fm 11/24/08

Yup, I'm still using the boot to walk around in. The leg is not healing, "too much stress" according to the doctor. I should be getting an electrical stimulator for my leg this week. I have to use it for 3 hours a day, so I am hoping it is portable and requires a battery so it will be easier for me to comply. Next visit to the ortho - January 2, 2009. I'm thrilled;)


It's a bit colder in my area than the usual November temps - we even had snow flurries on Friday, so I thought I'd list some hats and scarves first.

Here's a crochet rib hat that would be suitable for males or females....
http://www.mielkesfarm.com/c_rib_ht.htm

Or how about a tapestry hat?
http://www.naturallycaron.com/projects/sydney/sydney_4.html

This would also be good for males or females - a crochet beanie
http://nikkishell.typepad.com/wardroberefashion/2008/11/simple-crochet.html

Here's something I thought was cool - a ripple scarf
http://www.woolcrafting.com/ripple-scarf-pattern.html

And how about a ripple purse to go with it?
http://www.sweaterbabe.com/monthly-free-knitting-crochet-pattern2863.htm


How about a Caron brand yarn scarf by Kim Guzman ?
http://www.naturallycaron.com/projects/journey/journey_1.html

This shows you how to do the seed stitch -
http://crochet-mania.blogspot.com/2008/11/seed-stitch-crochet-scarf.html

And now for something completely different, a tessalated crochet fish motif/ That could worl out to be a cool scarf pattern (no I haven't tried it yet).
http://in-a-pear-tree.blogspot.com/2008/08/crochet-fish-motif-finally.html

So now I can bring the snow flurries into my house, without the cold - here's a snowflake garland
http://www.coatsandclark.com/Crafts/Crochet/Projects/Seasonal/WR1691+Crochet+Snowflake+Garland.htm

ANd this one must have escaped the Thanksgiving list last week - here's a pilgrim girl fridgie
http://www.crochetmemories.com/archive/november3.html

A lot of people like "Hello Kitty". When I was in Atlantic CIty a few years ago, I seen a "Hello Kitty" ring made for an adult (woman, I suppose. I can't really see a man wearing a "blingy" ring with a cat face on it, but I know nothing of fashion). So here's a really cute amigurmi "Hello Kitty" doll
http://arminas-aminals.blogspot.com/2008/03/ami-hello-kitty.html

For those of you interested in wire crochet, this is neat. A crochet wire leaf to make into a pin or a centerpiece.
http://foothillhomecompanion.blogspot.com/2008/11/how-to-crochet-leaf-with-wire.html

This link is for a survey for2 free Bernat e-books. Yes,. there is no strictly crochet book although there are a few strictly knit books. And yes, you will probably get it around the first of 2009. But it is a freebie, so there you are.
http://survey2008.bernat.com/

Despite rumors to the contrary;) I am not making the big bucks off of posting these links. I'm willing to be bribed, but people are way too honest to offer me a bribe.

_enjoy_

FM 11/17/08

I'm still hobbling around with this boot and thinking about the big Thanksgiving feeding frenzy at my house. I've been working on preemie hats and just shipped off 10 crocheted hats to "Knit One, Save One" in Brooklyn, New York. http://vickiehowell.blogspot.com/2008/11/knit-one-save-one-with-warm-up-america.html
The other preemie hats I make continue to go to the NICU at University of Maryland Hospital.


Not a freebie, but 50% off of Roxycraft Patterns is still pretty sweet.
http://roxycraft.com/

SInce Thanksgiving is in little over a week (in the USA) , it's time to polish the silverware - or maybe not....how about spending that time making crochet decorations for Thanksgiving? People will remember the Thanksgiving decorations longer than whether they can see their face in your silver?

