Granny Stashbuster

I am super excited about my current project.  After Christmas I was trying to decide what my next big project should be and I thought I would finally tackle the amazing and gorgeous BABETTE.  

Gorgeous isn't it?!  It has been on my "To Do" list for a couple of years now!  The babette uses up to 17 different colours and you assemble it in 10 different sections. 

It is definately a large project to take on.

I really felt I needed a small break before I took on the Babette so I decided to start a really really fun and somewhat mindless project.  So here comes the GRANNIES!!!

I absolutely LOVE Granny Squares!  They hold a nostalgic feeling to me and are very vintage!  Just what I love!  The amazing thing about granny squares is that depending on their placement and colour choice they take on such different looks!

Here are some amazing granny blankets that are very insipiring to me.

by London Mummy

by Attic24

by Anna_K

On a group I am in on Ravelry called the Vanna`s Choice Group, I joined a Granny Stashbuster Swap.  How this works is we crochet 4 round grannies and send 6 different ones to each of the 14 participants using only Vanna`s Choice Yarn.  The key is to only use what you have in your `stash`, we shouldn`t be going out and buying any new yarn!

Here is my Vanna Stash:

Once we receive our grannies we can join them any way we would like.  I have decided to join mine with black because I really like the vintage look to it and it is very simple. 

I took my final inspiration for my blanket from this picture.

by Nature Nut

I have completed 24 blocks so far (only 60 to go!).  Take a look at these that I have sent out!



I have Granny Fever!

Teaser!

Photo Inspiration on the project I hinted on the other day!! Can't wait to show you the end result! Enjoy this teaser for now! 1. Comfort, 2. Cold Process Felted soaps in Jasmine Scent/ Sorbet Sunset color palette by luckyloulou, 3. Felted Pebble Soap, 4. Felted Soap 096, 5. Felted Soap 092, 6. A Pile of Felted Soap Pebbles, 7. Polka Dot Felted Soap, 8. felted soap in bowl, 9. Highland Suds Felted Soap Pin It

Can I Buy A Vowel?

So as I said in an earlier post - I really wanted to learn to crochet and create some fun stuff.

Last week my friend taught me to crochet and with her help and the land of YouTube I laboured along. Below is a picture of my sad "scarf" that I have been practicing on all week. No it is not supposed to be a "triangular' scarf. Not too sure what I was doing wrong. But ignore the edges and look how pretty the middle looks!

I absolutely LOVE Granny-Square blankets and that was what I truly wanted to create first. It's a great project for the summer time because you only crochet one square at a time - so I can bring it with me wherever I go - camping, travelling, picnics, EVERYWHERE! LOL! :)

I convinced my friend Elizabeth (the one who taught me all I know), to make one as well - so off to Michaels yesterday morning we went after kids drop-off. Well it took us a short 2 hours to FINALLY pick out our yarn and and a pattern. There is just WAY to much selection. This is the pattern that we are following! Isn't it pretty? I showed Jamie the pattern and he said to me "That doesn't look like no Granny to me!". Nice.

I really wanted to make a 'Fun' blanket and not go with my natural inclinations of 'safe' colours like neutrals, etc. I need to expand my horizons! So I have decided to go with a semi-not-safe colourway of Linen/Aqua/Pink. I know - I am so crazy!

The pink will be the center colour, then the aqua, and the border (main) colour will be linen! Anyways, it may not be crazy - but it is going to be really cute!

Who knew that our good friend and highly talented letter turner - VANNA WHITE, is a major crochet-granny in her spare time! She even has her own line of yarn! Beauty, a million fancy dresses, and yarn! She has it all! (sorry that the picture is upside down - I have no idea why that is!)

Elizabeth and I picked up our sons from Kindergarten and knew that we could never go back to our houses and do housework! Not with a pattern and our yarn all picked out! So we decided to head to the park and start our blankets while our kids played! See - we are always thinking of our kids needs first! :)

This was my first attempt at the middle of my 1st square. I know - its sooo sad.

