Secret Pal 9!!

Thanks so much Michelle! Your gift was awesome. There was Hello Kitty stuff, which I love, some Peruvian wool(4 hanks(?) of Cascade), some knitting needles, a knitting bag, and a pattern. I can't wait to get started knitting.

I've made a resolution to not buy anymore yarn until I use up some of my stash. Not that I don't like having a stash, but it's getting out of control. The rules are as follows:

1. I can buy more yarn to finish a project I've already started.

2. I can buy more yarn if it is something special for someone else and there is absolutely nothing I have that could possibly be right.

3. I can buy some yarn after every 7 projects I do. At first I was gonna say 5 but that seemed too low, and 10 seemed too high. My goal is not to completely eliminate my stash, but to work on some projects I've been meaning to do. I think the yarn is distracting me.

4. And of course I can receive yarn as a gift. My grandmother picks up bags full sometimes at garage sales.

I don't think I ever really wrote out my fiber resolutions.

1. Learn to knit.

2. Crochet a garment.

3. Make at least 3 Christmas presents.

4. And one for me--Make the Babette blanket. It is a really cool crocheted blanket from Interweave Crochet spring '06. I already have the yarn, but other projects keep trumping anything for me. That would use up a considerable portion of my yarn stash.

There you go. Wrote out some goals, and displayed my wonderful Secret Pal gift. Now, if I could just finish the last thing for my secret pal, I'd be all set.

First FO's of 2007

I think that after Christmas, I kinda needed a few weeks off of crocheting. I finally got back around to it, and I realized how much I love making things. I finished the Trojan warrior and the Viking. The third pic is all of the fighters together. I gave them to their recipients tonight, and they loved them. I am glad.

I also finished a scarf today. It is from a pattern in Crochet Today the September/October '06 issue. I don't know if I like it yet.

Stay tuned for more. I'm working on several other things at the moment.

I'm Back

K, suffice it to say it has been a bit more than a week since I last posted. My internet was out for 7 days. I use the free wireless that my apartment is supplying, which was one of the reasons that we decided to take this place since the rent was a little higher than we'd have liked. They keep messing with something. I don't know what it is since I am not a IT person, but every now and then I get a great signal but I get the Cannot find server message when I try to get online. Usually its only out for a couple of days, but the ice storm hit, and the office people didn't come to work(rightly so), so whatever gets reset, didn't get reset, and I was left alone, internetless for 3 days restricted to my apartment. I did go outside to take the dog out, but the dog having never seen ice was not very inclined to walk on it. She wouldn't go outside, but I trained her so well, that she wouldn't even go on newspapers set up by the door. So I had to carry her to the few spots of grass that the ice had managed to miss so that she could do her business. Then I had to pick her up and carry her back to the sidewalk. Good times. Anyway, it was funny watching her outside at least. I laughed out loud. Well, I am going to post some pictures of somethings I am working on right now, but for now I will leave you with a picture or two of the ice.

This one is of Roxy trying to see over the balcony. She's like a little person...almost.

Finished Objects

I still don't have any new pictures, but I thought I would take a moment and post all of the things that I completed last year. Keep in mind I started crocheting in March of 2006.

2 afghans
6 scarves
7 purses/bags
8 hats
8 amigurumi

for a total of 31 completed projects.

And 3 Works In Progess that are carrying over to this year
And 1 WIP that is still in tact, but is going to be frogged as soon as I can get around to it.

I went to the mail today, and I had a package from Amazon. Yeah! I ordered 3 books last week. I got Greetings from Knit Cafe by Susan Mischer, domiknitrix by Jennifer Stafford, and Not Your Mama's Crochet by Amy Swenson. I found the Knit Cafe book on Amazon for $4.99! That compelled me to place an order, and you can't order just one. Oh, and last week I went to Half-Price Books and I got So Simple Crochet by Melody Griffiths, and Cozy Crochet by Melissa Leapman--$6 a piece. So I am set on Crochet and Knitting books for a while(I keep telling myself) . I recently got digital cable, with the DIY network and I love it. I have been watching Uncommon Threads and Knitty Gritty. Knitty Gritty makes me really excited to learn how to knit. So that's all for now, hope everyone has had a Happy New Year thus far.

Happy Holidays!!!

Well, Christmas is over. Fiber related things I got for Christmas: A knitting book(Hollywood Knits), A yarn-tainer, A rolling yarn tote from Joann's. That's it, but quite enough. I got lots of other stuff for Christmas. I'm not quite done making Christmas presents, but I'm almost done. I'll post some pictures soon. Have a safe and Happy New Year!

