It's practical art

I came across this shop filled with absolutely beautiful things today.
Oh, if only i could reach into the screen and feel the warmth of Jim Jenkins' jewelry boxes which are everything but ordinary.

You can see the time, attention, and passion that he puts into every piece.

count as you walk with me.

have you ever found yourself counting for no reason whatsoever?
as i set out on my walk to the post office box, it was hot and kinda breezy, so i thought, this is perfect power walk weather.
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9...pole, 1,2,3,4,5...press walk button and wait.
i had to stop myself from counting my steps.
days and days of making hats, crocheting in the round and having to count stitches has finally left a mark on my poor ole mind. and i think i'm finally about as burnt out as one can be of crocheting in the round.
i'm working on an order now for this hat, only larger. no matter how much math i do, it has yet to come out right.
This one is a bit small, but still falls in the average category. the one i need to make is for some one who wears a fitted hat size 8. That's extra large and as far as i can tell, the largest size in hats. i don't know if it's because it looks huge, or if it's because it looks huge, but something doesn't look right with the hat i've been making for damn near a week. i'm thinking about just taking it all back and handing him a 7 1/2. i'll say, 'oh, it'll give a little' =->
unfortunately, he's my cousin and knows how to get to my house, so perhaps giving him a hat that will leech his brain through his skull is not a good idea.
fortunately, there is no deadline, so, perhaps i'll take a break and finally get something made with that big ole cone of christmas colored cotton yarn i have.

did you know that veterans day was on sunday!?
and did you know that yesterday was not sunday?!
i was like, whaaaaat? lol.
so, i made some ribs and meatballs, my mom fried some chicken and made the rice and potatos. we had quite a good meal for the day after veterans day. my brother and aunt and uncle came over and they sat around watching argon while i was upstairs trying not to let the freeze get to the bone.
it is coooooold lately. even though it's annoying, i'm so looking forward to soup and oven cooked meals, biscuits and corncakes.
Bring it on!!!!

October was interesting

but oddly enough, i can't remember how it started. the middle was an emotional roller coaster, though.
after giving me about a weeks notice, my son's father came home on leave from iraq. the same week that he was here, i got a job- i had been feeling way motivated the week before, and not too soon before he left, i was rejected by it. (the job).
because i did not have an inch and a half worth of hair, i could not drug test, and so, no job.
it is absolutely ironic that the thing that kept me from getting a job that time was a frickin drug test! because 1. nisha doesn't do drugs, and 2. NISHA DOESN'T DO DRUGS!
but, after that, i was kinda wishing i hadda. years of going down the straight and narrow, only to be turned down by a retail job. g.r.e.a.t - great.
there was a swap going on in CFL that i had signed up for, but with all that going on; running around thinkign i was gettign a job, while trying to get things taken care of with the ex, working on my swap got put on the back burner. thankfully, the get it in the mail time was pushed back by a couple of days, so i had time to finish it and get it out by the dead line.
i already had in mind what i wanted to make, which was a shawl, and i had the yarn that was just right for it.
the theme of the swap was 'fall', so i used a couple of skeins of red heart's fall. clever, i know.
i didn't get a picture of it, because my camera was just not having it, but, i did get a new camera yesterday! w0ot!
here is a link to my partner's blog with a photo of the shawl.
i love what i got in exchange, which was this:
A jar of pumpkin candy topped with a scarecrow. my favorite part of him is the collar, a pumpkin card holder, a travel sewing kit, winnie the pooh notepad, a hotpad? and a shower thingie, which is my favorite! i've been wanting to use it, but i don't want to mess it up cause it's so cute!

thanks Sandy, i love my fall exchange package!

lets make playdough!

i don't know why i don't just go out and buy the stuff. that would be SO much easier.
last month, i made my first attempt at making the kid some home made dough. i thought, he's always messing it up, so this way will be cheaper. he got a play dough station for Christmas which included 5 big things of dough, none of which are still alive.

so, the first recipe i tried called for corn starch, salt, and water. THAT was a disaster. lol!
i wound up making a corn starch bomb that exploded all over me. at first, i thought it was going to eat me alive because it felt a little funny, but i wasn't about to go hop back into the shower, because it was still early, so i wore it all day.

before giving up, i thought i'd try one more recipe, which was a flour, corn starch, and glue one. i don't know why i thought i could get some playdough out of that. it just looked like inedible bread dough and was killer to get out of the bowl.

ah well, his birthday is coming up, perhaps some playdough along with the moonsand then.

last night, i started on a belt for my mother. i had gotten 2 things of nylon yarn for no good reason a while back and i have never worked with nylon before so i said, sure, why not!
it's almost done - i had to take a break because i was getting a bruise on my finger. at first, i was going to make one that mimicked one that she has that's got 2 rows of eye holes, or what ever they're called but, in order to keep it simple so that i can do more projects before i either find a job, or get busy selling, she's going to get the kind that you just jab the belt loop thing through.

it's really windy here and COLD. i have been looking forward to fall, but man, it seems like we skipped the introduction out here. there is no easing into seasons lately.
i love going to the park, and i was hoping to have the kid's b-day outside this year, but with the wind and the cold, and people not getting off work until 5, i think i'll just cook something and have it inside. he requested an ice cream cake. i got the cutest doodle for it from a seller on etsy. i'll post a pic of it after his b-day.
it's time to put pot on, mornings like this are perfect for roaming around the house with my zip up blankie and crocheted slippers on while sipping on a cup of coffee.

To switch gears

i've decided to dedicate this blog to sharing about the wonderful happenings that go around nisha while she crochets.

for example and in conclusion! ;-)

19 of 100

kinda sounds like my borg association number.

i've started another ripple, this time, not round. the colors i'm using are dark sage, sage, and off white in caron. i got the order for this blanket last week and hope to have it done by next week some time, but definately before october gets here. i'm adding up my son's birthday wish list and well, damn! he's only turning 4, i can't even think of what it will look like in a few years. he wants moonsand, which i've ordered, but i doubt it will be here before his b-day, which is on the 9th because although i ordered it a few days ago, the amount hasn't been taken out of my account. i'm going to call them after i get done here. he also wants a spiderman sleeping bag and some heelys. i don't know about the shoes because he doesn't even use his heels to walk. (i know, i'm trying to get him off his toes, but i dunno, he's stubborn)
i've been crocheting a lot lately. i'm finding that lately, yarning over and weaving in is giving me more purpose than it ever has.

since i've blogged, i've finished:

1. a blue ribbon bag- for which i had to ream some metal beads- not fun!
2. a little girl's winter set which includes a newsboy hat and scarf.
3. a camo colored skully for a friend,
4. 1 female hat in pink
5. 1 female hat in cabana print
6. 1blue kangol style hat
7. 1 brown baseball cap styled cap
8. one beige O.G. styled hat
9. a light blue coin purse
10. a girly baby blanket
11. some flower hair pins

so, i guess i've been busy. i call the girl blanket finished, but i still want to put a label on it, when i get around to it. the majority of what i've done was mindless crochet, with no intentions of listing on etsy, but, some have made their way there. i've had the darndest time trying to photograph orange with my ever so lovely digital camera. it's quite frustrating because the oranges that i have are brilliant and warm. i'd love to share them with the whole wide world!

i think mini first pointed me to the tandy leather shop website, (which is a bit overwhelming)
but i found out today that they have a shop here in town that is not too far away from where i live. so, i'm hoping to go there soon. that tote will be finished one day!

here are the pics, you kin guess which is which.






dude, that took forever, i'll bbl.

i dont know if i want to list her

she's been ready for a couple of weeks now. her face took forever to figure out, but i love it.
at first, i thought buttons would look nice, but they didn't give her the feel i was going for, so i went with felt. i'm so in love with the way she came out.
she's my first ever completed stuffed!
done in pumpkin orange, she finally makes her debut!

