Books #2

I finished reading a "Pride and Prejudice" re-write: Darcy's Voyage. I can't think of the author at the moment, but if you are really interested.... It wasn't too bad, and perhaps a bit of an inspiration- maybe I'll actually get to finished the real version in the coming year.

I have 2 non-fiction books on my 'shelf'- one about Britain's involvement in the Civil War, and another about WWII and the Nazis. I'll get to them soon, as I'm letting most of my year end crafting wind down slowly. (though I will get back on track for the new year, no worries)

I'm also laughing, because this is one of the first years that I can remember that I didn't receive any reading books for Christmas. I did get one book, a crocheting one from Older Brother Uno. Yay!

I'm going to try to make more time for pleasure reading in the new year- at least 1 a month, just to spice up life! (I actually have a few that are waiting to be finished- that will be goal # 1)

WIP Wednesday! 7

Now that Christmas crafting is over for the season, I'm going back to a few works in progress that need to be finished to create a clean slate for the new year.
First, my navy Eva. I was planning on finishing it for my cousin's wedding back in November, but I still haven't finished it. Working on it is super easy- a simple crochet pattern that turns out beautiful.



There is also the vest of doom- a knitted cabled vest that I have been working on for my brother for nearly 3 years now. The pattern is great, but it is not a mindless project, making it a hard TV knit.

I'm also working on some small last minute gifts for the coming weekend, mainly some ornaments :)

For other, better examples of WIPW, check out Tami's Amis!

Merry Christmas!

I hope you all got to spend time with people you love! :)  

Christmas Blessings to you!

FO Friday 4

Only 2 days until Christmas! Fortunately, all my presents for Christmas days have been finished.

Yesterday, I finished the second mitt in a pair of fingerless for my mom out of some James Brett Marble Chunky-- I absolutely love this yarn, and I think I've found a semi-equivalent in Lion Brand Tweed Stripes. I haven't started a project with it yet, but after the rush of the season is over, I'm going to try it out.
This is a crappy photo of the first one:


I've also finished a few more infinity scarves, but unfortunately, no new pictures because I was rushed and had to get them to their recipients.

Here is another wreath (this is the WIP photo, but it is done!)


For more FO Friday, visit Tami's Amis

FO Friday! #3 (?)

I am super proud of myself, because I've finished a number of things this week.

I've finished 3 crochet infinity scarves- the first one was a trial run, the other 2 are commissioned. Well, actually, the 2nd one was supposed to be commission, but the color wasn't entirely want the customer wanted, so I just set it aside for another Christmas gift :) The 3rd one is actually spot on for what the customer wanted- I'm super lucky that most of my customers are people I know well, so I can go to them and say "Is this what you want?"







I finished my first wreath (it was finished last Saturday). I've been on pinterest quite a bit, and keep seeing all these cool DIY wreaths. So, going off this idea, I bought pipe insulation at Menard's (nearly 2 months ago!). It was on sale, in 4 packs, so I ended up getting 3 or 4 packages. I've just finally finished the first wreath out of it, and am working on a few more as gifts. It's hanging in our living room, because my dad thought it looked Christmas-y.



My sister also got several orders for flowered headbands, and those have been coming along quite nicely.


And lastly, a gift for one of my family members


Head on over to Tami's Amis for more FO Friday!

WIP Wednesday!

I have so many FO from the weekend, and because of that, I've been able to start a few more projects.

I have a mostly finished infinity scarf, in a sage-y green, another commissioned item. I ended up winging the pattern, as I understand much of the theory.

I've been working on some more Christmas presents, in particular, a monster type hat for my brother. Basically, as I finish one project, I pick up another one.

My sister also managed to get a couple more orders for me- flowered headbands, which are super easy. After the Christmas rush, I'm going to start working on a pattern for a earwarmer-type headband, but right, it's just an idea.

For more WIP Wednesday, visit Tami's Amis

Hey Look! A New Book!

I've finally been able to read a few books for fun now that the semester is winding down.

Just last week, I finished reading Seizure, a young adult novel by Kathy Reichs (she is the creator of the Temperance Brennan novels that inspired the TV show "Bones"). It was a fun read, a bit of a mystery/adventure type book.

I'm now working my way through the final novel in the Inheritance Cycle (or whatever it's called) by Christopher Paolini. You know, the Eragon books. It's another fun one, though I feel like I'm missing something because it's been so long since I read the other ones. I'll probably go back and read them all again for kicks and giggles (over the summer or something).

And that's all for now! (back to the boring old school books come January)

FO Friday!

I don't know how long it's been since I've remembered to participate in a FO Friday. But I did get some projects done this week, and I'm very proud of them.

My Thick'n'Quick mittens are completed and wearable (though I'm still thinking about adding embellishments). I'm going to tweak the pattern a bit, and then maybe upload it here, if anyone is interested.


I've also finished 4 child sized hats, well, one child, 3 baby. They have all been finished!




One adult hat commission is done- a white hat with a blue and green flower for my co-worker's younger sister.

I still have one hat commission left to finish, plus all my Christmas gifts (which include 2 or 3 hats) and a dozen or more cupcakes. But honestly, with the semester winding down, I like having something to do.

Edited with pictures!

Please check out all the other FO Fridays at Tami's Amis!

WIP Wednesday! 6

Christmas is getting closer, and I feel the "crunch". The semester is nearly over, which is giving me more time to work on several Christmas commissions. The list grows longer as people remember that I make handcrafted gifts that would be great for Christmas.
For the past week, I've been working on a pair of crocheted dinosaur hats, in sizes child and baby. I managed to finish the child sized one, but the baby one is giving me size problems.



One of my sister's friends commissioned a pair of thick warm mittens, and I was able to wing the pattern, making the first one in an hour or so. Because of school, I'm stalling on the second one (and the thumbs). But I do like working with Lion Brand Wool-Ease thick and quick, because it works up so easily (on a 'N' hook, no less.)



I've been working on an idea for an infinity scarf/cowl. I've seen them in the stores, and figure I can jump on that bandwagon. I started one yesterday, but it is not to my desired width yet. I'll probably get back to it when the homework has disappeared.



I still have 3 more hats to make, plus a large number of gifts. Is 18 days enough time?!

As my last real class is tonight, I hope to move all of these projects into the FO category. Hopefully this will happen by Friday.

Monday, Monday

Good things about today:

• field work finally completed!
• I have a job to go to
• I have a car again (though its a family car...)
• I finished nearly all my homework!
• I'm trimming down my list of orders!

Tomorrow is Tuesday, which means it's my last full day of class, which is GREAT for several reasons: I will have time to finish Christmas orders and presents, I might have time for a life again, I will have some spare time to work a bit extra!

I'll leave you with something fun:

My younger sister, modeling my finally finished Elise #3