Too Cute Crochet Owl Coasters

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!

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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!

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Thanks so much for stopping by and spending a bit of your day with me!
Until next time friends,
Be blessed and stitch & read with love!

Today's post is part of Blogtoberfest 2012.
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