Happy Hooking

~ a blog about crocheting and so on.

Showing posts with label crochet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label crochet. Show all posts
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I've been busy with my other blogs, ravelry and facebook and realized today that I haven't posted on my crochet blog in months....all Summer actually, but that is typical of me and crocheting anyhow. Not that I didn't work on anything, I did. I made a nice cotton throw rug for the Aliner, some little creature habitats for our hairless rat and my nieces little hamster. Some scarfs and other small random projects too. I picked up some awesome Mini-mochi yarn in NY and made this lovely scarf for myself. I have another skein and plan on making the matching hat. I used the same pattern to make a green scarf for Carol. I love this pattern.....let me go check the name of it on Rav.....It is called Ziggy Lace Scarf. It works up nice and easy. I have not updated all my Summer projects even to Ravelry. Sometimes I just can't find the time. The Internet is a huge time suck and it seems like it takes me further away from my crocheting and ironically away from whatever it was I came online to look up in the first place. I can't totally condemn it because of the endless supply of crafty inspiration, craft and yarn coupons and awesome patterns I would never find in my local store or library. I am more motivated this time of the year to pick up my unfinished projects. One big monkey on my back right now is the Cathedral Rose afghan that I started last year to benefit a trip for Taylor with People to People. But the economy sucks and us just like most of middle America we are freaking broke and there are no extras like this, even with auctioning off an awesome project. I've been working off of my stash more and take the time to dig through it when I am thinking up new projects. Here is a site though that I can always find current AC Moore and Michaels coupons. After working with the mini-mochi splurge I bought in NY I really wish I had more free cash for my hobby, but I'm more lucky than a lot. I also look at my stash and think about all the cash spent on yarn I'm not even using. If only I could take that value and buy quality and not quantity. But when I buy yarn I feel "guilty" and don't always remember sometimes it really is just better buying less, but better.
Either way, like I said my crochet skills are back in season, so I intend to keep up on this blog a bit more diligently. Can't work on the Aliner too much over the Winter, although I do have some work to finish up sewing the curtains. That has been a fun but demanding project in itself. I am really looking forward to finishing that and using it next year. I can almost see myself sitting in it on some camping trip in the pouring rain crocheting a scrap afghan that will find it's home in the cozy camper.
Only other crochet thing on my mind at the moment is about the recent conversation going on in the Ravelry forums about yarn bowls. I would love one of these! But $$$! that I do not have for something like this...even if times were good, idk....kinda pricey. But it makes me think about other bowls and how they are used. Like rice bowls, or those soup bowls with lids that have an open slot or hole for the ladle to stick out. Or even just some random pottery bowl that has been dumped off at the Goodwill. So I am going to keep my eye out for something cool like that. It would definitely help keep the yarn off the floor and pet hair while I am working on a project at home. Plus it will look pretty on the table. We'll see what I can find out there, treasures everywhere if you look hard enough.
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Not sure about the blog template yet. I'm gonna leave it on for a few days/weeks and see if it grows on me. I loved the colors of the old one but the vines kinda got in the way of my words.

Todays to do list:
  • Kenzie has a Halloween party at karate.
  • Taylor has a homecoming football game....I'm not sure if we are all going, but I think so. Time lines cross of course.
  • I should get a lot of crocheting done today while the kids do their thing.
  • Laundry, vacuum, clean....blah, blah, blah.....right like any of that is going to happen today.
Eighty dollars for a crochet hook? Nope I'll pay the electric bill instead :)

ETA: Here is where I got the free blog template. She has some other nice ones too. I tried the Autumn one but something wasn't working in it so I picked this one. I think there are others there I like more.
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I looked at these last season and thought, who would pay $200 for crocheted boots? I kinda like them, I kinda don't. But my daughter loves them. I'm thinking I could crochet over an actual pair of real ugly (cheap and warm) boots in whatever color she likes. Some questions I have wondering around my mind are, buttons or no? how will I sew the crochet to the boot? wonder if someone else has tried this yet? I can't find anything online, just some baby boots on Ravelry (which are super freaking cute!). What about that little patch of suede in the back? Ugh (ugg), I don't know. But it gives me something to think about. Not that I need to be wondering off towards any other crochet projects in the near future anyway. I am working on a ripple that was meant for a woman at work who is expecting, but I like it to much to give away to someone I don't work to close with. So I picked up some nice blue baby yarn that I will wip up some 12" blocks for an afghan for her. I have Taylor's enlectrac afghan going too....but that will be going on for a long time I am sure! Okay, that's it for today...amazing two post so close in time to each other....but I just wanted to document my thoughts on these boots for now. Carry on.
Blah, I suck at blogging. Hello, my name is JoAnne and I suck. It has literally been forty days and 40 nights since my last post. Not much has really gone on since. If you are on Ravelry you can see my updated projects in my notebook. If you're not on Ravelry, then you probably don't care about my crochet anyway! Here is something to keep all entertained:



I don't even really feel like writing now, but I am out of guilt.

