Vacation Day 1

First of all, I'm sorry I don't have more pictures, they all came out blurry! Oh well. Don't worry about spilled milk, right? :]

While driving to Disneyland, I took a picture (see above) of the seat next to me. Yeah, that's all mine, and I have another bag full of yarn. (I know, I'm crazy. Just how much projects do I think I'm going to do on this vacation?!?)

So that's all the pictures that I have, but I'll try to take more pictures tomorrow. When we got to Disneyland, we decided that today we would spend all our time in California Adventures, and tomorrow we will go to Disneyland. We rode lots of rides, and my mom rode California Screamin' for the first time- I have never ridden it - I'm a chicken ;] but I have ridden Space Mountain, and I like it.
What's your favorite Disneyland ride? I'll write more tomorrow, I promise.

I'm never going back to Red Heart Yarn

I will declare it to the world! I love Caron simply soft! It's so much better than Red Heart Super Saver, and it's a little cheaper, too! The colors are amazing and it is soft! What do you think? do you prefer Red Heart? if so, why? :]

On a sadder note, I have decided to frog the hippo (LOL- that sounds funny)
It is really big, and it was getting boring. amigurumi are supposed to be fun!
I started another amigurumi, though. Another mermaid for one of my neighbors. Its tail is made of the darker green you see above, and the hair is much longer.

I finished my crochet hat! It was really fast to make, as I used two strands of yarn and a size K (10 1/2 mm) hook. Here's a picture:

It's my entry for bunzi's fall giveaway :]

I made eleven granny squares, and now I am sick and tired of making squares. However, I have no idea what I am going to do with eleven squares... it's not enough for a bag and there's no way
it's enough for a blanket! So any ideas?

I also added the "Followers" widget to my right sidebar, so go on and add yourself! Please? ;]

This week I am on vacation and my family plans to go the beach and Disneyland. I will take lots of pictures so I have material for a good, long post when we get back!

First Day of Fall

yay, my favorite season is officially here! But in southern California, It's not so evident. It's estimated to be 95 degrees Fahrenheit in about a week, so I am enjoying the "cold" while it lasts.

I bought these adorable sandals at mervyn's. On sale, too! I'm lucky, aren't I? ;]

Right now I am in the process of organizing. I was inspired by Wee Wonderfuls. isn't she just a crafting and organizing wizard? Anyway, as I was saying, I am organizing. That means throwing away, relocating stuff, cleaning, etc. so wish me luck, won't you?

Today I discovered a new kind of craft- 3D paper models! Some are so intricate, some are cute, and they all require a lot of patience. here's a great website related to paper models: Paperkraft
Here's some of the different kinds of models:

The one I want to make: http://paperinside.com/2008/09/10/park-heroes-superman/
Also check out this: way to cool... and kind of funny! (this guy has a lot of time on his hands!)

I want to buy an amigurumi book... any suggestions?

I finished my crochet hat! and I have kept up with my granny square goal, so I have a lot of squares in a pile. I also made some more paper. I used some food coloring to try and make it blue, but it didn't work. Maybe blue is too light a color. I'll try a little bit of red next and see how that turns out. I also tried to add a "smell" to it by adding some leaves from a blueberry white tea bag. That kinda sorta worked.

*If you're wondering why there are no pictures of the finished hat, my pile of g. squares, or my "blue, smelly" paper, Here's the answer: by the time I got around to this post and realized I probably should put more pictures, it was already WAY to dark. so there. maybe I'll add pictures tomorrow if I have time.*

I can never think of titles...

All the yummy goodies above I got from Jane over at Crafty Conundrum! Her sewing is just perfect and tiny... thank you so much Jane!

I stumbled upon these really cute cards from Miss B. I love them! The concept is so cool!

What I have worked on the past two days was more Grannies:

And I finally started the Hippo I've been talking about!

It's bigger than I thought... the finished piece that you see is the snout, and the piece on the hook is the head. :]

Embroidery! It's so fun... :]

I went shopping yesterday and bought all the essentials for embroidery- a hoop, floss, and fabric.

I got the brown fabric above from the discount bin. I was hoping for white, but they only had brown. I have used it for two projects so far. A flower that will be framed (in progress, above) and a pincushion for my mom, below...

Here's the embroidery floss I bought:

Here's the hoop I bought:

When I got back home from shopping, my dad searched the garage and dug out some more embroidery floss that was hidden away! So needless to say, I've got enough floss for a while... at least I think I do... I absolutely love embroidering! Here's the floss my dad found:

I've got lots of purple, which is good, because purple is my fave color:

I also got some more yarn and 2 more crochet hooks! hallelujah!

My current projects right now consist of:

• Swatch Scarf:
• The embroidered yellow-and-blue flower at the top.
  
