My hero!

As usual I waited til the last minute to package up a swap. It was due today and since I don't drive I planned on having the hubby take it to the post office. What I didn't plan on was him waking up with a migraine this morning!!! So while he was trying to sleep it off I was quietly freaking out about having to send a swap late. The stupid part is the stuff has been sitting around finished for at least a week now(see that little pink biscornu down there?), for some reason I always procrastinate when it comes to packaging stuff up.

Anyways, I sent my partner an email telling her I'm soooo sorry for her stuff being sent late and then the hubby woke up, said he felt better and asked where that stuff was I needed mailed. He made it to the post office with time to spare and even brought me back a milkshake from McD's. My hero!!!

Then I emailed my partner again and told her to ignore my first email. She probably thinks I'm crazy now. Maybe now I'll learn to not procrastinate so much.

....probably not.

PS. I think the milkshake gave little baby boy the hiccups.

Family is dear finished

Just finished this today. A Christmas present for my brother and sister-in-law who live too far away. I really enjoyed stitching this one and can't wait to get some more Bent Creek designs.

This was stitched 2 over 2 on 28ct evenweave. My first time using non-aida fabric. I really liked it and will probably have a hard time forcing myself to go back to working on the other wips on aida. I also bought my first set of q-snaps to try out with this project and I lurve them very much!!

Sad little cupcake

This was meant for a swap but I seriously screwed up on the sewing and would be embarrassed to send it. Not sure what I'll do with him now.

Hey!

At least somebody thinks he looks tasty!

Small pink biscornu

For yet another swap.

On 18count aida. Before stitching and stuffing.

After

A bit smaller than I was planning but I think it's cuter that way.

And now for something a little different.

Check out my Flickr page for pics of all the crafty stuff I've been doing for Swap-bot. Somewhere in there is also a bunch of pics of the custom ponies I used to make, I really wish I had the room to make them again! I've also been doing a bit of crochet and cross stitch. It's hard to find the time for it all. Hopefully very soon I'll have something good to show off.

I made these postcards for another swapbot swap. They didn't have to be homemade but they had to have a favorite quote on them. I decided to be adventurous and make them myself so I hope my partners like them!! My camera didn't pick up the colors very well on the first two, they're actually much brighter. The third one is on it's way to Belgium which for some reason is very exciting!


I also received my first postcard in the mail today. It's very cute, I'll have to scan it later. I love getting mail, I can't wait to see what comes next!! It's been a lot of fun buying and making things for others. The person I sent the stitch markers and goodies too loved it all which makes me so happy! Which also makes DH happy. He's glad that I've found something to keep me occupied during the day and likes seeing all the different crafty stuff I'm trying out. We'll see how he feels about going to the post office to mail things for me every other day!!

Overdue Update time as usual.

I've barely touched any cross stitch in about 2 weeks. Not sure why, just can't seem to get motivated to work on the wips or even to start anything new. Earlier this week I got some loverly stash from 123stitch and today I got the supplies to start one of the charts. Several of them are for Christmas gifts so I really need to get in gear!! I'm going to attempt stitching on 28ct evenweave for the first time. Wish me luck!


I also started a small crochet project to work on while in the car. I haven't crocheted in at least 6 months, it was nice to finally do it again. I tried to do cross stitch in the car but it's hard to count squares when the road isn't very smooth. Also with crochet it's just one continuous piece of string, no separating strands of floss and rethreading the needle.

Ok, one reason I haven't been stitching is because last week I discovered swap-bot.com. I've really been enjoying seeing all the different crafty things people there like to do and trying some things out for myself. I finally have a use for all the random bits of craft stuff I have laying around!

I made these stitch markers for one of the first swaps I signed up for. I'm really happy with how they turned out. I have a lot of beads, I see a lot of stitch markers in my future.

I also decorated this matchbox to put the stitch markers in. The receivers favorite colors are purple, pink, gray and brown so I tried to use them all.

I have several more matchboxes in various stages of decoration. Who knew decorating matchboxes would be so much fun? Now if only I could find a use for all those matches!

I haven't done enough stitching on any of the wips to bother taking new pics but I did manage to make my first biscornu. It was pretty quick and easy and I already have the supplies set out for at least two more! I got the patterns from here.

I don't really like this one as much as I thought I would so it'll probably end up being a gift. Seems like most the stuff I make is for gifts anyways! This one was done on 14count but I'm going to try some 18count for the next two. I also see myself establishing a button jar.

WIPs and Finishes...kinda.

So you know that thing I said about not doing more than two patterns at a time? Did anybody really think that was possible?!?

Anyways, here's the blackwork. It pretty much sat neglected since my last post but I've worked on it a little bit the last couple days. It's about one thirdish done but I have a feeling this one is going to be hanging around for quite a while.

This is a lapghan I crocheted for my mom's birthday about 2 years ago. It now lays across the back of her recliner and she uses it all the time. So imagine my extreme excitement when I happened to stumble across a cross stitch chart for the very same pattern!!!

