Crafting with Cat Hair

Time to get my swap on

2012-01-27T00:00:00.023-05:00

I usually do not take part in swaps of any kind. I have had really bad experiences with them in the past, but the Valentine's Day swap from Indulge Your Shelf sounded too fun to pass up.

The instructions were very simple: craft four Valentine's Day related ornaments and one handmade card. Simple!

The ornaments I whipped up one night while watching a marathon of Being Human, which incidentally is my new TV obsession. I'm surprised the show didn't inspire some macabre Valentine's Day ornaments, since it is about a vampire, a werewolf, and a ghost! But, I kept it very simple making fabric and felt heart shaped ornaments.

I took this pic right before I mailed my package, which is why it isn't all that great.

Plus, my mantle was a mess with Christmas, Valentine's Day, and spring items!

The card was a little more difficult. As much as I would like to make handmade cards, that is just not my forte. I'm better with a needle and thread or hook and some yarn. So, I kept the card simple too. Just a few red hearts on the front and that was it!

I hope my swap partners enjoy their handmade goodies. I can't wait to see what I get in return. :)

Enjoy the weekend and don't forget to check back this Wednesday for my Simply Handmade giveaway! It is going to be super fab!!!

Bedroom Inspiration

2012-01-23T00:00:00.000-05:00

So as you know from my first post of the year, I have vowed to redo my bedroom. This is going to be my major DIY project of 2012.

There are 2 main problems with the room.

Problem #1: Everything has to match yellow

The walls are a very bright yellow. This is the color the previous owners painted the walls before I moved in and I never repainted it. If it was an eggshell yellow I would like it a lot more, but it is pretty yellow. Since the room is actually pretty big with vaulted ceilings, I really don't want to repaint it right now. So, all of the window hangings, fabric, pillows, and bedding has to match yellow.

Daphne will be sorry to see this duvet cover go!

Problem #2: None of the furniture matches

While I would love to buy an entire matching bedroom set, I don't foresee that happening unless I win the lotto. And since I don't play the lotto, that means I will have to try to match everything on a budget. The headboard is the #1 priority for my bedroom remodel. I'd also like a new dresser and two end tables. That is a lot of furniture for my budget, but I'm hoping I can find similar pieces at low prices. It really isn't a bad bedroom, it just needs a little sprucing up!

So, here are some of my bedroom inspirations (in no particular order), thanks to Pinterest!

#1 - Yellow, pink, white, and green

I love the yellow bedspread and the pink duvet at the end of the bed. I actually already have the white sheets and white drapes, so this might be easy to pull off. I do not like the headboard thing. That is a little too much for me, plus I can just see Drusilla hanging off of it at 3:00 in the morning!

#2 - Blue, green, white, and yellow

This yellow wall color is very similar to mine. I never would have thought to put blue with yellow, but the green compliments it nicely. The drapes are interesting too. I wonder if that would make the ceiling look higher than it is? Hmm.

#3 White, light blue, and yellow

I'd love to go all white on my bed. That way I could add different pillows and throws as the seasons change. There is one main reason why I have not ordered a super fluffy white duvet cover yet. . .

Oh, I can just see all of the black hair! I do find it kind of funny that there is one cat laying on the floofy white duvet cover and the other on the floor. That would be my girls, with Drusilla on the bed and Daphne on the floor. :)

Skeins, skeins, and more skeins

2012-01-19T08:00:00.001-05:00

I'm taking this long weekend to start on my first crochet project of 2012. I took a break from crafting over the Christmas holiday to spend time with my family and give my hands a much needed rest. The closer I creep to 40 the more my hands start to hurt. Blech! And boy am I glad I gave my hands a rest, because this project is a doozy!

Because 2012 is the year of me, the first project of the year I'll be tackling is a crocheted bedspread for my soon to be revamped bedroom. I looked through blogs, magazines, and Ravelry for a pattern that was easy, but interesting, one I could do while watching TV, and one that didn't require a lot of thought. Once I landed on Attic 24's page I knew I would find the perfect pattern, and I did!

Granny Stripe Blanket

I've done granny square blankets before, but this is a granny stripe. It is a little different, but pretty simple once I get past the first couple of rows. The chain of 200+ is going to be looooong and then single crocheting in each chain is going to be tricky, but I think once that is done it should be smooth sailing.

I'll also get to use a lot of my stashed yarn for this gigantic blanket. Yay for destashing! Although, I think I am going to choose several colors and repeat them instead of using whatever yarn I pick up. So, I might be making a few trips to AC Moore before the project is done. I'm leaning towards Cath Kidston colors, even though that is completely different than what I am thinking for my new bedroom color scheme. Oh well!

So, that is what I'll be working on this weekend. How about you? Any new projects you are tackling?

Van Halen for kids

2012-01-16T00:00:00.000-05:00

I just found out that Van Halen is coming to Raleigh this summer. Now that should be a wild show, although I am not sure they will be as crazy as they once were now that they are pushing 60. But then again, look at Mick Jagger!

This past fall, I came across a super cute sewing pattern for a felt guitar. As soon as I saw it I knew I had to make it for my best friend's son for Christmas. He is really into music and I thought an electric guitar would be so cool for a 2-year-old boy. Plus, the pattern immediately reminded me of one of Eddie Van Halen's guitars.

My best friend is a big Van Halen fan, so I thought she'd get a kick out of a miniature felt Eddie Van Halen guitar. So, I whipped up one over the Thanksgiving weekend.

Not an exact replica, but pretty close!

I changed a few things from the original pattern. I used yellow yarn as the paint stripes instead of sewing them with a sewing machine, because I still can't sew in a straight line on a sewing machine. I know, what a nerd! I also used sparkly pom poms as the buttons. They are a little girly, but I liked them and they were the only pom poms I could find in November. Who knew pom poms were so popular at Thanksgiving?

So, the results are in, and the guitar was a big hit! I am so glad everyone liked it. :)

Goal #13 for 2012

2012-01-13T07:40:00.001-05:00

A few days ago I sat down and listed my 12 goals for 2012. While I was contemplating what to wear to work this morning, which just so happens to be Friday the 13th, another goal hit me. So, this year I'm going with 13 goals!

13. - Wardrobe makeover

I'm sure this is a goal for a lot of us year after year, but this year I am going to really start the process. I have some nice pieces of clothing, but not many outfits. So, my goal is to go through my closet to see what will match with my nicer pieces of clothing and then buy complementary pieces to form a new outfit!

I am also in need of some costume jewelry to wear with my outfits. Over the past couple of months, I've been picking up some pieces from Forever 21. I love their necklaces! Not only are they cute with fun charms, many are really cheap (less than $2). I also love their rings. I am a sucker for a funky ring, and Forever 21 has plenty of funky rings to choose from.

I've been using Pinterest for some inspiration (yay for Pinterest). Here are a few outfits I am planning on putting together for my 2012 wardrobe.

I already have the grey sweater, white shirt, and jeans. I figure I can make myself a pink scarf and pearl bracelet, so that just leaves the purse and shoes!

I think yellow is the color of 2012. I have seen so many different colors matched with it, but navy and yellow looks great together. I have a lot of black and gold/yellow being a Pittsburgh Pirates/Steelers fan, so blue and yellow will be a nice change. I do own some jean capris, but nothing else in this outfit, although a yellow sweater is #1 on my list of additions to my wardrobe. New York and Co. has some great yellow clothes this season. I think I'll start there!

Not so sure if I can pull off a corset, so a floral tank will be better. Love the hot pink sweater and jewelry. I think I'm going to need to invest in several pairs of shoes, since I don't have shoes to match any of these outfits.

And lastly, a work outfit. This reminds me so much of the '70s I just love it. I have a pair of really nice tan pants that might work, sunglasses, and a new brown belt, but everything else I will need to get.

There it is! If you want to see more of my wardrobe inspirations or find some for yourself, visit Crafting with Cat Hair on Pinterest. I even have a board just for wardrobe inspirations!

Crafting with Cat Hair in Simply Handmade!

2012-01-09T00:00:00.003-05:00

2012 is starting out to be a great year for me. It is really nice to start out the new year with one of my life goals being accomplished: I am published!

One of my felt food craft tutorials is featured in the Jan/Feb edition of Simply Handmade.

You might recognize my felt heart shaped cookies from my Etsy shop. Well, now you can make a set for yourself.

To celebrate, I will be hosting a giveaway next month, just in time for Valentine's Day, that will include a copy of the magazine and lots of crafty goodies. Check back on Wednesday, February 1 for the details!

Welcome 2012. Wait! Is it really 2012?!!!

2012-01-05T07:50:00.051-05:00

So, how did y'all spend ringing in 2012? I spent it hanging out with my mom who was visiting from Florida, watching The Lost Boys on my new BluRay player btw, Jason Patric looks even better on BlueRay :), calming the girls down throughout all of the firework nonsense, and falling asleep before the giant acorn dropped at midnight. Aren't we the party animals. :)

I still can't believe it is 2012! I just can't wrap my head around it. Every other previous year has just been a new year, but this one is different. Why? Well, 20 years ago I was in the midst of my senior year of high school, getting fitted for my cap and gown that fateful day when the football coach told me I had the fifth biggest head in the graduating class, even bigger than the football players, and looking forward to Grad Night at Walt Disney World, the prom, and, of course, graduation.

My gosh, time flies by so fast!!!

My 20 year high school reunion is this summer, and I am still debating about whether I'm going to attend or not. My graduating class wasn't like the ones on the TV shows. It wasn't a class of 50 students or even 100. We didn't all know each other. No, my class had 462 students. There are classmates of mine that I still have never met. And now with Facebook and the internet, class reunions seem almost outdated. I am in contact with those classmates of mine that I want to be, and the others, well, I wish them well, at least most of them, just kidding!

So, while I continue to ponder my reunion dilemma, I shift my focus solely on 2012. And, in total Pee-Wee's Playhouse fashion, I have chosen a word to focus on this year. The secret word of 2012 is: ME. How is that for being egotistical and self centered? No, I am not going to only think of myself, but I want to take this year and really embrace it. I want to take part in activities that I enjoy, go to place I like, and craft items for me.

Ahhhhhh! I like Pee-Wee's word too: FUN. Thanks, Pee-Wee!

Y'all know how much I love lists, so, of course, I came up with 12 goals for 2012. These goals are all things that I love, make me who I am, and remind me of just how fun these past 20 years have been.

12 Goals for 2012

1. Knit a fall wearable (sweater, scarf, or gloves)
This is going to be very difficult, especially since I don't know how to knit, yet! But I absolutely love the fall and getting to wear sweaters, scarves, and gloves, but no hats (see above). I thought this was an appropriate #1, basically because it is going to take me until the fall to pull this off. I am enrolling in a knitting class the first week of February, so hopefully I'll get the hang of it quickly!

2. Finish my book
I never realized exactly how difficult that would be until I took part in my first NaNoWrimo two months ago. In a month I wrote only two chapters. Not good! I'm hoping to change that in 12 months. I actually have four books in the works (3 fiction and 1 non-fiction). One I started while I was in college and I haven't picked it up since. If I can finish one of these books I'll be a happy camper!

3. Read more
When I was a kid I used to love to read. I always took part in the summer reading program at the local library. I seem to have lost that love over the years. I think it has to do with TV, videos, and the internet. I guess if I had to pick a second secret word of this year it would be: READ. Goodreads hosts a yearly reading challenge, and I have signed up committing to reading 50 books. That is a lot for me, since last year I only read about 6 books. But, I am all in and have even joined some fun reading challenges to help me reach my goal.

4. Craft retro toys
Yep, I am reverting back to my childhood on this one. I just love retro crafts, so I want to focus most of my craft time this year whipping up some fun retro toys. I've done some for my Etsy shop and as gifts for others, but this year I want to make some, for me. I've got several patterns bookmarked, but I think my first one will be a totally choice Ferris Bueller cross-stitch.

5. Use the computer for fun less, and for work more
I remember how much I loved to sit in front of my PC Jr. and play games. My favorite was King's Quest. Oh, how I loved that game. I'd spend hours trying to get past the witch, jumping up to grab a hold of the bird so he could take me to the next land, and keeping close to the rocks so I didn't fall in the chasm. But, I think this was the beginning of the end of reading for me. I was consumed by my new computer, and that has happened again with Facebook games. While I still love to play computer games, my goal is to limit the games I play to only 1 or 2, and to only play for a few minutes every day. As far as work goes, I am planning on taking some online classes to further my career, like Photoshop, Illustrator, and ebooks.

6. Play the piano
All through elementary and middle school I took piano lessons. At times it was like pulling teeth to get me to play, but in the long run it really was a good experience. It has helped me be able to read music, which might not be something that I need in everyday life, but it something that I value. This year I want to pick up playing the piano again. My goal is to play a pop song by the end of the year. I'm not sure what song I'm going to choose yet, but it might be a song by Evanescence, Tori Amos, or Adele. Who knows! Maybe I'll even record it and post it on Youtube. :)

7. Be happy with where my life is
This is probably the hardest thing on this list. While I am not a negative person, at least not all of the time, I am always thinking how one little change could make my life so much better. So this year, I just need to accept my life as it is (job, location, marital status), for now, and enjoy it!

8. Explore the local scene
I tend to be a homebody. I think it is the writer/crafter/reader in me. I like to go home make a cup of tea and chill while doing one of the aforementioned activities. But this year I plan to make a little change. I want to spend some time exploring local shops, restaurants, and places. One shop that I want to visit soon is Gigi's Cupcakes. Their cupcakes sound divine! Of course, that is isn't going to help with #9 on my list.

9. Eat healthier
I'd really like to meet with a nutritionist this year to go over a nutrition plan for me. Because I only eat certain meat products, get migraines, and just don't like certain foods, I don't think I am following the food pyramid like I should be. Plus, the older I get the harder it is to lose those pesky few pounds. So, this year I vow to eat healthier, drink more water, and work out several times a week.

10. Fight for animal welfare
In high school I became very involved in animal rights. That was when I became a vegetarian, wore only items that were not tested on animals, and protested for animal rights. While I'm not going to be as involved as I used to be, my goal is to work towards a vegetarian diet, wear items not tested on animals, and will be donating my time and money to only organizations that help treat and care for animals. I'll be also setting up a special section in my Etsy shop where all of the proceeds from the sales of those items will go directly to animal welfare organizations.

11. Redo my bedroom
This really doesn't fit into any of my categories above, but I've been wanting to do this since I moved into my house 3 years ago, so I think it is time. Though I am probably not going to be able to buy an entire new bedroom set, I can spruce up the room a little with a new headboard, some new pictures, and a new duvet cover. I'll also be working on a crocheted granny blanket for my bed this year.

12. Go ice skating
I love to ice skate, although I am not very good at it. I took lessons 10 years ago while I was living in Tampa. I got teased a lot when I told everyone I had signed up for ice skating lessons in Florida, but I didn't care. I had fun skating with the elementary school kids. :) I'll have to see how I do after not skating for 10 years. Hopefully I won't break something, or tear my knee again!

So, as I look over my list there is one thing that is missing: blogging. I love my blog and I love getting to interact with everyone from all over the world, but it just isn't a high priority anymore. I think If I can blog a few times a month I'll be super happy.

How about you? Any resolutions, goals, or plans for 2012?

NaNoWriMo??? What is that?

2011-10-28T00:00:00.010-04:00

Just popping in to say hi!

I've been slacking in both the craft and writing departments over the last few months, but it has been nice to take a break from everything! Although, in just a few days, I will be partaking in my very first National Novel Writer's Month or NaNoWriMo challenge.

