A Little Bit About My Scarves

Well, those of you who know me IRL, have heard quite a bit about my Crocheting Scarves. And yet between this Blog and Facebook, there have never been any pictures (save one of my very first scarf completed). The reason was that each and every scarf I finished was given away as a Christmas gift! This year for Christmas, I gave away a total of 10 scarves as gifts!! Quite proud of that really ;-) But obliviously I couldn't post pictures of them here LOL And unfortunately I didn't remember to take pictures of each scarf I completed - which really would have been a good idea.
But alas I received an email from my SIL in Germany, telling me that the Christmas package I mailed off on December 11 finally arrived yesterday! (don't even get me started on the mail system!) See I did in fact take pictures of the scarves I crocheted for she & my BIL, because they were a little different from the ones I made everyone else - a different pattern, a different type of yarn, and I used 2 colors instead of just one straight through. I was waiting until they arrived to Germany before I posted this Blog, so as not to spoil the surprise.
To top it all off, I crocheted myself another scarf the other day, mostly to play around with a wider length, but also because I wanted another one in a different color ... in case I feel like wearing a color other than Brown when it's cold! ;-)
So here they are!

SIL's Scarf

BIL's Scarf

This was a different pattern altogether than I normally do.  Other than it being a different type of yarn, I used a Single Stitch, Double Stitch Crochet Pattern and added a border, which I thought helped really put the finishing touches on them both! SIL is in Germany, as I mentioned above, and it gets pretty cold there in the winter months! (which was one of the reasons the package took so long to reach them - there was a snow storm just before Christmas) I thought the thicker, softer yarn would be warmer than one we would need here in Mississippi.
BIL is stationed in Afghanistan right now and said it gets very cold there and that they have snow as well. So I thought the same sort of scarf would benefit him well while he is there. Unfortunately my package missed his Leave by just 1 day :-(  But I know that SIL will send it on to him for me :-)











Now this is the scarf I made for myself.

White Scarf

White Scarf ~ Close View

It is a White Flecked-colored yarn, which in my opinion really comes out nicely for a scarf. I used a Double Stitch Pattern I found here and this is the pattern I used on every single scarf I made for Christmas, save the two above :-) It is 72 inches long, not including the fringe on both ends and 6 inches wide. I'm pleased with it and I think it came out quite nice.

Christmas Cookies & Milk

Sorry it's been so long since I've posted ... Christmas was quite an event this year!
All of the scarves I made for gifts were well-received and the Amigurumi Dolls were a hit as well!
This is one last project I undertook before the holidays were over - Santa's Cookies & Milk.  My plan was to finish it in time for Christmas Eve and "leave it out for Santa" LOL But unfortunately, it's one thing that just didn't get finished. But I did complete it after Christmas and have been able to enjoy looking at it until it is to be packed away with the other Christmas items, waiting to be brought out next year.
It was fun to do and the pattern provides several variations for the cookies, so you can choose your favorite kinds! By the time I was half through the 2nd cookie, I knew the pattern by heart and did not even have to refer to the page :-) A first for me to be sure! Mine does look a little different from the pattern, but you learn as you go and it just makes it more Me :-)
So here we are: My Christmas Cookies & Milk!!

Milk & Cookies Side View

Milk & Cookies Top View

Puss in Boots Amigurumi

So you're probably wondering what I've been up to lately - I've been so quiet! I'm doing my very best to get all the Christmas presents I can made before Christmas!! Also today is my kids' last day of school, so I've had to work especially hard to get their things done before they're home all day :-)
Here is my latest creation:

Puss in Boots

 

He's so adorable!!!
And I don't think I'll be doing him again any time in the near future!! LOL He was quite a lot of work! But it'll all be worth it on Christmas morning when my youngest son opens him up! He loves this character! He collects any one that he can find!
I saw the pattern when I was looking for the Spongebob Amigurumi - the patterns are by the same person. And I bought this one knowing I would want to make it for my baby as a surprise :-)
((please excuse the mess on my desk  - it's crunch time after all))
He is suppose to measure 11 inches tall ... but you know me by now! And from his boots to the feather in his hat, he is 18 inches tall!! He has a cape, a belt and a belt buckle and of course, a tail as well.
I love him! And my son will too!!

