Twilight Weekend with crocheting

My cousin/friend, Liz, and I usually spend one day a week together doing something.  Well since Thanksgiving, we have hardly seen each other.  So, this Friday and Saturday, we had a Twilight weekend.  We watched the first 2 movies on Friday then the last 3 on Saturday.  I brought my crochet to work on while we watched the movie.  I bought this Bucilla kit at Hobby Lobby over 15 years ago on the reduced for quick sale aisle.  I had started this kit back in December and had completed 10 of the blue and white squares.  I have to make 24 blue and white squares and 24 sunflower squares.  I didn't tuck the ends on the blue and white square.  So, I spent most of Friday on tucking the ends.  I finished the other 14 blue and white squares over the two days. 

Over the weekend, a tornado hit Hattiesburg and Petal (towns near where I live).  The power was out where I worked (in Hattiesburg).  So, on Monday, we didn't have classes.  I spent the day on my couch stitching and crocheting.  I did a different project every hour.  One hour I worked on my sunflower afghan.  The completed sunflower square you see in the picture below was completed in December.  I had also made all 24 brown circles for the sunflower. I tucked all the ends on the brown circles and put the yellow petals on the centers you see in the picture.  I decided to put all the petals on all the circles then crochet the green background.  I thought it would be easier than doing each square completely.

I'm going a little out of order but I keeping the theme together.  Well once a month on Sunday, my sisters, a few of our close friends, and I get together and stitch.  This year we decided to do exchanges.  If you look at my post last week you can see where I got the pattern for making my tool.  I sewed ort contains out of triangles.  Every time I sew, I think I can do this.  And EVERY TIME I get on the sewing machine, I act like a 2-years old throwing a temper tantrum.  My sewing machine pulls the fabric at one speed on one side and an slower speed on the other.  I start out with a 1/4-inch seam allowance and end with a 1/2-inch or 1/8-inch seam allowance.  Well, what should have taken me 1 hour to make took 2-1/2 hours.  They turned out really cute but I forgot to take a picture of all of them (I made 7).

I worked on the S&BF - A Friend's house and Trilogy's - Line Up Boy.  The Boy I am going to make into a Christmas Cracker ornament for my nephew Leif.  Each year my sisters, sisters-in-laws, and I get ornaments for a niece or nephew.  We have the same ones every year.  My two are Nicholas and Leif.  I always get Nicholas a superhero that is popular that year.  Leif's ornament changes depending on his interest each year.  I think this one will be cute. 

A Friend's House - S&BF

Line Up Boy - Trilogy

 Well, I'm off to a good start this year.  I hope to continue posting each week.  This weekend I plan on working on several different projects.  Thanks for stopping by my blog.  Have a great day.

Sharon

The first full week of June, what did I do?

 My stitching/crafting group decided to do a different craft each month this year.  I found this craft at Michael's; one of the freebie sheets.  So in January we started it.  Th craft is a shag rug made using fabric, latch hook, and latch hook canvas.  Only 3 of us decided to do it.  The hard part was cutting out the fabric in 1 inch by 6 inch strips with the pinking shears.  I bought 6 yards of fabric like the pattern suggested.  Well at first I was putting a strip in every column but every other row.  It was really thick but used a lot of fabric; I had put in 3 rows.  So I put it aside.  Then this week my cats kept laying on it and scratching on it.  So, I decided that the rug would be one of my next finishes.

 I took out all of the strips that I had put in and restarted.  This time I put the strips in every other column and every other row.  At the same time I staggered the columns for more coverage.  I worked on it for 3 evenings.  This is what I have so far.  I ran out of fabric strips and had to buy more.  While I was getting my fabric at Hobby Lobby, the lady who works there asked me what I was going to do with the fabric.  I told her I was cutting it into strips using my pinking shears.  She showed me a cutting tool that uses the bigger heavy duty ruler and makes the pinking shear cut.  Tomorrow I will cut up the strips for the second have of the rug.  I will let you know how the cutting system works.

