My WIPS (work in progress)

I've been at a stopping point with the Blissful top. I ran out of yarn. I didn't want to add another color. Lucky for me, a member of Crochetville is going to send me the yarn, free!

What a wonderful person. So...I'm going to wait for the rest to come in before I add the finishing touches to it. I'd like to put edging on the top and also I need to add few more rows to the back edges. Here it is so far....

I'll add details of the top when I'm completely finished and I'll also add a photo of the top from the book.

I also started making a doily. I have never had any interest in making one but lately I'm really into the pineapple pattern (inspired by the Victoria Secret Skirt obsession). I ordered the olivia pineapple skirt, which I really liked it and thought it would be a good alternative to the VS Skirt. My other thought was to make the skirt in the Amazing Lace book but it really wasn't exactly what I wanted. I'm happy to say that I started on my VS Skirt yesturday!~ I went out and bought more thread today. 5 more balls of the Aunt Lydia beige.

Blissful

My current crochet project is called "blissful" from the Happy Hooker SnB book. I'm done with the lower half. I'm using thread that I received when I traded off the matrix yarn. It's a beautiful aqua color. The only problem, I'm not going to have enough to finish the whole top.
I've been searching the net and ebay but no luck on the color. I think it may be discontinued. No problem, I'll just improvise and use a different thread all together. I have a bunch of Luster Sheen that is similiar in color or use the Aunt Lydia thread. Gives me a reason to shop!

I just purchased 6 balls of the Aunt Lydia thread today. 3 balls of white and 3 balls of beige. The store was very limited in colors. It's so inexpensive and I like the way the thread looks when I'm making something w/ a lace look. I was surprised that with the pattern I'm using, it's going quite fast. For thread, it usually takes forever! No pictures to post at this time.

Life is back to normal since returning from my vacation. I really miss some the family members. I'm not as motivated in getting my crochet done! The weather's still in the 100s but we've been getting some rain, so it's more bearable. I love the rain. :D

I have a jasmine plant that my daughter received from her uncle on her B'Day. It's beautiful and the blooms are starting to blossom. Smells so beautiful. I'm looking forward to those nice comfortable fall days when I can sit on the porch w/ my daughter and husband on the swing and enjoy the wonderful fragrance of the flowers overlooking the peace and tranquility of the lake.
It's a great and wonderful life!

The World's Greatest DOG

When I started this blog, it was mostly to talk about crochet but now I'm expanding. I guess I'm evolving. I'm evening adding photos with my face!

I had searched for a good photo of my dog (last year) but couldn't find one. There was one in my old camera. I could not copy or transfer the photo. I bought a dock printer and finally used it a few days ago. My new camera didn't work in it so I had to use the old camera. Surprise, I was able to print the photo w/ my dog in it that I had wanted to print over a year ago! You can't image my glee!

My dog has passed away in March of 2006. She was over 10 years old. She's a black lab and she was given to me as a present when she was only 4 to 6 weeks old. She has travelled with us all over the country. From one end of the country to the other and back.

She has been my friend, companion and protector. I couldn't ask for a better dog. She even taught me how to love unconditionally. She was a part of the family. It was a very sad day when I lost her. Since then, we had not been able to get another dog. So, I'm very excited add a photo here with her in it. I wanted to make her a part of my blog because she's so special and so loved.

She's Officially 2 years old and My Short N' Sweet

My beautiful darling daughter is 2 years old! We had a great day with her on her birthday. We took her to the park even in the hot weather. She loved it! We also gave her an ice cream cake.

It was a great day for all of us! She's our pride and joy.

We just returned from our trip to New York! It was a short trip 5 days total. I finished the Short n' Sweet bolero on my trip up to NY. I had started the bolero after the lacy days of summer top. Half way through, I got bored with it. I was having a hard time with the pattern. I couldn't figure out what I was doing wrong! I later found out that there were errors in the pattern! Phew, it's not ME!!!! Yuppeee. After a week or so away from the bolero, I decided to finish it anyways. I was motivated by a member of Crochetville who had finished hers. After a short time away, I had to remember how to do the pattern again. I made some improvising because of the errors in the pattern. It doesn't look exactly like the book but I'm still happy with it over all.

