Mini Grannies...

If you're in my Brynwood Needleworks Facebook group, you've seen the post I put up recently with a granny square piece constructed from 2,000 small grannies. Each one was created using sewing thread and a 0.5 size hook. It took the woman two years to construct, and it's pretty impressive.

It reminded me of the few mini squares I started years ago using #12 pearl cotton and a size 1 hook. I seem to remember starting them to use for artist trading cards, or some other small project. These are all I've made (so far), but now it's got me thinking about using them to create a table mat or runner. Not a blanket, for sure! I do have more colors set aside in a plastic divided container, and most of the colors are represented in the squares you see here. 

I have a number of other projects that are in line ahead of this, but it would be easy to make a few each night while sitting with Handsome. I really just wanted to show these to my crocheting friends for a little inspiration. 

I took it pretty easy yesterday. I'm sorry I didn't respond to the past few posts until last night. Missing Tag hit me all at once, and it just hurt too much to stop to thank all of you for your kind words. Even so, I was in tears as I typed each reply. If you've ever lost a dear pet, I know you understand. It's a hurt that never really leaves. You just learn to live with it. One year out was still to overwhelming for me. Thank you for being there for me, and for all your kind thoughts. I really appreciated reading your memories of him, too.

I think I may start that squirrel today! The spoolies are fun, little projects, but when I'm working on them, I'm totally immersed. It will be fun to see what I can come up with. I'll share more tomorrow. 

It was snowing and blowing all day yesterday. I'm hoping for a quieter day today. Even the little girls (the cats) didn't want to go out in it. Bella and Carly didn't mind so much, but they didn't hang around outside any longer than they had to either.

I'm off to take care of all the girls, and then have a little breakfast myself before I get going with my day. I'll be back tomorrow!

Grandma Would Be Proud...

I finished my cotton yarn granny square cardigan and I'm really happy with the way it turned out. Blogger is being temperamental, so the best photo I can share with you is a small format one. As promised, I'm modeling it just for you! (If I can coax Blogger into accepting a larger size image, I'll sure add it for you.)

Remember, I made this using my grandma's sweater, and a photo of my mum wearing one that Grandma made for her years ago. I think my grandma would be proud that her pieces inspired me to make one of my own. She'd probably ask me what took me so long, though!

If you're interested in how I constructed the cardigan, please let me know. Perhaps I can share the instructions in a separate post if enough of you are interested. It really wasn't difficult at all.

So, please tell me what you think about the cardi and if you'd like me to post a pattern on my "tutes" page for you.

Hope y'all have a fabulous, creative and wonderful week, my friends!

Amost Finished...

I'm working on it. I promise!

I'm crocheting a pretty, variegated edge on the cardi front pieces right now. When I'm finished with that, I'll crochet the cuffs and all the way around the edge of the cardigan in the cream colored yarn.

The next time you see it, I'll be wearing it. See? I'm almost finished! Hooooo, Haaaa!

Third Time A Charm...

After taking out my joins twice, I decided to go online to find a technique I'd be happy with. I found a fabulous tutorial at Attic 24 for joining granny squares (here). It's the crochet method, as opposed to the sewn method, and I like the way these joins look a whole lot more.

I started over again and now I'm chugging right along. I've actually completed the body of the cardigan...
adding the two front shoulder pieces. (I took these photos while I still had good light yesterday late afternoon.) Since I took the pictures, I've added the back yoke area and am nearly finished with one sleeve. Soooo close! I can see that I'll be finished soon.

What are you working on these days? Gardening, some new project for the house, or are you busy in your studio, too? I'd love to know!

How Fortuitous...

You may remember that I've been working to construct a granny square crochet cardigan. Grandma had given me one of the sweaters she'd made for herself (the red and green one I told you about here), and I was using that as a guide.

Mum told me that Grandma had made a crocheted cardigan for her, too. I remembered that she had one, but I was so happy when I came across a photo of my beautiful mother wearing her sweater from years ago. (Doesn't she look like a 1970's model in this picture?)

What made me so happy about finding this picture (aside from the fact that I could share it with you) is that I prefer the style of this cardigan to the one Grandma used to wear. Gram loved high collars in Wisconsin, but I don't really need a sweater with a high collar in Florida - even if it is made with cotton yarn.

So, I've changed the design just a bit on mine and will use Mum's as the pattern instead. Such good fortune to have come across Mum's picture! I can see the light at the end of the tunnel now - and it's shining on a beautiful, pastel crocheted cardigan. I'm hoping to finish it this week. Fingers crossed!
Just a couple of reminders:
You can join in my Memory Lane Monday right up through June 6th. (See previous post to participate and link up.)

Also, I wanted to remind you that my Etsy Shop Sale ends tomorrow at midnight - and I'll then put my shop into vacation mode for the summer. I have some ideas for new things I want to bring onboard in the fall and am looking forward to sharing them with you. So, don't forget, the shop (and Boutique) will go "on break" tomorrow at midnight. (You can visit my shop by clicking the button at the top of my blog in the link bar.)

