Granny Square start

Like my coasters? Actually they're the centers of the start of my next lap blanket. \

Because so much of the leftover yarn was too short in length to be part of the ripple blanket, they're perfect for this granny square!

Found the pattern in an old book I have Illustrated Pathwork Crochet by Bella Scharf (published by Butterick Publishing in 1976). It's called Graphic Granny One and I'm looking forward to playing with the circles and squares. So far I'm just crocheting the circles. Then I'll choose a color(s) for the surrounding crochet that wraps the circle and creates a square.

By the way, all this yarn is from my mom - and this blanket will be a memory piece for me.

Sentimental Ripple Lap Blanket

I also got caught up in the ripple craze ... especially when cleaning/organizing my mom's work room. Boxes and boxes of yarn - some for future projects and lots of small plastic bags with yarn from sweaters she's made over the years (30+ years of knitting). Each bag had the year and name of the person she knitted the sweater for. Because of the alkheimers she doesn't remember, and so much of what she has she doesn't want to do any more. So I asked my dad if I could have the yarn scraps and knew this was the perfect project for them.

It's sized to cover a lap rather than a bed - and is more of the soft ripple. Every row is a different color, and it was an interesting process of mixing colors into combinations I wouldn't usually think of.

My brother's birthday is coming up at the end of this month, so I told my dad I want to give it to him for his birthday, and because it's a part of our mom and memories that he wouldn't otherwise have since he doesn't knit/crochet. I'm happy with how it turned out, and want to share it with him. Happy birthday bro!

Library Project

It's been an interesting process setting up the library area. Table in, table out. Chair in, chair out. What's left in the final version is bookshelves and a footstool (covered with a prayer rug from Saudi Arabia).

The project is the (faux) Japanese screen with the cranes ... faux because it is material and paper glued to a canvas. It still needs "something" but I haven't visualized yet what it is, so for now the canvases just lean up against the wall.

More Kitchen Pictures

Kitchen Update

Finally got around to putting the pictures back in the kitchen. WOW did not realize how much I missed the color they added!

Playroom

Storage area on the left side of the door that needs a curtain panel to hide the clutter ...

Playroom

Storage area on the right side of the door

Playroom Progress

Have moved materials and tools to my "playroom" and over the past months arranged storage. The pictures show progress during ... what's left to do on this side is sew up a panel to cover the bookshelf. Everything I've used is recycled from other parts of the house or marked down at the store. The spring green paint only cost $1 for a quart!

I still need to mount closet rod holders for a curtain panel on the left side of the door to hide the storage units there. Then I need to decide how I want to finish the glass panel on the door - I have the white film that lets light thru ... or I could glue rice paper for more texture. The film will obscure while the rice paper will still allow a view into the next room. Or I could just leave it clear or paint a design. So many options :-)

Another Christmas Tree

Inspired by success with my "elf hat trees" :-) I wanted to crochet one that was a bit larger, but still had the same simple shape. Combine that desire with being called to jury duty and AHA! Time to sit and crochet!

When I went to buy the yarn, the fantasy fur yarn was on sale ... and I thought "why not?" It's soft and gives a wonderful texture to the tree. Of course I couldn't do it without having some sort of embellishment, hence the bead topper at the top. Needed the wired beads sticking out to balance the shape when changing from furry to beading.

That makes two table top trees I'll have ready for Christmas this year ... maybe I'll make a tall felt one to make it three ...

The Perfect Painting

When helping my mom clean and organize all her "stuff" in her craft room, I came across this painting. She offered and I accepted without hesitation! Knew just the room that fit it! Took the painting to JoAnns for framing and picked it up this evening. The sentimental value behind this picture is that she painted it in February 1975 ... over 30 years ago.

Staying Warm

Started this afghan as squares to eventually sew together ... but did not make it that far! After completing five squares I joined them together and just started crocheting around and around the squares. No pre-determined pattern other than keeping the size in mind. Want it to be long enough to cover feet, legs and part of the body.

The second photo my honey "testing" the afghan with Seger supervising.

More on Trees

I don't know why I'm drawn to trees as subjects to paint, craft, decorate, etc., but since I'm archiving what I make, decided to include this table top tree made for Christmas. From the detail picture you can see it's a combination of baby ornaments, more beads, sequins, glitter and snow. The base is a clear acrylic box from Goodwill and has white lights behind the grey material. The material is leftover IKEA curtains and wrapped with ribbon to hold it in place. :: I notice a trend in my colors for Christmas ... white, silver, light greens and blues. Trying to tie in the colors used for Christmas decorations in the entry to a winter wonderland ...

Happy Birthday!

Just another view of the trees. They ended up as "elf" trees because BJ thought they were elf hats, and wondered where was the head ... honestly!

I had so much fun making these! They are totally hand-made and improvised as I stitched and beaded. I've made so many items over the years, and unfortunately did not take pictures. This blog will be a good way to record/remember what I will do in 2007.

The trees are going in the mail to my friend Eva and her babies Izabelle and Janelle - they're celebrating milestone birthdays (the big "one" and 4-0) this weekend and I won't be there to share the laughs and giggles ... and a hug to Jenny who will be 12!

You're the stars so have a blast!

Happy birthday!

A Serving of Elf Trees Please