Cardigan and Charity Progress YOP 3/52

After last week's post I kept my promise to myself and I went back into the cave of doom Craft Room and dug out my Silver Bells Cardigan, the pattern was in the 2014 version of the Holiday Crochet magazine. I have been working on it off and on since 2016 and it's my goal to actually get to wear it this fall. It has a longer bell type sleeve but I'm going to modify it to at least a 3/4 sleeve. Somehow I've managed to keep the pattern, yarn and hook together with the pieces, which is a good thing because I'm pretty sure I'd never find the yarn again. I had the back and one side finished back in 2017, then it was put away or forgotten for other projects, but I've been working on it this week and its going so easily I don't know why I put it down. It's just shells so it's a good project for while watching tv. I finished up the second panel for the front and have just moved on to the sleeves. not too bad I guess.

The colors are way off, it's actually a blue, but I kinda wish it was this color..lol

I had a goal to do 30 projects for a Charity that gave items to babies in the NICU to celebrate my premie's 30th birthday. Their big request right now is for hats of all sizes, I have a skein of some really soft mint colored yarn and I whipped up 7 small hats and I managed another pink hat in a larger size that I will add to the pile. This was off of a small ball I had on hand, i think I can get one more out of it too. I thought I would complete my personal challenge before sending, if I can go ahead and get the rest done I'll try that but if it starts to drag I think I'll send these on so they have them. And just keep an box for the remainders as they come along. 

I have a hard appointment this coming week for Abbigail, my lab mix and best friend. She's had all kinds of health problems over the years and she's no spring chicken but I'm still holding out hope.  We're going to a specialist to have an ultrasound and other some tests run. She's not doing well and it's even worse that with everything going on I have to leave her at the vet and wait outside. It could be an hour or hours, depending on what they think is best. It's going to be rough on both of us and I need to bring a project that's portable and also interesting so I can fill the time and not worry myself sick too. Maybe it will be a great time for Charity projects, simple and quick. We can use any kind thoughts you can send our way. 

Princess Abbigail aka Abbey dooby doo

 I'm hoping to be back next week with a big finish and hopefully some small ones, and more progress to show on old projects.

Be sure to check out the Year of Projects groups on Ravelry for inspiration and it's never to late to join.

Have a very creative week!

Cold Sheep Tally 2020-21

Prior weeks total out 2550 yards

Week 3 out 719 (hats, veggie set, sweater work)    

Week 3 in 0

Total Change 3269. yards.

One Pillow, Two Pillow and a set of Booties. Year of Projects Week 2

So as soon  I decide to buckle down on my list I find myself suddenly diverting  onto other things. I've been trying to organize my craft room, putting yarn up and putting yarn together with patterns for a while. And as I move one more box and I then realize I've got a nice selection of pillow forms just hanging around. SO instead of working on a project that needed to be completed I started another. In my defense it was quick and I've added a spot of color to my living room/office space and utilized a pillow form. And did I mention that I used two skeins of yarn that I had in hand? Win/Win/Win in my book!

Its a pattern from the crochet crowd, Crochet Textured Flower Pillow, Here's the pattern I didn't have a bulky yarn I liked so I went with two strands of Red Heart that I had on hand. And I'm really happy with how it turned out. I'll be making another one in a different color soon, well as soon as I find two skeins of a color I think will work in that area. The stash hunt is officially on !

Then as luck would have it I got a message from a person who follows my daughters Instagram and she asked about a pillow I had done for My daughter a year or so ago. We struck up a conversation and soon she was placing an order for an Acorn Pillow, yes you read that right, Acorn. So that was pillow two of the week and I can't say how much fun those large stuffies are. In case you wondered the one for my daughter was a beet! My daughter is vegan and she loved the small version so well I thought a big one would be fun and a conversation piece too. I actually ended up making a few beet pillows and a couple of other veggie pillows last year for a friend of hers that had a vegan store on the coast. You just never know where the world of yarn will take you!

Then it was on to a special order of Booties. Dad is a baseball fan and with a new baby on the way and hope for the season opener, Mom ordered these Chicago Cubs inspired booties, These are fun and easy, toe of my favorite things, and I get it add a check mark to the finish column even if it's not on the list!