Doggie Blanket

I was quite tired after making that enormous SpongeBob (lol) but somehow I still managed to whip up this Dog Blanket in one evening! I was proud of myself actually. It's just a little thing, but it's really soft and warm and I think it's pretty ... um I mean handsome :-) I made it for my brother's dog. He's a sweet little Chihuahua mix and he's naturally on the skinny side so he gets cold easily - kinda like my Wennie, but she's more on the chunky side. I always figure she gets cold easily because she's so small and close to the grown.
But as I was saying, my brother & SIL's dog is a very sweet little man and I wanted to make him something to help keep him warm. Wennie doesn't really like to cover up with her Blankies, she would rather lay on them ... and somehow that keeps her warm. Hopefully this Blanket will be big enough to cover Spencer, if that's what he prefers. I think it will be. It's made in Tan, Chocolate and Red Stripes and measures 19inches x 19inches. I like it ;-)
Wennie's a wee bit jealous ... She kinda thought I was making it for her. ((I'm actually surprising her with a new one this year for Christmas!)) Her baby Blankie has been too small for her to settle her chunky self on to, even though she tries as hard as she can to curl herself into the tightest ball she can when she lays on it. I think one the same size as Spencer's will be perfect!
Well, here it is - Spencer's Blankie!

Spencer's Blankie

SpongeBob Amigurumi

SO this is my latest project ... And I am over the moon about it - Really!!!!
It was such fun to do! And it was a challenge! I love a challenge!! It is also the largest Amigurumi I've completed to date - 19 inches!!!!! ((it's suppose to measure 14.5 inches, completed, but apparently my stitches got away from me LOL))
I bought the Pattern online and was so excited to see it!! On the day I was looking, it was the only Spongebob pattern available, but since then I've noticed more popping up! Well I'm perfectly happy with this one! It was fun to do, easy to follow, and he's ... just ... so ... cute!!!!!!!!!! I'm giving him to my older son for Christmas and he's going to be so excited!!!!! He hasn't seen even the pattern yet - not a picture - nothing. And when he opens it on Christmas morning - YAY!!!
It was a bit harder than anything I've done yet - I was restarting and pulling out stitches, and I must have re-sewn his eyes on 3 different times! But I got him done this morning ... And Ta-Da!! Here he is .............

SpongeBob Standing

 As you can see, he is so large, he didn't even fit into the frame! LOL But so cute! He has enormous blue eyes and pretty black eyelashes. An embroidered smile and his two front teeth sticking out! He has on his tie, of course and white socks and black shoes. :-)

SpongeBob Sitting

Here is SpongeBob Sitting and you can kind of see his shoes a little bit better. Also I think he looks so adorable sitting up!










Right now I have placed him on my computer desk, on a stack of books, with one leg propped up. Smiling at me naturally, pleased that I've brought him to 3 Dimension, where he has been made with love in each and every stitch and where he will be loved forever more. Now I shall sit back and enjoy looking at him for the rest of the day while I pop the top off a celebratory Dr Pepper. :-)

Adorable Little (Hand-Decorated) Purses

So Hubby & I were shopping and reached my favorite department ... The Craft Department!! Love it there so much!
We were strolling down the isles looking at this and that when we saw the most adorable set of purses! They came in bright colors and 3 to a pack! DH took one look and knew they were the perfect Christmas gifts for his nieces!! He even helped me pick out the iron-on appliques to decorate them with!

He has 3 older nieces (all the perfect age for purses) and 1 younger one, who is a little bit too young for something like that and will be getting something else. So the first thing we bought to go on them were each girl's initials.
I started on them the same night I made the Christmas Stockings  ... and well after making 4 Homemade Christmas Stockings in one sitting, I only got 1 purse finished that night! LOL  But that one was important to get finished early, because it was to be mailed to Germany where Hubby's brother is stationed. I loved making it!! And was very pleased with how it came out!