The Big Secret Project Revealed...

A grandma's taste is always a bit different from that of her grandchildren. Gifts from her hands are sometimes not fully appreciated because of style, color or size.

One gift from mine was a bright orange, green and black ripple afghan. Nice and toasty warm, but man, it was uuuuuglyyyy! My grandmother and I worked out that awkwardness when I told her that I'd love more of her handmade gifts, if she would let me choose and purchase the yarns. (I used the excuse that I didn't want her spending her retirement money on me.) She allowed me to choose my own yarns and from then on, every creation made me smile.

Grandma was a prolific crocheter, keeping her hands busy by creating gifts for each of her eleven grandchildren - and eventually her twenty four great grandchildren and nine great great grandchildren.
On one of my visits to see her in Wisconsin, she gave me this sweater. Not as a gift to wear (not really my first choice of colors), but as a pattern to make one of my own. She and I managed to spend a little time crocheting together and she knew that my favorite pattern is granny squares. I think she really liked that her eldest granddaughter had learned her favorite pastime.

I always took her bags full of yarn, with no request for something in return. I just tried to make sure that she could keep her hands busy with a new project to share with someone else in the family.
So, here is the inspiration for all those granny squares you've seen me creating. I'm going to put them all together into a sweater fashioned after my grandma's.

Grandma died in March of this year at the age of 97. She lived a long and full life and she left behind many reminders of her handwork. I'm glad I have this one (along with all those afghans she made especially for me), so that I can carry on her tradition of making sweaters from grannies.

I'm still crocheting at night to finish making my squares, but as soon as it's all assembled, I promise to model it for you. I think Grandma would smile.

On another note...I'm sure by now you all know that Blogger was down all day Friday. I just want you to know that I won't be posting on Fridays for the foreseeable future. I'm sure that you all understand that it just doesn't feel right to me to post on Friday without Fezzik. Don't worry. I'm doing better, so please don't be sad for me. I think I'll just leave Fridays silent for a while.

Squares and Swirls...

This is what the finished granny squares look like for my project. There's a real pile of 'em so far! I just counted number of squares on the inspiration piece and it looks like I'll still need to make 15-20 more! I don't mind, though, because I love the soft pastel colors I'm using.
In case you love these colors, too and would like to use them for a project of your own, I'm using Lily Sugar & Cream cotton yarn. The multi color ball is color number 19016, and the creamy one is color number 01004.
So, I've put all the squares and supplies into a handy basket that I can carry around with me at home. I added my (g) hook and a small pair of scissors and now I'm all set to crochet at night while I sit in my favorite spot.

I had to giggle reading your comments from yesterday's post. I already told you it's not going to be an afghan. So, here's another hint: It's not going to be a shawl either. (hee hee) Tomorrow, I'll reveal what I'm working on. I just can't leave y'all hanging. (Well, I could - but I won't! giggle)
I went back into the studio yesterday and started working on the Summertime quilt again. I had already assembled the long element for the caramel swirl blocks, so I squared up the half square triangles so I can put together those blocks next.

After the caramel swirl blocks are finished, I'll join them with the checkboard blocks to make up the finished blocks. I'd love to have this quilt top finished in time for our guild meeting next Tuesday.

Let's see...If I work on the quilt during the day and the crocheted grannie squares at night...hmmm. I might finish both projects before the end of next week! Let's hope I have the concentration. Setting a goal always helps me. How 'bout you?

It's About Time...

If you've been reading my blog for a while (well, actually a long while), you might remember when I started making these granny squares. (August 2009!) Handsome and I took a long road trip, and I crocheted granny squares while he drove.

I made lots of squares - eighty to be exact - and bordered many of them in a beautiful solid cream color. I had a project in mind when I did them, but they've been sitting in my project bag all this time patiently awaiting my attention.

I decided that I would take my Nantucket Diddy Bag, loaded with all my squares to Panera's last night and try to finish adding the last creamy border to each square. My friend, Krisann asked what was in my bag. I showed her one finished square and she said, "It's been a long time since I've seen you crochet. How many are there?" I proceeded to pull them all of them out of the bag as we counted.

Now, you need to hear Krisann's laughter to know how absolutely joyful it sounds. When she saw how many there were, she just broke up. We all laughed together, as her laugh is so infectious. I had to explain that I had crocheted them all, only in the car, while we were on our 5,000 mile round trip.

I'm not getting back into our vehicle to finish them, but I assure you this project has been on the back burner long enough. Time to wrap up a UFO, don't you think? I haven't been able to sit in the studio to work on my Summertime quilt lately. I'm just too restless to concentrate right now. But finishing this project should be easier.

I'll get to work on completely all the squares and then I'll show you my grandmother's inspiration so you get an idea of where I'm going. (Hint: It's not an afghan.) There is not pattern, but I think I'll be able to finish it with a little help from my crochet mentors Adele, Beula, Tammy and Krisann. More pictures soon, I promise.

