The four points Blanket

 This is a story about a gift.

It started out going to be a gift for one person.

But it ended being a gift for someone else.

It started like this.

I found a pattern that I absolutely loved. 

Go ahead -- go take a look.

A linen baby blanket.

I've never worked with linen and I wanted easy care.

So I bought some of my favorite acrylic yarn for this and proceeded to follow the instructions.

I started this just before my end of summer beach trip. 

I followed the instructions to the letter and realized quickly that this was going to be no BABY blanket. 

OK, change plans.

I needed a wedding gift. 

Thus - this became Dean and Stephanie's big ol' blanket. 

Easy colors.

Blue, Grey, Cream, and Tan.

Miles and miles of single crochet. -- literally (I worked on it in the car) 

I was really pretty OVER  decreasing rows of single crochet by the time this was finished. 

And then it was finished.

And it is huge.

Like easily double snuggle huge. 

The perfect weight for a great blanket.

(come on you all know that favorite feeling) 

and the yarn felt great. 

But by golly --- the damned thing curls like Shirley Temple's hair?

I wet blocked - nope

I steam blocked - nope

So I tried my own method for stopping curling.

I added a brown border ----

Yup -- fixed it. 

Then I had a huge fight with MaggieGrace (myself) about keeping it. 

Well - Dean and Stephanie won a fight they didn't even know they were having. 

And here's the finished result. 

I took it to the city park for a photo shoot. 

the floor of the gazebo so I could stand on the bench for a full shot.

Last minute statements about the pattern. 

It is beginner simple.

Lot's of SC and SC decreases.

It's made in two halves and then sewn together. 

Blocking may work to fix curled edges on some yarns - but you can always use a border band to fix it too. 

I found it fun to read all the how to increase the size of the blanket questions in the comments. I know they all meant how to with the linen yarn, but I chose another method.

If you want a bigger blanket --- simple ---  use bigger yarn. 

My final say on the pattern. 

I LOVE IT AND I WILL DEFINITELY DO IT AGAIN. 

As soon as I recover from those miles and miles of single crochet. 

The Fall Nandina Shawlette

So, it's like this.

I craft.

I sew.

I cross stitch.

I CROCHET.

It all is important to me.

I am also cleaning and purging a lot of things. It's time. And its beginning to be very effective. The clean corners give me space to breathe.

Enough preliminary information.

I cleaned out an embarrassingly piled up corner of my kitchen. It's an awkward little space that I have hated for 20+ years and we pile stuff there. I dragged it all out and went through it an item at a time. And I found YARN (imagine that)

What to do?

Stash it - nope, did not ever seriously consider it.

Sell it - nope there too, I loved this combo of colors so much

And it was good yarn. 

Only option left was MAKE SOMETHING. 

But what? And this other project is not done. Hmm!

So I left it on the table by my chair and I studied and I designed in my head and I worked on finishing the big project I was working on and the car project I was working on too. 

And then I finished the car project and I started the head designed thing with this. 

And it looked like CRAP. 

Yes crap. 

So I frogged and regrouped. 

Enter Ravelry search. 

I found this free pattern over there.

She calls it the Oh!So Simple Crochet Wrap

And boy does it live up to its name. 

After the first four rows, I was off and running. 

It became the car project, because it was so easy. 

I changed my yarn colors at whim.

And it was fun. 

I call mine the The Fall Nandina Triangle Shawl, because the color remind me of the Nandina bush fall colors.  that link goes to my ravelry project page with notes about the yarn if anyone is interested. 

Below are some of my pictures of the thing. 

Just started - and that orange could easily be worn as hunters safety orange, it is that bright. 

A row of single crochet and a row of double crochet --- repeat.

I really love these colors so freaking much. 

 

And the yarn is so wonderful, both to work with and that the finished object feels like.

The japanese maple tree is starting its fall color showing. and the multicolor areas have this wonderfulness of color in them.

It even matches the pretty color of my new car.

I added a button for securing this.

The button allows for closing it in any of the double crochet openings, making this very easy to secure. 

And --- I listed this on my facebook and Instagram as a give away. 

People have been very generous to me over the years and I am returning that favor now. 

Still on my hook .....

