Never Ending Inspiration

There are times when I just sit around and twiddle my thumbs, wanting to crochet but not having any idea of what I might make.

Then I remember that I'm a member of a wonderful group of crocheters and can go to the Crochet for Life forum for ideas and encouragement to try something that I otherwise may not have or a simple pick me up (there's always something to giggle about there).

Life has been kind of busy for me lately. What with trying to plan a new direction in life, getting my son ready to start school next month, feeding my need to create, and trying to keep my shop and studio active.

As I type, I'm thinking of what I will crochet next and in which colors, who will wind up with it and how many I want to make.
I wonder if all crafter's minds are like never ending movie reels.

This month, C4L had a challenge which was to use granny squares or motifs for a project of your choice. IF you're a frequent reader, you already know about my "choice". You know, the one t hat didn't work out so well.

I totally switched gears and came up with this one, which I finished last night
It is a 100% cotton white, light blue, and ecru granny squares dishcloth.
I had planned a solid border for this one, but decided at the last minute to highlight the outside with just white, then finish it with a blue and ecru mixed simple scallop type edge.

I'm almost tempted to keep this one for a wash cloth, just because it looks like home, you know?

But!
Instead, I'll keep it around for memory's sake.

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Last but not least, I'd like to shout out a few of the members of the group- they're lovely people and I highly recommend checking them out =-)

Monet has some lovely stitch markers, fibers for spinning as well as knit and crochet items:
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=44124

Sandy uses her blog to shares with us the many projects she's worked on. Just so pleasant!
http://www.sandyshook.blogspot.com/

Naida's got some cute stuffed toys in her Etsy shop as well as crochet patterns and stuff:
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=12193

She's also got a nice blog here: http://yarnchick.blogspot.com/

Darlene's blog, in which she talks about 'A little bit of everything in my daily life and beyond' - plus she's got some cool quilts there too!
http://hounddogsnews.blogspot.com/

Mini mucks around on her blog which describes life in a kind of humorous way while adding a bit of sci-fi junkie along with a fair share of crochet, too.
http://minibooger.blogspot.com/

She's also got a few things for sale on Artfire.

Almost a What not to crochet!

I'm going to give thanks to this Your Ugliest FO thread on ravelry for preventing my from making yet another Ugliest FO.

Here was my contribution to the thread.

I made this shrug a long time ago, hoping that it would give me something colorful to add to my Etsy shop. Fortunately, it did not.

In a previous post, I mentioned that I would be using this month's C4L challenge (using granny squares or motifs) to make a bag that inspired by my favorite all purpose bag.

I was hoping that I would be able to carry my creation with the same pride that I do when I carry the other, but after mapping out the design, i decided that i best turn around and or stop before things got any worse (i.e. assembled)

I think the colors are just too much. Next time, i think i'm going to do one huge granny square in a nuetral color, like off white and then try 'applique-ing' my design on.

If I weren't afraid of running out of time on this challenge, I would do it sooner rather than later, but i am afraid, so I'll save it for another day. =-(

Now, it's back to searching Crochet Pattern Central for granny squares that will arrange into something easily.

I have to say, I am a bit disapointed in myself for this project failure. But! on the bright side, I am one step closer to making the bag I invision AND I stopped myself from making another horrid crocheted... thing