For anyone who is unfamiliar with NaNoWriMo, like I was a month ago, the goal of NaNo is to write a 50,000 word (175 page) novel in a month. Yikes! Although I am completely terrified at the idea, I am ready to take the challenge and finally write my mystery novel.

If you are interested in my NaNo progress, I'll be posting updates on my writing blog as well as Tweeting about it on Twitter as Melissawriting.

In blog news, I have been working on some changes and additions, including some super cute social media buttons designed by Moxie Tonic. They are on the top, right sidebar above the picture of me and Drusilla. I still have a lot of work to do before it is all done, but at least it is on its way.

And have y'all checked out the site, Pinterest? Oh my goodness. It is my new favorite place to hang out and waste time. :) I've set up an account too, so if you'd like to follow please do. You can click on the "p" teal, social media button to be taken to my account.

I will also be making some changes to my Facebook and Twitter pages. I want to become more active on both of those accounts, so stay tuned for the revamped pages.

Lastly, I will be hosting another craft-a-long in January! This one will not only help you destash, but will make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside! I'm excited, and I'm sure you will be too.

That is it for now. I hope y'all enjoy the rest of the fall. Christmas is just around the corner. Double Yikes!!!

New Address

2011-08-10T08:57:00.001-04:00

Did you notice my new blog address? I decided to buy my own URL, so no more "blogspot"! My new blog address is. . .

www.craftingwithcathair.com

I hope it doesn't cause any headaches for anyone. Let me know if you have any issues.

I'll also be totally revamping my blog over the next several months, so things might be missing, moved around, or completely gone. Believe me, there is a method to my madness!

I also still have yet to decide whether I'll be staying with Blogger or making the dreaded move to Wordpress, but I'll be sure to post my decision as soon as it is made. :)

Happy 30th Birthday, MTV!

2011-08-01T00:00:00.025-04:00

Do you remember where you were the first time you saw MTV? How about the first video you saw?

My family didn't have MTV when it first aired on August 1, 1981, though I can't remember exactly when we finally got it. I think it was probably a couple of years later, since my first recollection of MTV was seeing The Go Go's driving around town in their pink convertible singing, Our Lips Are Sealed.

I seriously thought that was the coolest thing I had ever seen. Little did I know, I was only months away from experiencing Madonna, Duran Duran, and Michael Jackson.

I really miss MTV as it was in the '80s! Now, it is full of reality shows, people named Snookie, and whack videos, when they actually play videos.

So, in honor of the one station that truly defined my childhood, I made myself an '80s MTV logo keychain.

I Want My MTV!

Now when I'm driving around town my little keychain will help me channel my inner Belinda Carlisle. I just wish I had a pink convertible!

Just popping in. . .

2011-07-11T15:19:00.000-04:00

. . . to tell you my shop is finally open!!!

If you'd like to see my handmade goodies, just click on the shop page at the top of the blog, or visit www.hooksandwhiskers.etsy.com.

I am still taking pictures and adding items, but right now I have 16 items for sale! And, my baseball play set has already been added to a treasury. Yay!

If you have been following my blog for awhile you might notice a few of the items. I've included some of my best selling felt play food.

I've also added a new jewelry category with some fun felt and crocheted items.

Tonight or tomorrow I'll be adding the rest of the items, some of which are my favorites. They are so much fun, and oh so very retro '80s!

Shop opening, finally!!!

2011-07-05T09:13:00.001-04:00

Finally, after months and months of waiting my shop is finally getting set to open!

The official grand opening is this Sunday, July 10!!!

I'm putting the finishing touches on a few last minute items, but, so far, most of the items are all jewelry related. I guess I've been in a jewelry mood lately!

Here is a sneak peek at one of the new goodies.

I'm working on some scarves, plush toys, and wall art too, but they won't be ready by Sunday. So, I'll be adding new items throughout the summer and into the fall. Yay!

Ferris Bueller, You're my hero

2011-06-11T06:50:00.004-04:00

Today marks the 25th anniversary of the release of the greatest '80s movie ever made, Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

I absolutely love this movie, and can probably quote every scene word for word. And now, it appears that there could be a Ferris Bueller sequel in the works. Stuck in the '80s blog posted the first few pages of the script. You can read it, here.

What do you think? Should there be a sequel? I personally think they should leave an amazing movie alone. I want to use my own imagination to think about what happened to everyone. Do Ferris and Sloan get married,? Does Cameron stand up to his dad about the car? Do Mr. Rooney and Grace fall in love? It could happen, right? :)

So, in honor of my favorite '80s movie, ever, I crafted a quick Ferris Bueller item.

Now I'm gonna pop some popcorn and enjoy Ferris one more time, because he is so choice!

Working hard and hardly working

2011-05-13T20:30:00.000-04:00

I am sure you have noticed that over that last few weeks my posts have become few and far between.

Why?

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Well, I have been focusing most of my time and energy working on my first mystery novel. I have never sat myself down for an extended period of time to write, so this process is very new to me. What I thought would take hours has taken days and what I thought would take days has taken weeks, but thank goodness for Scrivener. It has totally saved me!

Though I am frustrated, I am also very pleased with my process. I have finally hammered down my main characters, though my secondary ones are still coming to fruition, and I have completed my first chapter. Yay! But, I have a LONG way to go.

I have given myself until the end of the year to complete my book. So, as of today that is 7 months, 2 weeks, and 6 days. That might sound like a lot of time, but it really isn't.

Unfortunately, everything else that I used to do in my free time has suffered. I have not crafted in almost a month, and I don't see this trend changing anytime soon.

Having said all of this, I might not be around much for the next 7 months, 2 weeks, and 6 days. I will continue to post Classic Movie Monday posts as it is part of my 40 by 40 list, but crafting will be taking a back seat, for now. I might pop in from time to time with a craft project or two, or I might not. I'll just have to see how the writing process goes.

I have set up a Twitter account for my writing, pretty much for me to keep track of how the book is coming along. If you'd like to see how things are going, please add me to your list. I am also working on an author website. The name for now is Melissa's Writing, at least until I decide on my pen name. From what I've read, even unpublished authors need to get their name in cyberspace!

So, I just wanted to let everyone know where I've been and where I'll be. As I get some spare time I'll be popping by your blogs and websites to see what crafty goodness you are making.

xoxo, Missie

Classic Movie Monday: Guess Who's Coming to Dinner

2011-05-03T19:41:00.013-04:00

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I'm sure you all know the premise of this movie. . . white woman brings home black man to meet her family.

I was really looking forward to seeing this movie. I had heard so many wonderful things about it. But boy was I disappointed. I was not impressed with this movie, at all. It wasn't because of the subject matter, but because of the writing and especially the acting.

I'm sure the fact that a white woman and a black man being engaged was shocking in the '60s, but what I found more shocking was the fact that he was 37 and she was 23, and that they were going to get married after only knowing each other only 10 days. I mean I can't imagine me bringing home a 23 year old guy for dinner, or can I. . . :)

I figured this movie would be fantastic with all of the acting greats that were in it, but I was extremely disappointed. Katharine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, and Sidney Poitier appeared rigid and seemed as if they were reading their lines off of a teleprompter.

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I actually was getting a little tired of Katharine Hepburn crying throughout the entire movie, but as I was looking for movie screen shots online I read that Spencer Tracy was dying as they were filming the movie. She knew this would be the last film they worked on together (he died 17 days later). After reading that I got teary eyed every time she did. It is funny. That caused me more emotion that anything in the movie did.

Oh, and the actress who played the daughter was just plain awful. And I read she was nominated for an Oscar for best supporting actress for this movie.

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Again, the Academy disappointed me. First with ignoring Gloria Swanson and now this!

The one person I did really like was the maid, Tilly. I wish she had a bigger role. And it wasn't until about an hour into the movie before I realized that Tilly was Mrs. Jefferson (you know, Weezy). I thought she had best scene when she yelled at Sidney Poitier. (Caution: There is a derogatory word used in this clip)

Ha! You go Weezy!

I was also surprised to hear, "Glory of Love" (the Billy Hill song not the Peter Cetera one), as the main song. It was great for the opening credits, but I got a little sick and tired of hearing the same song played throughout the entire movie.

And then there was the random dancing by the meat delivery boy and Dorothy on the front porch. What the heck was that all about? Very weird!

So as I'm sure you can guess, I did not like this movie. I almost turned it off, but I made it through the whole thing, all 107 minutes of it!

I'm going to give it a D. It wasn't the worst thing I've ever seen, but I definitely won't be watching it ever again.

Classic Movie Monday: Easter Parade

2011-04-25T00:00:00.194-04:00

Spoiler Alert! If you have not had a chance to see the movie yet and would like to be surprised don't read my post. I am bound to divulge some very important info about the movie. :)
. . . . . . .

This week's movie, Easter Parade, is a 1940s musical starring Judy Garland and Fred Astaire.

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The premise is a little like My Fair Lady. When the main character, Don, played by Fred Astaire, loses his longtime dancing partner he vows he can turn anyone into his new dancing partner. So, he chooses the first woman he meets, Hannah, a dancer in a bar played by Judy Garland.

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They become a hugely successful act and are asked to join the Ziegfeld Follies with Don's ex partner, Nadine, played by Ann Miller. But Don doesn't want to be in the same show as his ex partner so he turns it down. Thinking Don's reason is because he is still in love with his ex-partner, Hannah turns to Don's friend, Jonathan for "support".

It was interesting to read that Fred Astaire came out of retirement just to star alongside Judy Garland in Easter Parade. But it is a shame that Judy Garland was going through so much personally while filming the movie. I couldn't tell one bit.

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Loved her hot pink gloves with the white dress!

Though Judy and Fred were the stars, my favorite was Ann Miller. Don's previous partner, Nadine, was supposed to be played by Cyd Charisse, who was great in Singing in the Rain, but had injured her leg so Ann Miller was cast. She was really fantastic in the part. And I read that Ann was supposed to have been cast as the lead in Singing in the Rain, but it eventually went to Debbie Reynolds. I would have liked to have seen her in Singing in the Rain. I bet she would have been great.

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Overall, I liked Easter Parade. I thought the songs were catchy, though none really stuck with me, and the costumes were really grand, especially the dresses and Easter hats.

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I'll give it a B-, pretty much because it was a musical and I am partial to old musicals. I think they are some of the greatest movies ever made. I actually could have done Classic Movie Monday on only musicals.

. . . . . . .
Ready for Week #4? I'm excited for this one. I've heard some great reviews about it. This week we are going to watch the 1967 romantic drama. . .

Classic Movie Monday: Sunset Boulevard

2011-04-18T14:26:00.000-04:00

Spoiler Alert! If you have not had a chance to see the movie yet and would like to be surprised don't read my post. I am bound to divulge some very important info about the movie. :)
. . . . . . . . . .

An out of work screenwriter, Joe (played by William Holden), finds himself in a jam when bill collectors come to repo his gorgeous convertible. Fleeing from them, he blows a tire and ends up at a decrepit mansion off Sunset Boulevard.

The mansion is owned by fading silent movie actress, Norma Desmond (played brilliantly by Gloria Swanson).

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Norma is working on a screenplay for her return to the big screen. She enlists Joe's help in editing it, telling him she'll pay him whatever he wants. Seizing the opportunity to make some money to save his car, he accepts her offer and moves into the mansion. That is Joe's biggest mistake!

I absolutely LOVED this movie I mean really LOVED this movie, but I tend to like darker movies. This one is dark focusing on murder, greed, fame, and insanity.

This movie also begins with the main character floating dead in a pool (a really cool opening shot). I tend to like when a main character is killed off. I know that is a little sick and twisted, but I like to be shocked while watching a movie or TV show.

Pretty creepy even in black and white. I watched the Collector's Edition so I was able to hear how they filmed this along with the making of the movie, the music, film locations, costumes, and info about the actors and actresses.

The main character then narrates the entire movie, all the way to his ultimate demise. Pretty clever! I wasn't sure I'd like the narration, but it reminded me a little of Ferris Bueller's Day Off. I got used to it pretty quickly. The one thing I wasn't real crazy about was William Holden (Joe), though he did grow on me as the movie progressed.

But the star of the movie was Gloria Swanson. Not only did she give some of the best lines ever:

"I am big. It's the pictures that got small."
"We didn't need dialogue. We had faces!"
"All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up."

She was also super creepy.

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I loved it!

Darn the academy for not giving Gloria Swanson an academy award. If anyone ever deserved an academy award it was her. She was fantastic! Her dialogue and voice were spot on and she never deviated from it. Plus, the way she used her eyes and hands were amazing.

As I was watching her, I kept thinking about my favorite Disney movie villain, Madam Medusa, and how similar she and Norma Desmond were. Their mannerisms, look, and even voice are very similar. I wonder if Walt Disney thought about Sunset Boulevard while writing The Rescuers.

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I give this movie an A+. The writing is fantastic and the acting is superb. Plus, it tells the sad tale of Hollywood. How you can lose your soul and mind so very easily.

And if you did see the movie, can you tell me what you think happened to Norma's monkey. Did she kill it like she killed Joe? After all. . .

"No one ever leaves a star. That is what makes one a star."

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Onto week #3. In honor of Easter this weekend, we'll be watching the 1948 musical. . .

Counting My Blessings

2011-04-18T09:17:00.000-04:00

On Saturday, I had a very harrowing experience. My house was in the direct path of the EF-3 tornado that hit Raleigh, NC.

It is hard to express how terrified I was while I was hunkering down in the downstairs bathroom with my girls and my battery operated radio. But, here is a little clue. These are the warnings that were being broadcast to my area over the radio via our local station Mix 101.5 WRAL.

When I heard "life threatening","take cover immediately", and "act now to protect your life", yeah I got a little freaked out.

The spookiest thing was sitting in the bathroom with the girls as the lights were flickering, wind howling, and the rain pounding. Both girls were licking themselves and walking around and then they both stopped dead in their tracks and looked straight up to the ceiling. I really thought the roof was going to come off, though now I think they both felt the pressure drop. At that time the lights started to really flicker, hail was pelting the house, the house moved, and it sounded like all of the wood in my house was cracking. Then it was over!

I am still counting my blessings that the tornado missed my neighborhood, though barely. But I didn't really realize how close it had come until I ventured outside this morning. I didn't take these pictures. They were all taken by others and posted on WRAL.com. But the scenes remain the same today.

This all happened just three traffic lights from my housing development. Whew! A very, very close call.

And look at our New Year's acorn (Raleigh drops a giant acorn like Times Square drops a ball. I know it's odd!):

It is dented and bruised, but still standing. :) I think that is the mantra for the people of North Carolina. Everyone may be dented and bruised, but we are still standing! It is very heart warming to see neighbors helping neighbors. Makes me proud to be a North Carolinian!

Though we are all still standing many need help. If you would like to find out how you can help, please visit Triangle Red Cross.com.
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I'm postponing Classic Movie Monday until either later today or tomorrow. Thanks!

Classic Movie Monday: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

2011-04-11T00:00:00.097-04:00

Spoiler Alert! If you have not had a chance to see the movie yet and would like to be surprised don't read my post. I am bound to divulge some very important info about the movie. :)
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The first classic movie, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, was originally a play by Tennessee Williams. As I watched the movie I could tell it was originally a play. There were very few scene changes and very, very long narratives. The opening scene with Maggie and Brick was extremely long as was the scene with Brick and Big Daddy.

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While the acting was good, I especially liked Burl Ives as Big Daddy but I always like Burl Ives, it was the arguing between Brick and Maggie that was just too much for me. I am not one for arguing or loud, obnoxious characters in movies. I did like the back and forth between Maggie and the kids or as she called them "no neck monsters" (hee hee), but found the kids loud and obnoxious, though I am pretty sure that is how they were supposed to be.

