Sunday, April 25, 2010

Granny Square Purse

I managed to finish another purse this week.  I love the way it has turned out.  I put in a crocheted lining to give it durability, and give it a great "bucket" shape as well.
I used two colors of the "Ty Dy" yarn, simply by accident.  I had squares made up from a good year ago and had run out of yarn.  Having another ball of Ty Dy in a different color, I decided to finish the squares in this to save from having to order more yarn.
Great effect blending the two!  I have been carrying my crochet in this back and forth to work/knit group!

Check out the Noro I scored in Alessandra's latest yarn swap!   Thank you Sara!  When I opened my package I squealed...Noro is the bomb!  I rarely treat myself because it is such a luxury.  I am searching for the perfect project to use this in.

Friday evening as a movie was playing, I managed to crank out a couple of wash clothes.  Love knitting these up, it's instant gratification!

I am actually making these up for Mother's Day presents.  This Stripes cotton in the Sugar & Cream is so pretty.  Great colors!

I am hopping over to the "Family Album" tab of my blog to add some old pictures!

Have a vest very close to being done, and a "binky" to start for a little baby boy (granny squares of course) and a wrap to make.  Can we say "busy"!

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

The Back Porch

Wanna meet me on the back porch???  Yes, I have the covered porch all pimped out for the summer!  My trash to treasure wicker furniture is really showing off!  I found the little end table at our Community Thrift store earlier this year for...get this...8 bucks!  Bam, a little bit of spray paint, and it fits right in. 

I managed to snag some cushions this past weekend for a total of $40...thank you - please!  So, we're ready!  I just added some pops of red, my plants, and it's on.  I do still have a couple of finishing touches, but I will wait til I get them done to reveal!

I'm love'n it.  Yes, that is a table runner tucked into that chair.  It was calling to me, and it ended up here.

And here is one final shot showing my handmade shirreted rug, which I am so proud of.  I wasn't sure it would look right here, but was pleasantly surprised.  Now, with the warmer weather, I have something to dig my toes into as I sit out here and knit, crochet and sip on something cold!

I have been so busy lately, in fact, a little busier than I care to be.  It has cut into my yarn time.  Despite that, I was able to finish up a purse this evening!  Hopefully some sun will be out in the next couple of days and I can get some pictures to post.  It has turned out really pretty.  I am now getting ready to start on another vest for a custom order.  Then a "meditation shawl" for another order.  Then a vest for myself.  So my crochet hook is going to be smoke'n for awhile!

I have been wanting to share some old pictures with my bloggy friends!  I have found it a new mission that I get some of these scanned and documented.  So, here we go....
First off, my mom.  I believe she is 17 here, and cute as a button!  Look at those purly whites!  When I was scanning this I was instantly hit with how much she and my niece look alike.  My mom is from a small town called Maskell, Nebraska.  Population 42.  I have been there only a couple times, but love it. 

This is my Grandma Alice and Grampa Ray (my dad's folks), taken on their wedding day July 4, 1934.  I do love this picture.  Her dress was actually blue.   I think she looks so pretty.  They actually had their ceremony in the morning followed by a breakfast.  This lady was at home with a crochet hook and yarn.  I remember her teaching me the ripple stitch when I was a kid.  You hear me talk about her often in my postings.

Here is my Grandma Esther (on the left), her baby sister, Gladys, and her identical twin sister, Violet.  Aren't they adorable??!  Grandma was born in 1904.  The baby is actually holding onto a harmonica.  When I discovered that I wondered if they had to give her that to pacify her.  She has that fussy look on her face. 

My grandma lived with her identical twin most of her life, until her sister died.  Auntie Violet had rheumatoid arthritis that crippled her.  My grandma on the other had was the picture of being healthy and fit.  I remember her telling my after Auntie died that she dreamt about her every night. 

I have to add here that my Gramma Esther had an eye for color that was unmatched.  She was a seamstress all her life.  Her crochet was eye candy, full of color...I loved it!

One more picture???

Here is a picture of the homeplace where my Grandma Alice was born in Oskaloosa, Iowa in the year 1913.  I just like this picture, I suppose for the little ducks in the foreground and the house fading in the background.  It looks old then! 

I am thinking that I will add a tab to this blog where I can begin posting my old photos and talk about them a little bit. 

I'm off now.  Going to get this purse blocked and ready to get pictures of!

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Scrappy Lengthwise Scarf No. 2!


Second Scrappy Lengthwise Scarf Complete!  I am so hooked on this pattern.  Watching the colors unfold and the texture pop out.  I only used two yarns in this scarf.  Both a variegated by TLC...the color is amazing.


I had to turn the light setting on the camera from auto to the little lightbulb, because it was photographing so bright. 

When the natural light hits it, it is about this brilliant!  I will definitely be making more of these.  I have scrappies galore that can be used.



