Random Stuff

I've been working on quite a few things lately.  I have discovered that I really like Amigurumi.  It's a lot of fun to see all of the little pieces come together into a full project.

Don't laugh....lol.  This little guy was just for practice and I didn't have any safety eyes at the time so I made my own.

This one is a current WIP, I had to stop on it so I could make a couple last minute Christmas gifts.  I now have safety eyes.  My hubby ordered me 40 pair in green, blue, gold, and brown, an early Christmas gift.

I made this little guy for a friend of mine for Christmas along with an amigurumi reindeer named Rudy:)

Here's Rudy:)...He turned out really cute and I wish that I would have had enough time to make a few more. There is always next year:)

This is what I have been working on the past few weeks.  I've made a few other snowman ornaments and am back to work on the doll.
I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Wonderful New Year!!
As Always, Until next time:  Happy Crocheting!!

More WIP's

I probably wouldn't be me if I didn't have a gazillion WIP's going on.  I guess I just get bored easy and need something else to go to as a distraction.  I'm sure most know what I mean.
I'm currently working on my last sibling afghan.  Then my 3 brothers and my sister will all have an afghan from me.

I love the bright colors that's going into this one.  It's another one that's going to be tempting to keep.  But if I kept them all I'd have more afghans than I know what to do with.

I'm also working on another quilt'ghan.  This one is in fall colors.  Not sure where this one is headed yet.  I have a lot of people in mind for it.  I may have to just put names in a hat and draw.  I like giving away at random without the person knowing they are getting it.  

This is the start of the quilt'ghan center piece.  Can't wait to see it finished.

Until next time:  Happy Crocheting:)

Thanksgiving

I hope everyone enjoys their Thanksgiving holiday.  Enjoy spending time with family and don't over stuff yourselves.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!
Until next time:  Happy Crocheting:)

Christmas Orders

I've been busy working on some Christmas orders.  They are coming out so pretty, I even whipped up one for myself.  I haven't put the fabric liners in them yet but couldn't wait to share what I have done so far.

 The two tone brown is the one I made for myself.  I really love how it turned out and can't wait to get the liner put in.

 The two tone pink kitty is a custom order....you can't tell in the picture but the white yarn has sparkle.  I'm not partial to pink but it's too stinkin cute not to like:)

I think this two tone purple is my favorite so far.  I have actually really started loving the caron one pound yarn.  It has a totally different feel than the red heart yarn and it works great for this little totes.
I'm working on another two tone purple with the sparkle white and then my tote orders will be complete.
My daughter who is in Junior High has asked me to make her one in the two tone purples.  She wants it a bit bigger so she can use it for a hipster bag to carry some of her school supplies in, minus the kitty of course:)
Thanks for stopping by and having a look.
Until next time have a Wonderful day and Happy Crocheting:)

Hats, Scarves, and Everything in Between

I've been working on many different things lately.  My 10 year old son hounded me until I finally made him a Mohawk Earflap Hat.

I finished it the day before his birthday.  He's such a ham...lol.  When he wore it to school the principle asked him if I could make one to be raffled off for the Boy's only tailgate party, of course I said yes, it was an honor:)  Then one of my husbands friend saw it and asked if I could make one in Pittsburgh Steeler colors.

I've been asked by two other people to make them in Ohio State Colors.  It's still a little weird for me to have people ask.  I've always just made things and gave them away now I actually have people asking if they can order.

I've also been working on some Christmas orders for the Kitty tote bags.  The smaller version of the large tote has turned out to be the perfect size for little girls.  Here is one that I did.  I didn't get pics of it after it was totally complete with lining and kitty applique but it turned out better than I thought it would and I actually love it better without the applique.

I'm now finishing up on two in purple tones and another pink.  I'll make sure I post photos.

My daughter is in her senior year of Marching Band and has a highlight concert this Friday, then this Saturday my son has his championship pony league football game.  It's going to be cold so I wanted to make a scarf and put music notes on one side and a football applique and my sons football number on the other side.  This is the first scarf I came up with.  It is a simple half double crochet in back loops only making it have ridges.  When I finished it I really wasn't happy with it because of the length and the blue was a shade to dark.  But it's a nice scarf all the same and has already been claimed by my oldest daughter...lol.

I'm still working on the appliques for the second scarf and will post pics when finished.

Thanks for listening to me ramble on and checking out my projects.

Until next time, Happy Crocheting:)

Amigurumi and a Finally Finished Round Ripple

I'm really excited about trying my first ever Amigurumi <<<I hope I spelled it right projects.  It turned out pretty good and I'm ready to make a couple more, because as we all know once you make one and everyone sees them they request....lol.  I also finished my round ripple WIP which I've been working on for what seems like forever.  