Right now, Cheery pumpkin is sitting on a shelf of mine next to her unfinished brother. i must say, seeing her face ever day makes me smile. i almost don't want to put her up for sale, but i'm so proud of her, that i want to share.

i've been struggling with her photos. i think the one seen here is good, but not great. it doesn't show her true color. the color of yarn i used is called pumpkin and is much brighter than seen here.

she's taken so many photos!

i used the same orange yarn in my green and orange pin. it photographed well. (it looks exactly as i see it on my screen here) i'm sure it has something to do with then contrast/compliment of the 2 colors.

i feel so inspired

i've been wanting to do some seasonal stuff lately, but i got stuck on making some small pumpkins.

i did manage to make a black and orange cuff, but i'm not sure about it it.



so, i thought, perhaps i'll go stuffed. coming soon is my very first stuffed pumpkin shelf doll. i'm happy with the way it's coming along. the limbs are attached, all i need now it to figure out the face. i'm not sure if i wanna go with wiggle eyes or buttons, felt or yarn for the mouth. it's already so darned cute, i just can't wait till it's finished.
i'm not sure if it will be going in my shop or not. it's already sitting on the shelf down stairs while it waits. perhaps i can crank another out, or give it some children.
while trying to get motivated to work on the pumpkin doll, i was browsing etsy and came across a shop that i think is just too cute for words. the baby cyclop monster pumpkin caught my eye at first. i thought, oh wow, what the... hey, that's kind of cute!
my second fav. is the wizard boy.
you can tell t hat love and effort was put into this shop, check it out!


i've been busy with my own shop. it's mostly hair clips and barrettes for girls now. they are so fun to make. i've been thinkign about making a lot of those little flowers to sell as supplies. they could be used to embellish a skirt or blouse. or purse, what ever works.

speaking of purses, i have one t hat has been in the works for what seems like forever. it's nearly done. all it needs now is straps. at first, my plan was to braid yarn for straps, but then i thought (after braiding and cutting the yarn), nah that may make it too stretchy and may not be the most comfortable thing to grasp on to.
Leather straps! that's it! that's what it needs!
would be nice if i could find any. i've searched the web and only come across straps that are about 5/8". the bag is a nice size and is intended to carry stuff that may be heavy. i thought of my long ago frequent trips to the library while making it. so, i'm on a hunt for 1 inch straps. they could be braided, just anything brown will do now.
it's lined and ready to go. inside it has a large pocket which is divided into 2, and a cute little label that says 'Lanee's Crochet'. i thought about wash ability while making it, which is why i chose to use grommets. i figured that one could remove the straps and throw it in the wash. i will be glad to see this one go!
if you know of a place where i could find some straps, lemmie know!

Tag, i'm it!

I met a very pleasant lay on Etsy who makes very cute jewelry. I love earth toned accessories and her shop is full of them. Check out BINAGEYER'S shop.

The game is....get tagged and post 5 random facts about yourself and tag 5 others. Make sure you include why you tagged them. You also have to make sure to post a comment on their blog to let them know they've been tagged.

Here are five random facts about myself.

1. i had a hernia when i was in elementary school. my mom noticed it one day when i was coughing. it didn't hurt, but i had it removed.
2. i used to play the trombone. i loved the way it sounded, just not when i blew it. lol!! i don't think i have very much capacity in my lil lungs because i swear, the thing was playing me harder than i was it.
3. i love buttons! when i was in the 1st grade, i had a teacher who allowed us 30 minutes to sort random things she had. i don't remember her having buttons, but for some reason, they make me think of her. i remember having to play with a bucket of marbles, small wooden cubes, dominoes, and other things like that.
4. although i've been crocheting for many years, i don't know how to crochet a perfectly flat oval. when i do learn, i'm going to make a set of place mats.
5. i sleep while the sun's up. i don't know how i got to be a night owl, but there is something about the quiet of night and a cup of great tea that i think is so romantic. then again, tea, yarn and stars are romantic to me.

now, who do i tag?

• Kristie of Kristie's Kreations. her photos are really sharp, and i admire that. she's got jewelery that is both fun and tasteful.
• Sonya of Finger Knits. From her blog, you can tell that she loves
  

I never did show the finished product, huh?

Looks like i forgot to post the finished afghan pic here.
TA DAA!

I'm happy with the way it came out. my mom loves it, too!

i said SIT PRETTY!

i'm sitting here listening to my new chris botti cd, trying to figure out where to go next with the sitting pretty dress i was making for a friend's daughter. i was so excited about doing this dress. it's supposed to be intermediate, but i think i got through it ok. perhaps it was the long wait along with the disappointment of being out bid on the thread i needed to make it, but i was way stoked to get started on this dress. i started on it right after the thread that i had broken down and ordered from joann's got here. i did gauge swatches, plural. and when i finally figured the guage out, i got my hook to working. i was on an absolute roll. doing little by little i finally got to the point where it looked like i'd be done in time for the deadline i had set. which is tomorrow. the pattern suggests that an h hook is used and after trails, i figured that that was the one that was best. i so wish i had gone down one. all that's left of the dress to do is the trim. i was having faith in it, but after i sewed the back seam together, i realized that it would be way too big. i don't know where i went wrong. according to the measurements, it's perfect. i didn't miss or add any stitches or anything.
the dress was supposed to be for an 18 month old, but i got it to fit on my 3 year old. he's (yeah, he, i was in denial. i knew it was too big, but i so needed a model. i'm hoping that he won't remember, so don't remind him of it later.) he's a skinny thing, but it fit him nicely. he's getting tall so it was a bit short. i'd say it's about a 24 month size. which absolutely pos-o-tively SUCKS!
the straps were too long, i think. the neck line is way too low. on him anyway. i'm only imagining what it'd look like on an 18 month old.
so, i took many breathers after this great heartbreak of sitting pretty. i'm thinking that adjusting the strap length will do the trick, but i'm worried about it being too wide. the pattern says 20 inches finished around the chest. to be honest with you, my head and crochet heart is spinning so badly that i couldn't tell you where the neck was. there is a part in the pattern that is called a yoke - i'll have to look that one up too.
in between the dress, i've been doing squares for Moe. just simple ones, as breaks from the harsh on the finger cotton thread. i was hoping to have them in the mail on monday, but i don't think that will happen as i don't feel like bothering with anything yarn right now.
so, i attempted a garment. after years and years of scarves and safe and simple things like that.
i do feel heart broken about it.
shop therapy!
in my mind, it's not a totally lost cause. while at wal mart, i was drawn to the button section, i picked up some that i thought would go well with the dress. i picked up some other random buttons, too. i really wanted a bag of buttons. (the random bag for $1.50) but they didn't carry them. i so love random buttons. it's like treasure, some aren't smooth, some are totally perfect, others are so special that i'd never use them, just because i love them so much.
ah well. there will be other button days.