This will be an easy one since there's only 3 colors. It'll just take me forever to get around to having the patience to do that blue border. I might attempt to make it into a cushion if I can find some good instructions on how to do that. I'm planning to give it to my mom for Christmas.

This is my dad's Christmas present. He owns nearly every John Wayne movie ever made so I thought it would be fun to stitch this black and white pattern of The Duke. This one will be a bit more of a challenge since it consists of about 12 different shades of gray...and of course black and white.

Since I had no clue what to get my husband for his birthday and not much money anyways, I stitched this up for him at the last minute. He loves it and plans on putting it on his desk at work. It's nice having someone who appreciates the handmade stuff!

This is for my daughter. It just needs a couple more little stars on the bottom and then it'll be done. I left of the bottom third of the pattern, changed the 3 middle motifs on the top and also changed to the blue on the lettering to purple. I was thinking about putting something on either side of her name to fill in the empty space a bit but I don't know what.
So that's what I've been up to lately. I don't have any plans on starting anything new yet, though I do have several more things on my want to do list. Mostly trying to find patterns for Christmas gifts for now.

I was very happy last week to find out that there's a needlework shop to too far from here. I've never been to a needlework shop. I was very surprised at the prices of a lot of the stuff there. I know stuff isn't cheap but $20-$30 for a chart by itself, not a kit, seems like a bit much to me. It was hard to find anything that I really liked and could afford but I did end up getting a Christmas chart for $5. Then I found the charms that go with chart were $19!!! I'll most likely go to my usual crafty stores and find similar charms for a lot cheaper. Next time I go there I think I'll make a list of charts I've found online that I want(and can afford) and see if they have them. That way I'll at least save myself the cost of shipping...assuming that their prices are about the same is online prices.

Wishful thinking? O_o

Update on the cross stitching. I've been moving right along on the birth record so hopefully this is something that'll keep me interested for quite a while. I was starting to get bored with it at one point but then I realized that was because I didn't really like the bottom half of the pattern. So I'm leaving that part off, problem solved! I'm also going to change the motifs the are supposed to go in each of the boxes on top. The rubber ducky is staying because I already had him stitched in before I decided to change everything. That's ok, I like him anyways. I'm also changing the border because it just doesn't match anymore with what's left of the pattern. ...I think that all for now.


I also couldn't resist starting another pattern. This one is a blackwork pattern I found online for free. I'm doing it in dark blue and there's little hearts that go in the big ones that I'll most likely be doing in red. I started this one because I wanted something to do that I wouldn't have to worry about constant color changes and for when I don't feel like working on the other one.


I'm trying very hard to stick to only doing two at a time so that I can actually get something finished for once. I've found a couple patterns I want to make for Christmas gifts so we'll see how that goes!

I told you I was a procrastinator! Anyways, after finally finishing the Whitney-ghan I was kinda burned out on crochet. Yes, you read that right, I finally finished something!!! The centerpeice is so close to being done you'd probably slap me if you knew how close. The baby blanket is also a lot closer to being done though I don't remember how close at the moment. I haven't touched any crochet in months. I think I used up all my ambition on the Whitney-ghan and then my procrastination went into hyperdrive.

Almost done
Finally finished!!....now what do I do with it?
Reverse single crochet edge

So now my latest obsession...hobby is cross stitch. While looking for a quick and easy little cross stitch kit to try out I picked up a crewel embroidery kit instead. In a way it's easier than cross stitch because you don't have to count all those little squares, you just fill in the spaces like a paint-by-number. You probably won't believe that I finished it in less than two weeks!I've already started working on a new cross stich project. See!

Here's what I've been up to lately. I've been working on this baby blanket off and on. At one point I was gonna frog it but when I unburied it I decided to keep on going with it. It's almost half way done now. Not sure if it'll be for Boo or one of her cousins. The pattern is from Crochet Today magazine.
The Between Meals Centerpiece. After about 3 months of not touching it I've finally started working on it again a couple days ago. See all those loopys towards the outside edge? There's 92 of them and they each have 15 dc in them. That's 1380 dc in that one round!!! It took an excruciatingly long time to do that round. I'm sooo glad it's over. There's only about 8 more rounds to go!!
Thanks to the Bedspread Cal at Crochetville I'm finally getting somewhere with Whitney's afghan! 3 weeks ago I only about 6 squares done(after over a year of frogging and starting over and over with different patterns) Now I have 9 squares joined together and another 5 more made. I was really frustrated cause they wouldn't sit flat at all but they look so much better aftery they're joined and I'm already trying to decide how to do the border. Now the only problem is I'm almost out of yarn!! I bought this yarn over a year ago so I'm praying when I buy more that the new stuff will match the old stuff.
I finally got around to finishing the second sock! These are for my sister-in-law's birthday in Feb. She loves crazy colored socks. I hope they fit her....I hope she likes them!! I love how the stripes came out. I was planning on making a second pair but don't know if I'll get around to it. I definitely want to make some for myself...someday.



