Greetings Friends! The weekend is upon us and I'm thrilled to have two projects to share with you! Recently I asked for your help picking my next project. I was surprised when the voting ended in a tie. Making an executive decision (because here is the only place I have that power) I decided on the Little Wing Shawlette. Mainly because I wanted to use the Amazing yarn that I bought months ago. Happily it feels as if this pattern by Andee Graves from Two Hands Healing was written just for this yarn! Another pleasant discovery was having enough yarn left over to make a matching set of wrist warmers. I made them using one of my favorite patterns - Chevron Lace Wrist Warmers by Karen at Colour in a Simple Life. Together these pieces make the perfect autumn ensemble, and I love the way they so easily coordinate with my favorite denim jacket. When I started Crochet Nirvana it was mainly a way for me to chronicle my work. I had no idea that it would connect me to so many talented people. I also didn't know that there is such a large community of crafters and how accessible, helpful and supportive they are. Before I started blogging, I got the majority of my patterns from books and magazines. Occasionally I would use the internet and print something from Crochet Pattern Central (as was the case with my wrist warmers). The designers who wrote these patterns were strangers to me and the idea of actually communicating with them was just silly! Oh how things have changed! Now I know that designers are out there and they want to hear from us! They want to help if we get stuck and see what we made with their pattern when we're done! They have blogs, Facebook, and Ravelry pages. Some are fortunate enough to do it full time, and others have jobs that have nothing to do with yarn. It turns out they're a lot like me! How does this relate to today's post? Well, let me tell you. Before I begin any project I always go to Ravelry and see what other people who have made the item have to say. In fact if there are too many negative comments I won't even bother! I also check out the materials used, because I never seem to have the yarn that's called for. If it looks like most people have been successful I give it a go. Such was the case with Little Wing. Several folks commented about the foundation. I gave it a try as written, but when it didn't work I used a regular Fsc like they suggested and it worked perfectly. Problem averted! Next I ran into trouble at Row 2. I couldn't figure out how to make the transition for the point. I looked at other people's notes and pictures and while some had mentioned having trouble, no one told me how they fixed it. I was thinking I might have to find another pattern. Instead I decided to contact the designer - Andee. It was late, I was frustrated, and I fear my message was long and rambling. I wasn't sure what to expect. The next day with a fresh coffee and fresh perspective I tried Row 2 again. Success!! And what else? A response from Andee who was more than willing to help me out. How cool is that? I made a beautiful wrap, and I made a new friend! Here's a closer look at the details of Little Wing But what about Karen and the wrist warmers? Like I said, I originally printed her pattern off the internet, and I had no idea that I would ever run into her again. Then one day on Facebook someone shared a picture of a happy, bright square that caught my eye. I followed the link and ended up at Karen's blog. Reading through (because it's well done and she has fabulous pictures!) I was totally surprised when I saw the pattern for my very favorite wrist warmers on her sidebar. What a small world! I started following Karen, and of course had to let her know how I had found her and how much I loved the pattern. I was even fortunate enough to receive a complimentary copy of her Granny's Gone Dotty pattern. Again I say, how cool is that? We hear so many negative things about the internet and social networking. As the mother of a teenager I am always fearful of who my son will come in contact with and what kinds of things he might see while browsing the web. But then there is the other side. Where we have access to the inspiring work of thousands of people. Where we offer encouragement and teach each other the things we know. Where a stranger is willing to help when asked. Where a gift is offered as thanks for a kind word. Where we can laugh, learn, create and share in a community we've created. Sitting at the dining room table in fuzzy slippers and messy hair I have found my (crochet) Nirvana. In addition to my fiber offerings, I like to participate in Five Minute Friday over at Lisa-Jo Baker's place. It's writing in the raw and if you've never done it, why don't you give it a try? It's really easy - you just: 1. Write for 5 minutes flat on this week's prompt with no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking - then post it just as it is! 2. Link back here and invite others to join in. 3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community. Here's what happened when I spent five minutes writing on the prompt "Voice" The human voice is as diverse as a finger print, but so much easier to recognize. It doesn't even have to be a particularly interesting or unique voice for me to know who it belongs to with out seeing them. At work people often call to renew their books. I'm always surprised by how distinct their voices are and how many I recognize with out even thinking about it. I never thought that my voice was very unique. But once many years ago the phone rang. I answered. "Hello?" The person asked for someone - Jim, John, Joe - someone who didn't live at my house. "Sorry" I said, "wrong number". And then they said, "Robin? Is that you? This is Cindy, remember we met a few months ago at my brother- in-laws house? I knew I recognized your voice!!" What?? Are you kidding? We live in a small town, and the likely hood of calling someone that you know does exist, but it's a pretty slim margin. This was in the days way before cell phones when we all had the same exchange and you only had to dial 5 numbers to connect your call (really dating myself here!) Anyway, after that call I knew the voice that I had thought was plain and ordinary really was unique after all!
