almost finished...

While a whole lot of napping is going on....

...there was also a whole lot of crocheting going on.

Participating in Melissa's fabulous a square a day in may -- which I loved, btw -- I have finally finished all of the blocks.

May 14  Violet

 

May 15  More V's Please

May 16  Alter Ego



May 17  Lemony Lime Citrus Square

May 18  Starburst Flower Square

May 19  Ladybug Square

May 20  Eye of the Beholder

May 21  Georges Granny

May 22  Impossible Hexagon

May 23  Versailles

May 24  Bright and Cheery

May 25  Birthday Flower

May 26  Blooming Lace

May 27  Grandma's More Complex Star

May 28  substitution --> Groovy Purse instead of

Peace Sign Granny Square

Why the substitution for this block?  Well, simply -- my children inform me on almost a daily basis that if it was 'in' when I was a kid, then it  is not 'in' for me when I am an adult.  And seeing how I grew up with the whole greg-marcia-brady-groovy-far-out-peace-sign thing, I can not revist that or worse yet, embrace it. 

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Actually, I think my kids fear that I will start using 'far out!' and 'groovy!' whenever I talk to them.....or gasp! ...when their friends are over!

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Oh, the thought of it.

May 29  Yarn Clouds Square

May 30  Kaleidoscope Blossom

I have already woven all of the ends of each block (thank you 6 hour road trip in the family van last weekend...) and now for the icing on the cake---> joining them together into a gorgeous throw. 

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I can't wait! 

b

Honestly, this whole thing has been a huge uplifting endeavor.  Seeing everything come together; with all of the vibrant colors; and the design of the blocks ---- well, for someone who can talk herself out of completing a project, this has been Far out! fabulous!



a square a day in May -- cont'd

Continuing with 'A square a day in May', I am trying to find as many spare moments as possible to actually crochet a 12 inch square a day.

Not always happening, but nevertheless here they are:

May 6 -- Victorian Dream Square

May 7 -- April's Purple Passion Heart Square

May 8 -- On the Huh 



May 9 -- Falling Star

May 10 -- Framed Flower

May 11 -- Flowery Square

May 12 -- Grandma's Heart Square

May 13 -- Multi-Colour Flower

Back to finding those spare moments..........

a square a day in May

What a fabulous idea ---> a square a day in May!

Crochet one square every day during the month of May ... and oh, my! a beautiful throw or afghan in just 30 simple days.

Here are my squares so far:

May 1 -- Amethyst Square

May 2 -- Kata

May 3 -- Maggie's Square

May 4 -- Bloomin' Granny

May 5 -- Starfire

...and yes, I realize it is already May 7th and I am behind. 

But like Melissa from Hooked on Handmade explains ---> there is no pressure, just some beautiful results that work up quickly.

All of the yarn I am using is I Love This Yarn --- and yes! that yummy Red Heart Monet yarn that I used in my last project. 

A slight obsessed with that gorgeous color combination, I know.

And on a side note: 
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Seriously? 

This is a 6th grade boy's idea of cutting himself a brownie..........

monet marigold

These have to be my most  f.a.v.o.r.i.t.e. colors all placed onto one skein of yarn. 

But when you use the word 'monet' to describe a color combination, well --- that alone conjures up all sorts of softly hewed images.

The yarn is Red Heart in Monet.

And the marigold flower pattern is from here:

I used my I hook and just oohed and ahhed over these colors!

Super fast & super easy pattern.

How just one simple skein of very inexpensive yarn can become a fabulous, frou-frou flower....

...it's just so lovely!

all my eggs in one basket

Inspired by this super cute papercraft found here, I adapted the project for an Easter basket.

And of course, crocheted eggs would be the most adorable thing to place in it.

The egg pattern can be found here -- I do so love Lion Brand patterns, btw.  I used Caron Simply Soft yarn with my G hook.

~

Morning breaks upon the tomb; Jesus scatters all its gloom.

Day of triumph thro' the skies; See the glorious Savior rise.

--William B. Collyer 1812

~

Happy Easter.

doing things by hand

If there is one thing that I have learned since I have taken on the hugely rewarding task of caring for an older person -- it is the art doing things by hand.

And yes, I am convinced, it is an art.

~~

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d~~

~~This lovely, tenacious woman (that I gleen all sorts of information from) is celebrating her birthday today. 

Ninety two years of being on this earth -- and she has finessed the art of doing things by hand.

d

Because she does not have a dishwasher I must wash/dry & put away her dishes by hand. 
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But you know what? there is something almost soothing about that whole thing....it reminds me of my sisters & me standing at a sink full of dishes, giggling about some of the most dorky things ever as we rushed to get them all done.

And so now -- much to our kids' chagrin -- they are learning to do the dishes by hand (even tho our dishwasher is less than 10 inches away, ready to be loaded).  They are now standing next to a sink full of sudsy water, learning to do things by hand, wondering if their parents have completely lost it & loving every moment of it.
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So what better birthday gift than to crochet Ruth some dishcloths?

I added crochet edging to hand towels that I bought from the store; used Lily Sugar 'n Cream ;  my g or h crochet hook;

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...and got all of the stitch patterns from my new, favorite book:

So Ruth will be getting some new crocheted dishcloths & towels.

And I have learned of how to do things by hand:

Skills I Have Learned So Far

1.  How to stand still with hands in sudsy water and just enjoying the quietness of scrubbing some glassware & silverware.

2.  How to fold a fitted bed sheet. Perfectly. (Can you all do this? Sheesh, this skill seemed to escape me entirely! But now?! Thanks to Ruth --I show off how I can do this -- and yes, it is always met with complete eye-rolling.)

3.  How to make the fiercest bowl of home-made frosting.  (And I'm not talking about powdered sugar with a little milk added in.  Ruth gave me her grandmother's recipe from the old country that is made on the stove with flour, milk, butter, shortening and sugar...more than yummy!  Bye, bye store bought frosting in a plastic tub!) 

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Thank you, thank you Ruth!  And happy birthday, sweet lady.