Currently On My Hook

Good lovely morning to ya!  Time is flying by me this week, well, and month and well, year!  I mean, really I already need to be thinking and starting the baby hat charity project!  Whew, maybe next week while I'm on "vacation".

Anywho, back to the purpose of today's post. . .a works in progress post, connected to a meme.  It's been awhile since I linked up to a meme, but this one just seemed to fit.  I mean, its a Work In Progress meme, like I said, it just fit.  If you are a yarn crafter and have a project to share link up here!!

Being the crochetess (yes, like lioness but crochetess) that I am, I have many, many things on my hooks right now.  I have a baby hat (summer weave) under way, I have another drawstring bag underway, a pair of socks (that will be a WIP for years I feel certain~GAH!) and my shawl.  Yes, MY shawl.  It dawned on me a few months ago that while I make loads of crochet items I don't have any for myself.  Don't get me wrong I love to make things for others, but I have nothing to show people when they ask what I make except a picture.  So I decided that between orders for the business and gifts for others I would throw in the occasional item for myself.  Last week I made myself a pair of slippers (very cute, different post).  But then I ran across this pattern on Ravelry that made me want to start crocheting immediately!  It was beautiful but simple.  Since I have never made a shawl before I wanted something simple to get me started and this pattern was perfect.

I love picking out colors for a new project.  I stood in my local crafty store comparing and debating and finally decided on Lion Brand Homespun (which was the yarn suggested and happens to be one of my favorites) and the name of the color is Painted Desert.  I love this yarn because it a fabulous luxurious feel to the finished project and the colors are gorgeous!  It is a beautiful variegated.  I could continue to try and describe it, but I'll just show you the picture instead.  ~Smile~

Doesn't this yarn just make you smile?  Actually it makes me smile and then sigh in contentedness.  I love the deep tones from a burnt orange to a light purple and many other colors in between, this yarn makes me happy.  I can see myself, sipping hot tea, shawl around my shoulders, reading an ebook on a chilly, crisp fall morning. . .awwww. . . okay, enough rambling.  Back to reality.

I have never worked a pattern that had a point, so the first few rows were slow going, just getting used to the pattern, but now I'm rolling.  

This pattern calls for 32 rows and I'm just starting row 11.  I think though that I want my shawl to be a little wider so I will have a few more rows.  Hook size:  L11/8.00 mm.

I am hoping to have a different WIP for next Wednesday, but only time will tell.  ~Laughter~

Now I just need fall to hurry and get here so that I can wear my colorful shawl and sip hot tea!



*I am not getting paid by Lion Brand to promote their yarn.  I just love it.  But Lion Brand if you are interested in letting play with your yarn and review it, I won't complain.  Promise.

Mama's Holiday Wish List Meme

Okay, so TodaysMama is giving away a hefty sleighful of gifts that, well, I would love to win. To enter you participate in the meme, which is a pretty great meme I think. I had fun filling this one out and I haven't done a meme in a long time. Enjoy!!


1. What 5 items are on your holiday wish list this year? Gone with the Wind, the 70th Anniversary Edition. That was the only thing I specifically asked for, I left options open; purse, shoes, books, etc. I really didn't make a list this year. I also asked for a Brita Water pitcher which definitely shows I need help in gift list making. Ha!

2. What is your favorite handmade gift you have received? My all time favorite hand made gifts are my afghans and quilts made by various women in my family. I love and treasure each one. And of course I love anything my kids make, but because it usually has grape jelly on it somewhere, it can't last forever.

3. What handmade gift have you always wanted to tackle? I have always wanted to make an afghan for my mom. She has made so many for me and the kids that I wanted her to have that I made. I crochet and I do a fine job, but I get bored if the project doesn't get done fast enough. I guess I'll shoot for next year and that way I can take breaks doing it!

4. What was the best Christmas gift you received as a child? One year my Nanny had the idea to make a little doll of each granddaughter. The doll had our hair color (yarn) and she made the doll and it's clothes (I've told you all the lady was talented). She even wrote a little book about each of us and attached it to the doll. She wrote in there a little story and what she loved about us. It truly was the best gift she gave me as a child. And I still have it, I will give it to my daughter one day.

5. What items are on your kid’s wish list this year? Nintendo DS, Leapster 2, a game for each. They are also getting a couple of little things and thats it. Keeping it simple, or trying to anyway.

6. What is your favorite holiday food? Dressing! I love dressing. I would rather have that than anything else. I think dressing might even trump my beloved chocolate.

7. What will you be hand-crafting for the holidays? We are making most of our gifts this year for our friends and family. Scarves, hats, dish rags and dish clothes, special picture frames for the grandparents, broaches, painting, even decorating our own Christmas bags. I am also making a few preemie hats for the NICU at the local hospital. My hands and right arm already hurt from all the crocheting!

8. What is your favorite holiday movie? I think A Charlie Brown Christmas is my favorite. Not really a movie though is it. Okay, I guess I'll go with It's a Wonderful Life.

9. Favorite holiday song? The Christmas Song and Joy to the Word

10. Favorite holiday pastime? Being with family. Just being. I love the spending time, the laughing and the eating. Reading about the birth of Jesus and just being. I love it!