Firefighter Kade

I love making gifts for others and almost never buy presents but sometimes it is hard to know what to make others....especually when I've taught everyone I know how to crochet and they can now make stuff for themselves!

But I do love getting request for gifts bc then I know they are getting what they want! One of our little friends is really into fire fighter gear right now so I was excited to make him this hat!

What do you think?

I kinda made up the pattern after looking up patterns on ravelry...so if you want to make one, pop over there for inspiration!

Christmas Gift Making!

I have been totally MIA on my blog as of late and I'm afraid it may stay this way for awhile.

Life is busy at work, Kade is busy at home and top it off I'm going to be starting a Yoga Teacher Training...so my crochet and blogging time is going to be nil, I'm afraid.

But there are Christmas gifts to be made and while the list isn't too long this year I have to get on it! So this weekend is devoted to making hand size evergreen trees that will be strung together to make buntings. 40 in total! I have some very dear ones who live far far away and I want to get their packages in the mail as soon as I can....so I need to crochet like a crazy lady!

Last night I was able to make 8 of them and I'm hoping to get about 20 done today! Don't worry, there will be pictures but if your interested in making trees too here is the link to the blog where they can be found! Fun blog and great pattern! Have it memorized now, so I'm just going to keep going with it!

Have a great sunday!

Crochet the Weekend Away: Linking Party #2!

I can't believe the weekend is almost here again! 

 Thanks to all the lovely people who added their crocheting to the linking party last week! It was really fun to see all your wonderful creations. I have BIG crafting plans for this weekend and I'm looking forward sharing them. I also have a couple of projects to post about from this past week. 

So lets get on with it...

Here are some simple guidelines:

1. Only post CROCHET projects you've been working on this weekend...they can be a works in progress!

2. Become a fan of my Blog!

3. Grab the "Crochet the Weekend Away" button provided below and add it to your blog!

4. Please add posts from your blog only, not shops!

5. Be sure to check out other peoples blogs, comment on their projects, and

follow their blogs...we all love having our blogs worshiped!

This party will open on Friday and close Monday.

Enjoy your weekend and Happy Crocheting!

melissa

<center><a href="http://hookedonhandmade.blogspot.com"><img src="http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f267/moon_mama/picnic/crochettheweekendawaysmall.jpg"/></a></center><br /> 

Tissue Box Covers!

I spent Friday night and Saturday morning wiping up these tissue box covers for the craft sale I'm doing in November. My mom loves them, what do you think?

They are super fun and easy to make....if your looking to make one yourself, I would suggest this pattern (you will need to have Ravelry to see it). 

Hope your weekend crocheting is treating you well! 

Melissa

Crochet the Weekend Away: Linking Party # 1!!!

Thanks for joining me this week for my first ever linking party!

I'm very excited to get back into regular blogging and sharing with all you lovely crocheters out there what I'm working on.

Here are some simple guidelines:

1. Only post CROCHET projects you've been working on this weekend...they can be a work in progress!
2. Become a fan of my Blog!
3. Grab the "Crochet the Weekend Away" button provided below and add it to your blog!
4. Please add posts from your blog only, not shops!
5. Be sure to check out other peoples blogs, comment on their projects, and
follow their blogs...we all love having our blogs worshiped!

This party will open on Friday and close Monday.

Enjoy your weekend and Happy Crocheting!

<center><a href="http://hookedonhandmade.blogspot.com"><img src="http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f267/moon_mama/picnic/crochettheweekendawaysmall.jpg"/></a></center><br /> 

I am very much inspired but the lovely linking party on Sarah's Blog, Sarahndipities,
so please take a minute and check all the lovely things she does!

What is coming up in my world....

Howdy!

Sorry it's been such a long time since I posted! I'm really mad at myself for not taking pictures of the stuff I'm working on and posting them. I've been really busy working, and parenting, and crafting that blogging has taken the back burner and I do apologize!

There are a couple of things I have been working on and I'm really excited to share them! The first is my very own Linking Party! I was hoping to get it up and going last weekend but was busy painting the stairwell and didn't get to it. So you can expect it this weekend for sure! I'm calling it Crochet The Weekend Away, it will go up on Friday and be open until Monday. I always get most of my crocheting done on the weekend and I'm sure there are lots of other like me, so this will be a place to show off your weekends work and get excited about the next weekend to come! I really hope you will join me this weekend and post your work!

Here is a sneak peak at the button I made for the Linking Party....what do you think?

It can be found in the button page above!

The other thing I've been working on is making crafts to sell at a local Christmas Craft Sale! It is being held by the local museum and it is going to be super fun! I've been making garlands, mason jar covers for tea light holders, hats, cowls and right now, I'm in the mist of making a bunch of SANTA HATS! They are wonderfully cute and fast and easy to make and I think everyone is going to love them! I'm working from a pattern I made up last year while making santa hats for my friends sons and will post the pattern and some pictures ASAP!

