Sunday, December 28, 2008

My Mistake

I made a mistake, a big mistake, people. I bought some malabrigo yarn. I might have to join some kind of group... malabrigos anonymous, or something. Have you seen this yarn, touched this yarn??? OMG! So pretty, so soft, so fun to work with!!! Here's what happens when I buy malabrigo...

And, her close-up...
And her really close-up...

The pattern is up on Ravelry and in my Etsy shop. I want to wear her all the time... while I'm cooking, watching football, showering (or maybe that's a bad idea). I'll be buying more of this yarn, lots more! And making lots of these scarflettes, as one hank of the malabrigo makes one soft, scooshy scarflette. So happy :)

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Monday, December 15, 2008

Happy Birthday Momma!!!

It's momma's bday today. We celebrated with taco soup and low-carb cheesecake.

She really is the best momma ever! My brothers and I wouldn't be who we are today without her love and guidance. We couldn't ask for anything more! She helped us through some very tough times that I didn't even realize the tough of until I was older. She is the strongest most selfless person I know. LOVE YOU!!!

In crochet news... Here was one of her gifts...

It was a doily pattern worked with worsted weight yarn and a size J hook. It turned out about 4" across and very pretty. I'd like to make the next one in wool so that I can block it out a bit bigger. Maybe in Cascade 220 wool???

Saturday, December 13, 2008

You know what this means...

Yep... that was a homemade tamale. From the masa to the meat to the sauce... all 100% homemade.

I need to go buy a freezer so I can make a billion of them... They were that good.

More details to come :o)

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Christmas Tree Lane with My New Scarf

Aren't we pretty? hahahaha, atleast the one on the right is... I think my hair doesn't like the fog much! Anyways, the pineapple scarf is finished and GORGEOUS if I do say so myself... Here's her close-up!

I'll be writing up the pattern in the near future, along with a few more I'm working on. I need to get going on Christmas crocheting, tho!!!

Monday, December 1, 2008

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Fudge Recipe

I think I've shared this with you guys before, but incase you missed it last year... THE EASIEST FUDGE RECIPE EVER!!!

Ingredients:
1 Bag Chocolate Chips (whichever flavor you'd like)
1 Tub Pre-Made Frosting (yep, the Betty Crocker or Pillsbury Doughboy kind)

Directions:
Dump the ingredients into a small saucepan and heat until bubbling. Bubble for about a minute and then pour in either an 8x8 baking pan, or *my favorite* the little tin pie pans that are about 4" across. Each batch will fill 3-4 of those puppies depending on how thick you like your fudge to be. Cool and try not to just eat it with a spoon!

Told you it was the easiest ever! My favorite is peanut butter chips with vanila frosting. YUM!!! This year, I think I'm going to try white chocolate with vanila frosting with a little mint extract with crushed candy canes on top. I'll let you know how it turns out!


Now for shameless plugging... If you've come from my mom's blog, go check out my hand-crocheted spa-cloths in my Etsy shop. The are soooo super soft, and make your skin feel the same way :) I think they're the perfect gift. Just add a bottle of your favorite body soap or facial cleanser and any woman would swoon!



Or a Christmas Dishcloth Set! Once you've used a crocheted dishcloth, you'll never go back to terrycloth or paper towels or even sponges!!! I like to add a set of Williams Sonoma Dishsoap and Hand Lotion to these for great housewarming/hostess gifts!

All of my cloths are made of 100% cotton and can be machine washed and dried! Good for your skin and good for the Earth!

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Inspiration

A friend requested... I fell in L.O.V.E... And one day later, here's the result!

I call her... O Pequeno Cachecol, or The Little Scarf. She was inspired by Ali and her request that I recreate this one... a knit Anthropologie version. It turned out very elegant, and it only takes between 60-70 grams of yarn. A much nicer price tag than the original!

This is a very simple project, only using 3 kinds of stitches and can easily be made in one night. It does need some light blocking to get the points to lay flat, but I even "block" acrylic yarn by lightly ironing it, so there's no need for only natural fibers!

You can purchase the pattern either on Ravelry or my Etsy shop!

Sunday, November 16, 2008

The Pineapple Project

Remember the yarn I promised to brag about? Well I liked it so much that I forgot to take a pic of it while it was still a skein! Now it looks like this...
I have two strips (each 1 skein), 6 pineapples long and am waiting for more yarn from Ebay to finish it. Isn't it glorious???

The specs on the yarn are... Lamb's Pride Bulky (a fantastically soft wool/mohair single ply yarn) in the Prairie Goldenrod color. I'm using a normal pineapple pattern with some shells on the side. This will probably be a for sale pattern when I figure out how to connect them in the middle. More details coming soon!

