My Big Daisy - Crochet Pattern

Good morning!

I sense a great day in the making. I am surrounded by yarn, the school year is going smoothly, the baby grows more fun and independent every day...

I love an embellishment! What better than a great big daisy. This crochets up fast.

Yarn I Used:
 Red Heart for the White
I Love This Yarn (I do!) for the Yellow
Vanna for the Green
Oh! and a touch of Red Simply Soft for the ladybug in the center.

I Hook
Finished Size: 5" across.

Stitches used...lots of chains (ch), slip stitch (ss), single crochet (sc) and double crochet (dc)

The Flower Center (Yellow): 12 dc in a magic circle. Slip stitch into the first dc and cinch the magic circle closed. Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing it onto the flower later.

The Petals (White):
-7 sc in a magic circle, ss into the first sc and cinch the magic circle closed.
-Ch 1 and two sc in each stitch (14), ss into first sc of the row.
-*ch 12 and then ss into next 2 chains of the circle*, repeat *-* 6 times.
-*dc 15 times in the next set of chains, ss into next ss after that set of chains* repeat *-* for the next 6 chain loops.
-Fasten off.

Leaves (Green):
chain 15, sc in second chain from hook, sc in next stitch, hdc 1 time into next 3 chains, dc into next 8 chains, dc 5 times into the next chain. This will work you around to the other side. dc into the next 8 chains (opposite side of the other 8 dc), hdc into the next 3 chains, sc into the next 2 chains, ss into the last chain and fasten off. work in tails.

Sew the leaves onto the petals with white yarn. Then sew the center onto the petals with yellow yarn. Then a quick sew of red on the yellow center for a ladybug...just for fun!

It would look cute on a hat, on the corner of a baby blanket, pin it to your shirt, Sew it on the side of a tote bag...I like to put crocheted flowers on Pickles leash when we go for walks. Have fun with it. :)

I am still new to pattern writing. As always, if you see anything odd or confusing, please let me know. :)

Homemade Bubblewands ...with beads!

Today I was outside with the boys while they were running around. I got up, grabbed some materials and made a beaded bubblewand!

 

 

 

 

What I'm Up To...

Happy End of the Summer!

I am in yarn heaven! So happy to be past the super hot part of the summer and I have been yarn shopping. Lots of projects on the hook this week.

I am working on a hat that sold on my Etsy page:

And a hot pink personalized baby blanket for a little girl due in November...I am putting together a fun hot pink package of fun baby stuff. I hoped to make it like my Ava blanket...but her name is alot longer so I may end up cross stitching the babys' name on after I crochet the blanket. I wont know for sure until I get to that point in the blanket. Here is a shot of my Ava blanket.

I am working on some moogle gloves for me.

2 Basic Mens Scarves

Izzy would like to be a dog for Halloween...so I will make him a puppy hat. 

I am working on some Thanksgiving dishcloths

I also have about 3 hat patterns on the way that I am very excited to share!

Its a busy week, here. :)

I did receive some pictures of my Hungry Caterpillar cocoon set in action! 

Could they be ANY cuter?? <3 ahhhh!

Do you have any projects underway? 

Fall Handmade Love Blog Hop!

I am taking part in an amazing blog hop for handmade sellers. I love handmade items. They are so personal and the idea of contributing directly to a person (as opposed to a corporation) is really charming to me. When you buy handmade it feels like you are forming a friendship. There are many reasons why people buy handmade. What are yours?

This is a contest. If you win the grand prize you will receive everything listed below (worth over $300)! Good luck :)

• AI2 Cloth diaper from Green Grizls
• Boogie Bear Creations Nighttime Cloth Diaper
• Lil Montner Mama Cloth Set
• AI2 Cloth diaper from 4oh5 Fluff
• Organic Bonnet from Bonnet Friend
• Set of Cloth Wipes & Detergent from Tender Bottoms
• Natural Deodorant from Live Beautifully
• Hybrid Fitted Cloth diaper from Silly Bear Handmade 
• Bar of Soap from Bmbyx
• Original Artwork from NJoyArt
• GPS Bracelet from Motherhood Journey
• Fabric Lowercase ABC's from The Crunchy Farm Baby Shop
• Evil Eye Baby Bell Necklace from SariBlue
• $30 Credit to Babycake Boutique
• Hello Kitty Drawstring Bag from Hoppy Mama's Creation
• $25 GC to Vagabond Studio Etsy

You can gain extra entries by going to the other participating blogs and entering today! Have fun!!!

The fine print:

Facebook is in no way affiliated with this contest. Please note that Going Green with the Grizls, The Vagabond Studio, Eight Days a Weeks and all other bloggers participating in the Fall in Love with Handmade Giveaway Hop are not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes. We have represented each sponsor with the expectation they will fulfill their prize and in a timely manner. We will contact the sponsor regarding your prize(s). The sponsors, in most cases, are shipping their items to you directly. I will make every effort to assist you obtaining your prize. If there is an issue with a sponsor, please notify the blog you won a prize from within 4-6 weeks for assistance, after that we may be unable to assist you.

