Bringing Booties Back!

Alright, here's the deal. My husband is awesome. He really is...Buuutttt sometimes he says incredibly stupid things...Things you cannot take back. If you know him well, chances are you have a favorite Jaime quote.

Tonight, he outdid himself. He was whining and complaining about his feet being too cold. He said, "I NEED BOOTIES!" Now of course we all knew he meant slippers, but booties is what came out. 

We can all look at Shawn (me) and blame her because she makes stupid stuff like booties on a continuous basis....So we giggled and laughed for about five minutes as he continued to get our lovely daughter her ice cream...

He finally had had enough of the abuse and shouted out to us, "Hay! I'm bringing booties back!" So that,my friends, is his one funny for this year. So if you were hoping you'd get to witness it, sorry....you missed out. You'll have to wait till next year.

While I wait for him to come up with his next funny though...I think...just to be a big mean jerk, I will make him some booties.  ;)  Some really cute frilly ones.  

Dreambird For Dragonbird

I am currently working on my dream project. It is something I have seen floating around for a while and every time I would see someone’s lovely FO of this project pop up I would sit and stare at its beauty. I would enviously wish I could knit so I could create such a wonderful display of artwork on my own body. So I taught myself to knit in May. Mainly, because this was my goal. I worked very hard on many different projects so I could get some experience and decided it was time to take the leap.

So now I am having a really tough time with this. I am so in love with the project it is interfering with my working on it. I keep stopping so I can lay it out and ogle it. I lay it out…pat it gently, think about what color to use next, take pictures of it, show it to my family (who roll their eyes because it looks no different than the last time I showed them) and basically just DROOL all over the stupid thing.

Am I the only one that has this crazy love obsession with a project? I want to think that it is a GOOD thing to love what you are working on, but good lord, maybe I shouldn’t love it THIS much! haha! I’ll never finish!

This is an excerpt from my project's notes:  "I am in love LOVE with this pattern I tell you. I keep stopping my work so I can just stare at this stupid thing. how insane is that? VERY. I love everything about this pattern, and I think I shall marry this thing when it is all over. I finally got to the pink part in a feather and I almost died from excitement. I think this is seriously getting out of control. No one should be that in love with a project. It’s Wacky Shack worthy. I have found though, that I was pulling my double stitches a little too tight with this thinner thread (the crap yarn I was practicing on didn’t have that issue). So the first few feathers have a few little holes mainly because I was too diligent in pulling them tight…But my last feather is perfection. PERFECTION I tell you. Did I mention I love it? OMG I need sleep. Sleep? I’ll dream about my dreambird. Yes I will. Why? BECAUSE I LOVE IT."

Sceathers!

I taught myself to knit in May (see the blog post 'Scarlet K' for more details) and since then I have been trying to learn everything I can about it.  I have made my own patterns already and am really excited.  Just easy things like headbands, hats and scarves but I have just finished designing my very own top.  I am so happy with how it turned out!  I hope to someday get it tested, but for now it is seven long pages of scribble that looks like a serial killer wrote.  I've been typing up a little bit a day and am about half way done.

My favorite part about this top is the crocheted focal point in the center.  It gives validation to my true love! :)

Artist Blog Hop!

Julia Gartner of Dada Neon Crochet has asked that I join in the fun in this Artist Blog Hop!  I am thrilled to participate and honored to have been asked.  She is such a gem in this little world we live in.  She fills our world with color, smiles and kindness and we need more people like her in this world.   I invite Jenny Lawson , and Enna Strikkeliese  to participate in this fun Artist Blog Hop if you so chose! :)  (Julia gave me your names, I hope you don't mind-you both create magic!)

1. Why do I do what I do?


I do what I do because it brings me joy.  I love to make something out of nothing.  There is a great satisfaction that comes with turning a ball of yarn into a work of art-and if the art is wearable it is even more fun for me!  I began on my crochet journey when my daughter was incubating inside and I decided that since I'd be a mommy to a girl I HAD to know something like crochet and so I learned how.  My grandma did most of the teaching me the basics and I have been self teaching ever since.

I love to be my own unique individual.  I never leave the house without something adorning my head.  Flowers all year long, spiders and rats in October, flags in July, Turkeys in November and lots of fun stuff in December.

