Feathers McGraw Stuffie

Last Christmas I got a great gift
A crochet magazine with a mark on a page
This here
This pattern right here
Can be made for someone special
Special

Did you get what I did there? I hope so, because I think it's clever. So, anyway...
After working on a few craftie type things lately, and being "forced" to go downstairs to my extremely messy crafting area, I decided that it would be a good idea to work on the aforementioned crochet pattern. The magazine was Crochet Now (issue 48) and there was a pattern for Feathers McGraw, a beloved characater from Wallace & Gromit, in it. I went downstairs and dug out the colors of yarn that I needed for the stuffie and started crocheting for the first time in I-don't-know-how-many years.
I've never made anything like this before, so I've been unsure of everything I've done in this project. Getting back into crochet was awkward, especially since the patterrn used UK terms. I pretty much had to re-familiarize myself with everything. But, the body went okay, so my confidence level started out relatively high. The first wing went fine, too, then came the second wing. I ran out of the yarn I had used for the body and first wing, so I switched to a totally different black yarn. After finishing that wing and comparing it to the first wing, I realized there was a problem.

Did you see that? The second wing is on the left. Oh well, my confidence level plummets - I can't do anything about it now. Beak, check. Tummy patch, double check. Legs, feet, sew them together - kind of cute. My attention span is wavering, so I attached the tummy patch to the body. It looks good, so I moved on to the wings. They take a little bit of fanagaling, but the placement looks okay. Attaching the beak and legs comes next. The beak looks a little off-center, par for the course, but I'll think about that later.
I then started work on the glove-hat. It went amazingly well, I thought. Before attaching the glove-hat, I decided to remove the beak, and after placing the eyes, I re-attached the beak. It looked much better the second time, so I moved on to attaching the glove-hat. When it was all done, I think that it looks - okay.

I think that one of my nephew's Christmas gifts is complete - I hope he likes it!

Turtle Shell Photo Prop

Mandy from Tidewater asked me to make a turtle shell for a girl friend who is pregnant, who loves turtles. I whipped out my crochet hook, and made this for her in a matter of days.

She loved it, and I hope her girl friend does, too. I used the same pattern that I used for Brit's turtle shell blanket.

Lisdoonvarna Shawl

I finally finished this shawl, which I've been working on since March.

I found the pattern in Crochet! magazine, and I think I can honestly say that it is the largest project I've completed to date. I used the wrong weight of yarn (on purpose, because it's what I could find at Wal-Mart), so it's kind of heavy, so I don't think I'll be able to wear it in the spring or fall. Tom thinks it's beautiful, too.

HdG Holiday Craft Show 2013

Well, it's finally over, the Havre de Grace High School Holiday Craft Show. Unfortunately, it was not very successful. I did not make enough money to cover the cost of the space, but from what I hear, this was the worst year in recent history. Some people that we talked to have done the show for four years, and they said this year was horrible, probably because of the economy and sequester. Aside from that, I thought it was a good experience. I got to make new things, and learned how to set up a booth and displays. Here are some pictures:

The last picture is of Joan's items. She's the mother of a co-worker, and I asked if she wanted to participate in the show with me, and she agreed. Unfortunately, she was very dissatisfied with the show, and said she wouldn't do it again. I will not be disheartened, and have signed up for a booth for next year. We'll try it one more time.

Working in Slo-Mo

Today was horrible for me! I was in so much pain from the surgery, it made me rethink my memories from the last surgery. I also ended up taking pain pills, and crocheting a lot slower than I had the previous day. I was able to complete yarn flowers from LionBrand's Amazing "Glacier Bay."

These should make a nice addition to the selection of flowers that I will have for the craft show.

The Bandage is on the Other Knee

I had quite a busy day today. First off, bright and early, I had surgery on my other knee for a torn meniscus.

I might have mentioned in mid-August that I messed up my "good" knee while at band practice. Well, I was able to get in for surgery today, and it seemed to go just fine. I spent the remainder of the day crocheting more flowers from LionBrand's Amazing.

Violets

Mauna Loa

I love the Mauna Loa flowers more than I initially thought I would. That little pop of bright color every once in a while is so eye-catching! Other that that, Mom and Dad are here to help out during my convalescence, and I look forward to spending quality time with them.

Crocheted Flowers - Wildflowers

I had hoped to crochet some flowers for the craft show in November, and I experimented with some of Red Heart's Team Spirit yarn, but wasn't happy with the results. Oh, the actual crocheting went fine, but the yarn didn't change colors as fast as I had hoped, so I decided to pick up some yarn that was on sale at Wal-Mart, LionBrand's Amazing. I finished the skein of "Wildflowers" today.

I love the way that the colors change and the overall feel of the yarn. I intend to make pins, barrettes and hair pins with these flowers.

Vacation: Day Seven

It's amazing what I accomplished on my last day of vacation!

