Hello 2011

December and the beginning of this new year have been so hectic for me, now that things have settled down I've spent the last few days just reading books. This Christmas I decided to make all of our gifts, I crocheted, canned, wove, baked and sewed my fingers off. In between all of that my daughter found the perfect 3 bedroom fenced in yard house to rent. That's not an easy task when your a single mother raising 2 kids on a disability income. We snapped up the house with a 2 year lease then began moving them in before Christmas. The house was only 1 house away from her apartment building which you would think would make it easier but it didn't. Most of the stuff we just carried to the house so it probably took us 4 times as long as it would have to just load up a truck and move her. Each time I'd come home then go straight to the craft room and work on Christmas presents. My husband says I'm a procrastinator, but I really had a schedule for the presents I just hadn't planned on opening up my own moving company in the middle of it. All the presents got made, the Christmas tree got put up with the lights but I never got to the ornaments :( no energy left. We had a lovely Christmas with all our family together, my son almost missed it because he had to plow the highways due to a major snow Christmas Eve, but they got the roads cleaned up so fast that he got to come home for the day with us. So we didn't get to miss his big announcement that he was moving in with his girlfriend and her son the next week. Our next door neighbors have a small house on their property that her mother had lived in, they now rent it so the kids moved in next door. So as you can guess I spent New Year's Eve helping my son move a couch and all his belongings. Things are finely getting settled in, My daughter's piano is out of my dining room, YAY, I have a guestroom all set up for when the grand kids spend the night, which has been slept in and approved by our granddaughter. Every body's all cosy and snug in their homes and I now can get back to my blogging. I missed everyone.

Free Crochet Patterns for Snuggling

I've been looking at these free Patterns from Red Heart

And can see my next Christmas crocheting projects.

Everyone Can Snuggle - Link to PDF Free Pattern Click Here

Crochet Snuggle Up Throw, Adult and Child Patterns - Link to PDF Free Pattern Click Here

Tiles Granny Afghan - Link to PDF Free Pattern Click Here

Chef, Nurse, Paper Boy, Mom Ornaments

I saw these adorable ornaments at Fave Crafts, and just had to pass on this link. They look like a quick last minute craft to make.

The Chef's apron and toque top this saucepan-toting gourmet. Dressed in a white nurse's cap and carrying a thermometer, the nurse ornament makes a great gift. Extra, extra, read all about this ornament for your favorite paper boy (or girl!). Celebrate motherhood with keepsake ornament; "mom" carries a swaddled baby. Everyone treasures the thought behind homemade ornaments. In an afternoon, you can make several of these little cuties for friends and special helpers in your life.

For pattern, click here.

For instructions click here.

Christmas Stocking Loom Knitting Tutorial

Christmas Stocking Loom Knitting Tutorial
by mikeyssmail

Keeping the Surprise in Slipper Giving

With my family and friends, the minute I ask someone if I can measure their feet they know they will be getting crocheted slippers for a present. And to tell the truth I really don't want to touch some of my guys smelly feet. Here's some conversion charts to help keep the surprise. ☻

U.S. Men's Shoe Size to Inches
Size 6 = 9.31 inches
Size 6½ = 9.5 inches
Size 7 = 9.69 inches
Size 7½ = 9.81 inches
Size 8 = 10 inches
Size 8½ = 10.19 inches
Size 9 = 10.31 inches
Size 9½ = 10.5 inches
Size 10 = 10.69 inches
Size 10½ = 10.81 inches
Size 11 = 11 inches
Size 11½ = 11.19 inches
Size 12 = 11.31 inches
Size 12½ = 11.5 inches
Size 13 = 11.69 inches
Size 13½ = 11.81 inches
Size 14 = 12 inches
Size 14½ = 12.19 inches
Size 15 = 12.31 inches
Click here for the Men's International Shoe Size Conversion Chart


U.S. Women's Shoe Size to Inches
Size 5 = 8 11⁄16 inches
Size 5½ = 8 13⁄16 inches
Size 6 = 9 inches
Size 6½ = 9 3⁄16 inches
Size 7 = 9 5⁄16 inches
Size 7½ = 9 ½ inches
Size 8 = 9 11⁄16 inches
Size 8½ = 9 13⁄16 inches
Size 9 = 10 inches
Size 9½ = 10 3⁄16 inches
Size 10 = 10 5⁄16 inches
Size 10½ = 10 ½ inches
Size 11 = 10 11⁄16 inches
Size 11½ = 10 13⁄16 inches
Size 12 = 11 inches
Click here for a Women's International Shoe Size Conversion Chart

Crocheting Snowflakes

Photo of Light-as-a-feather snowflakes

I was born in Missouri though I grew up in many different states. I can remember my Grandma visiting and sitting in evenings, crocheting my mother Snowflakes for our Christmas tree. At Christmas our tree was and is decorated with all the lovely ornaments and at the end of each branch their graces a freshly starched crocheted snowflake. Some sprinkled with an incandescent fine pearl dust, so the snowflake glistens in the Christmas lights.

Here’s some links to free online snowflake patterns to crochet.

