Red, White & Blue Recipe Cards

My Summer Mini

Granny Square Frenzy

I've been hooked on crocheting granny squares this week :) I'm having a good time with it too! We are doing a 6x6 granny square swap each month in Craft Basics and I'm also working on a few different patterns for blankets and such I am working on so I wanted to share what I've made this week so far :)

I made this square for my friend Brandy and I also made
me one for the friendship blanket I am making
out of the 6x6 squares that I am exchanging with everyone :)

This was a beautiful pattern I found on ravelry HERE...
I wanted to try it for my 6x6 square exchange but
when I was finished making it, it was 12 inches LOL!
So I'll probably end up making it into a pillow
or something, but I do love the pattern there's so many
color scheme possibilities with it & its so simple!

I crocheted this double layered flower
from some Sugar n Cream Cotton yarn

Then crocheted this 6x6 square using THIS 
pattern and the same yarn as the flower.

Then attached them for one really awesome square!
The colors make me think of the desert
w/ a sort of Native American or Mexican feel.... 

I will most likely be starting a granny square messenger bag tonight that me and Brandy are crocheting-a-long with. I think it'll be fun to share our progress and help each other too, plus we are doing the same bag but with different colors and things so it'll be interesting to see how each of our's turns out in the end. I'll be sure to share :) I have so many projects I want to work on... I need to actually finish one LOL. Maybe just maybe I can start and finish the messenger bag :) I'm just trying to have fun and take my time with the granny square afghans doing a little here and a little there.

As always thanks so much for taking a peek! Hope everyone is having a wonderful week!

With just a typewriter

I received this email today and it was very inspiring to me, so I wanted to share it as well in hopes that it may inspire all of my crafty friends....

He lived at Rose Haven Nursing Home ( Roseburg , OR ) for years. Paul Smith, the man with extraordinary talent was born on September 21, 1921, with severe cerebral palsy. Not only had Paul beaten the odds of a life with spastic cerebral palsy, a disability that impeded his speech and mobility but also taught himself to become a master artist as well as a terrific chess player even after being devoid of a formal education as a child.
"When typing, Paul used his left hand to steady his right one. Since he couldn't press two keys at the same time, he almost always locked the shift key down and made his pictures using the symbols at the top of the number keys. In other words, his pictures were based on these characters ..... @ # $ % ^ & * ( )_ . Across seven decades, Paul created hundreds of pictures. He often gave the originals away. Sometimes, but not always, he kept or received a copy for his own records. As his mastery of the typewriter grew, he developed techniques to create shadings, colors, and textures that made his work resemble pencil or charcoal drawings."

This great man passed away on June 25, 2009, but left behind a collection of his amazing artwork that will be an inspiration for many.

Typewriter Art
Can you believe that this art was created using a typewriter?

(click the images for larger view)

"I Shall Look At The World Through Tears. Perhaps I Shall See Things That, Dry-Eyed, I Could Not See".---Nicholas Wolterstorff

Venting + Happy Mail

My Michaels Memorial Day Haul

Just wanted to share the goodies that I got at Michaels on Memorial Weekend... even if it is a week late LOL.

Craft Basics Ustream Class this Saturday!

Just wanted to share a video that Brandy made for details on this weekends Ustream class she is teaching in the group Craft Basics. We are going to have classes as often as we can and this Saturday at 7pm eastern, Brandy will be teaching how to make a lovely mini album using 3 sheets of double sided design paper. Its really cool, and in this video she shares her example & details on the class & swap that goes along with it. Join us this Saturday for the class by going to our Ustream Channel HERE. And if you are interested in what you see head over to our group Craft Basics and sign up to join! We could really use some more paper crafty friends there!

Thanks for stopping by (& watching!)

My Crochet Buddy & new creations....

Lucky is my new crochet buddy! LOL. He sits and guards my yarn ball for me while I work on my projects and hubby snapped this picture today. He's just too cute! We have gotten so attached to one another in just a few weeks! He follows me around like a shadow and when I come home he dances with excitement to see me. I'm sooo glad that he finally came to me and that we were happy to doctor him up, clean him, and give him the love and attention that he totally deserves! He's such a wonderful addition to my family, and I couldn't imagine him not being here now. Its so weird how attached to an animal you can get, and how loyal they really are. I just had to share this adorable picture. Now on to the crafty goodness.. hee hee!

Last night I completed and listed this new addition to my shop. Its a crocheted reusable swiffer pad! Those refills from the store are so pricey and annoying. They hardly last any time, especially with kids or pets! So I made this reusable pad that is 100% durable, and washable. A simple solution to help save the environment and the wallet! Just slip it on, clean your floors like usual and when you are finished pull it off and pop it in your wash. Easy Peasy! The grooves crocheted in these pads are great for picking up dirt and grim, so you're sure to come out with super clean floors! If you're interested in purchasing please visit my shop.

I also created this crocheted bookmark, kind of as a mistake lol. I was teaching a ustream class on simple crochet for beginners and the pieces I created in the class created this super cute bookmark! It was pretty ironic actually. I taught how to crochet simple stitches for the swatch and then I taught how to crochet a simple flower. When the class was over I had the two pieces left and thought 'heck why not' and just attached them together with a cute button and wa-lah! I love the color combo, don't you? One of my favorites! I will be posting this bookmark for sale in my shop this evening as well for anyone interested. And you can check out the class by clicking here!

As always thanks so much for taking a peek! Have a great night! 

Flower Frenzy

I have been on a flower frenzy!!! And I'm having fun being creative and using all these fantastic fibers! All of these flowers are for sell in my shop. I will be adding more as the weeks go on. These flowers are a great addition to paper craft projects, hair clips, pins and buttons and the list goes on and on. Most of the flowers here are from 4 inches to 2 inches. I have used buttons and pearls as centers for most of them as well. I hope you enjoy!! I just thought I would share! If you're interested in purchasing these or would like to make a request please visit my shop blog. Thanks so much!

Lucky Goldfish

Natural

Blue Velvet

Patriotic

Natural Fleck

Thanks for taking a peek!