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Greetings Friends! Welcome to the Friday edition of Crochet Nirvana. I've been waiting to share this project with you, hoping that I'd have another blissfully sunny day to photograph the rest of these guys. Don't you just love this shot of the river?? Unfortunately, Mother Nature has other ideas and gray skies and steady rain prevail. Luckily I brought this fellow along for a walk last weekend. It was a perfect autumn day with a nip that made a sweater necessary and the scent of fallen leaves in the air. I was with my teenage son, Seth and while he usually humors me, my crochet obsession and my desire to take action shots of my yarn creations, he can be easily embarrassed if not down-right mortified by my behavior. While we were in the woods he was patient as I posed the owl in shot after shot. He drew the line when I ventured onto the front lawn of a local real estate office (on Main Street) to take advantage of their lovely pumpkin display. He swiftly walked away while admonishing me for trespassing and generally making a spectacle of myself! I assured him they wouldn't mind and kept on snapping. In the end, he survived and I got a fun picture! These too cute owls are intended to be coasters, but I'm considering using them as decorations (either just about the house or for the Christmas tree). You can find the pattern and other details on my Ravelry project page. I don't know about you, but I usually have a hard time sewing things like eyes and beaks on to the body with yarn. It always leaves the backside looking messy and unfinished. In the past I've used regular quilting thread to attach elements. This takes a bit longer but I end up with a neater backside. For these owls I'm going to try stitching on a fabric backing. My plan is to prepare the fabric like you would for an applique (with a template, basting, pressing, and hoping!) then sew it to the crocheted piece. It may be more trouble than it's worth, we'll see. My other thought was to crochet another owl using one color and sew that to the back with yarn. I think that would be too thick for an ornament, but might be perfect for a coaster. What do you think? I'd love to hear any tips or suggestions you have to give these cuties the finished look they deserve! Celebrating Autumn with Pumpkins and Owls In addition to my fiber offerings, I like to participate in Five Minute Friday over at Lisa-Jo Baker's place. It's writing in the raw and if you've never done it, why don't you give it a try? It's really easy - you just: 1. Write for 5 minutes flat on this week's prompt with no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking - then post it just as it is! 2. Link back here and invite others to join in. 3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community. Here's what happened when I spent five minutes writing on the prompt "Look" What do you choose to surround yourself with? The objects that we live with everyday are things that bring us comfort, have a purpose, meet a need or maybe just make us smile. What do you see when you look around right where you are? I see lots of crochet projects in bright colors that make me happy. I see books, books and more books, they make me feel secure and comfortable and always bring me joy. I see a plant - it's more like a tree now. I've had for more than 20 years. It's been with me longer than my husband and my son and I don't even know what kind it is! I see colored pencils and wicker baskets,writing paper, my journal, chap stick, the checkbook and calculator. The sewing machine is waiting and ready to use should I have the urge to sew something. Here is a bookmark that my best friend in high school gave me for my 17th birthday. Funny that the bookmark remains, but I haven't seen the friend in at least 20 years. All of these things I see everyday, I know that they're here when I want or need them. But how often do you really look at the trinkets that make up your space? While doing my five minutes of writing the UPS man delivered two packages. Now I see two unopened boxes in my space that should contain yarn and thread in brilliant colors that I will use to decorate my weekend!! Before I get to that I'll be joining my bloggy friends for these awesome link parties. I hope you'll come along and check out the amazing projects with me! Here's another happy surprise I have to share with you! While creating today's links I learned that my Making Crochet Pumpkins post is being featured this week on Petals to Picots! Here's a heartfelt thank-you to Kara and all of you who came to visit. What a fantastic way to start the weekend!
