I finished my mom’s Mother’s Day gift  just in time.  I crocheted a table runner for her.   The inspiration for this project came to me after I picked up Berroco’s NaturLin #273 the other day.  I had to pick up this pattern book for it’s yummy throw.  While at the yarn shop I fell in love with Berroco’s NaturLin.  This yarn is a linen and rayon blend that  is very luxurious.  The yarn highlighted the stitches beautifully and was wonderful to work with. 

On a humorous note I have to share the outfit my husband picked out to wear for Mother’s Day brunch.  He came downstairs and asked me if this outfit “worked”.  My uncontrollable laughter immediately let him know the answer was a resounding NO.  While the photo doesn’t show it…the colors of the shirt and shorts do match.  What is it with men and plaids?  Don’t worry he changed outfits and was presentable for our Mother’s Day brunch.  Here’s hopping everyone else had a great Mother’s Day too.

I have had joining a sock club on my wish list for several months now.  Well, last Saturday I went and did it.  I joined the sock club at the Boucle Yarn Studio here in Fargo ND.  They have a great mini-club that only has three socks a year.  This perfect for me.  I have so many projects going on that a pair of socks a month is a little out of my league right now. 

For the sock club kits Boucle has a company called the Unique Sheep custom dye their yarn.  This month’s yarn was dyed from a picture of the flood waters and the lace pattern is reminiscent of waves.  What a great tribute to our recent flood fight.  Here’s a photo from one of the clubbers who is fast as lightning knitting up their socks. I have yet to cast on.  However, I have hardly been able to keep myself away from my kit.  At the moment I am working on a gift for my mom.  Mother’s Day really snuck up on me this year!  I don’t know how…anyway, I am burning the midnight oil to get Mom’s gift done in time.  Just as soon as I get the gift done and paint that corner of the kitchen, I am jumping head first into my sock kit.  The soon I get at those projects the soon I can get to my socks…I’m off

I got the following goodies for Christmas from my mother-in-law.  Many thanks again. I have been reading the book and dreaming of projects to start for the last couple of months.  I have been looking at the color cards and fondling the yarn.    The yarn is Knit Pick’s Comfy and is so soft.  Even my little guy grabs it and rubs it to his cheek.

I couldn’t resist any longer…I broke into a ball of each color and started crocheting an envelope bag.  Of course I added some other yarn so as not to waste too much of the Comfy.  The yarn is a dream to work   with.  It is soft and individual plies stay together while working.  I find that some soft yarns tend to lose their shape when working with them.  As you can see from my snap shot it has held it’s shape beautifully.  (Sorry the color is a little off because I took the photo is direct sunlight.)  I’m so excited I have to run so I can get back to crocheting.

Martha Stewart is running a craft contest until May 31, 2009.  Submit a photo of anything you have handmade to be entered to win her new Encyclopedia of Crafts.  I entered a couple of times already under my alter ego BeaCreative.   Not to be sacrilegious, but this is the bible of crafting.  My mouth just waters at the thought of winning a free copy.  It is also great fun to see all the things other people are making. 

While visiting Martha Stewart’s site it is well worth it to check out The Crafts Dept. blog.  This is one of my new addictions.  This group of crafters is truly inspirational and always serve up some visually pleasing images. 

I am so excited to announce the release of my newly redesigned Pacifier Keeper as well as a line of bibs made to match!!!

After months of testing in real-life scenarios (i.e., babys with pacifiers), I found that just the single layer of Japanese ribbon lacks the durability to stand up to long-term use. The ribbon would twist up and just not look good.  The addition of a stabilizing layer ensures that the Pacifier Keeper will look better, longer. After all, our motto is “only the best for your little style-setter”.   Feel free to visit my Etsy shop to check them out.  I’ll be updating my shop with new stock during the next couple of days.

One of my dearest friends had a little girl about a year ago.  I am so excited to have a little girl to craft for.  The poor child has had so many handmade presents from me she will probably need therapy when she’s older.  I thought I would share some of the things I’ve made her lately.