I'm hoping to dive into my project bags this week and drag out my long suffering cardigan, I might have it finished by the time it gets cold. I'm really glad I bought so much yarn for it since i"m pretty sure they don't make it any more.

So having said that It's time to track my Cold Sheep/ Clean out the Disaster  Craft Room

Yarn

OUT 2550 yards (rounded) 

IN 0

Other Craft Supplies

1 Pillow Form

So that wraps up another week of Projects for me, Please be sure to check out all of the other blogs in the group and  remember it's always a good time to join. Check it out here.

Have a Wonderful Crafty Week!

Year of Projects Week 8

It's been a whirlwind of a couple of weeks. I was out of town last weekend and part of the week. I visited one yarn store and managed to come out with only a new set of Straight needles..lol. But they were so pretty I couldn't help myself. I want to get back into knitting and I thought these might just encourage me a bit.

I knew I wouldn't have much time for projects but I picked a simple one as the next in line to finish. It's a simple pattern and one color so easy packing.

Not a huge amount of progress but I did manage a complete motive and I dug around and found another skein of the same yarn so the stash will be moving in the correct direction! I did a variation of a pattern I found on the blog Martin Up North, He was basing his scarf on a section of the Hotel of Bees Shawl, which is also on my wish list. I've been a bee keeper, I don't have any now, but I have spent many a lovely afternoon watching industrious bees coming home loaded down with pollen, doing the "direction dance" as we called and it then zooming off again. I seem to be having a thing with hexi's lately too..

I've started the next pillow also, same fabric but triangles this time. And I've got a couple of  square pillow forms so another item out of the craft room.

These mini rulers are great for jelly rolls, I bought a few from the Sewing Show last year and I'm finally putting them to use. They were less than 2.00 each and I'll  say it was a great deal.

I've gotten the center sewn together and I'm lining up the other pieces, The top couple be finished by this weekend, fingers crossed. 

I need to get on the ball if I plan on making a bit more room so I can bring home a few things from the Southern Eastern Animal Fiber Fair this October.

So my Year 9 progress hasn't changed much, I'll weigh my skein this week for blanket progress

So here's where it stand as of now:

615 yards Yarn in and 957 yards out.

I jelly roll in process in and 2 .25 yard Panels and 1 yard of fabric in.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out all of the other great projects in the Year of Projects  Blog along.

Year of Projects Week 4

It's Sunday again, I was off a couple of days and they went way too fast!

I have a couple of almost finishes and I even visited a Yarn Store and managed to stick to my Cold Sheep.

E and I traveled to Nags Head which is part of the North Carolina Outer Banks, only a couple of hours north from us, to pick up a couple of mugs from a potter she follows on Instagram. Her online sales generally sell out so we went straight to the source. Being crafters with small businesses of our own we try very hard to support others. Her business is Swell Ceramics and this is her instagram, if you are interested in some very beachy type mugs and cups.

While we were there we ran over to South Beach take out, which has a truly awesome menu of vegan, and other options, it can be hard to find really good food for different dietary options, but they really do a great job. If you are out that way check them out.

The best part of that is in the same shopping center is a yarn store, Yarn and More. I know who expects to find yarn at the beach, I was very thrilled! I love an Local Independent yarn store, especially one with such a great selection. They had some very beautiful yarns, all the supplies you need, in case you happen to have left your favorite hook at home or need a new project, and even cross stitch supplies. I'm hoping to get back up there soon, maybe in the fall after the tourist season is over. While I oohed and awwd over lots of beautiful yarn I left empty handed with the promise to come back once I've moved a few more projects out. It wasn't easy but I'm determined.

So that brings me to the Peach Blossom Blanket. The squares are all joined and now it's time for the boarder and about a thousand ends to be sown in .I'm pretty sure that I'll be doing some kind of fan stitch for the boarder, just the gray, since I have this huge skein to use up..lol




I've made great headway on the pillow too. Hexi's join easily, I think my biggest concern was color placement. I should have that finish this week and another one started by next weekend. I need a cushion for the rocking chair too, so I'm thinking same color palette. I have ideas for a couple of other pillows and I have the fabric and the pillow forms so there's a couple of more items heading out of the craft room too. I'm hoping to have a bit more working space come winter, which is when I have more time for crafting.

