Finally .. sandals..

The garden, baking, jam and work have kept we away from my crafts for a while but I'm back on track , finally. A co worker had brought me a picture she found on pintrest that she wanted to know if I would make for her sister in law who is due in July. I did a google search and came up with a couple of cute patterns but we settled on two. I start these almost a month ago but I kicked it into high gear and finished them up  today while the bread is proofing. I enjoy booties but I'm not sure I'd tackle these again..

These are the Baby Strap Flip Flops from Bethany Dearden on her blog Whistle and Ivy. I've barely had a chance to skim her site but I've seen some really cute and doable ideas. I added her to my "when I get a spare minute list.".

This is the second pattern we picked and they run from 0 to 6 months so they are a bit bigger and might be used a bit longer. It's an easy pattern but I had a horrible time with gage. I know I redid one sole at least 6 times. Super small items are not my area of expertise.  These are Baby Espadrille Sandals  by Caroline Brooke. I picked up those super cute buttons at Joanne's and manage not to buy a single skein of yarn. Plus all yarn used here was Caron Soft and it was already in my stash, so I'm still on the cold sheep plan! I can say I was very tempted to pick up a few more buttons..but I prevailed. Actually I'm just waiting for a good coupon or a sale..lol

I hope the receiving party is as thrilled with them as I am to see them head out of the house! I'm heading back to work on a blanket for a bit before the timer goes off for the Cinnamon Raisin Bread. If it comes out as good as they claim I'll share it with you.

Currently I'm ready No Regrets from Shannon Butcher, and I want to say thanks to her husband Jim Butcher (who is also and author I love) for encouraging her to write. It's part of a series and I'm on the look out for the rest. I did go to our local library sale yesterday, I even surprised the volunteers by only getting 12 books. I don't know if the back log of books is catching up to me or if I have really read so much that I'm getting picky..

Have a great Weekend!

Going Cold Sheep for 2015

As you can see I have plenty of Stash and I should be able to find nearly anything I would ever need to start another pattern or project. So in order to make room for other items and make use of what's already in here, I'm going Cold Sheep. Yep I said it and I really mean it. I'm even encouraging E to come and shop mom's stash.

This was my original idea for stash.. shouldn't need more room than this...right

This is two containers deep see the other stack peeking out. And there's my quilting frame.

And another stack as you walk in

So far this year I've done very well. I bought two skeins to finish off a project already started and that's it. In fact Chris sent me a message that he had a coupon for 50% off at Micheal's and didn't I need some thing.. I said no. I know, I was even shocked at myself.

Having said all that I am going to Heelside Farms the end of the month and I will leave with a skein or two but that's just supporting your local farmer right? Supposedly I'm going for a dying class but I'm really going to smooze the lambs..lol

 And seriously who can resist this face

Photo Credit : Heelside Farms

And on another note I'd did get the Window Toppers hung in my craft room. I had wanted to curtains but I need all the light I can get, so we compromised. I'm moving some items out, rearranging other things and maybe doing a bit organization, but I'd rather be crafting..

Easter Bonnet Ideas

We have a friend with two small toddlers and an older girl. She was asking about the possibility of me making a set of Bonnets/hats for the girls for Easter. I had made a few for E, oh about 23 years ago but it was a simple bonnet with ribbon, and I'm sure I could knock out a couple of those for the little ones but I don't think the 8 year old would be thrilled.

She's having picture done and I'm on the search for something that might have the same lines or shapes but be age appropriate.

When I think Bonnet, Especially Easter Bonnet, this is what I think of, Basic Baby Bonnet. But not so much for the older girl. So I've moved on to maybe a shell stitch with a ribbon and maybe a single flower for the younger girls and then some thing in the same line with a group of smaller flowers for the big sister.

Something like this...for the little girls with a ribbon instead of the ties. And something along these lines for the other;  . I'd made the small kin of flower for both just different sizes and I think light colors for the younger and a shade darker for the older girls.