The four points blanket is still being worked on. I am very much "over" all these rows after rows of single crochet. But it is turning out really cool. I have decided that it will still be a gift, just not a baby gift. This will turn into a very adult sized sofa blanket and I will post pictures here in full color once it is finished. But not on my facebook, because the recipient does follow me there. I can rightfully cover up with a single panel of this one.  One of the repeated questions on the PurlSoho.com post with the pattern was how to make this bigger than baby sized. Easiest way ---- change the yarn to a larger one. I have/will use 8 skeins of worsted weight yarn and it is wonderful.

 THE PERFECT SNUGGLY WEIGHT 

In my Serenity location, I have these on deck. My friend Vicki is leading a wonderful project - THE KINDNESS QUILT and she invited me to create a square. Well I am stash busting and I crocheted these four very different squares. I will begin embellishing them for the project. I have some ideas that I think will make these really pretty when they are finished. 

Embellishing will feed my creativity as well. It's not just crochet, this will let the "artist" in me have a bit of fun. 

And last there is this brightness. Yes it is damned near safety orange. This is the car project. I keep a box in my front seat with a project that I can do a few stitches on in the bank drive thru, or fast food drive thru, or even to grab when I will be riding with a friend. 

This is a triangular shawl pattern that I found for free on Ravelry. It's the Oh So Simple Wrap pattern and it is so easy. I am making it from 4 balls of a cotton blend yarn that I found while I was cleaning the corner in the kitchen. (Let's not talk about how long they were buried in that corner.)

I refused to add this yarn to the stash, so it spent a few days beside me while I worked on all that single crochet. I spent those days "designing in my head", then when it moved to the car project box, that designing was not working out. I went on the search for a project that I could easily pick up and put down, Where I could change colors as I wanted and that could expand or contract in size depending on the yarn I had. I could have done an old fashioned granny square shawl, but I wanted something with slightly more style. This is turning out to be perfect. 

I sure hope you are having a wonderful day.

Remember LIFE IS CRAZY BEAUTIFUL

On my Hook ----

I am making one of these ........ you can find the pattern here. also some fabulous yarn kits for this.

the pattern is written for a stunning linen yarn and will finish at approximately 36x36 with that yarn

I fell head over heels for the contemporary feel of this big color block blanket. I stalked it for weeks before I committed to it.

those of you who know me --- know that I have changed up the yarn. I was reading all the comments at the pattern post and several people were asking about sizing it up for a bigger blanket. I chose the absolute easiest way to do that.

I'm using bigger yarn. Linen Quill is a stunning, fingering weight yarn. And it is not a terribly expensive yarn. But it does have the drawback of requiring washing in cold water and blocking in the care and cleaning of items made from it.

My intentions are a large blanket for a baby blanket. Because babies are just not tiny for very long and I much prefer my blankets to be used for a long long time (especially for special people), i tend to make mine very generous. Mommies - you will never regret pulling that blanket off the back of the sofa and snuggling you and that little one together - I PROMISE.

I also want my blankets to be easy care and well used. Toss in the car. Go to the ball game. Make a pallet on the floor. Or a tent over the dining room chairs. Add in a dog or a cat to snuggle if you like. Toss into the washer and dryer. That's my lifestyle. I love it. Less stress.

So I am making a big version from Hobby Lobby's I Love this Yarn. Acrylic worsted weight yarn. I've chosen my colors and I have started color A ---- I will not be putting photos up as I go, but Just know that this is happening and it's going to be amazing. The texture and feel of this really super soft yarn are wonderful to me. This is not a stash project, I bought the yarn for this one.

Now for the negative part of this blanket........ it is SINGLE CROCHET and it is taking what seems like FOREVER. I don't care what weight yarn you use, that many single crochet stitches are going to be a drawn out process. (It's really stunning though)

Even though it is taking a while to do this one, there will be repeats of this pattern because it really is very appealing to me.

I have next week off for vacation and I plan to work on this and a few other things while I rest and relax. I'm thinking that NOT DOING THE WHOLE TOURISTY thing will let me get some progress as well as rest accomplished.

I'll see you guys again in August.

