jaida louisa

.a new adventure

2011-03-13T11:38:00.005-06:00

first, i am

sorry, sorry, sorry

for neglecting this blog and you lovely blog readers

for such a long time.

this is my first time writing in 2011.

crazy!

i'm hoping to write more and share more.

i've still been crocheting, though not as much.

there's something about the holiday rush that makes me want to

s-l-o-w down for a few months after.

i've been making more amigurumi because they're quick.

my goal this year is three afghans as christmas gifts,

and i'm working on a baby afghan.

so, not many projects are being finished quite yet, other than the amigurumis.

i've been enjoying making them again,even though the tiny hooks and tight stitches make my fingers ache.

and that new adventure thing i mentioned? it's an etsy shop.puffed peonies art prints and amigurumis, to be exact.
the little lion above is the only amigurumi on the shelves right now, but the shop is full of fun, bright art prints.
i also have a facebook fan page, which you can join for exclusive coupon codes and more.

i hope to see you there!

and i'll leave you with a preview of the shop.

.a year in review

2010-12-31T01:18:00.004-06:00

it's cliche, i know, but this year has passed
incredibly quickly.

hard to believe that this is the last day of 2010.

this has been the year my daughter turned one, my mom found the mad she's been looking for her whole like.
the year i lost my love for amigurumi and found a new love for granny chic.
the year my son turned four, graduated head start and started pre-k.
the year i discovered a love for podcasts, blogging and ravelry.
the year i ended a six year relationship.
my second year of college, my second year of crocheting.
the year i turned twenty and the year i became vegan.

this year has been an incredible year.
i feel so lucky to be in the position that i'm in: able to attend school online and spend these early years of my childrens' lives at home with them. there is nothing better.

and since this is a crochet blog, i'm going to share some of my favorite projects of
2010.

not the full collection of what i've made, but certainly
some of my favorite projects and best photos.

i've had a wonderful time meeting new people and making friends
on this blog, on ravelry and on twitter.
i hope to continue with this good fortune in 2011.

happy new year to everyone.
i wish you all a safe and healthy 365 days to come.

-brittany

.plenty of puffs cowl

2010-12-22T02:24:00.006-06:00

another cowl pattern, as promised.

it's a bit later than promised, but still here and still before the great day of giving.

i made this one for myself, using some of the leftovers from my
wooly pillow.

the yarn is wool-ease thick & quick
in grass, lemongrass, citron, snapdragon and hazelnut.

you will need:
just over 1 skein of wool-ease thick & quick (or various scraps equaling this amount), 9.0 mm crochet hook, yarn needle

i've also made this cowl in homespun, which takes around 1/2 the skein.
(huge fan of lion brand yarns, if you haven't noticed)

special stitches/techniques:
puff stitch- yarn over, insert hook in indicated stitch and draw up a loop (3 loops on hook), [yarn over, insert hook in same stitch and draw up a loop] 2 times (7 loops on hook), yarn over and draw through first 6 loops on hook, yarn over and draw through remaining 2 loops on hook.
(or have a look at this video)

the pattern

1.) ch 70*, join to beg. chain with sl st
2.) ch 3, puff stitch in same ch. [skip next ch, chain 1, puff stitch into next ch.] repeat to end. join with a sl st into the top of 1st puff.
3.) ch 3, puff stitch into next space**. [skip next ch, chain 1, puff stitch into next ch.] repeat to end. join with a sl st into the top of 1st puff.

repeat row 3 until you reach your desired height.
i worked five rounds using thick & quick, and six rounds using homespun.

fasten off and use a yarn needle to weave in ends.

*adjust number of chains to your liking. use an even number for evenly placed puffs.
**you're working between the puffs, rather then into the tops of them.

it's not quite as quick as the half hour cowl,
but it is a fast and fun project nonetheless.

i've worked it in charcoal (above) for one of izak's teachers,
and using homespun in golden for an unknown recipient.

i'm nearly ready to begin a second cowl for myself using homespun in pesto.
it's a gorgeous colorway that i've been admiring for some time.

i hope you all enjoy the pattern,
and have a lovely holiday this weekend if you're celebrating.
♥ brittany

.half hour cowl

2010-12-13T21:52:00.008-06:00

it's almost time for the holidays.
have you finished your yarny gifts?

if not, have hope.
everyone loves a good cowl, and i've a pattern to share with you.

the half hour cowl.

half an hour to hook + half a skein of wool-ease thick & quick.
you can hook up gifts for the entire family in just a weekend.