Pink Purse ~ Front

 

 

 

Pink Purse ~ Back

 

It's an adorable color Pink and has Blue & White Flower Appliques. And a cute little ... squiggly thingy ;-)

And the Back has Pink & Blue Flowers, a Butterfly and a Puppy on the pocket! So cute!! I really think his niece is going to like it :-)

The next ones were done a day or two later, after I had had time to rest up a little. But because I waited a few days to work on them, again I thoroughly enjoyed the creative process of ... well creating something! And again, was very pleased with how they came out! One of my little boys even helped me select the appliques and decide where to place them.

Blue Purse ~ Front

I like the Bee hovering over the Flower on this one. And we cut the stem off one of the Red Flowers to make room for it.
(As you can see, while I was holding the purse in just the right place, my older son decided to sneak into the frame! Cute, isn't he?)

Blue Purse ~ Back

Here we added a Bright Sparkling Star & a Sun along with the Red Flowers. (And my younger son's "peace" sign. Sneaky little fellas, aren't they?) Again it's absolutely adorable!

And last, but most certainly not least, the final purse was completed!

Green Purse ~ Front

Green Purse ~ Back

At this point (unfortunately) my pack of 10 assorted appliques was winding down LOL But we still managed to come up with something cute & festive! Again the ... uh ... squiggly thingy ;-) and a pretty Red Flower and a Puppy! This niece loves animals too, just as the first one does.

And on the back a sweet Teddy Bear with a Green Bow Tie I just loved! We also have a lovely Butterfly, Blue & White Flowers (stemless again, thanks to our cunning scissor-know-how) And I plopped on a Bee ... Because I think he's cute! :-)

I really enjoyed making these! And I'm going to love seeing their little faces when they open them! These girls are very "girlie" and like purses where they can keep all their little "stuff" when they leave the house or are just playing at home. And they were really fun to make! It was a creative way to express myself - one I hadn't tried until this point, and I don't think it'll be my last! Yes ... I see Tote Bags and Shopping Bags and even more Purses in my future! :-)

Homemade Christmas Cookies

I've always loved watching people on TV make Homemade Christmas Cookies! It seems like the perfect family Christmas-time tradition! I never have tried it before this year. When I was young, I guess it was something kids weren't allowed to do - help out in the kitchen and make a mess. When my kids were small, I guess I was doing my best to get through the holidays in one piece LOL But this year I decided to take on this project! Christmas Cookies, here I come!
Me & the kiddies went to the store and bought all the ingredients for Sugar cookies. We decided to buy the Icing in the spray tube - the one that includes 4 different decorative tips. We bought a HUGE canister of Sprinkles! And a set of 3 Christmas Cookie Cutters! We were ready!

First I mixed the cookie dough. It was surprisingly easy! I thought for some reason it would be thick and hard to mix. But it wasn't! It mixed perfect! We let it chill for about 20 minutes ... and then the boys couldn't wait any longer! We got it out, rolled out half and started cutting! The first try wasn't very good. There wasn't enough flour and I rolled it out too thin, so it was hard to scrape up and cookies. But we got 2 or 3 out of it and then rolled out some more (this time with more flour) and tried again ... So much better this time! They cut perfect! They lifted off the table perfect! It was great!
Into the oven went the first batch!

While they were baking, we got to work on the next batch. Again, these were easier and the kids had so much fun! They enjoyed the rolling & cutting part, but they were just being patient, waiting for the fun part ... Decorating!!!!

They fully enjoyed the entire decorating process! From the first time the icing squirted out across the table! LOL It was fun to smear the icing all over Christmas Tree Cookies and the use sprinkles to "decorate" the tree! And to use the icing to dot eyes and buttons onto the Gingerbread Men! We loved finding new ways to decorate each and every one. And when we were finished ... They. Were. So. Yummy!!!!!!!!!!!! The best cookies I ever had!