I'm also a stay at home mom, and now that my kiddos are getting older I really need constructive things to pass the time, sometimes earning just a little but of extra money.  How can one ever be bored when they can make stuff out of yarn??!!! I've enjoyed donating items throughout the years here and there to various charities and fund raisers.  

2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?

My work differs from others work in that I try to make every item I make it's own unique individual.  There is something special about being able to say, "This is the only one in the whole wide world like it!"  I think if you are trying to exactly replicate something you see it ceases to be art.  It is the art side of crochet that I truly love, which is why I enjoy making my own patterns.  I also remember being a slave to a pattern so I try to put free patterns out there as well as some that have a price.

My latest pattern (mentioned in more detail below) allows for some serious personalization while constructing the hood.  I am so excited about it because I remember being shackled to a pattern and looking at freeform crochet wishing I could do it!  This goes a long way in helping people create something unique and fun while still using a pattern. :)


3. How does my creative process work?
My creative process is fairly simple.  If I see something I like I think, "how can I make it better?"  My mind might whirl around for a bit but then the wonderful things that come flying off my hook (or needles) are so worth the swirling mental crisis I sometimes find myself in.  Sometimes I'll just randomly think of something to make while doing daily chores-especially cooking.  I hate cooking.  I actually hate eating.  Unless it is chocolate.  MMMmmm chocolate.

4. What am I working on now?
Currently I am working on Dada Neon Crochet's awesome CAL (link at the top of the page) and am working on finalizing two patterns.  I just published my latest pattern Faux Freeform Hood .  This one I am really proud of, I had some amazing people test it for me, and each one of their creations is completely unique.  That is precisely what I was going for when I created the pattern.  You can see different projects there on the pattern page if you click the link.  FUN!

CAL:

Patterns in progress:

CAL: A Walk In My Shoes

I have always wanted to do a CAL.  I am so thrilled to finally participate in one, but I think, this may be the best one ever.  Of course I have nothing to compare it to, but this has been quite the exciting adventure.  I started late, and am currently playing catch up! 

Here we go!  It may be cheesy, it may be ridiculous, it may be a hot sweaty mess, but they are MY shoes, connected to my soul which is being ripped out of my heart thanks to Dada Neon Crochet, and the amazing CAL. This is my first CAL I have EVER participated in, and so far THIS IS AWESOME! :)  Here is the link if you want to join along!   Please post your projects on Ravelry, because I am having a fun time stalking everyone's progress there! :) 

Week 1:  Just a little fun piece to get started

Week 2 My hand has a black line around it because when I was little I was always looking for the black lines around people. I did not know that cartoons were drawings, and I always wondered why some people had black lines around them. :P The design on the heart is a merging of my initial and my hubby’s initial (s and a j) along with a wedding ring. :)

Week 3: Week 3: My garden-The Confession: I cheated. A while back, I was learning how to brookstick stitch. I made a really ugly fingerless glove and never made another for it to have a mate. Sooooo I used THAT as a base for my garden-instead of stitching it closed, I left it open and used it as a bunny hole…so….of course I needed a bunny so it could pop in and out

Week 4: A Starry Night-my yarn interpretation. I didn’t try to embellish this one too much. The reason being it is one of my favorite pieces of art-and a print hangs on my daughter’s wall because even at her young age, she appreciates the beauty in it. Her name means heavenly as well, so there is special meaning in stars and whatnot in our house.

Week 5: My pet…I tried to incorporate her psycho yet cute side all in one little piece…I think I accomplished that. because this thing looks psycho….but it has a bow just like her! I also put a rainbow bridge above her to show my first fur pet that has already crossed the bridge….She’ll always hold a piece of my heart and I vowed to never had another dog….it was too tragic losing her…But this silly sweet psycho dog came into our life and taught us that although our hearts may be torn up and sad, they are capable of healing themselves and finding more room for more love.

Week

6 part A: Tree-a tree that represents me….Well…technically this one represents my daughter because it reminds me of karate kid, said in my best Mr. Miagi voice, “BONSAIIII!!!” My daughter is learning karate and kobudo from a wonderful sensei who was trained in Okinowa, Japan. She is the Sempi, senior student, of all of his dojos and I am very very proud of her. She has been doing this for almost five years now and everyone knows to steer clear!

