Handsome cardinal

Last month, I decided that I would straighten up my yarn area.  It was overflowing with projects in different stages of completion and many skeins and balls of yarn.

I pulled it all out and spread it out so I could see what I had.  I then began to organize and tear out projects that I knew I would never finish.

I ended up ripping out over 8 projects and organized my yarn by color along with rolling up small skeins and loose yarn into neat cakes.

I then told myself that I would finish one project before picking up another one and would not start a major project until I had these big ones done.  I now am one down and at the time of writing this post I'm almost done with a second.  I'm hoping to finish one crochet project each month of this year.  Then I can focus on the bucket list that's about 10 miles long!  Wish me luck in sticking with my plan!

Purple baby's blanket

Emily and I were at Hobby Lobby and she saw this skein of yarn and asked if I would make a blanket especially for her most loved "Purple Baby"

Yes, the doll's name is Purple Baby.  This was the first doll my parents bought for Emily when she was a baby, she came with a one piece purple outfit.  After Emily started talking, my mom asked her one day what her baby's name was.  Emily answered very matter of factly "Purple Baby"

And so she still is...and she is Emily's oldest and most beloved baby doll.

So I was happy to make Purple Baby a blanket, I was very pleased when I managed to get a pretty good "pooling" effect with the yarn with out trying at all!

Early American Inspired Afghan

This is one of my most challenging crochet projects.

The technique is called interlocking crochet.  This pattern is designed by Lissa Conley.

Our county fair is coming up next month, this will be my entry, hoping to win the Fair goers choice with this baby!!

Halloween plushies

Halloween is over, and I forgot to share these cool dudes with you.

We had a very busy October, lots of activities, but I managed to get these guys done for Emily and she loves them!

Willow square blanket

This is a blanket I have had on my to do list for several years.  I originally saw it when I was first learning and it intimidated me so I put it aside.

One of my crochet groups does a new square each month and this was one several months ago.  I made and and fell in love all over again.

I made this one and am working on a huge one for my king size bed. It's going to be amazing!!

How pretty did this turn out though?  I love the patter of the colors, it worked out just right.

Crochet blankets

Hey there, it's been a little while since I've shared a crochet project.  

I've got so many projects in the works, it takes me forever to finish one.

This top photo is a crochet along that The Crochet Crowd did last month.

Each week a new block was released, it was fun to do such different styles in one blanket.

It didn't turn out quite right, but it will work just fine for my own use.

I loved the first square so much and the way the ombre' yarn looked I got more of the colors and did 4 more for another blanket.

That diamond pattern is just so pretty, and the ombre' is gorgeous.

Fair entries

It's that time of year again! I can't believe I never posted my eagle after I finished it!

This is my "show stopper" piece for the fair this year.

I won best over all with my lighthouse last year, I'm hoping to win again with my eagle.

I decided to enter a few paper pieces this year to see how I do, these are 2 of my favorites that I made over the past year.

Elsa blanket

This was the most recent crochet along from Pathway to Crochet on facebook.

Angela Mosely is the designer.

She designed it as a black cat. I knew I had to  make it into our cat Elsa.

 I put a couple rounds of double crochet then added a simple white shell border to not detract from the design.

I was able to get it done with out Emily seeing it spread out so she was completely surprised when I presented it to her.

Here is a little clip of Elsa in real life.

Butterfly graph blanket

This is my most recent completed project.

The center is a graph done in corner to corner, I then added rows of the modern granny pattern.

I'm really pleased with how it turned out.

Modern Granny blanket

This pattern is called "The Modern Granny"

I love how it looks

Moose jar cozy

Hello there! I have a really fun project to share today.

I'm so proud of myself over this one.

It started at a local craft fair.  I saw a designer who made little elves and attached them to jars filled with candy.  She sewed her little elves and they were super cute.  Well she only took cash and I only had my debit card so I couldn't buy one.  I decided to make my own version.

The amazing designer at The Friendly Red Fox created this pattern.

I omitted her body and created the pants to fit the bottom of the jar.

for the sweater, I created the neck by sizing it to the lid.  After I made the scarf I stitched it to the neck of the sweater, then stitched her head to the scarf.  

It slips right over the jar and comes off easily so you can open the lid and get to the goodies.

It's the first time I have ever done something like this and it turned out just like I saw it in my head.

Emily's birthday!

Our baby is 8!! I just can't believe how fast time goes.

9/9/09 at 9:44 pm she came into this world and it's been a wonderful journey with her.

Joann's has Emoji pillows, there is one that is a blue poop emoji, Emily waned it and thought it was so funny. I didn't think the pillows were made well and not worth $5. 

I came up with my own pattern. I drew out the graph and made her a pillow.

I had her pick out the yarns without her knowing what I was making.

 Who doesn't love mermaids? I made this pretty box for her to keep some trinkets in.

And what girl doesn't need a unicorn headband?

Molly doll

 This was a really fun project. She turned out pretty cute and I plan to make more.

This is a pattern by The Friendly Red Fox, her name is Molly.

Salt water Taffy throw

I had to make another candy stripe blanket as soon as I saw this Retro Stripe yarn from Red Heart.

It reminded me of salt water taffy and the Minty goes perfectly with it.

I did a swirl with this one keeping it stacked instead of staggered like my red and green one.

I  really love it and of course Emily is claiming it for her own.

Kids...gotta love them.

Thanks again to Crochet Crowd for this pattern.

Amazing Grace blanket

 I think this is really pretty.  The background is mint green and the border is a really pretty boysenberry color.  It's more purple than it shows in this photo.

You can find this pattern here at C2Cgraphs.com

The Wizard of Oz

I was so excited to get this blanket done.  This was my first time doing a single crochet graph project.

My other graph projects have been a stitch called corner to corner.

The single crochet is a much tighter and detailed piece.

The bottom border is called planned pooling. It's done using varigated yarn, using a bit of math and paying attention to where your stitches fall you get this great pattern.  The way mine turned out mimics the tornado I've been told and if you look at the yellow brick road, it matches up with the yellow creating the path's extension. 

I wish The words were more clear, I used black to outline them and should have gone with a gray.

You can find this pattern at White Rabbit Crafts.

Cute monster

I was chosen to test a pattern for a designer, she's not ready to release this pattern so I will update this post once she releases it.

My little monster turned out pretty cute, the body is done with the Retro Stripes yarn from Red Heart.

Emily loves her and immediately took her to her room after a big hug and a squeal.

Bug crochet throw

Hey there, I have a new finished project to share with you today.

I actually finished this last month and forgot to share it with you.

Aren't these bugs just the cutest?

I love their big eyes, remind me of googlie eyes that I love to put on my cards.