Week 63 Challenge--Final Block

#52 Up and Down Stitch

63 Easy to Crochet Pattern Stitches Combine to Make an Heirloom Afghan

Leisure Arts

This is my favorite go-to stitch. It works for anything and gives a nice texture. Next week I will have a picture of the afghan all put together with the edging.

Projects in Progress

I am working desperately on getting things completed before the art fair. This is the latest hat and scarf done in a Crossed Double Crochet Stitch. There was just enough left to knit one pair of fingerless mittens. All my ideas for stitches come from The Ultimate Sourcebook for Knitting and Crochet Stitches, Reader's Digest. The book has more knitting stitches than crochet stitches, but it's something I can go to for reference for anything I'd like to make. There are other stitchonaries out there and someday I'll get more for crochet stitches.

What I am Reading

Because all my extra time has been spent working on items for the art fair, I haven't had much time to read, so Saving Fish from Drowning is still on the shelf. So far we are just getting to know the characters. The book is told from the point of view of a woman who has recently died. If I'm understanding this correctly, the woman is telling the story to a medium.

Other Stuff

The Knit and Crochet Show in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is in just over a week. My homework is done and my notebook is packed and ready. Can you tell I'm excited? I'm not sure about which projects to take to work on while there, but I have a feeling that once I take the course on creating a camisole, I'll be shopping at the market area looking for the perfect yarn to make myself a camisole.

The heat is on again in the midwest. I don't know about anyone else, but I am getting tired of hearing about the heat index. It's hot and hot is hot no matter how hot it is.

Have a good week!

Week 62 Challenge

#23 Slant Stitch

63 Easy to Crochet Pattern Stitches Combine to Make an Heirloom Afghan

Leisure Arts

This is an easy stitch to crochet and I think really unusual. I like it! One more block and then the edging. WooHoo!!!

Projects in Progress

I have nineteen days until the Art Fair and need to get crackin' on getting some things done. This is a hooded scarf (scood) knitted in moss stitch. I even had enough left over to make two pairs on knitted fingerless mittens, each in a different size.

This is a swatch for a crochet hat and scarf in Crossed Double Crochet Stitch. I get most of my stitch ideas from Reader's Digest's, The Ultimate Sourcebook of Knitting and Crochet Stitches. The swatch worked up quickly, so the hat and scarf should work up quickly, too.

What I Am Reading

Girl With a Pearl Earring is finished. This was a pretty quick read and I guess it could be called a page-turner. For some reason, I wasn't happy with the ending. I'm not sure why, except that it just ended. If you want something low key and fun to read, I would recommend this book; but if you are looking for a message, I don't think it's there.

Now I am reading Saving Fish From Drowning by Amy Tan. Tan is probably one of my favorite contemporary authors. I had a chance to see her at a lecture sponsored by a local university. She was both insightful and entertaining--just like her novels. I've just started, so there isn't much yet to report except for this: "...and I learned to hide from pain. I hid my deepest feelings so well I forgot where I had placed them". There are times when I wished I could feel like that and other times I'm glad I don't. Without feelings, what are we?

Other Stuff

The weather has turned so stinkin' hot, that I can't stand it. Summers in the American Midwest does sometimes get hot, but I can't remember heat indexes over 110 degrees. My office is air conditioned, but the gyms are not. I found myself putting off taking a restroom break just so I wouldn't have to go out of the office. Then the power went off this afternoon, so I went home.

Have a good week!

Week 61 Challenge

#3 Double Crochet

63 East to Crochet Pattern Stitches Combine to Make an Heirloom Afghan

Leisure Arts

Two more weeks and then the wrap up. WooHoo!

Projects in Progress

I call this "The Invasion of Chemo Caps". This project started as a call from a crochet guild's challenge to other crochet guilds to crochet chemo caps in time for the Knit and Crochet Show in Minneapolis taking place at the end of July. I took up the challenge with the goal to have at least a dozen caps finished. I think those dozen caps multiplied when I wasn't looking. Seriously, I crochet projects such as these to relieve stress. The rhythm of a basic single crochet cap takes the day's tension out of the shoulders and then I can relax to work on more complicated projects. Well, there has been more than my share of daily tension lately, so I took my frustration out on the caps; all for a good cause.

