..and he will be wrapped in swaddling clothes...

Christmas blessing from our house to yours!!

Moved this blog on over to wordpress to give it a try. I may eventually move all my blogs, but for now, I am starting with just one. please let me know if you have any problems with viewing it or commenting on it there.

http://fruitloopgirl.wordpress.com/

pink n green girlie card

Here is the envelope and front of the card.

the frontinside

stripey fun

One of my current projects. I'm working on a vertically striped blanket for one of our local charities.

The challenge, when you are working with all donated yarn, is to find enough coordinating colors to complete a project. So, I dug through our boxes and pulled out this ball of variegated brown/blue yarn. I loved it right away and began diggin and matching up yarns to it the best I could.



Voila!! No pattern, just making it up as I go.


Here is a closer look at it. I am basically just doing simple clusters, except for the ecru, which was a lighter weight yarn, so I decided to use it to break up stripes just a bit. Add a little more dimension. So one row of double crochet.

I like the way it is turning out.

Not bad, for a smattering of donated yarns, no pattern and a novice crocheter!!

Homespun

I ripped apart a knitting project I started over a year ago, that I was not really happy with and therefore sure I would never finish. I had been eyeing up the pretty Homespun yarn I had been using and decided that it would make a very nice hat. So I pull out my patterns and select a pattern that is actually for homespun yarn, pull out my K.... and wholy toledo. Homespun is so pretty, so soft, but I was having a very difficult time crocheting with it. Does anyone have any pointers on working with Homespun in crochet? I have previously made a baby blanket from it and remember now that I had to rip and restart many many times until I was happy with it, or just accepted it. (I don't remember now which) Is it just me?

Valentine Cards

I try, on special occasions, to make my own cards. It doesn't always happen, because I don't have a place where I can set up a craft area and leave it. So I have to haul everything up to the kitchen, set it all up... be creative... and then clean it all up before the next meal. Usually, I am also cooking dinner, baking, or doing laundry etc.. (or all of the above). Then add in little fingers that are very tempted to touch everything and wander off with my stuff.... well... lets just say it has been a very long time since I pulled out my card making stuff! So today is Valentine's Day. A couple days ago, while V was sleeping, **cough, playing in her bed, cough**, I pulled it all out and set it up. Of course I was also making dinner. I was playing around with a new technique that Charity taught me. And then started to put together a card for the love of my life. I got it 1/2 done, when it was time to clean up before D got home from work and it was time to eat dinner. yesterday, I pulled it all out again, while V was sleeping **cough**, and finished my card. Not being happy with it... I started a whole new card. Which I also finished. I am not totally happy with either, but it is now the day for which they are required, and I have much else to do, so I have to chose one. Anyways.... here they are.... (I have a tendency towards simple designs. partly by preference, and partly from lack of resources and ability. lol)



With this second card, I also made something on which to write a poem. Not really feeling creative in the poem writing area. But I like the colors better... More... Valentine's appropriate.


I still don't know....

Crock Pot Roast

I have always loved cooking roast beef in the crock pot. It can make a cheap cut a melt-in-your-mouth meal. I recently tried a recipe for a slow cooker coffee roast beef. I had heard of using coffee on your roasts. But I never imagined it would be that good. Well I was wrong. It was great. I played around with the recipe and have come up with my own never fail version. The gravy was rich and flavorful. Everyone I have served it to has asked me how I got my gravy to be so tasty!! Forgive me if the amounts aren't exact, as I have never written it down before and I rarely measure my ingredients unless baking.


** use a generous size, cheap cut roast, like inside round, or sirloin

** spray your large slow cooker with non-stick spray

**pour 1/2 can of Campbell's French Onion Soup into slow cooker

**place roast in slow cooker

**sprinkle generously with garlic powder, or add 3-4 crushed garlic cloves

**pour rest of soup over roast

**pour 1 cup of strong brewed coffee over roast

**sprinkle with pepper and 2 tsp marjoram

**cook on low for 6-7 hours

**remove roast and stir in 1/4 cup flour blended with 1/2 cup water and cook on high for 30 mins

**enjoy!!!

**makes 6-8 servings (depending on your roast size.)

I found this GREAT resource today that I wanted to share. It is basically an encyclopedia of crochet stitches. WAY cool!! Check it out!!
Get to know them: The Different Types & Techniques of Crochet Compiled by Dee Stanziano Copyright 2004, 2005, 2006


I was also pleasantly surprised to find that Lion Brand has loom knitting patterns and kits.
Lion Brand Loom Knitting/Knitting Board Patterns and Kits

I absolutely love this bath set that Lion Brand has come up with. What an awesome gift this would make. I feel a trip to Michaels for some new yarn in the near future!!!

click here for the free patterns

afghan ahoy

My current project, or should I say one of my many current projects. I have 10 squares made of a gazillion that are required to complete the afghan.

Edit 02/26/07 - I found this pattern online....

Sunrise Sunset