Review: Perfect Food Raw Drink Mix

Today I was at Sprouts and found a chocolate flavored greens drink mix...Raw even! Had to try it. I like chocolate a little bit. :)

It is Garden of Life brand Perfect Food Raw Oraganic Green Superfood in Chocolate!

I was really excited that I didn't have to buy an entire canister just to test it. I just bought one packet. 

 I mixed it with a cup of water and lots of ice. The taste was not so bad. The smell bugged me. But a straw took care of that. I do not think I would add this to my morning smoothie. But, it is MUCH preferable over my plain flavored greens drink.

And pretty, too! LOL

I would like to note that when I drink a green superfood shake in the afternoon I do not crave my 3 o'clock coffee. It gets me through my evening rush beautifully without the urge to snack while I am making dinner. Which makes the ugliest muck look beautiful to me! 

Take care,
Mel 

Crocheted Trim on My Dishtowels

Today I saw a project that I just HAD to undertake. Pretty mercerized cotton trim on dishtowels. I went with plain white towels and a rich blue cotton yarn. I am really pleased with how they turned out!

I got the pattern from this months issue of Crochet Today (Sept/Oct 2012).

Did anyone else get this magazine? I will be doing several of the projects inside.

Melody

September Beginnings

September is FABULOUS!! I know its not hear yet, but it is peeking just around the corner. The boys are settled into their home-school routine now. Izzy is starting a preschool curriculum and my teen is now in 10th grade. It has been a very smooth transition.

I am really happy to see the weather beginning to cool off a bit, too. Those 100+ degree days do not make yarn appealing. And I love yarn!

September is also when my planning stages for holiday gifts begin. When it is too hot for crocheting I get my fix by thumbing through idea books and websites to see what I want to make for family and friends. I look at decor ideas for projects. Pinterest is dangerous!

Happy end of August!
Mel

Fitting Crochet In My Day

I can't crochet in a state of disarray. I am not the neatest person around. But, if there is clutter or a huge to do list it makes my ADD itch. I cannot relax and enjoy my work at all.

Some things that have to be handled before I can enjoy crochet:

• My nails have to be nice. If they are chippy they snag my yarn. And if the paint is chipped I feel frumpy and it bugs me. Hence, my weekly nail posts. 
• My house has to be picked up and NO dishes in the sink. It kills my ADD to be surrounded by clutter . 
• I have to have exercised. I can't enjoy my yarn if I feel sedentary. 
• I have to have dinner planned. Preferably in a crockpot already. It is unfailing that if I sit down to crochet I will get TOTALLY into my project, excited to see how it will turn out, have a tricky pattern that I have just gotten in stride...and someone will say they are hungry. Or..."whats for dinner?".

I have a morning routine, a home-school schedule, a night time routine and a handful of odds and ends that are scheduled each day of the week. All of these are entered in my google calendar and message is sent to my phone when its time for me to do something. If I want a big window of time to work I just peek at my calendar and get everything done all at once in the morning. Its a breeze and takes a huge load off of my mind. 

I also love online timers!

There are a few things that make sure to do each day that guarantees the next day will be a good day.

• Meditate
• Yoga before bed
• Get to bed by midnight
• Pack lunches the night before while I am preparing dinner
• Start the next mornings load of laundry before bed
• Run the dishwasher -My oldest knows to unload it in the morning if the "clean" light is on.
• Clean out my purse. 
• Always keep my keys in my purse -EVERYTIME. 
• Protein shake before bed -It makes me feel better the next morning no matter how early I rise.
• Wash my face and moisturize before bed -It helps to wake up feeling your prettiest.

I wish you many many awesome morning!

Here is a little something from my trip to Target this afternoon. 

Wrist Bling Swap!

I had the best time making a bracelet to swap Michellesque (her blog here). It was so fun getting to meet her and hear about her. Swaps are awesome!!!

And look what she sent me!!!

Thank you Yellow Heart Art for bringing the fun!

Farewell...for just a little bit longer

I have been missing in action. But, I have great excuses!

My craft is yarn and its been about 110 degrees here everyday. The idea of grabbing yarn is unappealing. Even cotton. Even bamboo. I pretty much just want to sit in a baby pool and be ladled!

My second excuse is way more fun...we are taking a family road trip to Texas. Leaving in about an hour. All the details have taken a lot of time and effort. But, the car is beautifully packed. Snacks and toys and clothes and I grabbed an umbrella stroller for Izzy.

Happy week to you all! I have some posts scheduled to pop while I am gone.