At 3:50 we decided we should go pick up our other children from school and we were talking to a friend and teacher of our kids. Being the great salespeople that we are - we convinced her to join our "Granny-Along"! But because we had already started - we did not want to wait long for her to buy all her stuff. So we decided that after soccer that night - we would drop all the kids off and go back to Michaels to buy all her supplies! Yes...we are dorks.

So after a quick game of soccer - we ran home - dropped the kids off - and drove out to Michaels. Picked up Denise's yarn and then sat in her mini-van to decide what the next plan was. Of course we came to the conclusion that we needed food and somewhere to sit with our crochet. For some reason we thought the "Cheesecake Cafe" was the perfect place.

I am ashamed to say that we sat in a booth at The Cheescake Cafe eating Cheescake, and Cheese Bread - crocheting Granny Squares. There, I said it.

This is what I created. Its my second 'middle'. Getting a bit better!

Anyways, we may be dorky "grannies" - but we are having a blast - and that's the most important thing - right?!

My First Quilt-Along

I know its been a long time since I last posted - but I'm back!

I was browsing along online a couple of days ago and happened to check out a great blog called the Old Red Barn Co. They are having a Quilt-Along for the next 6 weeks and I am so excited to be a part of it!

Each week there will be instructions of the next step in the process and at the end of 6 weeks - I will have a finished quilt! I am VERY excited.

The pattern is one she created and will look like this:

I have decided to go with the Adriatic Collection by Anna Maria Horner (Good Folks). Here it is here:

Isn't it BEAUTIFUL! I absolutely LOVE it and can't wait to get started! I will keep you updated on my progress as I quilt-along!

Two Handfulls of Owls!

I have been stitching up a storm trying to get these ornaments done so I can get them in the mail! They are for the Cake & Pie Holiday Ornament Swap on Swap-Bot. I love how they turned out - I think they are too cute! I hope my partners love them as much as I do!

All lined up in a row!

Wrapped and ready to be put in their envelopes and in the mailbox!

I am so glad that I finally finished them! Now I can concentrate my evenings making my meal plan for Christmas!

Unbirthday Swap Goodies!

I received my package from 'bluemerleboutique' today! It was for the Swap-Bot 'Unbirthday Swap'! WOW is all I have to say! It was full of such amazing goodies that I just had to share it all with you!

She included some Amy Butler fabric called 'Brown/lacework' from the Lotus line. I LOVE it! I can't wait to use it in a project!


I had mentioned on my Swap-Bot profile that I really like Maeuve Binchy books, so bluemerleboutique sent me this book (sorry that its sideways) written by Penny Vincenzie. Supposedly her writing style is similar to Maeuve Binchy's! I can't wait to start it!

I also received these cute notecards that will really come in handy for the swaps I send out! My daughter is already trying to steal them!

I think my absolute favorite item is this handmade pincushion! I just started collecting and making pincushions and this one is just so gorgeous and will look great in my craft room on my shelf with my own handcrafted pins (will show in a future post).

Here's the whole lot of items! Thank you so much bluemerleboutique! You made my day today!

For more information on the fun yet addictive world of Swap-Bot - click here!

Hooters and Creepy Dolls

I haven't 'blogged' for a while so I thought I'd just do a quick one with a couple of things I have been working on this week.

I am a part of the 'Ogling Owlies' swap on Swap-Bot. For this Swap you need to make one handmade Owl using your choice of materials. I did a little research and decided to do my little owl in felt! I LOVE the way he came out! I have decided to do these owls for another swap I am in - The Handmade Christmas Ornament Swap. I will need to make 10 to send off and in return I will receive 10 different ornaments from around the world! So fun!

I also tried making a "Dotee Doll' for a 'Dotee Doll Swap'. Here she is! I called her 'Paisley'. Jamie hates her - he thinks it is creepy! I think she is 'Ugly Cute'! My daughter wanted to join in the fun and has been making some of her own!

I included a 'Sunshine' knit dishcloth with this swap, I should have taken a picture before I rolled it up so you could see the design, silly me!

I also created this little felt pouch to house all these items in. I made a cute yo-yo flower out of the same material as my Dotee Doll to embellish the front...

and I used a simple black button for the back so it could be used for stuff in the future - like makeup, purse items, whatever she likes!

