Olivia Update

I mentioned a while back that we adopted a new kitty, who was a stray in our neighborhood.  We named her Olivia and it was a bit rough going at first with our other two cats Gus and Grace.  They weren't very thrilled to have a newcomer in their midst, especially a kitten kind of newcomer who would not leave them alone.  But things have gotten calmer now, and they are all getting along. Mostly.  :) 

Olivia went in for her spay surgery last week and when I picked her up, I was given the instructions that she should take it easy for a few days.  Ok.  But exactly HOW you make a kitten take it easy wasn't specified.  I think because it is virtually impossible.  We did our best, but from the second she got out of the carrier when I got her home she went full speed ahead.  She has a little cushioned cube-y thing to sleep and recuperate in, but she just treated it like it was a huge catnip toy and as you can see from the pictures below, she jumped on it, sat on it, squished it, chewed on it and attacked it.  She did everything BUT sleep in it.  Goofy Cat!  :)

My nephew, Baby Eli just loves her and tries to follow her all over the house.  I caught a picture of them last week looking out the window together.  :)  I imagine they will be good friends as they grow up together.  :)

Candy Hearts Coaster - Free Pattern

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February is here!  That means we are that much closer to spring!  I am not a fan of winter or snow, so I start getting spring fever around Dec 1st.  :)  And February also means Valentine's Day!  I was in the store the other day and enjoyed seeing all the pretty red and pink valentine's candies and decorations, and the candy hearts inspired these coasters.  I also have begun a new obsession hobby of working with felt, so I had to incorporate that into the design as well.  :)

I found this set of heart cookie cutters at Walmart, and used the smallest cutter and traced around it onto the felt to make the heart.  It's around 1 1/4".



Crimson Lace Scarf Pattern - New in Shop

This scarf is a quick and easy project, because it only has 3 rounds!  I used Berroco Vintage Chunky (about 155 yards) and a size J crochet hook.  The finished size is 4.25 inches wide x about 59 inches long, but the length can easily adjusted  and it can be made longer or shorter by simply changing the number of the beginning chain.  It also works up nicely in a worsted weight yarn, using a size H crochet hook.
The pattern is available in my shop

Heart Basket - New Pattern in Shop

I have a new Heart Basket pattern ready just in time for Valentine's day.  The basket is first worked as a flat piece, with heart design crocheted into piece by changing colors. Panel is folded in half verticially and sides are seamed together, then top section is folded into the bottom section to create a basket which is double thickness. Bottom piece is made separately, and then stitched to bottom edge. To finish; a cardboard insert is placed in the bottom of basket for stability and a decorative border is stitched around the top edge.


Finished size is 5" tall and 4" across the base of basket. The basket can be used to hold many things, but just happens to hold perfectly, a bag of chocolate kisses.  Unfortunately, since my photo shoot last weekend, my basket is now half empty.  Love those chocolate kisses!  :)

Pattern is available in my shop


Finished Projects

Here are some of the things I made for Christmas gifts this year.

I made my sweet little nephew Eli a football hat.  I used a pattern that I purchased on Ravelry called "Touchdown! Hat" by Megan Hall.  This is a very nice pattern and worked up quickly, and Eli seemed to like it too.  :)

I made LOTS of knitted House Dishcloths.  I used two different patterns.   The first batch pictured was made using a pattern I bought on Ravelry called "House Shaped Cloth" by Alli Barrett..  The second cloth pictured was made using a free pattern available on Ravelry called "Nineteen Hundred House Dishcloth" by Amanda Ochocki.  I really enjoyed both these patterns and will be making more in the future. 

The Tissue Cover and Bookmark below were both made using video tutorials from the blog Debz Days.  She has lots of wonderful tutorials and I have several more of them on my wish list to do soon.  :)



And I finally got a pair of socks finished!  My goal last year was to make a pair a month, but too many other things took my time and that didn't happen.  But knitting socks is one of my favorite things to do, and I sure hope to make more this year.  This pair went to my mom and she loved them. :)

House Dishcloth - New Pattern in Shop

Happy New Year Everyone!! 

I thought I'd start the year off with a new pattern in my shop. Over the holidays I made some knitted house dishcloths for Christmas gifts, and it got me to wondering if I could design a crocheted house dishcloth. So I gave it a try and this is what I came up with. The stitches used in this dishcloth are: sc, dc, fpdc (front post double crochet), ch, sl st, and a bobble stitch. The finished size is 8 1/2" x 8 1/2".

It's available in my Etsy Shop 

Merry Christmas!!

I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  :) 

See ya in 2012!  :)



Santa Eli