Week 6 part B: Stained glass: this was only a ‘suggestion’ but I took it to heart. I LOVE stained glass, and have even taken a few classes in it…I wanted to make a dragonbird encircling a flower because I AM dragonbird and I never leave home without a flower (or something holiday related) in my hair.  And a yellow ring...one ring to rule them all.  ;)

Week 7: Your Dream Home-this is MY dream home….it is the home where I already reside. My hubby spent all his free time during his last deployment searching for homes online when the internet was working…When he came back we looked at this place and it was love at first site. It is a magical world we live in filled with magical trees, magical people and magical animals. I call it my death house, because I plan on living here until my death.

Week 8: My “AYEEEE Tharrr Mateyyyyy” Eye…I guess we’ll just call it “Aye Eye.” My dad always said my eyes were brown pools of mud. I tried to capture that…Well, and of course that sometimes I like to talk like a pirate. So this piece is an interactive one, you can flip the patch up and reveal the eyeball.

Week 9: My favorite song. It is hard to just nail down ONE favorite song…I have loads of them…BUT I chose two songs that best describe my taste in music…One is a very obscure song that probably no one knows which is depicted by the cow with the Don’t Tread On Me flag…the other is depicted by the sucker and the sun..  Cows With Guns and Sunshine and Lollipops.

Week 10 +11: make a piece in memory of someone…..So, after thinking and thinking about it I realized I’ve lost far too many people that are dear to me to only make one piece. So rather than making specific memory pieces I made one piece that symbolizes my love…some that I am blessed to still contain in my heart and some that have been stolen from me. My favorite book, The Clan of the Cave Bear (the movie does not do it justice) explains how when someone crosses into the spirit world, they take a piece of your spirit with them…eventually, you have enough pieces of your spirit in the spirit world and you will join them. I thought it quite fitting that Week 11 was to make a piece about our favorite book or author….as I was already combining those two thoughts together. I hope this piece depicts my full heart with little pieces being taken to the spirit world…. I've also incorporated HOlly Hobby-my grammy made me a blanket with these squares when I was little, and she was the one to teach me to crochet! 

CAL Week 12: Your favorite childhood toy. This is Barney. I remember asking my Grandpa B. what I should call him. He looked at the tag that was still in tact at the time and said his name is Bernard (the tag had said, “St. Bernard” so we’ll call him Barney.

I loved Barney my entire childhood. He had the most lifelike eyes and nose-I can still remember all the little creases in them-and staring at them wondering why, when he looked so real why he wasn’t real.

His legs and feet were filled with sand, which made him feel heavier than just a regular stuffed toy. I loved him I loved him so much. I had loads and loads of stuffed animals but this was BARNEY. My favorite.

One day, playing with stuffed toys with my sister, I had a bit of an accident which involved the ceiling light (yes kids, throwing stuffed animals indoors is DANGEROUS) and I wound up cutting my artery. Blood sprayed everywhere and a LOT of my stuffed toys had to be thrown away. Barney was a survivor of this blood bath.

Barney grew up with me and when I had my own kids he became friends with them as well, I’m almost certain my little sister had use of him for many years during her youth too.

I haven’t seen Barney in many years now. I am not sure if he got lost in our move or if he was accidentally thrown away. I am glad I still have pictures, but even if I didn’t, I’d always remember his beloved little face and sweet lovable paws. There is a pic below the crocheted Barney of myself (and my awesome Spiderman shirt) and Barney and then an insert with my son sleeping with Barney many many years later.

Week 13: My favorite movie(s)-I had it narrowed down to three…then four…now five. First one is done, but I’m not giving it away until someone guesses what movie I have yarn painted! :P Okie doke, they’ve all been guessed…So we have a tauntaun from Star Wars, FREEEDOMMMMM!!!! Mel Gibson in Braveheart, a TETONKA from Dances With Wolves and the 'love of this land' scene from Gone with the Wind! :) 

Week 14: My foot….Can you tell that my foot is actually being inserted into my mouth? I tend to say things…I’ve been diagnosed with CDOTMS (chronic diarrhea of the mouth syndrome) and my kids like to tell me that ‘things just fall right out of your mouth.”

