Finding the time to celebrate

It has been a busy week work-wise, so I haven't been spending as much time doing the things I love.  Life is like that though.  But this week I got some great news- I got a full time job!  This means I will have to be more efficient with my time and hobbies.  I can't wait for all the challenges and perks that come with being a full teacher.  Luckily, I know the kids in the class I'm going to teach, so that is one things I don't have to worry about.

To celebrate, I went out for a walk with my friend Sara (link to Sara's blog) for some exercise, some shopping and some tea at my favorite coffeehouse!  There were beautiful flowers everywhere!

And a little note was left on the table for us:

I love everything about this space.  There are so many textures and colors.  I had to get a photo of my favorite door:

After a lovely walk, and some goodies for me and D, I came home and continued working on this:

With the rate I'm working on it, this blanket should be finished in no time.  Not too bad for an afternoon.

Comforted

Last night, I didn't sleep very well.  I was having some horrific nightmares.  As a result, I was not as well rested today as I would have liked to be.  When I'm tired, I have a hard time relaxing during the day, because I just want to sleep.  But if I go to sleep, then I would have a hard time at night!  So I need to find things that comfort me, but keep me busy. 

So I started another blanket.  This one is made of granny squares.  I love granny squares!  I love that they are quick and portable.  If I am feeling especially ambitious, I can start connecting them.  I like sewing together the squares, so I don't join them as I go.  I like the simple pattern of the motif, but the excitement of choosing the 3 colors that will go into each block.  I've only finished about 25 locks of 60, so I have a ways to go before I finish. 

Another way I kept myself busy as to make one of my favorite comfort foods: Macaroni and Cheese, with smoked chicken.  I hardly ever make this because it is so involved (I even make my own breadcrumbs for the topping!) but today was a good day to do it.  I couldn't concentrate on watching anything on TV, so I worked on this in the kitchen for a little over an hour.  The multitasking that this recipe takes makes me feel accomplished.  When D came home and smelled it in the oven, he got excited like a little kid. 

Its not just the eating of this casserole that's comforting, but D's company and enjoyment of it.

For my last bit of comfort, I'm going to read in my chair.  D bought me a new light to work and read under.  Before the lamp, this corner was a little dark.  He is so thoughtful.  It was his idea to get a lamp with a movable arm so I can pull it over if I'm sewing or knitting, or reading.  And it has been really handy since we got it.   This chair is a great place for me to retire for the evening, and just do some reading. 

I also have a Pineapple Upside-Down Cake in the oven.  I'm sure that will help me feel comforted too.

A Star Bunting and the best invitation ever

I forgot that I crocheted all these stars.  I couldn't remember why I made them, so I decided to do something with them.  I made a bunting!  I'm a little obsessed with buntings lately; there are so many beautiful fabric ones to buy on Etsy.  I've been meaning to make one, but I haven't got around to it yet.  So when I saw these stars, I had to turn them into something I could hang in my room!

I love it hanging under the window, but I'm not sure how to stick it up.  It is being held on with tape which is kind of tacky (pun intended!) and really temporary.  I could put some nails in the wall, but I have a hangup about holes in the wall.  Even most of our pictures hare hung on sticky hooks.

The little stars are cute!  I have a thing for stars.  Last year my classroom was decorated in stars (I had a theme for the year and it was space travel).  I love the shape of them, and I love the colors of these.

Do you want to make a star bunting?  Well, it so happens that I wrote out the pattern!

Little Crochet Stars

I used worsted weight wool with an H/ 5.00mm hook

Make a magic ring (adjustable loop) and chain 4

First round: in the ring ch 1, 3 dc *ch 2 3 dc. Repeat * 3 more times, ch 2 and join to the first ch 1.  You should have 5 groups of dc clusters separated by ch 2 spaces.

Second round:  sl st in the next dc. *In ch 2 space work 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc. Skip the next dc and sl st in the middle dc of the cluster. Repeat * around.

Third Round: sc into each st of round 2.  In the ch 2 spaces work 2 sc, ch 3 sc. End the round with a sl st.

Make as many stars as you would like in the bunting.  I used 9 (4+1+4) so that it would be symmetrical.  Attach stars together in the ch 3 points using coordinating yarn.  On each end, attach a length of yarn, and crochet a chain for as long as you need to attach bunting.  I chained 10 on each side.

After the bunting is attached, on a medium iron, iron your stars flat.  I used a little bit of laundry starch, but you could use watered down white glue using this technique (link) too.  After the stars are dry and flat, your bunting is ready to hang!

Find somewhere that needs a little cheering, and set it up! 

 In other news, I got the greatest wedding invitation in the mail today.  My lovely friends Kate and Ian are getting married!  And this was what they sent out:

Isn't that so funny?  I got the card, and you pull off the mustache for the date!  I love it.  And Kate and Ian are two of the funniest people I know, so this card is completely suitable for their event.  This invite really made my day.

