Wednesday, October 31, 2012

21 Days Self-Discipline Challenge

Wow!!

What a bonus to cross my radar right now!

Is this a little nudge from above??

I have spent the last few days trying to re-group... to recap what I've accomplished from my January resolutions.... and to get myself prepared to move forward for the next 2 months.

And now an opportunity to have a tool to move forward WITH!

And then the little voice in my head says... oh no, Kay.... not ANOTHER quick-fix program?  Here you go again... full steam ahead into... what?

Seriously... I will fight back against that voice... it doesn't matter HOW I do it.. what is important is that I am not stalled any more... that I DO move forward..

and I will do it here... because that is a way for me to be accountable.

If you want to read about the mundane business of my life and how I start moving again... well, okay... come aboard!

If you aren't interested... don't read it :-)  Maybe you have all your stuff together...   me?  Having been blocked and floating for most of the year, the thought of the upcoming holidays is freaking me out - so any port in a storm, hey?

at a minimum... the first thing we are asked to do is think of a largish project that has been hanging around that we can work on and finish...

I've thought of a few:

The photo scanning project
Snapfish albums of my 3Day Walks
Finish (gulp!) the infamous quilt

hmmm... will keep thinking... there is a lot of declutter possibility but I do need to be rational about all of this :-)

I am a day behind but will be back tomorrow with my decisions and thoughts on the process of becoming disciplined.... oh my...

for more info and your own opportunity (will you join me?  really?)   go to http://www.servingjoyfully.com/2012/10/23/self-discipline-challenge/

2 other cool bloggers are joining in.... I will commit to blogging every day - a day behind is still in the game...

 http://www.supersweetlife.com/

http://homewiththeboys.net/

see you tomorrow!

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Crochet (and quilt) Post # 311-314 & 315-318

Okay - so I am behind in sharing handwork with you but I guess it allows me time to photograph and write a little bit about finished items!  As you probably recall, I have had a lot of fun working with the tutorials from www.diaryofaquilter.com.  Today I am sharing a second table runner 



I showed it to you already previously but wanted you to see that it is actually finished (and was finished in time to use in September :-)

and a skirt:




The skirt makes me feel a little bit like a cross between a hippie (which I have been) and Mrs. Weasley (of Harry Potter fame)  But either way, it makes me smile - so it works for me.  I have yet to wear it in public but I do wear it around the house some!

It's also fun simply because I did not pay enough attention to the tutorial - the tutorial was for a GIRL'S skirt and called for 6 fabrics (10 panels).  In my infatuation with the process, I read 10 FABRICS... which ultimately worked FOR me.  As written, the skirt would have been way too short - so, doing it my way, I had enough fabric to make 2 tiers of rectangles and an extra set so that it goes around my waist too :-)  A quick, FUN project....  I look forward to making skirts for my little girls!


...and on to this week's dishcloths!

# 311 Flower in  Circle Dishcloth - So, so pretty!  This one made me smile while I made it... not to mention it uses just a teeny bit of the center 3 colors..... so the pleasure that I personally get in creating something out of the last bits is HUGE!  This is another of the easy-to-make, beautiful results cloths that I enjoy!

#312  Pansy Parade - pictured below on the upper right.  This is an easy attractive pattern that would show up better in a solid color yarn.  The rectangular shape is a nice change though not a fave of mine.  I have mixed feelings about the edging - I like the effects of the reverse single crochet but I don't like actually doing it.  Glad it was a small project!




#313 Golden Triangle  - Boy I was glad when this was finished!!  Perfect for someone who enjoys working with crochet thread, this is a very pretty triangle.  And, that is pretty much the best thing I can say :-)  I decided to use some metallic thread I had in my stash.. and it is definitely a pretty triangle but I am not at all sure what I will be able to do with it. It has the texture of a scrubby so it may be more useful than I anticipate.... NOT something I will do again though I WILL pull it out at Thanksgiving and use it for the holiday season and see how it goes :-)

#314  Tractor "John Deere" Dishcloth.  I bet you can guess which one this is in the photo above!   CUTE! and easy.... perfect for a John Deere lover (not me :-) - but I can totally see me pulling this out for a grandchild's bath!  I would do it again upon request or if I saw a need..