Have you ever done a craft show before? I'm a little nervous! I've never done anything like this before and I'm scared I'm not going to have enough stuff or too much and I have NO idea how to price the things I'm making. I'm really just doing it because it will be fun but if you have any advice for me, I would love to hear it!

If you live in the Alliston area or are coming to it for some random reason on November 12th and 13th, stop by the Museum on the Boyne an check out the sale! It is FREE and promises to be a good time!

That's all for now....I will be back soon with the linking party and the santa hat pattern!
Melissa

Making crochet hooks even better....

is that's even possible!?!

You may know by now that I love to crochet! With all the things that bring me stress each day, crocheting is my grounder and I honestly don't know what I would do without it.

This winter I discovered that i really enjoy crocheting doilies, something I never thought I would be into. I like watching a pattern work up quickly and rarely work with fine yarns or wools but I decided to make a doily and loved it.

When my grandmother passed away a couple of years ago, I inherited her collections of crochet hooks and knitting needles. I was amazed by how small so many of them were and my mom told me she loved making lace and doilies. So when I picked up one of her tiny hooks and some crochet cotton, I instantly felt a connection to her and the art form we both loved.

But after only 2 doilies my hands were starting to feel the pain of working those small needles, so I put them aside and started working on other, larger projects. Recently, I stumbled upon some modified crochet hooks, with larger handles for easier gripping and thought to myself, I can do that.

I remembered that I had some bake clay in my craft closet (that's right, I use a closet) that needed using up, so I grabbed a couple of hooks and away I went. It was super fun and easy to do, and I strongly suggest it to you if you like the fine yarn but not the tiny hooks! Here are some pictures!

Packages of bake clay bought from a thrift store many moons ago!

My collection of crochet hooks, all of which are currently not in use...there are many more attached to projects all over the house.

My newly handles crochet hooks...aren't they lovely!

Hiya!

I feel like an update is in order even though I have no new photos for you all.

I've have been super busy up in here! Last week was Kade's birthday, my best friend came to visit and my brother is in town. I had a few days off and that is always nice! It has been a bit crazy but fun and I can't believe the summer is coming to a close!

I have been crocheting a bit but I haven't got out my camera in about a week, so I have no new photos. I'm working on projects for my local fall fair and I'm excited to get so photos up here for you all to see.

I know it is early but I'm going to be hitting the hay!

Good night all,
Melissa

summer loving'

it is true, it happens so fast! summer is almost half done and i don't know where it has gone.

some days i wish i had gone to teachers college so i could have my summers off to hang out with kade (my friends just tell me to get pregnant again!) but that is not the case, and while i love my job, i miss being home to play and go to the park. kade is lucky to have his dad home with him this summer and while i know this is a great way for them to bond, i'm also a little jealous about how close they have become. he will always be a mama's boy, right?

next weekend is kade's birthday and the potato festival in alliston, so i'm looking forward to some celebration! then i have a few days off to hang out and have fun. we have friends and family coming home next weekend, which should be great, too!

anyways, i've been working hard on my top secret project that i don't think i will get done on time but we've been doing a lot of other fun stuff too. birthday parties, pool goodness, and a little bit of baby crocheting!

here are a few pictures of a commissioned baby blanket i just finished....

look how cute the little tiny loafers are! i really hope they fit!

And now for some other summer goodness....

kade taking a mid-afternoon nap, his legs are getting so long!

alex and kade a birthday party this past weekend...my boys are so hansom!

yummy home grown strawberries...we have been eating them like crazy!

nap close up! look at the little sweaty face!

hope you are enjoying your summer and getting lots of crafting and napping done!
much love, melissa

on a mission...

i must make 3 squares a day for the next 14 days if there is any hope in finishing this thing....bye bye white wine!

Do you love granny squares?

no, i mean really love granny squares!

i sure do and have found a few friends online who also love granny squares.

one of those people is adaiha over at things to make and do, who is in the mist of making a granny square for each day of this year! brilliant right! adaiha has been a constant inspiration for me since i discovered her blog and i always look forward to seeing what she will do next.

her newest coolest thing is a downloadable background for your computer that features all of the granny squares shes made this year.....i know you want it...i sure did.

above it what it looks like but now imagine it as your desktop.....go here to download your very own and while your there, take a look around!

my life has been full of secret blanket crocheting so i have nothing new of my own to share with you. i hope you are all happily crocheting the summer away and i'm looking forward to sharing with you my blanket when i'm done it!

melissa

Starburst Hotpad

What a fun and interesting pattern!