 
We've had a nice end to the week weatherwise and so I've been spending more time than normal in the yard, trying to get this  hot mess under control..lol. But I'm thrilled to be making the head way I have, but there is still lots to finish and so many things I'd love to start.

So my Year 9 progress is: 

615 yards Yarn in and 782 yards out.

I jelly roll in process in and none in.

I'm still on the positive side and I can add a pillow form too!

I hope everyone has great week and If you'd like to join us or just love a to see some seriously talents crafters at work, check out all of the blogs who are participating in a Year of Projects!

Week 3 Update Year of Projects

I played a bit of yarn chicken and lost bigger than I expected to this week..lol

I am making great progress on the peach blossom blanket but that Celtic Lace Join really eats yarn. Which normally wouldn't be a bad thing since I am trying to move some major yarn out of the craft room and into projects but the yarn I am using comes in a large skein and I thought that just maybe I could get all of the joins done with that skein but nope, I'm going to be 5 squares short. So it's a trip to Joann's for me this week. I must be strong and only pick up that one skein. However since I', having to do this is does help make the decision on what color the boarder should be a bit easier. I was trying to decide if I should try to introduce a bit of the flower colors into the boarder instead of the grey, now I know I'll be using a bit of the grey at least.

Here's the progress and the placement and you can see the remainder of the skein off to the side,,

I also see some serious blocking in my future too..But I'm glad to see the progress and soon it will be on the Finish list!

Since I finished my Moose Cross Stitch project I felt like I could add another project to the list. I blame it on all of the changes I've made in the house over the last few months, I've been wanting a couple of throw pillows for my bedroom. I was lucky enough to get my grandparents bed and I have redone my bedroom around it. My grandmother was an avid and talented quilter so expect a few pieced and quilted projects to show up here over the next few months and I tweak the decor.

I picked up a Jelly Roll a while back and I went a head and cut out a few hexagons, now I just had to decide on the layouts..and backing too. 

Blue, white, grey and a pop of yellow are my colors and think these work pretty good. I have a couple of round pillow forms already so I think that's the shape I'm shooting for but it could change.

So for this week that gives me 

0 Yarn in ( for right now anyway) and 615 yards out.

I jelly roll in process in and none in.

Not too bad of a start to the year.

Be sure to check out all of the other very productive and talented YOPers this week too!

Later this week I'll be heading to the Coast to check out a very talented Potter, I'm hoping to get my pottery mojo back too. I'm hoping to be inspired by new places and being around other talented people, just like the others in the Year of Projects community.

Have a great week!

Year of Projects Year 9 Week 2

Yay Progress!

Okay, so It's only week 2 but there is progress, I've got a finish and an update. The finish isn't yarn related but it a project that's been hanging around for a while, almost done. My Moose Welcome Cross Stitch is complete, well craft wise, it still needs to be framed but that should be heading over to do that in the next week or two.

It's just been washed so it needs to be stretched back out but Yay it's a finish!

Then I have my yarn related update, I've managed some work on the Peach Blossom Blanket. All of the squares are done, actually they have been done for a while. I decided on doing a Celtic Lace Join  by Cypress Textiles and it takes another 3 rounds on each square then a joining round, so it's not a real fast project but I'm loving the way it looks. Last fall I had decided on a layout and joined a couple of squares.

This what I started with 

Squared them off

This is with the join rounds, quite a difference in size..

And the lay out

And today's updated progress. I should have another two joined today, and if I'm really diligent I might get it finished this week! It's going to take a bit of blocking once it's ready but I think it's going to look great. 

Which would be great considering a might have bought a Jelly roll to make a pillow for my bedroom.

And I promised myself no new starts until I have a finish or two..

I stayed on my Cold Sheep ( not counting fabric) but didn't weight the skein before I started, I'll wait till next week and have an accurate number.

So I'll start year 9 with:

O yarn in - ? yarn out

1 Jelly Roll of  Fabric in- 0 Fabric out

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out all of the other awesome updates in this weeks Year of Projects!