you'll need:
1/2 skein of wool-ease thick & quick (or similar), 9.0 mm crochet hook, yarn needle.

special stitches/techniques:
chainless double crochet foundation (have a look at this video)
crossed double crochet (video)

this pattern works for
children and adults

1.) using the chainless double crochet technique, dc 54.
without twisting, join with sl st to 1st dc.
2.) ch 2 (skip 1st stitch, dc in next stitch, dc in skipped stitch) repeat to end. see the above video of crossed double crochet for reference. join with sl st to 1st dc.
3.) ch 2, dc in each dc to end. join with sl st to 1st dc.
4-7.) repeat rounds 2 & 3

fasten off and use a yarn needle to weave in your ends.

easy peasy.

this pattern uses just a smidge over half a skein of wool-ease thick & quick,
so you can easily get three cowls out of two balls.
or
save your leftovers for another thick & quick cowl pattern coming
toward the end of the week.

i'll leave you with photos of the kiddies in their cowls.

izak is wearing wool-ease thick & quick in denim
and miss lailah is in blossom
enjoy!

.flickr friday - honeysuckle

2010-12-10T22:38:00.004-06:00

happy friday all!

this week's flickr friday is fully inspired by pantone's pick for
color of 2011:

honeysuckle

as is visible here, we crafty yarn artists may have been tipped off.
here are several luscious, honeysuckle projects.
(found via vintage knit + crochet on flickr)

are you ready for 2011?

now i want to hear from you.
what do you think about pantone's choice for 2011? do you agree?
how will you be using this shade in the coming year?

have a lovely weekend, dears.
♥ brittany

.relaxation

2010-12-06T19:59:00.006-06:00

ah, relaxation.

i've finished all i needed to finish.
things have been crocheted, this term of school is nearly complete, and all the holiday shopping is
done!

i finished the majority of my winter crochet goals, including some fun things for the kids.

remember lailah's hat?
i made this wee sweater to match.

she wore it with style on thanksgiving.

another new creation is izak's scarf.
while he and i waited by the window for the school bus one morning,
he looked at me with sad eyes.
"why didn't you ever make a scarf for me?!"

and so i had my tub of vanna's choice waiting when he arrived home that afternoon.
"choose three colors and i'll make your scarf," i told him.
he chose pea green, olive and dusty blue.
a splendid combination!

soon enough, the little guy had his very own scarf to wrap around his tiny neck.

i've also managed to finish the remaining holiday gifts,
but i will save them for another day, another post.

all that's left for me is my gorgeously gigantic scrappy stripes blanket,
who happens to be just as old as this blog.
she will be finished someday, i guarantee it.

until next time
-brittany

.checking my list

2010-11-23T13:33:00.014-06:00

as soon as halloween ends, the holiday season begins.
(for me anyway)

i start planning for these days in august,
saving money and deciding on gifts.

someday i would like to become so organized that i am able to crochet
afghans for everyone on my list.
someday.

last year, only my mom and my daughter received handmade gifts.
this year, i've done better.
i made my list sooner and started earlier.

karen - granny poncho

it's no secret that i'm not a huge fan of this poncho.
she was featured in a previous, rant-y post.
my new aunt karen chose this yarn and asked for a poncho, so i obliged.
honestly, i was quite happy to cross this project off my list.

aidan and tanner - amigurumi kitties

two brothers asked for amigurumi cats in the spring. i agreed to make them,
but procrastination took over.
(i dislike making amigurumi)
i have managed to finished these guys in time for the holidays, though.
they were well worth the effort.
i adore their mustache-like whiskers.

grandma mary - doilies

grandma mary is actually my step-great-grandma, and she's incredible.
i may have mentioned this before, but i really wish my mom would have
found her fiance sooner.
he has such a wonderful family.
grandma mary is his grandma.

i struggled with what to make for her.
she is one who i hope to make an afghan for someday.
i just didn't have the time or money this year, though.
instead, i made my first doilies.
they aren't crocheted from thread, but i like them nonetheless.
the second fan doily is huge: most certainly large enough for a kitchen table
and not just an end table.

gifts still to be made:
one shawl, which is in progress
two scarves

what are you crafting for the holidays? decorations? gifts?
i would love to know!
-brittany

.flickr friday - a few good blogs

2010-11-12T19:25:00.003-06:00

oftentimes the highlight of my day is sitting down
to read through the incredible and creative blogs
that i have bookmarked.

sometimes, i think, these wonderful bloggers do not know that i follow them,
because i don't use the "follow me" or "subscribe" buttons.

i'm a good, old-fashioned bookmark kind of girl.

so today, i've decided to link you to a few of my favorites,
as well as share their photos for flickr friday.

their blogs are colorful, fun and crafty wonderful!
i hope you will follow them,
or bookmark them to read time and time again.