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To me, the movie was generally very loud with everyone screaming at one another.

The story really didn't interest me very much either, though I did feel sorry for Maggie. Elizabeth Taylor was very convincing as Brick's wife, fighting for her husband's inheritance. My favorite quote from her was:

"You can be young without money, but you can't be old without it."

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Overall, I'd give the movie a solid C. I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it either. It was just a little too slow paced and very loud for me.
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Ready for week #2? This week we'll be watching the 1950 drama. . .

"All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up."

Fun Friday Meme

2011-04-08T00:00:00.001-04:00

Here is a fun meme for a Friday. Feel free to play along if you'd like. And don't forget to watch Cat on a Hot Tin Roof this weekend. I'll be blogging about it on Monday. Happy Friday everyone!

1. What color are your socks right now?
grey, white, and hot pink striped. Old Navy has the best funky and soft socks!
2. What are you listening to right now?
Sia - I'm in Here. I LOVE this song. I just can't get enough of it.

3. What was the last thing you ate?
Girl Scout Cookies, two Tagalongs to be exact. Not really on my diet, but oh well. They were goood! :)
4. Can you drive a stick shift?
Nope. I've never even tried.
5. Last person you spoke to on the phone.
The nurse at my doctor's office. A pretty boring conversation.
6. Do you like the person who sent this to you?
oh yes!
7. How old are you today?
36. . . inching ever so close to 40.
8. What is your favorite sport to watch on TV?
Pittsburgh Steelers football, duh!
9. What is your favorite drink?
Tea: sweet and any flavor of black tea
10. Have you ever dyed your hair?
Of course. If I didn't the grey would be out of control :(
11. Favorite food?
Pickles. I LOVE pickles.
12. What is the last movie you watched?
North Avenue Irregulars. Anyone hear of it? It is a great old Disney movie. (I've been without TV for a week, so I am going through all of my movies.)
13. Favorite day of the year?
October 31 because of the weather, Halloween, and Drusilla's b-day!
14. How do you vent?
I call my mom and vent to her.
15. What was your favorite toy as a child?
I had so many: Care Bears, Cabbage Patch Kids, My Little Pony, Strawberry Shortcake, but I think my all time favorite was and still is Barbie.
16. What is your favorite season?
Fall!!!
17. Cherries or blueberries?
I don't really like either. I had a very bad experience as a child with cherry pie, so fake cherries make me gag. Blueberries aren't that much better, but I guess I'd have to choose blueberries.
18. Do you want your friends to e-mail you back?
I like emails, but I have a hard time responding to them. They tend to get lost in my mailbox.
21. Living situation?
The girls and I live in a home.
22. When was the last time you cried?
Hmmm. Oh, it was the other night at the end of the movie, Major League. It wasn't a cry, but I got a little teary eyed. Yes, I know. The movie is a comedy. But when the Indians beat the Yankees and win at the end that always makes me misty eyed. :)
23. What is on the floor of your closet?
Shoes and a Shop Vac. What a combo!
25. What did you do last night?
Watched a movie, worked on a few crafts, and went to bed early.
26. What are you most afraid of?
Heights. I HATE anything high including flying.
27. Plain, cheese, or spicy hamburgers?
I love cheese and spicy stuff, but I don't eat beef. So, a spicy cheese turkey burger.
28. Favorite dog breed?
I would have to pick a Sheltie. The only dog I had was a Sheltie and he was a great dog, but he barked a lot!
29. Favorite day of the week?
Fridays at 4:00. Then it is time for the weekend!
30. How many states have you lived in?
Two. Florida and North Carolina. Though I lived in four different cities in Florida.

Iron Craft Challenge #14 - Wish You Were Here

2011-04-06T08:44:00.002-04:00

I haven't done an Iron Craft project in awhile, so I joined this week's card challenge. I am not schooled in paper crafts at all, so this was definitely challenging.

My card was inspired by something I saw recently on Facebook. Have you seen this missing poster?

Hee Hee! I think it is just too funny, so I replicated it, somewhat, for my card.

Yes, that is supposed to be Lionel Richie, though I think he looks more like John Oates from Hall and Oates. :) What do you think?

Oh well. I guess I have learned that paper crafts are not my forte! But felt is still my favorite thing, so his hair, eyebrows, and mustache are all made out of felt. I glued those on and when they were dried I drew on his face. I used Creative-Type Dad's Lionel Richie chest hair printout for inspiration. I'm so glad to see there are other crazy pop culture crafty people out there too! I then stamped "HELLO" onto the bottom. I tried for over an hour to get the words straight, but it never worked right. So the "l"s are a little off.

Working with paper was fun, but I think I'll stick with felt and yarn!
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To my Mome Rath contest winners, you should be expecting your packages next week. I am putting the finishing touches on them and will hopefully be mailing them out this weekend. Yay!

Classic Movie Monday

2011-04-04T00:00:00.011-04:00

As I read about the passing of Elizabeth Taylor a few weeks ago I realized something. I have never seen Elizabeth Taylor in anything other than her White Diamonds commercials. And as I thought more I realized I have only seen a couple of classic movies period! At that moment I vowed that had to change.

Since the TV season is winding down and the movies in the theaters are junk, I thought what better time than now to start discovering the classics!

I am defining the classics as 1930–1974. I chose 1974 since that was the year I was born and I really haven't seen that many early '70s movies, but we might deviate from that if there is a movie I really want to see.

I'm going to try to choose a movie from the top actors and actresses of that time and switch up the genres a little. Too many dramas in a row might get depressing! I am also using the AFI 50 Greatest American Screen Legends and 100 Greatest Movies lists as my guides.

I was going to watch the classics on my own, but thought y'all might want to join in on the fun. So, today begins. . .

Each Monday I'll post the classic movie we'll be watching for that week. We'll then have the entire week to rent the movie from Blockbuster, Netflix, or wherever, watch it, and blog about it.

Feel free to blog about anything having to do with the movie: whether you liked it or disliked it, the costumes, genre, quotes, music, actors/actresses, etc. And who knows, maybe something about the movie will spark your creativity and you'll want to include a craft or other item in your post. Anything goes!

Ready for Week #1? Since this new movie-a-long all started because of Elizabeth Taylor (#7 on the AFI list), it would only be fitting to begin Classic Movie Monday with one of her movies.

This week's classic movie is the 1958 drama. . .

It is available for instant streaming on Netflix. So, grab some popcorn and enjoy!

Happy April Fool's Day, Not!

2011-04-01T00:00:00.000-04:00

I'm not a fan of April Fool's Day. I don't like pranks or people messing around with me. So I choose to celebrate today instead as. . .

The first day of baseball season!

My poor pathetic Pittsburgh Pirates (how is that for some alliteration for you) will hopefully start their climb out of the baseball cellar this year. A lot of baseball analysts are saying so. Let's hope they are right.

Every year I watch Major League and think happy thoughts about a terrible team beating their rivals and making it into the playoffs. Poor Charlie Sheen. He used to be so great, now he is just a hot mess. :(

Maybe this will be our year? If not, let us at least not be last!

Mome Rath winners, a little late!

2011-03-28T10:54:00.000-04:00

I'm sorry for being a few days late with the winners of my crocheted Mome Rath. I got involved with cleaning out my craft room, which took 4 days and I am still not totally done, and completely forgot about it. Oops!

So, here they are. The winners of a crocheted Mome Rath. . .
Allysa
Allanah
Taylor Kay
Thanks for entering! Just email me your address and I'll get your little guy or gal out to you.
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Thanks too for everyone who commented on my knitting project. Unfortunately, I was hoping to post my finished project today, but I didn't do any crafting this weekend. I hope to have it done sometime this week though.

A few of you asked some questions, so I thought I'd answer them all at once.

Ripples in Water asked, "What are you making?"
Well, I'm starting out easy and making a washcloth. Nothing fancy, but it is giving me a lot of practice with the knit stitch.

Lies asked, "How do you keep your hook in place when you take a break and move your stuff?"
That is a great question. I have several of the same size hooks all over my house, because I tend to lose my hooks all of the time. I actually just found one last week in between my couch cushions. To make it easier on me, I made myself some hook size stitch markers. Kind of like these but with letters instead of numbers.

I just slip the stitch marker onto the thing I am crocheting and then if my hook gets misplaced I don't go crazy trying to figure out which hook I used.

I can put together a tutorial if you'd like to make some for yourself. They are super simple!

And Twyla suggested, "I would recommend you try the circular needles as they are much easier to work with. I've seen it make the difference between a beginner being able to knit and not."
Thanks, Twyla! I picked up some circular needles this past weekend, but have yet to try them. I'll let you know how it goes!
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One final note. I'll be starting a new a-long next week. It was actually inspired by the passing of Elizabeth Taylor. It isn't necessarily going to be a craft-a-long, though it would be really fun to include that too, just something fun that we can all use as inspiration for a weekly blog post. Intrigued? Check back on Monday for all the details!

Finally Learning to Knit

2011-03-22T08:57:00.000-04:00

Sunday I decided I was going to learn how to knit. It's not like I don't have a million things going on right now or anything, right? :) But I didn't care. I sat down on the couch with both cats, turned on some TV shows I had taped, grabbed my cup of tea, a skein of yarn, and a pair of knitting needles and got started.

I have attempted knitting twice before and just couldn't get it. But Sunday it was like my brain was on fire. I picked it up so fast that I was knitting in 20 minutes. It could also be due to the great tutorials by Knit Again, thanks Molly!

One thing I have learned in my two days of being a knitter is it is A LOT more time consuming than crocheting. What would have taken me a minute to crochet took me an hour to knit. But maybe that is due to the fact that I am new and still learning, at least that is what I am telling myself!

The thing I am struggling the most with is with holding two needles instead of just one hook. That is so challenging, and in turn is making my hands cramp up. I'm hoping that will subside over time.

So here it is. My very first knitting attempt.

I am so happy that it actually looks somewhat straight! This picture was taken Sunday afternoon so I have done a few more rows since then, but I am still nowhere near being done. I'm hoping by the end of the week I'll have completed my first knit project.

Anyone else knit and crochet? Which do you prefer?
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Also, don't forget to sign up for a chance to win a Mome Rath. If there aren't that many sign ups I might just have to send everyone one!

A Spring Giveaway!

2011-03-18T11:33:00.000-04:00

With the start of spring just around the corner, Sunday to be exact, I thought it would be fun to do a small giveaway.

To celebrate spring 2011, I'm giving away a crocheted Alice in Wonderland Mome Rath!

This little guy is perfect to celebrate warmer weather, flowers blooming, and sunny days. Plus, he is super cute!

Want to win one of your own? Just let me know your favorite Disney movie(s) and the 2 colors you would like your Mome Rath to be and you're entered to win! I'll post the winner next Friday.

Psst. My favorite Disney movies are The Rescuers and The North Avenue Irregulars. :)

The Rules:

One entry per person.
Leave a comment with your favorite Disney movie(s) and the 2 colors you'd like your Mome Rath to be.
Anyone can win just be sure to leave me an email or blog link where I can contact you if you are the winner.
Entries due by Thursday, March 31 5pm EST.

Good luck and happy spring!!!

Etsy Love

2011-03-17T11:03:00.000-04:00

I've been lurking around Etsy lately and have come across so many awesome, cute, and downright hilarious items. I thought I'd share a few of my favorites with you!

Lionel Ritchie mug

Oh, how I love the '80s! I need another mug like I need a hole in the head, but this one is just way too funny to not add to my collection.

Cassette Tape Locket

So lovely and feminine, but also super funky and retro!

Fifi the Poodle Ornament

These doggie ornaments are super cute! Actually everything in this store is super cute, including the Alice in Wonderland felt mobiles!

Ernest Hemingway print

I am actually placing my order for this print and another funny author item this weekend. This will be displayed over my writing desk for inspiration!

Kitty Seaside Print

Another cool print. I love anything featuring black cats, so this print is perfect. Plus, this shop has a lot of super cute prints with a black cat!

Some other awesome items: Sue Sylvester crocheted doll pattern (for all the Gleeks out there, like me), kitty candles, and music letterpress set.

My mind is all over the place!

2011-03-16T09:30:00.001-04:00

There is so much going on with me lately. I feel like I am being pulled in so many different directions. Unfortunately, I am not one to handle stress very well. My mind goes all over the place and I get totally frazzled, but at least I have my craft time to keep me calm(er)!

I haven't been spending nearly as much time crafting as I'd like to, but sometimes that happens. I've actually gotten back to writing my novel, which I started way back in college. I have set myself a deadline of December 31 for the entire book to be complete. That might sound like a long time, nine months, but it is not! I even added a countdown on the right sidebar of my blog to keep me on track, though every time I look at it I get freaked out. That little countdown might not be such a good idea after all. :)

I did get a little craft work done. I completed my week 11 Iron Craft Challenge project.

This week's challenge was titled Easy Bein' Green. We were to craft something the color green, not environmentally green. I chose to take a crack at a new jewelry project I've been thinking about for some time. . . a sweet spool necklace with green thread.

I am so pleased with the way it turned out that I'll be adding a few of these to the shop, possible sooner than later! I'm contemplating opening my Etsy shop a little early. but we'll see. And how do you like my new "fabric neck"? I got it at Michaels for $3.00 (of course I had a coupon)! I just love a good bargain.

2011 CAL/Destash Project

2011-03-07T00:00:00.075-05:00

This year's CAL is a project that has been on my to-do list for over a year, and I am bound and determined to finish it in 2011!

Crochet flower afghan

As soon as I saw this granny square pattern I just knew I had to give it a try. Plus, the designer shows you step by step how to make the granny squares, the border, and join them. Yay!

So, why did I choose this pattern for this year's CAL? Well, I am in the process of redecorating my bedroom. Last year I bought a brand new queen size bed, and now I am in need of a little bedroom sprucing up. I think a granny square afghan will look really nice on my new bed, and will hopefully keep the girls from getting their nails caught like they do with my present blanket. And, I think smaller granny squares will work better since the girls get caught in my La Push blanket too.

This pattern can be used for just about anything: purses, pillows, throws, and afghans. I am going all in and making the queen size bed throw.

Ravelry has a ton of completed projects to give you some inspiration and help on color combinations. Here are a few of my favorites:

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I love the last picture! I can see the girls doing the exact same thing.

As far as color combos go, I'm going to stick with the colors of my duvet cover (light and dark pink, green, yellow, and white). This will make a great destash project too. I have several skeins of yellows and greens that I've been wanting to "get rid of". This project will do just that.

Because of the size of my project, the CAL will be ongoing until December 31, 2011. That gives us all 10 months to finish our CAL projects. According to a crocheter on Ravelry who completed a blanket for her bed, it took her over 200 squares. But we'll have to see how many my bed takes. That is the great thing about granny squares. You can always make more if you need to. :)

Anyone can join in the fun. When you finish your granny square project send me an email or leave a comment with a link to your picture. I'll post a picture of your finished project on my blog. I'll also post WIP pictures of my throw throughout the year.

Okay everyone. Ready, Set, Crochet!

Freebie - Crocheted Sushi Roll Tutorial

2011-03-04T00:00:00.092-05:00

I wanted to keep this project super simple, so I came up with a basic beginner tutorial for a crocheted sushi roll.

The only stitch you will need to know is the single crochet, which is the most basic crochet stitch. There are many places to learn how to single crochet, but I learned by watching the knit witch on YouTube. Lion Brand Yarn has helpful crochet lessons as well.

Here are the materials you will need :
US G-6 (4.0 mm) crochet hook
black, white, and red yarn
black embroidery thread
embroidery needle

Abbreviations: ch = chain; sc = single crochet; st = stitch

Using black yarn, ch 11.

Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across (sc 10).

Row 2-22: ch.1, sc in each st.

Fasten off

Using white yarn, ch 11.

Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across (sc 10).

Row 2-20: ch 1, sc in each st.

Fasten off

Using red yarn, ch. 11.

Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across (sc 10).

Row 2-5: ch 1, sc in each st.

Fasten off

Roll red crocheted piece into a tube.

Roll white crocheted piece around red piece.

Roll black crocheted piece around white piece.

Using embroidery thread, sew black piece together.

Now you have your very own crocheted sushi roll!

Enjoy and happy Friday!!!

The written instructions, photograph, design, and pattern are intended for personal, non-commercial use only.

Iron Craft Challenge #9 - And the Oscar goes to. . .

2011-03-02T00:00:00.034-05:00

This week's challenge has been the most fun, so far. I love making items inspired by pop culture, so to get to make something inspired by a favorite movie was right up my alley.

The hardest part for me was choosing which movie I was going to use. When I first read about this challenge one movie popped into my head. It is a childhood favorite of mine and was made a few years before I was born, but still I think I have watched this movie a hundred or more times.

(the original 1971 version)

I love this movie so much, except for the candy man. He still gives me the creeps!

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What kid didn't want to be one of the lucky golden ticket winners and get a chance to eat their way through the factory? I know I did. I especially wanted to be Violet, because we both chew gum a lot. Plus, she was the one who got to eat the giant gummy bear.

Oh, what I would give to eat a giant gummy bear, and not put on 50 pounds. :)

Okay, back to the challenge. I have been using my cassette tape iPod cozy for a few years now, so I figured it was time for a new one. And what is the one item that everyone associates Willy Wonka with?

The Wonka Bar with the Golden Ticket inside. So, I made my very own Wonka Bar iPod cozy.

Isn't it funny? It is entirely made of felt. Cutting the letters freehand was a challenge, but they worked out pretty well. And, the pink color matches my iTouch case perfectly!

Now I too can feel like Charlie Bucket!

Welcome March!

2011-03-01T00:00:00.012-05:00

I'm usually not too excited to see spring start, my allergies are ridiculous this time of the year, but after the super cold winter spring is very welcomed!

March is not only important because it welcomes in spring, but March is also National Crochet Month!

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That is pretty cool too. :) My goal for this month is to spend most of my crafting time crocheting, but with this crazy eye infection that might be a little tough. I have several projects I need to complete for my shop, and this is the month to finish them.

Here is my crochet list for the month of March:

15 crocheted washcloths
1 crocheted microphone
4 crocheted animals
2 crocheted food

How about you? Do you have any crochet projects you want to finish up? If so, comment with what you want to complete this month. Then at the end of the month we'll see how many all of us finished, hopefully all of them. :)

Don't know how to crochet but have always wanted to learn? Well, this is the month to do it! Grab a crochet hook, preferably a size G hook, some yarn, and a little patience and take a peek at these beginner crochet techniques:

Slip knot
Chain stitch
Single crochet
Fasten off

Then stop by this Friday for a super simple, beginner's crochet project. For the project you will need to know the above crochet techniques, have a size G hook, a small amount of red, white, and black yarn, black embroidery thread, and an embroidery needle. That is it!

And for those expert crocheters, we'll be starting the CAL next week. All you will need is to gather together your yarn stash. It is another blanket pattern. Yikes!!!

See you back here on Friday for the free tutorial!

Men who make me weak at the knees!

2011-02-25T00:00:00.025-05:00

I love making lists, as you can tell by my right sidebar. :) So when I noticed several bloggers listing the celebrity men that make them weak at the knees I knew I had to join in the fun! Plus, it is Friday and Fridays are all about fun, and some good looking men!!!

So, here is my list of celebrity men who really float my boat:

Johnny Depp. Nightmare on Elm Street, 21 Jumpstreet, Edward Scissorhands, Sleepy Hollow, Pirates of the Caribbean. . . After all these years he still looks darn good! Plus, he is a fantastic actor. That is pretty sexy too.

Henry Cavill. Loved him on The Tudors. I mean loved him on The Tudors! But, I do have a weakness for British men. I think it is their accent, and Henry has got the sexiest accent/voice, ever! I can't wait to see him as Superman. I just hope they let him keep his scruffy little beard and his British accent. :)

Jason Priestly. To me he will always be Brandon Walsh of Beverly Hills 90210, but he is still super cute! I'm just sorry he is working behind the camera now. He should be back in front of the camera on TV.

Christian Kane. He is bad ass on Leverage as Elliot Spencer. He is another one with a pretty sexy voice. No, he isn't British, he is Southern. Plus, he can sing. Now that is a winning combination!

Ryan Reynolds. He is just too cute and pretty funny too. That is another winning combination! Loved him in The Proposal with Sandra Bullock. Are they dating? I think they'd make a cute couple.

Some other cuties are Scott Caan, Joseph Fiennes, and Rob Thomas. Sorry, no Brad Pitt, Robert Pattinson, Bradley Cooper, George Clooney, or Tom Cruise on my list. I just don't get their sex appeal, at all!

Okay, so who floats your boat?

Iron Craft Challenge #8 - Hometown

2011-02-23T08:07:00.003-05:00

Things have been pretty quiet around here lately. That is probably going to be the case until I get my shop opened.

While I didn't come close to completing my February to-do list, I did accomplish a few major things:

My website is totally complete! I went ahead and ordered a banner, which I wasn't planning on doing, but it really looks nice. Want to check it out? You can see a sneak preview by visiting www.hooksandwhiskers.com. I also finally decided on my color scheme (reminds me of the Pink Ladies)! That was really time consuming. Now the only think left is to add my items. That is a challenge since I am still working on them.
Decided on grand opening date. My shop will be opening up on May 28, 2011. I'm going to miss Easter and Mother's Day, but I can't help it. At least I'll be up and running for the summer!
Ordered my business cards. I usually get my business cards from Vistaprint, because they are cheap and look nice, but this time around I decided to spend a little more money and order them from Zazzle. I got to pick ones that match my shop colors and I got to personalize them however I wanted. I can't wait to see them in person. I think they are going to be pretty sharp!
Bought a new camera. My old camera was really starting to go downhill fast. I knew I was going to be taking lots of pictures soon for the shop, so I bit the bullet and bought one. It is a Canon Powershot SX130 IS. The store didn't have any in stock so they ordered me one. I'll be picking it up this weekend, so I'll let you know how it is.
Finished one Iron Craft Challenge. I guess one is better than none! This month's challenge was "Hometown", so I whipped up a little I heart NC wall art. It turned out so cute that I'll be adding this and some other states to the new shop. So, y'all get a sneak peek. :)

I hope March is much more productive than February was, in the crafting department. At least I know the website is done, so I'll be focusing all of my energy on crafting and doing a little spring cleaning. Yuck (to the spring cleaning)!

How I met Daphne

2011-02-06T13:01:00.001-05:00

Friday I told you how I met Drusilla. Well, today it is Daphne's turn.

Daphne's story is a wild (and long) one. . .

Daphne, my super special little girl

About two years ago, I decided it was time for Drusilla to have a friend. She had been by herself for so long I didn't really know how she would take to another cat, but I thought I'd give it a try. I figured I'd adopt a cat sometime in the new year, but I really didn't have a specific timeline as to when.

Late December of 2008 a little kitty ended up on my back porch. She was super friendly but pretty skinny, so I wondered if she belonged to someone or was just used to people. It was so cold outside that I just couldn't leave her alone, so I brought her in and quarantined her in the downstairs bathroom until I could take her to the vet. I named her Desdemona. I know me and my "D" cat names.

I tried several times to find the owners, but each time with no luck. I figured someone had done like they had with Drusilla and opened up the door and let her out. I slowly started to introduce Desdemona to Drusilla. Drusilla wasn't really crazy about her, she hissed and swatted at her, but I figured over time they would grow to love each other.

Two months later, the weekend of Valentine's Day, I found Desdemona's owners. They were a married couple with a military background in Romania. They had actually flown Desdemona (or Mica) from Romania to the US, and were besides themselves when the TV repair guy let her out. Thought it was really hard to give her up, I was so glad the couple had their "little one" back again.

Desdemona, our two month guest

So it was back to just me and Drusilla. I knew I still wanted to get a second cat, but after giving Desdemona back to her family I was just not ready.

A few months later, I finally decided I was ready to adopt a second cat. I knew June was adopt a shelter cat month, so I got myself, Drusilla, and the house prepared for a new addition to the family. I really wanted to get my second cat from a no-kill shelter, so I did some research and found a cat only no-kill shelter, Safe Haven for Cats. I also wanted an older cat, preferably one Drusilla's age, so I checked the shelter's website to see if they had any older cats. I found a five year old cat, Taffeta.

When I got to Safe Haven for Cats the adoption consultant asked me a series of questions to get a feeling about which cat would be the best fit for me and Drusilla. There were three that were chosen.

The first cat was super cute but too young. She was still a little too hyper and I knew that wouldn't work well with Drusilla. Drusilla doesn't work well with hyper or rowdy animals.

The second cat was a super cute white kitty cat with a respiratory problem. I would have loved to have adopted her, but with my schedule giving her daily medicine just wasn't going to work out.

The third cat was Taffeta (Daphne). She was older (five years old) and shy, but once she got into the adoption room she started to play and rub up against me. The resident vet came in and told me her background. She came to them as a stray and was diagnosed with partial face paralysis. They think her face became paralyzed while she was living on the streets, possibly from a fight or an other kind of trauma. Though the right side of her face droops a little and her left eye never closes, she is 100% healthy. She had also been at the shelter the second longest, 10 months.

I knew that super cute calico cat was the one. She was mellow which was perfect for Drusilla, she was such a sweet girl, and she had been there so long. So, that day I brought her home.

One of the first days after I brought Daphne home. She was starting to learn

the house, but was always on alert.

After about a week of being separated from Drusilla, the two finally got together. One hiss at each other was all there was and the two became best friends!

The girls love each other!

The months following Daphne coming home came with some health issues. I think she had a bit of a hard time adjusting to the changes of me, the new house, and Drusilla. But now a year and a half later she is 100% comfortable and happy.

She was never a lovey-dovey cat, completely opposite of Drusilla, but within the last couple of months she is slowly becoming a lap cat. She sleeps with me on the couch and even joins Drusilla and me on the bed. She is such a special kitty and I'm so glad we found each other!

How I met Drusilla

2011-02-04T10:25:00.004-05:00

As many of you know, my girls, Drusilla and Daphne, were both adopted from local animal shelters. They mean the world to me and make my life more enjoyable every day. After all of this time, I don't think I ever gave you the story of how I adopted them. So, here is a little background on how Drusilla became part of my family. I'll tell you about Daphne tomorrow!

Drusilla, the Queen Bee

Drusilla was adopted five and a half years ago from the SPCA of Wake Co., my local county animal shelter. At the time that I adopted her the shelter was acting as a "normal" shelter, meaning they were not a no-kill shelter. Drusilla had been in the shelter for about 2 months when I met her. I am not sure exactly how long shelter animals are given to be adopted, but I thought 2 months was quite a long time.

I went to the animal shelter looking specifically for a black cat. So many people had told me that black cats were mean and all of the other superstitious crap that comes along with them, but I didn't care. I just had to have a black cat. I also wanted an adult cat that had been there for awhile, since the kittens are almost always adopted first.

I went into the cat area, which is always hard for me anyway because I feel so bad for all of the cats and want to take them all home with me, and saw the cutest petite black cat playing by herself in the corner. Razzledazzle was her name. The woman at the shelter told me that she had been there for several months, but had only recently been put up for adoption. She had been quarantined due to temperament and behavioral issues and she was two years old. The woman also said that Razzledazzle (Drusilla) had been found in an apartment complex and was most likely abandoned when her family moved. Horrible!

I walked over to the corner where she was, crouched down, and put my hand out. The woman said it might take time for her to warm up to me, but she immediately came right over to my hand and started rubbing up against me. Well, that was it! It was meant to be!!! So, the next day I picked her up, changed her name to Drusilla after the female vampire on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and because she was no Razzledazzle, and took her home!

Drusilla about a month after I adopted her. She was so small she used to sit in the sink. She was still a little scared, as you can see in the picture.

It took Drusilla about a year to become completely comfortable with me and her environment. All of her behavioral/temperamental issues are gone, except one. Boxes and moving really freak her out. I think she feels she is being abandoned again. Unfortunately, we moved 3 years later into my house. That was quite an adjustment for her. But, she is sooo much happier in a house instead of a one bedroom apartment. I know she still has this issue, so anytime I get a box I try to put it away as soon as possible. She doesn't need that stress. :)

She's come a long way in five years. She is completely comfortable around me, Daphne, and pretty much all people. She is always the first to greet visitors at the door. She is also my snuggle buddy. She loves to be picked up and especially loves to curl up next to my leg and take a nap, as she's doing in the picture above. She is such a sweet girl, and I am so glad she picked me to take her home that day in July.

The shelter where I adopted Drusilla from, the SPCA of Wake Co., has since become a no-kill shelter. This makes me so happy! It has allowed the SPCA to save more animal lives than ever before. The bad news is the SPCA of Wake County receives NO funding from any "national" charity, plus they do not get any government funding.

This April, I'll be walking in the shelter's annual K9-3K dog walk. I'm so proud to be walking this year on behalf of all of the shelter kitties, like Drusilla and Daphne, especially since the shelter is now 100% no-kill. I have set a walk goal of $250 and would love all of your support.

I have placed a button on my sidebar if you would like to contribute to my walk goal. The link will take you directly to my walk page, and any amount is welcomed.

I know many of us are under hard financial times, so if you can't donate but would like to cheer me on please leave me a comment or shoot me an email. Or, if you are in the area and walking in April let me know. I'd love to hear from you!

Thanks and check back tomorrow to hear about how Daphne became a member of our family!

February is MY national craft month

2011-02-02T10:37:00.002-05:00

I understand March is officially National Craft Month. Well, I am making February my National Craft Month, as well as March, and maybe April too! I have fallen way behind on my crafting due to my website design and also pure laziness.

I'm not the only one who has been super lazy. The girls have been lazy lately too. Daphne especially, who loves to bury herself in the Steelers blanket and snooze all day. :)

Yesterday I realized that my shop opening is only three months away. Yikes! So, it is now time to put a fire under my bum and get in gear. In order to hold myself accountable, I am listing every craft I want to accomplish before the end of this month. Here it goes. . .

20 crocheted washcloths (this is the tough one)
Crocheted microphone
3 Iron Craft challenges
2 crocheted rolls
10 journals
5 mini journals
Crochet pattern & item
2 crocheted cupcakes

My goal is that on Monday, February 28 all of these will have lines through them indicating they are all complete. Fingers crossed it will happen!!!

I also found out March is National Crochet Month. I am working on a new crochet pattern and a CAL to take place next month!

I know a lot of you really want to learn to crochet, so I thought I'd make a super, super simple pattern for anyone who wants to try crochet for the first time. Check out the Lion Brand website for illustrated crochet instructions. You will need to learn how to make a chain stitch, single crochet and fastening off. That is it!

The CAL will be for more advanced crocheters, though it is not super hard. I've been wanting to work on this pattern for awhile, so I thought it would be fun to have it be this year's CAL. It is very time consuming (and large), so I'll keep the CAL running all year. It is also going to be our 2011 destash along project. So it might be time to gather up those stray skeins of yarn and put them all in one place. :)

Super Bowl Fun & Recipe

2011-02-01T12:19:00.002-05:00

Well, I didn't take part in this week's Iron Craft Challenge. It wasn't because it was about Valentine's Day, which y'all know I am not a fan of, it was because I have had zero time for any craft projects. I'm hoping that will change this weekend!

