Need Crochet Motivation...

I  need to get motivated and finish the 2nd doily I'm making for my uncle's new place in Florida.  I'm not too keen on crocheting with thread.  In the meantime, I am working on a "brainless" project--a magic ball afghan.  For this, you just wind up all your scraps of similar yarns, in this case worsted weight acrylic, and crochet a simple pattern using a strand of the magic ball yarn and one other color, I'm using black.  It is so relaxing to just crochet back and forth. I'm doing the following row sequence:  single crochet, half-double crochet, double crochet, half-double crochet, and single crochet.  I'm repeating this sequence until I get to the desired size or run out of magic balls and have to put the project on hold until I have enough scrap yarn to make additional magic balls.  I'm using a J-hook to have a tighter crochet and hopefully warmer ghan. 

Until later, stay warm everyone!

Cuppa Coffee Anyone?

I love my patio and my front porch.  Frequently we have our coffee out there.  When I lived up north, not too many people used their front porches except as means of egress.  Now that we live a little further south in Kentucky, it is common to see folks sitting on their front porches visiting or just kickin' back.  I was thinking about how it's been months since I had my coffee outside and missing it.  Anyone want a cup???

Monday's Link for Free Crochet Pattern

Today's link to a free pattern is for the triple dishcloth.  You can find it here.  It is at Marlo's Crochet Corner.

UFO Scarf Is Now an FO

A scarf I was making had made its way out of favor and was set aside for a couple months.  I pulled it out the other day and finished it up today.  The yarn I used was some novelty yarn in a royal blue color.  I think I got it at Hobby Lobby so it is probably one of their brands.  I used a 2nd strand of Red Heart Super Saver in black.  Those novelty yarns are hard for me to see where to put my hook so I usually use a strand of  "regular" yarn with the novelty yarn.  Anyway, the ufo is now an fo and I still have time to use it this year before the weather warms up!  Here's a couple pictures....

 

Made Another Potholder

I made another potholder last night while dh and I were kickin' back watching some television.  The pattern I used is the same one I used in yesterday's post.  I think 2 good potholders should be enough for now.  Last night I dumped the rest of my store-bought ones in the garbage can.  They were in sad, sad shape.  I currently have 2 projects I'm alternating between, a scarf and another doily for my uncle.  Concentration has been off for more than a week because of this bug I can't seem to shake.  Anyway, thanks for stopping by and visiting...

Potholder and Dishcloth Completed

 

 

Yesterday as dh and I went to the VA Hospital for my appointment, I sat in the waiting area and worked on this potholder.  I finished it last night and had only a small amount of one of my colors to make this dishcloth that I finished this morning.  The reason behind making a potholder is that I was looking at my potholders and they are TRASH!  I hate to waste them just because they're not pretty but the ones I have are way beyond the "not pretty anymore" stage.  I made this potholder to be functional.  This basic design is the workhorse of potholders.   The pattern is a freebie from Lion Brand Yarns.  It whipped up pretty quick and I'm going to make a couple more and throw my current (store-bought) supply in the trash.  The dishcloth is just one row single crochet and alternating rows that are double crochet, chain one and then skip a space and double crochet again all the way across. A single crochet edge finishes it off. Thanks for visiting...Sharon 

Look-Up #1 Song for Specific Dates Since 1940 and On This Day 05 Feb 1953--"Sweets" Rationing Ends

Are you ever curious as to what the #1 song was on the day you were born, married or other special day?  You can go to this page and look up #1 songs for dates since 1940.  OK, let's look at an event that happened this day in history and see what song the people back then were listening too.  On this day in history, 05 February 1953, Great Britain ends rationing of sweets--candies and confections.  Sugar was still rationed until September of that same year.  You can go here for more information on this event.  Anywho, in the UK, they may have been listening to Perry Como sing Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes. Here's the song for your listening enjoyment.  Note:  To turn off the blog's music player and to more comfortably listen to this song, go to the blog column on your right and scroll down to the music player.  Click on the pause button to turn the player's sound off.

The Ripple Toddler-Sized Afghan is Complete!

This is a picture of the toddler-sized afghan I was working on.  It is finished!  WoooHooooo!  It was very easy to make.  There is a problem with it though and it's not because of me unless you consider the fact that I went "cheap" by using mill ends to make this.  Ok, here's the scoop.  The claret-colored yarn is mill ends that I ordered some time ago from a now defunct company.  Anyway, mill ends also equals "seconds" as far as quality.  In approximately the middle of this little ghan, the claret yarn is much thicker.  I think it will be alright as long as I throw in some baby booties or hat to go with it when I find someone to gift it to.  What do you think?  The yarn is soft and very pettable--crocheters and knitters know what I mean by this lol!  Here are 2 other posts I've made about it #1, #2.  Hope you enjoy.  Hugs...

The January Snow Here at Home

The things we do for our kids.  When we had our "big" snow of 4-6 inches, that was a big deal for our little chihuahuas, Opi and Nellie Belle.  If you think about it, that amount of snow hits them in the middle of their faces!  DH, the good doggie daddy that he is, shoveled an area for them to go outside to do their duty.  Here's a glimpse of  the "rest area." Barney, our "big girl" didn't have any problem with the snow as you can see by all of her foot prints.She loves to frolic in the snow.

DH thought I should put this picture in here so you can see what our pond fish are living under. He made this cover to put over the pond to keep all the leaves and winter debris out of the pond to save beaucoup effort to clean it in the spring.

Monday's Link for Free Crochet Pattern

Today's free pattern is for a crocheted baby set and afghan done in the shell stitch.  Enjoy...

