Friday, December 3, 2010

Daily December 2010

I've decided to try to do a daily December mini album. This is an idea from Ali Edwards. She does one every year. Basically in October, you make an album with a page for each day of December then take a pic or two & do a little journaling each day. It's a easy way to chronical the holiday season. You can see all her blog posts about it here. http://aliedwards.com/2009/12/december-daily-compilation.html



I didn't get my book made well ahead of time like she does, but I did have a day or 2 to spare. ;) I decided to do a 4"x4". Just a bitty one for my first try at this. Here's a pic of the base album. Sorry it's a little fuzzy. I'll try for a better one later. The covers are coasters covered with pattern paper. The pages are various cardstocks. It's held together with a 2.5" binder ring. I didn't buy anything new for this. It's all from my stash.



I have taken pics & journaled the last 2 days I just haven't gotten pics printed yet. I'll probably try to do that once a week or so. I'm having fun so far.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Help I'm a Ripple Addict

I've started another ripple. This one is for our living room. I'm using Red Heart super savers in gold, carrot, buff, claret,& med. thyme, with an I hook. I'm using Lucy's pattern. http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/neat-ripple-pattern.html & it's 11 chevrons across.





Friday, June 18, 2010

My First Lucy Bag

I've mentioned the lovely Lucy of Attic24 before, for her wristie, snowflake, hexagon & ripple patterns. She also has a great pattern for a crochet bag. I changed a few things but used hers as a starting place. Her bag is here. http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/crochet-bag.html

I used Suger & cream cotton, & a G hook. The whole bag is done in hdc, even the straps(3 rows each). I hope to line it soon. Here are my pics of the process.

Getting started.

Almost done with the bottom.

Almost there.

All done.


Here it is fulfilling it's purpose.

With just a little peak of my latest ripple. I'll try to post some progress pics of that soon.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

MIL's Cro-hook Afghan

I love cro-hooking . So very relaxing for me. And the blankies are so warm & snuggly. The link to the tutorial is in my sidebar, under Crochet 101 links.

I made this one for my MIL's b-day. I'm a little late.(it was in feb.) sigh.

I love how these blankies are double sided.


Finished & showing off my new hamock, hubby got for me.


The trim is just a simple shell stitch.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Keeping it together! Yeah right.

Here is my organization for my crochet stuff.

This case holds all my steel & aluminum hooks. I got it at Wal-mart.
A Fossil watch tin, holds a tape measure, yarn needles, a needle threader, a mini grip pad, a row counter, & mini scissors.


This baby wipe travel container holds my bigger plastic hooks, stitch holders, stitch markers, & a gauge ruler. The onlt hooks I have that don't fit in here are my Q & S hooks.

They are all nice & compact for slipping into a bag with my current project.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Scarf for Hubby

Every once in awhile hubby whines "You never make me anything." LOL
I was making a scarf for my brother with this leftover yarn I had (no pics) & this is what I heard. It's not true, but you know. LOL So I had to make him one too. I ran low on yarn so he now complains that I didn't make his as long. (men ...sheesh)


ch22, Ihook, Redheart Plush(discontinued)
sc rows till is length you want changing colors for stripes.


Monday, February 15, 2010

WIPs Update

I thought I'd post a few update pics.


Scrap Ripple~



Mom's Ripple~




Scrap Hexagon~


Snowflake Garland~



MIL's Cro-hook Afghan~




Sunday, February 7, 2010

My Papa

Preston Cathcart born 8/18/31~died 1/26/10

My grandfather, passed away last week. This is the eulogy I gave at the funeral.



I'm not really much of a public speaker, in fact it kinda terrifies me. But I was thinking about this the other night. And when Pastor John & any of you who want to get up to speak today. You'll tell about Pres Cathcart. Friend, coworker, ball player, leader in the church. And while those are all important, I thought you would be missing out on the most important parts of him. Brother, husband, father, grandfather, & great-grandfather. And while I can't cover all of them, I'd like to tell you about my Papa.

I'm the oldest of 9 grandchildren, spanning down 17 years to my youngest brother. So as each of us came along we had different perspectives, different memories, & different stories to tell. But there are a few things he taught each of us.

Papa was a great ball player,& he taught us all to play. Some of us excelled, some of us not so much, but we all knew how to play the game. And we all knew what we'd hear if we didn't make the play. "What in the Sam Hill'd ya throw it over there for?" & "If it hit your glove ya should'a had it!" But he always had time for a round of pepper or to come to our games.

He taught us to tell a story. Man could he tell a story. And you didn't even care if you'd heard it before, because you knew it would always be better the next time through.Now here again, some of us picked up the basics & some of us excelled.(pause for the finger pointing to die down) But we learned that sometimes a story is facts & sometimes its entertainment, & how to tell the difference.

