Tree of Life

This is a pendant I made today. It is called the Tree of Life.

Christina from Christina's Created Creations posted a You Tube how to video on making these and I knew I wanted one. Here is the link to the video. http://christinas-created-creations.blogspot.com/2011/07/tree-of-life-instructions-on-youtube.html I used cheap wire to make this one just as a test run to see if I could do it. Now I am going to scan through Ebay for some sterling wire to use.

The colors I chose all have a special meaning to me. The Green is my birthstone, red is Marandas, the two clear or white "branches" represent the two miscarriages I had, and the final blue is Carolines birthstone.

I am thinking of making these as Christmas presents for a few friends and family.

TTYS!

S words

Striping

I am still working on the Autumn Stripes blanket for my Aunt and Uncle's Christmas present.

Squared

I bought this variegated yarn with the intention of making a  lapghan for my Grandmother and never got around to making it. She passed away in May (another post on that coming soon), so now I am using the yarn to make my Dad a blanket.

Six

My oldest baby turned 6 last week. It is so hard to believe she is 6 already. It breaks my heart to see them growing so fast. I miss having babies, but love this age too. She had a party at the daycare with her friends. We also took her out for her birthday with the family, and then to Wal*Mart to pick out what she wanted for her birthday. 

Silly

Here she is showing off her silly face. Both of my girls can cross their eyes, I can't.

Sitting

Last week we dog sat this sweet little one. My seester and her family went on vacation and I got temporary custody of her female Boston Terrier, Angel. And what a little angel she is. She has the best temperament, and endured torture from my girls so well. She was put into a tutu, tried to be made to wear a tiara and high heels and just played along with them. I didn't want to give her back. They are planning on breeding her soon and I have already put my name in the pot for a little girl puppy.

 Steamy and Scorching

If you live in the US, you know what I am talking about and I don't think I need to go into details. :)

TTYS!

*Happy Fourth of July*

Happy 4th of July to ya'll! I hope your celebrations are terrific times, the food is awesome, and the fireworks are a wonderful show. As you are celebrating take the time to remember our Men and Women who are serving this great country of ours. We are the Land of the Free, Because of our Brave!

TTYS!

Yoo Whooooooo!

Good Saturday Morning to you all! I just wanted to show off this cute little owl I made yesterday. I got the pattern from here. I fell in love the moment I saw it and went straight for my G hook and some Simply Soft yarn and got to work.

The pink baby one is the original size as noted in the pattern. She is 3 inches tall. I didn't add the fabric to the front of her yet, but just couldn't wait to take some photos. The multi colored one is 7 inches tall.

Hello Gorgeous!

A little while ago I came across this blog, I love how she has taken small Ami patterns and just by using thick chunky yarn makes these large animals. So of course I had to run to Walmart, with the excuse to get groceries, and grab a few skeins of Lion Brand Hometown USA yarn. The yarn is cheap $2.97 a skein, but I lucked out and found 4 skeins of the hot pink for $2.50. This morning I have been looking on Ravelry and Crochet Pattern Central for other Ami patterns to try out, although I keep looking at that Octopus and am really wanting to make that. I have 2 skeins of Charlotte Blue and think I will start one with this.

I found another visitor in the bathroom this morning. I don't know what I am going to do with Maranda and her bringing frogs in the house. Maybe I should pull out my old aquarium and make a frog habitat out of it for her. I need to Google it, maybe. After chasing it around the bathroom walls I finally caught him and he is safe and sound outside.

This is my nosey little friend. It flew up this morning as I was taking pictures of the Owls outside to see what was going on. It seems every time I am out on the side porch it comes up, sits on the ivy arch for a little bit to see what is going on, then takes off. I think this is one of the birds that had a nest in our shrub on the corner of the house. There was 4 eggs in it, but something got the eggs, no trace of them. I am thinking a raccoon or snake had a snack.

Well I guess I need to go for now, time to get productive so I can get some hooking done this afternoon. I have dinner in the slow cooker already, a Boston Butt, cooking in Carolina Classic BBQ sauce. I am going to make some Cole slaw in a little while and enjoy a good ole BBQ sandwich for dinner. I hope ya'll have a great Saturday.

TTYS!

On to the next

I am feeling so accomplished these days. I got the blue and brown stripes finished and have started another afghan in the same pattern. These rows work so fast.

I love how the setting sunlight glows on the edge of the blanket in this picture.

I waited to late, again, to take the pictures but wanted to get them taken so I can wrap this up and take it to my cousin. I missed the baby shower this weekend, I was helping my Brother and Sister-in-Law move to the new house they have bought.

This is the next afghan I have started, frogged, and started again. I am making this one for my Aunt Donna and Uncle Kim's Christmas present. She asked me to make an afghan in Autumn colors about a year ago and I think I got them about right. 

