simplesparrow

itty bitty

After my acorn accident that happily turned out to be a good thing, I wanted to try it again making a teeny-tiny one. I only wish there was a sweet newborn head around to try it out! I'll just have to send it to this precious, tiny head  across the pond. (that was really my intention all along ) I hope it fits, I'm not at all experienced in sizing for such tiny heads! With five kids of my own, you would think that I would have made hats for them. Up until 3-4 years ago, I wasn't really doing much any sewing/crafting/crocheting AT ALL. I think I still felt swamped with being a mom, home schooling, running the home etc...

About the house we were buying--we decided to pull out. A few days in to escrow we got some more information on the repairs that were needed and we felt we would be getting in over our heads. We weren't in love with the house--the added news of more renovations then we already expected seemed like a lot of stress we didn't need. So, on to the next beast! One that doesn't need quite so much work.

I've heard that some of you are trying the muffin recipe I posted! So far, I've gotten good feedback and can I just say, Whew!! I had only tested that recipe once before I posted it (fools rush in) and so it could have been a fluke that it worked. I will say that they definitely taste best warm from the oven. I had a cold one yesterday and...um...it was fine. It didn't inspire the same level of enthusiasm I had when I first posted about them, still good, but not fantastic. Please, don't be impressed that I made the recipe up. If you've been baking long enough coming up with your own thing isn't that hard--sometimes it's a lot easier then looking up a recipe! One less step for those prone to laziness..ahem.

acorn accident

I'm noticing a pattern here with my crocheting..um..I'm prolific when it comes to accidents. Some that work and some that definitely don't--this post is happily about one that did. I could see that this was getting a pointy top early on, but my optimistic attitude told me that maybe it would stretch out..ah, nope.  I started this hat for me and it was certainly not supposed to have a pointy peak. I was almost ready to pull it all out when I called Noah over (kind of like that old Life cereal commercial, "Get Mikey, he'll eat it" except I was thinking, "Get Noah, he'll wear it...") When I told him I wanted to size this on him he got very animated and said, "Oh yeah, I really like that hat! I tried it on earlier" You did? Oh wow, great--It's for you. I had to chuckle to myself because when he said he tried it on earlier that meant that it was only about the size of a saucer--with a pointy top--and..he..loved..it?

This was several rounds of SC, 3 rounds of DC, 3 rounds of DC with some skipping to bring it in tighter and then a finishing round of SC. I didn't use a pattern so I can't really pass this on to you in a concise way at the moment. If you have experience crocheting I bet you could figure it out close enough.

This photo makes me think that it's his thinking cap too... :)

progress eventually

I just love it when my crafty buddy and I get together for tea, a movie and some crocheting. It's not too often that we do it in the evening because she goes to bed pretty early--but on this night she was feeling energetic. Hannah snapped this picture of us while we were chatting and I was surprised to see how involved my hands were in this conversation. Anyway...

I needed to finish a baby hat I was making for a friend, actually, I hadn't started yet but I was determined to make great progress during our time. I had already seen the movie (Akeelah and the Bee, wonderful movie by the way) so I was sure to keep my eyes down on my work and make good headway on the hat. Emily kept checking on my progress throughout and my hat never did get any bigger then the coil of a snail shell all night! I wasn't impressing her or me with my speed. But, I did eventually finish the tiny thing so all is well.

Isn't this yarn so cute? I wish I could give you the specifics on it, but sadly I can't. I bought it well over a year ago at a shop far from home, didn't save the label and only bought one skein!! Ugh. Hate that.

I decided to add a little scalloped brim at the last minute and I'm very happy with how it looks. I really hope it fits the little head it's intended for because I wasn't too sure on how to size it, but oh--how I loved working with that yarn. yum.

(sorry for the blur here)

nesting

I'm excited about my little nest ornaments in progress. I offered 5 of these last year in my shop and this year I'm expanding--I'll be offering 10. Yeah, I know--huge expansion. IF they all sell I'll be thrilled. If I have leftovers--no problem. Gifts! Half the fun is making them. There is just something so sweet about a tiny bird in a nest. Noah actually can not resist these wee mushroom birds. He gets kind of crazy over them. Last year I gave him a few and I wish I could show you the tree house he built for them! So adorable. Now that I'm thinking of it, I better throw a few into his Christmas stocking!

On a sparkly note: I feel an obsession coming on with Martha's glitter. I wasn't paying any attention to them when they first hit the shelves--but now! oh dear. I think I just may want them all. Part of it is those seriously cute bottles they come in! My new glitter love has inspired some Gocco stationary I want to make. Hopefully, hopefully--those and my nest ornaments will be in the shop by Sat. or early next week--then I'm calling it quits on the shop until after Christmas. I've got to get cracking on the gifts I want to make.