Finally finished!!!

I finally finished my mom's afghan. I like it. Roxy got up on the couch, posed for one picture and then jumped down. What a ham.

These are some Christmas tree ornaments I made from this pattern I bought on etsy. I think they turned out cute. I like the lighter green one better. But I think they're both cute.

Mondays...

I finished the Amigurumi Samurai that I bought here. Then I finally added the Ninja star to the ninja, so I took a picture of them together.

I also bought these two Japanese books here and got them in the mail on Friday. Woo-hoo!

I can't wait to start making stuff. Too many things to make...ahhhh!!!! How do I choose?

Anyway, I'm almost done with the afghan I am making for my mom. If all goes as planned, I should finish it this week. I started a scrapbook for my dog. Yep, I'm one of those people. It's a small one if that makes a difference. I made the first page for it yesterday. I also added the pictures to some photo ornaments. Then I started on a snowman from this Roxycraft pattern. And I did some Christmas shopping. It feels like the holidays to me now.

My Secret Pal is awesome!

I got a package today from my wonderful Secret Pal. It was full of goodies, as you can see. The yarn is awesome. It is 150 yds. of recycled silk. What to use it on...I am very excited to get some knitting patterns, since I am planning on learning in January. And she sent me some more Roxycraft patterns, which are awesome. The knitting clips are very cool. I keep seeing them in magazines, but not in any stores. And I've been scrapbooking again, so the scrapjournal kit is great. The book sounds really cool, and the air freshener I haven't smelled yet, but Sugar Cane and Vanilla sounds about right. Thanks so much SP!

Here's what else I've been doing. I'm still working on the border for my mom's afghan, it's almost done. I'm currently reading the Watchmen, a graphic novel. I'm trying to catch up on some tv shows that I've been recording. Finally got to see the season premiere of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. It was pretty good, but we'll have to see how it goes. Saturday Night Live is one of my favorite TV shows, even when it's not funny, and I'm really excited they decided to release Season 1 in its entirety. Planning out my crochet schedule, so that I get the things done that I want to get done. That's about it. Well, until next time.

Amigurumi Ninja

I made this ninja for my boyfriend. I got the pattern from NeedleNoodle's etsy shop. I plan on making the rest of the fighter patterns for my boyfriend's 3 brothers for Christmas. I am pleased with the way he turned out. Oh, and I still have to add the ninja star, but I don't have any metallic thread at this time. Second picture, he is making a sneak attack on my dog. Ha ha.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Okay, I have one more square to go until I am done with the square making portion of my mom's afghan. I will post a pic when I start putting the squares together. So today, I did a little bit of shopping. I went to Michael's and got the last two skeins of yarn I needed for the afghan I am making for my Aunt. I'll tell you about that one as soon as I start it. I went to Old Navy and got a Fleece pullover for $10. And I went to Target and spent way too much money. But the best part of the holiday...my sister got engaged!!!!! She lives in Dallas and is an awesome person, so good for her. My brother and his friend are in town visiting. It's nice to have company. And until my next post, which if all goes as planned should be in a couple of days, here is a picture of my dog. She is a year old now, but these pictures are from the day I got her when she was 5 weeks old.

I got a new Book!

I bought a Hello Kitty Japanese Crochet book from this Etsy shop on Friday. And I got it in the mail yesterday. I am very anxious to try something from it, but I'm still working on the afghan. 11 squares left. I'm hoping to have the squares put together by Sunday night. We'll see.

Afghan Madness

So, I am now halfway done with the squares for my mom's afghan. It is the Sunrise Sunset afghan from Coats and Clark. It is pretty much the only thing I am working on right now. I finished all the dark background squares. Now I have to get on the light background ones. This is my first afghan with squares, and it is taking me a while.

One More Thing

I forgot to add, that I've decided that after Christmas, I am gonna learn how to knit. Yeah!!!! That makes me excited.