Creating Sanctuary by Jessica Bloom

Available November 27th

Amazon  B&N   BAM  Kobo

Creating Sanctuary is a first a truly beautiful book but is it also a wonderful reference for many levels of gardeners
 If you are interested in learning about creating a sacred space or even just a tranquil space in your backyard, this book has wonderful ideas for that. If your interests lie in creating a kitchen garden or an apothecary garden this book is for you. The way it is laid out and the writing encourages you to take what information you need to create your own place in your own time, and allows you to have a space that works for you. It's not a cut and dry blueprint, everyone has their own needs and this speaks to that part of a person that needs healing.
Bloom encourages the reader to use all of their senses, not just sight or smell but also touch and hearing and to use those senses to bring times to your garden that a uplifting and comforting to all five senses. She points out that we should be aware of how colors or scents affect us, is it a positive thought, do certain plants evoke memories?  I know I will always associate some plants with my grandmother and I find that I add those to my garden every year, just to feel close to her.
Other parts of the book discuss what kind of garden you are trying to create, all garden can be beautiful but why not create an area with a deeper meaning., Such gardens could be for memorials, spaces for healing, energizing you mind or just relaxation, a space to escape from the stress of the everyday world.
If you decide to delve into the world of plants for apothecary purposes or even kitchen purposes, the author shows how to harvest, preserve and collect seeds for the next growing season. Then there are recipes for teas, tinctures, essentials oils and lotions.
Over all a garden means so many different things to different people, and this book is a wonderful resource for creating your own Sanctuary. Becoming more attuned to the natural elements around us will help us to leave the stresses of daily life behind and enjoy our time just a bit more.  It is not just for the advanced gardener since it has information how to have an intentional design in mind, what to plant and where to harvesting your seeds. Creating Sanctuary is a great resource that I plan on adding to my library.

Thanks to Timber Press and Net Galley for an Electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Year of Projects Week 8

Just a short post today, I have a finish, some progress and a pattern that I just couldn't resist (that I hope to get to in the next couple of years..).

First up is my finish unfortunately he's not on my list for the year but I'll take yarn moving out of the house any day. I had a preview last week and I finally found some eyes so I was able to finish him off and get him stuffed and ready to go. He should be landing in his new home next weekend!

He's such a happy guy!

On to the pattern that I just couldn't say no to. The Luna Blanket by Hailey Bailey.

If you're interested here's a link on Ravelry for it

I originally saw it on instagram and knew it had to be knitting, but nope it's crochet and my daughter loves luna moths, so I'm adding it to the ever growing pile of items I really want to work on. Hailey has some really cute items in her Etsy shop, bees, feathers and birds too. Now to find the right Luna color...

Did you know that last Wednesday the 15th was Granny Square day on instagram? I worked up a couple of squares but decided on this one..

All of the samples went into a bag for future blanket ideas!

 It so much fun to see the virtual blankets that people put together, and to think that so many squares traveled all over the world virtually on one day is a tribute to crafters and crochet.

I have made some progress on the CAL, square 2 is finished, it's a moss stitch so not much to see, but I'll be starting square 3 this week and I could be caught up by the time the next one is released.

My crafting time this week might be taken up with pumpkins, Canning ring and fabric, and maybe a crochet one or two, since fall is right around the corner and the orders are coming in. 

So I'll give a bit of a small update on the Cold sheep while I'm here!

Prior Count 1450 (out)

Intake 109 yards (boo but it was for the bee)

Bee  -545 yards

Granny Squares 10yds (guesstimate)

CAL Squares (2 sets of 2 squares)- 700 total (guesstimate)

=2596 yards out for week 8

Not too shabby, but I'm not counting the joining on the Peach Blossom yet so it should be going up 

Wishing you a very Crafty and Productive week!

Week 2 Year 8

Computer is still refusing to cooperate, so this post was delayed.

I managed to get a few things done this week. Worked on one project off of the list and another that was an order for a friends store. 

I'll start with the order, these don't take that long to do but my crochet time was cut a bit short this week due to some travel and pumpkin seed planting.