This is a swatch I made for the next hooded scarf. It is a basic moss stitch that I will use all over and maybe into some matching fingerless mittens. Stay tuned for updates.

What I Am Reading

For the first time in a long time, I had to put down a book. 1984 is back on the shelf for awhile, not because it isn't a good book, but because my mood just couldn't tolerate the darkness of humanity expressed in that book. I'll get back to it someday.

Now I am reading Girl With a Pearl Earring, by Tracy Chevalier. I'm not too far into the book, but I am enjoying the story. Chevalier has done what I always like to do when visiting art museums--make up a story to go with the picture.

Other Stuff

This is a holiday weekend in the United States. The Fourth of July is when we celebrate our independence, honor our founders, eat potato salad, and shoot off fireworks.

Please visit my Etsy store. The price on some older items has been lowered and I am now offering 10% off for all my readers. Just use the coupon code: BLOGGER01. As always (and for now), shipping is free.

Have a good week!

Week 60 Challenge

#60 Cluster Square

63 Easy to Crochet Pattern Stitches Combine to Make an Heirloom Afghan

Leisure Arts

This didn't come out looking very much like the picture and I'm not sure why. The directions were a little off, or maybe I was having a day where I was a little off, and I had a hard time getting everything lined up like it should. I very seldom have problems with Leisure Arts directions, but I just could not get this one. Three more to go! And I have picked my next "challenge".

Projects in Progress

99 Snowflakes

Leisure Arts

I don't know what happened to the color on this picture. It should be white snowflakes on a blue background. However, this is the last of the snowflakes. I'm not sure how many their are; I didn't do the snowflakes with beads or any of the 3D snowflakes. I may save those for later.

Other than the snowflakes, I've just been working on chemo caps. That's another one I'm not sure how many I have, but am getting ready to wrap up that project.

What I Am Reading

I've been trying to read George Orwell's 1984, but can't seem to get into it. This is a dark and depressing novel. I'm under a lot of stress, so I don't need dark and depressing. Instead, I've been reading my Bible. I do try not to get political or religious on this blog, but I would like to share with you a line from a Psalm. This is from Psalm 19, verse 14:

May the words of my mouth and the

meditation of my heart

be pleasing to your sight

O Lord, my Rock and my

Redeemer.

What wonderful words to live by; may the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to your sight. If only more people would live by those words.

Other Stuff

Like I said, I've been under a lot of stress this past week, so there isn't much in the way of other stuff. Working on the chemo caps is a great stress reliever and so is riding my bike. I've been doing a lot of both this past week.

Have a good weekend!

Week 59 Challenge

#31 Check Stitch

63 Easy to Crochet Pattern Stitches Combine to Make an Heirloom Afghan

Leisure Arts

This is an interesting stitch and very easy to do. I can see it in just about anything depending on the type of yarn used. A soft cotton would make a nice face cloth; wool would make a nice lacy cardigan or shrug; and a sock yarn would make a nice scarf.

Four more to go! I still haven't decided which challenge to take up. It could be my challenge will be to just get some projects complete. That could take some time.

Projects in Progress

99 Snowflakes

Leisure Arts

After struggling with commercial made fabric stiffener, I came up with an old standby--a bottle of starch. Using a glass measuring cup, measure around 1-1/2 cups of starch with 1/2 cup of water. Put the snowflake (or doily) in the cup and let it soak for a few minutes. When taking it out, don't squeeze out all the liquid. The more liquid, the stiffer the snowflake will be. Lay the snowflake out on a blocking board and pin. I use a clear plastic ruler to make sure all points are the same length. When finished, the ruler just needs a wipe with a cloth. It may take longer for the snowflake to dry, but the results are worth it and money saving.

Floral Wrap

Designed by Shannon Mullett-Bowlsby

I also made the shawl to wear to a crochet conference I am going to this summer. I've never been to a conference that's just about crochet, but I have been to other conferences for work. It seems those meeting rooms are always just a little bit more than chilly. I'll be ready with my pretty wrap. This picture isn't very good; I'll try to get a better one up soon.

