50 is not so bad!

Well, I've been a full week out of my "40 somethings" and I have to say, 50 is not so bad!  I feel creative and happy!  I do think things get busier the older you get though.  The one think I want to do now is de-clutter!  I think from helping with moving Brad's mom into assisted living it has me thinking.  "I have a lot of stuff!"  Too much.  So, the spring cleaning mode is on full steam.  Use it or lose it.

I am also on a spray paint kick.  This weekend something is getting spray painted green...it's happening!!

That's it for now.  I will be back this weekend with some hooky granny square pictures!

TGIF!

A Little Progress

Progress has been slow, but I have made a little headway.  I have started another row of grannies. These are in shades of beige and peach.  The sun is not out today, so I had a little difficulty in getting some decent pictures. 

Look at all that color!!!  My heart goes pitty pat, and I find myself "petting" my work as I go.  LOL!!  Silly, right?  I am sure all those that crochet will know just what I am talking about. 

It is really beginning to take on that "folk arty" look I am so nuts about.  I need to stop and weave in some tails.  Hopefully this week I can at least get around two corners.  That is if life will cooperate!!  We are still really busy getting the condo in order to put on the market.  We're almost there.  It will be nice once that is done and not hanging over our heads.

I am about to begin the last week of my 49th year!  Oh - My - God!!  Someone asked me if I had anything monumental planned for turning 50.  I had to think about that.  I am definitely NOT running a marathon like she did for turning 30, but I do like her way of thinking.  So, I am trying to think of what I really want to do!  I was toying with the idea of designing another rug, maybe entering it into the fair.  Winning a blue ribbon, or any ribbon at that, would be something that would be awesome to commemorate my 50th.

Well, it is getting that time.  Sunday evening, putting things in order for the week.  I hope everyone has a terrific week!

Grannies and Dacshunds!

Greetings from Phoebe!  Like her blanket?  I snagged it at the thrift store for $9!!  I couldn't stand it.  The bright colors caught my eye from an aisle away.  It is very well crocheted.  It does need a little repair, which is no biggie.  I couldn't stand it...someone put a lot of work into it, and their it hung...all neglected and unappreciated.  I began to wonder if my things will end up like this when I am long gone.  I hope she (I am pretty sure it was made by a she!!) would be happy to know I have her blanket and absolutely love it!

So, what have I been up to???  You name it.  Busier than I want to be I'm afraid of.  Brad's mom has gone into assisted living and we have been in the process of packing up her things and getting ready to sell her condo.  It is so full of generations of family momentos.  Pictures and newspaper clippings from her childhood and actually her parents' childhoods.  All very well marked so we know who the people are in most of the old pictures.  With Brad being an only child, it's been up to him to get all this done.  I'm helping as much as possible.  I do have a respect for family history, so it will all be kept together, and maybe a bit more organized once we gather everything.

Needless to say, it has taken huge chunks out of my Hookie time!  But, I have managed to get some progress on my granny square project and am excited to share some pictures!

I have managed to complete a round of squares.  I chose to do them in tones of gray.  And as I am working I am just letting my ideas flow.  I think I will continue until I have a good sized square, which will go in the center of the dining room table...I think.  LOL.  Doesn't it have a real vintage feel to it, with a pop of funky color.  My girls in knitting group are all eyeballing it.  It's my hope to spend this afternoon working on more squares.

My first pair of glasses!  Yes, I still have them, and remember wearing them.  I was three or four when I got them!  The envy of my kindergarten class style'n in my pink horn-rimmed glasses. 

This will give you an idea of actually how little they are.  My eyesight hasn't changed a bit, only now I have this need for bifocals...which I hate wearing!

I found this pair of Brad's baby shoes while packing at his mom's.  They were so sweet I had to bring them home with me. 

Okay...just one more picture.  I am now starting a round of squares that have a very muted peachy tan colors, with that pop of red in the center.  I think it is going to be pretty.  Time will tell.

Phoebe and I wish you all a great week,

full of fun crochet hooky insanity!

Bye!

Crazy Insane Granny Square Madness

Well, I started something new.  Needing to get a fix on my granny square addiction I picked up my basket full of embroidery floss and started the insanity.  I think I am going to make a large mat for my dining table. 

And check out the back side!  It's reversible.  Each square is actually two squares sandwiched together by a row of single crochet.  It almost gives it a quilted look.

