Make:: Tassel Keychain

This past week I ended up at the mall with my mom and realized that these tassels are everywhere so it seemed like a good time to pull out this project from back in November. This is a fun, quick and easy project that you can shop for and make in an afternoon.

Supplies:
Faux Leather
Large Split Ring
Glue (I just used some super glue I already had)
Scissors

Step 1:
Cut fabric into one 2 in by 12 in strip and 2 in by 1/4 in strip
Cut fringe into larger strip of fabric, about a 1/4 in wide

Step 2:
Loop smaller strip of fabric around split ring and glue ends together.

Step 3:
Glue ends of small strip of fabric to the wrong side of the fringed fabric.

Step 4:
Glue and roll the fringe around the small strip until you reach the end.
** I found that it was easiest to put glue on a few inches and then roll it up until I reached the end. At the end I glued across the entire end so that you don't have any edges coming up.

Hook your keys on and enjoy!

P.S. I'm working on a project to make with the rest of your faux leather!

Make: All Of My Days Baby Blanket

I keep trucking along when it comes to making baby blankets for the baby boom happening around me this year. I am kinda behind and have (let's face facts) kinda given up on finishing any of them before a baby is born, but I'm rather pleased with the way the 2013 blankets have been turning out. I worked this one up for my cousin Hannah's baby boy and it was delivered to him way back in June, so I'm glad I've finally gotten around to writing about it!

For this blanket I used on of my go to made up patterns. I think even an inexperienced crocheter could make this as you only really need to know how to do single crochet (sc), half double crochet(hdc) and double crochet (dc).

Yarn:
Pattons Classic Wool in Lemon Grass and Aren
Lion Brand WoolEase in Navy (I think, it was left over from a frogged project, but I can't seem to find it on the Lion Brand website)

Pattern
Body of Blanket:
Work in Color 1 (Lemongrass)
Row 1: chain in multiples of 2 until you have reached your desired length.
Row 2 - end: dc in first stitch (st), cross stitch (skip st, dc into next st, dc into skipped st - here is a good video showing how to do this.) until 2nd to last st, dc into last st, chain 3, turn.
Row 3-? repeat row 2 until the blanket is this size that you desire.
Border of Blanket:
Work in Color 2 (Navy)
hdc around edge of blanket
Work in Color 3 (Aren)
sc, hdc, 3dc into same st, hdc - repeat around edge of blanket.

As is my want, I have named this baby blanket after a song I like - please take a listen.

Inspire: July

This month I'm diggin':

Eat: Watermelon Slush - Yum!

Read: Dear Friend's, great round up of summer reads - I'm on the library wait list for Where'd You Go, Bernadette.

Listen: The Evolution of Pitch Perfect's "When I'm Gone" - can't stop listening to this song, so good!

Make: Flower crown - very summery.

Give: Gold letter necklaces - great birthday gift. 

Inspire: April

Decorate: TV show apartment floor plans - I realized that my #1 style influence is Monica's apartment.

Make: DIY Swan Lamp - I just can't with this one, so-so much goodness here.

Wear: Julia Roberts' costumes from Mona Lisa Smile - I want to dress like a professor from 1953.

Find: Red Autumn Prints - Wise words in pretty writing.

Crochet: Dahlia In A Square - Great pattern for stash busting.

Make: (I'd Go The) Whole Wide World Blanket

(press play)

Oh how I love finished projects and and love sharing them here almost as much! This cozy little zig-zagy number is a gift for my niece Emmylou and was made to match her nursery. But it is easily one of my favorites. Okay, let's dig into the details of this petite cutie.

The Yarn:
Lions Brand Wool-Ease in Ranch Red, Grey Heather & White Frost
Wool-Ease is not my favorite yarn, but it works well for baby blankets because it is both soft and washable. Also the white was kinda weird and fuzzy, so the next time I am working on a project with white yarn I will be looking for something else first.

The Pattern:
I use a very basic peaks and valley pattern for my ripple blankets.
Foundation: Chain multiple of 17 (ei: 170) then 15 to finish foundation. Chain 2 turn.
Row 1: hdc into 3rd chain from hook, hdc into next 6 st, hdc 3x into next st, hdc into next 7 st, skip 2 st, *hdc into next 7 st, hdc 3x into next st, hdc into next 7 st, skip 2 st* repeat from * until last 15 st then **hdc into next 7 st, hdc 3x into st, hdc into next 7 st chain 2 turn**.
Row 2-end: repeat * until last 15 st then repeat from **
Chang colors between rows as desired. For this blanket I changed colors every 3 rows for the gray and white stripes and the red stripe was 6 rows.

As for the name/song. I named blanket after the song I listened to/sang around the house the most while I was working on it. My love for the Monkees knows no end!

This is just the start of my baby (blanket) boom, so get ready for more small looped and hooked projects to come!

Want more: Baby Blankets from the past (with crummy pictures)
All Day & All of the Night Blanket
Daisy, Daisy Blanket
Baby Love Blanket & Sweater
Other Blankets

Make: Works In Progress - Baby Blankets

It occurred to me the other day that it has been about a million years since I shared any of my crochet projects. So I thought it would be fun show you what I've been lugging around in my yarn bag.