I have been pretty crazy busy trying to get all of these done! I have almost completed all of my 'hooters' and hope to get them in the mail on Monday! I will post a picture of them when I have them ready to go!

Special Day

So yesterday was my birthday....I woke up to freshly brewed coffee made by my 9 year old son, and peanut butter toast (my favorite) made by my 7 year old daughter! What a great way to wake up!

My husband had to work, but surprised me with some beautiful red roses that smell great, and 2 books that had been on my wish list for awhile! The books are: "Last Minute Patchwork & Quilted Gifts" by Joelle Hoverson & "Seams to Me" by Anna Maria Horner. They are beautiful books, with great pictures and really simple and creative patterns! I am so excited to start tackling them!

I had a great day going out for the day with my kids and then coming home to watch a movie with them. We watched "Kit Kitteredge - An American Girl" which was really sweet, even my 9 year old son thought it was great! I have the best kids ever. They are so thoughtful and wanted to make my day as special as it possibly could be!

By the way - I found my staple gun in the garage! But wouldn't you know it - I had no staples in it! So tomorrow I will make a run to the Home Depot and pick up some so I can actually finish my bench project.

I have a couple of other projects on the go right now as well. One is a knitted afghan for my adorable niece Charlotte. Now Charlotte just turned 2 years old at the end of September and I
started making her a blanket when she was born! Unfortunately my life has been full of craziness the last couple of years and knitting a blanket has been something I have not been able to focus on. But of course my sister (Charlotte's Mommy) is wondering where this 'baby blanket' is! So now that Charlotte is not a baby any more - I have decided to make her an afghan instead. I have found a pattern that I like that is pretty classic. What do you think of it?

So I have started that and it is going well. Hopefully I will complete it before she is married and I have to make her a wedding present! I'll let you know how it goes! :)

The other project I am working on is this cute knitted baby bunny. I have a few people in my life that are pregnant and I think this would be such a cute gift! Click HERE for the pattern.

I will post some pictures of my progress on these 2 projects soon!

How are you liking the Christmas theme I am going with? I LOVE Christmas as I'm sure you all do too! Make sure you play the Santa Game on the right side of the page - it is SO addicting!

Peony Project

Wow, I have been so busy the last couple of days....I have been thinking non-stop about this post and wanted to post it days ago - but there has been no time!

Anyways, I am very excited about this new project that I have started. A few years ago I inherited a antique sewing table with bench and have wanted to do something with it since then. In the place we are currently living, my ensuite has a dressing table section with room for a stool to put on makeup on, etc. I have decided to reupholster the bench to go there.

So in the last couple of weeks I have been scouring the internet at quilting sites, fabric sites, fabric designer sites, and ebay and finally narrowed down my search to the most beautiful fabric designed by my favorite fabric designer Amy Butler. The fabric is called Sky/Tree Peony.

Here is a picture of this GORGEOUS fabric.

I think I am going to paint the base of the bench in off white which I think will make the fabric pop. I LOVE all of Amy Butler fabrics., they are all so bold, somewhat vintage inspired, and lots of prints!

I found a great site on Ebay to buy the fabric for an incredible price, but there is this quilting store here in Calgary that I have been dying to check out called My Sewing Room. It is apparently the largest quilting store in Canada. It has hundreds of fabrics, notions, quilting supplies, etc. It even has this special lighting that imitates sunlight so that when you are picking out fabric - you see the actual colour of the fabric (not tinted by fluorescent lighting). Very cool!

So on Wednesday when I dropped off my daughter for Gymnastics training I took off to the SE to check it out. Well, let's just say I was in there for over 2 1/2 hrs! They even had a selection of Amy Butler fabrics and I couldn't resist picking up a yard of the above fabric for my project. I know I am a geek, but I am so excited about starting into the quilting world that the whole time I was there - I was literally shaking! LOL!

I have been so pumped to start my bench project, and had it all ready to go and then realized that I don't know where our staple gun is. It must be still packed away in the garage. I AM SO ANNOYED. You know how you get that burst of adrenaline before a project? Well, that bubble is caught between my heart and my mouth now just wanting to burst! So my goal tonight is to find that staple gun...I'll let you know how it goes!!