• A Crochet Hat:
• Hippopotamus- I have not even started yet, but I plan to cast-on soon.
• A Granny Square a day! With my squares, I plan to make a bag... I have 2 so far:
  I got the idea from Pink Petal Designs!
• I also plan to embroider this!

Here's a funny video I saw over at Cotton and Cloud! made me smile :]

Socks!

I finished my socks! before I try to explain how I made them, take a look at these pictures:

Not your typical knitted sock. No siree! I didn't follow the instructions for the gusset! After turning the heel, I just picked up stitches along the heel flap(then I had 36 sts.), decreased, and started some ribbing with 18 stitches on the needles. Yeah, they were some intense decreases. But it fits me like a- well, a glove... kinda funny, because that's what it is, essentially... a glove for my feet! I know some people like a more tighter sock fabric, but I really don't have much patience at all, so I had to make these a quick knit. and they were quick, were they not? I knit them in 5 days or so. So overall, I think they turned out okay, I mean they're not exactly a feast for the eyes, but they fit almost perfectly! :]

After looking at all the adorable embroidering some of you folks do, I have decided to give it a try. Do you have any web sites that could be of help to me? I'd appreciate any help. Also, what kind of thread and fabric do you recommend for a beginner?

Okay, I've saved the worst for last. I'm afraid I've lost my crochet hook! I can't find it! Looks like I'm going to have to buy another one (or two!) I have always had a knack for forgetting things, losing things, or dropping things. I'm just that way. I'm also the world's worst searcher. The thing can be right in front of me, and I won't be able to find it! Oh well, it's gotta be around here somewhere! Unless I forgot it at the cafe...

Oh yeah, I've decided to make the hippo... once I find my crochet hook... ;]

Picture-less post!

I figured my last couple of posts have been picture-heavy, so this is a picture-free post.
don't think I'm just too lazy to take pictures... ;]

I finished the first sock! I cast on for the second sock immediately, but I'm afraid I've lost interest. I believe they call this Second Sock Syndrome... But I vow, right in this post that I will be done with the second sock in a week, September 14, 2008

And guess what? I won a pincushion from Jane over at Crafty Conundrum! eek! I cannot believe it! so excited, can't wait for it to arrive in the mail! :] Thanks Jane!

I have decided to drop the idea of the folk bag. I decided I didn't have the patience (It is a big project), it was getting all tangled, and whatnot, so I unraveled it (that's the beauty of knitting and crochet, you can always just unravel it.) I am using the unraveled yarn to make a swatch scarf, which is turning out nicely. I have already used a cable and the "basketweave" stitch in it.

I have also decided to try and make a crocheted hat using the same basic idea as that of amigurumi, which is crocheting in spirals using single crochet.

The only problem is that I only have 1 crochet hook, and I also want to make the hippo I mentioned in my last post. So which to make first? I'll leave that up to you guys please vote in the poll below! :]

Which First? Hippo Crochet Hat

Create Your Own Poll!

As promised...

I am totally happy that hurricane Gustav had minimal damage!!! especially that my friend over at Art and Soul
was okay!!! :] That makes me happy...

I finished my weaving! It's a happy little red pouch! It did not turn out exactly like I planned, but you know, it was my first try.


I am making my first really big project (at least really big to me), a bag! I got the pattern from an awesome book I got from the library: Folk Bags
Here's what it looks like right now:

OK, so it's not exactly even near being done, but...
...this is done! my first-ever granny square! I got the pattern from this book, really a fantastic book for beginners, I highly recommend it! (although in no way am I a beginner. *scoffs* ;])

Another book I got from the library... Knitting Lessons
It's not really a pattern book or anything, it's a fantastic compilation of knitting stories!
Right now I'm reading The Giver as well. It's really good, I am just swallowing it up! good thing there's a sequel!

As many of you know I started socks! I followed this wonderful video(scroll halfway down the page) to turn the heel. So far I think they look good for my first pair-ever! :]


I also plan to make this hippo, although I haven't even cast on for it yet.

I got rock band wii! It's really fun!!! my fave is drums, my fave song is "In Bloom" by Nirvana and "Should I Stay or Should I Go " by someone, I forgot the band's name. :]

My dad finally got an I phone! They came out, like July 11th! super cool, it is!(yoda-ish)

I started school monday! summer came and went so fast. although it's still like 95 degrees F in California. yes, it's sweltering HOT!

well, after lots of projects, books, first-ever's, and smileys, I'm finally done with this very long post. and yes, there just has to be another smiley :]

me promises a post tommorrow!

I'm so proud of myself! I have done so many "little" changes to my blog... including adding a sidebar!!! Yay! that's all for now... gotta sleep!!!
P.S. the socks are coming a long great... (oh yeah did I tell you? my first pair-ever! that i knit! :])
P.S.S. please tell me if my blog looks crazy with two sidebars... I need feedback! tell me anything! like, weird colors, or something! to make my blog better... :] thanx!