Speaking of this weekend. . . Sunday is Super Bowl Sunday and my Pittsburgh Steelers are playing for our 7th Lombardi trophy! Go Steelers!!! I'll be all decked out in my black and gold jersey and waving my terrible towel like a crazy woman.

That's me (or at least my head) celebrating the Steelers 5th Super Bowl win. Pretty funny!

Unfortunately, no Super Bowl snacks this time around. I have started a healthy eating regimen and can't have anything other than what is on my "good food" list. If I had thought about it a little better I could have waited to start until next week. Oh well. No dips, wings, beer, or sweets for me. My sweets will be when the Steelers beat the Green Bay Packers. :)

Anyway, just because I can't eat yummy football food doesn't mean you can't. Here is re-post of a really fun and simple recipe for this weekend's game. I hope you enjoy it. And please, eat some goodies for me. I'll be snacking on carrot sticks. :(

Football Shaped Cookies

Ingredients
1 roll (16.5 oz) Pillsbury® refrigerated sugar cookies
1 container (1 lb) chocolate creamy ready-to-spread frosting
White decorating gel

Directions
1. Heat oven to 350°F. Freeze dough 30 minutes.
2. Cut dough into 1/4-inch slices. With floured fingers, shape each dough slice to form football. On ungreased cookie sheets, place slices 2 inches apart.
3. Bake 7 to 11 minutes or until set and golden brown. Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheets to cooling racks. Cool completely, about 15 minutes.
4. Spread frosting over cookies. With white decorating gel, draw laces on each football.

Go Steelers! Bring home #7!!!

Buttons

2011-01-28T11:24:00.001-05:00

Still working on my crazy website, but I did finally finish up a few web buttons.

What do you think? I didn't really like the cat one when I was designing it, but now that I see it all done I think it is my favorite!

I made a button for the blog too.

I added it to my sidebar with a link if you would like to "grab my button"! :)

Iron Craft Challenge #4 - Get Cozy

2011-01-26T11:42:00.000-05:00

This week's Iron Craft challenge was to craft a cup/mug cozy. I was so inspired by this totally awesome Pac-Man bunting from Giggedy Geekmum for last week's challenge that I had to make something Pac-Man related. So, here it is. . .

Sorry for the bad lighting, but it was raining all day yesterday. It is hard to tell, but I crocheted the cup cozy with black yarn and then glued the Pac-Man and dots onto the cozy. I usually sew them on, but I thought I'd try gluing them this time. It worked really well. I used a Martha Stewart glue stick and let it sit overnight. In the morning it was stuck tight!

It is pretty funny that I chose Pac-Man for this week's project, because I just found out I am being featured on an '80s website today. Remember my '80s craft-a-long? Well, Mary at Culture Brats has posted about it on her website, along with a little interview about me and my blog. Squeee! Swing by Culture Brats to check it out. Thanks again, Mary!

One of the questions she asked is if I'd be hosting another '80s craft-a-long. I really enjoyed my last one, but with my shop opening and so many other things going on I just wasn't sure I'd have enough time. But, I thought since I will be hosting my '80s birthday party this summer and will be crafting 90% of it, why not.

So, grab your legwarmers and Member's Only jackets as we'll be heading back to the '80s for another craft-a-long!

I'll be posting some new '80s inspired crafts and tutorials, but you are also more than welcome to make your own '80s crafts. I am thinking the craft-a-long will be late spring, probably in May, so you have plenty of time to think about what you want to make. If you didn't make it to the last craft-a-long, you can check it out by clicking on the crafting through the '80s link under categories on my sidebar. But for now, here is a little video to get you inspired!

Gotta love the '80s!!!

All about cozies

2011-01-20T09:33:00.000-05:00

The new Iron Craft challenge has been posted, and this week's project is all about cozies! You know, I love to make cup cozies. I haven't made one in awhile though. I think the last one I posted about was my NCIS inspired Caf-Pow cozy.

That one was fun, but very time consuming. Cutting out the little pieces of felt was insane.

I have a pretty good idea of what I'm going to make for this challenge. I think I'll stick with a pop culture theme, so I'll be cutting out little pieces of felt, again! The challenge ends next Wednesday, so look for it to be posted then.

Want to find out what Iron Craft is all about? Click here to read the rules. You can join in anytime and you should, because the challenges are really fun!

Spring bunting

2011-01-19T12:37:00.000-05:00

Though I'm spending the majority of my time working on the website design for my shop, it is finally starting to come together and look like a professional website, Hallelujah!, I am also trying to work on as many craft items as I can. But, the website design has become very time consuming.

I did get a few minutes the other night, while watching Winter Wipeout, to whip up this little crocheted bunting.

Last year I wanted to add some bunting or garland to my mantle, but never got around to it. So last week, when I put up my spring decorations, yes I know it is still January, but I don't have any decorations to transition from winter to spring, I decided to go ahead and make my bunting right away. Plus, I noticed that this week's Iron Craft project was bunting. Perfect Timing!

It was really super simple. I just crocheted blue and green circles and then attached them to a white crocheted strand of yarn. Piece of cake! I made a second smaller strand for the other side of my mantle, because my mantle is such a funky shape.

Ta Da! Now we're all set for spring.

I'll be back soon!

2011-01-07T11:42:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone!

I hope your Christmas and New Year was superb. I know mine was.

Is everyone staying nice and warm? Whew, this is a cold winter.

Thank you all for your messages and emails. You guys/girls are awesome!

Just a little note to tell you that I'll be back writing on the blog soon. Not sure when, but sometime this month. And who knows, maybe with an updated look. :)

See you soon!!!

photo credit

Iron Craft Challenges

2011-01-02T08:06:00.004-05:00

Below are the weekly Iron Craft Challenges I have taken part in:

Week 3 - Just Bunt

Week 4 - Get Cozy

Week 8 - Hometown

Week 9 - And the Oscar goes to. . .

Week 11 - Easy Bein' Green

Week 14 - Wish You Were Here

To see a list of all of the weekly Iron Craft Challenges, click here.

Time is not on my side

2010-11-08T08:50:00.001-05:00

Photo courtesy of Flickr

So many things have been popped up lately that I feel like I am being pulled in a million directions.

Not only am I working on several handmade Christmas presents, I am also trying to get my crafts pulled together for my new shop, which will hopefully open in Feb. 2011.

Then there is the whole web designing my shop, which is taking a looooong time to put together. I'm very happy that my logo design is complete, but in addition to the blog itself my business cards and other printables are still not.

On a personal note, after seeing my doctor for my yearly checkup last month I was told that I need to start working out more and eating a lot healthier than I had been previously doing. So, I joined The Couch-to-5k running plan. The goal is to have you running a 5k in 9 weeks. I am currently on week #2 and feel 100% more energized and all around better. The first day was brutal, since I had never run before in my life, but I can tell that it is getting easier. I no longer look like a beet after my 30 minutes!

I'm also gearing up to focus a lot of time on writing. When I was in college, many moons ago, I started a novel. I feel that there is no better time than now to finish it. So, I have given myself a July 2011 completion date deadline. So far, I only have one chapter done. So, I have a long way to go.

Then there is my '80s party, which even though is not until August, requires a lot of thought. And, my sister has asked that I help "craft" her wedding next year.

In addition, I am also contemplating some personal changes that are requiring time. So, as you can see my time is very limited, which leads me to wonder where my blog fits into all of this. I do not want to shut it down, because I enjoy corresponding with all of you through it, but I feel that I just can't put in the time right now. So, what I have decided to do is to write only when I feel the urge to, which might not be that much.

I'll see how things are going in the New Year, and maybe pick up writing on a regular basis again. But for now, I'll still be around, popping in from time to time to let you see my latest craft projects and stopping by your blogs to check out your awesome craft projects.

I hope you have a wonderful Christmas holiday season, and as always, Happy Crafting!

A weekend of web design

2010-11-01T08:49:00.000-04:00

Well, so much for crafting all weekend. Instead, I spent 90% of the time in front of my computer working on designing my new online shop. Wow, was it both time consuming and frustrating. I really have to give props to those of you who are web designers. It is not an easy thing to do!

A few months ago I bought Microsoft Expression Web. I just can't afford any of the really cool web design programs out there, and this one looked like it would be pretty easy to understand. I was wrong. It is really confusing, but so was Paint Shop Pro when I first bought it and now I am a whiz. So, I am giving it a shot. I found a book at the library for a previous version, but that too was a little hard to follow. Then I stumbled upon a website with video instructions. Woo Hoo! Though it is for a previous version, I have been able to follow along and begin to build my web template.

I made it through 2 of the 5 videos, but can already see my website coming together. I think the hardest part was choosing the background and website colors. I always have a hard time with that. After hours of debating, I decided to go with green stripes, which I find easy to look at. Some of the brighter colors were too much.

Once that was done, I moved onto designing my header. That is really what took the most time. I tried different colors, frames, and cat pictures, since the shop is called Hooks and Whiskers. I finally came up with one that, I think, will look nice against the green striped background. I forgot to do a screen capture of it, sorry.

I also made an Etsy banner, though I am really debating about doing an Etsy shop too. I have had so many craft ideas stolen from me through Etsy, which is why I am setting up an online shop now. But, I thought while my creative juices were flowing, I'd go ahead and do an Etsy banner and avatar too. I did take a screen capture of those.

Pretty simple, but I like it that way. The web header is very similar, but it has the cat on top of the shop name and then my tagline underneath.

I also decided to set up a Facebook and Twitter account for my shop.

The Twitter account was easy to do, and I changed the background and colors to match the shop's new colors. I am listed as Hooksnwhiskers if you want to follow me. Nothing will really be happening on there until the new year, but thought I'd give you the new link anyway.

The Facebook was a little bit more tricky, especially getting the right size avatar. I came across another website that showed how to make a larger Facebook picture (I lost the link, so I can't share it with you, sorry). So, again I tweaked it to my shop colors.

I like it, and I think it looks nice on my Hooks and Whiskers Facebook page.

Yesterday, we also celebrated Drusilla's 7th birthday with a very quiet Halloween (I didn't give out candy this year due to my lack of funds) and a baked potato, which is Drusilla's favorite little treat!

So, that was my very productive weekend. I hope yours was more exciting than mine. :)

A cute pumpkin CAL!

2010-10-26T08:44:00.000-04:00

Megan from Crochet Every Day is hosting a super fun CAL on her blog. The CAL pattern is PlanetJune's pumpkin pattern. The pattern is free and is really simple.

I crocheted my little guy this past weekend while watching the new Star Trek movie. I am not a Star Trek fan, but boy was it a great movie. If you are looking for a great action/sci fi movie, this is a good one. I was also very happy to read they are in the process of making a follow up movie. Yay!

So, here is my little pumpkin. It looks very similar to my real pumpkin that I've been using as a decoration on my mantle.

Which pumpkin is the crocheted one?

I am really pleased with the way it turned out, but that shouldn't surprise me since PlanetJune's patterns are awesome! If you are interested in learning to make Amigurumi, June's got a new book all about it, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Amigurumi.

My little pumpkin was crocheted with 100% of my stash, so another great destash along project. Plus, it is a great fall decoration, so I can leave it out a little while longer. :)

Looks perfect on my mantle!

Be sure to check out the other CAL pumpkins in Megan's pumpkin patch.

Uh oh. Looks like more '80s projects!

2010-10-25T13:24:00.001-04:00

For several years now I have been wanting to throw an '80s costume party. I was going to do it when I turned 30, but instead I decided to quit my job, pack up all of my stuff, and move to NC! It has now been 6 years, and I have finally decided it is time to throw my party.

Though my birthday isn't until August, the wheels have already started turning and preparations are under way for my '80s birthday bash!

My first order of business is to decide who I am going to go as. I immediately thought of going as Madonna, but as I started talking to my fellow partiers they all said they didn't want to dress as anyone really obvious. So, I am now torn between going as Madonna or as someone else.

I started thinking about '80s female movie characters, and thought one of these might be fun:

Andy from The Goonies

Claire from The Breakfast Club

Sloan from Ferris Bueller's Day Off Jeannie from Ferris Bueller's Day Off

What do you think? Any of these look good, or do you have a better '80s character/star for me? Or should I just go as Madonna?

I'd like to make my costume as realistic as possible, so nothing too outlandish! And, I do not like to show off a ton of skin, so nobody really risque (sorry, Elvira).

I have almost a year to pull this costume together, so I want to choose my "person" pretty soon so I can start looking in vintage/thrift shops for my pieces. Once I choose, though, I will probably keep it under wraps. I don't want to give it away too soon!

Since I'll be handcrafting a lot of this party, I'll be posting my projects as I go along. Maybe I'll have some tutorials to go along with them too! I'm really excited! It should be a ton of fun. So get ready for a ton of '80s posts to come. :)

Let the sunshine in

2010-10-18T07:56:00.000-04:00

It seems like I've been working on this baby mobile for an eternity, though I think it has really only been a little over a month. :) But, during a weekend long marathon of SOAP thanks to my awesome Wii & Netflix, I finally finished my crocheted baby mobile.

If you remember a few weeks ago all I had done were my raindrops.

Well, now the rainbow is complete.

And the sun and clouds.

Here is everything put together.

I started out using thick thread to connect the pieces, as the pattern stated, but it broke as soon as I hung it on the wall. So, I ended up using white yarn. It seems to be holding up pretty well, so far!

This was also a great destash along project. I used 100% of my yarn and felt from my stash! The only items I had to order were the safety eyes.

It is now on its way to its intended recipient, baby Olivia. I hope she likes it!

Halloween is finally here, at least in my house

2010-10-12T08:15:00.000-04:00

I have been so preoccupied lately with projects that are not craft related that Halloween really sneaked up on me this year. I usually have my decorations up after my birthday in August (I know, crazy), but not this year. I finally got them all up this past weekend.

I didn't go nearly as all out as I usually do, primarily because I know I'll be taking them down in a few weeks. But, I did get the mantle looking a little Halloweenish.

I was going to do black flowers in the vase, but opted for fall flowers instead. Now I won't have to change them for Thanksgiving. :) The BOO picture frames I made last weekend from this post.

I used one piece each of spider, orange, and sparkly black scrapbook paper for all three frames, orange raffia, three black frames from the Dollar Tree (they came 2 in a pack), black plastic spiders from Party City, and orange rhinestones for the spider's spot. I really like the way they turned out.

I also picked up some super cute Halloween food items:

Some spooky Halloween pasta and totally awesome skull and crossbones glasses that say "Name Your Poison". I got them all at World Market.

So, I now think I'm ready for Halloween, and for celebrating Drusilla's birthday!

Cal forest and giveaway winner

2010-10-04T08:09:00.000-04:00

Thanks for everyone who joined in the Christmas CAL. I hope you had fun. I sure did.

The CAL trees turned out great. Check them out!

Megan at Crochet Every Day

Mandy at Fell 4 U

Debbie

Awesome trees, everyone!

And now for the winner of the crochet prize pack. . .

Megan at Crochet Every Day

Congrats, Megan. Shoot me an email with your address and I'll send out your goodies this week.

Thanks again to everyone who joined in and became a follower of my blog. If you missed out on this CAL no need to fear. The second round of the Christmas CAL will be taking place in a few weeks. I'll be posting the winning pattern soon, so stay tuned!

Final hours of the CAL

2010-10-03T17:05:00.000-04:00

We're down to the last couple of hours of the CAL. Don't forget to post a pic or email me one of your completed tree. I'll be posting all of the finished trees and the giveaway winner tomorrow.