I'm still working on chemo caps. Next up must be something for my Etsy shop. It's time to get some fall and winter things up.

What I am Reading

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is finished. Is there going to be a sequel? How about a prequel? There's room for both the way the book ended.

I'm not sure what I am going to read next. Maybe it's time to give my eyes a little break and listen to a book for a little change.

Other Stuff

Not much else to report this week. Yesterday, in the United States, was Father's Day. Like Mother's Day, this is when we remember our fathers in a special way. My father died in 1987 and a day doesn't go by that I don't miss him. After all, I was Daddy's Little Girl. Ask my brothers--they'll agree.

We have had some heavy rain here today. The driving was very scary. I found myself in the middle of a flooded intersection. My little car got me through just fine, but it's not something I want to do again.

Have a good week!

Week 58 Challenge

#4 Treble Crochet

63 East to Crochet Pattern Stitches Combine to Make an Heirloom Afghan

Leisure Arts

Yes, I know that's not a crochet block. This week's block is just too ugly and boring to print, so here's a picture of Truvy, the lazy dog.

Treble crochet has its place, but as a block for a afghan, weeeelllll, it just doesn't fit. Treble Crochet clusters would have been nice.

Projects in Progress

Yes, I know that's not a knitted or crocheted project. I've been very busy with a big project that has a due date, so nothing was worked on this week except for the project. Instead, you have a picture of my hydrangea bush, which just started blooming.

What I Am Reading

I have managed to get a little reading done this week. We also watched the the movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows, Part 1. The movie covered the part of the book that I have read so far. I have to say I was a little disappointed with the movie, but that is what happens when I read the book first then watch the movie. I know it's hard to cover everything in a short time span, but it seemed like some things were left out that could have been done without any extra movie time. Like the wedding. In the book Harry was disguised as a cousin of the Weasleys so that no one would know that Harry was there. Harry was not disguised in the movie. To me, that took away from the danger Harry was in if anyone reported a sighting of Harry Potter. Anywho, so much for that.

Other Stuff

I don't have any other stuff this week since I've been working exclusively on the project. So here is a picture of my hollyhocks, which have also just started to bloom.

My Etsy shop will have a little updating this week.

Have a good week!

Week 57 Challenge

#45 Crossed Ripple Stitch

63 Easy to Crochet Pattern Stitches Combine to Make an Heirloom Afghan

Leisure Arts

This stitch has an interesting texture. It's a little lacy, but it's not lace. I can think of lots of ways to use this including and little cardi in cotton.

Projects in Progress

99 Snowflakes

Leisure Arts

I made lots of snowflakes this week, but got behind in the starching. Above is a photo of the starched snowflakes. Below is the stack waiting to be starched.

I've run into a little problem with the starching. I ran out of what I was using and am now using a different brand. The first was a clear liquid; the starching was good except for the larger snowflakes. The stiffener I'm using now is like glue and I think it gets the snowflakes too stiff. Also my t-pins are starting to rust. Guess it's time to bite the bullet and buy more. I think I bought these well over 25 years ago and they cost $1.12. I wonder what they are now?

What I Am Reading

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is about half-way finished. I haven't seen the movie, so I'm having a hard time keeping people from telling me what is going to happen. The themes in this book are interesting. Purebloods and Muggleborns--sound familiar?

I've also found an interesting book: The Impossible Will Take a Little While: a Citizen's Guide to Hope in a Time of Fear, edited by Paul Rogat Loeb. This is a collection of essays all about, well, being good citizens. One essay started an good discussion at the dinner table. Marian Wright Edelman's essay, "Standing Up for Children", is about taking care of all our children as they are our future. Here is the quote that really got the discussion going and how it relates to the current cuts in education.

"...we have the responsibility to ensure all children what we now provide for some children. God did not make two classes of children and will hold us accountable for every one of them" (37).

Think about that.

Other Stuff

Now that summer is here, there isn't much time for everything I would like to do. One would think that with the longer days, there would be more time.

Don't forget to visit my Esty store. I'll be making some updates soon.

Have a good week!