Ghan photo

Here is the long-ago promised photo of the June block, Summer Romance.I have yet to start work on the August block, Heat Wave, but will get to it soon. Thanks April for creating these enjoyable, quick and easy patterns.

This is my other work in progress. I'm stitching up a simple to make (all single crochet) hooded sweatshirt for my son. He chose the colors and it is starting to take shape.

Two more 'ghan blocks

I found some time to catch up on the blocks in April's Calandar 'Ghan Crochet Along and now have all 7 complete.

New to the finished stack are July's block named Patriot's Pride,and Spring Fling (from wwaayy back in April). This block looks rather challenging, but was actually quite easy to whip up.

The photo of the June block, Summer Romance, needs to be retaken. Update to come soon.

Ripple finish

Soon, this afghan will snuggle a wee little baby girl, our neice. She is due the first week of September, but her big brother came several weeks early so we are ready anytime for her arrival.

Sunday evening was spent weaving in the ends from color changes. I enjoy the color play on this afghan. I'm not much for pastels, brighter colors are more my style. This is larger than many baby afghans, the finished size is 3' x 4', big enough for breastfeeding or keeping mamma warm during naps too!

The entire pattern is double crochet using a combination of front and back post stitches to make the ripple. Like all ripple patterns, the first row is a challenge, after that I can almost do it without looking.I count this as a UFO finish as I started with yarn that I already had and only bought 3 skeins to finish. It took a total of 7 skeins. I used Caron Simply Soft Eco. It is inexpensive, soft, washable, made from recycled materials. I like the feel much better than Red Heart yarns and have found far fewer flaws in the skeins than with Red Heart yarns.

Old and new

Visiting a local thrift shop this week I browsed through racks of clothing, boxes of old denim, sheet sets from the '70s, children's picture books, old sheet music and piles of mismatched china. It was heavenly. Visions of crafting and decorating projects and activities with my kids began dancing in my head.

Then I met this handsome gentleman.He was too much fun and only 69¢. I just had to bring him home to meet the family.
I'm going to attempt - soon - to make a duplicate of this fabulous potholder. He is mostly double crochet and field tested by yours truly to work as a more than adequate pot holder with loads of character.

But, first I must complete a project already in process for a pending arrival.

I love ripple patterns. This is the same pattern I used for a previous project, but with a new color combination. The afghan is about 1/3 complete, the baby is due in September.

I've been busy

My sewing, crafting, quilting and otherwise fun posts have been few and far between lately. I've been busy with other things.This weekend I walked through graduation. What a sense of accomplishment that was. My coursework is complete. My thesis will be complete over the summer and I'll defend it before a panel of three in September. By the holidays I'll have a Master of Science in Communication Studies.

Those are my parents posing for pictures with me and if you look closely in the corners I brought my fan club, Rikard and Keeli.

Now to work on that Sunbonnet baby quilt. SIL just found out it is a girl and the baby shower is in two weeks. They are still trying on names, but I hear Zoe Leann (sp?) is a front runner.

Catching up

Whew! The past few months have been a whirlwind of activity and a slow down isn't coming soon. I found myself sitting under my Ott light and crocheting this morning, just working away and letting my mind rest.
I finished the March (above) and May (below) installments of the Calendar 'ghan going on over at Dishcloth Diaries. March's block is called Lion's Mane, May's block is named Flower Garden. These two worked up quickly and easily. Apologies for the uneven edges, these aren't blocked yet. I don't want to block them, store them, and have to block them again.April? You are wondering where the April block is? Spring Fling has a much more intricate medallion in the center of the block (very feminine and lacy) and while crocheting this morning was relaxing, it was mixed with kids playing, kids being hungry, the need for someone to go grocery shopping, questions about what was for dinner and the nagging thoughts of waiting homework. It may have to wait until school is out for the quarter.

Tatum's 2nd quilt

Nana Joyce came to spend some quality time with the kids while Rick and I went to Florida earlier this month. Nana brought scraps for Tatum and she created this little quilt.Technically this is her first quilt, her last creation is still only a top. These scraps are from a quilt made for Tatum's cousin Madison. She did some fussy cutting, some machine piecing, attempted applique and made the binding by more fussy cutting of some patterned fabric. She is still finishing the hand sewing part of the binding and a hanging sleeve on the back.

Tatum has been exploring quilting, sewing and creativing with a great deal of creativity and freedom. I don't think we should impose too many rules on her yet.