Seattle again

Well I'm off to Washington again this week. For a QBR meeting. If I can get our corporate travel system to find a flight on the same airline each time then maybe I would have enough points to fly business or 1st class. Instead - I have the joys of coach. And I think on my return 11PM flight I have a middle seat. YUK!

The highlight of these trips is 5+ hours to crochet. The lowlight - sore neck, legs, back, etc. And lack of sleep. Oh - I forgot another highlight is visiting a Bellevue yarn shop. Apparently crocheters and knitters in Washington appreciate nice yarn more than in NC where it's very hard to find anything but Red Heart. No slam on red heart - but a red heart sweater just doesn't stand the test of time. Don't have any yarn dough at the time, but it is nice to look and get ideas :)

Thankfully there is the internet. Especially yarn.com. I found several yummy yarns on that site. It is one of my favorites!

What I can't wait to see is the yarn shops in England. I am definately going to hit one when we get a chance to go back! I guess I better start figuring out how to have some spending money - I'm sure I'll do some damage.

Lionbrand Suede Shawl in Denim

And lastly - here is me and Janeen. I"m modeling my Lionbrand Suade shawl. It was cool today in NC, perfect day to wear my brand new shawl. It's snuggly and warm. Now I have 2 requests for it after wearing it to church. I have to get busy! 

Jason's train line

Jason makes me laugh. He loves putting his toys in a line. Here is one we discovered this week. 2 british cars from his Auntie Karen made it into the line. I guess he didn't want them to be lonely. 

Too cute, too small

Shells poncho I made with luster sheen. It is soft, cute and too small for Janeen :) I will have to give it away. 

Another angle for the Thomas table 

Thomas, Thomas, Thomas!!

Colin built this Thomas configuration for Jason - didn't he do a great job!!!! What a great guy. 

Preemie Onsie

And lastly - this is a little onsie. I wanted to make it to send to Caroll, but it ended up preemie size! It's very cute though. I'll donate it to charity. It is not my pattern, here is the link: http://www.geocities.com/barbie42day/scdiapershirt.html.  

Grannie Baby Blanket

My coworker just had a baby - and I have been working on wrapping this blanket up for her. Just completed it. Now I need to get it into the mail tomorrow!! It's a huge granny square with 3 rows of sc trim. No pattern, just basic crochet sitches. All TLC baby yarn. 

Grannie Blue Bag

This is a granny square bag - my own creation - that I put together with left over Luster Sheen. Now I just need to find some handles! 

Janet's Wrist Sack

Here is my attept at my pattern.

Round 1: Chain 3, hdc in starting chain. 11 hdc in chain, for a total of 12 hdc. Slip stich to starting chain 3.

Round 2: Chain 2, hdc in starting stitch. 2 hdc in each stich. Slip Stich to top of starting chain 2.

Round 3: Chain 2, hdc in startin stich. hdc in next stich. * 2 hdc in next stich, hdc in next stitch. Repeat from * to end of round. Slip stich to top of starting chain 2.

Round 4: Chain 2, hdc in startin stich. hdc in next stich. * 2 hdc in next stich, hdc in next 2 stitches. Repeat from * to end of round. Slip stich to top of starting chain 2.

Round 5: Chain 2, hdc in startin stich. hdc in next stich. * 2 hdc in next stich, hdc in next 3 stitches. Repeat from * to end of round. Slip stich to top of starting chain 2.

Round 6: Chain 2, hdc in startin stich. hdc in next stich. * 2 hdc in next stich, hdc in next 4 stitches. Repeat from * to end of round. Slip stich to top of starting chain 2.

Round 6: Chain 2, hdc in startin stich. hdc in next stich. * 2 hdc in next stich, hdc in next 5 stitches. Repeat from * to end of round. Slip stich to top of starting chain 2 - in back loop.

Round 7: chain 1. sc in back loop of each stich. Join with slip stich to starting chain 2, in both loops.

Round 7-12: chain 1. Hdc in each stich around. Join with slip stitch to starting sc.

Round 13: Join contrasting yarn. I used matching varigated. Chain 1 sc in each stitch around. Join with slip stitch to starting sc.

Round 14-34: Chain 2. sc in each stich. Join with slip stitch to starting sc.

Round 35: Join original solid yarn. Chain 1. *sc in next 5 stitches. sc decrease in next 2 stiches. Repeat from * to end of round. Join with slip stitch to starting sc.

Round 36: Chain 1. Sc in each stitch around round. Join with slip stich to starting sc.

Round 37: Chain 1. *sc in next 4 stitches. sc decrease in next 2 stiches. Repeat from * to end of round. Join with slip stitch to starting sc.