July 14 ---- a new trip around the sun.

yesterday was my birthday.

it was a most relaxed day for me.

work.

craft with children.

dinner with friends.

ended with crochet. 

and in conversation with a wonder friend named MaryAnn, I committed to focus again on cleaning, using, purging, my seriously deep hoarded stash and mess.

Crusty Old Guy puts it this way. "mine is STUFF, yours is SHIT" 

its kind of an inside joke with us, but it makes me think. 

I am downsizing my substantial stash and will be tracking the progress thru until my birthday next year - just to see where I land. 

now just to learn how to make a side button to the post so I can edit it regularly 

have a great afternoon

What the what? (or what happened?)

it's been over a year since I posted here. 

Oh, I've been making.

And doing.

And living.

And posting about those adventures over at my more personal home. 

But the, oh so neglected,  MaggieGraceCreates world is calling to me with pleas to not forget her and to please come home. 

So here I am --- and I will try to be back on a much more regular basis.

let's just jump right on in. 

I have crocheted several blankets, some hats, potholders, skillet condoms.

I have made jewelry.

I have enjoyed paper crafts. 

I have been helping littles learn creative stuffs. 

I've sewn.

Done some serious mission stuff. 

I've stash busted.

I've stash added (minimally) 

And then I have worked on THIS.

Elias will be a year old in August.

This was supposed to be a baby shower gift for the little guy. 

He may get it when he turns 21 - or has his own kids.

WHAT WAS I THINKING????

A year peeps - I pick it up and put it down and if you divide that picture up there into 16 sections, you will see that I have almost completed ONE OF THOSE.

I have a trout - some rocks and a deer foreleg ---- 

BTW Eli did get a gift ---- Mama T crocheted him a Count Down Granny Square blanket. 

Don't get all excited and google that --- it is a simple way to label a granny square blanket that has a descending count of rows from the center out -

I did four colors --- in the following row  pattern 8-7-6-5 repeat color starts here 4-3-2-1.  This allowed me to do a complete blanket from 8 skeins of yarn. and have a bit left for the stash pile. 

Next week finds me having that project box packed for a week of sitting still at the beach and hopefully making a bit more progress. 

Maybe you guys will rejoin me here for crafty goodness. 

Life is beautiful

I post much more regularly at my FaceBook

And my Instagram

I also have a huge collection of funstuff over at Pinterest

Have a great afternoon.

Angels We Have Heard on High



The theme this week over at The Sweet Stamps Blog is Christmas Tags and to me that includes angels. This one takes a bit, but it is wonderful.

 

Cover a tag base with Christmas themed sheet music. I buy lots of these in thrift stores. This is from a damaged hymnal.

 

I used the new Wrought Iron Stencil and a bit of  Sparkle Embossing Powder to add a bit more interest to the paper.

 

I then stamped the Face only of the 1900's Girl and the Dot Butterfly onto a blank page from the same hymnal.

 

Fussy cut the butterfly.

 

Vintage Gold Embossing Powder was used on pieces from the  Mini Gears set of piccolo.

 

Now using a gear piece as a halo add the face to a gathered piece of lace and the butterfly as wings. Glue and clip together to dry.

 

Attach to the tag.

 

Add vintage buttons stacked with more of the  gears as the body of the angel. Glue into place.

 

As a final accent add coordinated Mini Medallion cuts to the tag.

 

Ready to add to that special gift.

 

thrilled with this

 

 

so I had this idea.

 

And this denim toned blue yarn.

 

I wanted a true random insert blanket.

 

so I unwrapped the skeins of blue.

 

Reach into the bulk of each skein and cut three times.

 

Gathered up some scrappy bits in the colors you might find on a mountain lake property.

 

And started my yarn balls.

 

As I came to a cut, I tied on a length of scrap. Some were 20 inches, some were yards.

 

then I crocheted a rectangular granny.

 

I am IN LOVE with how this filled with random color bits.

 

baby Chase's mommy liked it too.

 

Here is a great pattern for getting started on the Rectangle Granny. Instead of ending with just a few rows, keep going until the blanket is the size you wish.

 

 

long time - no see

No excuses.

I went MIA again

But here I am with just a bit of sharing for you 

32 skeins of yarn have been used from the stash.

