Fall Blahs

It is not even winter yet and I have the blahs. I've been feeling a little blah the last few days. Hormones and my husband is on call. So, he is working a ton. I have been eating EVERYTHING in sight. The weather is overcast and drizzling. I went to Target today and they declined my card. I came home to find there was no reason for that to have happened. I guess it was a sign...shop online.

I really need a great workout, a healthy dinner and to spend the rest of the night cuddled up with a ton of yarn. So, that is the plan. I am thinking pasta primevera with shrimp.

As far as the workout goes....I joined a gym back in June but it wasn't open yet. It finally opened last month (five months later!) and I am really not loving it. I am considering joining 24 Hour Fitness. The gym I am at is ok...but no child care and it feels really crowded with equipment. Kind of stiffling. I am hoping that I will be able to find a good deal at 24 Hour Fitness because the little guy would probably LOVE forty-five minutes with other kids a few mornings a week.

Having said that...there are some really awesome things about today.

I got my Avon order!! There is something awesome about coming home and finding boxes of Avon at your door. I got a few treasures for myself. I'll do a haul in a bit!

My little guy is LOVING ABCmouse.com. He is so smart!

...and I "think" my husband is close to getting home and might be able to stay a few hours before he is called out again! *fingers crossed*

Mel

Happy Holidays!

Already?! *collapses into chair*...when did this happen? Well, even though this year has FLOWN by I am still very, very into the holidays this year.

I have always loved the holiday season. But, the last couple of years have been a whirlwind! Marriage, moving twice (the last move was into our first house...hello epic amount of firsts), pregnancy, my first baby became a teen (gads), we began homeschooling, pregnancy and alas...a toddler. So much love. So much luck. But BOY-O-BOY did I spent the last couple of holiday seasons in a hustle.

Things are still wild around here. But, at the moment we have established a rhythm. Enough of a rhythm to settle in and start some traditions. To really "get into" the holidays more than we have the last couple of years. I looooove the holidays. So much glitter, decor, crafting, warm fluffy fun.

My goal for the holidays is one (probably pinterest inspired) craft per day! I am hoping to find a group that will share this with me. Community can really MAKE this time of year, don't you think?

Crocheting in the Etsy shop for the holidays can be overwhelming. But, I will keep it open until I feel overwhelmed. Yesterday, I made a wolf hat for a friend and I want to share how I did that.

Thank you for stopping by. Its a pleasure to see your pretty face!
Melody

Oh! I stopped by the mall today and got the baby his FIRST Santa pic ever. I know its sad...thats just how crazy the holidays were for the last few years! *deep, delighted breath*

 

 

 



And while I was there I grabbed a new lipstick! Kat Von D's Ever lasting Love Lipstick in Outlaw. I am selling Avon now (come here to like my Avon page buy from me!!) Avon has some AWESOME red lipsticks! But, I still cannot stay out of Sephora at this time of year. ALL THOSE PALETTES! I saw it and had to have it. Its the perfect red and has some severe staying power. A mommy needs tough lipstick if she has any hopes of it staying on all day.

Puppy Hat Crochet Pattern

My Izzy wanted a puppy hat...black with brown eyes just like our dogs. I got right to work...

 



I used a J hook for the entire hat. The brand of yarn was worsted weight Vanna. It is very soft. Red Heart Super Saver would probably have been a better choice if you want it to look "cleaner". In the pattern I will be revising something I did "wrong" when I made the hat in the picture. In my opinion anyway. The brown stitching around the ears is so messy. I wish I had trimmed the ears in black and then made a row of brown around the edges...next time! :)

I started with a basic beanie: My toddler has a 20" head. Using a J hook and worsted weight yarn, you are probably getting about 3 stitches per inch. Increase or decrease to your liking. But this pattern will be for a 20" hat.

BEANIE

At the end of each row of the hat, ss and chain 1.

