Long time...no blog!

Life gets in the way of blogging. And crafting. And playing. And...and..and...

So I made squares...a quick and easy thing to do especially when its hot! Joined an exchange, received 16 squares in return, and will make a lapghan.

Joined another exchange...called an LOL exchange (the piece was supposed to make your partner Laugh Out Loud when the recieved it). I designed this mouse/cheese Kleenex box cover. Didn't write the pattern, should have as several people have asked for it.

Joined a Crochet Along, Sue made me. I didn't realize this doily had a "heart" theme or wouldn't have used black. Ha ha

Finished a counted cross stitch project. I've started the second in this series. A series of 4, took me 10 months to finish....its will be a WHILE before this set gets done!

Joined another exchange, designed the bag, once again...no pattern. Loosely based on another bag I designed.

My friend became a grandma for the first time, so HAD to make a baby blanket for her new treasure!

Joined ANOTHER exchange and designed this potholder, that's the reverse side behind it. My interpretation of a Daisy. Uh...no pattern.






Latest Cat Stuff: The girls are fine as always, just getting fat and sassy!

BittyKitty Sitting Pretty! LOL

Jazz...being suspicious. That's Jazz for you.

Libby, attacking my camera strap. Do you think she resents having her picture made so much????

AND THE CANINE PART OF THE FAMILY!!!!

"DEAD DUCK!!"

Lots of doilies

Obviously I've been on a doily kick. Been having fun trying new stitches, and I'm always looking for an unusually designed piece. A couple of my patterns are from a bag of antique patterns my friend Kathy gave me. The patterns belonged to her mother, who can no longer crochet because of medical problems. I'm actually pretty picky about my patterns. I rarely will start a doily pattern that is narrative, I prefer diagrammed patterns. I don't want it too lacey, or too dense, and it absolutely can't have a bullion stitch in it (haven't mastered that particular stitch).

The cats have been up to no-good. As usual!

A long dry spell...for blogging

Its been a while! Things have been happening, just not exciting things. Work's been crazy, but is calming down finally. The cats are getting fat and sassy, the crochet is getting done...slowly, but done none the less! We are in our "monsoon" season here in the Four Corners. Monsoon in New Mexico doesn't really mean what it does elsewhere, but we have had some rain. Weed control takes a little more time than it used to, is about all it means here, oh and I don't have to water my trees as often. That's about it.

I have been making doilies for some unknown reason, making a little stash of Christmas presents I guess. I don't have one doily in use in this house. I don't usually use that kind of thing, but I do enjoy making them. And I enjoy giving them away.

This is a 13" square that I did up for my friend, Katheryn. She is making a huge tablecloth, and some of us got together and we're helping her out by sending her some finished pieces to the tablecloth. I have also make another square for her cloth, it is a basket full of fruit that goes with this one, and some squares made to represent leaves (I couldn't figure that square out, so settled for helping with these). It was fun, I've never done filet crochet much before.

This doily went into my "gift stash". I enjoyed this pattern a lot, it was a little more challenging, and I frogged a few rows, but it turned out very nice. Kept me occupied for a couple of weeks.

Like I said, "fat and sassy". Libby and Jazz enjoying a cool place to nap. Its been hot, but these silly cats will STILL take a nap in the sunshine coming through a window!

Today's Craft Stuff: Of course, I have a doily going. And I'm finishing up an afghan from a pattern by Leisure Arts called A 63 Square Heirloom Afghan...what a project THAT has been! Is still "being" I guess cause its not finished yet!

Today's Cat Stuff: Sleep all day...Creep all night! That's what cat's do, you know!

Today's Computer Stuff: Looking for a picture to work on for a cross stitch project. Looking around a Japanese site I found that has very interesting crafts on it. That's about it.

For my adopted Grandma

This is the doily I made for my adopted Grandma, whose name is also Mary, who is a resident at the LTC where I work. Mary is a proud and stoic woman, and she doesn't speak English...and goodness knows I can't speak Navajo, but we communicate well! LOL If its important I get an interpreter, if its just everyday stuff, we manage with gestures and single words, and a lot of laughter!

Today's cat stuff: Its becoming spring, seems like there's cat hair everywhere I turn. You'd think that cats who never go outside wouldn't shed so much, but they do.

Today's craft stuff: Making squares for a Crochet-Along for a group I belong to, and working on a mystery exchange puffy

Today's computer stuff: Nothing, just email and blog and MySpace.

Getting back to normal...

The cast is off, and I'm slowly getting back into being able to crochet. So far, I can crochet about as much as I want to with thread, and crochet slowly and shortly with yarn. I finally finished one of two unfinished Christmas presents, the ones I was working on when I broke my arm. I am still working on John Wayne!

This is the doily I made for my friend/co-worker. The "would-be" Christmas present! I got the pattern from a Russian web site...can't find it again, or read what I have (other than the doily graph itself) so can't point anyone in the direction of the pattern. I'm sure if you have a list of Russian crochet sites that you can find it. Its a fairly simple pattern, the outside rows are pretty long, the overall size of the piece is about 22 inches. Done in stark white, size 10 thread, with a size 7 hook.

The days are getting longer, and some days are almost balmy here, but winter still takes hold when the sun goes down. Waiting eagerly for spring, and the day I don't have to wear a coat. I hate coats!

Today's crafty-stuff: Gotta get finished with John Wayne, the mat and frame are just waiting for me! Then I will have my "backlog" caught up. I'm preparing to start an afghan, LA's 63 squares Heirloom Afghan, as a crochet-along project at RCC. Still haven't decided on colors I will be using.

Today's cat-stuff:

Hmmm...taken today, guess I better change the date on my camera!

Today's Computer-stuff: I've corrupted my Adobe Reader, and for some reason can't delete it from my computer. I've been working on this for a while (a computer expert I'm NOT). AND I managed to completely crash my old computer, which I was going to use for another purpose. Should I call the Geek Squad???

Snow in the Southwest!

Well, we've had it. Several times. Its time to have sunshine for a few weeks.

I'm still in the arm cast...less than a week to go if the x-rays show that all is well! I'm ready...

Thanks to my mom and her friend, I have a frame stand that I can use for a little while to hold my cross stitch while I do some embroidery. Its not the same, but it gives me something to do for a while.

An unusual occurrence...the olders don't usually LET BittyKitty sleep with them! I think she was trying to get warm!

"I think you're crazy, you know!"

Screeeeeeeeech!! (Crafting coming to a HALT!)

Welllllll.....it kinda looks like crochet, but its a cast. So, NO crochet, NO cross stitch....Hmmmm...no dishes!! Just goes to show that not only do CATS and crochet not mix, CLUMSY PEOPLE and crochet don't mix, either!

I'm not finished with the Duke cross stitch for my sister-in-law for Christmas. I'm also not through with a doily I was 3 ROWS from completing for my assistant. Ah, well, I will get them finished as soon as the monster cast comes off. My response to the ortopedic doc was, "SIX WEEKS??? You're KIDDING!!" He laughed...

Today's CatStuff: BittyKitty is little freaked by the Christmas stuff sitting around. She can't decide if the 2 foot fiber optic snowman is friend or foe.

Today's PuterStuff: Back to designing cross stitch and graphics. I can do both one-handed!

Today's CraftStuff: Yeah, RIGHT!!!

The Olders keeping warm...on MY robe!