Three baby blankets and this full sized beauty in blue, cream, tan, and brown.

and I have started one from yarn that I purchased but is NOT going into the stash, I've started that blanket. 

I'm also working working working on THE MOST INTRICATE cross stitch project I have ever done. 

This was a gift for my friend Renee. Well she's actually the daughter of one of my best friends. But since all the girls are now young adults, I can call her my friend, can't I?

We gave Miss Renee a bridal shower on Sunday afternoon. 

I used one of my crochet nests as the food table centerpiece. 

To see the exquisite nests that inspired me - go here

Vicki makes and sells beautiful knitted nests. 

She's a wonderful person and there is an amazing array of beauty at her blog. 

Get a coffee and spend some time.

Here's the bride-to-be with her mom and soon to be Mother-in-Love 

You can guess - but I will go ahead and tell you - her Mom is the one in pink.

A quick note about the Softball Princess.

it's over.

she graduates from college with her undergrad degree in Environmental Science next weekend.

She's graduating with honors.

and more than likely moving far away to continue school. 

I have EMPTY NEST SYNDROME

yes - those of you with small children are allowed to be jealous. 

I just want to know how this happened. 

She is supposed to just be a little bit bigger than THIS.

......

For This Child I Pray

Welcome to the SweetStamps.com Sweeties Spring Release Blog Hop!!

Who's ready for some nicer weather?

Here at SweetStamps.com we are super excited about our Spring release!

   

We have some fun new clear stamp sets, a bunch of great new Piccolos and some new stencils!! You can check out all the new products here!!

And if you missed us mentioning, we also now have our Glam Girls in Digital form!  Which can be found here!!

You should have arrived her from My Creative Rumblings blog!  If you haven't and would like to hop with us, please go back to the Sweet Stamps Blog to start at the beginning!

Be sure to follow each blog and leave comments along the way for your chance at winning!  We will randomly choose 12 winners from all the comments left!


Today I bring you a scrapbook layout featuring the Large Filigree Cross. 

This is a 12x12 layout and the cross is over 6 inches tall.

Meet Lucy. This picture is from her Baptism.

In addition to the Cross from the New items, I also used an Oval Frame from the Piccolos Product Group

Gilded Rose Gold Embossing powder covers the Cross Filigree Background and the frame. The Cross itself is two pieces and I covered the center solid form with the Autumn Leaves Cosmic  Shimmer Gilding Flakes.  I raised this center up when I glued this together.  

Add a sweet photo from the special day and I collect damaged hymnals, so I was able to add the Hymn selection and the Baptism Prayer from the ceremony section to the layout. 

Thanks for visiting.

I am the last in the Bunny Hop Dance line 

Don't forget to comment on every post --- there are goodies to be given away. 

You can go back to the SweetStamps Blog to see the entire list if you like or the individual links are listed below.

  

We hope you have been inspired all along the way! 

Check out all of Sweet Stamps "sweet" goodies here!

Happy Hopping

and...

HAPPY SPRING!

---------

Here's the entire list for the hop.

Calypso

Denise

Donna K.

Kendra

Lisa

Monica

Roxie

Shelly

Teresa

Sweet Stamps Blog

Large Filigree Cross Accent

Enamel EP GILDED ROSE GOLD

Cosmic Shimmer Gilding Flakes

It's Nuts but it works.

Wow - I haven't been here in quite some time.

Lot's of reasons that need not be aired publicly here.

I had someone make a comment about how much I accomplish creatively. She wondered how the heck I get so much accomplished. When she said it, I kind of downplayed it a whole lot. But on thinking about it, I thought I would explain how I do get things done.

I spend years "half-ass" doing stuff. I have LOTS of UFO's. I am simplifying my entire life right now and rediscovering those unfinished things had cause a tremendous amount of guilt and stress. 

(I uncovered Molly's unframed cross-stitch birth record. It is finished. Not framed. She is 24) 

Many years ago, I started blogging and that was the beginning of focusing on my creative side. I needed to make progress on things so I would have something to share. I am not, nor will I ever be one of the BIG bloggers, but I have my group of friends and we love and encourage one another here. 

Anyway --- back to how my "system" works.

I almost ALWAYS have multiple projects going. Which sound like craziness, but it really has worked for me. 

