Year of Projects -Week 5

First of all I am having problems adjusting to the fact that it is already August! And now we are already into week 5 of the Year of Projects. If you'd like to join, you'll first need to be a member of Ravelry, and then check out the Group a Year of Projects. I can say it has encouraged me to get some things finished and get other projects that have been languishing on my list for a while out of the craft room, and on to a hook!

This week's work has been something I started a couple of weeks ago, the Sidewalk CAL. I finally finished the first 60 small squares and will working on getting them sewn together and then on to the middle size square.  I attended a NC Coastal Federation Seminar on Friday about off shore drilling and I had a bit of time while the pro drillers were talking to work on squares. So I guess something good came of it...

My normal camera is having issues so I had to pull out an older one, Please ignore the date..lol. I didn't realize it was printing the date much less so far off until I posted it.

I've completed the body portion of the Rabbit Stuffie and started the head. Haven't picked the  Yes Yes Shawl back up but I'm hoping that will be my TV project for next week. I think I'll be working on putting together squares during lunch this week.

I can 't believe how quickly the bazaar season is slipping up on me. I always start off the year saying that I will start early on won't have this last minute rush for booth items and Christmas gifts, this won't be the year that happens. I had high hopes but maybe if I stay on it and carve out some dedicated time I'll slide into the season with a few items ready..

Hoping every one is having a productive week!

YOP- Week 4

Here I am again running late with this post and It's gonna be a short one. I have started three projects, two that I am steadily working on, one that might be iffy and I have an ongoing project am a round away from a finish. So far I can say that joining the Year of Projects has been great motivator for me!
You can check out my list here. I have a couple of ideas that haven't been officially added yet but they are requests so I should add them to the list just so I know how many projects are underway and how many I've managed to accomplish.

The first start is one that was on my list, the Yes, Yes Shawl from Bernat. I'm using a really great hand dyed yarn from Unplanned Peacock Studio that I picked up at Carolina Fiber Fest earlier this year. I'm always glad to see Natasha at festivals because I know she'll always have a great selection and at least a few skeins that I can't live with out. I've just gotten started, really I've only had a short amount of time Sunday afternoon and I haven't picked it back up but I have high hopes for it to move along late this week.I can see the blocking board in my future..

The other two starts are both Stuffies, one is a rabbit and the other is a stegosaurus. I might or might not have been a bit too excited over Jurassic World this summer. I seem to have added a few dinosaur patterns to my favorites...lol. The rabbit is done in continuous rounds and I think it will go fairly quickly. The dino is my problem, it's in UK terms, which isn't a problem, my brain can do the adjustment easily. The problem is the directions and it's not the designer it's me. There are lots of breaks and restarts and skip stitches. It will take more time and attention than I have to give to it right at this point in time. 

My time hasn't been my own lately, we have a ton of farm related things going on right now that seem to eat away at my crafting minutes. It's not yarn or fiber but I it's a finished product!

Fig Strawberry Jam! With real Strawberries not that nasty Jello stuff..

Have a great week and sign up here for A Year of Projects! Lots of fun, encouragement and no pressure.

It was just a bump in the road..

I didn't actually fall off of the cold sheep wagon, just a minor mishap. But having said that I want to share with you a couple of skeins that I picked up at a local festival, Carolina Fiber Fest. I'm looking forward to SAFF in the fall but CFF is close to us and run by friends so I have to stop by and pick up something right?  I figure if I manage to empty a box of stash before October I can pick up a few things in Asheville, NC during the SAFF weekend, October 30th - Nov 1st, 2015.

One set is from my very favorite farm, Heelside Farms, the people are wonderful, the sheep are beautiful and I can always find something I have to have! Lucky for me they are only about and hour and a half from the house! My picture doesn't do it justice! I did pick up two skeins of this colorway and I'm on the look out for the perfect pattern. I've should have about 590 yards so a medium shawlette would be great.

 The other is from another shop that I seem to always find something I can't live with out Unplanned Peacock Studios, it's a good thing she's in Virginia, I might have a stash that is more out of hand than it currently is.

I did pick up two skeins of this also and I hope to use it for  the Yes Yes Shawl, which is on my 2015 Year of Projects List. The pattern calls for almost 300 yards and I think might slide in right around that amount.  This is in her turquoise colorway, and it just jumped right into my hands and had to come home with me.

I'm hoping to be able to post some progress on the shawl on Sunday for the Year of Projects weekly post. Wish me luck!

If you are looking for Gardening, recipes, chickens and silly dogs check out my other blog, CluckCluckBuzz  for great ideas. Thanks for stopping by!

WIP Wednesday

Today I'm working on a bright Spring Granny Square blanket, while reading a dark drama. Maybe they will even each other out a bit.

I've got just a couple of more rounds to go on the blanket then a scalloped boarder I'm thinking to make it a bit more girly. My only problem is this yarn..or the lack of it I seem to be having.

This is all I can find at the moment and did I keep the wrapper..no. Have I been all over creation looking for this yarn..yes..any luck..none. I haven't given up yet, I feel sure that I'll be able to put my hands on some. I do have two more boxes of stash that I haven't looked at yet and one more store to visit. If it doesn't work I'll have to make an executive decision and move on. No time to let it hold me back.  

Here's where I am right now.

On the reading side, I really like Karin Slaughter but this one was a bit hard to read in the beginning. It's based in Atlanta in the early 70's and deals with women on the Police force, men being 1970 knuckle dragging men but like most of her books they have a better ending.

