48/52

"A portrait of my girls, once a week, every week, in 2017"

I stumbled upon the two of you having a top secret "Sister Conference". What are you girls whispering about?

Inspired by The 52 Week Project at Practicing Simplicity.

Christmas Crochet

Christmas is just a few weeks away so today I thought I'd share with you some of my Christmas crochet makes, quick little projects that are perfect for the holidays.

The first is a crochet angel:

This is a gift for Claire's piano teacher. Every Monday night while Claire is having her lesson, I sit in the corner of Mrs. Kay's living room and crochet, and every week, once the lesson is over, Mrs Kay and I talk about yarn and crochet. Crocheting her a little something for Christmas seemed obvious, and an angel the perfect thing since Claire is playing "Angels We Have Heard on High" in the recital.

The pattern for the angel is available for free courtesy of Sewrella.

I also made a few snowflakes:

These were a little finicky to make, but are very cute and will be adorable on top of gifts. The pattern is available for free from Attic24.

Christmas preparations are in full swing. Many lists have been made, decorations are going up this coming weekend, menus are being planned, and believe it or not, I am nearly done shopping.  I am determined to minimize stress and enjoy the holidays this year....so far, so good.

A Rainbow Purse to Brighten Your Day

When the weather is grey and dull, and when it is pitch black outside by 5:00 pm, I turn to my yarn basket to revel in some color and to brighten my day.

Today I am excited to show you a little colorful project that I made completely on a whim with no real purpose in mind other than to fulfill my need to make something pretty and colorful: a rainbow drawstring purse

Mission accomplished - this bag is so pretty and obviously colorful.

I found the pattern for this bag among my old pattern stash and used my collection of cotton yarns to work it up. Luckily the blog from which I printed the pattern many years ago is still up and running and on revisiting it now I was happy to find a gorgeous space full of crochet inspiration. There are a few other patterns there that I would love to make and I have added them to my list. I love having a running list of "crochet projects to make" and being continually inspired to add to the list. Having an overabundance of crafty projects and ideas is never a bad thing.

When it came to choosing colors for my bag, I took a completely random approach. I quite like how it turned out, though if I were to make this bag again, I would like to try a more planned color palate, just to see how that would look. This is a small enough project, that experimenting with colors is quite possible.

I've been crocheting a lot lately, in every spare moment I have, and I am more in love with this craft than ever. I have an absolutely amazing project in the works, as well as a few Christmas bits..I can't wait to show you. Until then, happy crafting friends.....

Pattern: Rainbow Purse 
Yarn: Bernat Handicrafter Cotton - so many colors
Colorful: 100%
Pretty: 100%
Fun to Make: 100%

47/52

"A portrait of my girls, once a week, every week, in 2017."

My girls and I in the kitchen, all wearing aprons, and making dinner together.

I love the moment captured here: an ordinary Saturday night in November (hence the darkness), good food on the stove, funny comments and questions from my favorite girls, Bridget stirring the sauce, Claire adding the spices...a simple and happy evening.

Inspired by The 52 Week Project at Practicing Simplicity.

46/52

"A portrait of my girls, once a week, every week, in 2017."

Bridget: Looking stylish and fab (your word, not mine) in your new outfit; I love the necklace. (And at the risk of sounding like a complete and utter cliche, why do you suddenly look so grown up?)

Claire: This week you got to bring home Brooke and her friends from Brownies. You were so happy and excited and there was some serious doll playing going on.

Inspired by The 52 Week Project at Practicing Simplicity.

P.S. I miss the summer when it was still warm and sunny at 4:30 in the afternoon; we were all freezing cold and chasing the last bits of natural light to get these photos...

Spot the Ladybug

Naming a ladybug "Spot" seems a little cliche, but it works so I am going with it.

The pattern for this guy is from Lion Brand. Years ago when I was enthusiastically getting back into crochet, and especially excited about making amigurumi,  I printed off the pattern and added it to my stash. I never made him and then a few weeks ago, while cleaning up my patterns, I decided it was now or never.

