Bulky Fiber Necklace: Teal

I'm a hot-blooded person.  You know, one of those gals you see wearing only a tee shirt in weather that prompts others to don hoodies, hats and gloves?  Don't get me wrong; I love me a good hoodie, but my point is that I don't do well with heavy stuff all up in my grill.  I get hot, I get cranky.  I get cranky, you don't want to deal with me.  Capisce?

With that said, I've come up with a solution for fall and winter accessorizing.  I can't walk around in a full-out scarf all day, but I love the idea of the bright colors and fun drapey quality. 

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the first in what I'm sure will become a series to include many colors of the Bulky Fiber Necklace:

This necklace has been constructed completely by hand using acrylic yarn.  I can't wait to share the other colors with y'all!

Interested in one of your own?  Let me know...these will be for sale soon.

Purses in Progress

I know I'm not the only one trying to figure out a more economical solution for round, wooden purse handles...someone out there has to have an idea.  My problem is that the 9" rattan hoops from Jo-Ann Fabrics are so darned expensive; I just can't afford to keep them on hand.

And so, until I come up with a brilliant idea, my completed Super-Fat bags look like this:

Not exactly ideal, but it's working out so far.  I figure I'll stash a few dollars away when I can, and each of these will get handles when I can afford to get them.

In the mean time, does anyone have any brilliant ideas for me?  The hoops I'm buying at the retail store are either $5.99 or $6.99 a set.  I'd love to hear any suggestions you may have.

Happy International Crochet Day!

Today is International Crochet Day, one of my favorite days of the year!

My mom and grandma taught me to crochet when I was a little girl.  I drifted away from it due to boredom and frustration more times than I can count, but somehow the timing was just right after I had my own daughter.  I asked my mom to - once again - show me the basic stitches, and I was off and running...haven't stopped since.  I've found over the last couple of years that I absolutely love to crochet.  In fact, I find it difficult to remember a time when I didn't love this craft.

To celebrate, I think I'll sit myself down with the sweater I've been working on and see if I can't finish off that lower left sleeve...it's the last bit I need to do before I put the whole thing together, and the weather here is getting delightfully fall-like, especially in the morning and evening hours.

Fall is my favorite time of year, and I'm starting to get excited.  Cooler weather means snuggling up under a hand-made blanket with a mug of hot tea, reading a good book...or snuggling up in front of a favorite movie and working on those heavier projects I don't want to deal with in the summer months.

Since International Crochet Day falls at the beginning of that seasonal transition, I really couldn't be happier to see it come around again.  Not only is it a reason to celebrate this craft I love so much, but it's also a sign that the bright colors and crisp weather are on their way.

Short-Sleeved Shruggy Sweater Thing

Mm-hmm.  I'm gettin' all technical on ya with the names, now.  :)

I love cardigans and sweaters of all kinds.  My problem is that I tend to run warm, so here's my solution...at least for the summer months when all I really need is a little something for when the office AC tries to turn me into a girl-sicle.

When I decided what I wanted to do, I visited the ol' Mountain-O-Yarn in the basement and picked out one of my favorite colors of Red Heart Super Saver.  It took about 3 of the 5-oz skeins to complete, and I'm typically a 2X or size 18-20.  In my neck of the woods, that would make the total investment about $9, plus time.
The really cool part?  I already had this yarn from a trade or previous craft store raid, so it was essentially free.  Bonus!

It's really comfy, too.  I think I'm going to end up making another one or two in different colors.

If you want one, you know where to find me.  ;)