I just received a Yudu for my birthday

I am so very excited...but there are so many possibilities, I don't know what to do. I have a shopping bag that I sewed but never embellished, and another which just needs the handles finished... they may need a pretty picture or clever phrase printed on them. I will definitely post some pics soon ( I just need to post something, since my blog has been ignored, unloved and un-updated for so long)

Rainy day... good time to sew, or crochet, or knit, or bake or...

So far this month has been rather cool and somewhat rainy. I'm actually rather grateful for that-- it's much more pleasant to run, and there have been some good opportunities to stay home and craft too. The other day I sewed myself some pajama bottoms (they turned out quite nice, a little big, but they are PJ's) I also went to JoAnn yesterday and bought a few patterns for tote bags. (Butterick patterns were on sale for only 99 cents-- I couldn't help myself!) Perhaps I'll chech out my fabric stash and see what I can do.



I am also crocheting a hat using Patons Silk Bamboo in sea. I really wanted to try the yarn, so I bought a skein to make something small. Oh, is it soft and pettable! It is definitely a luxurious yarn, I like it. I am trying to figure out what stitch pattern to use for the body of the hat. I'm thinking some kind of post stitch to add texture. I'll take a picture when I'm done.


Well, I'm off to play with the kids and maybe start something cool this morning. Have a creative, fun day!

Wow, I've really been a bad blogger!

Goodness, it's been eons since I last updated my blog! Sorry to everyone who is dear and sweet enough to follow my somewhat random musings and occasional rants.



In my defence, I have decided to train for a 5 K run, and making time to run has really cut into my computer time. So far I can go about 2 miles without having to stop, so I'm 2/3 of the way there (a pretty big accomplishment for someone who could barely run a tenth of a mile just a year ago). I have added in a little strength training too (which also cuts into my computer time). I feel very healthy and empowered and I enjoy getting out of the house. My neighbor is kind and sweet enough to watch my girls, so I actually get a little time to myself when I run-- an added bonus.



I guess, perhaps, I've become one of those crazy exercize loving people. So mow I'm obsessed with crocheting, crafting and running. I really need to figure out how to stretch time so there are more hours in the day for me to get to everything-- you know, since I actually have to take care of my children, husband, dogs and house too!

My new skinny bolero

Yay me! I have officially lost 30 1/2 pounds! Now to celebrate my new-found figure, I made myself the Short 'n Sweet Bolero from SnB The Happy Hooker. I finally feel comfortable making myself more than shawls to wear. I already have the yarn for another cardigan. I feel great, I have lots of energy, I exercise regularly, I'm eating healthily-- and I get to make myself sweaters in a smaller size-- I'm definitely liking this!

As for the sweater-- I used Lion Glitterspun and an I hook. I think I will add a hook and eye closure just under the bust. It's really hard to see the texture the fpdc and bpdc give the shells in black yarn. I think I'd like to make this again in a lighter color to show off the stitches

Kids are characters... part deux...

My 4 year old says the most outrageously funny things. Earlier today, I reminded her she had said that she'd finish her yogurt at lunch. To which, she replied, "Oh yeah, sorry, I have short term memory loss sometimes."


Princess, again, was running around, pretending she had various and sundry different super powers. So, she comes up to me in the kitchen and I'm humming "You're a Mean One Mr. Grinch"-- it's been stuck in my head for days-- and she says, "Zap!" to me. When I asked her why she zapped me, she said it was her super power, "To zap out the songs stuck in peoples' heads." Wow, what a cool and useful power to have!

Kids can be such characters!

The other day I gave my girls ice cream sandwiches as a treat. So, my little one, being not quite 3, by the time she was done, managed to get it on her face, shirt and hands. She's always on the go, the busy little thing, and she ran right up to her father on the sofa and started to climb on him. So he said, "Honey, you're sticky, go ask Mommy to help wash your hands." She starts licking her hands to get the ice cream off, and says, "No, Daddy, I not sticky anymore!"


I made the mistake of going shopping at Gymboree with the girls the other day. So my 4 year old runs to a rack, gasps, and says, "Oh, this skirt is fabulous!" (it happened to be a tulle tutu skirt) When I explained that she already owned 4 tutus she gave me this look, and said, "One of them is my sister's, I only have 3."-- like she'd be bereft with only 3 of them! Needless to say, she did not get a 4th tutu-- she didn't get upset, she's really a good girl, but I swear, 4 going on 14!

I Feel Kitschy, Oh So Kitschy...

