Hooky Color Goodness

Looky!!  I finally got a start on the Whispers Shawl!!   I am loving it.  It is working up so quick!  If you are wanting to give it a try I do have a couple of suggestions.  (1) use a fingering weight yarn, and a yarn that has the self striping change in colors.  Knitpicks has a line of yarn called Chroma that works perfectly for this.  (2) I am using a size E hook.  It may feel strange if you are a tight crocheter, but you will be happy with the results!  Both the yarn and the hook gives the shawl a gorgeous drape and weight.

I was so excited watching the colors change into each other I snapped a couple more pictures to post.

I have a feeling I will be wearing this quite a bit once the weather cools off!

I have been doing some knitting as well.  I found a fun pattern on Ravelry for this infinity scarf it is called the Honey Cowl and I am loving ir!!

The Yarn I was using is by Knitpicks, It was in my Thriftstore Yarn Score that I had posted a couple of weeks ago,  It is called Peciosa "'Mulled", 100% Merino Worsted Weight.  I don't believe they sell it any longer.  Shame, it knits up so pretty!

Pretty!!!!!

How's about a little selfie of me modeling the scarf and my fresh new hair did!!  I have decided to try and grow it out a little for a change.  I am also doing my best to do some low carbing, too!!!  I am at that point where it is still hard, it takes a while and a lot of determination to get my mind and body off the carbs!!!  They are so yummy, and I loves me some pizza and chocolate milk!  Oh the inhumanity of it all!!!

So Sunday is winding down, Monday is closing in...I am trying to get ready for the week.  The weekends go by so fast.  I am crossing my fingers for a good week, and going to do my best to stick with the diet!

Bye for now!!

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Thrift Store Score!

 

First off let me share my thrift store yarn score!!!  $9!!  Ka-Ching!   And it is full of the good stuff.  

Some Knot Picks, sock yarn, and even some angora!  I was riding on a high when I brought all this 

home.

Here is a little cowl I finished up.  Love the colors in this yarn.  I used over sized needles (17) and knit in stockinet the stitch.   

It is soft and squishy, and bright!  I can't decide if I should hang on to it or not.  

This is some super chunky Malabrigo.  Holy Cow!  I love this stuff.  It is so soft.  I used size 17 needles for this as well.  I will most definitely be holding onto this one!!!!

Poor girlie,  She is a bit out of sort.  You see, she has no sofa to sit on the back of!  It's a long story, so the short version is this.  we bought new furniture (exciting!).  Well, I gave away out old stuff to get ready for the new furniture.  Delivery day came and they guys could not get the sofa through the living room door!  Geesh!!!!   They put it back on the truck and took it away.  I am having it brought back and also doing my best to get a contractor to open up the living room entrance, if I can just get someone to call me back!!!  Why is that so hard!!!  So cross your fingers for me.  We have needed to have this done, this was the straw that broke the camel's back!  I know once we get it done and the sofa moved in we will be pleased...it is just going to take some time and patience!

Here is a picture of the beast that would fit, I took it in the store.  It is going to be so nice to be able to sit upon it!  LOL!!!!  I wigged out a little, but then I decided there are worse problems to have, and in the scheme of things it will work out.

This evening I am sitting in a chair working on some crochet (which I should be able to share soon!).   

I am going to sign off with a sweet little pic of Phoebe?  She has been so sweet and snugly!  I cannot imagine our home without her!

She is up on the.bed, one of her favorite places!

Have a great week everyone!!!!

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Life on The Screened Porch

Here Greetings from the screened on porch!  Phoebe and I have enjoyed quite a bit of time out here this weekend.

It has been overcast, so the temperature has been perfect.  

I was able to complete a shawl I have been working on for quite awhile.  And even though I was getting a bit burnt out on it, once I finished I was glad I kept pushing on.

What do you think?  It is such squishy yarn.  I didn't realize how big it would work up once I started.  I do like the pattern.  I does have short rows in it, but they really aren't too bad and they just make the shape come out perfectly.  You can find the pattern at 

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/lina-5  It is a free ravelry download.  

Here is the back.  I love how this yarn stripes.  For anyone interested, I used a size 4 circular needle and the yarn is Lion Brand Tween Stripes, Mixed Berry.  I used almost five skeins.

I think this would also be a great party to use up all those scraps!!!  And you could easily work it up and stockinet the stitch as well.  

I leave you now with wishes for a good week!!  We are in the midst of summer here!!  Phoebe is enjoying it so far!

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Crochet Mojo

I have been looking for it....it has been lost for a little while, but I finally found it, my mojo is back!