The booties I made several months back but I couldn’t remember if I posted a picture of them.  They are a very quick and easy crochet project.  I made some for my little guy from a pattern.  However, the pattern had some hick ups so for this run I just free-formed them.  To my great pleasure they come out fine.

Last month was a milestone birthday. It has been some time since I broke out my card making skills.  However, I was more than satisfied by the results.  Any guesses on how old the little sweetheart turned?

For presents I turned to lionbrand.com which has some great little critters to crochet.  The puppy was made from their free pattern called Patty the Puppy.  If you look at the pattern you can see that my body is slimmer.  I didn’t notice until it was finished so just left it.  I also added a collar made from an edging pattern.  I figured I had to “girly” it up a bit.

The Amigurumi chick and bunny were made from a pattern for egg cozies (I just stuffed them and closed the bottoms).  I thought these would be perfect for little hands to carry around.  My little guy test drove them and didn’t want to give them up.  He finally gave them up when mama promised to make him his very own.  Which reminds me….I had better get on that tonight…

It has been hectic around here and hence my posting has suffered.  We got over the sicks which ate up most of the month of February.  Then the latter part of March was taken up with the flood fight.  We live in the Fargo, North Dakota area which made national news for our flooding.  In fact, our house was in an area that was evacuated due to the Red River Flooding.  We made the decision to stay even with a little one.  I am glad we did because a pipe popped it’s cap and started flooding our basement.  Because we were here we caught it and averted disaster.  Some of our neighbors that left did not fair so well.  The mystery pipe appears to be a link to the storm sewers that dates back to the old days.  Right now the community is breathing easy but bracing ourselves for round two which could be just as high next week.  Keep your fingers crossed.

What does one do to occupy the long nights of staying up to watch the sump pump and flooded streets?  Why, one crafts of course.  I started a pair of socks.  I have only knitted one pair of socks before, so they kept me busy.  I used a pattern that was written for double point needles but used two circular needles – the more complex the better a project, hahaha.  I have just about finished one sock and will probably get to the second sock when the river crests for the second time. 

I thought I was a total freak because I always use circular knitting needles.  I use circular knitting needles for all patterns.  I have tried a couple times to use straight needles but never get more than two or three rows before I switch back to my circulars.  I was reading the Lion Brand Notebook today, when I found a post asking which people preferred.  I was surprised that the majority use circular. 

I adore Knit Picks’ nickel plated circulars.  The needles are slick and make stitches move across them like melted butter.  However, the cable that tethers the needles together is the deal cincher for me.  The cable is super flexible and the joint with it and the needles is smooth.  If all this weren’t enough, the price is affordable too.

In parting, here is a little clip some might remember from the good old days of yore…

Give A Hoot

I am back among the living again!  For over a week I was incapacitated by the common cold.  It sure doesn’t feel so common when it has you in it’s clutches.  The little guy got it an hour before I did.  His cold came with a little extra bonus; his first ear infection.  He too is back to his usual awesome self.  It’s amazing how much energy little kids have.  More important, where does it go with age?

Here is a photo of the mittens and scarf I made for a friend’s little girl.   I did what I call freeform knitting for this set.  Otherwise known as, knitting without a pattern.  There is something very satisfying about figuring it out as one goes.  I am making an effort to work more freeform projects this year. 

Mark Ryden and The Cardigans

I have to admit that Love Fool was (ok, still is) one of my guilty earal pleasures.  Last evening while waiting for the blizzard that never came, I was idly surfing some illustrators that had captured my fancy when I came across this video.  I just had to share.

I have to get back to preparing for Christmas.  I am handmaking a majority of my presents this year.  It seems like a great idea until four days before Christmas and one is a habitual procrastinator.  I’ll let you know how things turn out after the holidays.  Here’s wishing you and yours an abundance of joy and cheer.