Spoiling Lily

This Fall, we learned that the couple who runs the open mic night on Wednesdays were having a baby. As soon as I found this out, I was ready to make things. It didn't quiet help that I had baby fever and was itching to make things with no one to make things for. It certainly solved my problem. They were having a little girl and she has since been born.

Here are some of the things that I made for Lily (the baby).

 I happened along a design for a Circle Baby Blanket. I just love the swirl! It was a quick work up but I didn't happen to write it down. It came along by accident but I am certainly happy with the results! I wasn't sure what to do for the edging, so I decided to use some really soft, fluffy yarn (Bernat Pipsqueak) for the border in single crochet.

 I also made a hat, though I'm not sure where the pattern for that is. When I find where I got it from, I will update with a link. I know that it is called Granny Beanie. Again, I used the super soft, fluffy baby yarn to border the hat. So cute!

 A pair of baby shoes, in a soft cream. I was going to add lady bug buttons but it didn't quite go with the theme that seemed to be taking place.

 My first attempt at baby clothes! This was a pattern that I found at JoAnn's. One of the free ones that you can take home. It was called "Flutterby Baby Vest". I have tried to find it online for you, but I haven't had any luck. Again, I'm sorry that I cannot provide a link to the pattern. But, your craft stores are wonderful places for free patterns!

And yet another accidental pattern, as well as one that I can't link to nor did I write down. These booties are too stink'n cute! I love the little fur toppers!

When we gave these to the mother, she told me that she was afraid that she wouldn't have anything like this to pass down to her kids. Her grandmother who would make stuff like this had passed away. I felt so blessed to be a blessing to her, her husband and little Lily.

What baby things do you like to make or see made?

Please remember that you are beautiful and well loved!

Minnie Tp and Another Washcloth

 Way back, in the beginning of May, I had started to design the partner to the Mickey Mouse Toilet Paper cover. My beautiful cousin got married this past Summer and I was told that her bathroom was done with a Mickey Mouse theme. I had a difficult time figuring out the skirt, but after several designs, I settled on a skirt made of Sashay yarn. It was easiest to ruffle.  I finished this design at the end of June, just before their wedding. The pattern is now up for sale at ($1 USD). You can also bundle with the Mickey Mouse TP cover pattern for a discounted price of $1.50 USD!

This Simple Stripes Dishcloth was made in early July for a June Dishcloth CAL. I used Lily's Sugar and Cream yarn and I love it! The pattern is a free crochet download!

What are some projects you are working on?

Please remember that you are beautiful and well loved!

Blowing Off the Dust

I know that it has been a long while since I have posted. Again, there are no excuses. Life got the better of me. I was sick for a while and I'm still not feeling 100%.  My doctor ran a bunch of tests and found that the cause of my sickness is due to my low White Blood Cell count. I go in for more tests and a recount in Feburary. If you are the praying kind, I would be grateful if you might think of me.

I did some crafting and those posts will be coming up, very soon.  This year I am going to try my best to keep up on the blog, again. I want to record the positive things and encourage you to do the same.

Speaking of positive things, one has already happened this year!  As some of you may know, my husband and I have been looking for a reliable vehicle for two years. We had an Izuzu Rodeo that came with many problems and when the suspencion bracket snapped, well...we let that one go. I have been walking or biking to work, most days. Which I'm not complaining, I enjoy my walks, but in the winter it can get very painful with my Raynauds. Last winter, we borrowed my mother-in-law's car, a lot. This year, we have tried to limit how much we borrow it or ask for rides. Meanwhile, we have been searching, test driving and nixing choices of vehicles. Last week, we happened by a little Ford Focus. It has minimal rust and under 150k miles!  My husband test drove it and it seems to be a reliable vehicle for around town, in our price range.  We went back, yesterday and bought it! We are going to pick it up this afternoon!

We are so excited! Two years without a vehicle is a long time to be patient. But I am happy that we waited for this opportunity.

What are some blessings that you have experienced lately?

Please remember that you are beautiful and well loved.

Washcloth and a Bandana

 This week has been super busy and I feel terrible because I've been trying to make two posts a week. My manager is on vacation this week so I've been getting more hours, which I can't complain. I have had finished projects, but I've just been lazy on posting.

This dish/washcloth was part of last weeks Mystery Crochet-A-Long (MCAL) and I didn't post it last week because it wasn't revealed until Friday and I didn't want to ruin the reveal. I really like it though. It is a FREE pattern to download and is called the Snapdragon Dishcloth by Willow Yarns Design Team. I think that it would make a beautiful afghan made of these squares but I do really love it. The camera doesn't really do the color justice. It is sort of a darker teal, it looks more green in the picture than it is.

Since I have finished the Wrapped in Love blanket (coupon code ILY4EVER, good through June 1, 2016) I have been searching for new projects that aren't blankets. I still have to work on my blanket for this year's Afghan Swap but I'm taking a small break on that one. I found a little pattern, and I apologize for not being able to link it to you, it is not available for download, for a pup's bandana I absolutely love this pattern and I wish I could share it with you. It was an older free pattern from a craft store and I'm not sure which one. There is a button to secure the bandana and the spaces around the collar make it adjustable. Sasha loved her bandana so much that she wouldn't let me take it off of her, all day. In this picture she was a little more interested in the squirrels than looking at the camera but I think it is a good shot. I will probably be making more of these bandanas for her, in the future.

That is all of the projects that I have finished, right now. 

What have you been working on?

Let me know in the comments below. Also, check out my other posts! I always enjoy hearing from you.

Please remember that you are beautiful and well loved.

Washcloths!

Hey, there! I hope that you are having a wonderful week. Now that I finished the "Wrapped in Love" blanket, I have been trying to find projects to do. I joined this group on Ravelry that hosts a KAL (Knit-a-long) and CAL (Crochet-a-long) washcloth every week, throughout the year. So far I have three cloths finished. One is a work in progress and I'm going to show you two of them today.

I am only showing you the first two because this week is a Mystery CAL, which means that we get the pattern in portions and it is revealed at the end. The reveal is tomorrow, so I don't want to spoil the surprise. It is really a beautiful cloth though. I will probably make more.

 This first cloth was actually taken from an afghan square. It is a free pattern to download, so you should check it out! I never thought to use afghan squares as cloths but now that the idea has been pressed in my brain, I will be making more in the future.

This second cloth is also a free pattern and is a corner to corner cloth. I love it because I had just finished the corner to corner blanket before this was posted.

Now, one of the very first things I realized is that there are 52 weeks in a year. I'm a little behind this year so I won't have so many cloths from this group but I love these cloths and will be making at least one a week. That being said, I had no idea what I would do with 52 cloths.

As it turns out, my Sister-by-law is going to be getting her own place within the year. She will be turning 18 and I'm not sure what things the company she is going through will provide for her. She has made such great progress in keeping herself together and we are both so proud of her. So, we are starting to get things around for her place because she doesn't have much of her own, right now. I thought that these cloths would be a great idea! Who doesn't love handmade washcloths? I just hope she uses them. I have had a couple people say that the cloths were too beautiful to use and so they sit on a shelf. In my personal oppinion, it isn't a dish/wash cloth unless you use it as one. But, to each their own.

Beyond the washcloths, I'm a little bit lost on what to make for her. I do plan on making her a throw/afghan but that's going to take some time. We are looking for sales on house things too but I want her to have more than just cloths that are homemade. 

What are some of your ideas? Let me know in the comments below! Also, check out some of my other posts. I always love hearing from you.

Remember that you are beautiful and well loved.