My first Swap

How many of you readers of my blog participate in swaps? Being new to crocheting and also new to posting, I hadn't participated in swaps until just a couple of months ago. My first swap was in a tea pot cosy group and the tea cosy shown here was my first one. I've got to admit I did the bottom twice. The first time it ended up so big you could have fit a whole tea service inside it! The second time went much smoother. The pattern was a free one and it was done in much different colors than the one shown here. My swap partner loved Autumn colors so I did the bottom of the cosy in a variegated sort of beigey colors and then did the stems to the flowers in a dark green and the flowers (there were around 125 of them) in Autumn colors. When my swap partner received it she said that she loved it and that she had to get it back from her little girl several times the first day it was there 'cause she kept putting it on her head and running away with it to her room! LOL It would make quite a different looking hat if the top and sides were completely sewn up! I've just finished and mailed my second tea cosy to a swap partner from Finland. Sure hope she likes hers also. This swapping thing is fun isn't it? Right now I'm in one granny square swap and am about to start another. This could get kind of addicting couldn't it? But think of all you can learn in the process! I had never made a granny square before the first contest and now I've done several different kinds. I've got a book of 200 blocks and another of 50 (which is Jean Leinhauser and Rita Weiss newest collaboration). I love the one of 50, but have only done around 7 of the designs so far. Onward! To a new square!

Crochet and my niece Hannah part. 2

Several of you wonderful visitors to my blog read about my niece Hannah learning to crochet. I have been so proud of her! She decided that she wanted to learn and really made the effort.

She had crocheted a purse and a doily that she entered into the county fair. Her crocheted pieces did very well in the county fair and her doily was sent on to the state fair. We (or should I say I) have been waiting rather nervously for the results of her hard work. Last night I received a call from Hannah and she told me that she had won "Honorable mention and Best in show" for her age group at the state fair. Not too bad for a young lady, 13 years of age who had only been crocheting for less than six months when she submitted her crochet to be judged! You bet I'm proud of her!

I'm also very glad and grateful that I was instrumental in her learning how to crochet. She now has an artistic craft that she'll be able to use the rest of her life, whether or not she continues to pursue crochet consistently. I've got to get her some more patterns!! Tee Hee!

Until the next time...

Barbara

My Day

Rain rain go away come again another day! I know that rain is necessary but I think we've had too much of a good thing.

Well I got started on the tea cosy that I'm making for my swap partner in Finland. I'm sure that she will need something to help keep her tea hot 'cause I'm sure that the weather is cooling off there! I've also worked on my granny squares for the granny swap that I'm in and I made a little granny square that I intend to turn into a small coin purse. Who will get that for Christmas in their stocking? It's a deep purple.

While I was on the computer earlier, the little featherbabies that I hand fed were sitting on my head. So far, so good though as they haven't left any deposits up there! LOL

I also worked some more on the back room/porch/den trying to get it ready for Winter. I love to look out all the windows while I'm cosy and warm inside. My dear hubby made a very large pot of vegetable beef soup which was just wonderful this evening for dinner. He had me call a dear friend of ours and tell her that he had put some up just for her and her hubby. Isn't he thoughtful? She didn't call me back until much later so I told her to stop by on her way home from work tomorrow night and she wouldn't have to cook. She liked that idea. I hope everyone has done something thoughtful for someone else today. It will certainly make you feel good inside.

Barbara

Rain

Wow is it ever rainy today and has been for the past several days. The weatherman says if we see any sunshine don't get used to it 'cause there's another front coming in. Where did all this water come from (as if I didn't know)? The neighbors pond which is behind our house has overflowed and now their field is flooded. Not too good for the horses I would imagine. So this is going to be a good day to do some rearranging indoors and crocheting to my little hearts content.

I think I'll try to finish up my granny squares for this month and start on a tea cosy that I need to make for a swap partner in Finland. This is the second tea cosy swap that I've entered and I really like it. Of course one can never have too many tea cosies! Especially me, since I have a tea pot collection of over 200 pots I would imagine. Of course I do have my favs which are basically plain and simple, but I have many the are different and by different I mean that they could represent red riding hood, a shoemaker, a snowman, get the drift? Keeps things from being too plain don't you think?

I also want to pick out some new projects once I get things organized a bit around the house. Wish me luck!

Barbara

Where did all this talent come from?

I've got to admit I'm rather new to crochet and I'm definitely new to blogging but I've seen some of the most incredible talent in the crochet world! There are so many women (and men) who crochet, design patterns, dye their own yarn, and spin their own yarn that it just takes your breath away when you start looking at all of the fantastic projects that they have created. The potter's hands are no more talented than the crocheters hands are!

I've been working on some granny squares for the past few days and when I started looking for granny square patterns to choose from it just blew my mind. There have got to be a thousand or more ways to make a granny square ! I know that most people learned to crochet by doing granny squares first but that wasn't the case with me. I started out with a tote which turned out ok but a little long in the handle. I think I've done things a bit backward when it comes to doing projects but I'm glad that I did. I think it made me learn more about crocheting in a smaller amount of time.

Here's a toast to all of my fellow crocheters ! You all rock!!

:) Hugs N Smiles :)
Barbara

Yarn

I've got to admit, I've always loved yarn. It's just so soft and cuddly, warm and comforting. Since I've learned to crochet however I've become obsessed I think. I've got tubs and tubs of yarn and never seem to have enough. I normally purchase the majority of my yarn at the local Wal-Mart but tend to go on buying binges when I travel to a location that has a Hobby Lobby or Michaels store. I haven't been able to find any coral colored yarn in the local Wallie World though and I thought to ask one of the salesladies whether they ordered the colors of yarn that they received or if they just got what the company sent them. She told me that they got what they were sent but... the department manager could order the brands that they carried in the colors that I wanted.

Needless to say, I was in the store yesterday and the department manager was working yippee! Her name is Dixie and she is just a super employee. I asked her if she could order the yarn I was wanting and she told me that she could so I asked her if she could order thread also and she said yes. So to make a long story short Dixie ordered the coral colored yarn that I have been wanting and also two colors of thread in a size 3. I love to work with size 3 thread 'cause I can hold it a lot easier. Anyway who would've thought it, you can go to your local Wallie World and talk to the department manager in the fabric/craft department and get them to order you colors that they might not have on their shelves! The yarn and thread should be in within a week. Here's how I see it, I can pay shipping charges or I can pay tax. If it's a small amount or yarn or thread the tax would be a lot less than shipping would. What do you think?

:) Hugs N Smiles :)
Barbara

Berroco® Preview Pattern | Salem

Now isn't this just a fantastic bedspread pattern? I'm gonna have to succumb to the urge and buy it. However I don't know when I'll ever get it done!Berroco® Preview Pattern | Salem

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