What I am working on....

Despite a few hours in the hospital this morning where I witnessed my nephew being born, I have accomplished a few things for a photo shoot on Monday. It was completely unplanned. You know how that goes. I am left here scrambling and crocheting my little fingers off to try and get things accomplished for Monday.

I will be quite honest. I did not have much of a plan in place. He was born during fall. It is my favorite season. It also is my birthday season, so I chose a "fall" type scene. Who doesn't love fall leaves, pumpkins, and pine cones? Well, my goal tonight was to try and get started once I decided the theme.

What I accomplished in the space of a few hours (minus the bit I took to cook) wasn't as much as I wanted, but it was a start. I could always wait a few weeks to take pictures, but I really wanted to newborn phase.

Here are the photos:

The pumpkin pattern can be found here: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/amigurumi-pumpkins

As you can see the pumpkins are not quite finished. I haven't done the stems or leaves. One thing I am not doing though is trying to create the sections with the yarn in the big one. It seems like a lot of work to make a small little yarn needle go through that. If it were a real pumpkin, it would be 2-4 pounds!

The maple leaf pattern: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/maple-leaf-8

The Elm leaf pattern: http://www.fiberfluxblog.com/2014/10/free-crochet-patternone-round-fall.html

Okay...I will admit. The Elm leaf pattern snagged my attention because it said one round. The designer has two other types of leaves, but it was so tiny that I would have to make TONS to do what I want even with a size H hook. 

The maple leaf pattern though...oh it's perfect! It works up super quick. I did have to keep reading the pattern, but after a few of these I might begin to remember it. As you can see from the following photos, I am doing them in orange (carrot) and green (medium thyme) for now. My plans are to crochet them in burgundy and a medium brown.

If you are planning a fall scene, please use these patterns! They are all quick and easy for a beginner. And let's face it, they would look darn cute on a Thanksgiving table!

Happy Crafting!

Sarah

Share it Saturday - A wave in the Ocean....

This week I wanted to share with you a baby blanket I am crocheting. I received the idea when my baby sister said she was pregnant with her first and her theme was the ocean. (She changed her mind - maybe.) So I figure it's okay to share it right now. I don't believe she is reading this, but it's okay if she is. It's not such a huge surprise.

What I started with is a ripple pattern from Attic24. Any crocheter should know who she is. You can find the pattern here: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/neat-ripple-pattern. It is a free pattern. I did it with the clusters she provides, but I extended until I got a length I thought appropriate.

I am using Red Heart in Warm Brown, White, Light Blue, Blue, and Dark blue. The plan is to create small flat sea turtle motifs to attach to the warm brown (beach) and the white/light blue area (surf) as they are attempting to go into the sea. I am unsure whether to do the blue turtles from Yertle the Turtle by Dr. Suess or green sea turtles.

Either way, my goal is to provide a "turtle" gift set as both follow the "sea" and "Dr. Suess" theme.

Okay...here's the preview:

It is slightly longer than a baby blanket should be. I wanted it to also be toddler size so my sister and her husband can get more use out of it. The white replicates the waves. And as you can see, I have not gotten too far along on the blanket. I have until September before the craze to get it finished hits. I believe that I have 15 rows of the sand and plan on doing 15-20 for each of the sea colors.

If it looks horrible in the end (which I don't think it will), I always have a turqua and yellow baby blanket finished which is also toddler size. LOL!

What are you working on?

Sarah

Share it Saturday - African Flower

While the day has been brilliantly bright with sun and color, our little home has been filled with miserable and highly frustrated allergy suffers! Our little town is situated at the base of the Smoky Mountains, so each Spring we are faced with waves and waves of pollen. I am not sure why I started to crochet African Flower Motifs, but I did.

This beautiful motif has been worked into many different shapes, but these colors scream out to me to be the sweetest and pinkest baby blanket! I have a two and a half year old niece that is going through some troubling times, so I might just create a toddler version and give it to her.

It is always surprising that I declared yesterday that today would be a lazy day, but I have worked on so much it cannot be constituted as a "lazy" day. I still have to step out into the cloud of pollen to water my veggies. At least the pollen has not kept away tourists. Gatlinburg is humming again!

What are you doing with your weekend?

Sarah

Throwback Thursday

It is that time of the week when I show something that may bring a little embarrassment or shame. Perhaps a bit of reflection and thankfulness that I grew, quickly. That I learned a little bit that affected my abilities and skill set. This week is none of that. This week I want to reflect on something that has been a part of me...since birth apparently!

In the 80's, I was born! My mother, who is also a crocheter, took my photos in a lovely crocheted set of a hat, jacket, and booties! I wish that I had the set for the future mini me, but I do not. What I have is a gift! A knowledge that my mother crocheted a set of lovely clothes for me that set my future in motion. The picture that solidifies that emotion of connection.

Here I am, all these years later, a crocheter would loves to give crocheted pieces as gifts and who makes things to sell.

Reflecting....just a bit,

Sarah