I have 2 more skeins of this in worsted weight and in the Ocean Waves colorway, but haven't decided what to do with it yet. When I figure something out, I'll share it, too!

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

All that work...

And I didn't even sell one set of dishcloths!!! Can you believe that???

I don't think people believed me that you can wash dishes or yourself with them. Every time I tried to explain what they were, the responses were, "REALLY???" with astonished looks.

So, if you are in the need for some very pretty (if I do say so myself), very eco-friendly, very useful hand crochet dishcloths/facecloths/face scrubbies (which are perfect for taking your makeup off), visit my etsy shop... I have a ton of sets up for sale! Here's a sample...

Otherwise, my weekend was great. Hubby and I got away to Monterey for our second wedding anniversary (which is on the 17th). The weather was gorgeous (tho cold) and we had a very fun, relaxing time! Hubby even took me to a yarn store in Pacific Grove and let me buy some gorgeous yarn. Lamb's Pride in goldenrod and ocean waves, I'll show those off later :)

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Monday, October 27, 2008

Coming Along!

Here's what all that cotton is turning into...

I have 2 more weeks to make more!

And a new pattern...

A pretty coffee cozy so that I stop killing the trees with the cardboard ones :) The pattern is for sale on my Etsy and on Ravelry!

Friday, October 17, 2008

I Can't Stop!

It feels like I'm only half-way done with one project when another idea pops into my head.

Momma and I are planning on doing a Christmas Boutique at the beginning of November. I decided to make a BUNCH of dishcloths with my overflowing box of cotton yarn.


I've always loved handmade dishcloths, but always wanted some extra scrubby power. I’ve seen the patterns where you crochet around a store bought scrub pad, but knew there had to be a way to make them home made…

While browsing the craft store the other day, I came across the plastic craft lace that I, along with many other elementary schoolers, had made those lanyard key chains with. It was like one of those cartoon moments when the light bulb clicks on :)

I combined the plastic lace with regular 100% cotton yarn in the middle of a pretty, lacy 6-petal dishcloth.

One skein each (2 and 2.5 oz) of a solid color and an ombre color plus one small 10 yard package of plastic lace will make atleast 3 dishcloths!

If you enlarge the pic below, you can see little shiny parts in the middle... That's the lanyard lace!

Pretty cool, if I do say so myself!

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

I Know it's Only October

But it's never too early to start Christmas projects, right?

So super easy to make and very cheap, too... Only 1 skein of Vanna's Choice yarn and pony beads!

I have so many ideas for these guys... earthy ones for my front room... fancy swarovski crystal ones for my in-laws... and don't tell momma, but maybe shabby chic, pink ones for her???

They'll be up in my Etsy shop and on Ravelry... I guess there really is only 70 days until Christmas... Get crocheting guys :)

Sunday, October 5, 2008

My Gigantor Aran Bag

It's finally done, and the pattern is written up! Yeah!!!

I really love this thing, but I don't think I'll be using it as a purse after all. It's, uh, kinda big :) It'll be perfect for weekends away, tho!

You can buy the pattern in my Etsy Shop, or from Ravelry ...

I'm going to have my momma line her for me (why is she a she? hmmm, just looks like a she!). Can't wait to see what it looks like with the pretty fabric on the inside. I think I'm going to design a smaller one, for everyday use. I just love it sooo much!

In other news, I have 2 people testing my Ernie Sweater (thanks guys!!!) and will put that up for sale as soon as I get feedback from them. I need to make my second one, so that's technically another test-round, too.

Anyways, I guess it's back to the drawing board... What else is next??? Hmmm... stay tuned :)

Friday, October 3, 2008

Charity Crochet

I have been racking my brain trying to figure out a good pattern to sell for charity with the $$$ going to my local children's hospital. My little bro, as some of you know if you read my momma's blog, was born quite premature. He stayed at what was then called Valley Children's Hospital here in the central valley of California (for 3 months!). I try to send them a check every year in thanks of helping to get my brother healthy enough to come home. My family and I will forever be grateful!

Last weekend, my nephews visited and we sat and played and read books and laughed. Most of their books are Sesame Street stories (I must admit that I spoil them, and most have come from me... oh well!) mostly because they LOVE Elmo. They were so cute, turning every page to find Elmo and yelling, "EEELLLLMMOOOOOOO!!!" While reading with them, I remembered one of my favorite characters... Who does this remind you of?


Yep, Ernie!!! I have this pattern all typed up and am just looking for a few people who'd like to test it for me (I'm going to ask on Ravelry, but if you'd like to test it, leave me a comment!). It's for a size 24 months (to fit the boys!)...