Looky!  Yes, it is a top hat!  I crocheted it from various variegated yarns.  This was absolutely a labor of love!!!  I had it pictured in my head and it worked up true to what I wanted!!!!

I am so in love with it right now I have it on display in the den where I can gaze at it.  Silly, but I can't help it!

And I love the back!  It looks like an eyeball!  It gives me hooky giddiness!  I really cannot wait  to see it on a live person, and I kinda wanted to wait to take pictures of it in a real human head, but I just cannot stand to wait any longer!!!

This hat will be on its way to a special girlie who I know will love it as much as I do and it will also look fab on her!!!!  I still have to steam and stiffin the hat before I send it off.  

Check it out with a scarf toed around it!

Boo Yah!   So 'steampunk'!  

I have some other little projects O can share, but later...I didn't want to detract away from this hat.  It deserves a post of its own!

So O am hoping my crochet slump is over.  Everyone thought I would be crocheting up a storm since I broke my leg.  "Well, at least you have time to crochet!"  But it hasn't been that way.  Until thisnInhave felt a bit lost.  I know that sounds strange, it even does to me.  Thank goodness I am getting back to normal,  I have another week before I return to work.  I am so ready to spend my days with real people instead of the television ,  although Phoebe has been good company!

I am leaving for now!  I am crocheting some flower pins!  Heck, it's something to do!

Dawn

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I broke it!

I still can't believe I did this.  I miss my step of the stupid curb and go down like a bag of dirt. Yeah, I freakin broke it.

I have never broke a bone my entire life.  The dr. Told me it is a displace fracture of the fibula.  Technically a broken leg.  Good news is he doesn't think I will need surgery.  The down side, I can not put any weight on it at all.  Needless to say I have spent the past few days confined to either bed or the sofa.  I am stinky and ill!   Brad has stepped up to the plate and has been the most awesome caretaker in the world!  

Since I am stuck with my leg in the air, I decided this would be some prime crochet time.  So I have been playing with some mitered squares.  I believe this is the direction I am going.

Oh....if you would like the pattern, you can find it here!  http://hooked-on-needles.tumblr.com/post/19830051195/corinascorner-i-love-the-way-these-squares-were

I decided I would reverse the colors so they are opposite, so when I join them they will have this effect.

There are a lot of ends to be woven in, so now I am crocheting over the ends as I go along.  I think this is going to make an awesome blanket!

Phoebe is not quite sure of what to make of this contraption on my leg.  She stays by my side all day.  

How sweet is that!

Her right eye is bothering her a little bit.  She was even rubbing her face on my cast, so I know it is itchy.  Poor little booger!

I will definitely be back this week with more progress, no complaining about not having time to crochet and blog!

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Soup!!

I love soup...just about all soup (except split pea...blah!).  I found this recipe for the 7 Day Diet Soup and it sounded so good.   It smells awesome, too!  The whole house had that homemade soup smell.  Perfect for a cold wet Sunday.

I could eat this all day long!  I did add Worcestershire and beef bullion to it.   It is good stuff, and would be a good base to add stewed beef to.  As you can see, I made a big pot full to last me the week.  I will let you know how I do eating it all week.  

So after some crochet burnout, I got out some rubber stamps.  I joined a card swap this year.  This month's theme is red and white.  I was thinking about doing some owls, but when I found this stamp set I changed my mind.  (I will save the owls for another month.)

Here is my general layout.  I may add a little bling-bling once I get them all put together.   I had forgotten how relaxing it is to cut paper.

It had been a nice quiet Sunday...something I really enjoy.  There is nothing like being home and cozy and comfy, with soup on the stove, the sweetest little doggie by my side, and Mad Men running on Netfix!  

Awesome day!

Dawn

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A New Year...Time for Plans

I am such an emotional creature.  Even when I was little.  If upset or scared, I could literally get sick.  I remember being in a talent show when I was in Girl Scouts, and we were doing a fashion show of clothes we had sewn.  Oh, I had the grooviest maxi skirt you could have ever seen and the coolest crocheted poncho.  We practiced walking on stage.  That's when it hit, all those people out there watching.  I was puking a short time later!  Arggg!

In my teen years I remember doing the same thing.  Mostly fear from having to stand up in front of people.  A breakup with a boyfriend.  Typical teenage stuff.

And later years, the crisis of a marriage falling apart, sent me in a down spin.  Leaving me sick and puny with a case of shingles that still to this day reminds me where they once were.  What on earth!