does almost even count?

so, i didn't make my mother's day deadline. (poo)
it's almost done. it would be done if i didn't keep changing how i want the finished product to look.

way back in 06, i found a pattern in the very first pattern book that i purchased. it was vanna's favorite gift afghans. i had never made an afghan before, but at an unbeatable price of about 6 bucks,(in the bin at sav on) i had to have it.
the original pattern calls for a 3 x 5 afghan of large squares, every other one embroidered with a patch of flowers. i thought, this is perfect! or it would have been if it were larger.
long story shorter...
my mom has a california king sized bed, so i made the afghan about the size of a twin. i'm not totally whacky!
i thought i'd trade the tassels/ fringe on the ends for a few more squares.
now that i've gotten to the point of weaving in ends, i've decided that a nice scalloped edge would go perfectly with the flowers.
and so my adventure continues.
i will finish before the end of this week!

i've been really looking forward to doing some squares for the Virgina Tech afghan project.
i was so looking forward to doing this one, i was on a roll until i got near the end and couldn't finish. i have a knack for falling in love with patterns with flaws. luckily, mini came to the rescue and figured out where the problem was.
although i'm a bit worried about my colors, i'm going to go ahead and do a few plain ole squares. the closest to maroon that i could find was caron's autumn red and red heart's claret. i got a way off mustard yellow/goldish color called well, gold. (ha) i was kind of in a rush when i picked it up and it looked like what i saw on the comp so i got it.
gold scarf anyone? how about a hat?
i don't want to get too ambitious with the squares because i'm i'm a huge procrastinator. the deadline is may 31st so i'm getting crackin on it!
i put all production for etsy on hold to work on the mother's day thing. i was going to list something today, but i'm out of oomph.

i won a couple of sets of susan bates on ebay and they got here today. i felt like it was nisha's birthday! huge savings on them!
i caress them ever so gently, thinking, oh, you just wait, i'm going to work ya like none other.
i used to have a preference for boye's but after i finished the yellow purse-in one day-using a bates, i'm converted.

i've got baby blankets, purses and all that other stuff to do. there's a pile of WIPs next to my bed. i some how feel like a beaver running on a long rug that is just layering behind by feet.
i get no where, ya see?

i'm only complaining a little, i swear!

here we are so far

burning oil on this one!
i'll post pics of the finished product when... please let there be a finished product!

MORE THAN YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT ME

MORE THAN YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT ME :
01. What time is it? 2:10am
02.What was the last film you saw at the cinema? the dance movie with antoni banderez
03.Diamonds or Pearls? pearls, never diamonds, sapphires will do.
04.What is your favorite tv show? matlock, then little house
05.What did you have for breakfast? pancakes
06. What is your middle name? lanee'
07.What is your favorite cuisine? fried, so... american?
08.What foods do you dislike? Lima Beans (here here!), mac n cheese, cinnamon rolls
09.What are your favorite chips? plain ruffles
10.What is your favorite CD at the moment? no cd, but i'm in love with robin thicke
11.What kind of car do you drive? never!
12.Favorite Sandwich? turkey with the works
13.What are characteristics you can't stand? flakiness, short term memory, repetitive question asking, stating the obvious, asking questions who answers are obviously obvious. (like, 'you're having a sandwich for lunch?' when i'm holding a sandwich at around noon
14.What are your favorite clothes? wife beaters and leggings
15.If you could go anywhere on vacation, where would you go? any where with my brothers. that needs to be done
16.Where would you want to retire? seeing retirement... aaah. i've not been too many places, so i'm not sure.
17.Favorite time of day? hmm...i can't think of one
18.Where were you born? lost wages, Nv
19.What is your favorite sport to watch? high school/ what ever kinda team my brother is playing on footbal
20.Coke or Pepsi? Pepsi, it's crisper
21.Beavers or ducks? certainly not ducks. i'm afraid of birds, large ones make me run crying to the nearest relative. never saw a beaver, i'm sure i'd freak too.
22.Are you a morning person or a night owl. night owl
23.Pedicure or manicure? mani
24.What did you want to be when you were little? Horse i wanted to be a teacher or nurse before high school, a social worker during HS
25.What is your best childhood memory? flying a kite with my mom and brother
26.Ever been to Africa? no.
27.Ever been toilet Papering? no
28.Been in a car accident? no
29.Favorite day of the week? thursday
30.Favorite Restaurant? dont' have one
31.Favorite flower? lillies, i like callas the most
32.Favorite ice cream? strawberry cheesecake
33.Favorite fast food restaurant? jack n the box
34.How many times did you fail your drivers' test? blank
35.From whom did you get your last E-mail? papa john's
36.Which store would you chose to max out your credit card? some craft store, no card, though
37.Last person you went to dinner with? My mom/family
38.What are you listening to right now? the hum of my computer, gotta change that fan.
39.What is your favorite color? blue... yellow
40.How many tattoos do you have? 2
41.How many are you sending this e-mail to? bloggin
42.Favorite Magazine? none
43.Coffee or Tea? tea
44.Do you tan easily or burn easily? technically, i tan, never burn
45.Do you color your hair? no. it's finally growing, but with grays. i'm afraid that if i color it, it will abandon ship
46.What was the first car you ever purchased without the help of your parents?
47.What is your most dreaded household chore? Dishes (for sure)
48.Do you like life? hmm. not at the moment, not sure what death is like, so i'll stick with what i got.
49.Is there anyone that you just can't stand? yep
50.Are you anxious about tomorrow? no, not really. it will be a lazy day.