Other things going on that may be noteworthy:

*Kenzie is doing great with Karate. She really likes it and I think it has given her a certain amount of self worth and pride over something that is hers alone. Which I think is pretty important in life.

*Taylor is adjusting to Worcester Tech, although she won't admit it. Her grades are great and I think she's handling life pretty well. She doesn't seem so interested in her Mom lately, but I think that's just due to her mom working now. Funny how a job sucks the fun out of everything.

*Mike is going back to work tonight after a couple months out due his diabetes, long story short, I think the break did him well, but he is ready to get back to it. It has been nice having him home though, I will miss it.

*His mom....back for now, not for long. My door is officially closed after this bout. I really don't care who comes knocking on my door for a bed and a meal anymore. I've got enough to take care of with my own.

*My work....how in the hell are yearly reviews due already! Can I submit my blog as part of my review? Nevermind, that won't do, I haven't posted here in over a month anyway. I guess it's time to search for last years and do some control C and control V.

In my last post I commented about Winter coming. We are getting ready. The pool is shut, although stuff needs to get put away. The new pellet stove is in and the proceeds from the old one (13 years old) bought the seasons pellet. I don't know why the yuppies can't find stoves or pellet? Whatever, more for us.

We will vote next month for the next president. What a joke either way, wow, what can I say. I watch these debates and I am in awe of all the BS. Palin, what was he thinking? McCain will probably win, this country is so misled. It makes me sad.



I will mention my final decision on an afghan pattern for Taylor's (adult) afghan. I am trying Entrelac crochet, and it is coming out very nice. Here is a crappy pic off the cell phone. I have several more rows done, but haven't taken a picture since these three rows. This pic does not show the colors very well either. I am using Vanna's Choice yarn in Eggplant, Sapphire and Magenta. It is going to take me FOREVER! But she really likes it and that is what is most important! Wish I had more time to work on it. It won't take long before I will only be able to work on it from home because it is going to be BIG and HEAVY! I'll try to be a good girl and update sooner than later on this one.

I'll be back eventually!
I haven't had a chance to write since I have been on vacation, but during my catching up with Ravelry I came across the update on Thom's blanket.....and wow! I have two squares in there, I think I see one, follow Bobs nose to the crocheted square two or so up from him. Maybe? There aren't to many crocheted squares there. What a cool community thingy to do, the best thing is the group that formed to make this thing is going to continue on doing good onto others as needed, yay nice people!
More later on my own updated projects and my wonderful week + in NH.
(shhhh.....I should be working, where is my freaking motivation!?)

But I have gotten something accomplished this morning.....
  • Watched Drew's new podcast.
  • Decided I am going to participate in a CAL mystery after reading about Bendy's new book Dying to Crochet by Bendy Carter on the Crochet Partners list and on Ravelry. There is a group on Ravelry called Hooked on Murder, apparently this kind of thing has been going on for quite some time, lol.
It's raining, guess it will be on and off for the next few days. Okay for me cuz I am at work, sucks for the kids though. They aren't used to being home on vacation yet so the rain makes them even more bored. I just want to be home with them :o( Chin up though, after next Thursday I am on vacation for over two weeks! I can not wait. Okay, I am going to force myself to get some work done. I promised the boss lady she would have her data today.

Has anyone tested the "washability" of Vanna's Choice yarn? Kenzie's circles to squares afghan is made with it, and I have scraps from other gift projects. Just wondering?

Originally uploaded by happyhooking
Well this thing has been hibernating for at least a couple months now. I am adding an extra section to it, because the pattern (from Lion Brand Yarn, free online), is more like a throw than an afghan and I want Kenzie to get some use out of it. It may be long enough for her now at almost 9 years old, but not for long. She has a pink circle bed set from Target too, this will go nicely with it.

Speak of the devil, she keeps asking me to set up the tent in the living room. She had a sleep over last night and they slept in the backyard in our old tent. Guess she wants more. Right now we are having some strong winds and thundershowers, so I am really glad I didn't procrastinate getting the tent down.