1: HDC 9 times in a magic circle (9). Cinch closed
2: HDC 2 time in each stitch (18)
3: HDC around, increasing every other stitch (27)
4: HDC around, increasing every third stitch (36)
5: HDC around, increasing every fourth stitch (45)
6: HDC around (45)
7: HDC around, increasing every fifth stitch (54)
8-16: HDC around (54)
Fasten off. Attach brown yarn near the Fasten off stitch. Crochet over tails to keep it clean.
HDC around (54)
Fasten off.

NOSE:
DC 12 times in a magic circle. Cinch closed, slip stitch into first DC. Fasten Off. Leave a long tail.
EYES:
(make 2)...HDC 9 times in a magic circle. Cinch closed, slip stitch into first HDC. Fasten off leaving long tails.

EARS:
(make 2)
chain 7,
1: sc in second ch from hook and across (6)
chain 1 and turn
2:sc 2 times in first stitch and 1 sc in each stitch across (7)
chain 1 and turn
3: sc 2 times in first stitch and 1 sc in each stitch across (8)
chain 1 and turn
4: sc 2 times in first stitch and 1 sc in each stitch across (9)
Rows 5-13: chain 1 and turn, sc across (9)
14: ch1, turn, skip a stitch and sc across, skip last stitch (7)
15: ch1, turn, skip a stitch and sc across, skip last stitch (5)
16: ch1, turn, skip a stitch and sc across, skip last stitch (3)

begin sc around the edges of the ear.
Fasten off and leave a long tail.

attach the brown yarn and sc around the edge (not the flat top of the ear, that part will be attaching to the beanie), Fasten off. Work in the brown tail

ASSEMBLY:
Sew on the nose, eyes and ears wherever you like them using the long tails that you left after fastening off. Enjoy!!

Crocheted Toddler Slippers!

For my wild toddler that requested some green slippers (soon to be aligator slippers) I improvised. :)

I am really pleased with them...but the final test was Izzy. And he LOVES them.

 

And yesterday we took Pickles for a walk in her brand new jacket. Leopard suits her.

Crochet Swap

I have been VERY quiet lately. I have barely been crocheting at all. I play Final Fantasy 14 online and it is shutting down for several months starting tomorrow. So, I have been spending WAY too much time on there in preparation. But, that is done for now. I am really relieved to step away from the keyboard and grab a hook!

So many ideas.

But FIRST...I took part in a swap and just LOVE my gift package. Look!

Its totally cute! A little light up necklace, a knitted headband...love!

I sent her this:

 

She is a gnome fan. So I crocheted a little gnome pouch for her.

 

 

Here is a close up of the gnome pouch. I used a pretty little button with irredescent crystals to clasp it closed. It is camera/cell phone sized.

I used THIS PATTERN as inspiration. But after row 9 (starting from the bottom) I stopped following the pattern. I didnt really want the lines across the face and I wanted teh beard to sit differenly.

Swaps are amazing fun!

Yo Gabba Gabba Hat! Crocheted a Girly Plex

I made this to match a the jacked that my friends daughter is wearing this winter. :) She loves Plex from Yo Gabba Gabba. I added earflaps and ties to keep it securely fastened in the cold wind.  I love the little bows!

I started with all of these pieces...

Then did a little assembly...

Sew on the details with some yarn and a yarn needle (I prefer the metal ones!)...

And there you have it!!

I really enjoyed making this hat this morning. Very fun and quick!

My Moogle Hat!

Every now and again I play Final Fantasy...this is for an online friend. It went off in the mail today and I already miss it. So...I will be making one for myself tonight! I checked out a few Redbox movies to keep me company while I put it together...

Adam Sandlers "Thats My Boy" and "SnowWhite and the Huntsman" with the chick from Twilight. I cannot wait to put the baby to bed and get to work!

Here is a little peek at my moogle:

 

Its 106 out...and I'm in a beanie. Otherwise, I would be BIG smiles.

 

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