How about starting with a turkey amigurimi?
http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/80744AD.html

Or how about this turkey?
http://planetmfiles.com/2008/11/11/free-crochet-turkey-pattern/

You might remember making a turkey drawing from tracing your hand - or maybe your kids did? Here's a crochet example of it in crochet - a turkey hand crochet
http://cecinatrix.blogspot.com/2008/11/turkey-love.html


Or how a turkey square that needs to be tested, according to the author - check it out
http://dayna.tdgservices.com/ShowPattern.aspx?PatternID=34

Here's something really cute - a pumpkin pie fridge magnet
http://www.crochetmemories.com/archive/november2.html

Or how about a turkey fridgie...
http://www.bevscountrycottage.com/turkey.html

Here 's teddy bear pilgrim outfit and a link for a crocheted teddy bear
http://crochet.about.com/library/weekly/aa112297.htm

How about a cute turkey pin to wear on your apron or coat -
http://www.crochetdoilies.com/crochet_turkey.html

Or how about a pumpkin pin
http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/fiber_arts/83799


As usual, no payola came my way for listing these sites.
_enjoy_

FM 11/10/09

November 11 is Veteran's Day, which is so much more than buying carpet or mattresses. The poppy is for rememberance and here is a link for a crocheted poppy: http://crochetroo.blogspot.com/2007/04/anzac-poppy-free-crochet-pattern.ht
And here's part of the haunting poem.....
In Flanders Fields
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army
In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

For the complete text of the poem: http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/flanders.htm
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Now to go on to our normal Monday visit. I'm still limping around, but I had a grand time at Stitches East. Today (Sunday, November 9) is my birthday and my sons and my beloved gave me some wonderful gifts, some books, a cd, and even a tiny silver crochet hook. I could probably crochet with it, but I can't imagine working in thread that small. Here's your freebies.

Making a bag for yourself or as a gift and wondering if it's just too hard to line it? Check out this tutorial - sewing a lining in a crochet bag. http://www.futuregirl.com/craft_blog/2008/10/tutorial-sew-a-lining-into-a-crocheted-bag.aspx

This could be a quick gift idea - lovely wristlets.
http://www.naturallycaron.com/projects/doral/doral_1.html

For those upcoming holiday parties, make an spectacular entrance with this sequin heart shawl
http://donnascrochetdesignstheblog.blogspot.com/2008/11/sequin-hearts-wrap-free-crochet-pattern.html

I have 3 things from Teresa, from "The Art of Crochet"
First, a new (to me) granny square - a checkerboard square granny
http://crochet-mania.blogspot.com/2008/11/checkerboard-crochet-square.html

For the threadies in the audience, here's a beautiful crochet thread angel
http://crochet-mania.blogspot.com/2008/10/crochet-thread-angel.html

And last but certainly not least, Teresa doing a drawing to celbrate her 200th blog entry
http://crochet-mania.blogspot.com/2008/11/contest-drawing-2-this-is-in.html

I can't really imagine this, the local newspaper here smells like oily rags. But hopefully the yarn from old newspapers doesn't
http://www.dezeen.com/2007/10/21/yarn-from-old-newspapers-by-greetje-van-tiem/

Want something cute and furry - how about some slippers? I think they are cute, but my kittens would tear them up quickly...
http://www.christinascrochethaven.com/furry_girl.htm

Here's a beautiful pineapple shawl
http://www.caron.com/projects/ss_eco/sseco_pineapple_shawl.html

A free crochet e-book from Interwaeve Press -
http://www.knittingdaily.com/blogs/patterns/archive/2008/11/07/IWC_2D00_gift_2D00_book.aspx

Amd now, a brief introduction to tapestry crochet by Carol Ventura
http://www.knitonthenet.com/issue7/features/tapestrycrochet/

There's a brand new online crochet magazine - "Crochet Uncut"
http://crochetuncut.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=50&Itemid=88


Looking for a different potholder for the Christmas holiday - here's a Christmas tree light bulb potholder http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Ranch/4054/cldcph.htm


As usual, I have received no payment of any kind for any of these mentions. (Okay, except the Stitches East and I already explained that one) but I do accept bribes;) Just everybody is so honest, they don't offer bribes. Shame, I would take them.....