The guy on the card kind of reminds me of a face from the game "Guess Who?" Remember that one?

Made: Plant Pot Cozy

While we were grocery shopping, there was a sale on plants!  So I bought a new one, but the pot was not very pretty.  So while we were watching a movie I made a little cover for the plant.  Now it looks pretty.  I want to make some more for some jars I have.  I don't really have a pattern for it, but here is what I did:

• I made a crochet chain long enough to almost fit around the pot.  
• I joined the chain so it was a large ring.  I worked the cover as a tube.
• For the first row, I worked sc in the chain
• For each following row, I chain 2 and worked dc in each stitch
• Work enough rows as necessary to cover the pot.
• For the last row, I worked one row of hdc

And that was all I did.  It was really quick and easy.  

Made: Birdie Decoration

 

 I swear that I do other things than crochet!  But its been so addictive lately... And little things like these are so fast and cute.  And they make me feel happy amid the illness that I've been slugging through.  So I decided that a little blue bird of happiness is what I needed.  

 I love his little dangly legs, and flower eyes.  I know that he may not look like a real bird, but he is sweet anyways.  The tutorial is over here at Attic 24 (link). I thought it was cute, and just the thing to cheer me up.

Shiloh thinks he's cute too.  He was only afraid of this bird for a few seconds before he climbed over and bit my blue bird on the beak.  In bird behavior, that's love I hear. 

That's okay, because now my blue bird hangs on the window to perk up the living room! 

Made: Myrtle the Turtle

Remember the hexagons I was crocheting?  I learned how t attach them while I made them, but in the end I didn't like it.  I didn't think they were attached well enough.  So I have a few hexagons, and I didn't want to unravel them... So they became Myrtle!  

Myrtle wasn't a completely original idea.  Angie over at Le Monde de Sucrette (link) mentioned that she was making a turtle.  And I thought what a great idea!  Now the execution of how to make the turtles were a little different.  If you want a pattern on how to make a turtle of your own, she has a great pattern for the low price of 3 bucks!  So shimmy on over and pick it up.  But I couldn't wait, so I made mine differently... 

Because I've been sick (I know! Again!) with a bad virus, I needed something to cuddle with.  This was perfect!  She's part pillow, and part stuffie.  A double-duty toy!  And she's so colorful it can't help but cheer me up a little. 

And when I'm in bed sleeping off whatever bug I caught, she waits for me on my new armchair. 

Little Things to Keep My Hands Busy

I love little things that I can make in a short time.  It makes me feel accomplished and crafty.  I'm one of those people who can't sit still when a movie or TV show is on.  My hands have to be doing something.  That's why I like to knit and crochet so much. Most of the time, I work on a bigger project that's getting monotonous, like the foot part of a sock or sleeves on a sweater.

I especially like working on something if I'm watching an intense show; I've been watching a lot of Prison Break lately,  and that show gets pretty intense, so knitting has been a great help getting through the first 2 seasons.

And aren't these little birds so sweet?  They take almost no time at all, which fills my quick quota.  They fit in with my current bird obsession.  And they help me take my mind off some of the action.  The hardest part of these birds is choosing the colors to use.  I made these 4 in less than an hour.  They are super easy:

Little Birds

Gauge is not super important for this.  For bigger birds use thicker yarn and bigger hook.  For smaller use the opposite.  I used worsted weight yarn, and a 3.75mm hook for the bird, and 2.5mm hook for the wing.

For the bird head and body:

Round 1:    10 sc in an adjustable ring and pull as tightly so no hole is showing.

Round 2:    2 sc in the next sc, sc in next sc, hdc then dc in next sc, 2dc in next 2sc, 2sc in next sc,  sc then dc in next sc, 2 treble in next sc, 2 double treble in the next sc,  2 double treble in the last sts.

Round 3: double treble in first st, 1 triple treble and leave the rest unfinished.

 

Put this part aside and work on beak.

Beak:  Join yellow yarn in the 7th stitch of the second row with a slip stitch then sc in the same stitch.
 

Wing:  Using the smaller hook, make a adjustable ring, then ch 2, 2 dc, 3 sc, 1dc, 3 sc, 2 dc. 

  

Put it all together:  Sew the wing to the bird in the desired position.Add some embroidery for the eye. Weave in all ends and voila you have a little bird!

 To make these little birds into a pin, I had to stiffen the birds first so that they weren't a floppy when you pinned them to something.  So I mixed a little tacky glue in some water, and painted the back of the birds with the glue.  Don't worry it will dry clear.  And then I let it dry over night.  The next morning, I had stiff little birds, suitable for pins.  I hot glued the pin backs on the birds, and then they were ready to go!  I put the blue one on my coat! and I have 3 for friends.

Look, the yellow one looks like Shiloh!

