Crafty Life

I've been neglecting the blog again. I don't think anyone reads it anyhow, but the truth is, I don't have a whole lot to say. I've been crocheting a lot, and knitting not so much. I think that while I may knit some, that crochet is my needle art of choice. I feel much more comfortable with a hook in hand than fumbling around with a couple needles. It helps that I am relearning crochet after 5 or 6 years rather than just picking it up. I am, however, endeavoring to make a pair of socks on double pointed needles. It's slow going, but I am giving it a shot.

I got my beta invite to Ravelry and I am in love. In love, I tell you! I love the organizational features and being able to browse through all the WIP's and FO's. It is lovely. I've got a queue about a mile long. I started on a pattern I discovered through Ravelry a couple days ago called Seraphina's Shawl. I started it yesterday evening and I'm about 7 rows into it. I'm doing it in a Paton's Classic Merino Wool in Grey Mix. It may not drape as well as other yarns, but it will be warm for the winter. I've noticed a few screw ups so far, but I don't care enough to rip it out. Maybe if I were making it for someone else, but this project is mine, all mine!

I do need to stop making projects for Ryleigh and myself though because I have a super huge Christmas list I need to fulfill. I've done 2/18 gifts! I'm going to be a busy girl between now and Christmas. I've also got Christmas Cards to make. Luckily for me, Finals are December 3rd, and I've got about two weeks between then and Christmas to finish up what I cannot finish before then. It'll be so wonderful to have a whole month off to do nothing. During Winter and Spring terms, I've only got a week between the two, so I'll get rested up the best I can after Winter and go full force.

Uhoh, nap time is over. I guess this is the end of this entry. Sayonara :)

Learning Curve

Whoever gave me the brilliant idea to learn to crochet and knit at the same time, never give me an idea again, please. Trying to divide my time evenly among the two is killing me. I love crocheting because it is fast and so much easier for me to undo my mistakes. If I make a mistake in knitting, I don't have a freaking clue how to make it better. So I've frogged row after row after row and it is a little depressing.

I finished ONE of my wrist warmers and the other one has been started, but is no where close to finished. I've crocheted a pair of slippers for my daughter, a wash cloth and an iPod cozy for a swap I am doing. I've knit two dish cloths and started a scarf and a pair of socks. Nothing like going full speed, eh? I've also already managed to become a yarn stasher. So I've resolved to make no more purchases until I've finished at least two more projects (wash cloths not included).

On the school front, I've just finished midterms, sanity intact. Surprisingly, I did very well on all three of them. I'm taking today off and then I'll get back to work on my projects and schoolwork.

New Craft

It has been a long time since I have posted. I've been quite busy with life among other things. I am learning to crochet now between homework and playing with my daughter. It is a blast. It is so rhythmic and relaxing for me. So far, I've made an iPod case, a hat for myself and a hat for my girl.

Now I am working on my wrist warmers. I'm following the suggestion of a few ladies from craftster.org and rather than crocheting them on the round, doing them as a rectangle and sewing up the side. It may not be the most sophisticated method, but for someone of my limited talents, it will do the trick.

I am working them in front post double crochet and back post double crochet to get a ribbed look. They are a very soft acrylic yarn and I hope to have at least one of them done by Monday. I've got to get quite a bit of studying done between now and then though. This one is about one half done. I can't wait be cozy when they are finished!

Garage Sale

I had a Garage Sale yesterday and I'm going at it again today. I think it is some sort of torture. I lugged all this stuff out into our driveway with the hopes of making a little extra spending money for my trip next week and I made $13.95, plus a nice charcoal grill-- the neighbors didn't sell it, so they gave it to us.

The $13.95 was promptly divided among my helper and me. She didn't do much more than yammer at people from her play pen, but her Duck-Bank is a little bit fuller now than it was yesterday morning.

I'm hoping to attract the after-church crowd from the two churches down the street, so I guess I better go get set up for the day and get my munchkin fed before 8! :)

Productive

Today I:

• Mowed the front lawn
• Finished 1/2 of my drafting homework
• Wrote 2300 words
• Went to class
• Stopped at Borders and read the back flap of half the Romance Section
  

Hunting and Gathering

Today was our first 90 degree weather. Ugh. Too much for me. We spent most of it inside, but we did take a walk to playground for a few minutes.

I've been gathering fabric for the last couple days, trying to get ready to make a quilt for my daughter. It's been a plan in the works since before she was with us, but I never got around to it. A few weeks ago I picked up the cutest Pottery Barn crib set for $4 at the thrift store. It is a red gingham crib bumper, pillow case and bed skirt, but there isn't a quilt to match.

I'm planning something like this Sudoku pattern, but maybe a little longer so it will fit a twin bed. The colors are reds, pinks, greens and bleached muslin. I've got some cherries, some checks and paisleys. It will be so much fun! I want to get started, but I'm being lazy and don't want to get the iron out. It is probably better that way for now because I am behind on school work and I can't find my rotary cutter anywhere. It doesn't help that I have not used, nor seen it for two years.

Srping-Fever

There isn't much going on today, just a bit of online window shopping at Hancocks. I adore the Freshcut line by Heather Bailey. I just can't help it. I nearly drool when I see it. I want to make a scrub top out of the Modern Zinnias fabric-- and I probably won't even need to get my scrubs out for another two years. I'll be the most fashionable nursing student around.

It's that time of the term again, and I am behind on class assignments. A combination of procrastination and spring-fever is never a good thing. More than anything, I want to spend time with my daughter outside, taking walks and playing in the park. The weather is just about perfect right now, but soon it will be too hot to spend much time out there, so I want to soak it up while I can.

However, for the better part of next month, I will be in paridise, so it won't matter too much anyway. My girl and I are going to San Luis Obispo to visit her grandma and great-grandma. We are really looking forward to it! I can't wait for that, and lunch at my favorite Thai restaurant.

Speaking of which, my Thai basil has sprouted and is about 1 inch tall in my front planter box. My raised bed in the back has 1 inch tall pea plants and two dead strawberry plants. I think my lettuce has started to sprout as well! I'm so excited. This is my first season with a yard to grow things, and I can't wait to feel that self-satisfaction when you bring something in out of the garden and to your table. Something you planted and tended. It'll be wonderful.