Mel

Happy Monday

It is a typical Monday...the husband is back to work and I have been cleaning the weekend off of my house all morning. It was a really great weekend...I spent lots of downtime with my husband and crocheted a lotus cuff bracelet!

 Here it is on...HERE is where I got the pattern. :)

 Then I headed outside and harvested the lavender to dry it and picked my latest batch of cherry tomatoes! mmmmm

 But, its Monday now. The husband is back to work, the cleaning is done and the baby is down for his name. I rented Mirror, Mirror at the Redbox, so I am going to crochet a hat while I watch and devour a huge bowl of cherries for lunch!

How is your Monday going?

The Making of Spiderman (Crochet Hat)

Collect your Supplies! Bright Red and Soft White are "Red Heart Super Saver" and the Blue and Black are "Impeccable"

 Make a swatch...I don't always, but with hats I have to. Its amazing how much a different a knot can turn out with a different brand of hook, a different brand of yarn and a different set of hands.

 My swatch was 12 stitches wide and four rows high...it measured 4" wide and 2" tall. So to make my 20" wide and 8" deep (toddler size to fit up until they are about 5 years old) I would need it to be 60 stitches wide and 16 rows deep.

So I made a simple beanie. HDCs.
SLIP STITCH into the first stitch of that row and chain twice.
I hook
Worsted Weight Yarn (This is Red Heart Super Saver...it holds up well to being decorated)
Increase: Means to HDC two times in one stitch



Row 1:In a Magic Circle I crocheted 9 HDC. Then I cinched closed my magic circle. (9)
Row 2:HDC two times in each stitch (18)
Row 3:HDC around, increasing every other stitch (27)
Row 4:HDC around, increasing in every 3rd stitch (36)
Row 5:HDC around, increasing in every 4th stitch (45)
Row 6:HDC around (no increases on this row) (45)
Row 7:HDC around, increasing in every 5th stitch (54)
Row 8:HDC around, increasing in every 6th stitch (63)
Row 9-16:HDC around (63)
Fasten off. It should like the picture above. :) Minus the cute toddler. Unless you happen to have one, too.

 Attach the blue yarn. Single Crochet all around for one row. Fasten off.

 When you are crocheting with a new color...crochet over the tails that have been fastened off. It makes it much neater when you snip ends.

 Make an eye. This is the right one. I wanted it to be 1/5th as wide as the hat but my teenager says its a little too wide. Feel free to make yours a little smaller. But this is how I did it! :D

Single crochets...7 rows.

Chain 21.
Row 1:Single crochet in the second chain from hook and continue across (20), chain 1 and turn
Row 2:SC in the first stitch and the next 17 across (18), chain 1 and turn
Row 3:skip one stitch and SC in the next 16 stitches (16), chain 1 and turn
Row 4:SC in the first stitch and the next 14 stitches (15), chain 1 and turn
Row 5:skip the first stitch and SC in the next 13 stitches (13), chain 1 and turn
Row 6:skip the first stitch and SC in the next 11 stitches (11), chain 1 and turn
Row 7:SC in the first 10 stitches and Fasten off. (10)

Make another one for the other side. I made them the same and just used the flip side of one.

And here is a chart. I like to make them to simplify.

 The eyeliner. I wanted heavy eyeliner without making the already large eyes too much larger. So I Spike Single Crocheted all around. If you havent done this, its VERY simple. Instead of stiching into the row below thew one you are working on like you normally would, you insert your hook two rows down. That makes for a wider stitch without adding much more width and a fun spiking effect. At each of the four corners of the eyes SC three times in the same stitch. Fasten off and leave a looooong tail. This will be what you sew the eyes on with.

 Sew on the eyes using a yarn needle.

 Use a yarn needle to sew on teh webs.

 And here it is!

I love constructive critisizm. So, have asked everyone that has seen the hat what they think. So far only my teenager has noted changes that I should make. The eyes should be smaller. I will be trying again very soon. But, until then...here is how I feel about critisizm.

 Mow the lawn...wash the car...Watch your brother. LOL

Haha...just kidding. No punishment for honesty around here. It was just chore day. He is happily playing videogames right now as I type. No teenagers were harmed in the making of my hat.

Nectresse Review

It might seem unrelated...but without coffee there would be no crochet for me. I have had to pull many a crochet-all-nighter to figure some patterns out and fill orders at the holidays. So, a new artificial sweetener...totally craft related!

I was at Target last night and saw this box near the bags of sugar (my teenager requested it...he is big on tea and baking). I had to try it!

The price: not so great. 40 packets for $3.99
The taste: DARN good. It has a sliiiight "truvia" bite to it but much less aftertaste. And the aftertaste is kind of nice, mellow. My coffee is not bitter. Just *sips* sweet.

In defense of the price...its brand new. I guess it was announced earlier this year and just released last week in July. AND it only took one packet to sweeten my coffee. It usually takes two packets of anything else. So I would suggest you give it a try!