I also finished the knit scarf for DH but didn't get a pic of it yet cause it doesn't like to lay flat at all. That sweater I started is on hold and might not get done cause there's some issues with the pattern. It's very frustrating cause I spent a lot of money for nicer yarn and I really don't want it to end up buried in my stash and never used. Maybe I'll be able to find another pattern to use it with.

Other than that I finally feel like I'm getting somewhere with crochet. Now if only I could find the time to do all the other crafty stuff I've been wanting to do!

I haven't been able to update in a while cause there's no power in the computer room (Don't get me started on that!) Extention cords are a wonderful thing.

I'm surprised at how many pics I have to show off cause I always feel like I never get anything done! Anyways, I made this purse for myself for my birthday last month. It's a bit lopsided but it works. It's supposed to look like a sweater. It's a nice change to carry around something so small when you're used to carrying a diaper bag everywhere you go! I can't find the pattern link at the moment. I think it might have been on Crochet Me but I'm not sure. I tought DH to crochet last year and he keeps "borrowing" my hooks. Since I really don't need any help losing my hooks I made him a hook holder for Christmas and bought him his own set of hooks. He loves it! As usual, pattern link is MIA.


These were supposed to be done for Christmas last year but I didn't get them all done in time so they waited for this year. There were 5 altogether. My blocking skills are not the greatest and it's not a very good pic of them anyways. For 2 of them I got "Ooohh how nice" in that tone of voice that I'm not really sure if they really liked it or if they were just being nice. My mother-in-law absolutely loved hers and is having the father-in-law make a frame so she can hang it on the wall where it will be seen when you walk in the front door. The other 2 haven't been recieved yet.
I made this dress for my baby Boo's first Christmas. I searched all over for the perfect pattern. I finally found it but then couldn't understand the directions. Then I found a booklet by Annie's Attic called Beautiful Baby Boutique. I started out with Red Heart Supersaver and quickly figured out that it was going to be too stiff and scratchy not to mention it was working up big enough to fit her for next years Christmas. I started over with Caron Simply Soft which worked out much much better. When I got to the skirt part I didn't like how it was looking so I switched to a different pattern in the book. I had to add more rows so it wouldn't look like a mini skirt and was finally able to put the bow and buttons on it on Christmas eve. I almosst gave up several times and was very worried that it wouldn't fit but didn't want to try it on her ahead of time in case she spit up on it.

It fit!! Everybody loved it. I think any future children will either wear the same dress or get a store bought one.After New Year's I started the Bell Sleeved Tunic from the BH&G Simply Creative Corchet magazine. Other than a couple things for Boo it's the first wearable I've made. I haven't gotten very far on it yet but hope to get it done in time to wear it a couple times while it's still cold out. There's a CAL over at Crochetville for it some come join me!! Here's what I'm planning on using.
I made this scarf for my cousin's birthday. I used some simply soft in purple and light blue from my stash. Pattern is here.
And as if I didn't have enough crochet wips already, last weekend I started learning how to knit. So far it's pretty easy but then I've only done knit and purl. Don't know when I'll try more. This is going to be a scarf for DH if I have the patience for it.

I've finished 3 of the family filet names for Christmas so far. Only 3 more to go. The last one went pretty quickly considering it was one of the longer names. I'm determined to get them all finished this year!!! The only problem is I realized after finishing the last one that I for some reason used a much bigger hook than I should have on the first 2 I started last year. They're very loose and floppy and I don't know if they'll look much better after blocking. I'd really like to redo them o_O

To prove I've either gone crazy...or am finally getting organized, I already have two afghans picked out to make for next Christmas. I just bought yarn for one of them yesterday and plan on starting it as soon as I can.

And just to help myself to never get anything done I've been thinking about learning to knit.

Not much to talk about lately. Still trying to get Christmas presents done in time and not start anything new until after. It's not that easy but I really don't want to end up decideing it's not gonna happen (again!) and then have to go out gift shopping at the last minute with no clue what to get anybody. Time is running out!! I can't believe Thanksgiving is in just a couple days.

Anyways, since the first one I made just barely fit Boo I decided to make another BICO in the 12 month size. It is way too big but, at least this one she can grow into. I'm sure my gauge was off on both of them since I've never made anything that it mattered with before. Anyways, most the guys in my family are all hunters and my dad said once that my daughter was going to be his little hunting buddy. I was going to make her a camo bib but decided a camo BICO would be much better!! ...with purple trim, of course. I finished it just in time to go to my dad's birthday and completly forgot to get a pic of her in it. She was swimming in it but everybody loved it!



I'm also attempting to crochet Boo's Christmas dress. Lets just say it's not been easy. From the very beginning I've had problems with finding the right pattern to finding the right yarn. After 3 (4?) restarts I think I finally have it figured out. It's now going along pretty good. Hopefully it'll be done in time.