Made: Crochet Ornaments

I think I've been nesting.  No, I'm not preparing for a baby (mom), but I have been making things, and buying more things to make our apartment feel more like a home.  For a long while when we moved in, we were students, and didn't have the money to get furniture or linens, so we made due with gifts, donations to us the needy students, and what we could lind at thrift stores. (Fast forward and I still like to go to thrift stores, but I'm looking for different things now.)

Lately, I've been into beautifying our home, and turning it into something we are proud to have people in.  A place that we are proud to live in.  We have always taken care of our apartment, just never decorated it.

And its been all about decorations with me lately.  First were the birds (link)  and now I'm crocheting these little stars and balls.

They are just so fast!  I made 2 of them during an episode of Prison Break.  They are a cute break from the blanket I'm making, and just so darn quick.  They are instantly gratifying.

I've just been hanging them around the house in little places where they are a nice surprise.   I have a star hanging on my bed.

The pattern for these lovely baubles can be found at Lucy's blog, Attic 24 (link).  If you feel the need to decorate your nest.

Caught the crochet bug

Since I finished my ripple stitch throw (link) I have been thinking of nothing else other than making lovely cushions, with great colors.  So, I had to go and get a few of skeins of yarn in lovely colors to start hooking again! 

I took a long break from crocheting when I became a good enough knitter to make anything I wanted.  It took a while to become a proficient knitter, it was a while before I caught the crochet bug.  But, I have it now!  And with all these colors, I am going to make a pillow for my couch.  I went to an outlet store in town and got the yarn for 4 dollars a ball, such a deal! 

I usually don't use acrylic yarns, but I think for housewares type projects, I think it will make more sense, especially since I wash pillow cases way more than anything else. 

I can't wait to see how my hooking projects turn out! 

Thoughts on Valentine's Day

When I was younger, I never recognized Valentine's Day as anything special.  As a child, something tragic happened to a friend of mine on this day, and for years, it seemed almost wrong to celebrate this day.

As I grew up, I never had anyone special on Valentine's Day, so it seemed fitting for rebellious me to shrug this day off as "something-corporations-created-to-get-us to-buy-things-so-soon-after- Christmas" type of thing.  I was such a romantic as an undergrad.

Yet again, my idea of Valentine's Day has changed.  After spending this time with my partner D, I've come to see Valentine's Day as something new.  There is still a part of me that regrets what happened to my friend all those years ago.  And there is still a part of me that thinks buying stuff is not the best way to show someone you care.  I believe that Valentine's Day can be a good reminder to show the person you love that you value them.  Yes, we should do this everyday, but sometimes life gets in the way.  D knows I love him all the time, but if there are a few days a year, that I can take the time and do something special for D, then that can't be a bad day in my books.  It can be a day of complex feelings, and it is.

I chose the above quote, because at this point in my life, I feel that my reality is better than I dreamed.  I have a career I love, a partner I adore and a home with him.  Who could ask for anything more?

As I was ruminating on my feelings about Valentine's Day, I did a little crochet.  These little hearts.

Aren't they so cute?

Would you like to make some?  I should warn you, they are so fast and cute they are a little addictive.

Tiny Cute Hearts

Gauge doesn't matter, just use an appropriate size hook for the yarn.  I used an E hook with light worsted weight yarn.

(The whole heart is one round)

Make a magic circle (crochet all stitches into the circle)
Chain 3
3 treble crochet
3 doubles crochet
chain 1
1 treble crochet
chain 1
3 double crochet
3 treble crochet
chain 2
slip stitch into circle and fasten off.

I also made the three dimensional ones in the top pic.  That pattern is here (link).

For D's present, I didn't make it.  But I did make the wrapping paper:

He's a writer, so I thought punctuation would be cute.  I stamped all over some white paper, and made a little card.

D knows me so well, he got me a handmade gift from my favorite store, White Elephant!

Isn't it sweet?  It was made by Maudstitch (link).  I can't wait to wear it on my cardigan tomorrow!

And we made sure that everyone in this house got a little love today:

There's nothing Shiloh loves better than a good neck scratch.

Hope your Valentine's Day was happy!

Made: Ripple Stitch Afghan

This blanket has been 2 years in the making.  Usually, I lose interest in a project this big a long time before I can finish it.  But this blanket was fun to crochet.  It was meditative to do.  And it used all my half balls of yarn.

Doesn't it look so pretty on my bed?  I love it there.  But now, its on the back of the couch ready to keep my feet warm this lazy Sunday afternoon.  The pattern was very easy and you can find a version of it here.  It was super easy to memorize, and once I got into the flow of it I didn't even need to count or look at the afghan.  I did a lot of this blanket watching movies.

The colors I chose had more to do with what I had on hand, rather than what I wanted.  For most of the yarn,  could tell exactly which project that color came from.  Its a pretty cool timeline of my knitting and crochet history!  I know that people sometime use a random color generator but decided to just crochet at will and see what happens.  It was kind of exciting really because I had no idea what the blanket would look like when I was finished.

All the stripes and the gentle ripples make me really happy.  Hope your Sunday is relaxing!