Star of the Show

I began crocheting about a year ago.  It's something that I really enjoy, especially as I watch TV with my husband.  I must admit, I'm not very good with just sitting and watching TV...I have to be doing something, so crocheting and knitting have become my answer.  I think I like crocheting so much because I feel that if I make a mistake, it's easy to tear and try again without worrying about picking up stitches (like in knitting).  

My goal in my last several projects has been to use some of the yarn that's been accumulating, without buying more. I chose to try Chromium Star Blanket pattern to try and use some of my cotton skeins.  About six months ago, I tried to use this pattern and failed, so this time I was determined to figure it out! With a little help from the author's blog, I was able to figure out how to do some of the trickier, new stitches.

Used Lily Sugar n Cream Tangerine with In Motion variegated cotton.

After finishing the crocheting, I went on the hunt to find some flannel to back the blanket with.  I was in luck when I ran into this cute polka dotted fabric at Hancock Fabrics.  I was even happier to learn that my fairly new sewing machine is capable of sewing through the fabric and the crocheted blanket. 

Flannel fabric from Hancock Fabrics

 

I am so pleased with the final product and even have someone is mind to give it to!  Thank you to Laura Lynn Hanks for the beautiful pattern...I plan to make many more in lots of different color combinations!

October Card Chain Challenge

Once again, I'm joining the ladies at Lily Pad Cards for the October Card Chain Challenge.  This month, I've decided to use the theme 'balloons' for my card.  I'm waiting on an order of hot air balloon stamps that I wanted to use for the challenge, but they didn't arrive in time, so I made my own! Both balloons are made with scrap paper and oval punches.  Then some string was added to attach the baskets.  My Lawn Fawn stamp set with 'enjoy the ride' seemed like the perfect sentiment for this fun loving card!

If you'd like to join up with the Card Chain Challenge, simply go over to Lily Pad Cards and sign up...so fun to receive a beautiful handmade card in the mail every month!

Guess Whooo?

For Cricut Cardz Challenge #92, we were to make a Halloween card using an owl from any cartridge.  Obviously I would take on this challenge...you know my love of owls!  While Halloween is not one of my favorite holidays to craft, I do like a lot of the color combinations that work well for this time of year.  For this card, I used bright orange, green and purple!  The owl is cut from the cartridge Hoot 'n' Holler, and the paper is from my stash.  I used the sentiment, "guess whooo?" from a Hampton Arts set (Autumn is in the Air).

Generations of Crafters

First baby sweater made for a family friend.

Second sweater...love the green!  Pattern by

nadia crétin-léchenne.  

I just finished putting together my second knitted baby sweater! It was a lot of fun to make and turned out really cute.  As I was taking photos of my sweater, I began to think of the legacy of crafters that make up my family.  One of my grandmothers is a knitter and the other is a crocheter.  Both of them will actually be visiting me next weekend, and I can't wait to show them my latest project! Thankfully they have passed their "craft" down to the next two generations, as my mom and one of my sisters also knit.  

In the mail yesterday, I received a quilted bag from my husband's aunt.  Along with the bag is a framed piece of a quilt from Derrick's family.  It is my pleasure to be able to hang that piece of quilt in my house, as a legacy of Derrick's family and their craft...quilting.  My quilted bag will be used with pride as Shelley continues to create for the Ford family. 

 Here are some photos of the products of my family's creativity!

A washcloth crocheted by Derrick's mom.

Blanket crocheted by Derrick's Aunt Marilyn.

Framed quilt square made by Derrick's grandmother and great grandmother.

The green blanket knit by my sister, Nancy. The yellow blanket crocheted by my Nana.

Hat, sweater and blanket knit by my grandma.

Bag quilted by Derrick's Aunt Shelley.

Little girl bear knit by my mom, little boy bear knit by me.

The next generation, my niece playing with a monkey I crocheted for her last Christmas.

So happy crafting...enjoy the crafts of previous generations and make sure to pass them along to the next!