When I get this guy tested, the profits from the sale will go to my favorite children's hospital. They need every penny they can get :)

Monday, September 29, 2008

New Pattern

I'm trying to convince myself that it's Autumn... even though my weather forecast says 90 for days. Maybe adding fall decorations will trick me :)

I made up 3 different leaf patterns, and then crocheted each pattern in 4 colors. Then I decided that I didn't want it to always look the same. I wanted it to seem as if a tree had let it's leaves drift onto my tabletop. So, I used gold safety pins to pin them together in a random pattern. That way if I make more I can rearrange them, or maybe turn them into a garland...

You can find the pattern on my Ravlery, or my Etsy. But remember, you get a .50 discount for buying through Ravelry! If you click on the Ravelry link above, even if you're not a member, you should be able to purchase through them, it'll take you to the PayPal site and I think you just send me a payment and it'll let you download the pattern.

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Fall Fever

Well, I did it guys, I opened an Etsy shop. It's going to soon be full of my own, original design crochet patterns. I already have 5 up, including these two pretties...

I made the pumpkins first, and then while at dinner Friday night, hubby said, "How about a cornucopia?" I thought, "Yeah! Why didn't I think of that?" So while watching football today, I banged this thing out, took some pics, wrote up the pattern and added it to the shop. I've had 3 sales this week already of my pumpkins and Mikey's Beanie. I think that's pretty exciting!

I'm going to eventually sell patterns straight through Ravelry (I'm just waiting to be set up) and give a 50 cent discount for purchasing through them to help support such an amazing site. I wouldn't have accomplished any of this without it. Who knew there were so many crocheters out there?

I'm going to add a button to the side of my blog to take you to my Etsy shop in case you want to browse around. There will be much more coming soon! I have soooo many ideas!!!

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Many Thanks

Thank you all for your super sweet comments the other day. I'm going to keep praying until November that our country will make a turn for the better! You all are giving me some hope :)

Onward with crafty news!

I have 2 patterns available on Ravelry! Yeah! I have these up for free for now, but when my PayPal gets linked up with my checking account, I'm going to start charging a small fee (just a coupla bucks, I think). Hubby and I could always use a little extra money :)

The first pattern was the beanie that I showed you a few days ago, and the second, is this!


It's just a small bag that has a long strap (the kind that you loop over one shoulder and your head so that it can't fall off). I'm totally addicted to crocheted cables lately, so this is the product of that obsession. It only takes one 5 oz skein of RHSS yarn, so this puppy only cost $2.08 (what RH costs at my local wally world). You can't beat that!

If you aren't a member of Ravelry, leave me a comment with your email and I'll send you the PDF while I'm giving it away for free!

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

My Two Cents, Too


My momma wrote a beautiful blog post. It made me cry, so I wanted to share my thoughts and link you up to hers.

The person I respect and admire most in this world is my mom. She taught my brothers and I to live by one rule more than any other, “Live your life with humility. Think about how it feels to be in other peoples' shoes.” My brothers and I were never spanked, instead we were sat and talked to. My mom would explain that what we had done hurt other people (my brothers, her, my dad, etc.) and that worked. I didn't like to be hurt, so why would I want to hurt other people? I think it turned out well, I was never in trouble at school, haven't even thought about touching drugs or a cigarette, have never been drunk in my life, have a good job, a wonderful husband, and a home I am proud to be working to pay for. I am not perfect, but I believe my husband and I try to live our lives the way God would like us to.

I know I am young, and I've only voted for president once, but that doesn't make me ignorant. My husband and I try to be as open politically when it comes to researching what we are voting for as possible. We watched both conventions, have researched both presidential nominees' positions on everything from health care, to the war, to gay rights. Lately we've watched re-runs of Oprah about how our education system is failing, “An Inconvenient Truth” about how we are failing our world, and Michael Moore's “Sicko”, about how we are failing our people. When did it become ok to turn our backs on and forget about those who have less than us because we, personally, may be doing alright?

Most conservatives label themselves as Christian. I am Catholic (which is the first form of Christianity), and the one theme that is threaded though out the bible that stands out to me more than anything else is that Jesus loves everybody. I also learned through my religion that God gave us free-will. I believe that this means that he gives us the choice to make our own decisions, and undoubtedly would allow any woman to make a choice about her own body, or any person to love whomever they fall in love with. Not only does He love us, except us for who we are and the sins we make, but he is unconditionally forgiving. God would want the same opportunities given to the crack addict's son as the CFO's daughter. Where do we miss these key things in America? How is our whole nation “casting the first stone” at same-sex couples, Muslims, pro-choice American's, illegal immigrants, the homeless?