I try and only carry around smallish projects with easy to memorize patterns. Baby blankets are exactly that small and easy and with the major baby boom happening among my circle of friends and family I have plenty of reasons to hook away!

Today I'm just going to give you a peek at what I'm working on and once I've finished up I'll fill you in on all the details - it is going to be super exciting! No really it is! Get ready!

Pink flowers on a Cream field. This one is going to be really pretty when it is done.

The start of a Lemongrass, Navy and Cream blanket for a yet to be born little boy.

Finally an almost finished Gray, White and Red ripple for my bestie Emmy.

Inspire: March

Woohoo another month, another chance to share a few of the good things I've found around the internet. Ready? Okay!

Listen: The Joy the Baker Podcast - so fun, I feel like Joy & Tracy are like the big sisters I never had.

Change: See Something Say Something by A Blog About Love - share the love, help someone have a better day.

Live: The Six Types of Friends Everyone Should Have - how many of these types of friends do you have?

Celebrate: My Party Closet by Oh Happy Day - be ready to throw a party at a minutes notice.

Decorate: Amazing Printable Vintage Prints - did I mention they are free!?! I am equal parts fascinated by & creeped out by this octopus print.

Make: Crochet Llama - so adding this guy to my to hook list.

Make: Paper Airplane Valentine

                   

Last week I was watching this sweet short film (I remember seeing it over the summer, but forgot how lovely it was) and had an idea for a quick little valentine project. You could even make a few on your lunch break today. 

Happy Valentine's Day! If I could I would send each one of you a paper airplane love note!

Make: Snow Ball Wreath

Before we even get into it I'm just gonna come right out and say: I'm not really crazy about how this project turned out. I think that there is a germ of a cute wreath here, I just didn't really accomplish it, but maybe you can figure out a modification or two and would make this fit to hang on a front door for all to see.

There aren't any step instructions here, but basically I just wrapped my wreath form with felt, made yarn poofs  with the fringy yarn and popped a little (it is a little small though) bow on top.

So there you have it, my winter wreath project fail. Good thing Valentine's Day is just around the corner and I can swap it out for my felt heart wreath. 

Make: Puffed Pup Sweater

I have started operation Use Up Stash Yarn and I kicked things off with the silliest crochet project I have ever made. A sweater for Amelia, because she is a red head I thought that this gorgeous coral yarn would look great on her and I have a bunch of cream wool so that was an easy pairing.

The pattern is a modification of the Woody Dog Coat from Vintage Crochet. Because Amelia is longer than most dogs her size I added some length to the sweater and I also made the chest piece a little larger. Also the pattern has you button the bottom panel into place, but I knew that our dog would never leave buttons alone, so I just crochet the two piece together. Over all this was a quick and fun project and a great way to use up some of the wool I've had squirreled away.

And one last picture of the pup licking her lips! So much cuteness!

Do you have any knit or crochet projects in the works? Do share!

Make: Very Sparkly Christmas Wreath

Okay I might have gone a little over board with my Christmas wreath this year, it is very sparkly and a little crazy. Sit back and I'll tell you the story of the crazy sparkly gold-gold wreath.

I had this idea of a totally gold wreath rolling around in my mind so over Thanksgiving weekend I went to both Joann's and Micheal's and pick up gold wreath filler (on sale and with a coupon!) to take a part for my wreath.

I already had this wire wreath form kicking around my house (I picked it up at a thrift store for 99 cents a while back). So I just wrapped it with some felt I already had to create my base.

Once I "broke down" all the filler that I bought, it was clear I had way more thank I was going to need, so there will surely be more sparkly projects to come. In the end I just randomly glued the pieces to my base with hot glue.

In the end I think it actually looks fun and shiny hanging on my front door. And I know it will look even better when my house has a blanket of snow.

P.S. As I mentioned in yesterday's post, my camera is dead as a door nail, so the next few posts will have all cell phone pics (sure am glad I up graded to a smart phone!).

Make: Fall Pinterest Challenge

It is that time again, Pinterest Challenge time! Ah I love a good challenge so I am happy to once again be working away on turning some of those pins into something good!

image

For the fall challenge I have pick a bunch of mushroom pins I have been collecting over the last few months. But first has anyone ever actually seen a bright red mushroom in the wild? Anyway moving on I love the look of a red mushroom with little white spots (I even made a few mushroom ornaments). I have a few ideas about what I might do, but in the mean time enjoy this run down of fun mushroom pins!

Wood mushroom toys.

Awesome mushroom lamp.

 Sweet fairy house.

I'd love to find a place in my house for this crazy cute "toadstool"!

And maybe I can snack on some of these yummy mushroom shaped cookies while I work on my project.

Do you have a pin that you have been wanting to recreate? Why don't you join the Challenge. Make sure to check out the hosts of the Fall Pinterest Challenge; Bower Power, Young House Love, Our Fifth House and The Ugly Duckling House and check back next week to see how my challenge turned out!

P.S. find all of my past Pinterest Challenges here.