This is my sparkle kitty for Halloween.  Fall and Halloween and all of the spooky that goes with it is probably my most favorite time of the year.  I have since purchased an amigurumi ghost pattern and a pumpkin pattern to go with my kitty.  I did however forget his whiskers....lol

I finally finished my round ripple....this makes me think of a cold evening sipping hot chocolate.
Hope everyone has a wonderful day and as always Happy Crocheting:)

Daisy Afghan

I had to share.  I am almost finished with the Daisy Afghan, I still have ends to weave but it's close to going to it's forever home and I will be soooooo happy to see it go....lol

Above is a close up of the simple Picot border that I used....I think it was a good fit for the afghan.

All those dreaded ends to look forward to but it's almost ready to go.
Until next time, Happy Crocheting :0)

The Cost of Things

I was working on an afghan today that i'm trying to get finished before September 9th and of course it got me to thinking about how many times I've heard people complain and say "why do they charge so much".  I honestly don't think people realize the work that goes into and afghan.  Mind you some are simple to do but others are completely time consuming and tedious to do.  Here is an example:

The afghan that I am currently working on is called Fresh as a Daisy.  I did change up the pattern and do things the way I wanted to do them and I like the end result so much better.  This one is a custom order.  But this is what is involved and stands as a good explanation as to why crafters charge what they do:)
109 circles....become 109 daisy's....which become 109 squares....which then need bordered....after being bordered they get sewn into strips.....then all the strips get sew together to make the afghan....then the afghan gets a nice border all around....and if your like me you have to flip it over and tuck ends....and tuck and tuck and well you get the point.  Yes it's a labor of love.  Afghans are my favorite thing to make because although tedious, it's good therapy, and the end results are amazing.  Not to mention how AWESOME it feels when the person who receives it appreciates all that you put into it.
I'm not trying to go on a rant, just trying to make people understand that when they see the price of a beautiful handmade product....remember it's a lot of work and a lot of love poured into each stitch.

What's Been Going On?

I can't believe how long it's been since I posted on the blog.  I get busy with things and get wrapped up and sometimes forget.  Okay so I always forget...lol.  I've gotten involved with a wonderful group called Wrapped In Love, it is a crochet guild who makes 6x6 crochet squares for family's who have recently lost children.


I've also been trying to get some WIP's completed before my annual family reunion since all the WIP's seem to be for family members.  I made a lot of progress on the daisy afghan today so I see no problem having it finished by the time September rolls around.  I also have another afghan to complete (it's so close) and 2 tote bags (whew!!).


In between all of this I got my first custom ordered Mermaid Tears purse, requested in Fall colors.  It turned out so pretty I wanted to keep it...lol.  But it is all packaged up and ready to go out in the morning.

My friend Lynne and I have also been working away on our community page kicking off our Fall afghan project.  We have decided to take donated 6x6 squares and assemble them into afghans and donate to our local Hospice, Nursing Homes, and Homeless shelters.  It's going to be a very busy time over at With Loving Hearts and Hands Crochet.  We recently delivered a memory'ghan to a local family who lost there son to Mitocondrial disease.  The afghan turned out beautiful and squares were donated from all over the country and a few from other countries.  It's a beautiful thing when folks get together and share not only there love for the craft but also there love for another human being.

That pretty much sums up all the things I've been up to lately.  I'm sure the blog will get neglected more and more and we get closer to assembling our afghans and also working on Christmas gifts ect.  But I'll stop by from time to time to add pictures of completed projects as I finally start getting them done.


Until next time:  Happy Crocheting:)

It's All About Color

I haven't posted on the blog for awhile.  It's been so busy with the kids out of school for the Summer, and having ball games to attend and other family things.  I haven't had a whole lot of hook time, besides the fact that lately my hands haven't been much use in holding a hook.


I have however been able to keep up with a few of my favorite sites and blogs and the one thing that remains consistent is color.  When you think about it color really does make the project.  One example is someone who knows all about color, what goes well together and how to make it pop.
http://032ad8a.netsolhost.com/madmad/....you'll have to stop buy and check out the beautiful projects and the ohhh so luscious colors.
Another good one is http://colourinasimplelife.blogspot.com/
There are so many more and lately with every planned project I think about color, what would make it pop, give it oh so cannot resist looking at kind of feel.
So when you get a chance stop by these lovely ladies blogs and check out the pop of color they put in every project.  You won't be disappointed and I bet you'll go back again and again just to see what they've been up to.