Greetings my lovelies and welcome! October is whizzing by. Halloween is on the horizon with Thanksgiving and Christmas ready to rush in. My hook has been in constant motion and if I'm not working on a project I'm planning for them. That means lots of pattern searching and yarn/supply shopping! And while I haven't actually completed any gifts I intend to give, I have several in the works. I'm sure that there will be a frantic push to finish including crocheting after midnight with copious amounts of coffee. As much as I wish, hope and pray this won't happen I'm relatively certain it will. No matter how hard I try I am a last minute, in just under the wire kinda gal. Always have been, and I imagine I always will be! Today I'm pleased to report that I'm making fantastic time with the Little Wing Shawlette. What a difference in terms of time and technique from the recently completed Juliana. I made a modification right off the bat using a traditional Fsc instead of the method indicated in the pattern. There was a bit of a struggle at Row 2, but a good night's sleep offered a fresh perspective and once I figured it out it seemed so obvious I don't know why it gave me trouble to start with! Now just 9 days after starting I'm only a few rows from the end which makes this one of my quickest finishes. Another bonus is it appears that I'll have enough yarn left to make a pair of matching wrist warmers using my favorite Chevron Lace Pattern from Colour in a Simple Life. Yeah! On the book front just for fun I've been keeping with the Halloween theme enjoying two witchy selections. I just started reading the Witch's Daughter by Paula Brackston and in the kitchen I've been listening to Waking the Witch by Kelley Armstrong. Happily both of them are entertaining and are keeping me in the otherworldly spirit of the season! Also for you today I have a review of an eerily relevant story. Could this really happen? Image life after "the Big Shake".The Last Book in the Universe by Rodman Philbrick Blue Sky Press March 1, 2012; 224 Pages "Nobody around here reads anymore, Why bother, when you can just use a mindprobe needle and shoot all the images and excitement right into your brain? I've heard of books, but they were long before I was born. In the backtimes, before the Big Shake, when everything was supposedly perfect and everybody lived rich." These are the words of Spaz, a teenager living, rather surviving in the Urb. A desolate wasteland ruled by gangs who control everything. Where you live, what you eat, what you do - everything. Everything except Eden. Eden is as close to perfect as you can get in the post-bigshake world. But the only people who inhabit Eden are the Proovs - that's short for genetically improved human. Spaz earns his keep working for the leader of his section of the Urb. When he gets an order to rob a gummy (an old man) named Ryter, Spaz doesn't think twice. What he doesn't know is that his life - and life for everyone in the Urb is never going to be the same. A series of events finds Spaz, Ryter, an orphan called little face and a Proov named Lanaya on a mission to first see - then save Spaz's little sister Bean. As they search for a solution it becomes clear that a much larger task is at hand. What starts as a trip across the Urb becomes a journey that will change their world! Okay, I'll admit this is way outside of my normal reading box. It's Young Adult Science Fiction. But after I commented to a patron how much I loved A Wrinkle in Time (which she and her son were reading) she asked if I'd ever read this book. Learning that I hadn't she encouraged me to give it a try. She seemed to think that as a librarian and book lover I should have this one under my belt. And of course she was right. While the writing is a bit well, young, the story isn't it. The world that Philbrick has created is scary and real. It seems plausible that this could happen. In his characters we see the best of humanity under the worst conditions. This unlikely group faces adversity, clings to hope and questions authority. It's a story that makes you stop and think and at any level in any genre that is what makes a good book. And while I don't know that it'll make my all time favorite list I am glad I read it, and I would suggest that it be included as one of those books we all should read. Who knows when we might one day find ourselves experiencing our own big shake. Because just moments before I sat down to write this review, right here in central Massachusetts we had an earth quake that was strong enough to shake our house and everything in it - even waking my sleeping husband - now tell me that's not a little bit scary?! Wednesday is a wonderful day for linking up and sharing your work. Today I'm joining my regular group of blogging buddies. I hope you'll take a look at some fun projects and add one of your own!
