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!

Closing in on a finish!

I have 3 colors, and then the washing-blocking-ironing-mounting-matting-framing to go! Geez, that sounds like a lot of work left for something that is supposed to be completed by Christmas! I'm working on it!!!

Today's Crafty stuff: Just cross stitch...can't afford to do anything else right now

Today's Puter Stuff: I've learned several new things on my PaintShop Pro program lately. Learning to embed text, and things like that. My next projects is learning to animate pictures.

Today's Cat Stuff: They're still here! The olders had a birthday last month. They are 5.

Quickie Bookmark for Christmas! ~UPDATED~

Size 10 thread (I used dark red and ecru)
Size 7 steel hook

Stitches used: single crochet, slip stitch

With Ecru:
Chain 30, keep it straight and join with a slip stitch
R1-Ch 1, sc in same stitch and in each stitch around, join with sl st into the beginning sc of this round.
R2-6–repeat round 1, finish off ecru after this round.
R7–join red with a sc in the beginning stitch of the previous row, sc around, join with sl st into the first sc of this round.
R8-12 repeat round 11, do not finish off red.
R13-decrease sc over the first two stitches of this round, add another decrease sc half way through the round (28 sc)
R14-25–repeat round 13 until there are 4 stitches left on your hat
Last row of hat–decrease sc through all four stitches, closing the top of the hat. Do not finish off red
Next:

Ch 60, sc in 10th ch from the hook, and each remaining ch until the last ch. Sl st into the last ch, and sl st into the stitch that closed your hat.
Make an ecru tassel or pom-pom to add to loop at the end of your bookmark. Turn up the hat piece at the color joining line. Press lightly!

Mary McKnight
FroggieDesignz2006

Free for your personal use...do not copy or post without permission

Just an update

Latest progress>>>>>

I had to quit working on the black, I'm still dreaming black! I've just started the stitching on his face, and its the same color as the aida cloth, essentially, so its hard to see. Ya think I'll be done by Christmas??

Just a random cat picture!

A doily a day...

...keeps the crazies away. Well...I can hardly say that I can make a doily a day...but I usually work on one at least for a little bit of time each day.
Now, here's the mystery. When I completed this doily I just tossed the pattern. I had printed it on my computer, so I'm going on the assumption that it was a free pattern on the internet. I told several people I was working on this one, and that it reminded me of a Lily of the Valley plant. Then my brain told me that was the name of the doily. I went to find the link, so I could post it here, and its NOT either of the Lily of the Valley doilies that I have found on the internet. Both of those are at Celt's Vintage Crochet, but they aren't this one...unless I TOTALLY read the pattern wrong! ha ha

Close up...why do we put pictures of close-ups around for others to see?

As soon as I find this pattern I will edit this post and add the URL so everyone can find it.

Today's CatStuff: Jazz, driving everyone nuts. Must be a CatMoon outside!

Today's PuterStuff: Just downloading pictures, cleaning up my puter.

Today's CraftStuff: Miss Thing is finished!! Will post updated pictures as soon as the wings are dry after the starching.

Fairy tale coming to life...

Crocheted dragon, incomplete, I designed and am entering into an exchange at rock_a_beady_crochet group (Yahoo!) There will be no pattern written, too complicated, so it will be a OOAK! I am currently attempting to get the hackles (or whatever they are called) to stiffen so that I can sew them down her back.

Libby reluctantly showing us she has one teeny-tiny spot that sin't silver gray on her body.

My mom's entry in the San Juan County Fair. I took the picture (my grandson), and made her a pattern. She did the needlework (the HARDEST part), and together we matted and framed the piece. She was pickled-tink over the whole thing! I was, too!

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Today's Cat Stuff: In ancient Egypt cats were thought of as gods. They have not forgotten this!

Today's Craft Stuff: Working on Christmas presents! Its a very few short weeks until it will be upon us! Aaaaaghhhhh!!

Today's Puter Stuff: Ran all my updates, and cleaned out the junk and cobwebs. Security has to be tight, tight! LOL

Small Crochet...

Butterfly and small a doily done as a "Doily-Along" with the Gathering Threads group. Just some little projects as I can't work with yarn right now. My hands have been bothering me as we've had frequent weather changes lately. The patterns are free on the net, I'm just not positive about where to find them. If I find out I will link back to the patterns.





New pictures of the girls. BittyKitty (left) showing off for the camera. Jazz (top right) and Libby (bottom right) sharing their wonderfulness with us all!






Today's Puter Stuff: Getting information about a New Mexico State Park, Bluewater Lake SP, for Jimmy and David. They've been wanting to fish there forever.

Today's Cat Stuff: You know, BittyKitty STILL can't meow. She just squeaks. The woman that I got her from says her brother, also a polydactyl cat, also cannot meow. Hmmmm....

Today's Crafty Stuff: Just the small thread projects. And some counted cross stitch Christmas presents!

Interpretation of a pattern

My interpretation of a beaded bag pattern found on the net, here. Its been years since I put a zipper in anything, and you can tell! Had fun making it though as a Myster Crochet Along with a group. It was interesting that all of us came up with something a little different, as we had no picture as a guide.







I'm trying to get some handmade items done for Christmas, one down, several to finish or start.
Today's Handistuff: Finishing a bag I'm making for myself.
Today's CatStuff: Not a creature is stirring, not even BittyKitty!
Today's PuterStuff: Updating security stuff, a necessary evil!

Random Pictures:



The lap of luxury...or the dog! (Ashton, age 2)











We're having a heat wave...like most everyone else. Water is our friend!! (Vance, 3 months, and Janie)

Cats & Crochet DO mix...

...and here's the proof. Kitty potholders I made from a vintage crochet pattern found on the net. HERE

Kinda looks like I cut their tails off, but that's about how long they are.

Can you guess where I went? Yep, St. Louis. Attended the annual NADONA conference there and had a great time. The weather was perfect. I haven't seen that much "green" in a long time!

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Today's Cat Stuff: Nothing new here. I do know I have to get cat food before I go to work this morning, or ELSE!!

Today's Craft Stuff: Working on the same beaded bag. S l o o o o w going!

Today's Computer Stuff: Blogger lost me! It took me several days to get that one straightened out!

I know, I know, its several months away, but when your work is slow you gotta start early! So, I've put away the things I make for myself, or for just fun, and I'm working on Christmas presents.
This is a counted cross stitch picture of John Wayne that I designed for my sister-in-law for Christmas. I would say its about 1/10th done...ha ha! The pattern export of the finished product is on the left, of course, and the piece I'm working on is on the right.



Also working on a project with some friends...a crochet along. Just a piece I did in the pattern to see what the brown beads on brown thread would look like....

















Todays CatStuff: Ever seen a cat who had to have their hind end shaved? Well, Bitty Kitty had most of the hair on her bottom and about 2 inches up her tail clipped off cause she'd been sick. Poor thing, I thought it might be embarrassing for me to take a picture of her. But then I might anyway! LOL

Today's PuterStuff: Nothing, busy and not enough time to keep this blog updated properly.

Today's CraftStuff: If it can hold my attention it will get done!!!!