I've made it to 300 fans on my Facebook page.....https://www.facebook.com/SarahsBitsandPiecesCrochet?ref=tn_tnmn and i'm thinking about starting to plan a 500 fan giveaway.  It's awesome that I've made it to 300 and i'm sure as long as it's taken me to get there I have plenty of time for planning the giveaway.  It'll just be something simple, no fancy pants here...lol.  But I do appreciate all those who like my work and complement the things I create.


Until next time.....Have a lovely day and above all else Happy Crocheting!!

Totes, Totes, and More Totes

I've been working on some tote bags, thanks to a really simple pattern from Lucy at Attic24.  Love, Love, Love her blog.  There are just so many possibilities for these tote and you can make them any any size.  I've been having so much fun making them.  I have also been finding a lot of neat applique patterns from Everlaughter which can be found on Ravelry.com.

What have I been up to?

I've finished my 5th Mermaid Tears purse....It still needs some fine tuning and I think I'm going to redo the skull and crossbones applique because I'm just not happy with it, but all in all it turned out pretty good.

The fabric that's beside the purse is what i'm using for the lining.  This purse was my 17 year old daughters idea because she didn't like the flower that normally goes with the purse.  The applique patter is from Everlaughter.....www.everlaughter.com.


Last Saturday was Junior/Senior prom for my daughter and her boyfriend.  They both looked so cute.

I don't know if anyone has ever visited the blog Attic24, but this lady sure knows how to use color.  She has some of the most gorgeous designs on her blog, and a lot of free patterns.  That is where I came up with my next tote bag.  The pattern that is on her blog makes a huge bag which just isn't me so going from her pattern and cutting down the rounds this is what I came up with.

A small version of her extremely large tote.  Since my camera has a mind of it's own and doesn't cooperate sometimes the colors I used were a dark chocolate brown and a tan.  It's the perfect size tote for me, something I can throw my keys wallet and a few other things into and go.  If you haven't checked out the blog you really should head on over there.  She has her home beautifully and tastefully decorated with her crochet creation and it's a lot of fun to read.

We have some wild honeysuckle growing at the corner of our fence an it has been drawing in the butterflies like crazy, and it smells nice too.

I accidentally bumped into the bush earlier this afternoon and a butterfly tornado came out of the bush.  It was so pretty.

That pretty much sums up what I've been up to lately.  Hope everyone has a wonderful week and Happy Crocheting:)

Works In Progress

I finished a WIP today that I started about 3 years ago.  While working on it today I realized why I left it sit this long, i'm not much of a quilter.  I just don't have the patience, all the cutting and sewing.  Just not for me...lol.

It's not the fanciest and i'm sure it's sewn wrong but I like it, it's now hanging on the front porch to give a splash of color.


I have so many WIP's I really need to start digging them out one by one and getting them finished.


Until next time.....Happy Crocheting!!

Re~purposing old jewelry

I've been wanting some stitch markers because I've recently purchased a few patterns that call for them.  I've looked around and haven't really found any that I like, sooooo I decided to make my own.  I found and old earring laying around the house that my oldest daughter had bought for her first homecoming dance and has lost the mate to.  It worked out perfect for stitch markers and it also serves to mark a special milestone in my daughters life.  Now I'll be looking around the house for more things to take apart and re~purpose.

I finished up another Mermaid Tears purse, I believe this one is number 4.  I used 100% cotton yarn this time.  It turned out pretty good although the cotton was a bit weird to work with at first, after using the Caron Simply Soft so much.  I have a few more of the purses to make then i'll be moving back to afghans for awhile.  I really love making afghans and I honestly haven't picked one up and worked on it for awhile.
Until next time, Happy Crocheting!!

Happy Easter!!

Today has been an absolutely beautiful day.  The sun is shinning and the sky has been a gorgeous shade of blue.  The only bad point to the day is the hubby and our 11 year old daughter have been in bed sick all day, they didn't even want dinner.  But all in all it's been a great day.


I finished my 3rd Mermaid Tears Purse yesterday, it turned out really good.

I'm currently working on another one since everyone is requesting them right now.  I'm trying one in cotton yarn right now so i'm not real sure how it's going to turn out.


I hope everyone has had a Wonderful Easter Sunday, and Happy Crocheting!!

