Starting My 39th Year

I decided to do a journal for the year from my 38th birthday to my 39th. It'll be part junk journal, part art journal, a little 365ish, & mostly all about me. I didn't do so well on my 365 album(only made it to April), so I hope this goes better.

I started with this journal I picked up on clearance somewhere.(???)It's Joe Boxer brand.

I took it apart. Punched bigger holes for the binder rings.

Covered the covers with patterned paper.

Cut a bunch of cardstock, patterned paper & water color paper for pages.

I'm also using some of the original pages for journaling. Covering up the boxer logo in the corner with various embellishments.

The front cover, titled & decorated.

Chipboard letters(painted & shimmer sprayed) & stamping for the title.

Silk flower & stick pins I made for a Counterfeit Kit. Go here for my blog post.


The title page.

My first day of journaling.

African Flower Bag

I've been wanting to try these flowers. http://heidibearscreative.blogspot.com/2010/05/african-flower-hexagon-crochet-tutorial.html So a CAL for this bag on ravelry was the perfect excuse. http://www.ravelry.com/projects/chitweed/african-flower-hexagon

Getting started.

Turning into flowers now.

Joining as I go on the last round. http://heidibearscreative.blogspot.com/2011/02/african-flower-hexagon-join-as-you-go.html

Mine's shaped different because, well I apparently suck at placement while joining as I go.(sigh)

Just need to add handles & a closure, then line it.

A Kaldred in Every Color

Okay, not every color........yet. But isn't this pattern just fabulous. http://www.fourth-edition.co.uk/2011/06/pattern-kaldred/ So simple & pretty. I think my favorites are with the #10 cotton.

#3cotton&D hook(3.25mm)

#10 cotton & 7hook(1.65mm) with glass E beads.

Aunt Lydia's Quick Cotton& F hook(3.75mm)

Worsted weight & G hook(4mm).

The Easy Peasy in Neon

Found this great bag pattern.http://laughingpurplegoldfish.com/2008/08/14/easy-peasy-crochet-bag/ Mine is 2 strands of Sugar & Creme held together & using a M (9mm) hook. It worked up really fast. I changed up the straps. Like on this bag,but bigger. http://tangledhappy.blogspot.com/2010/11/granny-stripe-boutique-bag.html I chained 40 then did 1 round of single crochet(us) around top & straps & 1 round sc on inside of each strap.

The closure is just ch & sc to make the loop.

16 Years of Wedded Bliss

I can hardly believe it's been 16 years, & we're still crazy in love.(well sometimes we're just crazy, but mostly it's the love thing) Here we are all fresh faced & dewy eyed on the day.


And here we are now. 16 years wiser(snort)

Hexagon Update

Just a tiny post to update you on my long neglected Lucy Hexagon Afghan. I got 31 more hexes added last month. Hoping to keep up the one a day thing for this month too. So far so good.

This pic is from about halfway through July.

My First Haekelbeutel

I love, love, love this bag. http://www.stricksucht.de/anleitungen/crochetedbag.pdf I see many more in my crochet future. I did regular granny squares & joined as I went.(that took a little more thought) I used an I hook & Red Heart solid, Red Heart multi, & a mystery skein of burnt orange(gotta love inherited stash).


In progress pics.





The straps are each ch70 then half double crochet(us) around strap & top of bag twice(once in orange & once in green).


And finally TA-DAA! I'm just loving the color combo. So pretty. I might eventually line it, but not till I decide what I'm gonna use it for.

Giant Granny Ta-Da

I finally finished up the giant granny afghan. I used this pattern to get started. http://iamtotallyobsessedwithyarn.blogspot.com/2006/01/granny-square-pattern-with-pictures.html Then grannied to my hearts content. It's so relaxing. Made with Red Heart Super Saver and an I hook.

The edging is just 4 rounds of single crochet.(us) I think it gives a nice finish.