I love this pattern.  I am doing the circles in reds and building out in rows of different color backgrounds. 

This is my thread stash I am working from.  It looks like a complete mess! 

I also made a cuff for moi!  With beads, too! 

This is the underside of it.  It's just something I was toying with.  It has a groovy lacy look.  I've been wearing the mud out of it ever since I finished it.  LOL!

It's been a week, and seems like the weekend has flown by.  I'm off to crochet some more insanity!

We have a winner!

Congrats Ahlana!  You won some rooster love!  For those who haven't seen Ahlana's blog, I suggest you check her out.  Her knitting is beautiful.  Thank you everyone for your comments, it was fun reading them all!!!

Now, how about a little bit of crochet embroidery thread insanity??? 

I am calling these Owl Key Chimes.  Aren't they a hoot!  I have a stock pile of old keys I have collected thinking one day I could use them for something.  My brain kicked in to that obsessive creative mode it gets into, and the rest is history.  These actually have a  great sound when you have a couple of these keys clanking against each other!

The hooties do take a little more work when worked in embroidery floss but the colors are so worth it.  Of course, now my brain is busy with all kinds of ideas for these.  I think I am going to have to make a trip to the antique mall and hit some yard sales looking for little trinkets to use.

I have also been trying my hand at some crochet jewelry.  I've always wanted to try this, and let me tell you it is great instant crochet gratification.  It literally takes minutes to crochet up the little hearts and the necklace.  I spent more time going through the button box for the perfect button clasp.

I love this one and will most defintely be wearing it! 

This is actually more of a choker.  I was playing with some stitches and thought this was pretty. 

It's Saturday evening, I have a pot of homemade soup going, and the weather is supposed to get nasty tonight...but I'm happy as a lark, because I plan on spending the evening crocheting more of these! 

Time for a Give Away!

I see my followers count has surpassed 500!  I can't believe it.  When I started my blog I was hoping to get to know others who loved crocheting and knitting as much as I do.  There is so much talent out there, and I love the blogs that I follow and all the inspiration they give me.  With that being said, I do believe it is time for my first give away!  You want to get your name in the bucket, simply comment.  I will draw a winner next Saturday and post it Sunday.  The give away will be something very roostery...that's all I say! 

Now for this weeks crochet insanity...tiny hooties crocheted from embroidery floss.

Yes, I've been experimenting again!   I can't decide exactly what to do with them.  They are the perfect size and weight for little pins, but I can also see them with dangling hearts.

Isn't he cute??!! 

This guy is tiny!  But extremely cute!

Have y'all seen the Luna Scarf??  I found it on ravelry and knew I had to try it.  I love it, it is instant scarfy gratification.

The pattern uses a very fine yarn, which I am sure to try, but I just grabbed from my stash.  I started one in a variegated yarn, but didn't like it.  Yes, I know it's hard to believe, but I think these are so much prettier done in a solid color.  You can find the pattern here. 

Now....check it out in red!

I am off to do that Sunday afternoon thing!  Y'all have a good week!

Found my crochet mojo!

I think my creative crochet mojo has cranked up to full gear.  I have been happily crocheting roosters this week!  And check out the peace sign!  Found a little pattern for it on ravelry.  When I saw it I knew I had to use it! 

This was some leftover yarn I had from a pair of fingerless mitts.  It made a great little rooster. 

This little peace sign takes all of ten minutes to crochet up.  You can find the pattern here. 

Oh, but there is more!

Whatcha think?  The flowers are so fun to crochet up.  I placed one on the top rooster for his tail...it was so freakin groovy I couldn't stand it!

Fancy Rooster!  LOL....I made his legs black and tied bows on them. 

It's so "folk artish"!  I've grown attached to these.  I did gift one of them last week.  It wasn't easy!  I was thinking about putting them in my etsy shop but that is as far as it has gotten.  I will make them up on request. 

Yesterday I grabbed two balls of the Lion Brand Amazing and crocheted up a Queen Anne's Lace scarf.  I think this is one of my favorite scarf patterns. 

Doesn't it work up pretty in this yarn!!  I have one I made last year out of Noro that I wear all the time.  If you haven't tried crocheting one up, I recommend it!  I made this one up in an evening.  You can find the pattern here.

I am now crocheting up the Luna Scarf and am enjoying it.  I'll be back next week with pictures of it.