Working On A Few Things

I seem to have set my WIP's off to the side for a bit....there is one or two that I need to get finished but I'm finding that there are a few more things that hold more importance right now.  Like The Love Squared Project, there are some lovely ladies who have yarn businesses in Kentucky who started this project, asking that folks send in 7x9 squares.  They put the squares together and make afghans, once the afghans are finished they will be donating them to those who have been effected by the devistating tornado's that have recently hit Kentucky, Indiana, and Tennessee.  Recently I wrote about a gentleman from our town that took up donations and drove them to Indiana, I had sent a few things along with him including a crochet baby afghan and it left me with a feeling of wanting to do so much more.  But I'm only one person and knew that I'd never be able to make enough afghans.  I was so thrilled when I came across these ladies.  Below I am including information if anyone who reads this would like to donate to this wonderful cause.



Description
Not sure if you have heard or not, but A Tangled Yarn of Nicholasville, KY has teamed up with Sarabees Little Yarn Shop of Winchester, KY to knit blocks for afghans that will then be given to those who were affected by the tornados in Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee. The plan is to start with West Liberty and radiate the warmth from there:)


Can you help us?


We need squares/blocks that are 7” x 9” with properly woven in tails. If you are not sure about how to weave in the tails, leave a 6” length to the tail and we will be more than happy to do this for you:) Squares must be made from acrylic as it is machine washable and dry-able. 


PDF patterns for squares are available: Crochet . Knit


The squares/blocks can be brought in or mailed to: 


A Tangled Yarn 
605 N Main St 
Nicholasville, KY 40356


or 


Sarabee's Little Yarn Shop
74 S. Main Street
Winchester, KY 40391


Don’t know how to knit or crochet? Why not donate a ball of yarn for someone to make one for you.


We will be posting updates and pictures here as we progress and receive squares;)
https://www.facebook.com/squaredblocks?ref=ts


Recently in our little town a close friend of ours lost his sister in a house fire.  Not only did siblings lose a sister a mother lost her daughter and children lost their mother.  It breaks my heart that this family is going through all of this.  My husband has been inspired to get together a charity car show/ donation drive to help ease the burden of costs that the family is now going through.  He's planning on doing the event in June, so I'm trying to gather ideas on what I can do.  I'm planning on making two afghans to raffle off and maybe a few smaller things.  


This past week i've worked on making a few cotton dish cloths for around the house.  Handmade cotton dish cloths have to be the best thing ever.  Not only do that last forever but they do a way better job than the store bought dish cloths.

I also received my package from amazon.  I have been seeing a lot of Bavarian stitch afghans being made and I love love love the stitch so I ordered a book along with some Susan Bates glow in the dark hooks.  I've never used plastic hooks so it's going to be something new for me.  I'm crossing my fingers that I like them, i've yet to get them out and give them a try.

Our little one has made it almost impossible lately to actually sit down and designate one full day to crochet.  I'm now crocheting on the fly...lol.  A stitch here a stitch there while getting him off the stairs, furniture, and such.  He's become an outdoors baby as well so we've been spending most of our time outside when the sun is shinning and it's warm.


That pretty much sums up the past week for me.  I hope everyone has a good weekend and Happy Crocheting.  

Mermaid Tears Purse #2

 I finished my 2nd Mermaid Tears Purse, we'll almost, I still have to put a lining in it.  But it turned out pretty good.  I just did this one just for fun and was planning on keeping it but my husband's aunt liked it so it will have a new home.

One things for sure it's colorful...lol.

Here is a close up of the flower.  

I used Caron Simply Soft yarn for this project.  I love the Simply soft yarn it's so easy to work with but I rain out of the multi-color and had to go get an extra roll and was rather disappointed.  I don't know why it was so different.  The colors we're darker and the yarn felt thinner.  Luckily it blended in well and I only had to use it for a couple rows.  It could also be because the first roll that I had was older, I bought it about a year ago to do a baby blanket for our little one.  It's hard to believe that it would change that much in a year.  I have about 3 to 4 more of these to make in a couple different colors, I can't wait to see how they turn out.

I hope everyone had a Happy Saturday....Happy Crocheting:)

Slacking this Week

Boy have I been slacking on my crochet this week.  We've had such beautiful weather that we've spent most of the week outside.  It's been so much fun because everything is new and exciting to our 1 year old.  It's amazing how much you take the same ol same ol for granted, this week I've gotten to look at things through fresh little eyes.  It's really funny how he loves going outside barefoot but he stays on the sidewalk not wanting to touch the grass with his feet.  He pulls it up with his hands and throws it at you but he absolutely doesn't want his feet to touch it.  He's learned new words this week too.  When the dogs are outside he tells them to "git"...lol, and if the ball rolls in the grass he says "git it".  It's so relaxing watching how care free they are exploring their little piece of the world.