"Momma, what happened to those hairs?" as he began counting grays on the top of my head. 'YOU!' i said as i moved his hand away.
they're springing up with the season. more than 5 that i can see, no telling what's in the back. my mom said she grayed early, but i would have never known, as honey blond is her favorite hair color.
am i getting old fast, or is it just the hair?
(and what's with them itching like crazy!)

taking a break from crochet.

for the last week or so, i've been crocheting like crazy. i've been in the mood for spring and so, i've cranked out a lot( by m standards) of spring crochet. all of which has been or is going to be put in my etsy shop. it's a freaky hobby on top of a hobby, that etsy has become.
i'm in full jewelery mode now. earrings and chokers and if i figure out how, rings soon too.












I'd like to get into making flowers more. i wish i had some of those lovely flower pins/hair things that i see. i haven't been able to get the larger flowers just right yet, so i'll stick to my hair clips.
Iwent on a flowering frenzie one night and made several pairs of flowers- more flowers than i had clips for. so far, i have 3 pair listed and about 4 in the bag. for some reason, i'm wanting to make more.
i tried to get my son to model them for me but it was a no go. he won't put a choker on either! not even for a bribe. luckily, i remembered that my dummy has hair!
i can't wait to get the rest of them listed. I'm getting more interested in making girly stuff, what i'll do with it, i don't know.
birthdays and holidays are sneakin right up on me, man! i thought i would do some easter crochet but i haven't gotten around to it yet. so, i think i'll skip it and move right along to b-days and mother's day. Oh the afghan! still not finished- haven't touched it in a loooooong ole time.

i have a friend who has a little princess. i want to do a set for her. maybe some cuffs and furry hair things, bags and perhaps a doll or two to go in a dress up chest. how cool would that be? she'll be 4 this year. i was thinking about it and my dominic is a whole 3 and a half! i said to him excitedly the other day, 'dominic, you're 3 and a half!' he was like, no, i'm dominic and i'm 3. =-)
he's started calling me mom and i can't say that i care for it. i don't know if it's a culture thing... well, yes, i think it is now that i think of it. i still call my mother momma, most people i know still call their mothers momma. i never saw the need to change it when i was growing up. i think 'mom' may be a cooler way to say it, but i never felt the need to. so, i may be tripping over this because i like being called momma, my momma will always be my momma. there was a time when he called me nisha. i didn't mind that, i'd prefer that to mom. i think he gets it from t.v.

it's been way windy lately, which sucks. it warmed up a couple of weeks ago and i was looking forward to taking a dip in some one's pool. dominic has never been in a life sized pool so i can't wait to capture that. i was about to say on tape, but we don't use it an more, do we? of course, i'll have a life vest on with floaties and a bubble, but he'll be pooling it non the less.
he'll be an even bigger man then =-\
it's felt so odd seeing him reach stepping stones, before i know it, he'll be listening to music i can't stand and barely talking to me. he seems to talk forever and a day now. and we sing along together. and i chase him for kisses. and more mushy mother things that i can feel becoming sweet memories.
i may just be tired.
so, i'm going to go and finally make myself a pair of earrings. i crocheted them yesterday but i couldn't find my wires, and go to sleep. dominic just went down. he fought an awesome fight, him and elmo.

Checkin in

i wish i were a better blogger. it's such a community! i've been keeping busy by crocheting stuff for my shop on etsy.
i've been feeling happy while crocheting lately. it's such a refuge from all of the crazy emotional things i've been going through lately.
i started on the ripple for the ripple-along but haven't gotten very far with it. i've only been doing about 2 rows at a time. i've got such a full plate when it comes to crocheting. i've got earrings going and blankets along with cuffs and head bands. i feel so goos when i finish them though. couldn't crochet be my world, just for this life time, please?
i'm about to update my shop's myspace profile. check it out!

A Bit About Me

♥
I absolutely love to crochet! =-)

I've known how to for a while but recently, I've felt the need to get more serious about it and to be more productive with it.
here I'll share some of my work and feelings on it.
I like working on smaller projects that can be completed quickly. I love the almost instant gratification they give. I'd have to say that the best thing about crocheting is knowing that the work you've done is appreciated. Nothing feels better than knowing that my time wasn't wasted on a project. Crochet is like candy- I'm SO hooked!


I have been crocheting since I was about 13 years old. I am now a 24 year old Stay at Home Mom to a 5 year old who is practically one third of my life. The other two being my family and crocheting.
My aunt showed my the basics of crochet but I knew that there was so much more to learn and thus my quest to make anything crochetable began. I taught myself how to read patterns. I think I'm pretty good at it. (I'm hoping you'll agree). I love knowing that whether it's being cooked, baked, crocheted or simply made by me, my hard work and attention to that particular thing is appreciated.

Can ya tell that i love being appreciated? lol

I'm a new spinner who has a drop spindle and a bit of wool to play with and perfect some spinning techniques. Watch out spinning world when I do get it down!

I'm starting to want to venture into other crafts and handmade realms, so you may see a bit of wire working, gardening, zine writing, carving or what ever else is able to spark a fancy in me.
♥

hey you, what's new?

i'm feeling: productive and cheerful.
i've got a little while before my little avatar wake up.
last night, domnic went around telling us that he's an avatar. that's his favorite cartoon and he often goes around throwing imaginary water, fire or earth at you.
i've been in a better mood thanks to the kindness of my brother and a walk on saturday. it felt good and i'm wanting to take another one today. i can't wait until the summer. summer mens long walks and iced tea for us. not to forget park days! we spent about 2 days a week at the park last summer. that is, until i saw more than one bee up there. bees are scary creatures.
my brother thought he got stung by a bee while at work last week. it wasn't a bee for sure because he said that it flew away. he drives the city bus and had to drive around with a pain in his back for hours. so, when he came over after work to have me get the stinger out, all i saw was a tiny bump. what ever i got out wasn't a stinger but he said it felt better after ti was removed. i told him that bees don't sting you and then buzz around for a few minutes until they see an open window. or at least that's what i've heard.
i finally got my aunt's winter hat done last night along with the baby set i was working on for i don't know how long. after that baby sitting episode, i was drained and not very productive.
the hat came out a bit small. i tried it on and wanted to pass out! but my aunt assures me that it will stretch. Ok, well, at least its out of the way. i'm about to start another hat. one for my mom. she had asked me a while ago but i made her slippers instead. they're so much quicker and there's no need to keep track of rounds.
so, i mentioned that i finished the set last night. it's blocked, folded and ready to be shipped. i was hoping to have it in the mail today, but my aunt wanted to add a few things to the box. she had bought the cutest little picture frame a while back ago. when she went to go get it, she saw that it was broken. the glue that kept the back piece on had quit. and wouldn't you know that when it's time for me to use a glue gun, i have no glue sticks. that's the hold up right now.
speakng of glue, i haven't seen my aleen's, starch, or other glue gun since i finished up some angels before christmas. what gives! we've got a swiper on the loose here, i guess.
and now, for the glorious set!
Tada!
Thats about 10 skeins of jamie and the little bit of kitten that i had left. included in the set is a blanket, larger than a receiving, but a bit smaller than a crib sized comforter, a hat, it's not square, i just had to prop it up a bit, a pair of booties, and a head band with a little flower on it. i hear that little Destiny has lots of hair so i threw the band in there just in case her mom wanted to show off the hair while keeping her in the set.
i'm so proud of how this set came out. it seems to have taken forever but it was well worth it. it's kind of inspiring me to make another. i can't wait until my cousin gets it. i'm sure she'll be surprised. i also threw in a pair of slippers for her done in valentinesy colors. she doesn't know about those. i hope she likes them.