Wish me luck or at least cross your fingers with me and hope for the best. I've got a couple of projects waiting in the wings and this UFO has been hanging around a bit too long for comfort.

Shared with Yarn Along, check out or join other crafters to see what we are working on and reading each week! Also check out Oombawka Designs for more great links.
 This project definitely a stashbuster check out some others over at Linda's crafty Corner.

YOP- Week Three

I've had a finish for something totally not on the list, some progress on the Spring Baby Granny which is on the list and I'm adding a few things too.

I have a coworker that has a niece on the way, due next week and I've already made her some summer sandals, when I was asked to make a cabbage patch hat. I completed the hat and took it in to check on the details, braids or ponytails and ribbon color. She decided the totally curly look wasn't what she was looking for so back to the drawing board  hooks I went. So now we have "bangs and pony tails". Hopefully this will fill the bill. The other will go into the Bazaar box, so not such a big deal.

Progress on the Spring Baby Granny, I think maybe two more rounds and a half double border and this will move on to the finished pile too. I'm sure I have another skein of the green, that's all that's holding me up right now is the diving into the stash boxes to find it.


So before I do that I had to decide what was next on the list. I really wanted to do a light shawl to have ready for me to wear to the fall farmers market. Nothing too flashy but fashionable. I have the Yes, Yes Shawl on my list and I just need to find the right yarn for it. I have some wool in mind, but so I have enough is the question. Add that to the list of things to look for today.

And on to the adds, I have always had a few Stuffies on my list but I've spent a bit too much time on pintrest this week and I think I have to add a few more. They would be a good item to have on hand for sales and quick kids gifts. I have always wanted to do a moose for me and Kitties for E,  and who doesn't love a unicorn plus I know exactly who to do a goat for,so I think I'll be updating the list with a few of those too.

If you want to join in the fun check out the Year of Projects group in Ravelry.

Week Two- Ready to see the end of "Rings"

For week two I'm not doing too bad. Posting a bit late but it is on Sunday , so there's that. I have decided that if I'm going to get this Wish List even close to being completed I'd better get moving on it.

While I'd like to say that I am just cruising right along, I did have a finish last week and I have one for this week, but they are projects that had been hanging around for a while. Last week was my Blue Star blanket (toddler size) and now I have just completed the final round of the mini rings of change. I can say I have never been happier to see that final round of 570 single crochets. It does make a really nice child size blanket or throw. I've had many compliments on it while it's been in process. 

Definitely not the greatest picture for either one. I really need to get them outside and so we can see the real detail. I would recommend this pattern if you are in the market for something different. Each row is a different stitch, which keeps you on your toes and works up as an interesting design!

I've make the commitment to not start another project until one has come off of the WIP in progress list. This makes number two and I am adding a hat to the original list. I guess it doesn't have to be added to the list since it is a request from a coworker for a soon to be born niece, but it helps me to keep track of what I've done and to keep me from starting another project before it's time. It's very true I suffer a serious case of startitis..

This strange amoeba will soon be a Cabbage Patch Kids Hat..lol Hopefully this will be another finish by next weekend. I'm pulling out the Spring granny square blanket to work on next as well as doing more squares for the sidewalk CAL.

Thanks for stopping by! For the Farm Blog, chickens, baby ducks and garden ideas check out CluckCluckBuzz

If you'd like to join in on a Year of Projects check out the group here on Ravelry. Lots of fun and great blogs and projects. Feel free to join at anytime!

Year of Projects Week One

I've joined this great group on Ravelry called A Year of Projects . You have to be a member of Ravelry, and why wouldn't you be? It's an awesome site, I call it facebook for fiber people.


The idea is that you come up with a list of items, or projects or whatever that you want to accomplish over the next year. The year runs from July to June and it's in  it's 5th year. I personally need a push to keep me on track and of course I have a much larger list than I could finish in a year but hopefully this will ensure that I post regularly and actually have a few finishes.

I created my list a couple of weeks ago and of course I have added to it all ready. I signed up to do the Sidewalk CAL, again on Ravelry. Plenty of time to join and it's all simple squares that turn into something different. I've picked my four colors and started my squares. I'm thinking this one will go quickly, well relatively quickly for me.

There will be three or four different size squares and I'm working on the smallest ones first. I hope to have a few more done before next weekend and I might even have a few sewn together by then...

My list starts with older items that have been hanging around a bit too long and a list of few things that I am currently near the end of.

The Current WIP- Crochet 
Spring Granny Square blanket Next on the list!
Beachy Granny Square Blanket I've got to find the right colors for the boarder for this
Blue Star Baby Blanket I'm happy to report that this one was finish this weekend!
Mini Rings of Change I'm one round 36 of 41 so not too much longer

So far the idea has been working great for me, I've got a finish my Blue Star Baby Blanket, as seen below. I've also put together a few bundles with patterns and I'm still on the cold sheep band wagon, for right now anyway. I'll be digging into the totes to look for more skeins for the sidewalk CAL, but that doesn't count, right, it is for a project and not just yarn hoarding.


This post should have been on Sunday, but it's been a bit of a crazy weekend and I'm off today so technically, Tuesday is my Monday. (Edited to add that it's taken me till Thursday to get the pictures so I'm a bit later than planned) So for more updates check back during the week and for sure on next Sunday for another update and hopefully another finish!

If you're looking for farm ideas, recipes and cute animal pictures check out my other blog CluckCluckBuzz. I warn you super cute duckling pictures have recently been posted along with their foster mom, Matilda the Chicken!