I wanted to complete my tree so I added a little tree topper. I found a yellow pipe cleaner in my craft room and bent it into a star shape. I then pushed the bottom of the pipe cleaner into the hole on the top of the tree.

There you have it! A pipe cleaner star tree topper.

The CAL forest is growing

2010-10-01T08:44:00.001-04:00

Sorry for the quiet blog this week. I've been in computer training for work all week, and when I got home the last thing I wanted to do was look at a computer.

So, how are everyone's trees coming along? I hope you are enjoying the super cute tree pattern!

We have our first tree for our CAL forest. Mandy at Fell 4 U has completed her CAL Christmas tree.

I love the dark green color and different colored base. Great job, Mandy!

Keep the trees coming! You have until Sunday night to post them and be entered into the contest.

Welcome to the Christmas CAL

2010-09-27T09:11:00.000-04:00

Is everyone ready to start crafting for Christmas? I know it isn't even Halloween yet, but it is never to early to start on Christmas crafts!

A few weeks ago you voted on the Christmas crochet project you wanted for our CAL. You chose . . .

Christmas Trees by Lily/Sugar and Cream

So, let's go!

The pattern for the trees is pretty basic, so there really isn't a need to go step by step through the pattern. Just decide whether you want to make the small tree, large tree, or a tree forest and then go for it!

Don't forget to download the pattern, check out the supply list, and brush up on your crochet techniques before starting.

I originally thought I'd give everyone until Friday, October 1 to complete your crocheted tree(s), but I'd like for you to have the weekend to work on it too. So, the CAL is now today, September 27–Sunday, October 3.

Once you are finished with your tree(s), just post a picture of your awesome looking tree(s) to your blog and add your link to mclinky on the bottom of this post. Don't have a blog, just email me a picture of your completed tree(s). I'll be posting pictures of them throughout the week.

Here is mine!

It turned out looking very much like a little Amigurumi tree. I stuck with the small tree, because it actually turned out pretty big. I am interested to see if anyone decides to make the bigger tree. I wonder how "big" it really is! I think it needs some sort of tree topper though. I am going to see what I can do about that and maybe post it on Sunday.

One word of advice, you might want to add the buttons before stuffing and sewing the bottom on the tree. It was a real pain trying to sew on the buttons last. Plus, it made my tree a little lumpy.

And, I didn't forget about the little contest and prize I promised.

A crochet prize pack that includes: Colorful Kids crochet (and knit) pattern booklet, a set of Susan Bates crochet hooks sizes F–K (these are my favorite hooks), and a skein (or two) of purple worsted weight yarn.

Want to win? You can be entered into the contest three ways:

1. Leave me a comment telling me that you are joining the Christmas CAL.

2. Post a link or email me a picture of your completed tree(s).

3. Become a Crafting with Cat Hair follower. (If you are already a follower, just leave a second comment stating you already follow my blog.) Thanks!

I'll be closing the contest & mclinky on Sunday at 7:00 pm EST. I will choose a winner via a random number generator and then announce the winner on Monday, October 4!

Is everybody ready? Yay! So, let's get crocheting!

Where have all the tutorials gone?

2010-09-14T06:34:00.002-04:00

Feel free to sing the blog post title in the tune of Paula Cole's, "Where have all the Cowboys Gone". You know I did. :)

As I was transferring my tutorials to their respective tabs (you can find them now under the crochet, sewing, and crafting navigation tabs), I remembered that I had promised a crochet tutorial a few months back. Oops!

My tutorial has actually been completed for some time now, but will be featured on a brand new website. I had totally forgotten about it, so I inquired about the new site and was told there have been some problems and it has not been activated yet. So needless to say, my little crocheted tutorial is stuck in hiding.

I noticed that of all my categories, sewing is lacking tutorials. So, how would you like a new sewing tutorial? I've already started thinking about it. Maybe something Halloween oriented and made of felt, of course! I'll see about having it ready for you when the Christmas CAL is finished.

I am also working on a little home Halloween project. If it turns out nice I'll add that tutorial too. Ooh, I love Halloween!!!

Four down, two to go

2010-09-13T07:44:00.005-04:00

One of my goals this month was to finish all 6 projects for the HPKCHC. I am pleased to report that I finished #4 last night. A little crocheted owl eye mask.

I will also be receiving extra credit for honoring Hedwig this month as part of Gryffindor's challenge. :)

I am also happy to report that I used 100% of my stash, so another destash along project is in the books!
**If you are looking for the destash along info it has been moved. You can now find it as one of the buttons on my navigation bar at the top of my blog.

Crocheting 101

2010-09-10T11:30:00.001-04:00

I thought I'd post this today, so everyone can practice over the weekend. :)

To get us ready for the Christmas CAL, I have compiled a few tips & tutorials to help beginner crocheters or those of us who haven't crocheted in a while.

The first tip is to become familiar with the crochet lingo. This is a must in order for you to follow the pattern. When I first started crocheting I was super confused. I thought yo mc pat was an '80s rapper, not a bunch of crochet terms. But, thanks to some abbreviation lists on crochet sites I caught on pretty quickly.

To view a complete list of crochet abbreviations, click here or here. These links are for US terms, so if you are using British crochet terms just Google British crochet abbreviations for a complete list.

For our project, we will only need to know the following terms: repeat (rep), stitches (sts), chain (ch), single crochet (sc), round (rnd), and slip stitch (sl st). Not too bad!

The second tip is to take a few minutes now before starting on the pattern to brush up on the following stitches: chain (ch), slip stitch (sl st), single crochet (sc), and back loops only. These are required for the Christmas Trees pattern. You will also need to know how to make a slip knot so you can attach your yarn to your hook. Some of these stitches are a little more confusing and complicated than others.

Youtube is a great resource for crochet tutorials. My favorite tutor is the knitwitch, so I've included her video tutorials and a few others for you to follow. Or, if you prefer to print out and follow illustrated instructions, Annie's Attic is a great resource.

Slip Knot

Illustrated instructions, here.

Chain (ch)

Illustrated instructions, here.

Slip Stitch (sl st)

Illustrated instructions, here.

Single Crochet (sc)

Illustrated instructions, here.

Back Loop Only

Illustrated instructions, here.

I hope these help. The best advice I can give to you is practice, practice, practice! It took me dozens of tries before I got the hang of the stupid slip knot, but I finally got it. So, stick with it. You'll be crocheting in no time!
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I am going to be tweaking my blog this weekend and next week. So, if things start to disappear or move that is why. :)

WIP Wednesday

2010-09-08T00:00:00.012-04:00

Amigurumi raindrops

These cute little guys are part of a crocheted mobile I am making for my cousin's new daughter. I still have a few more weather related Amigurumi to crochet before it is complete. :)

*If you want to see what the finished mobile is going to look like, click on the link under the picture. I didn't want to post the picture, since it is going to be a surprise. :)

Are you ready for the Christmas CAL pattern?

2010-09-07T12:05:00.000-04:00

Have you all been waiting with bated breath to see which pattern we'll be crocheting for the Christmas CAL? Well, my biggest fear came true. We have a tie! So, what I have decided to do is pick one pattern for us to crochet at the end of this month, and then we'll crochet the second pattern the first week of November. How does that sound? But. . . I've decided to keep the second one a secret until mid October, so you'll be surprised. :)

For now, the first pattern of our Christmas CAL is. . .

Christmas Trees by Lily/Sugar Cream

Yay! This was the one I was hoping would win. I can't wait to make a few for my mantle.

Since this pattern is found on the Lily/Sugar Cream website, you will need to sign up for a free membership. I think they only require an email address. Once you do that, you will have access to all of their free patterns!

I took a peek at the pattern last night and noticed a stitch that might be a little confusing for beginner crocheters, working in back loops only. So, I am going to scour the web for instructions on how to do this and the other stitches required for this project. I'll begin posting what I find next week, so you can get a jump on practicing.

Once you've mastered your stitches, you'll need to pick up your supplies. Or, if you are like me, you can find them in your stash!

Materials needed:
Lily Sugar and Cream yarn (Hot Green)
Size 4mm (US G or 6) crochet hook
Polyfil
Buttons
Green felt & thread (or color of your yarn)
Light cardboard

The greatest thing about this yarn is that it is pretty cheap, about $2.00 a skein (or less). And, you only need 1 skein for the trees. Sometimes Michaels, AC Moore, or even Walmart has it on sale for a $1.00 a skein. That is when I grab a ton!

You can really use any green you want, but if you want your trees to look like the picture, Hot Green is the color you need. You can also crochet your tree in white, pink, or any other color too!

The CAL will be running September 27-October 1, so you'll have a few weeks to brush up on your crocheting and get your supplies pulled together. If you are a beginner crocheter and are having issues with the stitches you can send me an email or leave me a comment. If I can't answer the question I'm sure I'll be able to point you in the right direction.

I'll also be running a little crochet contest in conjunction with the CAL. All you will have to do is post a link to your completed tree(s) by the end of the CAL on Friday, October 1. I'll choose a name that weekend and announce the winner the following week.

If you don't have a blog, that is okay You can link your picture from a Flickr or Photobucket account, or even from Facebook, I think. I'll have to check on that. :)

Jumping Right In

2010-09-02T08:11:00.001-04:00

After taking a semester off from Ravelry's Harry Potter Knitting and Crochet House Cup (HPKCHC), I have signed up again this time as a third year Gryffindor at Hogwarts.

My last two semesters were tons of fun, but I didn't get too involved. This semester is very different. With the first of the final two Harry Potter movies being released this November, our HOH of Gryffindor is asking that we push really hard to win the cup! Of course, we need to defeat Slytherin. :)

Our goal is to crochet or knit items for as many classes as we can. Each item we complete earns the house points. The house with the most points at the end of the semester (November 30) wins!

This semester there are 8 classes to choose from each month. We can only get points for completing 6 classes, so 6 classes is what I am pushing for. Each finished class project earns the house 15 points. On top of that I am doing my Ordinary Wizarding Level Examination (OWL) includes 3 projects total, which earns a total of 150 points, and 2 Quidditch items (points totals unknown). Whew! I am going to be one busy crocheter!!!

Classes started yesterday, and I got a jump start on my goal by turning in my first project.

Herbology 101: Tool Maintenance

Our assignment was to make something to protect our tools in Herbology.

I turned in a crocheted ~~wand~~ needle cozy.

It is funny that I have more needles than hooks and I still don't know how to knit!

This weekend I'm going to try and knock out a few more class assignments as well as getting started on my OWL. I have to make a hat, which is really stressing me out. I was going to save it for last, but now I think I might try and get it done first. Let's see how that goes.

If anyone is on Ravelry and wants to check out all the fun, go to Ravelry and search HPKCHC. We've already been sorted into our houses, but you can still play along as a "not quite first year" (NQFY). While you can't earn points for the houses, you can earn really cool prizes like awesome yarn! Everyone is really friendly and very encouraging. Plus, we all get to ooh and ahh over each other's crafts!

Getting the Creative Juices Flowing

2010-08-30T09:48:00.002-04:00

I've been feeling very uninspired lately. Maybe it is the 100+ degree heat, but I just haven't wanted to craft anything! But my mind has been changed after I received a sweet, crafty package from Laurie at Indulge Your Shelf, won a really cool sewing book from Lark Books, and came across the coolest craft tool ever all in a matter of a week. That was just the kick start I needed to get the creative juices flowing again.

Of course I still have yet to craft anything, though I did do one of the three swatches I need for my HPKCHC OWL, which starts in two days. Yikes!

I've been primarily working on designing my own website. It is going a lot slower than I had anticipated. I thought it would be ready to go live by now, but it isn't even close. So, that means pushing back the opening of my Etsy/web shop. I'm thinking now sometime early next year. That is okay with me, since I haven't really crafted anything for it anyway.

I've been tinkering around the blog too. I changed the colors around and widened the center part to give me more room for bigger pictures. I'm sure I am not completely done with it yet. :)

I've also been baking a little again. Last night I made my first batch of Star Wars cookies.

I'm not sure if you have seen these, but the cookie cutters are from Williams Sonoma. I got them about a month ago and was stunned that I bought the last box. They were really popular in my neck of the woods.

I am a big Star Wars fan. Not huge like some people who have seen the movie 100+ times and camp out, but I do love me some Star Wars! If you want to learn everything there is to know about Star Wars, because who doesn't, check out Wookieepedia. It is like Wikipedia but for Star Wars and wookie lovers everywhere.

My favorite characters have always been the bad guys, so when I noticed that two of the cookie cutters were Darth Vader and a Stormtrooper I knew I had to make them.

Unfortunately, my first batch of Darth Vaders spread out so much that you couldn't even tell what the cookie was supposed to be. My second batch, which were the Stormtroopers, came out much better.

Stormtroopers

Stormtroopers cookie

I used store bought cookie dough, which I think was a big mistake. Next time I'll make the cookies according to Williams Sonoma. I think I'll try their royal icing recipe too. These were iced with white cake icing and Wilton's black icing in a tube.

Also, don't forget to vote for our Christmas CAL. As of this morning, the gnome had a slight lead over the Christmas trees and the mistletoe ornament, though they are all really close.

Voting is open until Friday. I'll announce the winner next Monday and give you the supply list as well, so get those hooks ready!

I'm Back, and with a new CAL!

2010-08-16T15:37:00.001-04:00

I'm finally back from my month and a half blogging break. I had a nice birthday and visit with my mom, but I am now ready to get back to crafting and start tackling holiday crafts!

As you can see I have added the new poll for our next crochet along (CAL) to my sidebar. I loved the last CAL, but thought it might have been too complicated for many of you. So, I chose 5 quick and easy choices for this CAL. My hope is that many of you who have been wanting to give crochet a try will join this time.

For our Christmas 2010 CAL, the patterns you will be choosing from are as follows:

#1. Christmas Pudding Ornament by PlanetJune

photo credit

#2. Baby Bunting by Susie Johns

photo credit

#3. Christmas Trees by Lily/Sugar 'n Cream

photo credit

#4. Mistletoe Ornament by Riot of Daisies

photo credit

#5. Simply a Gnome by Else's Bellas Artes

photo credit

All five patterns are free, because you know I love free stuff! You might need to log into the Lily/Sugar 'n Cream site, but login is free too. And, these are small and simple projects that you can probably dig into your stash for their materials. Yay! A destash along project too. Can it get any better than this?

Well, yes it can, because this time around I am offering a little crochet gift for one lucky CAL member. I'm not sure exactly what it will be yet, but know that it will include some yarn, a crochet hook, and maybe a crochet booklet too! Just a little thank you for following my blog and for joining the Christmas 2010 CAL.

So, look over the patterns and choose the one you would like to crochet for Christmas. Voting will remain open until Friday, September 3.

The Christmas 2010 CAL will take place the last week of September, September 24–October 3, so you will have plenty of time to gather your materials, brush up on your crochet skills, and have your super cute project completed before diving into Halloween decorating!

As always, feel free to leave a comment telling me which pattern you chose as #1 and #2. You never know. Maybe we'll have time to tackle more than one project this year!

Taking a Break!

2010-07-01T00:00:00.004-04:00

Whew! Now that the granny along is complete I will be taking a much needed break from blogging, though I may be pop in to post a craft or two for Sew Through the Decades.

While I am gone I'll be celebrating the 4th of July, Daphne's 6th birthday, my mom's visit, and my thirty-something birthday! Now you know why I need a break. :)

But, I will be returning soon, actually on . . .

Monday, August 9!

Hopefully, I'll be returning with a ton of new craft projects, many of which *fingers crossed* will be completed too!