1.) http://cornflowerbluestudio.blogspot.com/

2.) http://goodknits.com/blog/

3.) http://sewritzytitzy.blogspot.com/

4.) http://www.sewingdaisies.com.au/

5.) http://katiesredumbrella.blogspot.com/

6.) http://love-virginiablue.blogspot.com/

.adina scarf

2010-11-09T19:56:00.007-06:00

my mom and i were shopping together not too long ago.

being scarf season,
we saw several ruffled scarves.

"i could make one just like that"

then came the madison scarf,
which was more spiraled than ruffled.

my mom wanted a ruffled scarf, silver.
she ordered a bit of vanna's glamour in platinum from knitting warehouse,
and so i began my journey.

the pattern

i used vanna's glamour, which is a category two fine yarn.
if your yarn is thicker, you may want to reduce the number of stitches you chain initially (as well as adjust your hook size accordingly).

you need:
3 balls of vanna's glamour
3.5 mm crochet hook

tapestry needle
scissors

chain 453

1.) dc in 4th ch from hook and each ch thereafter (450), ch 3 and turn
2.) (dc, inc) to end (675), ch 3 and turn
3.) (2 dc, inc) to end (900), ch 3 and turn
4.) (3 dc, inc) to end (1125), ch 3 and turn
5.) (4 dc, inc) to end (1350).

finish off.
the first half is finished.

now, make a slip knot on your hook and dc into the other side of your initial chain.
this will begin row 1 of the second side.

1.) dc in each chain (450), ch 3 and turn
2.) (dc, inc) to end (675), ch 3 and turn
3.) (2 dc, inc) to end (900), ch 3 and turn
4.) (3 dc, inc) to end (1125), ch 3 and turn
5.) (4 dc, inc) to end (1350).

finish off.

now on the ends you may notice that there are two unsightly flaps created by your increases. simply use a bit of extra yarn and seam them together.

your scarf is complete!

this scarf will fool you. those increases will make it more time consuming than your
average scarf.
9453 stitches in all, including chains.
the finished product is well worth it, though.

enjoy♥

.my door is open

2010-10-31T14:19:00.004-06:00

me: izak, go find a boyfriend for me

izak: how do i find a boyfriend?

me: be creative. just make sure he doesn't smoke and that he likes kids.

izak: i'll just open the door and i won't let him come in if he smokes.

my son is incredible.

p.s. this was a joke. he knew i was being silly. i don't ask my four-year-old for dating help or advice. ha!

.the madison scarf - giveaway

2010-10-22T09:47:00.005-05:00

the weather is getting chilly.
you need a new scarf.

this is the madison scarf
and i made her just for you, dear readers.

she is made from moonlight mohair,
a mohair and acrylic blend.
very soft, very fuzzy, a bit sparkly.

want her to be yours?
you've got it!

here are the ways you can enter:

1.) subscribe to my rss feed and post a comment saying that you did
2.) tweet about this giveaway and comment with a link

so you have a total of two chances to win.

this giveaway is open to anyone, worldwide.
entries will be taken from now until 11:45 pm cst oct.29.
the winner will be announced on oct.30.

please include your email address with your entry,
or some way to contact you.

if i cannot reach you by nov.1, a new winner will be chosen.

good luck!

(p.s. i use random.org to determine the winner)

.the pumpkin patch

2010-10-20T12:06:00.017-05:00

on monday, our family went for our yearly pumpkin patch visit.

the so-called pumpkin patch is mainly an apple orchard.
they do, however, have a pumpkin patch and sell plenty of pumpkins and gourds every fall.

i go for the incredible cherry apple cider,
the kids go for choosing their pumpkins and the haunted hay maze.

lailah wasn't sure about the maze at first sight.
she was only nine months last year, so she doesn't remember being carried through before.
this year she was able to walk through the maze herself.
she warmed to the experience quickly.

with three years under his belt, izak sees the maze as tradition.
he made his way through several times, commenting on
the differences from last year.

and mommy had a bit of time to snap some lovely fall photos.

there was also this perfectly placed chair
the the middle of a field.
i took advantage of the moment.

until next year, dear pumpkin patch.

