A Little Gift for Myself

It's not like I don't have a lot of crochet patterns and pattern books already but I frequent Sandra's blog, Diary of a Stay at Home Mom, and see all the fun things she crochets so decided to splurge and buy myself some fun new pattern booklets.

I ordered these from Annie's Crafts (used to be Annie's Attic) before I left for vacation last week. I picked them up at the post office yesterday! 

Sandra showed some Bavarian Crochet she was doing on her blog and I was intrigued by it. I looked all over the internet for patterns and found several but in the end decided to get a book from Annie's. I have always liked Annie's patterns because they are easy to read and the directions are straight forward--no mumbo jumbo! The other two books were impulse purchases but I think I am going to enjoy them. 

Isn't this one cute! I am planning to make some dishcloths and potholders for Christmas gifts. Yes, indeed, I'm thinking ahead! I may even make some up for a giveaway! Would you be interested?

This one is for potholders! I really like the looks of it!

And, last but not least, I purchased the above as a digital download on my iPad because I wanted to take it with me on my trip to the coast. I am currently crocheting the doily on the cover. I am on the row of cute pink flowers and have half of them done. I wasn't able to work on it this week because of my flu bug but am getting ready to start crocheting again!

I think these pattern booklets should keep me busy for quite awhile and I look forward to showing off what I make. Stay tuned:)

Have a great day and I will be back on Sunday evening for the Sunday Night Chit-Chat. For real this time:)

Kat

Happy Homemaker Monday

It's Monday! What does that mean?!!! Happy Homemaker Monday, of course:) I was really lazy over the weekend and didn't even do the Sunday Night Chit-Chat last night:( Happy Homemaker Monday is hosted each week by Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. I love reading Sandra's blog because it reminds me of my life when my children were growing up...homeschooling, reading the Bible and Bible stories to the children before bed, cooking from scratch, reading cookbooks, crocheting and sewing...sometimes I miss those days; get a little teary thinking about them. But now I am on the Gramma side of things and have waayyy less energy to accomplish a day's duties so I guess the Bible is right, "To every thing there is a season..." Ecclesiastes 3:1 

Happy Homemaker button courtesy of Sandra @ Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

So, let's get started with our Happy Homemaker Monday!

The Weather...45 degrees (F) today with blue skies and bright sunshine:) 

Right now I am...Sitting in my chair, sipping Yerba Mate tea, blogging, listening to my hubby talk to his brother and sister-in-law about our coast trip tomorrow:)

Thinking...About about our fun trip to the coast this week.

On my reading pile...I am on the second book in the Happiness Key series, Fortunate Harbor by Emilie Richards. The first book in the series finally got my interest about chapter 18. The fact that I hung in that long is amazing but I am looking forward to this next book in the series.

On my TV...Downton Abbey was wonderful last night but was not expecting two hours! Guess that was a bonus! Next Sunday is the season finale! How long are we going to have to wait till Season Four?!!!

Favorite Blog post this week (mine or other)...
A Really Big Morning by Cindy at Just North of Wiarton and South of the Checkerboard! I really related to this post.

Something fun to share...I'm coming up with a blank for today!

On the menu for this week...

Monday--Spaghetti, salad, garlic french bread
Tuesday--Sweet Tomatoes Restaurant in Clackamas, OR on our way to the coast:)
Wednesday--Restaurant in Lincoln City, OR
Thursday--Valentine's Day dinner at a restaurant in Seaside, OR
Friday--most likely Sweet Tomatoes on our way home
Saturday
Sunday

On my "to do" list...

• Pack for our trip to the Oregon Coast
• Visit a yarn/craft store in Seaside
• Shop at the Outlet Mall in Lincoln City
• Peruse at least one used bookstore
• Peruse at least one Thrift store
• Take pictures while at the coast to share with YOU!

What I am sewing, crocheting, knitting, or crafting...

I purchased this book from Annie's Attic as a digital download (on my iPad) to take with me to the coast. Crochet thread projects are easy to transport:) Looking forward to making some pretty doilies! Pineapples are my favorite!

Homemaking Tips: Since I am packing and getting ready for our trip, I will share an old packing tip. Fold your clothes and then roll them to get more in your suitcase. I pack a wool sock to put my curling iron or hair straightener in just in case it's hot when I'm packing to come home.

Looking around the house...The dogs are sprawled out across the living room floor, in front of the wood stove, with their toys (as usual). Things look pretty good around here today:)

From the camera...

A box of Happy Mail! I will share more in a post later today!

On my Prayer List...
Friends with health issues; friends trying to sell their business to be able to spend more time with their children; friend preparing for move this summer to Japan (military family); 

Bible verse; Devotional...

To everything there is a season,

And a time for every purpose under the heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die;

A time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

A time to kill, and a time to heal; 

A time to break down, and a time to build up;

A time to week, and a time to laugh;

A time to mourn, and a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;

A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to get, and a time to lose;

A time to keep, and a time to cast away;

A time to rend, and a time to sew;

A time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

A time to love, and a time to hate; 

A time of war, and a time of peace."

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (KJV)

Have a wonderful day! I will be back a little later with my Happy Mail post:)

Kat

Pineapple Doily

Happy Thursday to you! I have been crocheting again (or is it still) and finished another beautiful doily. This "twirling pinwheel of pineapples" is from the book Favorite Throws & Table Toppers to Crochet by Annie's Attic. I love to crochet pineapples! This pattern is called Passionate Plum in the book because it was crocheted in plum colored thread but I decided to do mine in white this time. The last time I crocheted this pattern it was in a beautiful sage green for my friend, Barb. It measures 16 inches across and was crocheted in size 10 crochet cotton using a size 8/1.50mm steel crochet hook.

The photo at right is a closeup of the center pinwheel portion. 


I have found Annie's Attic crochet patterns to be the easiest to follow. At least 35 years ago I was trying to learn to follow a printed pattern. I could crochet but only if someone showed me how to do it. Well, along came Annie's Crochet, a magazine that had wonderful, usable patterns in it. The instructions were easy enough that I could follow them--any of them. Annie's Attic  sells other patterns but if you want simple to follow, choose the ones that say Annie's Attic. I have also found Annie's Attic patterns at Joanns.

The photo at left is a closeup of the pineapples at the edge. I always feel so accomplished when I finish a doily. 


Currently I am working on a doily called Lace Wheat. They are also known as Ripened Wheat. I have never tried a Wheat doily before so we'll see what happens.


I hope you have wonderful day full of the Lord's rich blessings! I am hoping one of those blessings is sunshine today but fear it will just be more rain--which is a blessing for the farmers:) Kat