What I Love

The best kind of projects are the ones that take 20 minutes or less.

Reflections

Looking back on recent posts, it's hard to believe those beautiful sunny days were so recent.  Spring must have taken that wrong turn at Albuquerque because it's nowhere to be found today.

Poor plants.  It's a confusing time.

As I was sorting laundry to be put away, I reflected on the odd mix of seasonal clothing we've worn the past four days.  In the baskets were thick flannel pj's - the kind that button all the way up to your chin to keep the winter out.  Right next to them were eensy little shorts and tank tops because there were a few days when it was so unbearably hot we could barely stand to wear our own skin.  It's hard to put one season's clothes away and pull out the next when we keep wearing All The Clothes from Every Season.

Mr. Weatherman assures me it will be somewhat stable next week.

The weather also creates havoc with my crafting.  I started this lovely reversible afghan for our newly decorated bedroom, but then I set it aside because I was SURE spring was coming and I wanted to make a spring dress.  Now I have both projects going at once.  On the hot days I can't stand to have a heavy blanket on my lap, so I work on the dress.  If it's below 60 degrees, the afghan gets a few new rows.  Makes slow progress doing two things at once.

Reminds me of eyelet fabric.  

The original design is done in a horrid color.  Looks like she is wearing a doily.  Ick.
I'm trying to modernize it a bit by going pink and adding contrast.

I also want to prepare for Summer, so I dug through the fabric stash to see what treasure was buried there.  I found this delightful gauzy white fabric with dots.  Matched it up with a sundress pattern.  This one will be so, so pretty and light!  If this pattern fits well I want to try it with knits too.  It's super simple and should only take an hour or two.

Lastly, my Nook bit the dust.  Fortunately I had purchased the extended warranty, so I was able to replace it with the Nook Tablet HD.  Such a fancy gadget!  The cover for the old one is about 2" too big, so I'm going to use the e-reader sleeve tutorial and make a new one, with upgrades!  Instead of the button closure, I'm going to do wrap-around elastic.  It'll slip into my purse easier that way because the button won't catch on things.

This fabric reminds me of that segment on Sesame Street from the 70's.  There were no words, just music, and a colored ball that went through rainbow tracks.  It was like being inside a pinball machine.  Anybody remember that?

Summer Sunshine

There has been no trace of summer and very little sunshine so far this April, but I call this piece Summer Sunshine anyway. The color reminds me of everything summery: white-hot sun, flowers, bumblees...

The yarn is vintage.  Picked it up for $5 from a person who was de-stashing her yarn collection.  The yarn label has a pattern on it for a Disco Bag (which I may make, just for the fun kitschy-ness of it).  Based on that label pattern and the gold color, the yarn is probably from the 60's.  It washed up just as soft as ever!

They've re-issued this yarn in a modern color palette, and I couldn't resist getting some in hot pink.  I've started on a summer dress with that stuff.  I'll have a show n tell in a couple of days, once I get the bodice together.

Now

Today is so fabulous outside that it feels wrong to keep it all to myself.

After work today, I pulled out the cushions for the outdoor sectional my husband built last year.  It is absolutely the best place to relax in the world.  (other than a beach, but those are few and far between where I live.)

Behind the deck is our storage shed.  My husband built that too.  Isn't he amazing?

I also put the tablecloth out so we can eat dinner outside this evening.  No idea what dinner will be yet, but at least we will enjoy it outside with the birdsong.  I miss the birds so much during the winter months.

In the basement, I found the bag of spring bulbs from last year.  I totally forgot to plant them last fall and they began to sprout in their plastic bag!  Potted them up anyway.  Keep your fingers crossed that its not too late and these colorful pots might soon contain a hyacinth and four daffodils.

I left a little of the sprouted part out of the potting soil.
Good luck little hyacinth!  I have no idea what I'm doing.

This pile of delight on my lap is almost ready for show n tell.  It's a spring tunic top.  Should be finished by tomorrow.  

The weather forecast for the rest of the week is dreary.  Dropping temps each day, lots and lots of rain, and ending the week with a chance of snow.  Yes, snow.  In mid-April.  At least it won't stick.  I know we need the moisture after last years drought, though, so I won't complain and I'll soak up as much sun as I can today while it's shining.  :-)

Steppin' it up

Today I published my first pattern.  Moving from Crazy Crochet Lady to Designer has been one of the most challenging yet rewarding things I've attempted so far.  Much like having kids.  I just kind of created the thing, tossed it out there to the world, and am hoping for the best.  Although unlike having kids, this pattern went through testing for accuracy and coherency before being released to the wild.

Meet Carousel, the easiest, most adjustable sweater pattern you'll ever find.  

Something Fishy

Last week I received a commission for a fish hat.

No joke.  The guy wanted a custom fish hat for his wife's birthday. People ask for the strangest things.

Halfway through creating this hat, I found out the intended recipient was expecting her first baby.   I couldn't resist using the leftover yarn to make a wee baby fish.

No pattern.  Made it up on the fly, loosely guided by some Google pictures.  I have a friend who calls this kind of made-up crochet McGuyvering*.    I like that.

*No bubble gum or duct tape was utilized in the creation of this project.**

**Unlike in sewing.  Day before yesterday I realized that clear tape can be used to hold the dang button in place while sewing it on with the machine.  Eureka!  No more swearing!  No more shifty buttons!  Why didn't I figure this out years ago?

Fabric Frustrations

This ring is causing me angst.

See, I have a purse idea.  It's been in my head for almost a week and it won't. get. out.  I don't need another purse, and I certainly don't really have time right now to make one anyway, but it's taking over my all my spare thoughts lately.  The ring you see here is one I got years ago.  The thing is huge!  So huge that I rarely wear it, because it catches on everything and is quite annoying.

But it would make the perfect purse clasp accent!

I've been doing this long enough to know that the only way to cure the obsession is to cave to it.  I know exactly what I want in my head, but it doesn't seem to exist in the real world.  I want something geometric and symmetrical that includes all three main colors in the ring.  I've been to three fabric stores so far and searched online without success.  The chase is only making me crave it more.  

I will not concede.  Eventually, Perfect Fabric and I will find each other.

Showing you my ugly hand for scale.  This ring is enormous!