Try to stay cool. I know it has been hot as Hades around here lately! Enjoy the summer!!!

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Isn't the "will return" sign cute?! You can download your own set by visiting Zakka Life.

Granny Along Finale

2010-06-30T08:00:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the final day of the granny along!

Well, it has been a long two months. But after 9 weeks, 20 squares, 4 skeins of white yarn, 1 very large skein of green yarn, and several dozen hours of crocheting, the granny along and my La Push blanket is finally complete.

Here is how it all came together.

And finally, my very own La Push blanket!

Woo Hoo!! I think it looks a lot like Angela's.

Photo courtesy of Summit Entertainment

I am really happy with the way it turned out. And believe me, I had my doubts that this would turn out even acceptable, especially when it took me 2 weeks to figure out the 2nd row! I did tweak it a little when I joined the squares. I added a little texture by holding the squares together and stitching a ridge instead of making it flat to give it my own special touch.

It has become a great addition to the living room and my chair.

The girls like it too, but I am going to try to keep them off of it for now.

Yeah, no such luck. :)

I think I am now all ready for the premier of Eclipse. I'll be going Friday night, and if it wasn't 97 degrees outside I'd take my blanket to the movie theatre with me. So instead, I thought I'd wear this shirt.

I think it compliments the blanket, don't you? Does this make me Team Jacob now. :) I guess I'll have to make myself this shirt too to be neutral.

If you want to make yourself a La Push shirt, click here for the iron on. Or, if your loyalty lies with the Cullens, click here for the Vampire Baseball iron on.

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I hope you enjoyed the granny along. I want to thank all of you who joined in. And a special thanks to Megan from Crochet Every Day for crocheting the La Push blanket with me. It was nice having another crafter crocheting the same blanket. :)

If you didn't get to join this time, no worries. I'll be hosting another CAL sometime this fall. I'm thinking of choosing a holiday pattern this time. Any suggestions? Halloween? Christmas? I think I'll let everyone pick the next pattern, so keep an eye out for a voting box on my sidebar. Voting will begin sometime in August.

Thanks again everyone, especially for your words of encouragement. I don't think I could have gotten this done without you!

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For this destash-along project I used 50% of my yarn stash.

Granny Along Week #9

2010-06-28T08:00:00.000-04:00

Welcome to week 9 of the granny along.

Well, this is it! The final days of the granny along!!!

Week 9 task: crochet edging; post a picture of your progress and completed blanket

Extra task: tell if you liked the CAL and the pattern you chose.

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So, here is my blanket all joined but with no edging yet.

I'll be posting my completed blanket on Wednesday!

Extra task: I really enjoyed the CAL. Not only did it teach my how to crochet granny squares, but it kept me on a schedule with finishing the blanket. Who knows how long it would have taken me without a deadline. :)

I liked the LA Push pattern once I got the hang of it. It turned out to be really easy and didn't require any thought, which is my favorite kind of pattern!

Granny Along Week #8

2010-06-21T08:00:00.005-04:00

Welcome to week 8 of the granny along.

This is our final full week to finish our granny square blankets!

Week 8 task: complete all remaining squares; join all of your squares; post a picture of your progress

Extra task: tell what your next project will be once your blanket is completed

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So, I finished 7 squares this week, which was actually pretty good. This leaves me with only 3 squares left!

I am so excited to see the blanket finally coming together.

I took this picture while there was still light out, so a few of my squares are missing. :)

It doesn't look that big, but I actually had to lay all of the squares on my living room floor to take this picture. It is going to be a pretty big lapghan.

My challenge for this week is to finish my 3 squares and join all of the squares together. That will only leave the edging for next Monday and Tuesday.

Remember, we only 10 days left!!!

Extra task: I have another Twilight (La Push) related project I am currently working on. I'll be posting it next Wednesday with my completed La Push blanket. It is pretty funny!

To be honest, I think I will be taking a break from crocheting for a few weeks after I finish this blanket. My sewing projects have taken a back seat and I miss them. :)

Where Bloggers Create II Blog Party

2010-06-18T08:40:00.002-04:00

My Desert Cottage is hosting a blog party on June 19 (I am posting a little early) ~ "Where Bloggers Create II". What a fun idea! Now we get to see where all of the talented crafters work.

My craft area is pretty much anywhere in my house. I craft on my dining room table while waiting for dinner to cook, on the couch while listening to '80s music on the radio, in bed while watching TV, or in my official craft room (my second bedroom).

This is why my relatives have no place to stay when they come to visit me. :) With only a two bedroom house, I opted for a craft room instead of a guest bedroom. Sorry everyone, but I love my craft room!

I think my favorite thing in my craft room is my craft table. When I first got this it was an ugly, grey, plastic table. But with a little polka dotted oil cloth and felt I made it into a much cuter work space.

I am a brand new machine stitcher, so this table has come in very handy while I am learning to sew. I just have to dodge kitties who like to sit and look out the windows.

The table is huge and offers plenty of room for my brand new Brother sewing machine and space for other odds and ends. I won't show you what is under the table (it is a disaster), but it has plenty of storage space for my plastic bins of yarn.

Speaking of yarn, here is some of my yarn stash.

I love my color coordinated yarn stash! It is super simple to find a specific color yarn now, instead of rooting around my bins. My craft felt is to the right of it in the storage containers. I am working on getting a white bookcase for my felt, but for now it is being stored in the see through bins.

Lastly, my computer area.

Nothing fancy, but it serves its purpose.

Hope you enjoyed visiting my crafting space. Now, I am off to visit with the others. . .

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FYI: I've turned my comment moderator off until Monday for those of you who are visiting the blog party. I have been receiving quite a bit of dirty spam lately, so in the event that some of it gets posted, please don't click on any funny links. I will clean it up as best as I can, but just a warning in case something gets through. Thanks!

Granny Along Week #7

2010-06-14T10:16:00.003-04:00

Welcome to week 7 of the granny along.

The countdown is on now. Only 16 days until the end of the granny along, and the release of Eclipse!

Week 7 task: complete all remaining squares; post a picture of your progress

Extra task: tell what your hook of choice is. Is it the metal one your mother gave you or the wooden one you got a great deal on?

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Well, I am exactly half way done with my squares. I have all six of the white, center squares completed and four of the green, border squares completed. That leaves ten green squares left.

I haven't been able to crochet more than seven squares in a week, so this is really going to be a challenge. I guess I'll be spending every waking moment crocheting granny squares. :)

Unfortunately, my camera is acting funny. So, I won't be sharing my picture this week. I hope to have it fixed by Monday so I can show all twenty of my completed granny squares! Positive thinking!!!

Remember, your granny square blankets are to be completed on June 30!!!

Extra task: I prefer to crochet with plastic hooks. I have tried a variety of hooks, but the Lion Brand plastic hooks are my favorite. I find that they slide between the yarn easier than a metal one. Plus, I hate the smell that the metal ones leave on my hands. Yuck!

Step in Time

2010-06-09T07:15:00.000-04:00

I'm getting a little bored with walking on my treadmill 4 times a week, so I ordered myself a step aerobics step and DVD. I haven't done step aerobics since college, so I hope I am still coordinated enough to do it!

I ordered it online and had it delivered to my local Walmart. I really like the option of picking stuff up at the stores. I wish everything could be picked up locally instead of having to pay an enormous amount of money in shipping charges.

As soon as I took it out of the box, some little girl hopped up and tried it out.

Maybe it will take a few pounds off of Daphne's waist too. The vet seems to think she is too overweight, so we're trying to play a little more and eat a little less, especially in the treat department. I'm not so sure this is going to work right now since her birthday is just around the corner!

Thrifting for a good cause

2010-06-08T08:00:00.000-04:00

My church is opening up a new Christian school this fall, and has been hosting various fundraisers to fund the expansion. This past weekend they hosted a yard sale.

I meant to be there when it opened at 7:30, but I was moving very slowly on Saturday. I didn't make it there until almost 9:30, so many of the items had already been sold. But, as I was walking around I noticed a box hidden under a table. It was a box full of craft supplies. Woo Hoo!

I didn't take the entire box, though it was tempting, but I did take a few things:

The pink baskets are in really great shape and will come in handy in my craft room. I figured the zippers and other sewing supplies should come in handy soon! The bag of lace trim is great too, though I am not sure how I am going to use yet. But, my favorite item is the gigantic ball of orange, wool yarn. I'm not sure how much is there, but I think enough for a wool scarf for this winter.

Now for the best news. The entire craft haul was only $2.00! Of course, I felt guilty taking all of this for only two bucks, so I gave the church an extra donation. Thrifting for a good cause is always my favorite kind of thrifting!

Happy birthday to my baby sis

2010-06-08T07:00:00.001-04:00

Sharing breakfast with Dale at Disney World.

Being beamed up my aliens at the X-Files convention.

It is always an adventure!

Happy birthday, Mel.

Granny Along Week #6

2010-06-07T07:30:00.000-04:00

Welcome to week 6 of the granny along.

Can you believe we are less than a month away from the end of the granny along? Feeling the pressure yet? I am! :)

Week 6 task: take stock of your squares by figuring out how many squares you have left

Extra task: tell what gets you in the mood to crochet

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I think this is the perfect week to figure out how we are all doing. I don't like to be rushed, so I would totally freak out if it was the last week and I still had 15 squares to crochet!

So far, I have 7 squares completed, so I still need 13 more to crochet. I also need to remember to include time to join the squares and crochet the edging.

Since we have three and a half weeks to go, I have divided my squares, joining, and edging among the remaining weeks. The next two weeks are going to be a very busy for me!

This week I am going to try to finish 7 squares. That will give me 14 completed squares, and then only 6 left to do. Next week I'll try to finish the remaining 6 squares, which will give me the final week and a half to join the squares and complete the edging. Whew!

Remember, your granny square blankets are to be completed on June 30!!!

Extra task: I like to put on a movie that I love and have seen a million times when I have a lot of crocheting to do. This way I can enjoy the movie, but not have to concentrate too much on it and focus my concentration on crocheting.

Some of my faves: Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Girls Just Want to Have Fun, Real Genius, and of course Twilight.

Jumping in feet first

2010-06-03T07:04:00.000-04:00

Well, I think I might have completely lost my mind! I have signed up for Sew Mama Sew's Make it Wear it challenge. The challenge: to sew a piece of clothing in the month of June.

Now, I've only been sewing with the machine for a week and a half, but I am jumping in feet first. After all, what is the worst that can happen?

Poor Theo!

I've chosen this super simple pattern, or so the instructions say.

We'll see exactly how simple it really is.

I'm making the shirt only. I think pants are a little too much for me right now. And, I didn't realize it until last night, but the shirt has 3 pockets too. Good grief!

Now I just need to get some fabric. Any suggestions? I'm assuming a cotton fabric is the best for scrubs. I haven't read the pattern yet, so I am not sure if it offers fabric suggestions. I guess I should look it over soon. :)

Punkin' Cupcake (Destash Along Project #13)

2010-06-02T07:00:00.000-04:00

It has been awhile since I've done a destash along project. This past weekend I decided to continue with my machine sewing and dug through my fabric stash to make this little sweetie:

I love my little cupcake plushie. I didn't have any light colored fabric for the top, so I used some left over Halloween fabric I had purchased last year. It really looks very fall-ish. Ooh, I can't wait for fall. Only 4 months away!!!

For the bottom, I used some ribbed brown fabric I got at Walmart several years ago. I am so glad I finally found a use for it.

The eyes and cherry are from my felt stash. The mouth is embroidered on and the cheeks are eyeshadow. I had to use pink because the red didn't show up very well.

It was a very simple pattern, though I did have to use my seam ripper once. I sewed the top and bottom on the wrong side. It gave me lots of practice on removing stitches. :)

If you'd like to make your own cupcake plushie, visit Bit of Whimsy Dolls for the pattern. There are a lot of really cute patterns, but this one looked to be the easiest. That is what I need now, easy patterns!

Granny Along Week #5

2010-05-31T18:26:00.001-04:00

Welcome to week 5 of the granny along.

Since it is Memorial Day today, I thought we'd take it a little easy this week.

Week 5 task: crochet 2 granny squares; post pictures of your squares or your progress

Extra task: tell your favorite summer recipe. Feel free to post a picture and/or recipe.

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I got so wrapped up in sewing with my machine this week that my crocheting took a back seat. I only finished my green centers. I now have all of the centers completed and one complete one finished.

This week I am going to try to finish all 6 of the green centered squares completely. That will give me 7 completed squares. I'll still be a little behind schedule, but not too much.

Extra task: One of my favorite summer recipes is zucchini bread.

While I was a kid, every summer my family would take a vacation to Pittsburgh, PA to visit my great aunt and uncle. Each morning for breakfast my great aunt would make us zucchini bread made from her garden vegetables. It was awesome, especially with cream cheese. Now, every time I eat zucchini bread it reminds me of those summers.

Ingredients

3 eggs
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 2/3 cups packed brown sugar
2 cups grated zucchini
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup golden raisins
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Directions

In a large bowl, beat eggs well. Add oil, brown sugar, zucchini, and vanilla; stir well. Blend in flour, cinnamon, baking powder, soda, and salt. Stir in raisins and nuts. Pour batter into two greased and floured 9 x 5 inch loaf pans.
Bake at 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) for 1 hour. Cool.

The ugliest sofa could be in my house!

2010-05-28T08:06:00.000-04:00

Pink and Polka Dot is hosting a really funny contest, the ugliest sofa contest. I know I have an ugly sofa, maybe not the ugliest, but I thought I would add it to the mix anyway.

I bought this sofa when I first moved to North Carolina. It was purchased from Rooms to Go for next to nothing. One thing I have learned from buying really cheap furniture is you get what you pay for!

About 6 months after buying the sofa, and 100 flips of the cushions, I had to invest in a support plank for under the cushions, since they had already formed grooves from where my bum had been. You can see one of them where Drusilla is laying. She only weighs 10 pounds so it doesn't affect her, but I sit on it and go straight to the wooden frame!

Check out the fabric! I am not sure what kind it is, but it is really rough, like sandpaper rough. Before I bought my slipcover I had to put a towel or blanket down to be able to sit on it.

The color is pretty gross too: green squares with brown and gold specs.

The only ones in the house who like the sofa are the girls. They really like the nubby feel of the fabric. I'm really not sure why because I hate it.

I had the sofa for about a year when I adopted Drusilla. I think she figured since the couch felt a lot like her scratching post she'd scratch it too.

This is just one of three scratched spots. I have tried on several occasions to sew the couch back together again, but the fabric is so weird and has unraveled to where I can't do it anymore. So, that is when I invested in my first slipcover. We are now on our second one and it makes the couch look a lot nicer and easier to sit on.

Every year when I get my tax money back I say I am going to buy myself a new sofa and then I don't. I really think next year might be the year. This ugly, painful thing has really got to go!

Want to see more ugly sofas? Swing by Pink and Polka Dot to see the other entries! There are some real doozies there. :)

WIP update

2010-05-26T07:10:00.003-04:00

A few weeks ago I posted a shadowbox WIP.

Everyone had such great ideas of what to put in my shadowbox. In the end, I went with Laurie's idea of "a small collection".

I scoured my house looking for a small collection of something, and came across some old skeleton keys that I had bought several years ago from Pottery Barn.

They are a little large, but I think they look pretty good.

I did have the hardest time figuring out how to hang them up, especially since they are pretty heavy. I came up with using a few straight pins, strategically placed around each key.