_enjoy_

Stitches East

well. I worked the Discontinued Brand Name Yarn booth yesterday at Stitches (at the Baltimore Convention Center) and I had a blast. I proudly wore my "CGOA" pin on my Kimba shirt. The first part of the day I sat with Cheryl Potter of Cherry Tree yarns (http://www.cherryyarn.com/), author of "Skein For Skein". There were models for many of her designs - the "Ring of Supersox" was great. Yes, it was knitted, but it could be translated into a chrochet pattern. It was really cool to see garments made from the beautiful sock yarn of Cherry Tree Yarn. I talked about the call for designs and the "Sox" contest to the people coming into the show. I gave away small skeins of super wash merino and it was great. The second part of the day I restocked shelves and broke down boxes and that was great, too. I met so many nice people and had such fun talking to them. I got to look around the convention and see what the other vendors had for sale. I especially had fun picking my yarn out for payment. Oh, Sockotta:)
Lots of stuff for knitters and also a fair amount for crocheters. And of course, yarn doesn't care what you use it for. I was intrigued by a needle felted wool animal demonstration, but I managed to convince myself not to buy a kit. It was hard, but I already have too many hobbies (obsessions?).
So if you get a chance, go to the Stitches convention this weekend. It was a great birthday gift for me. And yes, I did get paid for the work, but the convention would still be great even if I hadn't gotten paid for it. I would have paid to go and spent more money, so it worked for me.

Stitches East

Stitches East will be at the Baltimore Convention Center this weekend. I had argued with myself that I was not going to go, I had more than enough yarn, no time, on and on. Of course, I lost;)

I will be working at the Discontinued Yarn booth on Friday:). Of course I have a day job, but I am off Friday so I'll work for yarn that day. So if you see a woman with long red hair working in that booth, it's probably me.
I couldn't afford to work for yarn all the time - after all, kittens (and big cats) need to be fed along with bills just like everybody else has. But for 1 day, I think I will enjoy it. Plus it's all _mine_, no sharing it with the bill collectors;)

So if you see me there, please say hi....

FM 11/3/08

Some of you may remember me posting about my great nephew, Payton, the little boy who slid down the slide that was covered in acid. He is getting another skin graft this week, so please send good thoughts his way. Thanks a lot.
If you're a fan of art dolls, this one by Bonnie Prokopowicz is featured in the Winter 2009 "Art Doll Quarterly" magazine. I'm not sure if the word "cute" is used to describe art dolls, but it is a cutie.
http://www.prokopowicz.org/dolls/crochet/happy/happy.htm

Not a pattern, just a thought / inspiration here.....
http://thesmallobject.com/stenopad/wordpress/?p=1046

For those of you who follow Noreen Crone-Findllay's blog, she is no longer at "Hankering for Yarn". She is now at www.tottietalkscrafts.com

Crafty Corral is having a contest on the website - the deadline is quick (November 14, 2008). You have to make certain items for charity. Check out the drawing at:
http://craftycorral.blogspot.com/

Now for the free patterns:
once again, Teresa has come thru - here's a beautiful potholder pattern using the "magic square" technique. She is amazing.
http://crochet-mania.blogspot.com/2008/10/crochet-magic-heart-potholder.html

another one from Teresa
http://crochet-mania.blogspot.com/2008/10/crochet-thread-angel.html


I've seen a few flakes of snow, so it's probably time to crochet this - an ice scraper mitten
http://doyourworsted.blogspot.com/2007/01/ice-scraper-mitten.html


This pattern is the reason my sons are happy the internet wasn't accessible to me when they were kids - otherwise, they'd be wearing hats like this:
http://www.piece-by-piece.net/Crochet/baby_hat.htm

I have a lot of those clear plastic cds left over from my beloved's projects. This is pretty cool way to use them - a Christmas wreath cd hotpad/trivet
http://www.crochetmemories.com/archive/december13.html


_Enjoy_