Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Fall Table

I've been working on my Fall table. I think it's very pretty at this point. Look how those little crocheted pumpkins liven it up. I think they add a lot to it. The only thing this table needs, in my opinion, is something in the candle holder, like some beans or stones or something. I was thinking maybe some coffee beans, that way it's an aroma as well as a visual thing.

I don't like to totally set the table when it's not in use. I have kids, and they would, I think, mess it up. I like the glasses sitting there, that way you can just pour whatever you're drinking in a glass and it's handy. I also like the plates, you can set a bowl on top of the plates and just eat, or you can put something on the plate and eat. I think that the boys would mess with napkins and silverware, if they were there, and it weren't mealtime. I remember a game they used to play with napkins and silverware, based on a show called 'Fork and Spoon' or something like that. As it is, my silverware disappears constantly anyway. I need new, just because I'm really low. Isn't that awful?

But my table's not awful, it's pretty. I like it.

Y'all have a great day.

Monday, October 18, 2010

Fall Mandala

Well, Pammy Sue made a bunch of these mandalas, and the more I looked at them, the more I thought I might could use one, so I ambled on over to where the pattern was posted, and set to work.

It's lovely, and I like it, but I'm not crazy about how it ruffles up, even after blocking. Surely, if I make another, I can take out a little of that ruffling. Maybe a little less increasing or something, who knows. But it's pretty, and I think it will be really nice to give my dining table a Fall look, maybe with a gold or red bowl or plate, or maybe a few candles or something on top of it. I'll be messing with that now, see what I put out on it for display.

Monday, October 11, 2010

More Like Falling In Love

Have y'all heard this song? Oh my gosh, I love this song. They play it on K-Love a lot, so I get to hear it often. So beautiful, and I love the message as well. It's by Jason Gray. I tried to upload the video but couldn't. You can see it here, though. Here are the lyrics.


Give me rules I will break them
Give me lines I will cross them
I need more than a truth to believe
I need a truth that lives, moves, and breathes
To sweep me off my feet
It ought to be

More like falling in love
Than something to believe in
More like losing my heart
Than giving my allegiance
Caught up, called out
Come take a look at me now
It's like I'm falling, oh
It's like I'm falling in love

Give me words
I'll misuse them
Obligations I'll misplace them
'Cause all religion ever made of me
Was just a sinner with a stone tied to my feet
It never set me free

It's gotta be
More like falling in love
Than something to believe in
More like losing my heart
Than giving my allegiance
Caught up, called out
Come take a look at me now
It's like I'm falling, oh
It's like I'm falling in love


It's like I'm falling in love, love, love
Deeper and deeper
It was love that made Me a believer
In more than a name, a faith, a creed
Falling in love with Jesus brought the change in me


Awesome words, huh? I love them. There's a powerful message in that song. A sweet, powerful message. Like I said, I love it.


Y'all have a wonderful, blessed day.

Have y'all seen this book?

I finally got it. I've been wanting this book since before it hit the stands, and I just went ahead and bought it. I know. But I did. So whatever. It's from Crochet World magazine, and I love Crochet World, so you know. Then there's my love of afghans. There are like 44 afghan patterns in this book, of just about every skill level. I just had to share a few I love. Not all of them, just my favorites.

The cover afghan is gorgeous. It's called Falling Waters. It's made with Red Heart Fall yarn as one of it's colors. ILTY also makes a very nice fall multi, so it would be nice in that, too, I think. Pretty, isn't it?


Oooohhhh, that's nice. Love the colors. And the cables. It's called Cables and Colors.

Look at that. Kinda like that round ripple that I'm so loving. I like it in thicker stripes, and fewer colors. I might do that one of these days. Aren't those bright colors cute, though? Can't you just see some little guy sitting on that thing piling up some blocks? It's called the Circus Star.


This one is pretty, too. Ruffly and lacy. It's called French Provincial. I can just picture this in a romantic home.



This one would also look great in a romantic setting. I like that it's round. I like shapes other than squares. This is so pretty. It would also look nice with a baby wrapped in it. Ha. It's a baby afghan, called the Lacy Ripples Babyghan.



This is called Oriental Octagons. Very cool, isn't it. I like it a lot.

This is the Scandinavian Granny. I like it a lot. Those blocks remind me of stars, and the color combination, to me, just reinforces that idea. I think it would look cool done in navy, with a white sparkle yarn. That would really put me in mind of a starry night. You could also do it in a light blue, and maybe it would be more like a snowy day. Either way, it's gorgeous.

This is the Spiral Lapghan. I really like this. Round. That's definitely something I haven't made yet, a round afghan. Isn't it cool. Wouldn't it be cool to take this to a bonfire or a picnic. I'd love to chill in the park on this.


This is called Waves of Fire. I don't know if I like it for the pattern or the colors, but I sure do like it.



There are two octagons in the book, the Fall Octagon and the Octagon Baby. Both are neat. I should make an octagon afghan. Eventually. Ha!

There are several more that I really like, but I figured I had to draw the line somewhere. If you're out at a magazine stand, I highly recommend this book, or you can download it on e-patternscentral dot com. That's what I did. I like the books on the computer, so if you print a pattern or two out to use, you can write on it, and if it gets destroyed, just print out another one. Either way, this book is definitely worth the ten bucks you'll spend on it, there's just so much there. I just posted a few of my favorites. I'm loving this book.
Y'all have a great day.

