Wednesday, December 29, 2004

Hump Day Blues

My boss decided to work from home today, so it's really quiet up here. Lots of people are still on vacation, the phones aren't even ringing and the mail is nearly non-existent. I am enjoying looking at other crochet blogs and I'm trying not to get too frustrated that I have no clue how people set up their little lists of other blogs they like to frequent, and things like a directory of finished projects and the like. I would love to have someplace with photos of things I have finished and works in progress, if anyone can help me with this impossible task, please leave a comment or email me. I've finally figured out how to post photos without too much trouble, I'm ready to embark on another daunting task.



The last two days have been pretty non-productive as far as the crochet goes. After all the rush to get my Christmas crocheting done, I have no idea what to make now. I have to opportunity to make something for myself, but told myself I'd take a little carpel tunnel break. It is really weird sitting to watch television with idle hands. I feel like I should be crocheting. I couldn't stand it on Monday, my last vacation day, I sat in my basement studio to relax and watch a couple of movies. I had to made a scarf, I couldn't help myself!



I think I may try to paint or something, or maybe I will make myself another scarf out of the fabulous mohair blend yarn my secret pal sent me and keep this one this time.





Tuesday, December 28, 2004


The crochet patterns my secret pal sent me. Posted by Hello

Back to the Grind

I'm baaaack! I've only been here fore about 45 minutes and I wish I was at home, I got used to sleeping in. I was nearly late to work today because I dreamed I called in! Then I realized, I'm not sick, that was a dream, get up! I'm not used to being up and functioning at this time. 10 days of sleeping is has been really nice. I just went and got a white mocha from the coffee shop downstairs. My boss is in Montgomery today taking a deposition and my desk isn't nearly as covered up in paperwork as I expected. I'm just really glad that Friday is an off day too. I guess I will start going through the few stacks that are on my desk. I can probably get through them since my boss will be out.

Monday, December 27, 2004


I decided to finally make myself a little black poncho Posted by Hello

Here is a photo of the scarf/hat set that my Crochetville holiday pal sent me. She also sent the notebook, and "D" pin that you can barely see, as well as the flower pin that matches the hat and scarf set. There WAS candy also, chocolate truffles, but I ate them long before I got the new camera. Just had to post this wonderful hand work! Posted by Hello

Here is a photo of the wonderful yarn that my Crochetville secret pal sent me. I have already made a scarf and ended up giving it to mother for Christmas, she loved the yarn, the photos do not do it justice, it is a new camera, so bear with me. Posted by Hello

Sunday, December 26, 2004

Wonderful Holiday!

I did get everything finished that I planned on making for the holidays. Carolyn especially liked the cream mohair blend poncho that I made for her, and grandma loved the homespun shawl. My brother said that when my package arrived and he saw the ponchos that I made for his 3 girls, that they were so cute that they brought tears to his eyes (what a compliment). William got me the entire Sex and the City box set (yipee!) and he got me the digital camera that I have been needing desperately. I am installing the computer software now. We went out earlier today to see a matinee (Meet the Fockers) and went out for a late lunch. I am so exhausted. It's 5:20 now and I'm about to put on my new P.J.'s and chill. I have one more day off work tomorrow, and then it's back to the grind. This has been the most relaxing week off and such a great holiday. We are entering Kwanzaa now and I am hoping to see Pandora and Ordra so I can give them their gifts.

Wednesday, December 8, 2004

Still busy stitching

I promised Julia two ponchos for her classmates by Monday, well I didn't finish the second (pink) one until Monday night and I dropped them off Tuesday night after work. I still have another purple one for a 9 year old that I am selling to a co-worker that should have been done by Monday, and I only did 6 rows on it last night. I guess I was just tired and needed a break. Even my boyfriend said, "You didn't do anything tonight." I guess he expected a finished product, and I could have, but I guess I just was not in the mood or something, or maybe I am tired of making the same poncho in the same color and same yarn. I've done about 6 of them in purple with the fun fur trim at this point. I'm excited about trying the Divine yarn I got at Michael's this weekend. I have a poncho to make for my best friend in cream. I think it will be really pretty, but I've got to get a few more children's ponchos done before I embark on it because I have until Christmas Eve to finish hers. My boss has asked for 2, and I have creative freedom on color on those two thank goodness, I'm tired of looking at purple. I snagged some boxes from work so that I will be able to mail my secret pals their packages tomorrow. Hilary Denise will find out today that I'm her holiday pal, I don't think that one was a secret. I've got one on the way from my secret pal, her name is Dawn. I visited her blog today and saved it as a favorite place. I also sent her a pattern via email.

Sunday, November 28, 2004


Believe it or not, but this simple granny poncho has been my most popular item next to the scarves. And the most popular color is PURPLE. I have been adding fun fur trim around the neck and bottom and some even in the fringe.This is an adult sized, but I have been making mostly young girls for the holidays (7-10) years old. The fun fur really adds to the poncho making it very girly. Posted by Hello

This is the poncho version of the Cecilia De BuCourt flower petal shawl. Posted by Hello

Here is a closeup of the Ettie styled scarf done in brown and neutral tones...this one is also very popular. Posted by Hello

Grandma told me at Thanksgiving that she wanted a shawl. I'm planning on making her one for Christmas in the petal design made most popular by Cecilia De BuCourt. I haven't decided on a color or yarn yet. Posted by Hello

This is one of the scarves that have been very popular this season. My version of the designer Ettie scarf that celebrities are wearing. I'm planning on making these scarves in different colors and bringing them to work on the last week before Christmas. I'm hoping to earn enough extra money to purchase a new computer. Posted by Hello

This is the duvet I made for my platform bed, I think I did pretty good considering I had no pattern or anything. I still have to make the pillow cases though. Posted by Hello

Monday, November 22, 2004

Hooray! Short Work Week!

