fm 1/28/08

I can't believe I missed the chance to see this very cool car in person when it was at Artscape. But I did, unfortunately. But here's your chance to check it out and read all about how the yarn card came to be. It's amazingly cool.
http://www.yarncar.com/


It's the end of January and some of you have had a long snowy winter. (Some of us haven't). But if you need some beautiful, colorful crochet to check out, here's the site:
http://www.gusset.net/kip/archives/000479.html
I love the abundance of colors used in the skirt.

Check out this cool frog:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22811120@N06/2199939448/

and now for the free patterns

Did you buy that combination soy/acrylic yarn? Did you know you could dye it with Kool Aid?Here's a site about doing just that:
http://k2sc1.wordpress.com/2008/01/20/dying-soy-acrylic-yarn/

Want to crochet some slippers? Here's a site with a lot of free slipper patterns:
http://fabricfolliestwo.wordpress.com/2008/01/19/crochet-slipper-pattern-links-free-crochet-slipper-patterns/

I would have never thought of this in a million years, but it's so _cool_. I could have really used it when both of my sons were still living at home. I could get 4 to 5 milk bottle caps in a week (or less).
http://www.crochetville.org/forum/showthread.php?t=69985

Is there such a thing as "too many handbags"? Some people say that could happen, but I say it's just not possible - it's like saying "that's too much yarn". So if you want to make some new purses, check this out:
http://www.freewebs.com/ceciscreations/freepatterns.htm

I love flowers, but it will be a while before I see any in my yard - even the crocuses haven't bloomed yet. But to help tide me over, here's a great flower pattern I want to share with you:
http://mycrochetstuff.blogspot.com/2007/03/loopy-flowers-free-pattern.html

_enjoy_

FM 1/21/08

I didn't know this, but you must label the items you make for sale. I thought just having care instructions with the article would be good enough, but apparently, I am wrong. For more info, check this site out:
http://crochet.about.com/library/bllabel_apparel.htm

I started reading "Woman's Day" a very long time ago, long before marriage and kids, while I was still in high school. I especially liked their craft pages (yes, they did have it back then - I even remember that they would have crafts on a sort of regular basis). I still subscribe to "Woman's Day" tho it seldom has any crafts. This month, however, it does have a link for crochet patterns. I particularly like the last pattern, the bag. Here's the link:
http://www.womansday.com/home/12725/12-crochet-crafts.html

Here's some more free crochet patterns, pretty cool stuff:
http://www.quamut.com/category/crochet

Yes, I know Dr Martin Luther King Jr's birthday was January 15. But the federal celebration of the holiday in January 21, so I'm including this today. Any day is appropriate for peace, in my opinion.
http://crochet.craftgossip.com/martin-luther-king-crochet-for-peace/2008/01/16/


Before you know it, Valentine's Day will be here. Want something quick and cute to crochet for Valentine's Day? Here you go:
http://crochet.craftgossip.com/everywhere-a-valentine/2008/01/14/

I stumbled across this site and thought it was very pretty:
http://designismine.blogspot.com/2008/01/frenchknicker-faux-crochet.html
It is very similiar to Maggie Weldon's porcelain work with doilies, her stuff is _beautiful_.
And since I mentioned it, here's her site. The bowls are lovely, but i have to admit I'd be a little afraid to use them - afraid I might break them. Fortunately for me, she also sells ornaments, that I wouldn't be afraid of breaking. Here's her bowl work and you can check out the ornaments from there:
http://www.lacepottery.com/Pottery_large_bowls_main.htm

Want to see somebody crochet a baby amigurumi penguin - here you go:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Crochet-a-Baby-Penguin-Amigurumi/

I'm not a crochet designer (nor do I play one on tv;)) but here's a blog by one. Just in case you think crochet designers are "rolling in the dough" and that makes it okay to duplicate their patterns for your profit, Kim Guzman's here to point out the error of your ways:
http://kimguzman.bravejournal.com/

What can I say? I love M's Crone-Findlay's stuff. If I had a grandchild, he or she would be wearing this hat - at least long enough for me to take a picture;) I doubt I could get my sons to wear them now....but I could try;)
http://www.modadea.com/patterns/CTFEB07froghat.htm
Noreen Crone-Findlay's froggy hat


I know, I know - everybody thinks bunnies are so cute and so innocent. But on this particular blog, they are evil. You can ust the pattern provided to crochet an evil bunny (or a good bunny, whatever you would prefer):

Click here: Evil Minions « gnat on the windshield

As always, I do not get a kickback from any of these folks. I'd be willing to take a kickback;) but nobody offers any payola to be posted on my blog. oh well.