I have one large square, 4 medium and 4 small to finish off the extra panel. I am trying to motivate. I should also get the last load of laundry in too. Sunday's can be pretty lumpy. Mike has to work tonight and I don't think he feels to good, he's been watching tv down in the bedroom....kinda detached. I hate to leave Kenzie by herself upstairs to go make him feel better downstairs. Blah. I guess pocking around the net isn't making either one feel better, so off I go.

Pattern layout with my extra panel (the pieces with the sideways letters are my extras):


Crochet 003
Originally uploaded by happyhooking
I wanted some water bottle holders for camp so I whipped up a few of these. I've since made multicolor ones too, have to upload those pictures sometime. I wrote down the pattern after making a few of them and have since uploaded it to Ravelry for $1. It is my first pattern that I am charging for, but I am going to send half of it to the National Parks. I also uploaded the pattern to Lulu. If you'd like a copy of it and you're not on Ravelry yet you can find it there. It is $2 there, but if you're reading my blog and find it you get it for $1 too, just leave me a message ;o)

I've been on Ravelry since last November now and I am still amazed every day. Recently I joined the Welcome Wagon group to help send messages to new members. Right now I have the letter H (all I can think of is Sesame St. when I say that), which I like because I start with the letter H too. (Yeah, it doesn't take much.) Ravelry is a time suck though. I go to work and log on, next thing I know it's 2 hours later and I haven't done a thing! It cuts into my crochet time too, but there is so much inspiration there I don't count that as a negative. I love Ravelry and can not believe no one thought of this kind of formatting sooner. This formatting could be used to make anything more manageable. Casey and Jess should copyright the formatting, lol, I said the c word.

Right now I am working on a bag that kinda matches the water bottle carrier, except it is colorful and striped. (Gotta update the pictures!) I made Kenzie (my youngest daughter) a cool felted backpack for Karate a few weeks ago (post pictures!), and I hand painted the Japanese characters for Karate on it. It came out really cool. So it has inspired me to do more bag work. I think the bag I'm working on now will be a backpack too. In the style of the sling backpack. I should be working on Mackenzie's blanket. I started it months ago. I hate when I start something and loose interest in it. I really want it done, I'm just not motivated. Grrrrr...it's like a monkey on my back.....speaking of which I think I have one of those in process too. I want to add those process bars some of the Ravelry girls made to this blog, maybe that'll help me keep track. I have my Ravelry notebook, but that doesn't seem to scream at me like a progress bar does.

I'm posting this from flickr, lets see if it works. I'll have to go back and do spell check over at blogger though. Maybe while I'm here I should update my pictures.....no....must.....go.....do.....work!

Later!
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Once again I will attempt to keep up with a blog. I have started several over the years and commit to none. I'm spending more time on the interweb thanks to Ravelry, and there is incentive to see an up to date blog going on my notebook page. I'm not to thrilled about the template options here on blogger, so I found this viney one. I just need to take some time to tweak it out a bit.

For those of you popping in randomly my blog is about crochet hooking, not the other kind ;o) After a bit of googling I found another Jojo's Happy Hooking, hers was NOT about crochet, lol. Guess that's what I get. I keep a Google pages site kinda up to date here. I'm going to keep that site going (it needs an update), but it's just not a blog. It's more of a gallery I guess.

Topics I hope to post about:
  • Life in general, bitching and moaning to the faceless internet is always therapeutic.
  • Crochet, cuz that's what keeps me sane.
  • My husband and kids. They may drive me nuts sometimes but they are my world.
  • Camping, another sanity keeper. Sometimes I wish I could stay in the woods forever.
  • Getting green(er). My inner hippie has always tried, now my inner yuppie thinks it's cool.
  • My cats and the dog that thinks she is a cat.
  • Stupid people, guess that goes to bullet #1, but there are so many of them they deserve their own space in line.
  • And whatever, isn't that what a blog is for?

Changes I want to make to this blog:

  • Add a Ravelry button, and other gadgets related to it if there are any.
  • Get rid of the ads that came with the template.
  • Find out if I can import pics from either Pisca or Flckr.
  • Add my most favorite links, not all of them, no need for clutter.
  • Tweak out the templates layout. Add some useful gadgets.

I am not a big fan of the myspace kind of site, not even a big fan of blogging. I'm kinda partial to my Google pages site format, but like I said no place to really "blog". I will babble here, think out loud, bitch, fight with myself, whine and carry on about somethings that really don't matter. I'm going for the blog is cheaper than therapy approach.

Okay off to mess around with the template, hopefully I don't fuck it up!