.crocheting gifts

2010-10-12T11:11:00.005-05:00

we've all been there.

"can you make a hat for me? a scarf? a sweater?"

i get it most from my son.
"ker-shay that for me mom!"
(he likes amigurumis)

i love to make gifts for people.
i especially love when someone gives me yarn and a pattern.
"make this"

sometimes it get's the tiniest bit boring, though.

i get to that point when crocheting for those
who have different tastes.
i enjoy color, stripes
and a little vintage funk.

so yes, crocheting an off-white rectangle
can be daunting for me.
as is the beige poncho on bottom.

the hours of monochromatic double crochet
will be completely worth it when i can give a handmade gift.
a handmade gift that suits the recipient perfectly.

now back to my off-white hooky.

.it's fall

2010-10-10T15:45:00.006-05:00

yes, despite the 88 degree weather today, it's fall.

last week was cooler, much more autumnal.
i have faith that the leafy weather will
come back soon.

with cool weather comes the need for yarn goodies,
particularly for the little ones.

if i were forced to choose one item
to crochet for eternity,
i would choose a hat.

they are so quick, so creative.
i love that i can do just about anything i feel like doing
while making a hat.
stripes of different widths, single crochet, double crochet, popcorn stitch.
anything.

both hats were hooked in one day.
day two was saved for end weaving.
(weaving in ends is daunting)

i love a simple, quick project when i have so many larger things in progress.

speaking of those larger things, remember this?
i don't have much time to work on it.
ms. granny stripe so large, immobile.
i can only work on her while sitting on the couch.

i picked it up again in the past few days, though.
this afghan is such a joy to hook.

someday she will be complete.

.three weeks

2010-10-01T21:47:00.015-05:00

one, two, three.
three weeks since i've blogged.
i apologize.

life has been changing quickly, dramatically.
i am now a single mom.
a happy-to-be-single mom.

this big change has prompted more big changes.
lailah now has her own room,
though not yet fully decorated.
butterflies will cover the walls, bed, floor and more after the holidays.

this means that izak, too
has a room to himself.
space is his theme of choice.

also, i am able to decorate the living room however i choose.
it is a work in progress.

i'm hoping for loads of chic thrift store finds
in the coming weeks and months.

and keeping in mind that this is a
crochet blog,
i will show you all what my hands have been hooking lately.

this is wee norman.
norman the narwhal.

my mom's high school friend has a daughter, meg.
meg and i would have been good friends had we grown up together.
she reminds me quite a lot of myself,
pre-mommy brittany.
anywho, a friend tagged her in a photo of an
amigurumi narwhal.
i knew i had to create one for her.
and so i did.

dear lailah's poncho.
it is made from two balls of vanna's choice glamour in topaz.
much more shimmer and shine than in the photo.
this was my filler project, my travel project.
lailah has yet to wear it.

my darling theo bear!

i began hooking him out of boredom
and experimentation.
could i hook with fluffy yarn?
i planned on perhaps listing him in my shop,
or allowing izak to adopt him.
however, i cannot go one day without cuddling this lad.
and so he is mine.

quite possibly the best thing i've made for myself
is this granny scarf.
she is made from stitch nation alpaca love.
i. love. this. yarn.
so soft, so perfect, so dreamy.

someday i will save enough money to buy skein upon skein
of this yarn.
and i will hook an afghan.
an afghan only for me.
i could stay wrapped in this yarn forever.

i nearly omitted this last project.

this is a tablecloth, requested by my mom.
these are her colors.
everything i hook for her must be made from these colors.
yes, even the tablecloth.

i did not like working on this tablecloth.
i do not like looking at this tablecloth.
my mom loves this tablecloth.
that's all that matters, right?

.flickr friday - falling for you

2010-09-10T15:29:00.003-05:00

much news to report here,
but i'll save the news for when i have pretty pictures to accompany the stories.

today, however, is flickr friday.
fall is here in illinois.
it is rainy and slightly cold.
leaves are turning orange, brown, red, yellow
and our fridge is stocked with apple cider.

looks a lot like my favorite season.

my favorite part of fall is taking place tomorrow.
the cedarhurst craft fair.

have a great weekend all.
i certainly will!