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Ack! Another new book! It's an addiction.

Ack! So Tim needed a book for school, and we had to go to Barnes and Noble. Of course, there were all these crochet books, and I have been good for so long (well, broke for so long, but it's kinda the same thing, right?) and I had this paycheck............... I bought a book. Ah ha! It's a gorgeous book, too, just chock-full of wonderful hooky information. It's got stitches, patterns, blocks, motifs, projects, edges and trims, everything. It tells how to do tunisian crochet, Bruges crochet, overlay crochet, all kinds of neat stuff. I can learn so much from this book. It must be a good investment, right? Well, whatever, it's in my hands now, and you won't get it away from me. I am too in love with it. In fact, I put down my Granny Stripes long enough to work up this pretty little loopy leaf. Isn't it cute?

I could probably have done a better job, but it's a start. I'll make more, well, once I figure out what I'm going to do with them. Ha!
Heck, right now, my list of things I'm going to make is getting pretty long............ oh well, the hardship..............
Y'all have a great day.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

WIP - Getting ready for Christmas


Sorry this picture is so blurry. This is what I'm working on now - well, one of what I'm working on anyway. This is my tree skirt, for my tree this Christmas. It's that same 7-hour Tree Skirt by Katherine Eng from the December 2008 issue of Crochet World. I really like the skirt I made before from this pattern, except that this time I will make it bigger. I like to go all out for Christmas, and the other skirt was just not big enough for me. LOL That's an easy fix, though.
When I was at Hobby Lobby this past weekend, stash-building, (LOL) I saw a beautiful Christmas tree I would love to have. It was flocked, and had cranberries on it, it was so beautiful. I also got a pretty angel (which David has named Dana) to put on top of it. I so hope I can afford that tree, you know Hobby Lobby trees are not cheap. It sure will look pretty in my home.
I have also been trying to make some snowflakes, but it hasn't worked yet. I'm not a pro with cotton thread, but I'll get it. It was funny to me, after working with that thread and metal size 7 hook, how thick the yarn and I hook felt in my hand. It took me a minute to readjust.
I'd better get off now, I've spent the evening at the grocery store, that take too much time and money. I have to work tonight. Tim is making dinner, Teriyaki Chicken Sandwiches and Waffle Fries. Sound good? Yum. So nice to have a son who cooks for me.
Y'all have a great day.
I am linking up with Marie at Every Day Crochet for WIP IT Wednesday. Stop by and see what everybody else is making.

Monday, October 4, 2010

Christmas Presents

If you're on my Christmas list, maybe you shouldn't be reading this.... LOL

These are the simplest slippers to make. I found this book at Michael's earlier this past spring and thought it would be fun to make some slippers. This is so far the only pattern I have tried. It's disgustingly easy, runs up in an hour or two. It's just a square that you fold and gather at the toes, and put together at the heels and top, so simple. I will say that when I first started making these, I had the wrong idea of what the 'back loop' was, so the first few pairs are not done with the nice texture. But I think they're nice either way, with or without the texture. I plan to pass these out as gifts for Christmas this year, and maybe later just for when I need a little gift as well.

Y'all have a wonderful day.

Sunday, October 3, 2010

A Day Out With Thomas

My son, David, loves Thomas the Tank Engine. He's 17, autistic, and mentally retarded. He is about three, three and a half mentally. He is such a sugar, sweet and loving. When we found out Thomas was going to be in town, David wanted to go. In fact, David has been so excited for this. This is new for David. He has never been one to anticipate things before, he just didn't have that kind of mind. But now, I guess he has matured a little, and was so excited. Of course, it doesn't help that they show that ad before every Thomas episode for the last month, but he was excited. He could not sleep last night for the excitement, and woke up at six o'clock. Good thing we had an early train ride booked. We got him up and got him dressed, and off we went.

David was so excited. At first it was a little overwhelming, but he got over that.


After all, what boy doesn't love Thomas.


If you know David, you know that this is his happy face. He was loving this.


He sat for a picture, then it was time for a ride.

We hit a bit of a snag when David saw the stairs leading up to the coach. He does not like stairs. David wanted his Dad to come along for this, and it's a good thing he did. Dad got him up those stairs this time.

But once he got in, it was good, and he was having fun.



He enjoyed getting a temporary tatoo. I have always written little notes of 'love in his hand', so this was love to him.

He really had a great day.

Friday, October 1, 2010

Happy Fall, Y'all!

Well, to me, there is now no getting around it. You just can't call October summer, no matter how you cut it. We are definitely in fall, even if the weather were blazing hot, which, sadly, it is not. Not even here in Texas. Not that it's cold, and the nip in the air in the mornings can't really be called a nip, more of a gentle nibble, really, but it's there, anyway. I have said that I could really enjoy fall if I just didn't know what was coming after, but fall is beautiful. The leaves are turning, less so here than some places, but they're turning just the same. The picture above is from when I was living in Nashville. I do love the colors of fall, the reds, golds and browns. They're beautiful. Do y'all drive around looking for the pretty colors? I used to. I wonder if it is colorful here in the Texas Hill Country. I'll have to go exploring and find out.

Anyway, Happy Fall, Y'all! Have a wonderful day!