Progress

 Even though I have a ton of things I want to crochet, I enjoy the simple rhythm of my ripple.  I don't have to worry about following a pattern as this is now embedded in the memory.  After my stresses of the past week with my parents, the ripple is soothing to work on.

I did however, start a project that I have been wanting to make since I bought the pattern, is this Granny Messenger Bag.  You use 2 strands of worsted weight and my thrift TLC yarn was perfect for this.  I started yesterday when the girls and I got together for our Stitch & Bitch session.

And my squares are coming along too.  

And while there I cuddled up with the blanket my friend made with the Loops & Threads Charisma chunky yarn.  It was so soft I nearly was nodding off for a nap.  And yes in this picture I started another project.  She had these like 1970's pattern books in a binder style like old recipe collections.  Anyway, I had this light weight yarn I was looking to make something with and found a simple scarf pattern.

Another one of the girls was working on her arm warmers.  She knitted them in the new Loops & Threads Haze yarn, sooooo soft, then crochets her edges and blanket stitched it together.  I might just have to make some of these as well. LOL

I also recently got some material from Ebay.  Mostly to have on hand to do liners for bags I crochet etc. 

I also decided to dye my hair this weekend.  I have sported the medium brown for a while now, my hair is getting longer so it's harder to colour longer hair yourself but I thought I'd save and do it myself.  Bought the bleach, yes for blonde.  I also sell Avon and they recently released their own line of hair colour.  This is my intended colour

Well, it didn't turn out quite this light, yet.  My roots are quite light but my length of hair is still a  bit on the red side.  I even tried the L'Oreal Brass Banisher but it didn't quite work for my hair.  So, I am going to wait another day after some good conditioning and try a high lift blonding again.  

Missing out

I was so looking forward to participating in the knit and crochet blog week, but with issues going on with my parents I can barely focus on my job etc. As my aunt had just told me today, "This too shall pass." Basically I am having to get guardianship over my parents.  It's not an easy task when they never had it documented and anyone appointed.  I've been trying to offset the stress of it all with getting some walking in and crochet.  As well as the hockey playoffs being on and as a Canadian, we are all about hockey. Unfortunately the Canadian teams are not having much luck staying in the playoffs.  But, there is always next year.  Anyway, I've just been trying to not start new projects and working on the on-going ones.  My ripple is growing.

I am still working on those squares from the 200 Crochet Blocks book.  

One thing I am looking forward to is getting together with my Stitch and Bitch group this Sunday.

Crochet Square Lovin'

With two recent crochet book acquirements, I've been making some motifs and squares.  As well as some new colours from last week, they are making some sharp looking squares.  200 Crochet blocks from Jan Eaton's book shows many different designs of squares as well as choosing layout of an afghan.  Here's my squares so far.  I may stick to 4-5 designs and vary the colours of these to complete another blanket, some day. LOL

I also bought some new clay to make handles for those Susan Bates crochet hooks I had gotten a few weeks back.  Using them without an extended type handle hurts my hands.  I have a larger than most hand size for a 

lady.  I get that from my dad, mind you it did come in handy when I worked as a machinist for 8 years in tool and mould trade. 

It seems I haven't done that much crochet this week.  With my issues going on with my parents, my mind has been pre-occupied.  My dad has dimentia and is in hospital now waiting placement for long-term care.

My mother is another issue I won't bore you with.  Anyway, my hubby and I have been getting more active and have been going for walks when I get home from work.  This has been helping on the stress front.  We had a nice walk  yesterday.  I have been using an app on my phone called Noom Weight Loss coach.  I use it to track my exercise and it uses the GPS to log distance calories etc.  As well as tread mill walking, which I use at work on breaks.  So far this week I burned 800 calories!! Whoohoo. 

I 

I even got to stop at the park and enjoy my favourite swing. LOL

The sites of some blooming gardens were nice to see as well.  

I also went by Michael's yesterday to get more clay for my hooks and seen these cute

plant pot holders.  Super cute, but a little too pricey for me. 