.candy corn corral

2010-09-03T12:12:00.006-05:00

hello there everyone
and happy friday!

i have a little something to share with you today.

i'm working on twenty of these little candy corn fellows
for my son's pre-k class.
surely they will have some sort of fall party near the end of october,
and i will, of course, put little goodie bags together for them.

for his birthday in may i hooked these sixteen octo babies.
they were a hit!

for this event i wanted something small, easy
and made in one-piece.

first i thought of halloween cupcakes, but they were two pieces
and larger.
i could do it, i would like to do it, but i decided against doing it.

my hook landed on these wee candy corn fellows.
they have been done many times by many talented hookers,
but i thought i could add my version
to the pool of crocheted candy corn.

and here they are, in all their sugary glory.

and to make your own wee little festive corn
you will need:

white, orange and yellow yarn
bits of black yarn
black "puffy" fabric paint
3.0 mm crochet hook

you are working in spiral rounds for this project, so don't join rounds. just keep going!
stitch markers can help, unless you're good at keeping count.

with white, make a magic loop
(check this video by apinchofhope for more information)
1.) sc 4 in loop (4)
2.) sc 1, inc, sc 1, inc (6)
3.) sc 2, inc, sc 2, inc (8)
4.) sc 3, inc, sc3, inc (10)
5.) sc 4, inc, sc 4, inc (12)
switch to orange yarn
6.) sc 5, inc, sc 5 inc (14)
7.) sc 6, inc, sc 6, inc (16)
8.) sc 7, inc, sc 7, inc (18)
switch to yellow yarn
9.) sc 8, inc, sc 8, inc (20)
10.) sc 9, inc, sc 9, inc (22)
11.) sc 10, inc, sc 10, inc (24)

at this point, i stuff the candy corn with extra yarn bits.
this could also be done with fiber-fill or something similar.
now smoosh the bottom of the corn together
and crochet through both sides of the corn.
you should end with 12 sc.

cut the yarn and pull it through the last loop on your hook.
thread a yarn needle with black yarn,
embroider the mouth.
add little puffy paint dots for the eyes.

all done!

enjoy your weekend everyone.
ours will be filled with soccer, candy land and lots of happy hooky time.

.changes

2010-08-29T00:49:00.008-05:00

my dear izak started school again this week.
pre-k, full day.
he boards his little bus at 8 am
and arrives home at 4 pm.

i've been missing him so!

the little guy loves school.
he loves learning and spending time with peers,
so i must let him go.

meanwhile, lailah and i are able to spend some much needed time together.
learning and crafting.

she loved glue stick-ing and coloring the wheels.
we're working on recognizing colors
and the dreaded potty training.

meanwhile, it's possible that i'll have more time for crocheting and blogging,
specifically while miss l naps and izak is at school.
though i have my own school work to do, i'm still left with a bit of
extra time
that i didn't have before.

this week i made a nice
autumnal bunting
especially for my etsy shop shelves (or walls rather).

i very much enjoy making these buntings.
they are so quick, simple and rewarding.
plus, she gets to adorn my living room wall as she awaits a new home.

i'm looking very forward to the beginnings of fall,
my favorite season.
i love the visits to the apple orchard and pumpkin patch,
the haunted maze,
my birthday, apple cider, halloween costumes and scarecrows.

what are your favorite parts of fall?

.my favorite scarf

2010-08-19T12:08:00.009-05:00

my first crocheted scarf was made from this pattern.
i recall wanting something open, but still warm.
something that would drape beautifully, fold and crease as needed.
(sometimes crochet can be a little stiff)

and so my favorite scarf pattern was born.

it is used often, on nearly every scarf i've made.
the look changes drastically with different yarns, hooks, colors.

meet emmalyn.
i made her using my favorite scarf pattern,
and two balls of berroco air in karma.

more recently, this scarf was made for my newest step-aunt.
her choice of yarn,
lion brand homespun in barrington,
worked wonderfully with the pattern.

i often have difficulties with homespun, but working into spaces rather than stitches
made it quick and easy.

notice how different the two scarves look, simply by using different yarns and different hooks.
my favorite scarf pattern gives texture to variegated yarns,
without too much distraction.
meanwhile, it proves to be a lovely stitch pattern with solids.
and if you wondered why this pattern is my favorite, now you know.

i've been promising my favorite scarf pattern to fellow ravelers for quite some time.
so, without much more procrastination:

my favorite scarf pattern

chain a multiple of 3+1 (i usually use 22 or 25)

1.) double crochet in 4th chain from hook, chain 2, double crochet in same chain. (skip 2 ch, dc, ch 2, dc in same) repeat to end

2.) turn. slip stitch in the ch 2 space. chain 3, (dc in space, ch 2, dc in same space) repeat to end, working only in the ch 2 spaces.

repeat row 2 until you reach your desired length.

finishing edge: turn, ch 1. sc 2 in each ch 2 space. cut yarn and knot. weave in your end.

complete!

you could also try extending the stitch pattern to create an afghan,
or shrug, or shawl, or pillow.

it's the perfect pattern for mindless crochet.

enjoy!

