What To Name Me?

I am at a loss to come up with an appropriate name for my little baby throw.

The free pattern is called "Leaping Stripes and Blocks Blanket".   

But that's not a cute name for a baby throw.  

This morning I was showing it off to my Hubby and he said it reminded him of a Navaho blanket.  

That's when I thought maybe I could call it "Night & Day" or "Setting Sun".  

I like those names but for the life of me I can't think of something more appropriate for a baby throw.

What do you think?

I found a stitch in one of my old crochet books, "The Pattern Library CROCHET" that looks similar to this pattern called "Brick stitch".

Don't you just love crochet with all the different stitches?  

I just have the edging left to do on this little throw.  

I've single crocheted in the orangy yarn all the way around before I almost ran out of that color of yarn.  

I'm not sure if I have enough of the cream yarn left to do another round.  

I do have more black yarn.  

So I may have to use black yarn to finish her up. 

I think it will make a nice car seat baby blankie.  

It's a very solid weave with no holes for tiny fingers to catch in.  

It's a gift for a neighbor who just had a baby girl.   

The sex of her baby was a secret - if I had known I may have used more girly colors. 

Off to do a little hooking and finish this baby up.  

I'll share my color row selection pattern when it is all done.

Check out my Ravelry page for more details (here).

The joy of this pattern is there are few ends to weave in because you carry the yarn along the side edge as you crochet the rows.  

I.LOVE.IT!

PS - I'm feeling so much better.  The muscle spasms in my back (and side) finally stopped - it took two full days for the soreness to go away.    

Christmas Bunco !

I embroidered a little Snowman ornament to decorate my Christmas exchange gift for our neighborhood Christmas Bunco party tonight.  

I had some blue gingham fabric on hand and I cut a strip of it to use as ribbon on my gift.  

It looks so cute with the blue snowman wrapping paper.  

Remember all the pin cushions I crocheted this past summer?   

I'm giving them as gifts to everyone tonight.  

We don't play Bunco (an easy dice game) at our annual Christmas celebration.  

The hostess supplies the drinks and everyone else brings an appetizer or a dessert.  

We always have fun with our Pollyanna gift exchange (aka "Secret Santa").

When I saw this recipe, Mini Cherry-Pecans Pies, in my Home & Garden magazine I thought it would be an excellent dessert to bring for Christmas Bunco.  

Little bite-sized cherry pies!

   

The only change I made to the recipe was to use walnuts instead of pecans. 

I'm still decorating...I'm slowing down and it seems to take me longer and longer to get all my Christmas decorations out and up.  

Our two skinny trees are up with their lights but I haven't put the ornaments on yet.  

Anyways, I did managed to get our wreath up on our front door today.  

I tried something new this year.  

I enhanced our fake green wreath with mesh ribbon this year. 

I sort of followed Kristen's, of "Kristens Creations On Line," tutorial (here). 

Kristen is one fantastic designer!

And she loves RED! 

I like how the red mesh ribbon has made the wreath seem larger and more festive.

Sorry for the fuzzy photos - the light is low even though the sun is shining today.

Thanks for visiting!! 

Laugh for the day:

Crazy About Red, White and Blue

I am working on my bird embroidery but....

I've been inspired....

And because I can't embroider at night (too dark) and I'm missing keeping my hands busy while watching TV.

I keep thinking about these adorable patriotic flag pillows I'm seeing on Pinterest.

Then I remembered when sorting through my bed linens I found a rectangular pillow that would be perfect for a stars and stripes pillow cover.

Next step was gathering together the patriotic colors of yarn. 

 Yep, I have those too. 

 I'm on a roll.

Aren't these the cutest feet! 

 No, they aren't mine. 

 Shucks...

Wouldn't the back of the pillow cover be stunning in a pattern like these petals?

Maybe you will be inspired by one of these free crochet projects.

I think I will be busy tonight. 

 I have no pattern to follow for my pillow cover but...

 I should be able to come up with something that will look halfway decent.  

At least so one can tell it's a flag!

(all photos from Pinterest except the one of my pillow form and yarn)

Have a wonderful 4th of July week!!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Busy with Christmas Decorations

Remember when counted cross stitch was the rage years ago?

This is a little sampler I made way back when...

I've been busy setting up my Christmas decorations in the house.  Two trees are finally up except for their toppers.  Boxes are everywhere in the house.  But it's too much of a mess to take photos yet for posting.  

I realized as I'm putting out my Christmas stuff that I really do favor RED and Santas...and snowmen...

I haven't even started my gift shopping yet...keep calm...

This is my newest motto....

  

Source: polkadotsonparade.blogspot.com via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

I must confess...this past weekend I went to a local Christmas Craft Fair.  