These Diva Dishcloths will be sent out this week to Up Beet Market in Wilmington. It's a vegan speciality store but she is also buying from local crafters, mainly kids items and other household things that support the lifestyle. She's been open just over a month and sales have been great. I'm always excited when someone can follow their dreams! So 12 dishcloths can be added to my list for July.

I had made a set of play veggies for her and they've flown out the door. I knew they had been popular but I didn't realize she was almost out. I had worked on Mushroom this week.

Three of the four that I sent. I guess I should have done a few more.

This is the display after the four mushrooms were added! I'll be working on veggies the next few days I guess..

 I did manage to work on one of the items on my list. The Unicorn Ripple. These colors are so much brighter than the actual colors. It's really pastel in person. And why in the world did I think single crochet ripples would be fun? I'll be happy to see the last row on this project.

While I didn't make much progress on the list I did make some progress on the cold sheep this week

Intake 0

12 Dishcloths -1440 yards

Mushrooms- 10 yards total (guestimate)

=1450 yards out for week 1

I'm not counting the progress on the ripple, I guess I could if I weighed the skeins but since I had the yarn in my stash I'll just count the total once it's finished. Easier that way and it keeps me moving items out!

Thanks for stopping by! I'm hoping for more progress next week!

Year of Projects Week 51..

Week 51! Oh my goodness, I started out on track, fell off, got started back good and then the battery dies in my laptop, got it replaced, then the internet dies.. It's a been a rough couple of weeks on the computer front!


Can't say I've gotten a lot of craft done either, but it has been a busy time.

My daughter's best friend has opened a Vegan specialty store on the coast and I've been busy canning and creating items for her. Over the last month I've managed to can a s bushel of pickles in various flavors, make two kinds of strawberry jams, Squash pickles, a bushel of pickled beets, 1/2 bushel of dilly beans, Brussels Sprouts, taco radishes, and other pickled vegetables. Whew.. it's been a bit crazy..lol

But they are so pretty!! Pickles Beets.. so glad to be done with these for the year..

On the crafty side, I sent down a set of small vegetables, and a couple of pillow size veggies.

Some of the smaller veggies.. which I have been told are all sold already..

Pillow sized first order.

After these disappeared so quickly I got another order for Broccoli..Yes Broccoli

So I did one along the lines as the little one shown above..

That was a serious amount of yarn for those "ruffles" lol. But it will be on it's way to a new home next weekend. I hope she loves it! These have been a lot of fun but I'm ready to get started back on some normal sized items. I have more than I'd like to admit waiting for me to get back and finish them up! 

My WIP is a bit longer than I realized when I started working on the list for the upcoming year! It's time to move some of these things into the DONE pile, before I pull out any new projects. Although it was nice to do the small project and move on to something new so quickly. I'm also trying to not to over load my list with lots of new ideas, which is way harder than it sounds! I spend way too much time on Ravelry and Pintrest. But in my defense I have a serious yarn problem and why does it seem I never have what I need for a new project?

That's me for the week, and it is a bit late but it's here. I need to get started on a year of project round up and a list for the new "year" this week, wish me luck that I don't fall down the rabbit hole of new patterns an ideas before I get it wrapped up..

If you love yarn and projects, Ravelry is for you and it's almost time for a new Year of Projects. You'll find us here on Ravelry, we post every Sunday with an update on projects new and old and the year starts in July, so It's a great time to jump on board!

Thanks for stopping by. Happy Crafting!

Week 44 Year of Projects

The weather has been so nice this week, that I've been working outside until late after work so that doesn't leave much time for crochet. But I do have a finish on a special request.

A while back I had finally finished up a set of play vegetables. One of them was a beet.

My daughter and her best friend who are vegan immediately requested a beet pillow! I've got a couple of other items on the hooks but then I heard that Jessie is opening a vegan store! I was inspired to go ahead and start those pillows! It took me a bit to get the right shape. I was trying to start at the bottom  like I had done with the turnip and beet above but I just couldn't get a shape I was happy with. So I switched to the top and it finally came together! Now I just have to duplicate it again. I think I'll write it down this time so I can make more in the future for the shop, along with some other vegetables. 

The really fun, cosmic alignment part is that while I was working on these secretly of course, They were supposed to be a surprise for them. Jessie sent me a message and said she had finally come up with a name for the store... Up_Beet Market! So now I really have to get this out to her before the store opens! 

