Year of Projects 2: Update 21

Project Percentage Complete: 49%

Overall Percentage Complete: 70%

Number of Project Items: 98
Number of Added Items: 89
Total Items: 187

Total Completed Project Items: 48
Total Completed Items: 131

Crocheting My Life Back: Update 6

The Statistics
Current Weight: 295
Weekly Loss/Total Loss: -1/-5

Squares Allowed: 5
Squares Completed: 0

My Yarn Buddy

Do you have a special yarn buddy? A friend that like to stay close to your side even if you are focused on your yarn?

My yarn buddy is my dog Andrew - shown here, this is the kitchen chair that I frequently sit at when I'm working on my blog or sometimes when I craft (and want to use the computer or watch TV from a good vantage point).

Often, Andrew will come lay at my feet, hoping I use him as a foot rest (and rub his sides with my feet) and ocassionally, he hangs out under my chair.... This was him last week - he was under the chair, relaxing, catching some shut-eye on the rung of the chair I was sitting in. The Man was able to catch a picture of him before Andrew got up and followed me to the other room.

Andrew is definitely my yarn buddy. I love him so.

Ice Pack Pillowcase [Pattern]

THIS PATTERN HAS MOVED

Please click the link below to be taken directly to the pattern on the new site.

My apologies for any inconvenience.

http://iyarny.wordpress.com/2013/02/19/ice-pack-pillowcase-pattern/

KnitPicks - Data Leak

I normally do try to stay somewhat on topic but I feel it is important to share this information with my readers, especially knowing many of you shop online at the same places I do.

Recently, it was discovered that the Crafts Americana Group, or CAG, accidentally put a file which included buyer data (name, address, credit card numbers) in a location that was not secure. This means the site was not hacked, but if a person with ill-intent were looking in the right place, this file would have been made available to them relatively easily. You can read the announcement made by CEO Matt Petkun here: http://www.knitpicks.com/cfBlog/post.cfm/message-from-our-ceo-matt-petkun

Fortune Cookie Pattern Review

LoveHearts Pattern (c) June GIlbank

With Valentine's Day looming, I made a decision to make something small and different for the man, the kids, and my coworkers. I saw a cute pattern for crochet fortune cookies on Ravelry and made the decision THAT is what I was going to make.

For the Man and my kids, the fortune cookie was just a small piece to their Valentine's Day - for my coworkers, I left them a crocheted fortune cookie and a piece of chocolate.

My Valentines

First and foremost, I offer an extremely belated Valentine's wish to all my readers. I had hoped to get on and post on Valentine's Day but it just ended up not happening... why?

Because I waited until the last moment to work on my Valentine's mini project for my coworkers.

oopsie...

But, besides that, these two door hangers are something I wanted to share with you all even though they aren't crochet. These are made with plastic canvas (if you couldn't tell already *laughs*)

Year of Projects 2: Update 20

Project Percentage Complete: 49%

Overall Percentage Complete: 70%

Number of Project Items: 98
Number of Added Items: 87
Total Items: 185

Total Completed Project Items: 48
Total Completed Items: 130

Crocheting My Life Back: Update 5

The Statistics
Current Weight: 296
Weekly Loss/Total Loss: -1/-4

Squares Allowed: 5
Squares Completed: 0

Moogly Feature

Tamara from Moogly Blog dropped me a line on my 1 Skein Pet Bed Pattern to let me know it was featured as part of a roundup for 10 items for the Cat Lover.

Being that I'm an all around animal lover, I really found some of these patterns something I'd be very interested in making, especially the cat scarf.

I just wanted to first give Tamara a huge "THANK YOU" for featuring my pattern as one within the collection. I really do appreciate this sort of acknowledgement from other bloggers, crocheters, and artists. And on top of that, I'm glad she pointed out that it really is a great item for donation to animal shelters.

So, please - if you have not been to the Moogly Blog before, I encourage you to go check it out.

Thanks again, Tamara!

Year of Projects 2: Update 19

Project Percentage Complete: 49%

Overall Percentage Complete: 66%

Number of Project Items: 98
Number of Added Items: 73
Total Items: 171

Total Completed Project Items: 48
Total Completed Items: 114

I Want This Yarn... have you used it?

I know I have briefly mentioned a recent trip to a nice yarn store with several of my yarn group friends - a mini yarn crawl, if you will.

While at this yarn store, I saw this yarn.... and I want it.

I really really REALLY want this yarn.

So I want to ask you all: have you used it? what did you think of it?

It was a rather pricey yarn, as far as my budget is concerned, so any input prior to my purchasing this yarn would be helpful. I know that one of my friends purchased this yarn in the purple gem-stone type colorway shown on the right - I want the browns/greys.

Socks for the Man

It definitely seems like I have been knitting more than crocheting; however, in my defense I say that the Navajo has really beaten it out of me - ya know, the desire to hold a hook. And then, when I do pick up a project, like the Have a Heart Shawl I recently reviewed, I don't dilly dally - I get in and get 'er done.

So, my most recent project completed was not a crochet project - it was knitted socks.

A Review of the "Have a Heart" Shawl

(c) Red Heart

I did a review on Monday for the Magic Crochet Wrap - and unfortunately, with such a bad result from that pattern, I was in need of another - you see, I wanted to make a wrap, poncho, or shawl for my youngest daughter. She'd been wanting one for a while ... and when the Magic Crochet Wrap didn't work out - I was on the hunt again.

I decided, on a fluke, to go back through this bin of "freebie flyers" I pull from when yarn shopping. I came across the freebie for a Red Heart pattern called "Have a Heart Shawl." It was cute - and I was in need.... so this was the pattern I chose.

Crocheting My Life Back: Update 4

The Statistics
Current Weight: 297
Weekly Loss/Total Loss: -1/-3

Squares Allowed: 5
Squares Completed: 0

Review of The Crochet Magic Wrap

(c) Lisa Gentry on Ravelry

This review is for the Crochet Magic Wrap.

It shows as a free pattern from Coats and Clark although you can grab it on Ravelry for free (here).

This is one of those very difficult reviews because I did not have a good experience but based on the reviews from others who have made the wrap, it seems like its a 50-50 ... either people loved it or they just thought it was so-so.

Of course, these things are all very subjective - but then again, a review is pretty much just that, right? An opinion?

Crocheting My Life Back: Update 3

The Statistics
Current Weight: 298
Weekly Loss/Total Loss: +3/-2

Squares Allowed: 5
Squares Completed: 0