Inspiration

The sun is shining, the birds are chirping and my kitty is begging to be let outside. He is such a silly cat sometimes, he thinks he needs to be near us, no matter where we are in the house or if that is outside....sign him up! This past week my hubby and I have been enjoying our little "patio" on our delightful green furniture. He has mostly been reading outside, while I have been using my hook in attempts of finishing my baby blanket. Unfortunately my hubby has been making more headway on his book than my baby blanket, even though it is about half done now.

 After looking at the blanket I had and that the squares are about half the size as they call for in the pattern,  I still have half the blanket to complete. Ah well, if you take a risk, that is what you get, a re-interpreted pattern that still works, but in a different way. Some say that is the best way to crochet, to not exactly follow the pattern to a tee. Some even dare not to have a pattern. I respect those people, but I fear I have not quite reached that point in my crochet. I have thought about making a toy snake without a pattern, then I saw Ana Paula Rimoli's new book Amigurumi Toy Box and it has a snake. So I don't know if I will follow one, or make up my own. I'm sure, as a fellow crocheter you have found your own new patterns people have created. Revelry.com has an abundance. Other new patterns can be found on various blogs, depending on who you follow. I know on Attic 24 she has several patterns as well as how-to's that are always helpful. It has created a monster in my baby blanket, because instead of whipstiching the blocks together, I think I'm going to single crochet them together.

I hope the single crochet won't take long. Cause after looking at what I had complete of the baby blanket, my husband, Ben, feared it would not get done in time, before November. I hope I have time! My presents might be late, hand crafting takes time. My husband should know this, as he has taken up working with wood. I know my cutting board from him took at least 3 months at most...maybe more because I was not exactly keeping track of time. Well, with time pressing with the yarn I am currently using, I have chosen other yarn to complete the second baby blanket. I am hoping using the appropriate weight, it will take less time. Again, not exactly what the pattern asked for, but the Impeccable yarn I chose was the prettiest yarn in 4 weight. I can't wait to use the new yarn! Alas, there is a blanket yet to complete. I better get to it. Until next time...hopefully sooner, not later.

Caves, Kayaking and of course, Crochet!



I have travelled far, but I have returned...returned home. My husband and I took a turn in Wisconsin. We went to Door County to be exact. It is a pleasant place far from the city mind you, with lots of green leafy trees and a chance or two to look at the beautiful Lake Michigan. It was a good trip, full of some lazy days and busy days. One of the highlights of the trip was taking a spin in a kayak. We toured the coast of the  Green Bay side of the peninsula learning about Indians and their troubles with finding food and about a local shipwreck. These Indians were on the Bay looking for new food, but they got caught in a storm and all fell to it. These Indians were crossing what is now called "Death's Door" in between Washington Island and the most northern part of the peninsula. The shipwreck we saw was not quite as romantic of a story as the Indian tale. The ship was called the Fleetwing, the captain was looking for the "Death's Door" passage but since it was too foggy he mistook a different bluff for Table Bluff which is a landmark to enter the "Death's Door" passage. Fleetwing ran aground close to shore in Garrett Bay, crew and captain were able to row or wade to shore with all their belongings. They were even able to save most of the Fleetwing's cargo. Though Fleetwing ran aground close to shore she was unable to be saved, one gale helped seal her fate on shore, while the next pounded her to pieces. But she is fun to look at, just off shore in Garrett Bay! We could see her centerboard trunk and upper port hull, unfortunately we went out on a semi-stormy day and were unable to see more. To see some great pictures of this ship go to www.wisconsinsshipwrecks.org.

Besides the great adventure on the Bay we went to Cave Point county park to see caves being radically formed by Lake Michigan. These were easily seen on shore, though the kayak renting place allowed for a chance to see that from a kayak as well. We also snuck in time for some backwoods culture by going to a musical called "Lumberjacks in Love" which was about Wisconsin lumberjacks during the turn of the century and their mishaps with love. It was a great musical for a good laugh! It was given by American Folklore Theatre in Peninsula State Park.

