ho ho ho....

haven't been crocheting lately...have been baking cookies! i made homemade jam and goodies to send to family and friends and we had our holiday party with work last weekend...the rest of the season is open to egg nog and poirot....with some crochet thrown in! will make a new year's resolution to take more project pictures and post them here and on instagram....fingers crossed it sticks!

happy autumn!

wow! november is here with a vengeance...after an september and october that was a long summer, fall is definitely here...rainy and windy and chilly...it's excellent hot chocolate weather...i've been working on quite a few projects actually...i took a short break to wash and fold fabric that had been donated to my quilt group and i also redesigned a couple of projects and ideas...i'm rattling around a couple of ideas for new projects and i'm attempting to learn the basics (real basic) tenets of photography :) that will take some practice...

short term, i'm going to finalize some cmas presents to send to relatives and then shift gears to cookies...lots and lots of holiday cookies :) i generally keep holidays to a minimum for my own sanity but this year i decided to come out of cookie exile and send some as gifts...the inlaws will be thrilled :)

so...what are your projects and plans?

betmo's musings

back when i started blogging (in the stone age), i had to teach myself everything.  the internet was exploding and everything was new and shiny.  i blogged solidly for a long time and learned how to drive traffic and boost visibility and whatnot.  yeah...i'm back at square one.  technology is light years away from where it was when i blogged in '06.  it is certainly going to be a learning curve but hey- i love a challenge :)

on to the new...

although gardening season is here in upstate new york, i am attempting to plan out my next projects. i have been looking at some specialty yarns, as well as trying to pick out some projects to use up some of the yarn i already have...i am excited to try tunisian crochet soon...it looks a bit challenging and different- and i can't wait to try the stitch with the chenille yarn i bought...

little gray cells

i am bringing myself around to working on some designs to use up scrap yarn and leftovers from other projects. i am working on finishing an outstanding project and gearing up for november 17th craft fair...and i am looking forward to making some lovely projects already thought out...

i really hope next year is better than 2011.

long summer

i haven't even thought about crochet- well, that's not entirely true because i have thought about it :) all summer...much has been going on and i intend to get back going when i have some time to breathe...

i still have a couple of unfinished projects and plenty of ideas for new ones- and i am going to make myself a craft space in my basement- so plans are plenty and time is not...

ending my hiatus

i picked up a crochet hook for the first time since the spring :) it has been a long hot summer and i am back to working full time and managing everything else on top- so, crochet has taken a back seat. but, with the coming of cooler weather, i will not have the yard work to contend with so, i will have time to devote to crochet. plus, i have the maine-endwell craft fair in november- i need to have one more piece for it-- to make me happy that is :)

happy labor day weekend fellow americans- i am so happy that summer is winding down- i am beaming.... :)

new projects

i went and bought more yarn yesterday- and i have a half dozen projects outlined in my head- it is amazing that creativity returns when the doldrums clear :) i started an amigurumi pig- it seems pretty straightforward- so i will post when i finish it. basically single crochet worked in a round and the appendages done separately and attached after stuffing. hope it turns out cute....

doldrums slowly clearing

i have not felt creative of late- but i hope to get my head cleared and get started on several projects i have already lined up... soon....

quick update

i haven't crocheted lately as life has a way of getting in the way of the best laid plans- of mice and men :) i have some ideas in the works though- i have a few amigurami patterns set aside; i have yarn for at least 3 projects waiting, and i intend on making some eco friendly flower vases out of milk cartons, recycled glass jars--- and some eco friendly yarn to be purchased. i would use reclaimed yarn but i don't know how that works selling things. nowadays, you pretty much have to label everything- what it's made of and where it came from. my reclaimed yarn is a mish mash of acrylics from the last 20 years or so- so, i'll keep that for my own use :)

hope the winter hasn't been too difficult for everyone- apparently, we have had some snow or ice in almost all 50 states this winter... hawaii lucked out :) anyhoo, i will update as i start some projects- and van morrison is waiting patiently for me to put him in the cd player.......

winter doldrums

i have not started any projects as of yet- but i am leaning towards amigurumi for craft fairs. perhaps i can get more business cards circulated that way. i have to regroup because winter is kicking my butt. i have no get-up-and-go and my sinuses have been lousy on top of that. i have gotten some garden planning done though- and i need to resume looking for a part time job. sigh. spring where are you? ..........