Week 15: Zodiac Sign. I always knew I was a Sagittarius but never really paid much attention to it. I knew I wanted to show the constellation of my sign because in my house we LOVE the stars….I googled an image and this came up. An archer? Cool! I have no idea what it means to be Sagittarious but I know what it means to be me! Side note: I hate embroidery. That is all

Week 16 (WIP) part 1 of 4We are to crochet our family-I just started on the part that will represent my daughter-I tried to recreate her Kobudo Gi patch. She lives and breaths karate and also kobudo (which is with weapons) and I am so proud that she has stuck with it for so long. She does many other things I am so very very proud of, but I cannot fit them all into one blanket-especially one that has so many ideas!

9-10-14: Week 16 Part 2 of 4: This is my husband’s Army patch. On 9-11 he came home and announced he was joining the Army Reserves. I was pregnant with my youngest and my oldest was 3 at the time. Of course I was against this idea and we bantered back and forth for a few years. He finally joined (ignoring my protests) when my youngest was about to turn 2. I have to say, I am so very very proud of that man for doing what he thought was the right thing not for himself and his family, but for his country. Two deployments to Iraq later, he is home for good safe and sound and looking back I am not only proud of him, but of myself and our family for being able to get through that really dark time in our lives-and being so much stronger for it.
I suppose it is fitting that I made this piece today, on the 200th birthday of The Star Spangled Banner and the eve of 9-11.  I also included a firetruck in the blanket to commemorate all those heroes we lost that day...

9-12-14: Week 16 part 3 of 4: This piece represents my son. He is on the Angling Team at his High School and he just loves to fish. I am so glad we moved to the house we are at because we are near a creek and he loves going down there and catching crayfish and other critters.

1-6-16:  So my New Year's Resolution is to freeform more! I have missed it-this blanket sat unfinished for months...and now, it is high time I finish it! 

Much has happened in the time I've been away from the blanket...I've added chickens to my little family so here is Oopster the Rooster to commemorate that! I started with five hens last spring and I'll be getting at least 11 more in March.  Four of them I ordered straight run so I'm hoping at least one is a boy so we can have a roo and I can start hatching out my own chicks! 

And we are making progress...here it is all together so far:

Week 17:  Favorite Environment or Place

Mine is my road...at sunset....love how it peeks out amongst the trees...I always thought this was a magical place to live...it surely is-the more I live here the more I love it.  Sometimes, when I go for a walk, I just cry....because I am overwhelmed by the beauty.

The Scarlet K

Crochet is my true love. Long ago, I vowed to never learn to knit. Why would I do such a thing? Because I loved crochet too much-it became my obsession, my love affair, if you will.

Then came Ravelry…temptation was all around…I resisted for as long as I could, but I love to learn new things…and after about 13 years of faithfully giving myself only to crochet, I strayed.

I felt so dirty as I tenderly fingered the knitting needles in the store, trying to figure out which ones I would try first in this foreign land. Once I put them in my cart there was no going back. Crochet would never again be able to take comfort knowing it was my only love. I almost cried. Almost.

Once the seal was broken, things got a little better, I felt such pride that I could learn this new thing, a whole new world was open to me. And then I showed my husband. He rolled his eyes and said, “what’s the difference?” I tried to explain, but to explain to a non-yarner…what’s the difference?

As I worked through the worst movie ever created, hubby finally said what was really on his mind. “I don’t mind you crocheting. But I cannot sit and watch you knit. You look like a grandma and I don’t want to be married to a grandma.”

As if I couldn’t feel any dirtier for cheating on crochet! haha! I think I need a Scarlet K on my shirt to wear for eternity.

So, what is the point to this? I’m not sure, I just thought I’d share my story and see if there are any other crocheters with similar experiences with stigma to their craft or feeling the pain of cheating on their craft….

Here is my second ever knitting project (this is a fabulous free pattern-here is my ravelry project page where you can find the link to this pattern)

Raven and Evil Lady Horn Hat

This pattern is for personal use only, please do not copy, use or claim for your own  any of my photos, descriptions or wording.  Wearing this hat may cause uncontrollable urges to crinkle your nose, make an evil smirk with your mouth and give everyone that evil eye.  Consider yourself warned.