_enjoy_

Freebie Monday

Do you like the look of the pinwheel coasters? Here's a pattern you will want to check out:
http://www.kaleidesigns.com/crochet/patterns/archive/coas008.html


Have you ever felt like you need to see somebody do something before you get the hang of it? Sometimes I do. And there's not always another crocheter around when you need him/her. So here's a cool site that actually shows you a video of a scarf being created:
http://www.instructables.com/id/crochet-scarf_1/


One of my favorite sites, Purple Kitty is offering free vintage potholder patterns. These are so cool looking.
http://www.freevintagecrochet.com/patternbook/starbook69.html

Wondering what you can do with all the soda can tabs you've saved? You have to drink 6 sodas (or collect them from other folks) to create a flower:
http://www.escamastudio.com/inspiration/diy.html


This article is interesting about a 3D crochet installation - but sorry, no pix.
http://www.nwipp-newspapers.com/fh/free/290719660707982.php

Can your "action style" (from Oprah) determine how to crochet (or anything else for that matter)? you may want to check this out. I think I'm more of a "combination" person myself.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/personal/01/08/o.wildly.successful/
--
As always, Noreen Crone-Findlay always has something exciting going on in her blog. This entry tells you how to crochet a wire mermaid necklace. I like the way it looks, but I think I'll pass until my tendons decide to settle down a bit.
http://www.hankeringforyarn.com/crocheted-wire-mermaid-necklace

I was sort of looking for a hat pattern for my older sister. She is losing her hair (nope, I don't know why) and of course, she's cold. She doesn't like a lot of fussiness, so I thought this pattern might be perfect for her cold head - a crocheted skull cap
http://www.baxterbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080104/NEWS01/801040345/1002/NEWS01


If you live in or around Pittsburgh, you might already know about this event. Part of me _really_ wants to go to check out all the cool stuff. The other part of me thinks "Are you _crazy_? They will probably have a snowstorm that weekend!". So I'd have to say right now I'm not planning to go, but it definitely sounds appealing to me.
http://www.pghknitandcrochet.com/

Payton & the sentencing

I know this isn't about crocheting, but hey, it's my blog and I have written about this more than once. It's about my great-nephew, Payton Potochney and the sentencing that the juveniles received for causing chemical burns to Payton by putting acid on an elementary school playground slide.
Here's the info:
http://ragingbull.quote.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=SIRI&read=162939

fm 1/7/08

I'm a bit discomboobalated here, it's hard for me to believe it's January 7, 2008 already...


Here's a good star to the New Year with New Years Resolutions
GREETING 2008 - A GOOD YEAR TO CROCHET

Want to see some fantastic freeform crochet? You must check out this site.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/15617834@N04/

And to head off in 2008!
By SB&C
a _very_ expensive hat - approximately $5810.17 USD as of the quote I got _today_. I don't see what the attraction of the hat is, but if somebody's spending that kind of cash for a hat, I'm more than willing to make a few ugly hats myself.

and more New Year's Resolutions
Yarn, Crochet and New Year
I haven't posted my New Year's resolutions (or much of anything else) but really, I'll do it.( It will give my beloved something to laugh at when he reads it. Especially the stuff about "reducing the stash". I hope he's not drinking coffee at that point.)

Origami angels of peace and healing-Links
Not crochet related, but who couldn't use peace and healing in their lives?
M's Crone-Findlay's work is always so great.

and speaking of M's Crone-Findlay's work:
Second Chance Contest
This is for the doll she was giving away in December (I think). And don't use my theme "I wish I had a second chance to buy a winning lottery ticket";)

Remember the "Island of Misfit Toys"?
Advice for that misfit doll
Bizarre title but interesting perspective on charity crochet.


Want to join a "crochet-along"? Here's one for granny squares:
Happy 2008!

I thought these old fashioned potholders patterns were pretty cool. I doubt I'd make mine in thread, but it would still be neat to have them in cotton. If I ever had my own tea shop / bakery, I'd display that sort of stuff and sell it.
Vintage Crochet Potholders Pattern - Free Download


That's it for this week. Hopefully, I will become undiscomboobalated by next week & post the yearly horoscope and such. I have a small part of it done, but I must look deep into my crystal ball to see what 2008 brings for the crocheters ;)