another one done

i finished the hearts throw- and will post pics as soon as i take some. i am waiting for the throw to dry so i can give it a once over. i used fabri-tac to glue the hearts onto the squares and frankly, i wanted to see if any fell off :) i really have no idea what's in the fabri-tac so, i googled it. it lead me to something that i think is pretty beneficial for all--- the usda household products database. yep. i imagine you could probably enter anything in there and find out what's in it and how to dispose of it- and what it could do to you.

or, maybe you're better off not knowing :) anyhoo, pics later and posting on etsy. have 2 projects lined up to begin soon- yellows and browns and golds and whatnot. should be cool....

and, apparently, fabri-tac is mostly acetone- at least 75%

finished the ribbon throw

the fabritac wasn't bad to work with- in fact, i am trying it out on yarn now- yarn on yarn instead of fabric. we'll see but i have my fingers crossed as i don't want to have to hand sew hearts on squares. i don't particularly like hand sewing- although i do enjoy crewel. weird i guess. anyhoo, i am going to share a couple of holiday gifts i got this year that i think will be helpful- in addition to the record keeping book i also received:

so, the holidays are almost over...

i really had wanted to finish a couple of projects by yuletime- but that didn't happen. i didn't feel like it and what's the sense in having a hobby if it becomes a chore? that's probably why i have only sold one thing on etsy :) anyhoo, i have begun to weave the ribbon on the victorian and i have all of the squares done on the heart throw- i just have to start putting things together. but, the inlaws come next week :)

the strips went together quite easily- and weaving the ribbon is fairly simple. i am using fabric glue to secure the ribbon and if it works well- i may try it on another project where i am supposed to sew yarn to yarn. we'll see. i'll keep ya posted.

my suggestion if you ever weave yarn- leave it on the spool until you are done weaving. it has made my life easier as i can adjust the end lengths and i don't have much waste.

and here are a few pics that show why i launder each and every piece before i send it.....

another week rolls 'round

i am currently half way through the hearts throw and the victorian holiday throw. i will post pictures soon- i have almost one full strip on the victorian throw done- it's enough for a teaser :)

'only the good' friday

hard to believe another friday has rolled around :) and this is the friday before our thanksgiving here in america. i want to take a moment to be thankful for the folks who read my blog and appreciate the time and energy it takes to create what i do. and i am thankful that there are so many creative folks out there with immense talent. thank you for making the world a bit more beautiful.

i have the heartsy throw well under way and i am working the victorian throw- the foundation for it. i lost track of time this week- but i did manage to send out the sunflower throw to its new owner. :) i will be working and keeping pictures up as best i can as i go along. thanks again to everyone who has helped me on the path to success. :)

yeah!!!!

i have made my first sale on etsy- and i am thrilled :) the sunflowers throw has a new home and it will make way for newer projects that i will be working on. thanks again!!!

new, new, new

so, 2009 is winding down and it's time for me to start thinking about projects for 2010- i have a half dozen or so i am mulling around in my mind- and i actually have yarn for like 3 of them. i really want to get using some eco friendly yarns- by that i mean natural fibers as opposed to the plastics. the projects are going to have to be small ones- as those yarns tend to be way more expensive. so, it will be newer territory for me this upcoming year :) i still have acrylic yarn to use up- so, expect to see some interesting stitches soon :)

i am currently working on a throw with colors i normally don't pick for myself- i really love blues :) in case you couldn't tell. so, here are some of the squares i am working at- the heartsy throw...

monday, monday

the official start of my week- i need to regroup and get myself back together. the holidays are around the corner, and although we don't go all out, i have packages to ready and menus to prepare. plus, i want to get working on the hearts throw i am working on- and plan projects for 2010. i hope to have the hearts throw ready for february :) it should be pretty- pinks, purples, burgundies- and a welcome change from blue and white :) will have pics up after i clean up from the craft fair debacle :)

something in the air

the craft show was a bust- but i don't feel badly because i wasn't the only one. lookie lous instead of buyatrons. so, i wasted 6 hours and and an entry fee today. sigh. but, the good news is- i still have stock for the holidays- because although i have 2 projects in the works- i am not that fast :)  namaste.