I used Caron's SS yarn, which I felt was too thick. It was coming out too big, so I made it smaller. Again, the pattern is slightly different from that in the book, Happy Hooker's Stitch n' Bitch. It's something that I would wear. It's not my best work but I'm super happy it's done because the design was more difficult than what I was use to. I'm also glad I didn't tear everything out because the edging really added to the bolero.

Anyways, here's a photo of me wearing it. :D

Empress Baby Doll Top (w/ Modifications)

This is such an exciting week for me. My darling daughter's birthday is 2 days away! She'll be 2 years old. It's been the GREATEST 2 years of my life. She's the light of my life and I'm so
greatful for her.

CROCHET TALK :D

I've order a bunch of old crochet magazines and also the spring issue of Crochet Today. I've been checking the mail everyday to see if they came in! I can't wait to get my hands on them.

The top that I made is from the Spring Issue of the Interweave Magazine. You can check out the photo here: www.interweavecrochet.com/2007/spring/materials_list.asp#empress

To the right is my version of the Top. Somewhat different. I purchased the yarn from Hobby Lobby last month, as a reward to myself after finishing the Lacy Days of Summer Top.

On July 29, I started the top using a size D hook. After 3 days of work, on row 17 - I was at a cross road. I was making a size medium and it was coming out too big. I didn't want to undo it all but my husband knew I wouldn't be happy if I tried to fix it. A voice of reason! So on August 1, I restarted the project. (My goal was to finish this top before the 12th). I decided this time to use a size F hook and check the schematics so the top is the right size. I was much happier using the size F hook but it changed the gauge completely because of the thicker yarn.


The upper part of the top was no problem. I overlapped 7 shells. To be honest, I was afraid that it was going to be too small because instead of being 16 inches across, I made it about 14 1/2 but I figure it would stretch a bit.

The lower half was a little more work. I experimented with different hooks. The very 1st rings, I used a size D hook then changed to a size F hook for the first pattern set. After that I changed to a size G Hook after the 1st row of the 2nd set of pattern. I didn't do a 3rd set of the pattern, but did another row 2 -4 . On row 2, I kept the same G Hook then changed to a size 7 hook for the remaining rows. To finish, I crocheted 6 sc in each ch 5. The top is not real wide at the bottom, it's a bit more form fitting for me. To finish, I crocheted 6 sc in each ch 5 space.

I wasn't sure if I would like the lower half of the Top because mine had so many holes! I didn't want it to be too revealing! I tried it on and wore it with a skirt. It didn't show too much "skin" as I thought so I am happier.

My husband said I'm too hard on myself because I'm so critical of myself. I do like the top and I'm glad it's finish. Overall, this was a good pattern. I had less trouble with this pattern than my previous top(s). Maybe I'm getting better at crocheting! I did enjoy making this top and best of all, goal accomplished and I have a top I'm proud to wear! :D

More Photos of the 2007 Rimfire Sporter National Champion

Finally, the photos are posted on the website for http://www.odcmp.com/. Click on **NEW** CMP Event Photos, in the middle of the screen. Then Arrown down and click on the National Rimfire Match to view more photos from the competition!

I am so proud of my husband!!! He had started training in the beginning of the year for the Rimfire Sporter National Competition, held in Camp Perry Ohio. Once he made up his mind, he started training. I saw all the hard work he put into his training.

It's so great that all that hard work paid off. With GOD, Hard Work and Determination, he won!!!! For the first time competing in a National Competition, he did GREAT!!!

Below is a picture of him getting the gold metal.

I couldn't be more proud of him! :D :D :D

HERE HE IS, THE NATIONAL CHAMPION

I'm a proud wife, the new 2007 Rimfire Sporter National Champion!