.flickr friday - going gold

2010-08-13T17:07:00.004-05:00

gold is one of my favorites.
in yarn, in jewelry, in shoes, in decor.

it's yellow, but with that extra dose of sophistication.
gold always evokes a sense of times past for me,
which is likely why there are so many
wonderfully gold
additions to the vintage inspired knit + crochet pool on flickr.

have a golden weekend all!

.thick & quick

2010-08-08T18:14:00.008-05:00

this has been the week of
thick & quick.

i first picked up a skein to knit a hat for lailah,
but knitting goes so slowly for me.
so, i ripped it
and brought out my crochet hook.

lailah's hat was born a few hours later.
i even managed to write a pattern.
it's available on ravelry if you search
"blossom cap"
or you can download here.

i may still attempt a knit hat for izak.
or i may just make a blossom cap for him with my hook.
though, it will not be called a blossom cap
and will not include the flower applique.

the other thick & quick news of the week?

i've finally made something specifically for my shop.
it's been a while.

this one has been on the shelf for a while.
the top was finished,
but i seemed to lack motivation for the back.
luckily, thick & quick is just as quick as the name suggests.

her name is helena.
she's made from odds and ends i had lying around,
as well as one ball of spice.
the colors are citron, grass, cilantro, snapdragon, hazelnut and spice.

she is so very luscious and thick.

you can find her on my etsy shop,
unless my husband talks me out of her.
he's quite interested.

have a lovely week.
-Brittany

.flickr friday - pretty piles

2010-08-06T17:55:00.004-05:00

follow friday didn't quite go as planned.
many people who i contacted about being featured
or interviewed,
didn't respond or simply weren't interested.

perhaps i will still try something on a monthly basis.

so, onto the next alliteration.
flickr friday.

it seems to be quite popular on many of the blogs i read,
so i suppose i should take a stab at it.

i particularly adore the way deb
-aka virginia blue-
does flickr friday on her blog.
she chooses a theme and uses photos from her wonderful group
crochet motifs and embellishments.

since i have two flickr groups of my own,
i decided to run with deb's idea.

this week, it's all about pretty piles.
crocheted blankies, knitted squares, fabrics and more.
stacked high and photographed
magnificently.

photos from my groups vintage inspired knit + crochet
and supplies list.

enjoy your weekend!

.ten

2010-08-02T18:41:00.008-05:00

my baby brother is ten today.
a whole decade.

he has celebrated all week.
first, he vacationed in springfield, il during the beginning of the week.
then he spent time with his father over the weekend,
which included a party and a zombie cake.
finally, today he has taken all his birthday money to hazelwood, mo.
to shop at the st. louis mills.

i'm a wee bit jealous of his shopping adventure today.

i, however, had my own shopping fun over the weekend.
it was the best kind of shopping.
yarn shopping.

this time i planned ahead,
made a list
and followed it.

yarns for my son's winter gear.
hats, a scarf, mittens, slippers, etc.
we have wool ease thick & quick in denim
for a knit (yes, knit) hat.
vanna's choice in colonial blue, purple and taupe mist
in addition to loops & threads impeccable in cadet
for his other cold weather accessories.
his choices.

and yarns for my daughter's winter wear.
wool ease thick & quick in blossom for her knit hat.
vanna's choice in linen, magenta, dusty blue and purple
for her other hats, scarf, mittens and (hopefully) a pair or two of leg warmers.

i was looking for teal rather than dusty blue,
but it seems as though the yarn section has added brands,
while sizing down on color options.
ah well, dusty blue will work.

this lovely lineup belongs to
a future afghan.
after finishing the scrappy stripes blankie WIP,
this shall be my next big project.

i've wanted to hook up
a big, colorful blankie for some time now.
hopefully this new yarn stash will provide good motivation
to finish the scrappy stripes.

i also bought yarn to make my mom's birthday gift,
a hat for my husband, shrugs for my mom and me, two cardigans for lailah and a scarf
for myself.

whew!
did i mention that i only shop for yarn twice
every year?

it always turns out to be a rather huge event.