i'm trying to get back to putting things in my etsy shop. i'm going to keep with my larger personal projects and crochet small kitchen and other things while i work. hopefully this will make me a bit more productive on both ends. a coaster might be a nice little break from that scary ole mother's day afghan that has yet to be picked up.
speaking of mothers, i'm going to go to the mall either later on today or tomorrow to pick her up something for valentines day. she's a plant person so i was going to go to the flower shop and pick her up one of those but i think a new out fit would be more useful. the lady never shops for herself. i can't remember the last time she went shopping and got more than a pack of socks for herself.

well, back to my little side crochet i go.
happy crocheting!

I've been tagged =-P

So, a while back ago, i was tagged. i'm finally getting around yo responding but like Mo, all in my little circle of friends have been tagged. i think i've found a good reason to start reading more blogs and getting in touch with more people, eh?

THE RULES: Each player of this game starts with the 6 weird things about you. People who get tagged need to write a blog of their own 6 weird things as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don’t forget to leave a comment that says you are tagged in their comments and tell them to read your blog.


So, here goes:


#1. I have really sensitive ears. I can't stand loud music or sounds. In fact, hearing anything loud usually puts me in an automatic bitch mode.

#2. Keeping with the hearing, i may be the deepest sleeper and the hardest person to wake up before noon, but if some one's talking loud or has something on and i can hear it (like a t.v or radio, or even a phone conversation), i get upset! and wake up just long enough to let people know it.

#3.I am a stickler about people washing their hands before they enter the kitchen or try to touch anything in it. When some one comes over and opens up the fridge with out having made a stop at the sink or bathroom, i cringe and come right up behind them with the lysol. i don't want to be eating steering wheel, door knob, or butt crack along with my chicken enchiladas, thank you!

#4.I love to cook and bake and be all domestic, but i absolutely hate doing the dishes. people who are totally capable of cleaning up behind themselves but don't urk me. wash your own plate!

#5. I only do my personal laundry about once a month. If it passes the smell and spot test, it's still clean. ( i rarely go out anyway).

#6. Dominic can never wear anything twice with out it being washed first. he's a boy and is sure to sit in something or dip his shirt in his soup. plus, he gets bumpy easily so 2 day clothes equals a 1 week rash for him.

like i said before, i've got no friends! so the train stops here for me.

i'm feeling a bit better now. physically anyway. my brother thought it was a good idea to spend last weekend with his friend who was sick ( i mean sick sick). he was feeling alright when he went to school the next day but i guess it all started coming up when he got there. right after i got the call from the school that he needed to be picked up, i began feeling not too hot myself. luckily, dominic slept through it. times seems to be dragging now, though.
i did get some crocheting done last night which is (WHOOO HOOOO!). after going around in circles with my hook in yarn- not hat circles but frog circles. lately, nothing seems to be getting started well enough for me to continue on with it.
it seems like the baby blankets are working out an not up. the more and more i work on them, the wider, not longer, they seem to get. i've got it to where i'm doing a few rows a day now in hopes that it will beat the baby here. the next one is due in june so i better start like yesterday on the one for her or it will never get done.
i pulled out the bin that was holding a couple of WIP's. one was a rug that is so far past i'm not messing with it that it's not even funny. and the other is my mom's mother's day afghan from last year. i did manage to produce a pair of pink and black slippers for her but the ' when are you going to work on my blanket?' has already began again. i've decided that after i list the second pair of slippers, i'm going to take some time off from producing items for etsy so i can get finished with more personal things. dominic still needs a pair of slippers ( i doubt he'll wear them, though). the kid hates house shoes and often walks around with only one sock on. i had made him some out of some chunky USA that i had - not sure where they went but he did not dig them at all. i'm getting tired of having to wash blackened socks so he'll have to learn to deal with having something on his feet until summer.
back to that dang blasted rug- i was using a yarn called cabana print that i had picked up a year or so ago. (it feels like that long) i started on an afghan with a yarn by the same name but wasn't wise enough to make sure that i had enough of it to complete the project. when i went back to get more, it was hard to find and when i did find it, it was SO off from what i already had that i just gave up on the afghan (which had richer, darker colors). i'll frog it when i get a winder, until then, it's tucked away in shame.
here are the slippers that i made (on sale here) from the "rug's yarn".














i finished my mom's scarf a week ago. she has yet to wear it. i have so many folks who nag me to make them stuff and then never wear it. perhaps they're saving them for the day i become famous. here it is with out the fringe. for some reason, my mom loves pink. she wanted me to maker her a hat out of this stuff at first but it was not happening. it just didn't look right. i'm sure it would have winded up on the 'oh hell naw' website.


oh look, a picture of the hat! a long time ago, i made a scarf for a little girl out of this yarn. after that, i only had a little bit of it left but i tried to stretch it into a poncho. didn't work. so, the baby girl opportunities that have come up have got me wanting to get rid of the stuff. i have just enough to make this hat and a pair of booties for sure, maybe some mitts if i'm good. i wasn't able to picture how small a baby's head would be or how it would look on one at all. i wanted it to be a mini beret/mushroom styled hat - we'll see. after i got to working on it, i was feeling like maybe the colors were too loud for a newborn but people keep telling me 'no, it's cute!' this will be a later on down the line gift, i think.


did i tell you that dominic cut his hair? he's such an i don't know what to call it at times. he not too long ago said to me -'im going to the potty' i was like, ok, good. he said 'well, are you coming?' i was like, what!? he still fears the dark even though my mom got him a little finding nemo foot stool which allows him to reach such things as lights and sinks. i've got to break that kid from using the buddy system when going to the potty.
privacy isn't a big deal for me so i guess it's rubbed off on him. i just think - what am i going to do when he's off to school next year.
can you see the damage? there used to be 3 very spingy locks of hair there. i'm going to have to hold him down to get him to be still long enough for it to be fixed. some say leave it alone but i think this was a cry for some attention so why not give it to him? it'll grow back. hopefully by then he'll be out of the i can cut my own hair stage.

Oh, the baby stuff!