Greetings and welcome to my pumpkin patch! Autumn is my favorite season for so many reasons. Apple picking, the special way the air smells while walking through the woods, Halloween, sweater weather, craft fairs, candy, scary movies, costumes and of course pumpkins! Whether it's carving a jack-o-lantern, making pie, toasting the seeds or crocheting one of these little beauties pumpkins are fun. I think of them as an ambassador for the holidays. We see them first as one of the final crops from the summer growing season. We use them for decorations in October and then turn them into pies that grace our tables at Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner. By the time the new year comes we've had our fill, but rest assured we'll be excited to see them come autumn next year! I was looking to make some harvest themed decorations to use at the library as well as at home. I came across this simple (free) pattern. These little lovelies are a snap to work up and actually are somewhat addicting! I've left mine plain, but Dawn over on her blog Fiddlesticks shows what can be done with a little embroidery thread, a few buttons and some imagination. She has several ideas for terrific ways to bring the harvest home. I know she's inspired me! To get you motivated here's a look out how easy it is to make your own mini pumpkin. A Pumpkin Picture Story I found another free mini pumpkin pattern on Petals to Picots (one of my new Friday link parties). Kara works her's in the round. I haven't tried it yet, but it's on my list for the weekend! What do you think of our kitty? She has to be part of everything! And since she was determined to oversee my progress and my photography I had to include her in my story! Join the Celebration! Have you heard the news? Today is I Love Yarn Day! Not that we don't love yarn every day! Here is a chance for us to let everyone know just how important yarn is to us and our crafty lives. I'm doing my part by posting here today, and by spending as much time as I can crocheting (pumpkins of course!) On their website and Facebook page you'll find places to share your activities and see what other yarn lovers are up to today. Here are some other suggestions from their site: Whether you knit, crochet, craft or just adore fiber, October 12th is the day to affirm your passion for yarn. Show it off, tag with it, carry it, gather with friends. Declare your LOVE! Get involved.
In addition to my fiber offerings, I like to participate in Five Minute Friday over at Lisa-Jo Baker's place. It's writing in the raw and if you've never done it, why don't you give it a try? It's really easy - you just: 1. Write for 5 minutes flat on this week's prompt with no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking - then post it just as it is! 2. Link back here and invite others to join in. 3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community.. Here's what happened when I spent five minutes writing on the prompt "Race" There are so many things that I want to do. I often feel like there isn't enough time in the day to get it all done. And so I find myself hurrying through instead of taking my time and enjoying myself. I have to pull back and remember that life is a journey not a destination (thank you Stephen Tyler and Aerosmith for instilling that bit of wisdom in me so long ago!). Anyway, I forget that I don't have to get it all done right now. Especially when it comes to crochet and crafting. This is my hobby. It's a passion, but it's a hobby. And the reason that I do it is to relax and enjoy myself. Of course for the pleasure of creating and having wonderful handmade gifts to give, but it's about the act of doing - or at least it should be. So when I start getting anxious and find that I am racing to the end, I step back. I breath into the moment. I say the mantra that has been mine for years: Be Here Now. Five minutes doesn't last for long! Like last week I was tempted to keep going, but the exercise is five minutes period. So this week when the timer went off I stopped (after I jumped because it scarred the beep out of me!). And so this brings us to the end. I had a lot to share today. I hope that something here caught your eye! For more eye catching fun, check out these other blogs. Each one has something unique to offer and I'm sure you'll find plenty to ooh and aah over! Enjoy your weekend ~ no matter what you're doing! Should I make a scarf or...
do you think I should make a shawl?
Please help me make up my mind!! |
The Granny Square Project came about from my participation in the Come-Blog-Along Group and their on-going event - A Year of Projects. When I was at a loss for what to work on next I asked the group to choose for me. They decided that it was time for me to explore the world of granny squares and so the adventure began! You can find links to all the posts on my sidebar if you're interested in seeing how far I've come! The project is nearly complete. I believe that I have one (well maybe two) more installments left. Please be sure to stop back next time when I finally reveal my secret square project!! |
Mainly the teal superwash BFL that I won from Danielle at A Stash Addict. And this Amazing yarn (that's what it's called - Amazing - from Lion Brand) that I bought for a very deep discount several months ago. I haven't figured out what they want to be, but I'm itching to work with both of them! Then I have this bag a peachy goodness that I'm pretty sure want to become this Marlo Coat from the Sept/Oct 2012 issue of Crochet Today! Magazine. Acrylic is not my yarn of choice, but it's all about economics - and this yarn was free. In my book, that means be thankful and make the best looking acrylic cardi you can!! I also have this rich red wool (another freebe!) that I would like to make wrist warmers with (maybe these from the same magazine??). Plus perhaps a hat or scarf? Something that I can wear with my black wool winter jacket. |
I'm Robin and this is
Crochet Nirvana, where
laughter is essential,
learning is supported,
creativity is nurtured, and sharing is encouraged.
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