He taught us the art of the snappy comeback. I've always told people that in our family we learned sarcasm before we learned to walk. And Papa was our greatest teacher. He was never so pleased or so proud as when one of us zinged him back. We had a little tradition among us grandkids & I don't remember who started it. One day Papa said some outrageous thing, as he was inclined to do, and waited for the reaction. And this sweet child with a perfect dry resigned tone, turned and said. "Yes Papa, whatever you say Papa." We all quickly adopted this phrase, because it never failed to make him laugh.

He taught us that family is family even when you want to ring their necks. You tease & you fight, but at the end of the day you are there for each other. When I was younger I didn't realize that not everyone's family was like that. I grew up with family dinners & cousins that were as close to me as most people are to their siblings. I think I was in high school when during a conversation a friend said, "That's my mom's family. We don't speak to them." and I thought. "That's an option? Why didn't someone tell me sooner?" Just kidding. We kids always looked forward to family get togethers.

My husband tells the story of how at our wedding, Papa came up to him before hand & said "You can still run for it." & then after the ceremony, when we were in the recieving line, Papa shook his hand, leaned in & said. "To late now." I think this pretty much summed it up for him. We're all in this together, always.

As you've listened to me ramble on you might have heard things like sarcastic & stubborn. And let's face it Papa was a bit of a rascal. But I hope you also heard honest, generous, loving, teacher, friend, family. Because those are the things I want you to know about my Papa. What better things can we say about someone then that they were loved & they will be missed.

This is where Papa would tell me to quit my yappin & park my kiester, so we can get this thing moving along. And with a well practised sigh, i would say. "Yes Papa whatever you say Papa."

Monday, January 18, 2010

Snowflake Garland

I wanted to make some of these snowflakes by Attic24. While I was messing with different colors I decided to string some together. They are made with #10 crochet cotton & a #7 steel hook(1.65mm) & joined "as you go" style. Here is her pattern. http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/crochet-snowflake.html I think it's gonna make a lovely garland for next Christmas.






Saturday, January 16, 2010

Lucy Scarf

Lucy of Attic24 posted her scarf. http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/2009/09/cicles-scarf.html I just had to give it a try. This was a Christmas gift for a friend. I used Caron's simply soft & H hook. It's not as wide as hers & I had to make about 40 circles for the length.


Warming our Wrists in the Attic

Lucy recently posted her lovely stripey wrist warmers. http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/2009/10/wrist-warmers.html

So I had to make a pair or 2. I paired them with scarfs to give as Christmas gifts. Mine are made with Caron's simply soft & an E hook. They turned out lovely. One change I made was to use reverse single crochet for the bottom trim instead of the bobble edging. I also used it around the thumb hole.







Saturday, January 9, 2010

Scrap Ripple

I have so many half skeins & balls of leftover yarn that I was running out of room in the yarn closet. So in addition to the scrap hexagon, I'm starting a ripple afghan too.

The pattern I'm using is here at Attic24.http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/neat-ripple-pattern.html

I love how easy it is once you get it started.
I wasn't sure I would like the "scrap" look, but I think it's quite pretty actually.
To my winners...I hope to get your packages sent out on Monday. ;)

Friday, January 1, 2010

Happy New Year!!!

Hope you all had a lovely New Year's Eve. Hubby & i went to a family get-together & ate way to much. My waistline is so ready for the holidays to be over. LOL

Okay enough chit chat, on to the giveaway. ;) Our 5 winners are.


Ukka said...
Hi!What a sweet Candy!!!Fantastic!!!I added a link to the sidebar http://pishitejulie.blogspot.com/
Thank you so much for the chance to take part!!!

Greetings from Russia,
Ukka


nonnAnna said...
Ciao
ti ho scoperto grazie a MaestraLaura e partecipo molto volentieri
Ti metto tra i blog che seguo
Se vuoi leggere o fare leggere favole inedite per bambini passa a trovarmi
AUGURI PER UN NUOVO ANNO PIENO DI POSITIVITA'
nonnAnna


Rosa said...
Many compliments for your wonderful blog! I knew it thanks to Barbara. I'm very happy to have a chance to win your great creations.
Happy new year Shelley!


Bulika said...
Hi! I have posted your blog candy in my sidebar! http://bulkabul.blogspot.com/
Thank you so much for the chance to take part!!!


Vicki said...
Congratulations, Shelley! So happy for you! And hoe nice of you to share blog candy! Thanks so much! Happy New Year and many blessings to you!


If you girls would email me your addresses I'll get your package out to you as soon as I can. Thank you to all who commented.