I have 2 cousins who are pregnant. one is due next month and the other some time in june. i have yet to crochet anything for people outside of this house so i thought i'd go on a little crochet adventure with these opportunities. baby blankets all around!
i had started on one using the jamie yarn that i have before i knew about the new comers. i have a LOT of jamie so i'm going to put it to work. they're going to be yellow, and they don't photograph well, but i swear i've been working on them. (ok, not lately but they're 'the works').
i couldn't get them to photograph right for the life of me. it seems that when i get to the 1/4 mark on these little blankets, the goin gets tough and i just can't seem to get the motivation back. so, i've got to add 2 blankets and a bunting to my WIP's.
Look what i found in my closet! Oh the good ole days come back to me, the ones way back when i didn't know the value of a skien of yarn! you best believe that i didn't give up on this one. it's now sitting pretty in nice little balls waiting to be made into something girly. it's not more than 2 ounces but i think i can squeeze a hat or two out of it.

I've just set up a myspace profile for my shop on etsy. see here.
i've not been feeling too good lately but i wanted to do some blogging sooo bad.

and just before the new year, too.

I'm Feeling: Determined
i have a feeling that this will be one of the last negative posts i do here. negative meaning about what's going on in the not so yarn part of my life.
the good news first- right before new years, i sold a hat and scarf set on etsy. See here. it was the last thing that i had listed and i was surprised it went so fast. i'm just about done crocheting winter stuff. or am i? i'm a scarfer for sure so i don't know if i can let it go that easily and i'm not sure what i can do for spring and summer crochet. i'll have to go on another pattern quest. i love this set - hope it sells soon, too. i've got to get into making more hats. they're faster than scarves and speaking for myself, i wear them more often than scarves. that might be because i can make a new one at will.
so, an etsy resolution for me is to put a lil more variety in my shop. i'm close to attempting another stuffed one. just close.
so, how was my new year you ask? to get personal - i was dumped by my finance'. so, instead of spending it with him, in wonderful vegas- the place where many travel to party hardy, i was at home, trying not to cry and crocheting while watching HBO comedy specials until i could no longer keep my lids open. dominic was up until shortly after the clock struck 12. he didn't care for the sound of all the fireworks so he went to sleep. we cuddled on the couch for a bit (until it was too much for me to hold on to him and get into crocheting.
so, i start off my new year single-not looking (but hoping that some one new will come along) i'm not used to being single, it feels weird. i'm not the type of person to go out and play the field and i'll be damned if i do internet dating (that got me a jack ass who is able to leave me hanging and a kid [who i love dearly]). yes, i met him on the internet 5 years ago. i was still in highschool when we met. enough of that, though. i'm trying to get on my feet. that's going to be the hardest thing i've had to do in all my 22 years. having a kid comes naturally, but actually fending for yourself -man!
i still dream of being a SAHM/ housewife, but i guess i'll have to put in some time in the big bad world before i can do that again/ at all. after crying for a week, i can't any more. i'm all cried out and i'm not sure that there is much to be crying over. i have to tell myself that it's better that he flakes, changes his mind, cheats, or did what ever it was that made him leave now rather than later. if he doesn't get killed in iraq, there is going to be plenty of awkward moments in 8 months. gosh, another one bites the dust. even though i'm tempted to go out and try to find some one else - must be a non-smoker and better looking, i'm through with blonds, a few abandonment issues? i don't mind, you might actually know how it feels to be left hangin.
huh? oh, this isn't the personals? my bad!
so yeah - to do for self! hey, that could be another resolution! I WILL DO FOR MYSELF!
ok, in other news, my cousin is having a girl! after 6 boys, this is something to celebrate!
i've decided to make her something. i'm working on a hat set which will include a hat (of course), some booties, and some mitts. i'm winging it on the set but i finally got the hat done last night. i don't know what what it is about hats but i always have about 4 false starts before i get going right. i have what i consider to be a butt load of lion brand's jamie in soft yellow. apparently, this is what i got it for! i've started on a couple of blankets but i think i'll be using the pattern that comes on the back of the label. the first i started was going to be a large granny square. much like the ones i made for dominic. for some reason, the dang thing didn't lay flat so after i got done with the skien of yarn, i unwound the blanket and it's now a ball.
she's due in february so i best get a move on it! i have quite a few WIPs that NEED to be done. so i think my shop will go a bit by the way side until i bust some of those down. i'll be adding small things, of course, but nothing too time consuming.
along with the baby things, i promised my mom a hat. she got this yarn from red heart that is a variegated pinks with red. her fav. color is pink so i told her i would make a hat for her. i tried to do one using the hippie hat pattern that i found on CPC and that i've used to make my own but it was not lovin the red heart. i used caron before so it was softer and more flexible. red heart made it look like a waste basket, it was so stiff!
so, that's what's on my hook for now.
i made dominic an earflap hat which he doesn't appreciate at all. it was my first so i think the placement of the straps might be off. he's got a big noggin anyway. i might wind up giving it away.
i don't think that i've made mention of a Christmas surprise that i got just before the day. it was a purple box filled with crochet notions and i just love it. that box follows me around the house when i crochet. in it, there was a row counter. dominic thinks it's his because it clicks when you push the button. it's not, it's mine! that's my favorite thing in there. and i also got a yarn cutter pendant. it's cool! i have yet to make a cord so i can string it and put it on my neck but it's a handy lil fella. i was so moved when i got the box in the mail. i often don't feel like people get me and after many trips to the toilet with dominic and running around after him and food and everything that is life for me - opening that box was a bit of a get away for me.
(thanks friend!)

i wish i were a robot.

i wish i were a robot.
i haven't been feeling like being 'out there' too much. so much so that i've deleted my myspace profile and kind of went into hiding. recent events in my life are making me wish i were a robot with out feelings or opinions. i wish to skip christmas and new years and go back in time. if that were possible, life would be great.
i'm seriously thinking about putting my shop on etsy to sleep. not killing it totally dead, but dimming it out. with all the emotional lows i've been having lately, not selling anything on etsy is one that i just don't need right now.
i was crying yesterday and dominic saw. he said, 'awww, momma's crying, she's sad.' and then he told me to give him a hug and patted my back while saying, 'it will be alright, momma.'
that's so not what his role is supposed to be. i tried to hide it from him but he just knew. he cheered me up just then by doing a little bit more stuff- just being himself. i laughed for a minute and then asked him if he's like to take a bath. he loves baths, so of course he said yes. while i was cleaning out the tub, my aunt gave him a piece of bubble gum. he came around smacking and i was like, what are you eating? he said bubble gum! of course i paid no attention and kept on cleaning. after a couple of minutes, dominic comes back into the bathroom saying, momma, my brain! you can see my brain! in my hair, my brain! i was like, no you can't, your brain is under your hair. then i turned around to see a huge wad of fresh bubble gum in his hair. dominic loves throwing things up in the air and most of the time they land right back on his head. i'm guessing that this is what happened. so, after our aunt got the gum out of his hair, he took a bath for about an hour. the kid doesn't eat much. after me asking him over and over if he wanted some of what i was going to have to eat he said no! i'm going to sleep!. and he actually did. he's been going to sleep as early as 8pm and waking up before the sun. i'm sure it'll be the same tonight as i layed down to take a nap and am just now waking up, he layed down right beside me and is still sleepin. i'm supposed to be making cookies to bake later but the butter is rock hard. what to do!