The following 4 dishcloths are pictured below:

#315 Black Tie Dishcloth - pictured at the bottom of the photo.  Easy and cute - certainly would make a fun gift!  I am not sure but what the cinch in the middle cuts down on its effectiveness as a dishcloth - but maybe not.  Definitely fun :-)  Probably not a repeat for me - unless a certain granddaughter needs a PINK one...

#316  Red Radiance Dishcloth - pictured below on the right side.  This one is unique and striking.  Not quite s simple as many of the others but not too difficult either.  I enjoy how elegant it looks!



#317 Red Roof Birdhouse Dishcloth - the opposite of elegant, this one is cute :-)  I'm afraid it looks a little more like a cyclops triangle so I might be tempted to add a bird or try different color combos... but it qualifies as easy to make and might be fun for a bird lover's gift basket!

#318 Red Anemone Dishcloth - pictured at the top of the above photo.  Pretty, pretty, pretty!  Definitely a repeat for me.. I can envision this in lots of different color combinations!

All of these dishcloth patterns are available free at Maggie Weldon's site
www.bestfreecrochet.com  in the November 2011 archives.

What are you working on this week?

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Crochet (and Quilt) Post Dishcloths # 303 - 306 & 307-310


Hmmmm.... what kind of crafting have I been doing lately?    Mostly playing with fabric, I admit!    I worked on a summer table runner:


My personal challenge?  2 fabrics in here screamed SUMMER to me - the sandy-colored one with big shells and the bright blue gingham one with the bright watermelon slices.  Not much in the way of shared colors, the FUN for me is to dig through my scraps and find colors that tie them together.  I'm pretty proud of this one.


And then there was a tutorial on burp cloths....  These are simply diapers covered with a fabric that my daughter (aka MOM) likes.  These fabric scraps were in my stash from the table covers at my girl's wedding.... (that is how I knew she liked it :-)  Anyway, she promised to test how they work so I know whether to make more or not... it IS a pretty and an easy gift to work up!  I'm not sure you ever have enough burp cloths.

Hope you are having some happy crafting days!  Below are this week's dishcloth selections to share:

#303 Shells Galore Crochet Dishcloth - pictured on the upper right. This pattern is a little unusual in its construction but was fun to figure out.  It's a basic shell pattern that morphs into a granny type square.  I like the edging too... I am not sure I like it enough to do it again but it was a fun project!

#304  Easy as ...<<hdc>> Crochet Dishcloth - on the upper left. This pretty little sturdy dishcloth is simply half-double crochet, just like the name!  With a simple edging, it is a nice addition to a dishcloth collection



#305 - Marjorie Crochet Dishcloth pictured above on the lower left.  This dishcloth with the pink ribbon was named in honor of the designer's mother.  Simple double crochet with the ribbon worked separately and stitched on.  This one is a keeper for me :-) Especially with my personal goal of walking as many of the Breast Cancer 3Day locations as I am able!

#306 - Pink Piggy Crochet Dishcloth - this is another of the ADORABLE ones!  There are several in this dishcloth challenge that begin with a round base and then you crochet and add features to it.  Love this one :-)

The next 4 dishcloths are featured below:

#307 Ruffle Granny Crochet Dishcloth - below on the bottom left.  This one is exactly what it says it is - a granny square with a ruffled edging.  Quick to work up, a good size and texture AND pretty.  A winner, in my book!

#308 Scarecrow Crochet Dishcloth - Another adorable one! His hat is a little off - but that was me, not the pattern... I love the way this little guy works up and he is as sturdy as he is cute!