I was thinking about making the horns fatter, BUT I made a rockstar Twi'lek hat that has really long lekku and the weight of them make the hat a bit of a nuisance (not that it stops me from wearing it in public).  So, I went with horns like this, and I'm also glad that it makes it just a tad different than some other famous evil lady because I wanted this hat to be more personal....and I wasn't feeling 'wide' today. 

I hope this makes sense to everyone, I haven't retested it, these are my notes from what I did yesterday afternoon.  If you have any questions, just let me know, I will do my best to clarify.  Also, I'd love to see your finished projects, if you are on Ravelry, please link them to this pattern, I get such a kick out of seeing everyone's creativity!  I promise I won't be offended if you change up my pattern and put your own twist to it, as I do the same thing to mostly every pattern! ;)

Materials

worsted weight black (I did not use a full skein, and I recommend red heart for, at least the horns and raven because they are stiffer and hold shape better) and grey, tapestry needle, fiberfill, h hook and g hook

Raven

1. Magic ring, ch 1, 8 sc in ring; join (8 sc)
2. Ch 1, 2 sc in each sc; join (16 sc)
3. ch 1, sc in each sc; join (16 sc)
4. repeat round 3
5. repeat round 3
6. chain 1, dec around (8 sc)
7. ch 1, (dec, sc in next sc) repeat around ( sc) at this point, you will lightly stuff your head do NOT finish off
8. Beginning body: ch 1, sc in sc * 2 sc in next sc, sc in next sc; repeat from * around; join (7 sc)
9. ch 1, 2 sc in each sc; join (14 sc)
10. ch 1, * sc in sc, 2 sc in next sc; repeat from * join (21 sc)
11. ch 1, *sc in 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc; repeat from * around (28 sc)
12. ch 1, sc in each sc; join (28 sc)
13. repeat round 12
14. repeat round 12
15. repeat round 12
16. ch 1, *sc in 2 sc, dec; repeat from * around; join (21 stitches)
17. ch 1, *sc in 2 sc, dec; repeat from * around; join (16 stitches)
18. repeat round 17 (12 stitches)
19. repeat round 17 stuff body lightly do NOT finish off (9 stitches)
20. Beginning tail-pinch closed and sc in each sc across going through both layers (3 sc)
21. ch 1, turn, sc in each sc (3 sc)
22. ch 1, turn, sc in sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next sc  (4 sc)
23. ch 1 turn, sc in 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next sc (5 sc)
24. ch 1, turn, sc in each sc (5 sc)
25. repeat round 24
26. ch 2, turn, dc in same sttich, ch 2, sl in next 2 stitches, ch 2, 2 dc in last stitch; finish off-you may sc around the outer edge of tail to keep it from curling-just put 3 sc in each point of the tail and instead of a sc put a sl st in the center of the points

Wings (make two)

1.          Ch 8, sc in 2^nd ch from hook, hdc in next ch, dc in next 3 chains, hdc in next ch, sc in last ch

2.-4.      Turn, sc in sc, hdc in hdc, dc in next 3 dc, hdc in hdc, sc in sc

5.           sl st in sc, sc in hdc, 3dc in center dc, sc in hdc, sl st in sc, finish off leaving tail for sewing

Beak

1. using G hook, and grey magic ring, chain 1, 4 sc in ring; join
2. ch 1, sc in each sc; join
3. ch 1, 2 sc in sc, sc in 4 sc, 2 sc in sc (don't bother joining, we aren't really counting rounds now just count stitches)
4. sc in 6 sc (you may add another round if you want a longer beak-leave a long tail for sewing.  When you attach your beak to the head, using the grey tail from beak, sew French knots for eyes.

Finger Holder

1.         ch 7, sc in 2^nd ch from hook and next 5 ch

2.-5.        ch 1, sc in each sc, then finish off and leave a tail for sewing.  Sew to under belly of raven for your finger to to into.