The first attempt started with a chain of 210 and ended up being about a foot and a half taller than me. My Uncle is a tall man and would have still been way to long for him. My Aunt is just over 5 feet tall and I was scared she would tangle up and suffocate in all that. So I ripped it all out and restarted with a chain of 189, it is still long but better. I am doing a row of sc, granny stripe, sc in each color then changing to the next color. It really works fast and may just be my go to pattern when I need something done quick.

Now it's time to brag a little. I have lived in South Carolina my entire life, never would I want to live anywhere else. I am a Carolina Girl through and through. I tell everyone I was raised on three basic beliefs:

1. God

2. Family

3. South Carolina Gamecocks.

Last night the Gamecocks baseball team won the College World Series! This is the second year in a row they have won and I am so proud! Way to go Boys! Now its time to get ready for some Gamecock Football! I love College Football, could care less about Pro Football though, even with the Carolina Panthers less than a hour from me.

I hope you all are having a great week. We are getting ready for the 4th and all the parades, cookouts, and fireworks that go along with it. We have a small community near where I live that has a parade every year on the 4th and anything can be in it as long as it is decorated with American Flags. It is fun to see just what people come up with. My girls ride in it with my Aunt Ann and Uncle Phillip. She is on the four wheeler, he is on his Motorcycle and each take one of my girls. They love it!

Whatever plans you may have, have fun, stay cool, and be careful. Hope to see you here soon with pictures of all the fun, festivities, and fireworks.

TTYS!

New baby blanket in the works

This is the start of a new baby blanket I am making for my cousin Jennifer's first baby.

Braxton is due to make his appearance in August.

I have been looking for a pattern I liked and could not find one. I know she has many patterns in the nursery, baby blue and brown diamonds, stripes, and paisley with circles. I started making diamonds and sewing them together but was just not happy with them. I decided to do a granny stripe but added single crochet in between the color changes.

Here's how I did it:

Started with a chain of 120.

SC for 3 rows.

Granny stripe for 6 rows.

SC for 3 rows. Change color.

SC for 3 rows.

Granny stripe for 3 rows.

SC for 3 row. Change color.

repeat

I will finish the other end in the baby blue I started with, with the 3 rows of SC, 6 rows of Granny stripe and 3 rows of SC.

I love how it is turning out, and of course I am using I Love This Yarn! The colors are #70 Soft Blue and #160 Brown.

I have been looking at these hooks for a while now and finally gave in a got a couple of them. I got a H hook and a G hook. Oh My! You would not believe the difference these hooks have made with my hands. I can crochet longer without my hands getting achy. I have been doing some Amigurumi lately for my Pre-K class and a G hook makes my hand hurt after using it a long time. Not now! I will be going back and getting all sizes in these.

Look what my child came running up with last weekend. A little Mockingbird fell out of its nest and of course she found it. This child will pick up any kind of bug, insect, and animal. I have found Granddaddy Long Legs, Lady Bugs, Lightening Bugs (fireflies to people who are not from the south! :-}), and most recently 2 bull frogs and a tree frog in the house recently.

She ran inside and got a bowl for it, and was even digging in the yard looking for worms to feed it. Ugly little thing ain't it! I made her put it back and we have been watching out for it making sure the Mama bird is feeding it.

WARNING! DIRTY CHILDREN AHEAD!!

What could be better after a long afternoon playing outside than a nice slice of cold watermelon? We spent pretty much all afternoon outside playing so they were sweaty, sticky, dirty, and very happy! 

I have been listening to a few rumbles of thunder while typing this up, so its time to grab a cup of coffee and head to the porch to watch a storm blow in. I love thunderstorms, and can always be caught on the porch during one with my camera ready to try to catch a photo of lightening. Crazy? Yeah I know but I love it so much. Hope your having a great weekend where you are.

TTYS! 



Making Uglee Cute.

Well, summer has definatly hit here finally. Today was a nice balmy 98 degrees, with humidity that curled my hair, and brought out the Ozone warnings. Ever heard the expression "Cutting the tension with a knife"? In South Carolina the past few days you can cut the air with a knife, only if you have one of those big butcher ones that has been super sharpened. My four year old was laying on the couch complaining last night that she was "Hot as a sinner!" Out of the mouths of babes.

We are still lucky around here that we have avoided any major storms with tornados. It is unbelievable how much damage to lives and towns that tornados have done this year. There is something we can do though to help out the little ones affected by such tragedy. Ugleedolls4kids is asking for our crafty help. Go here to see what it is all about. I have one 80% finished and am planning on making many more. I will post pictures when I get a few finished. As a Mother and Pre-K Teacher,my heart goes out to the kids who have lost everything. I am honored that I can use my talents to bring a little sunshine back to their life, won't you help too. Please? Come on, I said please. :-)