.eighteen months

2010-07-22T22:26:00.010-05:00

i have mentioned this before.
it's july and my baby,
my little girl,
is now eighteen months old.

so big, so quickly.
so hard to believe and process.

isn't she beautiful?

isn't she beautiful?

off to hooky world now.
it's my nighttime retreat, the hooky.
when the lovelies are in bed i listen to a few of the many podcasts i subscribe to,
snack on smores infused ice-cream,
and spend a bit of quality time with my hooky and yarn.

currently on the hooks?
still the same circle jacket and granny stripe blankie.
it seems as though there is magic in the power of three,
as i cannot be without at least this many projects at any one time.

so you see, the circle jacket and granny stripe blankie just weren't enough.

luckily, my crochet queue is far from empty.
so i began my summer sling tote.

she was a quick and fun hooky project to hook.
perfect for summer, as the pattern suggests.
i used a 4.0 mm hook, added four rows to the pattern and lengthened the strap.

i'm quite happy with her.

i've also been a busy bee thinking about stitches.
how tall can the tallest stitches go?
and so i created a few little swatches
to test the heights of crochet.

the tallest tall stitch i was happy with is, to my knowledge, unnamed.
there is single, double, treble, double treble, then this stitch is next in line with
four yarn overs.

using this secret, unnamed stitch
i created a bit of a pattern.
i plan on using it for my son's gift-ghan this holiday season.

i've also created this oh-so-amateur stitch pattern
and explanation.

from wash cloths to scarves to afghans,
i hope you will find a use for these tall stitches.

don't forget to share your projects with me!
i'm always curious to see what all of you wonderfully creative readers are up to.

.great, great aunt mable

2010-07-16T13:59:00.001-05:00

we visited her every tuesday morning.
stopping at hardee's first,
my mom, grandpa, grandma and me made our way to wayne city,
to visit my great, great aunt mable.

she cooked. alot.
we arrived to a table full of goodies every tuesday,
in addition to our ham, egg and cheese croissants.

my mom says that she ran a restaurant for many years,
working hard for her money before it was
expected or accepted that women did so.
i only remember the biscuits and gravy.
ah, the biscuits and gravy!

mable with her sister's sons, my great uncle, herb and my papa, owen

after our meal
we would convene in the living room for the sharing of
new, everyday happenings
with plenty of old tales mixed in.
i always brought a new toy or doll for show and tell.
"you'll want to keep that,"
she would say, no matter what.
i wish i would have listened.

one of my clearest memories is of the
rubiks' cube.
i tried to solve it week after week,
but never managed to finish more than a block of yellow or white.
one tuesday i cheated.
i sat myself in the kitchen, away from the adults,
peeled the stickers away from the tiny cubes
and replaced them as though i had solved the puzzle.
aunt mable displayed the cube on a shelf, telling everyone who visited
that brittany, a genius, had done the impossible.

she made an afghans for us that summer.
one for my grandparents, one for my mother and me.
she passed several stacks of crocheted squares to me one morning.
"lay them out how you want them,"
she instructed me. i did.
she only used red heart classic, and asked us to pick some up.
i thought it must be the best yarn available for her to use it
exclusively.
she was my first glimpse into the world of crochet.

she died two weeks ago.
age ninety-nine.

.beginning again

2010-07-07T21:50:00.001-05:00

i love new beginnings.
they are so fresh, such white space.
anything you can dream, can be.
they are your chance to recreate, refresh, review, renew.

today was a new beginning for me
in school.
my third term.
goals?
no. 1 - finish weekly tasks on time, every time
no. 2 - attend no less than three web conferences per month
no. 3 - complete all coursework before thanksgiving, allowing for a
school free, stress free, fun filled
holiday season.
hoorah!

first in queue?
the tail end of a math course from last term in addition to
a research essay comparing two art periods.

moving on to hooky.

today is wednesday.
work in progress wednesday.
here is my work in progress for today.
she is a circle jacket from this pattern, hooked with the yarn from my
previous post.

her pattern calls for a 6.0 mm hook.
however, always defiant, she is being hooked with a 4.0 mm.
i prefer only the tiniest wee bit of drape

.independence day

2010-07-05T16:25:00.002-05:00

happy belated independence day
to my u.s. friends and readers.

our day here was lovely.

it began with new yarn
from my ever so thoughtful mommy and her fiance.
six balls of my favorite brand in my favorite hue.
such a heavenly way to begin the day.

delicious.

following some daily duties,
my little fellow and i whipped up some
patriotic cupcakes.

they didn't turn out quite as i had envisioned,
but were tasty either way.

cupcakes and hooky time made for a successful afternoon.

when my little love princess awoke from her nap,
she had a cupcake.
"mmmm"
she quite enjoyed her cupcake.
then it was time for the little ones to dress for the
festivities.
and i must show off the little ones.

we went to summersville park to watch the fireworks.
the location worked well.
little love and i sat on blankets while watching the many children
run by with their sparklers.
dad and izak spent a wee bit of time on the playground
equipment, lighting sparklers of their own.

darkness and beautiful fireworks followed.