i got angels!

feelin kinda :excited!

so, i signed up for an angel exchange months ago - or at least it feels that way. we were to have our angels delivered to our partners by thanks giving. i was a bit worred about getting mine out on time so i got started early. i've been wanting to share what i was sending but i didn't want my partner to see. (just in case she ever comes this way) so, here they are. that's a lot of thread for a yarnie! i was fretting over the bows for a while. i finally decided, after a trip to walmart which was fruitless, to use what i had. i like the way they turned out. my partner said she liked them and her grand-daughter liked them so, yay for spoon angels!



here's what i got:
this picture isn't really doin justice but i got some really nice angels. i'm happy! can't wait to bust out the christmas stuff and blend these in with them. my favorite it is the clothespin angel. i came across the pattern on the web and passed it up- i'm glad my partner decided to use it, it's my favorite one of the bunch.






In other news:
i finished the manly hat finally. i should have guessed when i was about half way done with it that it would be too small for my friend. it's tight on my own head, which is about 21'' around. i used the largest hook called for on the patter and still came out tight. perhaps i take out my tensions on my crochetings or something because i'm finding that my gauge is not the same as it used to be. i'm looking for a solid L and M hook. i have an N and a P but those are way too large. i found a hook that was a bit larger than a US K on ebay but it came in a set and had to come from where ever pounds are used as currency. so, shipping equaled the cost. i didn't get them. i might have to break down ad go for the ole crystallites or treat myself to a wooden one. i was wanting a metal one because i like the weight on them. it seems that it gives me leverage when getting a groove going on when crocheting. (you know the groove i'm talkin about- on a roll and going quick).
so, maybe some slippers or other warmer type things.
oh snap, matlock's on, gotta go!

man, have i got some blogging to do.

i'm feeling :alright

earlier in the week, i wasn't feeling too well. i think it has something to do with cleaning. as i went to get to work on my room, my chest started hurting too much for me to stand or even move. so, i layed down for a bit which turned into a nap. i wasn't productive at all that day. i wanted to figure out some Christmas dishtowels but i haven't yet.
i've been to work on getting my etsy shop more views and hopefully A sale. i'm starting to take etsy in a different light. i'm now more laid back about it. i used to try to telepathically send my motivation into it but now i'm like, eh, what will be, will be. part of my trying to get more views on it and what not is trying to list things more often. i think i listed a record breaking 3 things this week.
so, what i've been working on as far as that goes: i made one for my son, or for some one my son's size but haven't yet listed it.
i think he liked his because it has buttons on it. i made him a wrist warmer but i haven't taken a picture of it yet. he wore it for about 2 days straight.






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purses and pouches!
i picked up some of this yarn that i had no idea what to do with at the end of the summer season this year. it only recently dawned on me that it's pursable material. i hadn't seen the yarn all summer then all of a sudden it's on sale. i'm not complaining- well, yeah i am, i should have gotten more. i'll get enough of self- control one day.
the yarn that they're made of is a blend of acrylic, nylon, and rayon. i'm not used to working with blends but i like it! i know what i'm getting myself for christmas this year, for sure.



--------------------------------
and ah, the evita! i like this yarn as well but again, i wasn't sure what to do with it. i have to admit that it's got more of a fall or late summer feeling for me but i had to put it up anyway. i have a bit more of this yarn and hopefully i can track down even more. a scarf would be nice.
i'd like to figure out how to adjust the pattern to make it so that the point isn't so low on it. perhaps smaller rectangles or fewer rows.









-----------------------------------
hmm, so i guess it was a bit more than 3! way to go me for being a bit motivated.
last, but not least!.. i whipped this bad boy up last night while watching the latest harry potter movie on in demand. it's about time, i say. i wasn't really looking forward to it but when i saw that it was there, i couldn't help myself. i was a bit disappointed on the way it ended. like what the...?
oh wait, i watched harry potter before i started this one. i worked this one up while trying not to watch cassanova. that movie stunk. i was looking forward to seeing heath ledger or who ever was in it act but i had seen a better version on PBS. the version i saw last night didn't compare. anyway, i picked this yarn up when i got the one i used to make the purses above. i was a bit intimidated by it at first because of the texture, but i like the way it came out. texture gives texture of course and as long as it's intended, it's good! ( i've given texture to a few things on accident- not fun.)
i must admit, i'm kinda proud of myself here, folks.

i'm up

i feel: Restless
so this morning i woke up as a result of fatigue. i didn't make my goal of having my swap sent out by last week. i didn't realize that mail didn't run on saturday. i thought it wasn't going to run on friday because school was out and it said 'observed' on the calender. i could have sworn that the news person said stuff would be closed on friday. i rarely catch the news because i tend to listen to it half assed and get all the info messed up.
i must have slept the whole weekend because getting the package mailed was on my mind major this morning. i can't find my tape or the extras i got to send along with it. i was planning on printing a label and dropping it by the mailbox for the guy to pick it up. i don't feel as bad as i would have because i got an email from my partner letting me know when she might mail mine. i'm still not liking not having mailed it out but, what can i do? (be a bit more organized, maybe?)
gosh, i think my body is in shock from being up so early. it's nearly 10am here but i tend to sleep days during the winter so this is pretty early. i can't wait for thanks giving to come and go. when is it anyway? i'm not a holiday type of person. i'm looking forward to thanksgiving passing because i know that after that, there will only be so many days until the dreaded christmas is over with. NEXT WEEK! i just checked the calender and it's next week!
*sigh*
my brother will be moving out this week. i'd like to see how that goes. we're huge procrastinators so i'm sure it will be last minute. his truck was wrecked last week so he's out of a vehicle. which sucks. i'm still angry at the cosmos for all they've been pooping on my brother. there doesn't seem to be a cause. perhaps they're getting ready to rain money on him or something. this is the second vehicle of his that's been hit while parked by people who didn't seem to care enough to take others into consideration.
i got to talk to james this weekend but it didn't go as i had expected or liked. i'm reaching for topics of conversation with him as his deployment nears. he says we'll be able to see him before he leaves but i'm still hoping hoping that we do. i have lots of pictures to take of him and dominic. i've gotten used to not having memories or pictures of my 'father'. i don't want dominic to be the same way.
the stomach is confused because i would usually be sleeping so i'm going to go get it something to rumble around until i feel like cooking.