 The second project that I completed this week was a punch needle Christmas kit.  I think my sister-in-law Mari or my sister Jennifer bought these kits.  They decided that they didn't like punch needle and gave them to me.  I'm thinking that it was Jennifer because Mari gave punch needle ornaments in our family exchange one year.  Well anyway,  I started this a year ago on our girls retreat in July.  It was about halfway finished.  I'm still learning on this it is not as easy as you would think.

Yesterday Jennifer and I went to town to buy the supplies for our groups project today, String Art.  I wanted to buy a kit but we couldn't find one.  So I bought my thread and wood.  When I got home I varnished the piece of wood with mahogany.  Then last night I found my picture.  I love daisies.   I decided that making the vines would be  complicated, so I am going to use my cousin Liz's wood burning tool to make the vines.  I had a good time, making this.  I am going to make it into a key rack. 







The last completed project was for my sister Bridget.  I don't think that I have crocheted her an amigurumi.  So while I was surfing the net for my string art pattern, I came across this cute little coffee cup on crochetjp.com.  It is a really quick crochet only three parts, the cup, the coffee, and the handle.  I gave it to her today at our stitch group meeting.  She loved it and now Jennifer wants one. 

I made progress on a couple of my other projects.  Here is the progress on Sam's Socks, Shorts, N Such by Raise the Roof and on my needlepoint Halloween Pudgy.  I have 3 more panels to complete for the Pudgy.  This was a needlepoint kit that I bought only.  There are five panels.  Each month I received a stitching guide and the threads to work on the panel.  Two months of kits completed one panel.  I completed one panel last year at the stitching retreat and started another one.  I want to complete this panel before the stitching retreat so that I will start on a new one at the retreat. 

 Now I don't know about you but I have like 6 bags in my living room and/or office with stuff started.  One of my goals is to only have one bag.  I bought fabric for my sister Jennifer to make a tote bag for me.  It will be a large charm bag with about 4 long pockets and about 4 to 6 square pockets, and a pocket on the side.  The idea is that each long pocket will contain a needlepoint, a cross-stitch, a punch needle, stuff like that.  The square pockets will hold my crochet yarn.  The side pocket will hold the framed project that I would be working on.  I hope that we finish it before our retreat.  I would love to use it as the bag to carry all of my crafts for the week.

Well thanks for stopping by.  I have to go, two of my nephews want me to build a tent in the bed while they watch Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and the Lego Movie.

Sharon

Week #1 - 2 Completed projects

Liz's scrubbie on booklet

Welcome.  Here are the first projects that I have completed this year.  First up are the leaf -shaped scrubbies that started my amigurumi obsession of last year.  The pattern comes from Lily's Sugar'n Cream Eco-Kitchen booklet from 2009.  I crocheted 7 of these scrubbies (1 for my mom, 1 for my friend/cousin Liz, 1 for each sister, 1 for each sister-in-law and 1 for me.)  They turned out cute.  I didn't put the veins on the leaves because I thought that it wouldn't last long if the girls actually used them.  I had some yarn left over, so I crocheted an acorn-shaped dishcloth.  Well of course I ran out of yarn before I finished the dishcloth.  But, it looked like an acorn so I just tied off and tucked the ends.

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Three scrubbies for Mom, Katie, and me

The acorn-shaped dishcloth

Tyler in his new hat

Week 2,  I pulled Tyler's hat.  During Christmas holidays I was working on an elephant for my cousin Pam's granddaughter.  Well Tyler put it on his head; it looked like a hat.  Bridget saw him and asked me to crochet Tyler a hat.  She bought the orange yarn and I crocheted him the hat. I really don't like this yarn because it sticks to your skin (especially if it is dry).  But it is a warm yarn.