While walking around on our back patio barefoot yesterday I got a shock, just as I started to step down I saw this out of the corner of my eye.

Yes I know it's no bigger than a night crawler, do I care? "NO!!"  It's still a snake and I hate snakes.  I don't care if it was harmless it's still a snake.  My older brother told me to stop acting like a big ol girl.  Well I am a girl, I screamed like a girl, and then I grabbed my camera....lol.


Today looks like it's going to be a gloomy day, dark with storm clouds lingering around.  Hopefully we'll get  a bit of outdoor play in before the storms roll in.  Then it's back to the crochet hooks so I can get a few things finished then I can concentrate on some projects that I want to do just for me.
Hope everyone has a good day....and Happy Crocheting:)

Spring Has Sprung!!

Today is the official first day of Spring, although we have been having Spring like temps for a couple weeks now.  Today will be in the 80's, not really such odd weather for Ohio.  Like they always say here in the good ol buckeye state, if you don't like the weather wait 5 minutes and it will change.   The kids will soon be on Spring break from school.  They get an extra long one this year. Lord knows they didn't have to use any of their calamity days for snow...lol.


I've started on another Mermaid Tears Purse, (yes this pattern is going to be a new addiction).  I'm doing this one in multi-color yarn just for fun.  I wanted to see what the different color yarn would look like in this stitch.  I see a baby afghan done in this stitch in the near future.

The kids say it looks like an Easter bag.  I'm going to have to see if I have some fabric and try to line this one.  When this is finished I really do need to get back to finishing up a couple afghans.  I'm so close to having my round ripple finished, I don't know why I don't just sit down and finish it.

A Little Bit of Life

Here are a few little bits and pieces of my life.  We had another beautiful day today, sun shining, birds chirping, well they we're until the cat got out.  Ahhhh yes my lovely little monster cat got out and snagged him a bird today.  Needless to say Mama wasn't a happy camper when he came slinking in the house with his prize.  I know he was just doing what cats do but it still doesn't make me happy.  He was shooed from the house until he got rid of it.

I really hate that he killed a bird, I really love having the bird feeder outside the living room window, it's so much fun watching the birds in the mornings, but it looks like i'm going to have to find another place to put it.  I somehow feel like I was an accessory to murder.


It won't be long now before the trees are full of leaves and we will no longer have a good view of the ponds from our backyard.  It's so hard living so close on a day like today.  It makes you want to grab a can of worms, a fishing pole and take off walking whistling the Andy Griffith tune.

I love this time of year because when we have evening thunderstorms I like to open up our big garage door, dig out a lawn chair, prop my feet up and just watch the lighting show.  

There we're some pretty bad storms in and around Columbus today, we got a few clouds and a few distant rumbles of thunders but the sun stayed strong and scared the storms away.


I hope everyone had a beautiful day as well and Happy Crocheting.

Mermaid Tears

I have really found a pattern that I fell in love with.  Bernat has a free pattern for a Mermaid Tears Purse done in the Crocodile stitch also known as the Tears stitch, Dragon Tears stitch and many other names.  No matter what it's called it's a beautiful stitch.
I finished up my very first Mermaid Tears Purse today.  Now my list is growing with people who want them.  But their gonna have to wait because I have a couple afghans that I desperately need to get finished.

Since my 12 year old daughter claimed this while it was in the making I decided to do a different kind of flower.  The one that came with the pattern just didn't seem to fit her personality.  She's excited that she has something to carry her touch screen tablet in.  Now maybe she'll hush about a sleeve for it....lol.

On a non crochet note, since putting out our bird feeder a couple months ago we've been getting  quite the selection of birds.  This beauty was sitting on our fence this morning waiting to have his/her picture taken.  Living so close to 3 ponds and woods is really nice.  We've seen a selection of wildlife the kids love watching the rabbits hop around the empty field behind out house.  Spring is definitely in the air here in Ohio.  Our grass in our backyard already needs mowed, how crazy is that.  But i'm loving every minute of it. 

Happy Dance Time

I'm doing a happy dance, the quilt'ghan is finally finished.  After a few headaches, a few curse words and threatening to throw it in the trash it's done.  I only used the pattern to figure out how to make the diamond shapes and the graph for placement.  The rest was all me...lol.  It's not perfect but I really don't like afghans that have big gaps in them and if I would have followed the patter exactly that is what would have happened.  So I made sure I made notes on what worked, what I could change and what wouldn't work, so "IF" I ever make another one i'll know what to do.

I have quilt'ghan #2 planned using a totally different pattern, but I have a couple other requested projects to finish first.
Until next time Happy Crocheting:)