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Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing you lots of happiness~

T.

granny snail central

My granny square blanket is coming along soooo sloooowly. As I sat crocheting the other night I was lamenting about this fact and I said to myself, "These are not granny squares, they're granny SNAILS!" Perfect description, per-FECT. I feel the snail pace even more acutely since I was the one to start the one-square-a-day challenge. Gee-whiz. I really do want to finish this and seeing all the squares I'm slowly accumulating is making me very excited. I'm lovin the colors and think they will look great in my living room, now that I've redone the pillows. How are you doing on your blankets?

If one of you out there wouldn't mind going to a tiny bit of trouble, I would love for someone to send me a copy of the November issue of Figure Magazine . As I mentioned, they did a tiny interview with me about crafting and I really want to see it, but I can't find it around here. Now that I think about it, I hope it was the Nov. issue. Maybe it will be in the December issue? Check first before you send it--oops! I will be quite happy to send you a little surprise in return for your effort. Let me know!
 

from hat to acorn

Having the sniffles and crocheting don't seem to go together. Looking down as I stitched along made my sinuses swell up and gave me a terrible headache behind my eyes. oui. Well, I think it was all worth the extra discomfort because look at this little acorn! I love it, if I do say so myself. This was going to be a hat for Noah--that plan lasted about 3 rounds and then the acorn idea popped into my head. Does that happen to you? I often start with a particular plan only to have it change completely as I go along.

It's not so easy to tell by the photos, but this is rather large. About the size of a large apple. Well, maybe a large-medium sized apple (Now that I think of it, I've seen some pretty big apples, so it's not that large) I was thinking I might offer some of these in my Etsy shop in time for the Thanksgiving holiday. They might look cute piled in a bowl or scattered on the table, no?  I like the idea of hanging them too. I may need to wait until my cold passes though. It was worth the one to go through the extra stuffy nose and headache, but not several I don't think ;)

letter to my teapot

Dear Little White Teapot,

You know that you are my favorite--your size and shape are just so perfect. You hold the right amount of tea for a relaxed and unrushed moment. You have been such a faithful friend and I want to be sure to treat you right. With fall here now and winter just around the corner, I thought a sweater would be something you could use. Only the best for you, wool yarn all the way from Siena, Italy--hand delivered by a special friend. I searched the web looking for images and patterns of crocheted cozies sweaters, yet in the end, I decided to go with my own plan. You were so patient as I fitted it to you each step of the way. Not one complaint of having to be still over and over again. I know, I know--you've told me it will be just fine and really, you are very kind--but this sweater does not fit you right. Remember, only the best for you and I can't have you sitting around in a baggy jumper. It would irritate me to no end. So, while this will due in a pinch, I'm off to fashion you another. One that will do you justice--at least in my mind.

Love,
Me.

of grannies and couches

So, it seems we have some takers for the one square a day challenge (or row, or block, or....) Yay! I love knowing that somewhere out there, another person is chanting to themselves "just one, just do one". I put up a little thingy in my sidebar to help me keep track of how many I've made and how many I have to go. Um, yeah...70 more squares. whoa. Anyway, I'm determined not to freak out if I miss a day or two. Lets keep this free from any personal whip-cracking--agreed? OK, good.

I have to share this photo with you that I took the other day since I was talking about couches. Well, I certainly can afford this one. Too bad it's not quite the style I had in mind.  It was indeed someones style though--because it got snatched up soon after. I could see how this could be pretty cool in the right house (I think), but not mine. I've gone a totally different direction.

just one square

(Edited to add: Oh please! Join in with any project. I didn't mean to be exclusive to granny squares :) Whatever you happen to be working on, just decide how many stitches, rows etc... to do a day. I won't be stressing out if I miss a day, so you don't either! This could work for any kind of project.)

I didn't have plans to post again for a couple of days, but as I was sitting in bed last night crocheting, I had a wonderful thought. I was telling myself --just one square Toni, just finish one square right now. Then I thought I should challenge myself to make one square a day, just one--at least-- until my granny blanket is done. And then I thought, why not ask others to join in! Are you making a granny blanket that is going slower then you'd like?  Have you invested a pretty penny in yarn for your granny blanket (like I have) and the thought of it sitting and doing nothing for months on end makes you cringe? Then join me in my one square challenge--I would love the company! I want to put something up in my sidebar that says how many I've made so far and how many I have to go to keep me motivated.

Well, It's the end of the day--dinner is done--the house is tidy--and it seems like the perfect time to do one square--just one, Toni, just do one.

back to my squares

This is the first granny square I've completed since I got started. Quite a while, eh? I had lots of good intentions though mind you--I lugged it all with me to Felt Club in July and it made the trip with me to Oregon over the summer--not a stitch did I make either time! Now that summer is over for me mentally, (I will still get plenty of pleasant weather here in CA for a bit) this time of year always brings the desire to get out the yummy yarn. The knitting and crochet posts are starting to pop up left and right in blog-land aren't they?

It took me a sec to reacquaint myself with the pattern. I'm using the one over at Purl Bee . I *love* the Purl Bee. What great inspiration there is buzzing around that site (pun intended!) After a brief run through I was on my way again and filled with new enthusiasm. Love that.