I have discovered that crochet and cross-stitch travel well - other stuff does not. 

The other stuff, is not addressed here - I do a few bits on those projects and leave them to dry on the work table. 

Now for the pick up put down explanations.

I have a crochet bag by my sofa - right now it contains a sunset colors inspired infinity scarf project. Yarn from my stash (yay me). I pick it up and put it down. The pattern is a no count required repeat, so I don't even have to make a stitch. This one will soon move to the car (reasons will become evident in a minute)

I leave early on Sunday Morning and spend time alone in the silence with myself and this project. It is a big blanket - stash buster project. Two worsted weight yarns held together. There is a kind of pattern repeat to keep this from getting too busy looking. This will ebb and flow with weather conditions, and will be a long time finishing. As the hot weather creeps in I'll put this in a Huge Zipper Project bag and hang it in the craft closet to pull it out when cold weather gets back. Also a stash project (yay me)

This sweet and soft bit of pastel goodness is a granny square baby blanket. Another stash buster project (the stash is wide and deep - please don't judge) It is my car project. I have it in a plastic tote and I can work on this while riding. Plastic tote allows me to sit this on the ground by the campfire or at ball games, keeping everything dry and clean of debris. (I tried a 31 tote for this and as much as I love that tote for other things, the soft sides just did not work out well.) 

I am close to finishing this one. Abby's final college softball season starts next week, so the long hours in the car and at the ball field begin. I'll finish this one and then move the scarf from the bag at home by the sofa into this project. Because.......

This has started as the detailed - must concentrate - project for by the sofa.

AND 

requiring reading glasses and the best light I can find. 

It is a cross stitch piece for one of our most special babies on the way. 

I'll be posting tips and bits about this as it progresses. If there are overnight stays for ball trips, this is organized in a plastic tote box as well, but it certainly is not a mindless, riding in the car, kind of project. 

A note on those car projects, after the blanket and the scarf are finished, I will go back to the stash (yes, there is still plenty of stash available) and start another something.

The cross stitch project will consume a large portion of my home time creating. But I combine that with prayer time, so this is a good thing. 

Now for some tidbit notes about this.

- I do not sit still well.

- I can be a terrible passenger in the car.

- I cannot read in the car or the sun without getting a headache, but I can crochet. 

- I have multiple crochet hooks in each size. 

- I think I have 50 pair of small scissors too. 

- Keeping things in a convenient to use and move container is key. 

-  When I pack up the big blanket for the summer, I will put an index card in the bag noting the hook size.

- MAKING at the ball field - or by the pool - or in the lobby of a hotel - has always caused people to ask what I am making. I always take the time to answer and I have met so many wonderful people this way. 

- Make sure the travel projects can be construed as mindless and either easy to keep count or effortless to recount after you have put them down and picked them back up.  (like granny square blankets or repeat patterns for cross stitch) 

My craziest softball crocheting story - Softball Princess played travel ball for many years as she grew up. One season I made 88 beanie hats. That means we played at least 88 games that year, because I could make a beanie every full length game. 

her college freshman season, I made 150 quarter sized crochet roses.

If you would like regular project updates and some mundane randomness, you can follow my instagram

I do hope you are all doing well. 

LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL

Sunday Sparkle

This look simple (actually is simple), but goodness, I struggled. I made this tag four times before I got it like I wanted.

Here we go. 

I used a manilla tag base that I covered using this specialty glitter paper in gold. Simply spray the back of the paper with the spray adhesive. Adhere. and trim to fit the tag. 

I cut the Classy Deer from deep brown glitter paper. 

Then using one of my absolute favorite SweetStamps Embellishments - the velvet hydrangeas - I layered them around the deer image and into the corner.  These hydrangeas are flocked and glittered and simply wonderful to work with. 

Also, if you missed the blog hop on Friday - please click here and take a look at some beautiful projects. 

Merry Christmas!

Classy Deer SweetCuts Die

Velvet Hydrangeas Blue

All Purpose Spray Adhesive by Krylon

Oh Christmas Tree

Welcome to the SweetStamps.com Sweeties Holiday Blog Hop!!

With the Holidays right around the corner we thought it would be fun to share some lovely Holiday inspiration with you!