As well as some nice florals there.

Anyway, happy Sunday all!!

WIP Wednesdays

Happy hump day all.  Nice day out today and I got to leave early from work.  Well actually had to go to the dentist.  That was 4 hours ago now and my mouth is still a bit numb. LOL

So on to my WIP.  Ripple is coming along.  I guess-timate finishing in a month or so.  Just in time for warm weather.  Oh well, it will still be used.

On the weekend I finished a dish cloth.  It will either be for a gift or just to stock for a possible craft fair maybe later in the year.  My honey keeps telling me to make things I can sell at a craft fair.  

Another book I had been eyeing for a while arrived today.  200 Crochet blocks by Jan Eaton.  I've been seeing blocks all over blogs lately from this book.  So many designs to choose from to make a nice blanket.

Where to start.  I think I'll use the colours I showed you last post.

I also made this last night for my friend's daughter for her birthday party on the weekend.  Birthday cupcake.  I made a tie and put it through bottom of cupcake so she can tie it on her wrist to wear.  

Well happy Wednesday.  

WIP

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Lazy Sundays

Thank god I found Crochet!  I've been dealing with some stressful issues with my parents and it's been a crazed week.  I haven't spent as much time crocheting this week as I'd like to but I do manage a bit each day to try and relax.  So, on to things I have done and new things I got this week.

Some new colours and made one of the Japanese flowers for my shawl that I will eventually finish one day.

Even that cat likes the new yarn.

I did another square from the Go Crochet! Book.

Japanese flower, free-styled motif and a granny square.

Some new acquirements from a thrift shop this week.  All for $2. So the TLC yarn I want to use in a granny strip blanket, it's like a minty bluey colour. 

I started the strip in this light pink and want to use the darker pink with the TLC stuff.  I am just not sure if I should throw this purple in or not.  Too bold?  Stick to the softer colours?  What do you think? 

This is another pic of the yarns using Instagram App on my phone.  They finally have it for Android.  And I am sure you all heard that Facebook bought "acquired" Instagram recently. 

I really love the app. It doesn't have enough effects, yet.  But it has it's own community in a sense.  You can search for things you are interested in, crochet, and see other's photo's.  You can follow users as well upon approval.

Oh and a bit more on my ripple.  Slowly but surely.

Happy Sunday!!

Yarning On

So it's hump day.  I've had some stressful family issues happening since the weekend.  Just keep crochet, keep calm and crochet. Anyway, I found a skein of Lion Brand's Cotton Ease at the thrift store the other day.  I feels so nice, I can't wait to make something with it, now sure what yet.  Any ideas?

The picture doesn't do the colour justice but it's a nice light green. 

I started a new style of squares for my grey's granny blanket.

I used tutorial from Little Tin Bird's Site. Very easy. 

Four squares made and joined.

I also just got a new book this week.  Go Crochet!! from Ellen Gormley.  So far I love it. Lots of instruction and explaination on things in the beginning.  Patterns for various shapes inside.  And since I was doing the square thing I just tried this one. 

I highly recommend this book.

That's all for now. Happy Hump Day!

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Happy Easter!!

Happy Easter to everone!  These are a few Easter items I whipped up last night to give to some family today.  It's been a gorgeous weekend so far.  Yesterday honey and I went out and about to some parks and along the river.  Here are some of the pics I captured.  This is in our city's Jackson Park or as they renamed Queen Elisabeth Gardens.

Not all the flowers were filled planted in the gardens as there is usually flowers in this plane shaped garden under these airplanes.  I believe one of them is a Spitfire.

There were two wedding parties that showed up while there to take their pictures.  One came in this lovely old converted limo.

Then went down along our river front that our city spent quite a bit on landscaping etc.  Across the river is the Ren Cen home to General Motors Headquarters in Detroit. 

And this is our Casino, Caesar's.

A building still left that was originally an old rail station.

And of course I had to snap some sunlight snaps of my Lucy bag and ripple.

Love Magnolia Trees.  I wish I had one in my yarn, someday.