Side view of the hat

Tucker in his hat

Then on the way home the night I gave Tyler his hat, Tucker tried it on.  Guess what?   You guessed it,  Tucker wanted a hat also.  Thursday evening Bridget gave me the yarn.  I dropped the hat off to Tim (her husband) at work on Friday.  Both hats are really cute and warm,




So, last night I pulled the next slip of paper.  It is crochet Mario for Patrick.  Most of these projects are already started or I have the supplies for them.  Well this one I have already crocheted Mario's head and arms.  Basically, I have the body and feet left to crochet then put it together.  I hope to finish it next week.

While doing all of this crocheting, I am working on a cross stitch project.  It is Bent Creek's Summer Snapperland.  I love these patterns they are quick and simple.  I should have finished it last year but I got sidetracked.  I have the sailor and the boat to finish on the 3rd pattern and 1/2 of the forth pattern and the border (plus the buttons and snaps).  But I hope to finish it in January.

Well, I need to finish cleaning the house before I can sit down and stitch while I catch up on Supernatural.  Thanks for stopping by.

Sharon

Stitching Weekend and Finished Projects

Well, I finished my dad's afghan at the end of November. The pattern had rows that repeated. It looks like it would not be warm but it is very warm. I think he will love it. I also bought him the movie "The Pathfinder" with Karl Urban. As far as the other afghans are going. I should finish Tim's afghan by Christmas, but Ricky and Hobbie's afghans will be boxes of yarn under the tree.

Now this weekend, Lisha, Teresa, Jennifer, Bridget, and I got together at a different home each day to stitch. Friday, the first day, we stitched at Jennifer's house. I crocheted on Tim's afghan for a couple of hours. Then I worked on my ornament for the ornament exchange we had today. I stitched "Gift" from Lizzie Kate, then I stitched on the border for Bent Creek's Red Thread Series. When I got home, my nephews Theron and Tucker wanted to spend the night. So I let them. I thought they would want to help decorate the tree. Well, they didn't rather they wanted to play Pikmin on the Wii.

Saturday we started at 1:00 at Teresa's. Again, I worked on the afghan and finished what you see above on the border. Now I have the right side of the border and the words. I decided to do the words in a dark red. Then I worked on another Round Robin that needed finishing. The pattern is "Victorian Bear Stocking" a part of Designs for the Needle's Christmas Tradition. The pattern was completed in the round robin but the back-stitching is the thing that needs to be finished. The pattern is hard to follow for the back-stitching because they use two very similar reds to show back-stitching with different color thread. I didn't stitch a lot of back-stitching.

When I got home, my brother Ricky asked me to keep Leif, his son. Leif is 10-months old and fighting the urge to sleep. He is adorable and we finally got to bed at 11:30.
Today, I worked on "Fall Crazy" by Lizzie Kate. I had already stitched the body of the turkey. I stitched on the is one a long time. Then I switched to the Celtic Mystery Stitch-a-long by Ink Circles. I worked on the border and one of the squares.

Fall Crazy

We did an ornament exchange. As I said, I stitched "Gifts" from Lizzie Kate. I got in the exchange the snowman. Which is perfect since snowmen are my favorite.

Jennifer stitched "Cookies" which Teresa got, Lisha stitched the snowman which I got, Teresa stitched the Noel which Bridget got, and Bridget brought the wreath of bells which Lisha got and Jennifer got my ornament.

Tonight I am home alone. No one is spending the night (other than the dog). I am ready for bed. My mother and I are going "combat" Christmas shopping in the morning.

Well thanks for stopping by,


Sharon

Sorry I Haven't Posted

As you know, the satellite modem was down at my house. Well my brother Pete got the part and put it in the machine. Then..... nothing happened. So now we are waiting on a technician to come out to the country and check out the satellite link and everything. Right now I am using a friends computer to post.

So what is new? I found a temporary job teaching math in a high school (the one I posted about in my last post but it is only 1 hour away). I'm teaching 9th and 10th graders Algebra I. At present we are preparing for the state test (which they need!) I now remember why I went to work at a community college. But, the students are cute, somewhat well behaved (they love to talk), and are generally easy to work with (when they aren't whining). I like working with them. I am continuing to teach one night class at the community college, and working for Sylvan. I am still looking for and praying for a permenant job at one of the local universities.