.follow friday - adaiha

2010-07-02T00:23:00.001-05:00

i have a tendency to fall in love with things i see.
colors, photos, blogs.
and when i fall in love, i tend to have this desire to share
the beauty i have found.

when i find something beautiful,
and fall in love with it,
i show everyone and anyone in my life.
i show my husband, i show my brother, i show the little ones.

if the beautiful thing is
extraordinarily beautiful
then i may email it to my mom or make a post on facebook.

but it seems that sometimes that
extraordinary beauty
is lost on non-crafters. the response i get to a gorgeous
pattern and color sequence is
"cool potholder."

that is why i am creating follow friday,
just like on twitter,
because i know the beauty and the craftsmanship of these
lovely bloggers
will not my lost you - my dear reader.

and so, i introduce to you
adaiha

here you can find her blog
flickr
ravelry
and etsy shop

i discovered her through these lovely and colorful potholders,
and you may have seen her woven circles trivet tutorial.

she is also an expert at sewing,
which happens to be something i quite admire.

of course, her introduction wouldn't be complete without
a few questions

Q: What inspires you to create?

A: I find so much inspiration from fellow crafters on flickr, blogs, and really just all over the internet! I'm really loving Ravelry right now! There are so many great craft books around today, too. And I collect craft books from the 70s and earlier.

Q: What is your favorite thing to make?

A: I find myself drawn to making small objects that are useful as well as decorative, so I find myself sewing lots of pincushions and little zippered bags. A person only needs so many of these that I give lots away to friends and acquaintances. If I meet you and find out you sew, you're getting a pincushion!

Q: Is there a craft you really want to learn, but haven't tried yet?

A: I'd love to learn to knit, but I don't have a lot of patience for things that don't come easily for me. Knitting happens to be one of those things! I need a good teacher!

(me too, sister)

Q: What materials do you most like working with?

A: I prefer salvaged or thrifted materials to work with and have a huge collection of craft supplies gathered. I always keep an eye out for vintage sheets in pretty patterns, old embroidery transfers, and buttons. When I crochet, I don't like to use the same color for more than a round or two, so even small amounts of colorful yarn can come in handy. As for new materials, I prefer natural fibers like cotton and linen.

Q: Out of all the things you've made, what is your favorite? Why?

A: My favorite is this quilt. I'm always pleased when I put lots of planning into a big project and it comes out exactly as I imagined it. This quilt makes me so happy!

Q: Whose blogs are on your reading list?

A: Some of my current must read blogs:
Button Candy www.buttoncandy.org/
Love Forever www.thisisloveforever.com/
Orange You Lucky orangeyoulucky.blogspot.com/
Feeling Stitchy www.feelingstitchy.com/
Salty Oat saltyoat.blogspot.com/
HandMaid Liset handmaidliset.blogspot.com/
Lindamade www.lindamade.com/wordpress/

.the last day of june

2010-06-30T12:14:00.001-05:00

the months fly by like they never did
when i was little.
the way the adults used that cliche
"time flies"
made my eyes roll and i promised i would never be so silly.

now i know better.

half of the year has already passed. gone.
my little princess will be eighteen months in july. eighteen months passed. gone.
she is growing up.

to keep myself from
going on and on
about the inevitable happenings of my children growing,

i shall introduce you to my work in progress for wednesday

she is quite possibly my favorite work in progress
of all past and present works.

she is made using this tutorial from lucy's blog.
i love lucy,
and i am heavily inspired by most everything she does.
if you don't already follow her blog, i highly
recommend it.

as for miss stripe
she may quite possibly be my stitchy
soul mate.
i am in absolute amour with her.

i have this itchy feeling that
all my future afghans will be stripey lovely granny girls
just like my current love.

i have two afghans works coming up soon.
holiday gift-ghans for my little loves.
it seems highly possible that they will be receiving
granny stripes this year.
highly possible.