If you are arriving from Shelly's Place, welcome to MaggieGrace World.   If you haven't and would like to start at the beginning, please go back to the Sweet Stamps Blog. I promise there are lot's of great ideas and inspiration being shared. 

Be sure to leave comments along the way for your chance at winning!  We will randomly choose one winner from all the comments left!

********************************************************

I am all about easy and fun projects and this is no different than most of mine. 

Today I'm sharing a cute little Christmas Tree Ornament. (it will hang or stand)

I can see several of these across the Mantel in assorted sizes. 

The list of materials is at the bottom of the post. 

Make yourself a cone from green cardstock. I make my cones using a half circle and simply rolling into the cone shape and gluing in place. The tree part of this is about three inches tall and I cut a 5 inch circle in half to make it. 

While that is drying, Dig through your scraps (we all have those don't we) and pick several assorted green ones. (Or use strips of green papers).

Cut several of the Fancy Leaf shapes. These do not have to be complete cuts. Be sure and cut some from both directions by turning your paper over to the "wrong" side for some of the cuts. Trim just the leaves from the cuts and discard the flourishes. 

Flex the leaves a bit to give them dimension. 

Using Glastique as an adhesive, glue the leaves around the tree. Start at the bottom and let the first row hang off a bit below the edge. Move up the tree and overlap the leave all the way to the top. 

(I placed my cone over a styrofoam cone and pinned the leaves that wanted to slide off. using tiny pins and angling them under the next row area hides the holes very effectively.) 

Let this all dry over night.

Lightly mist the entire tree with spray adhesive and sprinkle with extra fine chocolate glitter.

The "star" at the top is a glitter paper cut using the Mini Flower Die. I cut it twice and used one openwork petal piece and the two solid backer bits. A tiny Pearl from the Brown Pearls kit accents the center with a bit of extra fine chocolate glitter. 

To stand this one, I glued two vintage spools together (you can buy reproductions at most any craft store) and set the tree over the stack. I glued the top one into the cone. 

See - very easy to make.

Make several and set up your own little forest of these. 

Don't forget to comment. Every comment gets added to the drawing for goodies. Also be sure to leave your email address in the comments (Blogger may or may not let me in on that information depending on your settings) 

Thanks for stopping by.

Seems I am ending this hop, I  sure hope you gathered some inspiration along the way. 

This link takes you back to the SweetStamps Blog. 

Check out all of Sweet Stamps "sweet" goodies here!

Happy Hopping, Happy Shopping

and...

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Fancy Leaf SweetCuts Die

Mini Flower SweetCuts Die

Brown Pearl & Rhinestone Collection

Glastique Gloss Finishing Glaze

InLinkz.com

Christmas Spirit

There's a song in the air

There's a star in the sky

Forget all of the hustle and bustle of the season. All of my thoughts lean toward a grungy stable, with average appearing, unlikely people, and a tiny Baby. 

We have beautiful stained glass depictions of the story in our church and when I spotted the Stained Glass Nativity stamps, I knew I wanted to recreate the idea of those windows. 

I first made the mottled blue background paper using distress inks. I simply streaked a bit of the blue and a (now discontinued) whitewash color. Then dried that with a heat tool. I stamped my image with ink and embossed the image with Copper Kettle Embossing Enamel. 

Now for the fun part. I used NO Embossing adhesive and covered the entire image with Bahama Aqua Embossing Powder, then dumped that back in the jar. This leaves a wonderful shimmery patina on the blue background. Now carefully dab the Embossing Powder Adhesive all over the image (does not matter if you go over the lines), trying not to remove the shimmer. Cover with UltraThick Clear Embossing Powder. Take a toothpick and trace the Copper Embossed lines, removing a fair amount of the Clear Powder from the lines. Emboss again. This gives a texture very similar to stained glass. 

Fussy cut the "window" image and, using Super Sticky Tape, adhere it to the card base. 

Beautiful - Elegant - Understated - Christmas. 

Enamel Embossing Powder Adhesive	Enamel EP BAHAMA AQUA	3/8" Super Sticky Tape 55 yards	Distress Ink Pad SALTY OCEAN
Enamel EP VINTAGE COPPER	Stained Glass Nativity Small

InLinkz.com