While we were in Peninsula State park, we enjoyed the bike trails and paved roads for a relaxing bike ride. Just off the Sunset trail we were directed toward one of the many lighthouses located in Door County. It is the Eagle Bluff lighthouse. We were only able to see the lighthouse from the outside and its structure, we did not bring any money to go on the tour. Otherwise, you can see a wonderful view from its point on the bluff and view several islands not too far from it. You also can shop in the various little towns around Door County. But if you are a young adult like myself, you might not find many places to go, they are few and far between. But if you are looking for a home decor shop,there were plenty of places to shop for decor. I also found a neat yarn shop called Red Sock Yarn Shop. I was able to buy some beautiful yarn to make something fantastic!

Looking toward crochet, while away I was able to take lots of time and get a good start on a baby blanket I'm making. It's a granny square baby blanket. It has been fun learning this technique again as well as finding colors that would go well together. My main color is a mixture of white, pink, blue and yellow and my other "plain" colors are pastel pink, blue and yellow. I think despite the pink it would be a good blanket for any child, boy or girl. Over my vacation I was able to nearly finish the blue squares. Since that time I have been working furiously on them and they are finished. I now have most of my yellow squares done as well. In my last post I mentioned a trendy scarf I was working on. That is nearly finished! I had to stop because I ran out of yarn and I wanted to only bring one project on my vacation. The scarf stayed home while I pursued the baby blanket. But do not worry my friends, the scarf has more yarn and will be worked on as soon as possible.....even if its after the baby blanket, which is moving along splendidly. All in all, I think I'm settling back into things here at home. Trying to establish a routine before the summer is over and trying to be a constant companion to all of you who are crocheting or just checking in with me. If you asked my cat, he would tell you he is VERY happy we are home. Now he can meow as much as he wants and be heard! He also LOVES to be held and petted. He has spent quite a bit of time on my lap purring and being a nuisance as I'm trying to crochet. But that's a cat for you. Happy crocheting!




 



























A Very Late Post

Finished monster, sorry it is sidways.

Hello my patient readers, forgive me! It has been awhile since I have posted. Unfortunately my free time has gotten away with me. I work at a elementary school and it has been out for two weeks. Two weeks of doing nothing. Well not entirely "nothing," my house is in the middle of an upstairs renovation which has taken lots of time.  We have been building walls, reinforcing the ceiling and have started on the insulation, which is a very itchy experience! I also have taken a little bit of time to clean house cause it has gotten rather dirty since the long winter. Besides our house, another building project we have been apart of, is helping my family build a cabin, to share, on my grandparents farm. It has also taken lots of time to get it built and ready to use. I have helped in the mudding of the walls as well as putting up some of the drywall. But the whole family has helped in the process. Yet, it still has much to get done, the latest I have done with that is to polyurethane the ceiling boards and sanding after.

Trendy scarf

 Despite my busyness I have caught up with my crocheting. I have finished my green monster, all in two afternoons! One afternoon crocheting ears and legs then assembling the ears a top of the "head" and the next afternoon placing the legs. It was nice on one of the real warm days to sit outside and finsih my project. Since I've been "away" I have started crocheting a trendy white scarf. Which is coming along nicely and I hope to be done with it soon. I think next on my list of things to do will be:

1.Start baby blanket

2. finish monkey

3. start/finish a yellow monster

4. start/finish a group of penguins



Yarn for baby blankets.



The baby blanket is almost priority at this point. I technically would like to make two, if at all possible. I have pregnant co-worker and I wouldn't mind giving her one. Next to that, my sister-in-law Allison is also pregnant and I would also like to make one for her. I have chosen some of my yarn already, but I don't think I have enough. Especially if I'm going to make two. I'd also rather make a "neutral" baby blanket, even if both women decide to know what is coming and I hear what that is. Then they may be able to use it for another baby if they happen to decide to have another one! (Both women are on their second). In the monkey spectrum, I have enough Caron yarn to finish it. The penguin now is all set to go, it also is using Caron yarn. So its really just a waiting game for those particular projects. The penguins are also gifts. They will be given to my nephew Cassius who has recently been in love with penguins after watching a movie and the other one will be for my little brother Tanner. He LOVES penguins and I thought it would be neat if he had a little penguin to sit on his desk at work. I hope I finish all these projects I have in mind. But it will be a wonderful journey working with the yarn and  learning how to crochet each animal. I hope life doesn't get in the way too much, but it can happen!