And, of course, I found some Christmas decorations that I wanted needed for the house.

More Santas and snowmen!

And lots of RED!

~~~~~~~~~

Look at the delicious Christmas decor in RED I found on Pinterest...

Source: frugalhomedesigns.com via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

I've never had a red wreath...what is wrong with me!

These are stunning!

Source: traditionalhome.com via Teacup Lane on Pinterest

Red print couches and chair...not just for Christmas...oh, no!  

I have to seriously consider the color red in my family room decor when we replace our furniture.

~~~~~~~~~~

Crochet Chained Christmas Wreaths

I posted about my latest little crochet project on my Christmas blog - so head on over there all you crocheters and take a peek!  

Some of these darlings are in RED!  

LOL!

Pretty in Purple Bag

Pretty in Purples and Greens

These little crocheted gift bags are so fun to make!  

I blogged about my first one (here) and that's where you can find the link for the free pattern from Sara at Tangled Happy.   

I made another one in browns and blues but...darn...I  forgot to take a photo before I wrapped it up.

Another Little Crocheted Gift Bag

I love the big crocheted flower!

The other crocheted bag is all wrapped up and ready to go out in the mail today or tomorrow.

Another gift soon to be on it's way!

I have my MAC laptop back - the repair was expensive - but it didn't cost us anything because of our extended warranty...which runs out the middle of this week.  In this case the warranty paid for its self. 

Hurray!

An Adorable Little Crocheted Gift Bag

It's A Free Pattern!

Tangled Happy's Granny Stripe Boutique Bag

I whipped up this adorable little crocheted gift bag in one evening last night.  

It's a free pattern from Sara at Tangled Happy (here).   

There were suppose to be 17 shells in a round but my first bag only had 14.  I decided to keep going even if my count must have been off...and I'm glad I did because it turned out beautifully.  I didn't do the handle just right but again I was able to fix it at the end.  Sometimes I find it's better to just try out a pattern even if it isn't perfect.  I'm sure as I practice this pattern I will get it down right.  I'm very happy with the results!

Sara says this is her first written crochet pattern.  All I can say is I hope to see more patterns from Sara.

Sara mentions that it's the perfect size to hold Nintendo DS and iPods.  She would love to hear your feedback if you do make one.

I made this for an Polly Anna gift exchange...it's the perfect size to insert a gift card.

Add A Pretty Flower

I added a pretty little flower in white and embellished it with a pearl button.   I used Loops & Threads Silky Soft worsted 100% acrylic yarn in red and an "I" hook. 

The flower pattern is sort of based on our beloved Atttic24 Teeny Tiny Flowers pattern (here). 

Is This Adorable or What?

I think I'm going to make lots more of these.   

They are just right for that little special handmade gift! 

This is perfect to post for REDnesday!

There are more REDs to enjoy with our host, Sue, at 

It's A Very Cherry World

(here) 

for REDnesday!

The Three SILs

GIFT BAGS FOR THREE SISTER-IN-LAWS

Each Christmas I have fun putting together Hostess Gifts for my three sweet SILs to thank them for treating us so wonderfully at Christmas time when we go back "home".

I try to find different types of gift packages each year - usually something that the girls will be able to use after Christmas.  For example, one year it was LL Bean tote bags, another year it was Vera Bradley bags, and another time it was cute flowered hat boxes.  And then I have a fun time selecting the goodies to fill their packages.  (I don't forget the boys/girl's hubbies - I always include a large cookie bin filled with my homemade frosted sugar cookies and chocolate chip cookies!)

This year I decided to make their gift packages by crocheting three grocery size bags.   I had these lovely variegated Lily's Sugar n' Cream 100% cotton yarns on hand.  I topped them off with a coordinating yarn and embellished them with tiny crocheted flowers (thanks to Attic 24's tutorial for Teeny Tiny Flowers).

FLOWER POWER
Variegated Lily's Sugar n' Cream "Violet Veil Ombre" yarn with coordinating solid colors "Sunshine" and "Hot Purple".

Blogged about the one above (here) - where you can find pattern info.

PURPLE HAZE
Variegated Lily's Sugar n' Cream "Field of Dreams" yarn with coordinating solid colors "Hot Green" and "Grape".

Each one has a flower on each side.

PRETTY PASTEL
Variegated Lily's Sugar n' Cream "Pretty Pastels" with coordinating solid color "Country Blue"

These are so easy and fun to crochet.

The Three SILs 

I propped a broom stick across two chairs to hang the bags to get a photo outside with good light.         

Now it's time to go shopping to fill them up with goodies for the girls!

Do you have a favorite?