Unfinished Projects & a New Book!

I always intend to finish the projects I start....but somehow lose track of them and then I go back into my yarn stash to see if there is anything useful and find a bunch of old projects that I recommit to finish. However, they usually end up back in the stash to be discovered once again a few months later. So here is the question: Do I just pull apart all these old projects so they no longer haunt me and I can start afresh this spring? Do I throw some away - since some once undone will fragments of yarn? I hate being wasteful and just throw them out, because I am positive the minute I do I will think of someway to use them.

I went to a library book sale this weekend -which is very dangerous! I always say that Colin is the book hoarder in the family, but I believe I can be just as guilty. Anyways, I found this fantastic book of stitches and patterns and it has inspired me all over again and there are SOOO many stitches I didn't even realized existed! I have always felt like my projects were one dimensional, like there should be more options out there. I would always search online for free stitches but always came up disappointed in the options I saw, unless I wanted to buy something. Well for $3 my whole little crochet world has been turned upside down! I was looking through it last night and I felt like a kid in a candy store. (It is truly sad how excited I get over learning a new crochet stitch.) So here is my challenge to whoever takes the time to read my poor little blog - Get excited about the craft you love - find something new to do with the scraps you already own - and LOVE IT! I belive God has given us the blessing of finding joy in a craft and we should embrace the little kid in us and dive in!

My next call for this blog will be to add some tutorials on how I made my sunglass case (super simple but fun) and I plane on linking to videos on crocheting for those that want to but need a little help in getting started. If you live close to me I am always up for a lesson or two, I have taught close to a dozen of my friends already and love watching people find joy in crocheting :)

Projects, projects projects...

I have so many I want to do, but finally have 2 success stories! First off I FINALLY finished my valances, well it was a couple weeks ago but I have finally uploaded pictures :)

I think they turned out alright, just don't look too closely...you will see all of the flaws! The other project was a rather spur of the moment one inspired by my new sunglasses! I wanted something to put them in while in my purse, where they are sure to get scratched up. So I started looking online for a cloth bag to put them in and started to think: "I have a lot of yarn I need to use up...I bet I could just crochet a little pouch with a button to close it...." So I did!

Front

back

I am really pleased in how it turned out and it was super quick. I have already started thinking about other combinations of colors to use and once I get some made I might even try to sell them :) We'll see. I also said that about the crocheted baby blocks I made for Adelynn...and I still haven't followed through on that. So we'll see! I just wish I had more time to create, but alas a baby, housework, and my other small jobs that actually make me a little money are first on my list of "to-do" Someday I will have a craft room where I can get away from everything and just enjoy crocheting or sewing without making a mess in my living room or dining room...some day........

National Craft/Crochet Month...who knew?

So I guess March is a National Craft month, as well as Crochet month. I never even knew either existed. Now I must ask myself - what do I/we do to celebrate? I wonder who decided that March was a National Craft/Crochet month? I wonder if I could make up a National month for something else....like National Clean out your closet month :) That is probably something I should be doing, since a lot of what clutters one of our closets is my yarn, which I crochet with! Come to think of it maybe that is what I should do to celebrate. I have a bunch of scraps of left over yarn that aren't big enough to do much with or I just don't care for :) Although I found this idea: http://www.purlbee.com/babette-blanket-2/ - which has been the most viable idea I have seen for using up scraps.

I am sure my husband would be THRILLED if I did something useful with them. He has threatened to throw a bunch of them out, but I have fought him off and stashed them away because I knew someday something like this would come along and I would just HAVE to have them. Now here comes the next question...when on earth will I have time to do that? I am still working on fixing my sewing failure - which I think is going to work out but we can only hope, wait and see.

I have a similar problem in my fabric and scrap booking paper....anymore ideas??? Is any one else out there celebrating National Craft Month??

Failure...

So I have been trying to get valances up in my windows for quite some time now. I have had the fabric, just needed the time. I finally had the time and got one done...put it up....and it looks pitiful....I think I made it too short- width wise, and I made it so rings would just clip on and it looks weird hanging up there and the rings hang down too low so you can see the blinds behind it at the top...it is just ALL WRONG. So what do I do? I thought about making it into a rod pocket...maybe adding strips of fabric at the end to lengthen it - I have done that before and it turned out okay. It is just so self defeating when you are so excited about something and finally get it done but it ends up being a big disappointment and you feel like you just waisted precious free time. However I am determined to figure something out because my walls and windows are so bare and boring something has to be done!

Any suggestions???

Can you be overly inspired??

So as I start out on my new found drive to create more with my crocheting, and probably a sewing project here and there I have started to realize maybe I want to do too much? As I search other blogs and websites I can't help but want to do about a dozen different projects at the same time! Is there such a thing as over-inspired? It is hard to decide what I want to do first, not to mention I have other projects I am still trying to finish outside of the new ones I am finding. Maybe the trick is to stop looking at new things and just start with the ones I already have. Well that is just too simple of an answer and it's so hard not to look! If only I had all the time in the world and a limitless crafting budget :) Alas I am on a budget and I have a 10 month old that monopolizes 85% of my day and a house that needs to be taken care of - we'll say that takes up 10%. I am left with 5% of my day to do projects, which by the time you get everything out and set up can be dwindled down to 3%, especially if you need a glass of wine to help out with the process. Not to mention it is probably the end of the day by the time I get to the project and then I am often so tired I sit down and just want to zone out while watching whichever reality show is on that night...lately that has been American Idol or the Olympics.

What is a girl to do? So much to do with so little time & money. It will be nice when Adelynn can start her own projects and crafts, that is one thing I would like to do with her. I always wanted to create things as a little girl I hope I can pass that on.

So right now I am working on Valances for my dining room and a fun market bag that I hope to put for sale if anyone is so inclined to buy :) I think it will turn out well and will post pictures of both projects.

I hope this blog turns into something fun and refreshing for me to write, others to read, and be inspired to either make something of their own or invest in my growing addiction to create!

Well that's all for now - Kim