I couldn't stop taking pictures.  I have more pictures on flickr or ravelry if you really want to see.

It's been a good week for me.  I have had some good conversations with a couple of close friends.  I am talking about the kind of friend who truly accepts you and loves you unconditionally.  People come and go, in and out of our lives.  There are those that pass through, there are those that walk with us all the way.  All have a reason. 

One such friend said to me, "every decision we make has a consequence...it may be a good consequence, it may be a bad.  And those consequenses affect those around us."  WOW!  I am a consequence!!!  I have felt as if "something's wrong with me" or "I'm not good enough" for so long.  Pain and hurt are a part of all of our lives, but if we carry it around with us everywhere we go, it will make us stagnate and weigh us down.  I feel like I've lost 50 pounds this week!


Sunday, April 11, 2010

Sunday

My Sunday has been wonderful.  Full of energy and creativity.

First, let me share the finished purse done for an etsy customer.  I am quite pleased at the way it worked up!

To give it extra strength I crocheted the lining using two strands of a coordinating cotton.  It really created a nice shape.
And the color of this ty dy yarn works up beautifully.  I do hope it's new owner will enjoy it.

When I said energy, I was not fibbing.  I pulled out some grannies I had started on about a year ago and began to add to them.  They are also out of this same ty dy cotton thread.  I imagine another purse will be forthcoming soon.
Just look at those colors!!  I only lack a couple squares to having the number I need, so it should be long before a bag will emerge!

Next, I had a request for a crochet vest for a facebook friend I have recently come to know again!  I have not seen her since I was a kid.  So, after searching through patterns, I came across this.  Perfect, very simple and kinda groovy.  Believe it or not, this thing worked up in one evening/morning!
Now how cute is this I ask you???  I am wanting one for myself actually.  I did improvise the pattern and made it a little longer, and added a lace of chain stitch, so I could "lace" up the front.  I thought it really gave this a neat look.  And if she chooses, she can wear it without the lacing.

Here's a back view.
I love it!!!  I do hope she loves it!  It can be worn in so many ways.
So, believe it or not, I did not spend my entire weekend crocheting.  I enjoyed some yard work, got out with a friend on Saturday, and today cooked a good meal and spent time chilling on the deck!

Oh...I also had a little fun with a can of red spray paint!
This little basket was just begging me to give it a facelift.  Then I stuck some sunflowers in it and hung it on the porch.
Phoebe stayed close to my side all day.
LOL!  Just look at that hair!  She is the cutest little ball of fuzz!
My night blooming cereus already has a bud this year.  It is the first for this plant.  I brought a cutting home from the farmer's market five years ago, this year I get to see the first bloom!
See it!  These plants are not for the impatient...they take time to produce, but it is so well worth it!
My Pencil Cactus is very happy, and quite large this spring!
This is a little cactus I am patiently waiting to give me a bloom...nothing yet.
My aloe is looking much, much better.  He was ready to get out on the screened in porch.
A corkscrew cactus that found it's way home with me last weekend seems pretty happy setting against a backdrop of crochet!
A happy little cactus...I'm waiting to see some sort of flower.
I'll leave you with a sweet little picture of Phoebe, and her wild hair!

I am off to fix supper then settle in with some variegated yarn!  Yes, I have my circulars out and they are loaded with cast on stitches ready for me to begin my next project.

Tomorrow is Monday, again, so I have to make the most of the remainder of this Sunday that I can.

Toodles!

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Sneaky Peeky


Granny Square Purse
Originally uploaded by Buckster's Pics
Just a quick little peek at the finished purse. I'm quite please at how it turned out. I put in a very durable crocheted lining, which has given it strength and a pretty shape. It is blocking now, waiting for more pictures and to be listed on etsy, then off to it's new home!

I have a new project in the works which I will share with you very soon!

For now I am off to take in the sunshine of this beautiful SaturdaY1

Monday, April 5, 2010

More Poncho Pictures.

As promised, I wanted to share some finished pictures of my poncho design.  I am so pleased with it, you cannot imagine! 
Here is an up close and personal look at the stitches.  Yummy color and texture!

All together it was a beautiful weekend, full of sunshine.  I was able to spend some time working on repotting plants and getting the screened in porch cleaned off and prepped for some prime time to be spent out there! 

As I was waiting for a yarn order to come in to begin a custom order I once again found myself going through my scrappy stash!  Oh how I love doing that!  I found a good amount of yardage of two variegated yarns, perfect for a new stitch I wanted to try. 

I used "I Love This Yarn" from Hobby Lobby in two of their "Stripes" colors.  Now I have to say, this really looks like it is woven.  I am so wanting to do another I can't stand myself.  It's an easy pattern, you can find it here!  I warn you though, it is very addictive!
I have intentions on experimenting with solid scraps of yarn. 

Well, I'm off to the races.  Monday is upon us again...so there are things to be done.

Toodles!