Do you have a favorite bonnet pattern? I've got a bit of time so I'm going to work on it a bit to get it just right. Hopefully I'll have something to show soon..

New on the Craft Front

I started this blog first but it never got off of the ground. Then I wanted to do something for the farm and well Everything but a Moose just didn't fit the farm idea, so I started CluckCluckBuzz. I was using it as an everything blog but it made more sense to move the crafty side back over here. So here we are.
I'll start it out with a finish and a show of a few WIPs.

This is a Corner to Corner that I did for a charity project for Premie's. E was born a  Eight weeks early and I totally understand how those parents feel. I was lucky enough to have my grandmother making all kinds of things for her name sake, so I was lucky enough to have something special for her while she was in waiting in the hospital.

To switch it up a bit I'll start with a Cross Stitch WIP "Moose Welcome" has hung around a bit too long. I picked it up a couple of weekends ago and made quite a bit of headway. I have another finished project that needs to be framed so I can take both in at once. 

I have a couple of quilt items, that are also waiting in the wings but I'll hold off on them for a bit and move back to Crochet. I've been working on a few blankets to have on hand, or to take to sales. I think my problem is that I love to start but when it comes to finishing something else comes along and catches my eye or I see a sale and I'm off to the next great project. 

Just a continuous granny. I love these since they are a simple stitch and great for travel and when I'm watching TV. Nothing to count and sturdy enough to be drug around by toddlers..lol

This is one of my favorite patterns for kids. Star Blankets are so much fun to make and for kids to use. Let kids think out side of the box and have a fun pattern. The Cowboys fan at the house is under the impression that this might just be for him. This is isn't but I should start one so he can have it by football season..

Mini Rings of Change has been my fun but thinking blanket. I started it late last year and haven't been working on it but I hope to pick it back up and have it finished before Easter. That's the deadline I'm giving myself anyway. I have a few other projects I'd like to start but these really need to get completed so I can start others.

And something a bit different to round out this list. I've signed up for a dying class on March 28th at Heelside Farms using regular dyes. I'm going to miss the one this weekend using natural dyes because my Daisy Troop is doing a last ditch effort to sell cookies on the same day. While I'd rather be feeding lambs and dying wool, I need to help make that last effort to clear out this cookies! And the fact that I haven't gotten this pound of wool cleaned and ready for dying helps that decision too. I have a month to get this  wool washed and ready to go, if I'm really ambitious I have a few more  that need it too. These need to move on to the next stage because shearing season is right around the corner and you know I'll have to get a couple of those too. Local wool just makes me happy.

New directions and getting the creative juices flowing

Well I had thought this blog would go in one direction but it seems to have swerved and ended up somewhere totally different. Wow now that I think about it that is kinda how the last few years have been. I had expected to be in one place and kinda ended up in the complete opposite. So I guess that brings us full circle. Here it is this blog is about to get crafty..lol.
I have a couple of projects I'm working on from crochet to cross stitch and then on to a quilting project that has been hanging around for a while. Sorry E is was supposed to be a grad  gift. May end up being a college grad gift instead if I don't get on it.
So to encourage me and get my off of my but to get projects done I have committed myself to getting this blog up and running and projects not only posted but to post an update fairly regularly on those projects. Maybe if someone else is watching over my shoulder (so to speak) it may get my but in gear.

Well here we go..

Finally..

Well I actually created this blog about a year ago and never did anything with it. Oh yeah I had high hopes for it and all kinds of ideas but I am finding out that actually sitting down and putting it all out there is a bit more than I had imagined..lol
So here it goes this is my first official post and I really do have ideas for whats coming up next. So hang in there and the intresting stuff is up coming...well interesting to me anyway..
So you've heard the saying "Toto I don't think we're in Kansas anymore".. well I think my tag line should be "Abby, I don't think we're in the 21st century anymore..lol... and more to come..