't it cute?  No more turning on the light in the middle of the night to check for spiders.

What else did I do this weekend beside crochet?  We took our Lunker out on Tonka for some skate skiing.  It was a beautiful sunny day and there are only a few inches of snow, so it was perfect for cruisin' along.  Stella came too and is now soundly sleeping in front of a cozy fire. 

Love to all!

Color my world.

See this?  This is what my days have been looking like lately.  

Gray.  Dull.  Colorless.  

So my new endeavor to learn crochet has been an opportunity to bring a little pizazz to this quiet, bleak scenery.  Let me give you a little show.

The little tam I was working on was sitting on my desk - like a little squid-like blob and making me feel inferior and lazy.  Just block it and sew in the ends.  That's it!  And true to all of your friendly comments, blocking made all the difference.  She is, indeed, looking and acting like a proper tam. 

I'll try to post pics of someone actually wearing the darn thing.  It's cute.  Here's the pattern, if you're interested.  It's called "Autumn in Garrison" by Kate Gagnon Osborn.  

 And as I mentioned, I thought I'd try crocheting my way through Attic 24.  I thought I'd start with Lucy's Birdie Decorations.  I started crocheting a circle and suddenly found myself with six of them and counting.  So far, so fun.  I'll show you my pretty little birds when they're all done.


And finally.  After a particularly aggravating confirmation class in which I agreed to "assist" the teacher with a gaggle of 7th grade boys (one of them being my own), I was presented with these lovely flowers from one of the parents.   That, and a big glass of red wine with a bow on it on my arrival back home made me reconsider quitting and telling all those 7th grade boys where to stick their . . . well. . . you get the idea. . . .  Thanks C & L & K.  I'll give it another go.  But these gray hairs are multiplying . . .  Pray for me.  (wink wink).

I could eat these flowers up, if I could.  Aren't they divine?

I'll be in the attic if you need me.

So that's it.  Some people cook their way through Julia Childs or try to climb the highest peaks.

I'm going to crochet my way through Attic 24.  It's a charming place to visit.    She has a dazzling eye for color and creativity and so I think I'm going to toss aside my Addi Turbos (for now - I heard that collective gasp) and take up those little aluminum hooks and place them on my nightstand and have a go at it.

I'll be sure to tell you all about it.

Seriously Infected

The Crochet mess of '06

I am suffering from a severe case of the Crochet.  It struck hard and I think this time, I'm going to take a while to recover.  I'm not sure if I'll ever be the same.  There was the Crochet Outbreak in '06 in which I dabbled with an acrylic grab bag of odd, 1980 colors.  It landed on the donation pile.


Then I found this bedspread through Ravelry and was obsessed with making my own version.  This was created by the fabulous LizK of Crossroad Knits.

Afghan and Afghan photo by LizK - pattern by Attic 24

The pattern is from Attic 24 which I mentioned in my last post.  So off I went, purchasing yarn and starting my king size afghan.  After doing some calculations, I realized I'd need about 15 times more yarn and that just wasn't in the budget.   I made a baby blanket instead.   The pattern  (Neat Ripple Pattern by Attic24) and tutorial are so well written.  If you've ever had trouble with crochet before, try it again and try this blanket.  You won't be sorry.

Today, I am in the full throws of the Crochet.  I just emptied my knitting bin which included the almost finished, unblocked tam and filled the basket up with colorful cotton yarn that was on sale at Michael's for $1 a skein.

I also saw this book on crochet edging and then some beads and maybe some new hooks, oh and a bag of buttons.

There was quite a bit of yarn that I never used for my giant king sized afghan, so I rebooted the old granny square blanket with the new colors.  Not sure what I think of it, but with each new row/color, I feel differently about it.  The photo stinks but I'm short on time since technically I'm not supposed to be blogging (or shopping for that matter).  I am organizing my laundry room. . . or supposed to be.

I think I'll just curl up on the couch here and settle in for a cozy winter of The Crochet.  May as well stop fighting it.

Mid-Winter Hello!

That fiberlicious feeling has been slowly returning.  Must be the cold weather which is now finally arriving in Minnesota.  We were snowed in by December last winter.  This year, winter really hasn't started yet and it's mid January.    That's a brave little icefisher out there on that ice.  There are strange open bits of water out there.  No thanks.  I'll stay put right here.

This little elf of a girl is sporting what is supposed to be a tam.  I was over there on Guinifer's blog checking out her pretty little tams and decided I would try my hand at it.  The pattern is Autumn in Garrison by Kate Gagnon Osborn.  I think it MUST be blocked. . . and yeah, bound off.  Maybe then I will look like it's supposed to.  And maybe I should have checked my gauge before I started.

Finally, I have a big bag of cotton yarn and I'm not afraid to use it - nor am I afraid of the Ben Franklin tin crochet needle from my grandma's stash.  I might make this into a throw or just get as far as a pillow cover.  It's a zippy little project - completely mindless and quick.  If you are even slightly inspired to try your hand at crochet or to dust off those needles, you must check out this blog: Attic 24.  It's amazing.  Just scroll down and dig into all that color.

Not your relaxation vacation. . .

I awould be referring to a Disney Cruise.  As part of my dad's retirement festivities which seem to have gone on for a few years now, my folks graciously took us all on a whirlwind cruise.  My sisters, their husbands and all the little children packed onto this enormous and gorgeous ship and set off for the Bahamas.  Don't hate me. 

My sister and I put together this little graphic based on the old advertisement for It's A Small World.  I made them into door magnets and hung them on all our stateroom doors. 

 Yeah.  There might have been a few Disney chicks hanging around the place.

I did bring some knitting but Disney keeps you running your tail off from sun up to sun down.  I'll post more pics later.

 But the best part was this place.  It's as delicious as it looks. 

This is a clip that I goofed when I exported it - so ignore the 'blog' and the background music.  It's the sound of the ship horns blasting at midday.  If you go, you'll have a wonderful time, but stay out of the hot tub.  (ick - we're talking 25 kids in there).