Aunt Lore's Snowflake

Charlie Brown's Tree Ornament

Crochet snowflake

Six point Snowflake

Southern Snowflake:

Snowflake 1

Snowflake Ornament

Light-as-a-feather snowflakes

Irish Rose Snowflake

Northern Snowflake

Pretty Snowflake Ornament

Snowflake #1

Another Snowflake: # 1

Snowflakes

Crochet Lacy Snowflakes

INDEPENDANCE DAYS CHALLENGE, WEEK 10

1. Plant something –
*Enriching garden for the Spring
* Started with harvesting Llama poo and adding to the garden
2. Harvest something –
* Chives
3. Preserve something –
* Chives,
* Green peppers
4. Reduce waste –
* Recycling cans, using cloth napkins and handkerchiefs, using homemade laundry soap, saving old jeans to reupholster a chair with.
5. Preparation and Storage –
* Continuing my water storage.
6. Build Community Food Systems –
* Continuing to shop at a locally owned grocery store instead of the large corporate store and local fruit stand.
7. Eat the Food –
* Spaghetti Sauce
8. Learn something –
* Continuing to take the Preserving food at home online self study course offered thru the National Center for Home Food Preservation and the University of Georgia, Need to get off my butt and finish this.
* Reading about raising Llamas
9. Simple Living –
* DH and I attended an evening of celebrating Grandparent’s Day with DGD at her school. We had such a great time that she was mad the next morning because we couldn’t go to school with her for the whole day ☻
* Celebrated DH’s birthday with a dinner of his favorites.
* Enjoying an ice-cream with DGD
* Reconnecting with family and friends out of town
* Reading
* Taking care of and enjoying our animals.
10. To Do –
* Finish sewing DGD school clothes
* Working on Christmas gifts

Crocheted Sneaker Slippers - A Must For All The Guys On Your Christmas List

This post comes with a Warning - If you crochet these and gift them for a present, be forewarned they will then expect them every year.

The first year my husband and I were married I found a pattern in a crochet magazine for crocheted high top sneaker slippers. Being 9 months pregnant and as big as a house I passed the time crocheting them for his Christmas present. Little did I know I would be crocheting them every year for the rest of my life. Nor did I know the gifting would expand to all the men in my family and their friends. HEHEHE, at least I like to crochet.

But if you dare to commit yourself to crocheting this gift here's some free patterns for them in all sizes.

Sue's CrochetandKnitting.com has an adult size pattern here, http://www.crochetandknitting.com/sneakers.htm

She also has a children's sized pattern here, http://www.crochetandknitting.com/chsnkrs.htm

There is a baby sized Crochet Jogging Sneaker pattern listed here. http://web.archive.org/web/20040707084002/http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/6910/sneaker.htm

P.S. Please excuse my picture of my husbands slipper. He was sleeping so I had to swaddle my leg so you all couldn't see my hairy leg ☻

This week only free craft ebook downloads at Fave Crafts

Fave Craft's five free Craft eBooks will help you find just the thing, whether you are a rookie crafter or a veteran expert.

In the first eBook, Low-Cost Kitchen Crafts eBook, find fridge magnets, easy painting projects, organizing crafts and decorating ideas along with knitting crafts.

In the second eBook, Quick and Thrifty Crochet eBook, find 25 easy crochet patterns such as dishcloths, small baby items, flowers, plus much more!

In the third eBook, 24 Quick and Easy Knitting Patterns eBook, find Afghans, knitting for baby, knitting for kids, winter hats, scarves and mittens and plenty more.

In the fourth eBook, Lace Knitting eBook, find Afghans, clothes, scarves, patterns for kids and babies and plenty more lace knitting patterns just for you.

In the fifth eBook, Quick and Easy Christmas Crafts eBook, find Christmas ornaments, home decor, greeting cards, kids holiday crafts along with some great gift ideas.

Great Christmas Crochet Pattern Idea for the Grandparents

Crochet by Numbers is a great website I found where you can turn your personal pictures into Portraits of Fiber. Todd's crochet portraits have been featured in the March/April 09 issue of Crochet Today Magazine. He probably best known for his crotchet portrait of Pres. Barack Obama.

On his website he has some Free patterns, Lots of patterns for sale for $5.00, or you can email him one of your own pictures and for the fee of $30.00, he will send you a grey scale pattern for your picture. The gray scale patterns can be crocheted in any shade of color. He also has own his website a section of training tools with video and lots of pictures to teach you his simple technique. Once you learn how to read his pattern the only crochet stitches you use are the initial chain and a single crochet stitch. I don't usually buy many patterns, especially one for $30.00, but it will be well worth it to present a crocheted family portrait afghan for a Christmas present. And I found some free pattern there that would be great presents under the Christmas tree.

Head Start Christmas Part 2 - Sewing Barbie Clothes

Here’s some links to some great FREE

Barbie sewing patterns that I found.

Sportswear for the beach

Vintage Barbie Doll Dress Tutorial

Making your own doll clothes - from socks

Barbie Pajama Doll Clothes Pattern

The 1-2-3 Jacket

Holiday Gown

Free Sewing Patterns for Fashion Dolls

Movie characters and costume patterns for fashion dolls

Kiwi Fashion Doll Patterns

Head Start Christmas Part 1- Crocheting Barbie Clothes

DGD is really enjoying playing with her Barbie’s so I wanted to crochet and sew some clothes for them. Here’s some links to some great FREE crochet patterns that I found.

Barbie Belted dress http://web.archive.org/web/20011005031101/www.cei.net/~vchisam/groovy/89-belted.html

Barbie Pants Suit http://web.archive.org/web/20011124175303/www.cei.net/~vchisam/groovy/89-pants.html

Barbie Shell-stitch dress
http://web.archive.org/web/20011124175923/www.cei.net/~vchisam/groovy/89-shell.html

Riverboat Gambler for (Ken Doll)
http://www.craftown.com/crochet/pat5.htm

61 page pdf of complete Barbie crochet wardrobe
http://barbiebasics.tripod.com/barbiebasicsfreecrochet.pdf