hello again

Hi.
I haven't been saving the world or anything besides the normal stuff of working and living my life. Nothing terribly exciting (unless you enjoy compliance training) just chugging along.

I have finished a pink and white baby afghan, a giant granny square using the Fibronacci sequence. I think it looks cool, but that's me.I've cleared everything out except the BIG project I alternately dread and am excited about. It's a matching curtain for the window, the lion curtain....

I need to get this done because it is always in the back of my mind that I need to finish it. Silly, isn't it? But this UFO has been hanging around the house way too long and I will be happy to finish it.

I think the craft stores are taking a major hit in this recession. Almost every week, Michaels and A.C. Moore have a 20% discount coupon. I know, you'd think I'd be hitting that sale every week. Rubber stamps, magazines, paper and of course yarn for 20% off. Sounds great. But....
I'm only semi interested in checking it out. Is it depression? Did a pod person take over me? I don't think so. One driving force is I have more yarn than I can possibly use in my life. As a matter of fact, I'm thinking of reducing my stash (don't faint!) because there is so much I'm not going to ever use. I have some beautiful bulky fall colored yarn. Absolutely beautiful. It's wool. I don't know if it's getting older or what but I find it difficult to work with wool. I get all stuffed up and itchy when I crochet with it. Same with mohair, but worse. This is a shame because I have some beautiful yarn in those fibers, but not if it is going to cause me to clog up.
Another reason is there is not enough variety of books and magazines in these stores. I mean, I wasn't that fond of "The Happy Hooker" but some folks think it is awesome. Stitch 'N Bitch Crochet: The Happy Hooker I'd rather see something new such as Unexpected Afghans: Innovative Crochet Designs with Traditional Techniques or The Complete Photo Guide to Crochet: *All You Need to Know to Crochet *The Essential Reference for Novice and Expert Crocheters *Comprehensive Guide ... Charts, and Photos for 200 Stitch Patterns or Simple Crocheting: A Complete How-to-Crochet Workshop with 20 Projects or here's something I could really use The Crochet Artist Memory (no kickback for me from these authors, just saying)

just something that has been published in the last 3 years. Sometimes (*gasp*) I go to Joanne Fabrics for books and magazines. They seem to have a fresher inventory or maybe it's just stuff I don't already own. They also have British books there occasionally.

But I don't know, maybe I am just a cheapskate.

It was suggested to me from somebody that I make myself a panda bear similar to the one I made for my sister Howie that was buried with her. She suggested it may have healing qualities for me. I think she is right. (It's strange to mention this on what would have been Howie's 54th birthday). Now I just got to find the perfect yarn - I used the Lion brand microspun yarn for hers. I am not sure that's the name of the yarn, but it is so soft and smooth and easy to work with - even when your eyes are full of tears. Do I have what was left of it in my stash or should I buy more....well, I do have discount coupons;)

FM 8/10/09

The picture above was taken at the Toy Museum at Natural Bridge, Virginia. They have a lot of modern toys (South Park, Teenage Mutant Turtles, Barbies) but these are the only two toys that appear to be hand made from yarn. I don't know if the stitching in the larger doll shows up well but it looked like a combination of knit and crochet. The little yarn doll is similar to the thread dolls Noreen Crone-Findlay makes.http://www.blisstree.com/hankeringforyarn/busting-stress-with-old-time-thread-dolls/


I'm back. I went to Virginia for a couple of days, got a picture of me and my honey with a tiger cub. I have to post it sometime, got to figure out to work ii in;)
The weather is great, the avocado pit is growing and all is right with the world. Okay, with my world. I plan to go shopping (in my stash) a little later to get the yarn I want for a project. I think I have more yarn than A.C. Moore and Michaels combined. The last few times I was at either place, I didn't buy any yarn at all. That's how you know the economy is in the toilet. I'd like to lie and say "oh no, I was not going to buy yarn at all" but why lie? I just couldn't find anything I liked in either store. I know, that's _weird_. Anyway....


How much yarn do you need for a project? I can't ever figure it out. And don't even try to go back and get the same lot number. But Lion Brand has figured it out:
http://www.lionbrand.com/faq/96.html?language=-En

Not a pattern, but an article about the stress reducing benefit of crocheting (and knitting). I know I always feel better after I crochet.
http://www.favecrafts.com/Crochet/Knitting-and-Crochet-Tote-Releases-Stress

This is a very cute blog and video - check it out.
Fridge Critters: Where the Wild Things GO
http://woowork.blogspot.com/2009/08/fridge-critter-chelsea-chicken.html


There is a lot of tutorials on this site for almost anything you could need.
http://www.crochetsoiree.com/objects/view/30832/

How about a really cute granny square by SmoothFox?
http://smoothfoxlover.blogspot.com/2009/08/smoothfoxs-cute-as-button-12-x-12.html

The "snuggie" is a bit deal though it probably won't be at the fall fashion shows;) They have even had a "Snuggie Pub Crawl" in Fells Point. (Of course I didn't go - I would have tripped over the snuggie;)) Here's an adult snuggle pattern and you can make it any color you want.
http://www.coatsandclark.com/cgi-bin/MsmGo.exe?grab_id=34&page_id=9439232&query=adult+snuggle&hiword=ADULTES+ADULTS+SNUGGLING+SNUGGLY+adult+snuggle+


Yeah, it's August and in my part of the world, summer is drawing to a close. But you can always use a summertime tote
http://www.coatsandclark.com/Crafts/Crochet/Projects/Magazines/CTJune0892+Summertime+Tote.htm


I thought this was really an amazing afghan - a personalized baby afghan Kim Guzman
http://www.crochetkim.com/patterns/perbaby.htm

But honestly, this is my pick for my great-nephew's afghan. I have looked thru books and online to find something I wanted to do that would be different than what I did for his two older brothers. So (drum roll please), a fish motif by by Eboni A. Francis and it looks fun and challenging. I will be sure to post a photo of it when I finish it (first I have to begin....). It's a fish motif.
http://in-a-pear-tree.blogspot.com/2008/08/crochet-fish-motif-finally.html


And just in case you want to know more about tessellations, here's a website for you
http://www.tessellations.org/

That wraps it up for this week. Of course, no economic stimulus passed my way for listing the sites. I'd take it but no one is offering anything - not even used Popsicle sticks.

_enjoy_