Pretty In Pink!

After finishing up with Babette, which used a Peruvian wool sock yarn in very vibrant colors, I felt the need to take a complete turn. I had a craving for some simple acrylic yarn and a traditional granny square! It started with a trip to Hobby Lobby where I scoped out their home brand of yarn, I Love This Yarn, and began looking at the pinks. WOW...they were gorgeous...they had so many it was hard to decide. I love pink and brown together so I grabbed up some of that yummy acrylic in two shades of pink, a chocolate brown, and a pretty creamy white for accent...loaded them into my cart, checked out, and headed for home.

The first granny square came together not much later. One square became two, then three...you get the picture!





This is the result. Took me just a couple of evenings to get it done. I think it will end up in my etsy shop, but right now it remains on my dress form for me to look at every time I walk by it.

It's a given that I had to do something with my left overs. I had a good amount left for another scarf, but wanted to do something a bit different.

So I began crocheting up octagons. This was so much fun because of the join-as-you-go method. I am really becoming a fan of this joining method.

This is my outcome. I wasn't sure about it at first, but the more I look at it the more I like it. Especially paired with my favorite brown sweater! Would it not look awesome with a pair of jeans, boots, a cream colored turtleneck sweater and this sweater!



I do have a little bit of yarn left in each of these colors which will go into "the stash" and come out later more than likely paired with some different yarns to be made into a scarf!

I just have to share my first gourd with all my blog buddies! Isn't it precious? LOL! I know it is silly to get so excited over such a little thing but I can't help it. I have always wanted to grow some gourds and dry them. This is my first one. I planted the seeds in late spring.



I love these vines. The swirly tentacles on it facinate me. They grow out straight and then once they grab ahold of something they curl up. As you can see I have two different varieties growing.

This weekend is unfolding to be a pretty good one. I plan on making cards most of the day tomorrow. I have a new crochet project started. Movies to watch. And a little bit of house work. I will tackle each of these tasks in just that order, too!

For those of you that do not know me, I am a closet card maker! It is such a fun and creative outlet. I don't really blog about it. I am trying to post a little slideshow of cards. Here's hoping it works!

My Finished Babette!!

When I got up this morning I was a bit lost. My routine is to feed the dog and get her business done, pour my Diet Pepsi for that boost of caffeine, sit down on the sofa putting my feet up, and then picking up my crochet...but this morning I had no crochet in the basket! It seemed so strange. Finishing a project always does this to me. It leaves me a little lost in the morning. But this will not last long!

Believe it or not, I am not sick of looking at her. Many times, and I am sure some of you know what I am talking about, I get burnout when I spend so much time working on one thing. This didn't do that to me. In fact I cannot get enough of looking at my Babette, or touching it for that matter. Which leads me to my next thought! I have been seriously thinking about felting it. It is a bit scratchy since it is 100% wool. I thought lightly felting it would make it a little softer. Thoughts anyone??

I felted an extra square. I should have photographed it. I will do that and get a picture of it uploaded. I really like the way it turned out.

But for now, I am going to bask in the sea of color that this blanket has. It's like a painting...Painting with Yarn!

I will leave you with a little shot of me posed with my Babette.

Happy 4th everyone! I'm off with camera in hand, and Babette in the other hand...I need more pictures. :-)

Babette Update

Phoebe...I hate that camera!
Originally uploaded by Buckster's Pics

Just look at the expression on that face! She absolutely hates the camera, and it is like pulling teeth to get a good shot of her. Is this a dog thing in general?

Babette Update: I FINISHED WITH THE LAST PANEL! Yay!!! Yes, it's true! And I am now working on the edging. The next posting I make will be of the completed blanket! I am quite obsessed with finishing it at this point, so it won't be long now.

Day Dreaming

Geraniums
Originally uploaded by Buckster's Pics

Yes, I have a case of it! Day dreaming...the weekend is so close. I have plans of crocheting, sitting in the sun...puttering around my plants, and just enjoying the weekend! I also hope to take pictures of a completed Babette Blanket!

It's Summer!

Summer is officially here! I love it. This past winter was so cold and gray...spring has been wet, but very pretty...and now it's summer. Yay! I have been busy working outside and in. I have found some primo crochet time this weekend, and I have devoted it completely to my Babette Blanket! I found time to take some pictures of my progress, as well as some of Phoebe. I won't post each one. If you would like to see them all, you can visit me at flickr.com. I am Buckster.

Here is one of Phoebe on my blanket. I tried to get her to sit for me, but she actually hates my camera! After several tries I got this one. I'm not exactly sure what that look is. Maybe, "Please, stop taking pictures of me!"

I have completed one half of the last blue band!! My pace seems to have slowed down to a snails crawl...but I am making progress. The more I crochet with these blues the more I love them!

How do you like my chair? This has been one of my outside projects. I have a set of two chairs, a table, and loveseat...got them at a deal for $25 bucks. The set was in excellent shape, it was just the paint was chipping and dirty. So out with the old and in with the new. I am liking this tan color I selected.

And my Babette looks great draped over the arm!!!

It's a Dog's Life!

Yes, it's a dog's life! Phoebe loves my Babette. As I work on it, I have to lay it out in front of me so I can piece my new squares...she can't stand it. I turn around and she has manipulted it with those little stubby feet into her own personal bed! Now most crocheters would probably shutter...but I enjoy it. Somehow she goes perfectly with every afghan or blanket I crochet!

This weekend I was able to spend time working on my blanket. This last leg of it has become long and at times mundane, so I have to put it down for a little while. But I am determined to get this thing done. I have run into one other obstacle...that is the need for more yarn. I was hoping I could stretch it out but I don't think it's gonna quite make it!

I am not sure if you can tell, but I have one more band of the blue border to complete then I can finish it up! I am so pleased with how this is looking, I suppose that is what has kept me working on it! I am even toying with the idea of entering it into the Dixie Classic Fair this fall.

For those that have been asking I am posting a link to the yarn I am using. I get it from Knitpicks, and it is called "Pallette". The colors it comes in are absolutley stunning. And of course, you can tell from this photo a small hook is required!

Indulge me...having no children to photograph, and a husband who disappears the moment I get my camera out, I have one willing subject in the house! So here is one more picture of Phoebe relaxing with me on the covered porch while I crochet. I am beginning to think I may need to rename this "Phoebe's Blanket"!

Well I am off to order more yarn!!!

Resurfaced Babette

I am totally back into the Babette mode once again. This is the reason I do not like to stop a project for another, because it can take some time before I get back to it. In this case...it has been several months since I have picked up my Babette.

But just look at her beauty! And I cannot wait to get it done. At this point I am halfway through the third blue panel border, so I am very close. Then I must decide on what to do with the border. I believe I am going to completely use up all my blue yarn, so it will probably be in the brighter colors.




I like this big square! The blues just pull me in.

For now I will leave you with hopefully some crochet inspiration. I am actually contemplating my next Babette. This one actually started as a custom order, which fell through. So the yarn selection and colors were not truly what I would have picked out for myself.



I am leaving you with a sweet picture of Phoebe, looking completely comfortable lounging in one of my chairs on the covered porch. It's truly a dog's life!