I, unlike my husband, take politics personally. I wish I could place everything into a neat little box and not let it hurt me because they are not speaking directly at me. But I feel like I am failing all these people because I can't stop my country from doing so. I hurt when the McCain camp disrespects Obama for being a “community organizer” who wants to raise our taxes. First of all, if I myself, had to pay $10 (or heck, even $100) more in taxes a year to ensure that everyone in America could have a quality education up through college, premium health care, a roof over their heads and a job to make them feel proud and productive, I would do so in a heart beat. Obama won't raise my taxes though. My husband and I are middle/working-class American's (and no, that's not under $5 million a year, McCain). Our taxes would be cut(along with 95% of Americans), so maybe we'd be able to put some money into savings for our future children.

That's just one of most of Obama's policies that I agree with. I don't think I can name one of McCain or Palin's that I would vote for. If God gave us free-will, where is it anyone else's place to take it away by over-turning Roe v. Wade or only teaching abstinence in schools or by changing the constitution to discriminate against same sex couples? Oh, and who's to say God didn't put the intelligent men and woman on this earth to become scientists to help us cure fatal diseases? How dare any one man stop medical research that could have saved millions of people in the 8 years he has been in office.


When I watched Obama's speech at the convention, I felt like I was watching my generation's Martin Luther King Jr. (and I would say that if Obama where white, purple, green, or black). I felt hope and pride in my country for the first time in a long while. Maybe I can do something for my not-so-lucky American brothers and sisters by voting this November. Maybe I can make our nation a better place.

Monday, September 8, 2008

Another Beanie for Mikey

So, this is what I spent some of my weekend doing.

Mikey wanted a brown beanie, remember? Then he said, "Can you make it look like this?" pointing at the book I've been using to get my cables for the aran bag. I thought, "Crappola, a whole hat of cables??? " My wrists hurt already :(

So, I got to thinking. What about a beanie with a cabled brim around the bottom? Yeah!

I made up a quick hdc beanie and went to my trusty book, picked out a simple 3 stitch cable, crocheted it to match the diameter of the hat, chain stitched it on, then slip stitched around the very bottom, and voila! A very spiffy hat, if I do say so myself (I want one, too!!!). I'm going to take the time to write up the pattern because I couldn't find anything like this on Ravelry, and if it's not on there, it's not anywhere :) Here's a few pics without goofy me in them...

Well, that one was too big (fits the other brother, thankfully) so I whipped this one up tonight for the one it was meant to go to :)

I now have the pattern for this written up, so if you'd like a copy, email me with you email address and I'll send you the PDF. I'm trying to get set-up in Ravelry to sell it there, if there's enough interest. Until then, I'll just email them out. Thanks!

Friday, August 29, 2008

:P

Why does the cold virus like me so much? I swear, it feels like I've been sick half this year. Atleast this time it was only 1 day of yuckies and we'll have to see how long it lingers.

In crochet news...


This is the fabric my momma and I picked out to line my aran bag. I'm so very close to finishing all the panels, but you know me, I sometimes have crochet ADD. So...

I've been trying to decide on a project for my nephews Christening (next summer). There are two of them, so I'm trying to plan ahead. I've loved the knitted tesselating fish blanket pattern forever but wince at the thought of knitting two blankets! To my lucky (and very ecstatic) surprise, I found a crochet version on Ravelry! YEAH! Here's the Ravelry link, and the blog link for Eboni's fantastic pattern. I think it meshes well with the whole Christian theme, (Ichthys). So, here's the beginnings of my blanket.

I'm soooo excited about this pattern. It's so fun and easy to do. Plus, you don't get bored because you're always looking forward to seeing what the next little fishie looks like next to his friends.

Now I need to re-concentrate on the aran bag, and then detour to a brown beanie for a bro, this was our texting convo the other day...

Bro: "do you know how much i love you <3?
Me: "yes, what do you want?"
Bro: "you know me so well. a brown beanie."
Me: "i'll see what i can do :P"
Bro: "you're the bestest sissy ever."
Me: "i know"

Have I mentioned that he's spoiled?

Friday, August 22, 2008

Aran Bag Updates

Here are some in progress pics. I'm exactly half-done with the panels. I put them together to show you the front, and then the panel below that will be the sides. Now I have to decide how to join them and what kind of cell phone pocket I should make to put on the basket-weave side panels.

Oh, and the fabric was from fabrictales.com for those of you who asked :)

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Another Bag

The other day, momma sent me an email saying that I started a trend...

Hally Berry with a crocheted bag??? Hmmm... this calls for a new project. Of course, I don't want one that looks exactly like that, but an aran crocheted bag sounds irresistible to me.

Here's the beginnings of mine.

There's going to be another panel of the berry looking one on the other side of the braided one, and I'll mirror that on the back. I have other ideas, too (cabled side panels???). I'm really loving it! Plus it's yellow, who doesn't love yellow?

Lined with the below fabric... oh goodness... I think I'm drooling :)