I feel kitschy, and silly, and bright. So, I got bored with the plastic Softsoap bottles I had in my kitchen and bathroom, and I decided they needed to be "dressed up" a bit. Here are my ultra silly, totally unnecessary floral "soap pump cozies". What do you think? Hey, maybe I'll make the pages of that "What Not To Crochet" blog! Still, I just love these silly things. Now the big question is, if I write up a pattern would anyone want to buy it? I think I'll make some soap savers to match... oh, maybe even a TP cover-- how funny would that be! OY VEY!

I'm on a flower kick...

I really need it to be spring. The snow that accumulated the last 2 days has pretty much completely melted, but I don't hold out much hope for warm weather until May. So, since I have only a few sad looking, frostbitten crocuses in my yard, I need to crochet flowers in order to feel vernal. So, here is my bluebell bookmark-- what do you think? This one is done with scraps of Sinfonia yarn, but size 3 cotton would work just as well. I used a 3mm hook. The pattern is in American terms. This pattern is not tested by anyone but myself. Please contact me with any questions or if you spot any errors.

Bluebell Bookmark-- by Alice Kaufman Rich (copyright 2009)

Materials: less than an ounce (28 g) of sportweight cotton yarn in blue and green, 3 or 6 yellow large holed beads at least 4 mm, one large (10 mm-ish) bead.

Notes: blo-- back loop only, flo-- front loop only

Flower:

Rnd 1: Form magic ring, ch 1, 6 sc in ring, ss into 1st st. Pull end of yarn to tighten ring.

Rnd 2: (sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st) 2 times (8 sts), ss into first st.

Rnd 3: (sc, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 sts) 2 times (10 sts), ss into first st.

Rnd 4: (sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 sts) 2 times (12 sts) ss into first st.

Rnd 5: (sc, 2 sc in next st) 6 times (18 sts)

Rnd 6: (sc in next 5 sts, 2 sc in sixth st) 3 times (21 sts)

Rnd 7: work even in dc

Rnd 8: (dc in next 6 sts, 2 dc in seventh st) 3 times (24 sts)

Rnd 9: work even in sc (24 sts)

Rnd 10a: working in flo sc, ch 3 in each st (24 sc's) do not ss into 1st st, put your hook into the unworked back loop and start rnd 10b.

Rnd 10b: working in the blo of rnd 9, sc, ch 3 in each st (24 sc's) this creates a small double ruffle. ss into first sc.

Weave in ends

Stamen:

Place the yellow beads on the green yarn.

Leaving a 12 inch tail, ch 9, pull up a bead (or 2)make last ch w/ beads, ss back over the 9 sts, repeat 2 more times so you have a "Y" shape with beads at the end. With your hook or a tapestry needle, pull the tail through the bottom of the flower. You will use this to sew on the calyx.

Calyx:

Rnd 1a: Leaving a 5 foot (1.5 m) tail, ch 12, ss to join. Into the chain (not the ring)-- [sc, hdc, (dc, tr, dc) in next st, hdc] 3 times. ss into first sc.

Rnd 2a: (ss from rnd 1 counts as first st.) [sc into hdc of pervious rnd., 2 hdc into dc, (dc, tr, dc) into tr, 2 hdc into dc, sc int hdc, ss into sc] 3 times. Fasten off.

Turn work so you are looking at the bottom of the calyx.

rnd 1b: With tail, into the back of the chain sc 2 tog 6 times, join with ss.

rnd 2b: sc3tog twice, join with a ss.

Using the remainder of the tail, ch 50. Fasten off. place large bead on the tail and use tail as the hanger for the tassel. (Here is a link to a tutorial for making a tassel, or you can go without if you choose.) Using a tapestry needle, sew the calyx onto the flower, going up through the bottom of the flower and the stamen several times (I also went around fastening the tips too).

This pattern is my own work, feel free to post a link to this page, but do not post a copy of the pattern itself . Please contact me if you wish to sell items made from this pattern. Copyright Alice Kaufman Rich 2009.

I have the best husband

Look, he went and bid on and won a Jimbo hook for me... isn't it lovely? It's made from sapele wood and it's a size I (6 mm). It is just a dream to use. My sweetheart is the most wonderful man ever! This is even better than getting flowers or candy! Maybe he'll get me a bouquet of yarn for Mother's Day...

The trials and tribulations of online yarn buying

Oh, I am so vexed. Tell me, what color do you think of when you hear "sunshine"? I think of warm, mellow, golden yellow-- NOT neon highlighter yellow! Well, if you are looking for a golden color do not order Creme de la Creme cotton in "sunshine". I learned the hard way that the tiny 100 pixel square thumbnail on the website does not, in any way, accurately depict the color. Try "goldtones" instead. It is a lovely varigated shade of warm golden hues. The picture does not really capture the chartreuse quality of the "sunshine". So, if you are looking for a neon color, try "sunshine" but if you want warm, rich, lovely color, try "goldtones".

Okay, I'm done ranting... for now...