Gosh, it's been a while, hasn't it?

i've been crocheting a lot lately but coming up with nothing. i wanted to make some hats for a few guys i know but i've not been able to come up with a pattern that would look right. i'm not too good at making hats -i think-. i can't get past the 6th round with out thinking that they look funny or that they'll be too big. they always look jagged at that point so i wind up frogging them. i've only made a couple of hats that looked rounded when laid flat and i think that may have been because of the yarn. i know it has something to do with how many stitches i start out with or the hook i'm using. i found a pattern online today that i was going to use for inspiration. it was a regular ole DC hat pattern. i guess i didn't need it because i know how to increase in rounds but i liked the security of knowing that i was following a pattern. well, it didn't work out too well. it still looked square to me so i frogged that too.
i've got my angels nearly done for the swap. all i need to do is jazz up their necks. i was looking for some pre-tied satin bows but got lost in teh world of michael's. and wally world doesn't cary them. and can you belive that they only carry paper roses? i guess that would do. i'll have to see about it when i'm there next. not much variety, i tell ya that. but, hey, what do i expect, it's walmart. so, i'm hoping to have the package sent off by the end of this week, which is coming faster than i thought it would. if not by saturday, definitely by monday.
i've been trying to put more things in my etsy shop, trying not to give up on it. i guess i haven't been networking like i should so i'm going to try to do that more. i suck at making small things to list. i thought i'd do that just to save spaces for when i complete something big. i'm having the hardest time with that. i'm too picky for my own good. i made a bracelet that i was going to put on there but i didn't. instead, dominic ran around with it on for most of the night. i don't want to do the regular fingerlesss gloves because well, every one has them. i guess i will have to think of something.
my brother will be moving out soon and i'd like to make him a house warming gift. i know it will be a bit after he's all settled in because i don't want it to be just a set of coasters or something like that. perhaps i can make him something in his favorite color to remind him of home. he's such a work-o-holic that i doubt that he'll be spending much time there anyway.
i'm just determined to make a little something for joe. he sent me a b-day card around my birthday and that made me feel kinda special. like wow, some one's thinking of me! it's far after his b-day now so i'm hoping that i'll be able to drop a little something in the mail for him sometime soon. men are the hardest to crochet for, i tell ya! i figured that i'd make him something to sit on his dresser or in his closet. i may wind up making something bigger than the chi- little dog that i had planned. i suck at making animals or stuffed things. i'm alright with working in tight rounds - it's the assembly that gets me. the limbs never look right to me. i might be using the wrong kind of needle or something. (of course it's not just me).
i finally made my mom a carry all bag and she's carrying all in it. i wanted it to be strong enough to carry her big what i call doggie bottle of water in without it stretching out of shape. i put bands of single crochets between the mesh to prevent it from over stretching. i don't know why they're rippled, perhaps i increased some where along the way. i'm trying to think of a way to fix this problem, i'll let ya know! here it is with out the straps.

i was going to get a whole mess of white cotton and just dye it to her favorite color, which is pink but a really generous friend picked some up for me while she was out. (THANKS!!) i still have a ball left over. my mom has asked me for a cup cozy so maybe i'll use some of that to accommodate her request =-)
man, it's fricken breezy out. earlier, it was hotter than the middle of july in here, or so it seemed. we had windows open and fans blowing but that didn't help. now it's freeeeezing! the wind blew my window stuck and now i can't close it. i need to clean that track out.

i attempted a bear

so, my friend joe's b-day was weeks ago and i wanted to send him a special gift. i'm broke so of course it would be something crocheted. i tell ya though, there aren't a lot of crochet patterns out there for men. i wouldn't know where to begin as far as male appreciation for yarn things. i made my james a blanket 3 years ago and he liked it. he's a sentimental guy anyway. i've also been struggling for an idea of something useful to make him that he'd like. my first choice would be a meal but that's impossible right now.
so, back to my friend joe. i've known him for a little over 5 years now. we're pen pals, have never met but he's nice to talk to. i can talk bathroom humor with him and he doesn't mind. a lot of people like to act like they don't go poo or it's just an absurd topic of conversation. no matter how different our lives are, we both take shits.
i thought i'd make him a bear. the only other stuffed animal that i've made was a dog and i don't think it turned out right. i've never made a bear or really looked at a bear pattern. here is what i came up with:
i got as far as the legs. i decided to make the head first. i wanted it to be a big headed bear but it didn't work out that way. i should have made the body first. (notice the orange in the back ground. i'm hoping to have a halloween set done soon. the scarf is on it's way)
i think it was the color that made me lose interest. red is joes favorite color. it's my least favorite. so i found myself unable to stay put while working with it. i'm still going to use the red but i will do something a bit smaller and quicker.
to make a long story short- because i'm tired and would like to lay down, i frogged it all and decided to make a bear that i found on crochetville.


i'm hoping to have it in the mail by next week- about a month after his b-day. it's all good thought because he knows what the deal is with the fundage.


and there is is with the head. i guess it would have been okay. the arms were hard to figure out. i was having the most trouble with the tops of the arms, would i attach them like the legs or made the tops round and connect it some other way?
i have too much on my plate right now to figure it out.




dominic got the curious george movie for his b-day. i'd like to watch it but he loves to act movies out. so he's bouncing around the room. either way, my head is hitting the pillow.

oh angel, where are you?

i signed up for an angel swap in CTB about a month ago. we got our partners last week and have until thanks giving to get our package to them. well, it's supposed to be there by thanks giving.
i saw and fell in love with a little book on ebay. clothespin angels! they're so cute. so, i got the book yesterday. my payment through paypal was hung up for a bit there for some reason. i won nit a week ago.
anyway. i've been debating, spoon angels or clotehspin angels. i'm in a worse posistion than i was in before the book! then i only had one option. i got spoons and little wooden craft balls and i have yet to find wookden clothespins anywhere. i'm going to try michaels when i go out again. the lady who i bought the book from sent me 10 free clothespins. so that's a good thing. this book is larger than i expected it to be. it only has a bout 5 pages but it's nice. in better condition than i was expecting to. visit the store where i won it on ebay.
i couldn't wait to try this out so i made the lower blue one. the trim on the dress is so cute but i always have problems with the sleeves. i just can't seem to get the chain spaces count right. one was bigger than the other and i was like oh no, i can't send this.
so now i'm going back to giving the spoon angels a try. i'm hoping to have another one ready by tonight.
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if you haven't heard, my little brother plays for the varsity football team now so w0ot w0ot!
he has a game tonight. - which reminds me, i need to charge the batteries for the camera. hopefully we'll go. it's been nippy out and i'm not wanting dominic to get sick. i've been planning on making him a little beanie. i'm going to do that after i'm done here. i wanted to make him a camoflauge one but it doesn't look too good on him so i'm going to dig throught the stash and see what other colors i have. he looks good in blue so maybe i'll go there. for some reason, when i tried to make him one last night it came out to be adult sized and flat on the top. i think it has to do with how many stitches i start out with. i'm going to try to stay away from multiples of 5 because it turns into a pentagon.
and here's my little button sleeping with Twinkie.