Making all the pieces was simple enough, but sewing everything together - including six legs and six spots - was not much fun. It took hours and reminded me of mending, my most hated chore ever. To make the experience a little more enjoyable/tolerable I listened to the long list of podcasts that I had gotten behind on, sipped coffee....and by the end of the afternoon I had learned a great deal (I love podcasts) and I had this sweet little ladybug.

(I'll be honest though, next time I come across an amigurumi pattern with lots of tiny pieces to sew together and am tempted to make it, I may think twice...)

I really have no use for Spot, or any of the other amigurumi that I have made, but I get so much joy and happiness from making them that I keep on going, making critter after critter. I have quite a few stashed away around my house and am beginning to wonder what on earth I should do with them all. The girls don't play with them - they mostly exclaim when a new animal is made and then move on to other things - and I am left with an enormous heap of crocheted toys. What to do? The struggle is real my friends, nothing critical by any means, but something I am thinking about......

Pattern: Amigurumi Lady Bug
Yarn: Bernat Handicrafter Cotton in Red, Lily Sugar and Cream in Black

A Summer Blanket Ta-dah (in the Fall)

I've finished my Summer Blanket (named as such simply because I began working on it in the summer). And I've finished it at the perfect time too, as autumn has truly arrived. While I have often reserved blanket making for the colder months, when you think about it, making a blanket in the summer is the perfect situation; working away all summer and finishing in the fall means you will be completely prepared with a new blanket to cuddle under when the temperatures drop.

To say I am pleased with how my blanket turned out would be an understatement - I really love it. The colors, the softness of the yarn, the edging that just finished it off perfectly - it is a favorite project of mine for sure.

It was an enjoyable project to work on as well - I loved making it as much as I love the final product. Every evening, after the girls were in bed, I would settle into in my corner of the sofa, prop up my feet and crochet a few rows. It was both calming and therapeutic and a moment that I looked forward to everyday; thank goodness for crochet and its restorative benefits, I can not count the number of times I have thought that, or proclaimed it aloud.

My blanket currently lives in our bedroom, either in my crochet corner or draped over the edge of the bed where it can easily be pulled on top of my legs when I am crocheting or reading.

But the story does not end there. One evening I was sitting on the sofa with my yarn basket at my feet, leftover bits of yarn from my blanket inside, when I was inspired to make a mandala. Following Lucy's brilliant and simple mandala pattern, one mandala was made, and then another, and then another....I stopped at four for fear that I was becoming a little obsessed. My favorite thing about making mandalas is trying different color orders and combinations. I mean look at these four and how different they all look while they are all made with the same yarns....

Ahh, things have been quite wonderful around here on the yarn front. Lots of time creating and lots of beautiful projects. I am a happy yarn lady....

Blanket Pattern: Happy in Red Diamond Stitch Blanket
Edging Pattern: Happy in Red Granny Stripe Edging
Mandala Pattern: Attic 24 Mandala Wheel 
Yarn: Deramores Studio DK in Pearl, Mustard, Blush, Topaz, Indigo

I'm joining in with the Winter Project Link Party over at Thistlebear. 

45/52

"A portrait of my girls, once a week, every week, in 2017."

Bridget: loving being ten and in grade six, loving school, loving synchronized swimming, loving your red jeans, loving singing in the choir.....just loving life!

Claire: carrying on a family tradition - wearing the dirndel that Oma, myself, and Bridget wore before you.

Inspired by The 52 Week Project at Practicing Simplicity.

44/52

"A portrait of my girls, once a week, every week, in 2017."

Claire: The Snow Queen

Bridget: American Girl Doll, Grace

Halloween was fantastic this year. Claire was delighted to be the Snow Queen and Bridget created her own costume - Grace, her favorite American Girl Doll. After hours of trick-or-treating both girls burst through the door with rosy cheeks, wind blown hair, tired eyes....and an enormous load of candy (so much candy!!!).

Much fun was had....and plans for next years' costumes and trick-or-treating strategies are already being discussed.

Inspired by The 52 Week Project at Practicing Simplicity.