Wednesday

I usually have a finished object to post, but that's not gonna happen for a bit, so I thought I would tell what I am doing. First I am working on a pattern called Momo the Octopus from Roxycraft, but I didn't realize it called for two skeins of yarn. When I ran out of the first skein, I went back to Hobby Lobby to get another and they were out of that color. So now I have to go search for it. No big deal, except that I am gonna wait until I am out shopping again. So one UFO temporarily put away. I do want to finish it. Then I started making the Felted Crochet pillow from SWS Yarn by Patons. I went shopping this weekend and got new sheets and a duvet cover for my bed, so I thought I would make a pillow to match. I got white sheets that have a grid pattern in white. And my duvet cover is a bluish grey color(slate in the picture) that has stripes in the same color. So I am making the pillow out of Natural Denim. It is actually a lot more grey than it looks in the picture. I am about halfway done with that. I am only working on that during my breaks at work because it is single crochet and no changes in the pattern really. I've never felted before, so that should be fun. So I think that I am gonna try to do some scrapbooking for the next couple of days. My sister bought this framed scrapbook page kit and she asked me if I wanted to make something for my mom with it. So I am going to work on that. My scrapbook supplies are building up since I haven't used them in a while. Well, thats all for today. It seems to be legitimately cold outside today...for Texas I mean...59.

SP9

I got a package from my secret pal! There was a notebook with some wonderful Christmas patterns from Roxycraft. Some Milanos...mmmm. Some stickers, a notepad, a bamboo crochet hook(can't wait to use it), a zipper pouch, and a little doggie from the littlest petshop, and some magnets. What a wonderful way to start my day. And it was all wonderfully packaged with some tissue paper. You can see it in the background. Thanks Knit+Purl.

Frank Jr.

This is Frank Jr. I pattern I got off of Crochetville. I changed up the face a bit.

Fat Kitty!

This is the Fat Kitty pattern from Crochet Me. I finished it today. I think it turned out kinda nice.

Secret Pal!!

I got a present in the mail today from my secret pal. Thanks Secret Pal! I love it. It is handmade bath salts, bath tea, milk bath, soap, foot balm, lip balm and solid perfume. All of the bath stuff is lavendar scented. The foot balm is peppermint and the lip balm is chocolate mint. I can't wait to take a bath to try it out.

This is the latest thing that I have finished. It is for my grandmother in East Texas. I am now working on the Fatty Kitty pattern from Crochet Me. Oh, and I am up to 12 squares on the afghan I am working on.

Okay, here is my Secret Pal 9 Questionnaire!!!!

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to crochet with? What fibers do you absolutely not like?
I don't have a favorite. I've used acrylic, wool, and cotton or a blend of those. I do not like fun fur or boa yarns.

2. What do you use to store your hooks in?
I use a plastic school box.

3. How long have you been crocheting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I learned how to crochet when I was about 9, and I crocheted a small blanket for my dolls, and then I didn't pick up a hook again until 20 years later. I started again in March, and I can't stop. I taught myself mostly, but my grandma helped me a little. I would consider myself intermediate.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? No

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products, etc.)
Vanilla

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? My favorite is milk chocolate.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? I scrapbook. Do you spin? No.

8. What kind of music do you like? Modern alternative I guess. Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? Yes.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
My favorite is blue. I also like green. I don't really like bright yellow.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? I have a boyfriend and a dog.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? All of the above except I don't really have any ponchos, because I don't think I would wear them.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to crochet? I like to crochet purses and amigurumis.

13. What are you crocheting right now?
I am working on an afghan for my mom, and a little chihuahua for my grandma.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? Yes.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? N/A Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? Aluminum or plastic.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? No.

17. How old is your oldest UFO? 1 month--my mom's afghan.

18. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas I guess, but not because of the presents, I like to decorate for Christmas and I like the feeling I get when everywhere you go, people are in the spirit of the holidays.

19. Is there anything that you collect? I collect keychains and pins, like lapel pins of the different places I go.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What crochet magazine subscriptions do you have? I want to get Not Your Mama's Crochet. I subscribe to Crochet! magazine and Crochet Today.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? I would like to learn how to knit someday.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? No, and I wear a size 7 1/2 shoe, don't know my foot measurements.

23. When is your birthday? 9/1

And that is that!

Amigurumis Everywhere!

I declare this Amigurumi month for me. Though I have only made two, both chihuahuas, I have lots of patterns for them from various magazines and books. And on my Crochet-along for the Happy Hooker the Bedfellows pattern is the project for October. Yeah!!!! So that is what I am doing for this month. And working on my mom's afghan in between. I did not meet my goal of 14 squares, but I have 11 right now, and I am gonna try to do one a day for at least the next two weeks(fingers crossed). I will post pictures for each one that I finish and see how many I can do in one month. Right now, I'm half-way through another Chihuahua for my grandma. Woo-hoo! Oh, and I joined Secret Pal 9, so I will be posting my SP9 questionnaire tomorrow.