I’ve been making a few Grim Reapers.  While this Death waits on eyes, he (it?) decided to lounge in my plant. I know it’s time as a houseplant is almost over, but Death did not have to make it so obvious that the end is near. (Grim Reaper is from Creepy Cute Crochet.)

Faceless Death

Two years ago, I started working on Amie Hirtes’ Sweet Pea Shawl (via NexStitch) for myself.  I had made one a year before that for my mother, which she loves to the point that she will never wear it because she claims it’s too beautiful. I wear it when I’m visiting because it is not supposed to spend it’s life draped over a mirror.  After finishing three rows, I put my shawl to the side to work on other projects. A few weeks ago, I pulled the unfinished shawl off of my yarn shelf to take with me as a project for my breaks during standardized testing at the middle school.  After a week of testing, I’m getting close to being finished.  I will definitely need for the mornings in Montana while we are visiting the in-laws this summer.  Here’s a little shot of my progress:

Sweet Pea Shawl in progress

Medusa is really at the request of Laura but Medusa and I spent a lot of time sympathizing over hair during the two days it took me to make her.

Medusa

Medusa is from Creepy Cute Crochet by Christen Haden (her Etsy shop here).   I am in love with Christen’s patterns.  I have attempted amigurumi creatures in the past and failed.  Her steps are easy to follow and there are diagrams! I love diagrams. I even survived creating eyes and scythes from sculpy relatively unscathed. Give me any reason to work with Cotton Ease and I’ll be happy.  I’m still working on my sewing skills (Medusa is humped over a little like Igor, which I claim is because she’s depressed over hair).

I have to go pick up Girl Scout cookie incentives for my troop and then I am going to sit down and get to work on the Grim Reaper.

Becoming Blue Chairs

A retro metal chair set was one of the first purchases as a married couple.  It was a boring dull green color but at that time in my life, dark greens and reds were my favorite.  I’ve upgraded to brighter colors and after almost ten years (eek!), I thought it was time my chair set upgraded too.  The table is finished, but the chairs are still in progress.  I’ve injured my pointer fingers (they hurt so therefore they’re injured) from the spray can nozzles so I’m waiting another day or two for the winds to die down again and my fingers to heal before I finish my little blue beauties.

I ran out of time last Friday to talk about these cute chick bookmarks before leaving town.  Friday (or perhaps Thursday), Craft posted about Jinjerup’s free chick bookmark pattern.  I thought they’d make a perfect quick spring gift for my family of readers.  Laura let me borrow a few of her many books to snap a few photos.

Chickie bookmarks

This was a very quick, simple project and quite a hit with little girls who love all things spring and cute.

Potholders

I’ve also been crocheting with cotton a lot lately.  Once the weather heats up in North Texas, I like making things for the kitchen.  The rest of the year, I don’t really want to, but in spring, the need to make new dishcloths, potholders and such takes over all other yarn desires.  I think there’s also a link to sitting every Thursday in a warm humid natatorium while the girls dive.  Speaking of, it’s time for diving!  Have a wonderful rest of the week!

I am negotiating with Andy (okay, I’m threatening Andy) right now before we leave. You see, it is Opening Day and he would like to spend the hour drive to Richardson focusing on the first day of the major league baseball season. I would like to spend the hour finishing up a crochet project or two. Stay tuned to find out who won.

Hale includes five new principles of prose:

Relish every word.

Be simple, but go deep.

Take Risks.

Seek beauty.

Find the right pitch.

I am hoping to find my writing self again.  Perhaps I will, perhaps I won’t.  Either way, I will be writing more and sharing more with you.

We spent our Sunday afternoon checking out the Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge.  There are over 20 miles of nature trails spread throughout the park, which is nestled along Lake Worth.  We took the Canyon Rim trail, a 3.25 mile one way trail that winds along overlooking Lake Worth.  It was suprisingly not flat, slightly (very slightly) deflating Andy’s argument that Fort Worth and all of Texas is hopelessly flat.

North Texas is wonderfully green after a particularly wet March, as you can see from Laura’s climb up the steepest part of the trail.  She’s halfway there!

At the top of the trail, there were two old CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) buildings.  This next one was my favorite.

It sits overlooking Lake Worth.  There was a fellow hiker enjoying the view and I didn’t want to disturb her or there would have included a view of the lake.

Finally, I wasn’t completely unproductive creatively this weekend.  I finally wrote down the instructions for my Bolivar headband, snapping a few self-portraits while on the hike.  Here’s a sneak peak.

Future washcloths

Along with the Alpaca, this is what I’ll be playing with this weekend.  What are you working on?

Spiceberry Mix

I am at a loss as to what to make with the yarn.  Actually, that’s a lie.  I know I want a school-worthy cardigan.  I want something that is simple and classic that will be easy to slip on over most tops when I get cold in the classroom.

When I saw Amy’s Terra Firma, I thought I had finally found a cardigan that fit my needs.  I bought the pattern and should start a gauge swatch and measurements tomorrow.  I’m not quite sure it will look good on a bust like mine, so I’m still looking around for an alternative.   I’ve written before about how much I love Giovanna’s Cardi from Lion Brand, having made it for both of the girls, and I’ve thought about playing with the pattern to create an adult version, but I think I want more of a solid or textured look over an open shell pattern like in Giovanna’s Cardi.

There is also the Chevron Lace Cardigan or the Top Down Round Yoke Cardigan, both from Without Seams, which would look nice in my yarn.

What am I thinking??  I should be looking in  Robyn Chachula’s  Blueprint Crochet since I would love to have almost every single item in the book crocheted and placed lovingly in my closet.  That will be on the menu for tomorrow first thing.

I now know why I have difficulty writing posts.  Every time I start one, my husband starts up a conversation with me that requires thought, not deep intellectual thought, but thought nonetheless.  Important thoughts along the lines of whether John Lennon’s So This is Christmas (War is Over) is a sequel to Imagine or what is the name of the duet with David Bowie and John Lennon.  I have to pause mid-yarn thought and google John Lennon while also searching for David Bowie and John Lennon on YouTube.   The song is Fame and as far as the sequel, I’m not sure.  Now we’ve moved onto Lennon’s Sunday Bloody Sunday, which leads naturally to U2’s Sunday Bloody Sunday, followed of course by discussion their new CD and the upcoming summer tour.  How can I think about yarn when I have to ponder the possiblity of seeing them again in October?  I’m still not overly in love with No Line on the Horizon, but it is slowly growing on me.  In my opinion, it seems to lack some of the grit and depth of previous albums, but like I said, it is growing on me.

Back to yarn.  Do you have a recommendation for a classic crocheted cardigan??  I’d love to hear your suggestions.

Working on Laura's blanket

The girls and I took turns with the camera.  Maddie snapped this photo before running off with the camera to take her daily dose of rare and unusual photos (notepads, extreme closeups of noses, etc.).

Laura making progress

Laura worked diligently until it was time for her to start dinner.  After the lemon chicken went in the oven and I was on the last side of the blanket, she ran off to watch iCarly.  (Laura cooking??  She’s an amazing cook for a 9 year old.)

Working through side two

Maddie came back and took a few last photos before running off herself to places unknown (the living room).  Dinner is ready and the chicken smells divine.  Have a wonderful spring break!  Now that the Girl Scout cookie sale is over, I’ll have more time to post and show off the crochet projects I’ve been working on sporadically.

Maddie needs this! It fits in well with her half Hello Kitty, half Star Wars room theme.