Saturday, April 16, 2011

PINK Cottages

Images Courtesy of Flickr

1. Pink Cottage & Green Shutters: Place Savène - Albi, 2. The pink cottage - Cockington, 3. Pink Cottage, 4. Precious Pink Cottage ~ Colour Photograph, 5. Pink Cottage, 6. Pink Cottage, Siesta Key Village, 7. Pink Cottage at Boscastle, 8. Lanhydrock Cottage, 9. Lakeside pink


Feast your eyes on these shabby chic cottages in all their PINKNESS!  

I love them...what do you think?

I think....

Think PINK!


Welcome to Beverly's Pink Saturday .  Click on her link to see more PINK!

Friday, April 15, 2011

Blue Sneakers Day



Wow...pastel blue sneakers!

My doctor put me on a calorie counting diet in January and I've lost about 16 pounds so far (I won't even go into how overweight I am and how much I really need to lose) but I'm feeling so much better just with this little amount of baggage off.    

One of the places I have "lost" the weight appears to be in my feet.  Shoes that were starting to feel "tight" are now "loose" on me.  Hubby and I started doing some light exercise together (i.e., walking) and my other walking tennis shoes are "loose" now too and gave me a blister on the bottom of my foot.    

This morning I found these cute blue sneakers in my closet.  I think they belonged to my Mother and had been sitting in my closet for years.  I tried them on...they fit perfectly and are very comfortable.  

And very Spring like.   

I think they are so cute. 

What do you think?  

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Little Bunny Loves Easter Basket

I love my blankie!

My little ty Bunny, Happy Spring, is all wrapped up in his new blankie...

EASTER BASKET!

Doesn't he look cute?

I blogged about Easter Basket's ripple pattern (here).

The corner has three Spike stitches separated by four single crochet stitches.

I winged the edging...making it up as I went along.  

This is my first time using a "spike" stitch and I like the results.

Another look at my edging

In case you would like to try my edging (American stitch terms):

Round 1:  (color Soft Lilac) start in corner stitch chain 3, 2dc in same stitch, *dc in next stitch repeat dc to next corner, 3dc in corner stitch* repeat * 3 times to end.  Join with slip stitch, fasten off.
Round 2:  (color Lemon) start in corner stitch chain 1, 2sc in same stitch, *sc in next stitch repeat sc to next corner, 3sc in corner stitch* repeat * 3 times to end.  Join with slip stitch, fasten off.
Rounds 3 - 6:  (color Soft Lilac) start in corner stitch chain 1, 2sc in same stitch, *sc in next stitch repeat sc to next corner, 3sc in corner stitch* repeat * 3 times to end.  Join with slip stitch, fasten off.
Round 7:  (color Lemon) start in corner with spike stitch, then *four sc in next four stitches, spike stitch in next sc* repeating around* to the end.  Join with slip stitch, fasten off.  There should be three spike stitches in each corner each spike stitch separated by four sc stitches.  You may have to adjust the single crochets stitches to make it look uniform.  My spike stitch looped down to round 3.

Working a "spike" stitch:  Insert the hook over the number of rows down from the row being worked, taking the point right through the fabric to the wrong side.  Wrap the yarn over the hook and draw through, lengthening the loop to the height of the working row.  To finish the "spike", complete the stitch in the usual way.  When working "spike" stitches take care not to pull the loop too tight as this will distort the fabric.

Working the Spike Stitch


Yarn used:
Bernat Baby Jacquards in Easter Basket variegated yarn (90% acrylic/10% nylon) for the ripple body;
Bernat Softee Baby, 100% acrylic in Lemon for edging.  
Loops & Threads Snuggly Wuggly baby sport (100% acrylic) in Soft Lilac for edging.

Hook size:  G


"Easter Basket" all laid out.

She's a small baby blanket measuring 28 inches by 34 inches.  

The blanket is very soft and lightweight.  It will be perfect for summer.

Introducing "Easter Basket"!


"Easter Basket" is a gift for one of my nieces who is expecting her first child, a girl, this May.   I have some yarn left over so I may try to make booties and a little top.

Let me know if you try my edging.  I hope you can read my instructions...I'm very new at writing them.


Join:
Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday

Cielo at The House in the Roses for Show of Your Cottage Monday