Waiting on Winter 2

The second of my "Waiting on Winter" scarf projects.  I really like this one too.  I may end up making each scarf pattern in several different colors.  With temps in the upper 90's to lower 100's .... I think I have a loooooooooong wait until winter. :(

I'm SO ready for winter!

Winter is my favorite season.  I don't have enough time to list all the reasons why ... there are just TOO many to count!  But, one reason is scarves ... I just love them.  I love wearing them and making them.  I've really been longing for the 35* cold winter nights lately.  I just can't handle this 100* temp with a heat index of 115* and up!!!  I just can't take it!
So, I've decided to prepare for winter by crocheting random scarf patterns.  I collect patterns like some people collect Willow Tree Angles or other knick-knacks.  So, I had plenty to choose from!
This is the first of the ones I decided to try out.  I really like it.  I think it'll be GREAT when the weather finally turns cooler!

Another New Baby Blanket

I have one pattern, as I'm sure you can see by previous posts, that I just LOVE.  But, I'm always wanting to try new patterns.  I bought a booklet a few months back and this is the first one I've tried from that booklet.  In fact, it was the picture of this particular blanket that made me want to buy the booklet!

I think it turned out really lacy and sweet.  It only took me 6 nights to finish it.  It worked up really fast!  I think I'll probably make it again sometime.  Especially in a crunch when an unexpected baby shower comes up!

Shaking Things Up

I've always wanted to make my "old faithful" baby blanket and slip a cute or whimsical ribbon through it.  I always chicken-out and do the standard satin ribbon because it just looks more elegant.  Well, I was making this blanket for a 2nd baby.  The parents are also really fun people.  I just figured they had all the simple, elegant blankets they needed.  So, I just decided that I'd go ahead and try my cute, whimsical ribbon like I've always wanted. 

This is for a little boy.  It's a red ribbon with white stitching.  I think it turned out really cute! 
This is also the first time that I didn't get a blanket finished before the baby arrived.  :(  He came about a week and a half early.  So, when I realized that I couldn't finish it before his birth, I got a little lazy.  Ok ... A LOT lazy.  But, I figure it's really hot right now.  He doesn't need a blanket.  And, it's a really big blanket.  To be a baby blanket, it's huge.  It would almost cover a small adult!  He'll still be small (7-9 months depending on when the weather finally changes around here) when it cools off.  They'll use it more, closer to the end of the year.  So, I'll gift it to them the next time I see them. 

Old Stand-by in White & a new baby dress

This is the blanket that I've talked about making DOZENS of times.  I mean that literally! 

I made this one for my sister and her baby ... "LadyBug".  We're all calling her that until she's here.  Her name will be a secret until then!

I've made several of these white with white ribbon for this sister to give as gifts to family and friends.  She's always requested this particualar color.  So, when it came time to make one for her - I knew without a doubt what she would want!

Her shower was this weekend so I can post pictures now.
The lighting was terrible!  But, I didn't think to take pictures until the night before - and I knew I wouldn't have time to take pictures the next day, get it wrapped and get on the road to the shower.  So, I just did my best.

I also made her this little crocheted dress, bonnet and booties.  It's technically a Christening gown.  But, I thought it would also be beautiful to make precious pictures or a coming home from the hospital dress or just a pretty church dress.  However she wants to use it ...

 

It was a simple pattern - but it worked up so pretty.  The pattern called for using silk rose buds hot glued to the points.  But, I made these little flowers and sewed them on instead.  I think it's prettier that way!

I think it needs a little slip under it - because of the openwork.  Maybe we can find one ... perhaps she'll just wear a onsie under it if we can't!

The Good, the bad and the ugly of it all

As a crafter, I've had a devistating loss.  Now, let me say that in the real-world scheme of things - this is nothing.  But, in my little world of crafting - it's a loss. 

12 years ago - I took a cotton duck stocking and cross-stitched a cute little scene on it for our oldest son - he was 2.  The next year (11 years ago) I did the same thing for our youngest son who was 3 months old.  I also made one for my hubby and myself at that time.  All just the plain cotton duck stockings I picked up for $5 at Wal-mart that I cross-stitched Christmas scenes or pictures on with our names.  They were great as far as I was concerned.  Something I pictured hanging in our home when our grandchildren visited!  Here those are:

Well, Christmas time is here again ... so we pulled down the decorations and began to "deck the halls".  When I got to the box that contained my stockings and dish cloths and bathroom towels - I was shocked to find there was a strange mold/mildew growing all over the fabric!  I tossed the towels and such.  They were just some decorations.  But, the stockings I put in the wash (they are washable) and washed them on delicate.  Apparently the mold/mildew had eaten the fabric!!!  They were RUINED!  I was just SICK about it.  Just to the point of tears for a couple of days.

I pulled myself together and decided that they were gone and there was nothing I could do to fix them.  So, I set about finding these cotton duck stockings to begin again.  NO ONE sells them.  Not wal-mart where I first got them, not any online retailers, not the crafters on etsy.  I could not find them.  So, I bought some cotton duck fabric and traced the outline of the stockings and begain to sew my new ones.

Now, I'm not a seamstress by any means.  I can hem - and sew curtains - but that's about it.  So, this was new territory for me.

I was scared that I would ruin this fabric.  But, I was really pleasently surprised at the outcome.  This is the first one sewn.  I've got 3 to go.  They'll all be blank this Christmas - because I just don't have time to get them all cross-stitched this year.  But, when the decorations go down - I'll begin these for next Christmas!

My first attempt at sewing stockings: 

Tidings of Joy

Another pattern from Bella Crochet that I fell in LOVE with. 
I just love holiday stuff.  If I had the time and the funds and the space, I would decorate for every single holiday!  I love them all.
I really love the way these wreaths turn out.  They work up so beautifully!