Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Crocheted Ornaments

I don't quite know what to call these little ornaments. They aren't really snowflakes...kinda a cross between a snowflake and a granny square! Aren't they fun. I came up with these this past weekend. I had other things I could have worked on, but I was bored, and the idea for these ornaments has been lurking in my head for a little while now. I used embroidery floss and a small crochet hook for these. They look great on a Christmas tree. I like them in Christmas colors but would also like to try them in some jewel tone colors and maybe add some beads.
Crochet Granny Square Ornament

These are actually double sided, meaning the ornament is actually two grannies crocheted together, so it has a neat weight to it. I especially like the octagon-shaped ornament.

Crochet Granny Square Ornament

Crochet Granny Square Ornament
With Christmas coming soon I can't seem to focus, I have so many projects I want to get done in time for Christmas! Scarves to make, ornaments, and a couple other little goodies. Let's hope the long Thanksgiving weekend will give some time to do some of these things!

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Large Knitting Tote!

Large Granny Square Tote

Yes, it is big!! But I plan on filling this fella full of yarn and projects so I can tote them with me wherever I go! Right now I have the outer shell done. I am working on a reinforcement for the bottom of the bag, and then a fully crocheted liner. Trust me, you could run over this bad boy with a truck and it wouldn't hurt it!

I am extremely pleased with how well the colors look together. It's exactly as I had visioned. And I would guess this bag is a good 30 inches deep. I have a pillow stuffed in it to take this picture!

I have an extremely busy weekend coming up, so I doubt I'll get to work on it much this week, and I need to put some focus on out new etsy shop...hopefully we will have some items listed this week!

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

An Amazing Man

This video made such an impression on me...I think everyone should watch it!


Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Fun Distraction

I have to admit, I have been slightly distracted the past couple of weeks! My crochet has sat next to my chair on idle for a few days now. So today I got back into the groove and am working on my granny square tote bag with hopes of finishing it up soon.

In the meantime, my sister-in-law and I have decided to open an etsy shop to sell some of our cards. I love making cards and the idea of selling them sounds like fun. From there it has grown...Rhonda was talking about recycling in our crafts and was wanting to do something with the huge mountain of plastic grocery bags she had accumulated. I had a good size mountain as well! So, we got busy making some "plarn"! It's time consuming, but kind of fun, mindless busy work...which I love since it keeps my hands busy.

I crocheted up a nice size tote bag using Food Lion and Walmart bags. Actually it took longer to make the "plarn" than it did to work up the bag!

Plarn Tote Bag

I'm quite pleased with the way this has turned out! Some of these will definitely go into our new etsy shop!

So my mind has been busy with creating some "upcycled" items for the new shop. I had a couple of wine bottles I had been saving with hopes of making something out of them. I got this idea from a girl I work with!




















I had a hard time getting a decent photo of this, but it gets the general idea across. I strung a strand of 20 miniature lights into the bottle through a hole I had drilled in the back. Added some artificial grapes, some ribbon, and a glass ornament at the top. Perfect Christmas gift for a wine lover.

So, now I am soliciting everyone I know for empty wine bottles! And I have all kinds of ideas of how to dress these bottles.

It would be so nice if I had more time to work on these things, but a full time job and life in general has to be tended to first!

Since Thanksgiving is coming and Fall is here, I have been sprucing up the house to cozy it up for the cooler fall nights. This is my favorite time of year! And here in NC, the colors have put on a beautiful show this fall!



















A corner of the living room. I filled up this urn with fall silks I have collected over the years!















I made this up in a matter of minutes using some artificial pumpkins I had, fall leaves, and a basket that was given to me! It's a pretty good size and sits next to the entry way to the living room. I added some miniature lights in the leaves and it glows! I think once Christmas gets closer I will take this apart and use the basket for some kind of Holiday arrangement. I've been picking up pine cones and think they would be so pretty in this basket.

It's raining outside, very dark, and a definite chill is in the air...I got on my comfy pj's and slippers and am headed towards my favorite seat in the house with my favorite quilt, and thinking I'll pick up my crochet hook for awhile until I head for bed! Sound a little bit like heaven?! It does to me!