Round 38-9: Chain 1. Sc in each stitch around round. Join with slip stich to starting sc.

Round 40: Chain 4. * Skip next stitch, dc in next stitch. Repeat from * to end of row. Slip stich into 3rd chain.

Round 41: Chain 1. sc in each stich around chain. Join with slip stich to starting sc. Bind off yarn.

I embelleished with shells at the top, but the count was off and I'm not sure how to even it ! :)

Then make a flower. I chained 3, hdc in starting chain, made 11 hdc in starting chain - then joined to top 3rd chain. next round I sc in first hdc. * chained 4 then skiped 1 hdc and sc in next hdc. Repeat from # to last hdc. Skip last hdc and slip stitch to starting sc. Chain 61. Sc in second chain, and remaining chains - slip stitching back to last sc on the flower. Bind off yarn. Weave in loose ends. Weave in strap in eyelet row of purse.

Then sew strap ends together - leaving flower free to dangle and be pretty!

If you use my pattern let me know and give me feedback. It is my first documented pattern!

Final pic... 

oops - I'll have to post the pattern later 

And so - after making AJ's bag - I just had to experiement with my left over yarn and make another one. So this is my creation. Here is my attempt at a pattern. 

And the last two - but I will be making more. These are very satisfying - quick and pretty. 

One more.... 

So then I got on a little bookmark craze. The taxes drove me to do it! I had to de-stress. 

After seeing the wristbags on crochetville.org - I just had to make one. Here is my bag. I realized later my flower is a little high :) But I loved the bag. Me thinks my nieces will be getting one this year! 

Rant, Recover, Reflect

OK - I did my taxes this weekend. First of all - let me state I have no problem with paying taxes. I'm not the type to hunt down every penny because I figure you have to pay your way for the great infrastructue we have in this country.

But should it really take a college education to complete the forms! And that is with Turbo Tax. It is entirly too complicated and puts me in a bad mood every year. I feel like I need a vaction to recover.

So of course that meant I spent the rest of the weekend crocheting!! My current projects are the wristbag(s). I will post pics soon. I started with AJ's pattern on crochetville. Then I wanted to try it w/ Patons Grace. And then I decided to design one my self. I'm currently in the middle of completing this one.

Also - I got completely on a bookmark binge. I've made 5 so far. I like them because they are quick and fun. And I'll have a nice collection for gifts.

And before I finish blogging, of course I have to talk about my two munchies. They grow up every day, so fast. Janeen is having a tough time with allergies this year. So - we had a visit at 2am this morning. I put drops in her eyes, then she announced she was scared because her dad told her the utility box outside our house (for underground power) could "blow up". He didn't want her jumping on it - but poor dear was up all night afraid it would blow up!

And Jason - I got to spend some time with him at the mall yesterday. I took him after church and we had a date. Jason's thing is to sing. Loudly and everywhere. Not songs you have heard of before - although you do hear names in the song that you recongize. "Thomas", "Janeen", "Percy". But it is so cute. Every where I go with him, people laugh because he is constantly singing. One very, very long song. I just love the variety in personalities I see in my children. It's amazing how God has made these 2 little perfect people.

Link to Chelle's Lacy Shell Poncho

Want to give credit where credit is due! Here is the link to her site and her patterns: http://www.luv2crochet.com/.

Enjoy!

This is my version of Chell's Lacy Shell poncho. You can probably tell I didn't have my daughter available to measure properly - it is a little big!!!! LOL I think I will use an idea I saw on a pretty poncho on crochetville and add ribbon to tighten up the neckline. I made it with Aunt Lydia's Denim. I had been dying to try out the yarn, but didn't have a good project. I like the yarn a lot, soft but mostly cotton which is a fiber I like working with a lot! Especially in kids clothes. But cheaper than Cotton Plus or Cotton Ease. Good news is - she will be able to wear this poncho for a while!! 

This is a Lily Chin shawl pattern, done in Preppie bamboo. What can I say - I love working with bamboo. It has a very unique feel - it's soft and great drape, but it also reminds you of bamboo. I love the yarn - just can't afford too many projects in it! I love the colors as well. I wanted something green - but the blue helps it match jeans perfectly - which is the main item in my wardrobe! My only wish is to make it a bit bigger, but I only had 5 balls. It's still 60" wide, but I was hoping for 65". 

Shells and Roses poncho (I have not addded the Rose yet, still debating) made with Caress Microfiber. I found the yarn (Periwinkle) on clearance at Michaels. It's very soft and easy to work with. The pattern works up very quickly. It is lacy. And what I love the most is I made the small/medium - and it fits just fine! :) Great for the ego. I wanted a spring poncho, and this pattern worked perfectly! I'm thinking about figuring out a smaller version for my daughter!