And here I am again.  So much going on with responsibilities of taking care of sick mother-in-law, selling her property, worrying about how long her money will last, all while trying to figure out how to keep a husband from being in total denial.  It is draining mentally and physically.   Then on top of it all I keep dreaming of "what I want to do when I grow up".  I am pretty sure I am not doing it.  I want to design crochet and knitting patterns, maybe own a little thrift shop...but it is so scary.   And all this denial has made me totally unorganized and frazzled.  So this year, I am going to try and get my foot in the proverbial door. Yes, at 51, I know in my heart that I need to give it a try.  I may fall on my face, but I am pretty sure if I do I will get back up.

So, like so many, I need to declutter.  I mean seriously declutter.  I have yarn everywhere.  Things I have started.  Things I want to start, and they all seem to have gotten lost in the clutter.

I am hoping my blog can be a source of strength!  Some support, and maybe a place to rant a wee bit! LOL!

Christmas was nice.  It is fun to see family.  I wish there was more time to visit.  But I am sure I am not alone on that one!

I got all my Christmas orders done.  I had to work on the up until Christmas Eve!  Next year I hope this will not be the case!!  I learned a lot this December in judging deadlines and custom orders.

That being said, I wanted to share one of those orders.  A pretty crocheted shawl!

I thought it turned out pretty.  The pattern is the South Bay Shawlette by Lion Brand.   The yarn is Roller Skate Fingering Weight from Knit Picks.

I have started a pair of socks for my mom, but not sure what else is on the horizon.  I am thinking organization needs to come before I tackle anything else!!

Love and Peace,

Dawn

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Thanksgiving at the Outerbanks

Phoebe and I were able to spend Thanksgiving at the Outerbanks with the whole family!!!  Although it was very cold and very windy, it was beautiful.  I actually thought the cold felt good!  As you can see, Phoebe loved it!!!

Our house had a lookout on the roof!  And the view was amazing!!!!!  I was fascinated with the sky!

Isn't it beautiful!!  You can see the clouds just rolling in!!!

The chairs on the second floor deck looked inviting.  But don't be deceived....it was about 30 degrees and extremely windy when I took this!!!  

Phoebe mustered up enough bravery to climb a couple steps until she stopped!  I think the bravery came from her desire not to have me out of her sight!  LOL!!!  Just look at those eyes.

Like most families, we cooked up a large feast for all of us!  Check out the mashed potatoes!

Holy cow!!  Were they ever good!!!!!  Yeah, that is butter floating on top of them!!!

Sweet Potatoes, Green Bean Casserole, Broccoli Casserole, Turkey, two kinda of dressing, gravy, rolls, cranberries, Pumpkin Pie, Apple Pie...I think I am still full!

Miss Phoebe after a half cup of turkey.  I do believe the tryptophan had totally kicked in!!!  LOL!!

We made a trip to Bodie Island Lighthouse.  This place was absolutely beautiful!

I was really taken by this place.  It is so full of history.  And the beauty of the lighthouse is just jaw dropping.  It is hard to realize how big it is until you step out of the car.  

If you ever get to the outbanks, I urge you to visit at least one of the lighthouses!!!  

We also visited Oregon Inlet.  I really like that place, too.  It is full of boats and neat little store full of fun fishing stuff and tee shirts.  

Look at that Carolina Blue sky!!!!

The beach at Nags Head (where we were staying) was very pretty and full of things to photograph.

I was in awe of how close this beach house is to the water...it is obvious that it is in the tide at some point!


My nieces on the beach.  I don't know how they can stand the cold in their bare feet, but they were all over it.  Not me!!!!

OK, don't let her cuteness burn your eyes!!  She was having a blast running and sniffing!  Although she wasn't too keen on the water, but she loved the sand and running full speed with now leash holding her back!

Now, I could show more, but I really wanted to share some crochet fun with you!!!  I will preface it with telling you I learned to do fair isle in crochet!!!  And it is so freaking fun!!!!!!

Once I finish up with all my Christmas projects I want to do some more of this!  I have been pinning patterns and  charts of different things I want to try!!  

There are several you tube videos out there to help you out.  I took advantage of a couple, and recommend if you are going to try and do this watch a couple.  It will help out quite a bit!!!

I also cranked out a chunky crochet project because I was in between projects.  It turned out quite cute!

 It is a giant half granny, only it is joined at the ends.  Kinda cool!  I am sure I am not the first to think of this, but I had to give my self credit for being kinda clever to think it up!!!

It is truly an infinity!!!  I used a super large hook, it was fast and satisfying!!!!!

Well, that's about it for now.  Must admit I am tired and need to head to bed.  Morning will be here soon enough!!

Dawn

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