Ripple Blankie for Baby/Toddler.. a WIP

Still working on the ripple for a little toddler.  I'm slow, what can I say lol!  The pattern I'm using is a compilation of 2 with the color design my own based on what was in my stash.  The claret yarn is a mills end from Caron.  The thickness of the yarn varies quite a bit from skein to skein.  Oh well, it's still nice, I guess... Hope you enjoy.

Monday's Link for Free Crochet Pattern--Dog Sweater with Stripe

Today's free pattern is for a dog sweater.  I made this one and it was pretty easy.  It was a little big for either of my chihuahuas so I gave it to my brother for his little terrier-mix.  The picture here is my mil's fur baby modeling it.  I thought the rug yarn the pattern called for was a bit stiff but I bet some of the chunky or bulky yarns we have nowadays would be better.

New Link for Crocheted Round Afghan Pattern

Edited for bad link.

As some of you may recall, I have been keeping a list of links for free patterns for round afghans to crochet.  I found another one today in an email from redheart.  Here on this page you will find a pdf of this pattern.  Hope you enjoy,,,

A Cute Video About the Food Chain

Yesterday when I subbed, I collaborated with a science teacher for one of the class periods.  The kids were studying the food chain.  To help them understand it, the science teacher had found this cute video on youtube.  The kids loved it and sang along with it.  I thought it was so cute that I just had to come home and find it for you to see too.  So here goes...

Ripple Baby Afghan/Blanket--A WIP (Work in Progress)

Here's my latest wip.  It is a baby blanket based on a pattern I found at Lion Brand Yarns.  I am making it out of sc instead of dc for a tighter weave.  It looks narrower than I expected.  Originally I was going to give this to a toddler I know but I think after I finish it I'll put it in my "gift" drawer and give it to the next little boy born in the family.  I thought this color scheme, burgundy and white, was more appropriate for a toddler--I'm still of the old-school mind-set and like pastels for newborn babies.  I get rather nostalgic over ripple baby afghans/blankets because that is what I made for my older son before he was born.  I started it when I first got married just to have something to do.  I didn't have the stick-to-it-ness and I finished it about a week before he was born 2 1/2 years later!  I have speeded up some in recent years so I know the one I'm working on now will be finished in a few weeks.  Take care y'all...Hugs...

Monday's Link for Free Crochet Pattern--American Heartland Afghan

I  have decided that on Monday, I will post a link to a free crochet pattern.  So, with no further ado, here's the link for today's pattern, American Heartland Afghan.  Enjoy...

First Ever Crocheted Doily Made by Me

I finished crocheting this doily about a week or so ago.  Tonight, I starched it and ironed it to shape.  The pattern was very easy to make.  The problem I had was "seeing" but it did get a little easier as it progressed.  The pattern is called spiral simplicity doily.  I made it for my uncle who requested doilies for the arms of his couch; one down and one to go!  I'm not sure if I used the correct gauge thread because the label was missing when I bought my stash of crochet thread at a thrift store and I really don't know much about crocheting with thread since this is only my 2nd time to ever crochet with it.  Anyway, if you're looking for a simple, not flowery doily to crochet you  might want to consider this one.  Hope you enjoyed looking.  Hugs....

15 January, 1947, Elizabeth Short's (aka Black Dahlia) Mutilated Body Found

Today I think we'll take a look at an unsolved crime from the 1940s.  

On this day, January 15th, 1947 the mutilated remains of 22-year-old Elizabeth Short, who came to be known as the "Black Dahlia" were found in a vacant lot in a residential area of Los Angeles, CA. Short was born on July 29, 1924, at Hyde Park, Massachusetts. She was murdered on January 14, 1947.  Numerous persons were questioned in the murder of Short, but her killer was never found despite investigations by the FBI and local authorities.  This murder has been the subject of numerous movies.

If you're interested in the 2006 movie The Black Dahlia, here's a trailer for it:


More information:
FBI Electronic Reading Room records

13 January 1922 Conference of Cannes Ends

on 13 January1922:  Conference of Cannes concerning German retribution payments ended.  Germany had been having a difficult time paying reparations established by the Treaty of Versailles (related to their actions in World War I).  This conference eased the requirements for repayment of this debt but it was still more than the Germans could realistically afford. Originally, Germany was required to formally admit guilt, relinquish lands, reduce military to only 100,000 and pay monetary reparations.  "The final sum amounted to 132 billion gold marks; the schedule of payments drawn up in 1921 would have burdened the German economy until 1988." (Richard Overy, The Road to War Revised and Updated Edition, (London, Penguin, 1999), 28).  Germany's economy entered crisis mode and after the Conference of Cannes, a more realistic system of payments was instituted.  The system of payments continued to cause hardships to the German economy and individuals and ultimately helped to set the stage to put Hitler in power and the start of World War II.


Here's a newspaper article concerning this conference:


German Delegates Start for Cannes

For more information:
Resolutions adopted by the Supreme Council at Cannes, January, 1922 
Conference of Cannes 

On 11 January 1892 Paul Gauguin Marries in Tahiti

Gauguin, Self Portrait

Paul Gauguin was a struggling Post-Impressionist artist.  On 11 January 1892 he married a 13-year-old Tahitian girl.    You might say this marriage made him a  bigamist because he was still married to his first wife Mette (nee Gad) until his death in 1903 of syphilis.   There is little online information of his marriage to the Tahitian girl.  It is interesting to note that Gauguin became a celebrated artist but in his personal life he tended to enjoy seamier practices and habits than what was considered the norm.

For more information on Gaugin:
Discover France.net article on Gauguin 
Time Magazine article