It's raining and the lighting is horrible but I just had to share these..lol

I think they'll love it, now I just have to dive back in and get the second one completed. Working with the bulky yarn is a work out, at least I'm getting some exercise today!

I've got a couple more layers on my rainbow ripple and a couple of squares joined on the peach blossom blanket. no pictures but hopefully a finish or almost finish for next week.

Be sure to check out the other Yoppers on Ravelry or join us each Sunday for updates.

Zipping it up with Z

It's Monday again, the last day of April and this is my last installment of the A to Z Challenge for 2018! I'm so excited that I made it and that you have followed along! Today we're talking DIY Zipper Crafts to close out the month.

That's right zippers aren't just for jeans anymore. They make seriously cute jewelry! Broaches and Bracelets and pendants too! Check out these ideas and see what else you can think of to reuse those connectors for!

Let's start with something for the guys, or girls ties aren't just a man's domain anymore, thanks to the 80's I wore my fair share. This zipper Bow Tie tutorial breaks it all down step by step so you can create one of your own in just a zip!

Via Artz Creations-  Super simple- Super Cute and they come in a wide range of colors

Here's another Bow .. for your hair this time. 

Simona Tela added a few beads and created a work of art

These bracelets are totally wearable Art and can include all parts of  jeans and tees.

Downloadable Tutorial at Cloth Paper Scissors

How about a these flowers done by Pretty Little Somethings that could be added to a pin, hair piece or any other type of craft as an embelishment

Maya Road created these trees as well as a wreath more info is available on her blog

And since it is spring let's zip up the A to Z Challenge with this dragonfly tutorial that would be great to do as a craft with little ones

via Help me Rhonda

Well it's surely been fun on my side! I hope that everyone reading picked up at least one new idea about upcycling and that it keeps a couple of items from clogging up the dump! I've visited blogs and ready stories, learned about new places and ideas and generally had a great time! Be sure to check out the master list and the daily letter lists to find something new to you. You might just find your new favorite blogs, hopefully one of those could be mine. 

If you are new to my blog I normally talk about Crafting, Upcycling, Farm life and Books, you are more than welcome to stop by anytime. Thanks for visiting with me this month and have a Crafty Year!

Extra Vases and What to do with them

Vases, old, new, clear, colored, we all have a few hanging around. Mine are under my kitchen sink and laundry room sink and it's quite possible that there are a few in the barn. It's not that I have gotten so many flowers in my life time but but I've inherited some and some were left over from other projects and some have been filled with flowers. But what to do with them other than let them take up much needed space? I've done the research and I'm ready to share it with you, so pull them out and get ready to repurpose.

Most vases have a lot in common, they are glass and they are clear, they don't a have lot of personality going for them so they end up hidden away. One easy fix is to give them a little notoriety with some paint and some embellishments. Then you can group them and different sizes and styles work together because they have something in common, color!

I love everything about this idea from Vera Morae

Can you believe these were once just clear glass from the thrift store?

Madigan Made tells you exactly how she got this cobalt color 

Are your vases a little on the plain side? No worry you can add some interested with Twine.

  Teach Craft Love used A bit of twine and some hot glue for a interesting display 

Here's an interesting tutorial on decoupaging with Lace by Urban Comfort, that would be great for adding a bit of Shabby Chic to a plain vase

Not looking to add more items to your counter top, how about using those vases in your garden? 

Add a bowl and you've got instant whimsy for your garden. 

If these mushrooms aren't enough for you how about slipping a vase over those not so pretty solar lights to turn them real decor like they did at My Frugal Home. How pretty would this be at night?! And if you have different types or shapes all the better/

No matter what you do with them, there are lots of ideas out there that will fit your style and budget. I hope this helps to get those gears turning to help clear out some of that cabinet space that those old vases are taking up.

I can't believe we are in the home stretch of the A to Z Challenge and I'm going to finish this year. I hope you all have had as much fun as I have and if you've learned something along the way so much the better. W is for Windows and I've been collecting these ideas for a while, so be sure to come back tomorrow and see what all the fuss is about!