#309 Star Spangled Crochet Dishcloth - the small one above on the upper right.  This one works up like a granny square - only a pentagon shape instead.  I think it is a little small.. but could probably be enlarged by adding another round!

#310  Lacy Blue Crochet Dishcloth - Pictured above on the upper left.  Very pretty - not too difficult but a little time-consuming - this is made of thread instead of the usual cotton worsted used for most of the cloths.  It seems much more like a decorative doily to me than a cloth for washing.  I am glad I tried it but I don't think I'll do a repeat!

All of these patterns are from Maggie Weldon's 2011 Dishcloth Challenge - FREE at www.bestfreecrochet.com!

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Crochet (and more!) Post - DIshcloths # 295-298 & 299-302


QUILTING:

I've been talking about doing more quilting (actually LEARNING about quilting) for quite a while.  You know I have a large hand quilting project that I can't seem to get cracking on.  I've done a little work on that but not enough to brag about!

But I did discover a super website that shares easy projects that you can see through from start to finish - mostly on the sewing machine.  It is called Diary of a Quilter - and has several tutorials that utilize scraps you probably have lying around...... (okay, I have lying around!)  And since one focus of 2012 is to USE UP.. I chose a table runner project to use some holiday fabrics.

This is Mischief, my helper :-)



 one of my favorite things to do in a quilting project is to pick 2 fabrics that don't seen to go together and make it happen!  In this case.. it is the wild purple with black cats and orange jack-o-lanterns... and the more muted harvest print with sage green and yellow/orange.  It is a lot of fun choosing fabrics that will tie two disparate prints together!



This project took less than a week working on it in bits and pieces as I had time..  I was so pleased that I decided that I had time to create and USE a summer version.... will share that one later!

Dishcloths # 295 through 298 are pictured below:

#295 Striped Rib Crochet Dishcloth - pictured below on the bottom right....  I love the feel of this one - thought when (WHEN) I make it again, I will probably make it a little bit wider to square up the shape!  Nice easy pattern for a beginner :-)

#296 Lilac Lace Crochet Dishcloth - pictured below on the upper lefthand side... this cloth is another easy pattern that is fairly easy.  I think I will do it again BUT not as a dishcloth.  I think I would like it better as an afghan square.


   


#297 - Rose in Bloom Crochet Dishcloth - pictured above on the upper right - Very nice, very simple.  Like most of the round ones, I would prefer them as hot pads (make two and sew them together) or trivets on the table

#298 - The Little Piggy Crochet Dishcloth - I hope you can figure out which one this is!  He was my favorite to do though I am not particularly a pig lover so probably won't use him myself.... but it worked up quickly and turned out really nice!

Below, we have #299 through #302

#299 Lacy Delights Crochet Dishcloth - pictured below on the lower right... Definitely NOT a fave!  Not that it is so difficult to do but it is a bit cumbersome, I can't get it to lie flat and it isn't that pretty!  That said - like the rest of this project, it is a good opportunity to practice skills both in crocheting AND in pattern deciphering!

#300 Cute Cupcake Crochet Dishcloth - really really easy and cute!.. Will definitely make one smile when doing dishes or washing babies!  I think that is one thing to consider while choosing a pattern to try....  these do not HAVE to be scrubby dishcloths!  Many of the patterns will make adorable washcloths for the kiddos.... or, as I mentioned before, afghan squares for a larger project in regular 4-ply worsted yarn.




#301 - Tramlines Crochet Dishcloth - While this one is easy and turns out pretty, I probably won't repeat it (unless, of course, I get the ITCH to do all the ones I didn't hate doing!  I can see me doing that with the leftover cotton yarn).  It will make a great addition to a gift basket though!

 #302 - Barnie Bear Crochet Dishcloth - cute, Cute, CUTE!  Easy and fun - just looking at him makes me smile :-)  I think I'd like to have him help me with my dishes :-)



Instructions for all these cloths are on Maggie Weldon's site  www.bestfreecrochet.com in the October 2011 archive