My Sugar And Spice Project...

Today, I'd like to give you a couple of hints about my next project. I'm working on my own pattern - my own design - and the completed items will be for sale on my website. I'm really having fun putting this together, and these are just the first steps.

A little bit vintage, a little bit "granny", a little bit sugar and spice, and a whole, big helping of girly! Are you getting the picture? Are you even a bit curious? Do you think you have an idea what I'm working on?

I'll be showing more components in the upcoming days. All will be revealed before you know it! Now if you're local and you've heard any scuttlebutt about this...pu-leezzzz don't spill the beans yet.

I'll be in the studio working on my creations and I'll be back soon with more hints...

Grannies, Grannies Everywhere...

I have to admit that I haven't been a mad crocheter while we've been in Wisconsin. When we've hit the road to venture to Door County or whenever I'm a passenger for more than thirty minutes, the cotton yarn and my crochet hook have made an appearance. I've also been busy with this mystery project on odd evenings spent catching our breath at Mum's house.

So far, there are ninety squares awaiting a final round of a yet-to-be-decided solid color; ten small two-round squares and an odd flower (used to practice making flowers, of course!).

Today is our last day in Wisconsin. Early tomorrow morning we'll say our farewells and begin our journey south. I'm going to miss the boys and their families, but I must admit, I'm looking forward to sleeping in our own bed and being back in our own environs. I'm looking forward to the holidays when we'll fly my mum to Florida to get her out of the Wisconsin snow for a while, and the times our boys will bring their families south to us in their annual migrations. I'm looking forward to being back in the studio and offloading the myriad ideas clogging my thoughts.

This evening, my mum will return from her month-long trip to England, and we'll spend a few short hours catching up on our respective news. We'll take photographs and regret that we haven't more time to spend together this time. It's a comfort that we'll be together again soon at our home....and we always have the computer and telephone in the meantime.

Tomorrow morning, the crochet hook and yarn will again make their appearance and I'll start making more grannies. I'm looking forward to finishing them and showing you what they become.

Fuel Stops, Rest Stops and Busy Hands...

They say "Idle hands are the devil's playground." Well, I can tell you there was no idleness around here Sunday! Handsome and I set our sights on parts North when we left home around 6 o'clock in the morning.

We packed our vehicle, and I made sure that my Blackberry and my knitting bag (in this case, renamed my crochet bag) were situated near me in the front seat. As soon as we were on our way, out came my hook and yarn and I started making granny squares. The Blackberry is handy so that I can read your comments when you leave them here. Thank you for making me smile every time I read them!

When we stopped at the first rest stop in Georgia, I had to take a couple of photos to share with you. The sign post was nearly unreadable, I understand, but don't you think it's weathered look gave it a fabulous patina? I think the flowering bushes were crepe myrtle. They had the sweetest smell and the color was vibrant. Just a simple way to rejuvenate ones senses while stretching the legs.

Handsome snagged my camera and got an "action" shot of me "hooking away", and I continued to add completed squares as we covered the miles. I did manage to sneak in a little nap, so I did take a bit of a break. Even so, when we got to our hotel room I counted my squares. Can you believe I've done thirty of them already? I was surprised. I still need to choose the color for the last round, but I'm going to do all these first and then do that last round on them later.

We had clear sailing most of the way, and fairly breezed into Georgia a mere 6 hours after leaving home. Other than a traffic jam (for apparently no good reason) just south of Atlanta, our day was uneventful.

The traffic jam really took a lot out of us, so we decided not to push for Chattanooga. We stopped just north of Atlanta in Kennesaw where we checked into a La Quinta. This hotel chain is perfect for us because they not only tolerate dogs - they welcome them. We were in a newly renovated room and Kes was happy to be there.

We brought our overnighters in, fed Kes, and then my boyfriend and I held hands as we walked to a local BBQ restaurant called Smokey Bones. It was the perfect end of the day for two weary travelers.

As we walked back to the hotel, I found scads of acorns along the sidewalk. I only picked up a few to show you (Handsome questioned my sanity, so I had to explain this "blog thing" again)...but my prize was the beautiful blue jay feather I found. I'm taking the jay feather home and will do something with it in my next art project.

We find that these road trips take a little longer these days. We used to do the drive to Wisconsin in two days - even when we each drove the trip alone. Now, even when we spell each other, it usually takes three days. No need to hurry, we say. "Enjoy the journey" is now our travel motto.

I'll update you later with my granny square count. I'm not sure what I'm going to make with them yet. Perhaps a lovely cotton cardigan. Perhaps a cozy afghan. Let me know if you have any other ideas for me. Handsome said he thought I'd made a "boatload" of coasters, but not in those exact words! He's such a funny guy.

Comments equals entries...100th Post drawing Friday, August 14, 2009!!! I promise tomorrow's post won't be so long!