Oh, Oh, Oh! I almost forgot----my sister-in-law had her baby boy 8 days after my sister had her little boy. The new nephew was 8lbs 110z and 21 inches long. The babies are so cute. Leif is so laid back and calm while Tyler provides his opinion whenever he wants. That makes 6 nephews. Too many boys!!! Another set to play trains, swords, and video games with.

As for stitching, I have completed several things. I don't have any pictures right now but I will tell you what I have completed:
Knitted: dishtowel and two baby blankets
crocheted: an afghan (almost finished) and a dishcloth
cross stitched: finished my portion of a round robin (waiting on the next installment) and a biscornu
needlepoint: Finished a geometric square from the club I joined a couple of years ago.

I finished listening to the Left Behind Series on CD and am now listening to DaVinci Code on CD. I finished reading the Hobbit and am reading The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.

Well I got to go. Thanks for stopping by. I hope to have internet access soon and will post pictures of all the things on which I have been working.

Bad Modem, Bad, Bad Modem!

I have been without internet for two weeks. TWO WEEKS! No googling (or yahoo ing), no posting or reading blogs. I have been crazy without the internet. Right now I am using my sister's computer while waiting for my nephews to get home from school. By the way, we had a new addition to our family this week. My younger sister had her baby on Wednesday. They are getting ready to go home today. He was born at 1:02 pm. 7 lbs 11oz and 20.5 inches long. (He is so small with really long fingers and toes). He is cute. Back on topic, my brother Pete should be fixing the modem this weekend. I will have internet really soon.

As for work, I have been offered a teaching position for the rest of the school year. (The teacher is taking maternity leave). The only problem is that the job is an hour and half away with class starting at 7:30 am. I am not a morning person at all. But, I think I will take it so that I can have some steady income for a few months. I also got hired at Sylvan which I think I will enjoy and continue through the summer (if they need me).

Well the boys have arrived and want to go to MawMaw's and PawPaw's house. They are loading their bikes on the truck and rushing me. So, when I get internet again I will post pictures of the afghan that I have finished and the books that I have read.

Thanks for stopping by,

Sharon

Group 10 Round Robin 2nd Mailing

I've finished stitching on Diane's Round Robin. It was pretty easy once I realized that it called for 3 threads instead of 2. So I had to frog my part and re-stitch it. I think it is really cute. I would have done the backstitching but did not have the color chart to do so. I will be mailing it on to Georgena tomorrow afternoon.

On a different note, I have an exchange that was suppose to go out on Monday. But, my nephew whose 5 has either hidden it or I have lost it. He said he put it in Maw Maw's basket but we can't find it. I have everything ready to go but the exchange piece. I hope to find it tomorrow or restitch it tomorrow. That will teach me to leave my stitching just laying around.

Well got to go. Thanks for stopping by.

Sharon

I'm going to be an Aunt (again) twice!!

My baby sister Bridget announced that she was pregnant at our family's 4th of July get together. It was kind of sweet how she did it. She put her son, Tucker, in a t-shirt that said "I'm the big BROTHER." Fun though, in a house full of smart people, it took a minute or two to realize what the shirt means.

Well, last night my baby brother, Ricky, and his wife announced they were having a baby also. The sent their son, Theron, in to my Mom's house wearing a t-shirt that said "No, I AM the Big Brother". On the back it said, "If Tucker gets one then I want one."

We are so excited. I can't wait. I wasn't in the state for the previous 4 births but will be for these two. They are due about a week apart in February.

The funny thing about this is a few weeks back I dreamed that my Mom (who keeps the children) was having to keep six little babies and Tucker. The three oldest were in school. Well, we are heading in that direction. Two babies and Tucker for the year 2009-2010. We are hoping for at least one girl since right now we have 4 boys.

Well, thanks for reading my gushing. Come by again soon; I should have some stitching to post soon.

Sharon Clark