You really can't see them unless you get right in front of them. So, I'll just have my visitors stand several feet back to admire my wall art, like they do at the art galleries. :)

A whole new world

2010-05-25T09:00:00.000-04:00

I am now so completely hooked on using a sewing machine. Or, I guess I should say sew completely hooked. :) Thanks to my friend Debbie, I have now learned the basics of machine sewing. And wow, is it so much faster than hand sewing.

This past weekend, I completed my very first machine sewing project. And, I did it all by myself! What did I sew? How about two throw pillows.

I know this might be insanely easy for those of you who sew, but this was a huge deal for me. I had to measure the fabric, cut it, fold it, sew it, and close it. That is a HUGE deal!

I even finished in a few hours, though as you can see from the picture it did take me into the night.

No destash project here, though I did use two old throw pillows for the inserts.

I bought the fabric from Joann Fabric. I almost didn't buy this exact fabric because it was a little pricey, at least for my wallet ($10 a yard and I needed two yards). But I thought it would be better to get home decor fabric instead of quilting fabric, so I went for it. I am glad I did, because when the fabric was scanned it was on sale for $6 a yard!

And yesterday while looking through the new Pottery Barn catalog, I came across a pillow that looks very similar to mine.

photo credit

Too cool! Their pillow covers are $29 a piece. I spent $13 for both!!! And, I like my fabric better with the blue, green, and tan stripes. It matches my room perfectly.

Having used the pillows for a few days now, boy am glad I went for the home decor fabric. It is thicker and doesn't wrinkle! I now need to make a slip cover in this material. Yeah, right! I think that is a little advanced for me. Maybe I'll just buy a new couch. :) Though my slipcover does look a lot better now that I ironed it.

So now that I am completely obsessed with machine sewing, I am looking for sewing blogs/websites. Anyone have any suggestions? I have already checked out Sew Mama Sew, Whip Up, and Purl Bee. Any others that are must reads? Or any great free patterns?

I have something sweet that I'll be attempting to sew this weekend. I'll post my pics next week.

Granny Along Week #4

2010-05-24T08:40:00.004-04:00

Welcome to week 4 of the granny along.

So, have you finally gotten the hang of your pattern now? I hope so, because this week we are really going to work our little fingers!

Week 4 task: crochet 4 granny squares; post pictures of your squares or your progress

Extra task: tell what your favorite yarn is and if you are using it for your project. Are you destashing?

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Well, I accomplished my goal from last week by completing all 13 white inner squares. I already completed one white centered square.

Now this week I will finish the 6 remaining green inner squares, plus 4 completed squares. I think I can do it. I just need a little positive thinking!

Extra task: My favorite yarn is Vanna's Choice from Lion Brand. Unfortunately, I am not using any of that yarn for this lapghan. I am using destashed white yarn and green Red Heart Super Saver yarn.

I don't know what kind of yarn the white is, but it is actually working out very well. It is really easy to crochet with and is a little softer than the green yarn.

Sew Through the Decades

2010-05-18T08:20:00.000-04:00

I came across a completely awesome craft along while entering all of the giveaways over at Sew Mama Sew.

Sew Through the Decades reminded me of last year's craft a long, Crafting Through the '80s. Ooh, I love these kinds of craft alongs, so I just had to join even though I can't sew with a machine. :)

I really had to give this a lot of thought to come up with something that I could contribute to the craft along, all the while following the rules. After all, the craft along is for period clothing and you know I can't do clothing of any kind.

So, after several hours of deliberating about how in the world I was going to be able to join this craft along, it hit me. Why not sew doll clothes! So, that is what I am going to do.

I first had to come up with a doll pattern. I was originally going to choose The Purl Bee and Mimi Kirchner's doll pattern for my felt doll. Isn't she cute!

But I wanted to be able to use my dolls for my shop. So, last night, while watching The Big Bang Theory, I drew a little doll pattern. It is weird, but I come up with some of my best crafts while watching that show. Maybe Sheldon's intelligence rubs off on me through the TV waves. :)

Anyway, I am going to really try and make one doll per decade. This might be a little difficult since I am working on the granny along too, but at least I'll be contributing to my new shop in the process.

The challenge begins on May 30 with 1900-1909. I have no idea what the fashion was like back then, so I'm off to do research. It should be a lot of fun!

If you want to join too, swing by A Lemon Squeezy Home to get the details.

Granny Along Week #3

2010-05-17T09:30:00.001-04:00

Welcome to week 3 of the granny along.

So, how were the first few granny squares? Any issues? I had the hardest time with row 2 of the La Push pattern. But after 4 tries I finally figured it out. Once I got over that hurdle, the rest of the square was a piece of cake.

Now get ready, we are going to up the square count this week. :)

Week 3 task: crochet 3 granny squares; post pictures of your squares or your progress

Extra task: tell a little about your favorite crochet blog/website. Don't forget to include a link to the site so we can visit too!

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Well, I am proud to post a picture of my very first completed granny square.

It is not pretty, especially the lower left hand corner, but it is done! It is a lot bigger than I had anticipated too, but that is what I really wanted to learn so it is fine.

I really don't know why it took me so long to get the hang of this, but I'm glad I have one completed to use as a template for the other 19.

After finishing this one square, I realized that I need to attack my squares in a different manner. Instead of doing each square in its entirety I am going to do them in stages. Now that I have mastered the second row, I am going to make all of the inner granny squares first (rows 1 & 2) and then will move onto the remaining rows.

So, my task for this week is to finish all of the white centers. I currently have 7 completed, but still need 7 more. If I have time I am going to try to push myself to finish the remaining 6 green centers too, but we'll have to see about that. :)

Extra task: A few weeks ago I posted about 2 of my favorite crochet/craft blogs, Posie Gets Cozy and Attic 24. Both are fantastic blogs!

I popped over to Attic 24 this morning and saw that Lucy is working on granny stripes, which is kind of like a granny square but in a row instead of in a square.

She's in the process of putting together a tutorial for it and I can't wait. Maybe I'll have mastered the granny square by then and can whip up something in granny stripes to match!

Tidying Up

2010-05-14T09:00:00.002-04:00

Daphne, where are you?

Daphne: Is someone calling my name?

What are you doing in my closet you crazy girl?

Daphne: Just folding your clothes, Mama!

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We'll be tidying up all weekend, and throwing in a little crocheting too.

Enjoy the weekend!

Cooking Basics

2010-05-13T07:39:00.002-04:00

My dinner cooking is sub par to say the least. I mean I can make spaghetti and turkey hamburgers, but not much more that isn't cooked in a crock pot. So, I am on a mission to learn more advanced and involved dinner meals that I can whip up whenever company comes over. Hopefully, some of them will be vegetarian and healthy too.

A few months ago I made my very first Shepherds Pie.

It turned out awesome, and I felt very proud that I had made something fairly complicated. Well, complicated for me is anything that requires more than 4 ingredients.

So, last weekend I went through all of my cookbooks and chose an even more complicated recipe. . . Homemade Chicken Pot Pies.

This recipe not only required multiple ingredients and several pots and pans, but also required me to bake frozen pastry dough for the first time.

The final outcome. . .

A really tasty and pretty chicken pot pie. The pastry dough fit perfectly on top of my brand new Crate and Barrel ramekins, and was just enough "crust" for the pot pie.

Now what to try next? Maybe my sister's Penne Arrabiata. It takes forever to make (last time she made it I supervised), but it is super tasty. Or a BBQ chicken pizza from Gooseberry Patch. The pizza should be easier now that I know how to work with frozen dough. :)

WIP Wednesday

2010-05-12T07:25:00.003-04:00

I've had this WIP for a little over a month now. It is white shadowbox that I bought at Marshalls for a really great price. I added a little green wrapping paper to the inside and a white, ceramic bird from Michaels on top.

You can see that I have it hanging in my living room by my mantle.

The colors match, but I have no idea what to do with it. I really don't want to add pictures to it, so I'm thinking of something crafty.

What do you think of something like this from Lollychops?

photo credit

Lollychops had a whole week on framed craft flowers. They were sewn, cut out of felt, twisted from ribbon, made from pom poms, and crocheted. Super cute!

Any other suggestions? Or should I just leave it the way it is?

Oh, Martha! You've done it again.

2010-05-11T07:30:00.001-04:00

Clothing Fix-It Kit

photo credit

This kit is genius and cheap!

I have a little ceramic box where I keep all of my spare buttons. They are all in one spot, but I can't figure out which button goes to which outfit. Now, with Martha's help, I can figure it out a whole lot easier. Thanks, Martha!

Granny Along Week #2

2010-05-10T08:45:00.002-04:00

Welcome to week 2 of the granny along.

Hopefully everyone has gathered their supplies and taken a peek at their pattern. I know I have, several times. :) This week, we'll begin to crochet our granny squares.

Week 2 task: crochet 2 granny squares; post pictures of your squares or your progress

Extra task: tell if you use anything to count while crocheting (ie: a stitch counter, stitch marker, paper clip, etc.)

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As you can see, I have not finished my granny squares yet. Oops! I was asked to put together a crochet tutorial for a really cool new website, so I had to put my granny squares on the back burner.

I was going to hold off posting the lesson until I completed them, but realized that was stupid. So, I'll add my pictures to this post when they are completed (hopefully, tonight or tomorrow). I can do my extra task though.

Extra task: I usually use some sort of stitch marker to count my rows, though, so far, my granny squares haven't required a stitch marker.

When I first started crocheting I bought some crochet stitch markers off Etsy. They were super cute and tiny, but worked well. I found out, while crocheting a huge whale blanket, that I needed some that were not only cute but useful. So, I made my own set of numbered stitch markers to mark each row.

I use these all of the time.

But just this weekend, while fooling around with my iTouch, I found two really awesome apps that act as a stitch counter. I just love my iTouch. :)

StitchMinder is a free app for Apple iPhone and iTouch. Its only purpose is to work as an electronic stitch counter. Pretty cool!

photo source

KnitMinder is available for Apple iPhone and iTouch for free for the lite version or for $2.99 for the full version. I uploaded the free, lite version to see how I like it before I pay any money for it.

photo source

I haven't done too much work with it yet, but from what I've seen I really like it.

On the bottom bar, you can add your projects, photos, patterns, yarn in your stash (my stash might break the app), hooks and needles, and notes for the projects. Once you add a project, you can begin to use the built in stitch counter.

The really cool thing about this app is you can have a stitch counter for each project and you can include notes, like what hook you are using. That is my big issue. I am always forgetting what hook I need for each project.

The only drawback to the lite version is there is a limit to how many projects, patterns, yarn, etc. you can add. So, if I like it a lot I'll pay the $2.99 and upload the full version. After all, $2.99 is a great price for my sanity. :)

Craft Room Revamp - Wall of Art (repost)

2010-05-07T07:45:00.000-04:00

I've been wanting to take part in The Shabby Nest's Frugal Friday for awhile, but have yet to finish a new frugal project. I hope to have a new Frugal Friday project and tutorial completed by next Friday, but until then here is a repost of one of last year's frugal projects.

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Here is my second craft room/office renovation project that I finished over the weekend. For this project, I wanted to add some wall art to a blank wall. I have found some really cute wall art on Etsy, but am really on a budget crunch for the rest of the year. So, instead of waiting to do something until next year, I decided to get a little inventive and cheap, yet again.

Photo courtesy of AllPosters.

Have you seen the British saying, "Keep Calm and Carry On"? Well, I just love it and really wanted to purchase one of the cute posters, but just don't have the money now. This one is $100.00!

As I was searching the internet for wall art ideas, I came across this adorable "Keep Calm and Carry On" project, but it required me to buy jeweled letters. My goal for this projects was to keep it as cheap as possible, so I continued searching online. About a half an hour later, I almost jumped out of my computer chair when I found this:

Not only is it a free download of the poster, but it is cherry red! Perfect for the new look of my craft room!

I downloaded the size I needed, printed it on cardstock that I already had, matted it with a piece of scrapbook paper that I already had, and framed it in a white frame that I already had. Grand total = $0.00!

I was so excited with my free project, but still needed something else on the wall. I had come across this really cute framed fabric idea during my internet searching. I decided to give it a try.

I was so excited to have found the exact Dollar Store frames that the tutorial shows. So, I picked up four for $4.00 (that's a lot of fours)! I then went back to my fabric bin and chose four different swatches of fabric (pastel plaid; pink and blue flowers; red and white polkadots; and the red, pink, and green fabric used on the bulletin board revamp).

Once I cut the fabric and placed it in the mini frames, I hung two on each side of my new, red poster.

Ta Da! My wall of art, which only cost me $4.00! Another awesomely cheap craft project.

Etsy Love

2010-05-06T07:40:00.002-04:00

Record Letterpress Coasters

by Parrott Design Studio

WIP Wednesday

2010-05-05T08:11:00.000-04:00

Creative Crochet is hosting a weekly theme for everyone's works in progress, WIP Wednesday.

My week's WIP is a dishcloth that I've been working on since December.

It is almost done. I really think it is time to finish it, maybe this week. :)

Kitty Art

2010-05-04T07:18:00.000-04:00

The mailman delivered Drusilla's and Daphne's paintings this past weekend!

They are a lot bigger than I had anticipated, but they fit great on my mantle. Daphne's picture matches my color scheme perfectly. Drusilla's, not so much. :)

I've had the little plaque that is now hanging under the mirror since college. I am so glad I now have the perfect place for it. It is a quote from Samuel Johnson:

photo credit

Here lives a very fine cat indeed.

I wish I could add an "s" to cats, because in my house lives two very fine cats indeed!

Granny Along Week #1

2010-05-03T08:54:00.004-04:00

Eric: LaPush, baby! You in?

Bella: Should I know what that means?

. . . . . . . . . . .

Sure you should, Bella. It means it is the first week of our granny along. Are you ready?!! Well, let's jump right in.

Week 1 tasks: tell which pattern you chose: La Push Blanket or DROPS Blanket; who you are making the pattern for and why; and review your chosen pattern for questions or potential problem areas.

Extra task: post a picture of your supplies

Of course you can begin making your granny squares if you are so inclined, but I thought it would be nice to see which pattern everyone chose before we begin crocheting.

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As you know, I have chosen the La Push Blanket, though I am currently rethinking my choice. I took a look at the pattern this weekend and am completely stumped on the second row. I am going to look at it again tonight and hope that I was just tired. If not, it is going to be a long 2 months. :)

I am making the blanket for myself to get some granny square practice. I have a very interesting home decor granny square project that I want to get started on, but I have never attempted granny squares before. This is the purpose of this granny along!

Drusilla is keeping an eye on all of my La Push Blanket supplies, or maybe she's just waiting for me to turn my back so she can gnaw on some yarn. :) I have a ton more white yarn, but I thought three skeins was good for now. I am a little concerned about the green. I just hope I don't need to buy another gigantic green skein.

How do you like my new snazzy reading glasses?

I've been having problems seeing really close lately, so my doctor suggested reading glasses. I got the lowest grade I could find at Michaels for $2.00! I thought they looked like a crafter's reading glasses. The pair I got for work cost me $25.00, but they are a lot more subdued.

Okay, so now it is your turn. If you are planning on blogging about the granny along, just post a link to your Week 1 post in the comment section. Or, you can just answer the questions in the comment section. Whatever works for you works for me!

This weekend I finally got around to making a granny along button too.

Feel free to post it on your blog or your posts.

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Update: 5/4/10 - Thanks to Megan's suggestion of adding a linky tool, below is a place to link your week 1 post. I'll be sure to add a linky tool each week so we can view everyone's progress.

Also, thanks to Rachel at One Pretty Thing for posting about the granny along!

Update: 5/5/10 - The La Push Blanket's pattern has been updated. Please download the updated free pattern if you downloaded it before 5/4/10.