In addition to packing up the car, I finished crocheting another scarf in Red Heart's Boutique Sashay Metallic, as well as finishing reading a magazine. Before heading out of town, we stopped and visited a tall ship that was in town for the week, the El Galleon, from Spain.

Vacation: Day Five

On day five of vacation I accomplished more of the same.

I crocheted another beaded necklace - this one is about 13 inches around, I'm getting better - and I made a bunch of bottle cap earrings. One thing that I did do that was different, I made a filigree wire bracelet. I like it and want to make more - they can only get better with practice.

Vacation: Day Four

It may not seem like much, but I did get something accomplished on my fourth day of vacation.

I completed reading a magazine, but more importantly, I crocheted a beaded necklace. I stayed up late last night working on it, and it's quite intricate for a first time thing. I like it, but there is something wrong with it - the pattern says it should be 15 inches long, and it's only 11. Maybe I'll make another one, but with a bigger hook.

Vacation: Day Three

How unproductive was my third day of vacation? I didn't finish reading a book, or even a magazine, but I did get some stuff done.

I crocheted a scarf out of Red Heart's Boutique Sashay Metallic and two more motifs for a sachet. I also made two more rings out of vintage earrings, and three sets of bottle cap earrings. I stopped early with those because it was late, and they involve making a lot of noise.

Vacation: Day Two

My second day of vacation provided more good stuff. I finished reading a book and a magazine, I made three rings out of vintage earrings, and I crocheted two motifs, which, when put together, will make a sachet.

The book was okay. It was "Face Down Upon an Herbal," the second book in the Lady Appleton series. I didn't like how one of the characters had developed from the last book. The rings turned out pretty well, and were rather easy to make. I hope to get a bunch of those made for the craft show in November, as well as some sachets. I made a bunch of those for a swap at Silver Bella a few years ago, and while I was putting the finishing touches on them at the group dinner before the swap period, someone asked me if I was selling them. Well, hopefully I will be at the craft show. I just need to get to work!

Infinity Scarf

Tonight, I finally finished the Infinity Scarf that I started during my time off after my knee surgery in May.

Tom and I both think that it turned out quite nicely, and I can't wait until cooler weather so I can wear it.

Josh's Baby Blanket

During my convalescence (aka taking time off from work due to my knee), I was able to complete some crocheting, and the biggest project was the baby shower gift for Josh.

We're having a shower for Josh at work on Thursday, and I was under a time crunch finishing this gift, because I had to order the yarn, and it just came in earlier this week.
I like how this blanket turned out, even though it's not complete by what the pattern says. The blanket isn't as big as the pattern says, and I couldn't finish the blanket with two rows of the same color, even though I ordered/bought the required amount of yarn. Regardless, I love the feel of the blanket. It's made with Bernat's Baby Blanket and it feels so soft, like a stuffed animal.

Hope for Oklahoma

A Silver Bella friend has started an on-line auction on Facebook, called Hope For Oklahoma, to help out the folks in Moore, Oklahoma following the devastating destruction of their town following that huge tornado. I am donating items for the auction.

I am donating two crocheted Ruffle Scarves made out of Red Heart's Boutique Sashay. The colors are Rumba and Waltz, and they are both about four feet long.

Please swing by the Facebook site from June 10 to June 12 to bid in this auction - it's for a really good cause.

Accomplishments

Being laid up from my recent surgery has been fairly relaxing. My intention with my recovery time has been to catch up on crafts, and to work on some inventory for a possible Arts and Crafts Show at the local high school in November. So far, in addition to reading a book, I finished the following projects.

I started, and finished Baby Jack's fedora (seen modeled by Pooh Bear), I completed a replacement 12x12 granny square for a swap I joined on Swap-bot, and I completed a Frilly Crochet Scarf. I feel such a sense of accomplishment!

Baby Jack's Fedora Prototype

Evan, Brit's fiancee, asked me to crochet their baby-to-be a fedora. This is what I came up with as a prototype.

I found a pattern for a child's sunhat off of the LionBrand website, and modified it to be the correct size (I hope). It is not the desired color, but it'll do until it's approved.

Turtle Photo Prop

Brit's having a boy! She had mentioned a while ago, that if she was going to have a girl, she wanted to do a princess theme, but if it was a boy, Evan wanted a turtle. Cue Wendy and her ever growing crochet skills. I started work on the turtle shell part yesterday, and I finished piecing it together tonight.

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Thank you, Nutmeg, for being my model! And thank you, HodgePodge Crochet, for the great pattern.

Rumba Scarf

I am on fire! I completed another scarf today, this one using Red Heart's Boutique Sashay Rumba.

Then, Amie came in to Tidewater with some Twist for me to work on, and I finished it, too. At this rate, I think I should be able to get a whole heck of a lot of scarves made, and ready to post on the Etsy shop, or sell locally.

Ballet Scarf

Today I finished another scarf.

This one was made with Red Heart's Boutique Sashay Ballet. I'm surprised that I like this color combination as much as I do.