I've been wanting to make this for awhile now but just from looking at it, I couldn't figure it out, so I've been avoiding it. I thought it was going to be much harder then it was....

It turned out amazing! I will make more....they would make great gifts and would go really nice with the xmas gifts I've already started.

If your interested in making this hotpad, and I strongly suggest that you do, you can find the pattern here....there is even a really great video tutorial!

Have a great Sunday,
m

Blanket unveiling!

My blanket is done and I am in love with it!

It is big, about the size I wanted but I still can't believe how big it is!

Again, I want to thank everyone for getting involved with this CAL. It was the first one I've done but I will be doing another, for sure.

I can't wait to see all of your lovely work, but in the mean time, here's mine!
m





My pictures are always blurry....anyone got any tips for me on how to avoid that?

Here is the linking tool, for when your ready to show off your blanket!

Join, Join, Join!

Good Morning!

So....are you excited that today is the last day of May? I sure am!

I knew that this CAL would be fun but I didn't expect it would be so much work! Don't get me wrong, this has been really awesome and I learned so much but I'm ready to move on...to work on other blankets!

But there is one more thing we need to do to get this finished and that is join these squares together! So, here is the link to Adaiha's lovely blog and the tutorial she did just for us to show off her joining method!

I've been using her method to join my squares all month and it is fast and easy to do! Not only that, but Adaiha takes amazing pictures that you will show you all the steps you need to make a beautiful blanket!

So, I'm going to do the linking party for our finished blankets at the top of the "Square a Day in May" page that can be found at the top of this blog and in this post....take your time adding your blankets...there is no need to rush...I'm going to keep this linking party open until September!

Thanks again everyone for participating, this has been the most amazing experience!
m

Day 28: Peace Sign!

Howdy!

Today is a busy day for us....we need to go to the dump this morning, then to Beeton for the Honey and Garden Festival and this afternoon Padt Stock in remembrance of a life cut short.

It seems fitting that today's square have a peace sign in the middle because Patrick was such a peaceful young man! He loved music and his friends and was so full of kindness it shone out of him. Rest in peace, Padt!



Peace Sign Square by JudyK

Much love everyone!
m

PS...Sorry for the ugly picture...I have to work on my picture taking abilities!

Day 27: Granny's More Complex Star!

Almost done!

I have one more square to make....and I'm so excited to be done! I have 5 more squares to add to my blanket and then I have to make a boarder (any suggestions Adaiha?) and it will go on our bed for the summer!

Here is today's square....



Granny's More Complex Star by Jacqui!

I love this pattern but not the color pattern! You can't really see the cool detail in the middle but it turned out great and I would do it again....can't wait to see all your beautiful squares!

Have a great crochet day!
m

Day 25: Birthday Flower!

Happy Birthday Mom!

I picked this pattern for today based solely on it name for today is my moms birthday! We got to hang out with her all day Saturday but today she will be working so we will call her before we head off to school and work. Luckily, my parents are planning to come visit tomorrow so Kade and I will attempt to make some sort of birthday cake (I suck at baking) or maybe I will go buy something from the local bakery! Either way, we are going out for dinner which is always fun and Kade will also get to spend more time with her, which he loves!

So, in honor of my mom, here is today's square!


This is Birthday Flower by Chris!

Sorry this picture isn't the best but I really like this square. And my mom did too!

Hope you all have a great day!
m

Day 24: Bright and Cheery!

It is not bright or cheery here in my neck of the woods! We had such an amazing weekend and now the weather is gross and gloomy!

Anyways, here is today's square....



This is Bright and Cheery Square by Danya!

I love the way this square worked out! The colors are amazing and it looks great!
m

Day 23: Versailles!

Happy Victoria Day!

I am so glad for this long weekend...not only has the weather been amazing but I've got tons of crocheting done, spent time with friends and family and got yard work done!

I officially finished the baby blanket I've been working on and made a hat to go with it. I will post pictures soon!

Today we look forward to a play date, laundry and more crocheting! I still have a few more squares left to make for the square a day that I have been avoiding but we are coming to the end so them must be made!

And here is today's square!



Versailles by Melinda!

Hope you have a lovely day, wherever you are!
m

Sorry everyone, I put the wrong linking party up before...here's the right one!

Day 22: Imposible Hexagon!

Good morning!

We had ourselves an amazing day yesterday at my parents house. The weather was unbelievable, the food was perfect and the company great. I don't think the weather is going to be as nice today but this will be a good clean up and hang out day...oh, and crochet! I must crochet today!



Here is Impossible Hexagon by Stramenda!

I really like this pattern and I love the colors I used!

Oh, just an update, I'm pretty sure the "cold" I've been suffering from is actually allergies. I've never really had allergies before but there is so much pollen in the air right now and I'm suffering! Any suggestions?

Hope you have a great Sunday!
m