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!!