Hat  (this is a basic hat pattern-you can use whatever beanie pattern you like for the increase part so you get the sizing right-just be sure you pick one stitch, wherever you want the front of your hat to be a FPDC and then also, pay attention to the notations on round 14 as well as finishing after the ear flaps as those will give you that point in the front.-I am putting the size I used which gave me a 22" hat)

1. with black, magic ring, ch 2 (counts as dc throughout), 9 dc in ring; join
2. ch 2, dc in same dc, (2 dc in next dc) twice, dc in next dc, FPDC in SAME dc, (2dc in next dc) for the remaining dc (20)
3. For the rest of the hat be sure to put a FPDC in the FPDC ch 2, *2dc in next dc, dc in next dc; repeat from * around; join (30dc)
4. ch 2, dc in next dc, *2dc in next dc, dc in next 2 dc; repeat from * around, join (40 dc)
5. ch 2, dc in next 2 dc, *2 dc in next dc, dc in next 3 dc; repeat from * around, join (50 dc)
6. ch 2, dc in each dc around but put an additional 5 increases (2 dc in the same stitch) (55 dc)
7. dc in each dc around
8. repeat round 7
9. repeat round 7
10. repeat round 7
11. repeat round 7
12. repeat round 7
13. repeat round 7
14. find the FPDC, count (to the right) four stitches, place marker-ch 1, sc in same dc and remaining dc up until marker-then place, hdc in next 2 dc, dc in next 2 dc, FPTDC in FPDC, dc in next 2 dc, hdc in next 2 dc, sc in remaining dc; join with sl st to first dc, finish off

Ear Flaps

Fold the hat exactly  in half with the FPDC rounds in the very center front.  Place a stitch marker in each corner.  You will be starting an ear flap at each of these stitch markers (one on will start on the right side the other will start on the wrong side-both are to be worked toward the back of the hat).  If you want to make your ear flaps longer and then put a button on them so they join under your chin, please do so, I don't like that personally as I feel like I am gagging.

1.     Starting at stitch  marker, Sc in 12 sc

2.     Ch 1, turn, sc in 12 sc

3.     Turn, skip first sc, sc in 11 sc

4.     Turn, skip first sc, sc in 10 sc

5.     Turn, skip first sc, sc in 9 sc

6.     Turn, skip first sc, sc in 8 sc

7.     Turn, skip first sc, sc in 7 sc

8.     Turn, skip first sc, sc in 6 sc

9.     Turn, skip first sc, sc in 5 sc

10.  Turn, skip first sc, sc in 4 sc

11.  Turn, skip first sc, sc in 3 sc; finish off

Finishing, sc around the  outer edge of hat and ear flaps. When you get to the front of the hat be sure to place Hdc in hdc, dc in dc and (FPTDC, picot) in FPDC.  Join and finish off

Horns (make 2)

For the horns we are not going to be counting rows or keeping track of rounds.  Rather, I have just numbered this into ‘steps’ so it is easier to follow. 

1.     Magic ring, ch 1, 4 sc in ring, join (this is the only joining you will have for horns-as mentioned above

2.     Sc in 4 sc

3.     Sc in 4 sc

4.     2 sc in next sc, sc in sc, dec, sc in sc

5.     2 sc in next 2 sc, sc in next sc, dec, sc in next 4 sc

6.     2 sc in next sc, sc in next sc, sc in next 2 sc, dec

7.     Sc in next 6 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc

8.     Sc in next 9 sc, (dec) twice, sc in sc

9.     2 sc in next sc, sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next sc

10.  Dec, sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc

11.  Sc in next 6 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next 10 sc

12.  Dec, sc in next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next 3 sc

13.  Dec, sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next 4 sc

14.  Dec, sc in next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next sc

15.  2 sc in next sc, sc in next 2 sc, dec, sc in next 4 sc

16.  2 sc in next sc, sc in next 4 sc, dec

17.  Sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc

18.  (sc in next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc) ten times total

19.  Sc in 50 sc

20.  Dec, sc in next sc, dec, sc in next sc, dec

21.  Sc in next 7 sc, (2 sc in next sc) twice

22.  Sc in next 6 sc, dec, sc in next sc, dec

23.  Sc in next 6 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc

24.  Sc in next 20 sc; finish off leaving a long tail for sewing

lightly stuff horns and attach to top of hat.