I am so glad that this week will be short, Thanksgiving is Thursday! Before you know it, Christmas will be upon us. My list of custom crochet orders is steadily growing. I had a wonderfully relaxing rainy weekend of crocheting and watching movies this weekend. I went by Wal-Mart to pick up more fun fur and boa yarn and the selection was scarce, this stuff must really be popular for the holidays. I will have to make a stop at another location on my lunch hour today, and hopefully I will find what I need to finish a few more small projects. The $$$ is pretty good, especially for the scarves since they don't take long to complete the long skinny ones, it's the yarn that it expensive. My laundry is piling up and the housework did not get done this weekend. I am putting together another package for my 2 secret pals. Julia (my neice) helped me with part of it the other day when we were both out sick. She is so funny to be 8 years old, she gave me a lecture on "Standing up for myself and taking pride in my work" when I mentioned giving someone a discounted price on a pair of scarves. She told me, "I don't care if they are your boss or your best friend, don't give them the cheapies......look at that poncho Aunt Donna....you can't buy that in the store.....THAT IS YOUR TIME....because this world, will step on you." From the mouths of babes. I sat and taught her how to crochet and took her to Michael's to buy her a canvas bag that she decorated to carry her yarn and hook in. I wanted to teach her how to make a simple scarf, and she is learning the double crochet. I will need to work with her a little more, but she has mastered the chain stitch and holds the yarn, work and hook correctly, which in my opinion is the hardest hurdle to cross in learning to crochet. My computer is still down at home and I think I'm going to have to buy another one, then I can start posting photos to my boring blog page.

Sunday, November 14, 2004

Holidays approaching!

I love this time of year. This is my first Fall in my first home, and I love all colors in the leaves, although I didn't realize that I would have so many down in the yard. It sort of looks like a thick autumn quilt on the lawn. I'll get around to it again next weekend, but there are sooo many leaves yet to fall! I sent my Crochetville secret pals (yes two, somehow I must have signed up for two, thinking it was the same one) their first package. I wish it could have been more than what I sent, but money has been so tight since I overdrew my account somehow (I need help for the Ebay/yarn addiction), however, the first gift was quite nice, and included something that they both mentioned enjoying. But I have so many paying custom orders for Christmas that I am not going to worry about it. I plan on sending a much nicer second gift. I am quite good at buying gifts, I love it. I plan on crocheting both of them something also, and perhaps sewing a handy crochet gift also. Not sure, but this time of year is always so exciting for me. I didn't put up a tree last year at the apartment, but I think since this will be my first Christmas in my first house, I should put one up. I'm thinking I may put in my basement studio/den. Me and William spend so much time down there, it's so cozy. I'm feeling all "Bea Smith" and want to decorate the house, which is not really like me, and I'm ready to do that now. I keep telling myself to wait at least until Thanksgiving, I can't become one of those people that I used to mock as I passed their houses in Mid-November, decked out in Christmas decorations....no, I refuse to be one of "them". They have even started playing Christmas music 24/7 on the radio, I secretly listened (which included singing along) on my drive home from work Friday. I'm still thinking of craft ideas for Julia, Journey & Joshua (neices & nephew). They are looking forward to coming over again this year (our little tradition that we started about 2 years ago) for the slumber party, making gifts for their mother, father& grandmother, watching Christmas movies, baking cookies, listening/singing Christmas carols. The oldest is in 3rd grade (I think, that's terrible), the middle is 5 and the youngest is 4. I am thinking of buying a canvas and letting them create artwork, maybe painting a vase or flower pot. I will have to start searching for some good ideas very soon.

Tuesday, October 12, 2004

Back to the drawing board

I have decided that I'm going to take "the blanket poncho" apart and start all over. All of that hard work for nothing! But I am so disgusted with the fact that it didn't turn out the way I wanted it to, and the fact that I didn't realize it until all the work was done. I started on another one that I was commissioned to make last night after work and got a little more than half of it done. I am going to finish it tonight and watch a new dvd I got in the mail yesterday, this will make me feel better because it's turning out fabulous (soft pink and chocolate brown). I will post photos when I get home. I wish I'd brought it to work with me today, I am going to have some down time this afternoon, I guess I'll just do a little surfing. I got another order for 2 more child's ponchos for Christmas. I'm going to be very busy for the next few weeks, it's a good thing it's doing something I love to do and that relaxes me (other than thinking of the blanket poncho...argh!). I do want to make myself an asymmetrical poncho, that pink and brown is appealing to me, it will go great with my new pink corduroy slacks, and serve as self-promotion.

Monday, October 11, 2004


Baloo Posted by Hello

Monday....again!

Why does it always seem like it's Monday? I would love to be at home right now working on my growing list of custom crochet items. I had Julia, Journey and Joshua (neices & nephew) spend the night on Friday and we carved pumpkins on Saturday, played Alien Autopsy (like operation), and watched scary movies while I completed a custom poncho. They had a blast, but I was exhausted Sunday and didn't get much done. I was a little disappointed with the poncho, I feel like I made it too big, but I am told that the girl that I am making it for will make two of me, and I'm a size large. We'll see, I'll let her look at it before I reluctantly start taking it apart. I don't have anymore of the beautiful mohair blend yarn that I used, and there is no sense in letting it go to waste sitting in my closet never to be worn. I should post a photo, but I am new to this blog thing and can't seem to figure it out.