You must check out woowork.com's newest blog post, "Raining Cats and Dogs". He gets more and more creative as time goes by. I cant help but keep coming back to his site for his amazing and Very creative creations.
Of course, I might be a little bias, since one of his creations is named after me! :) Thanks Howie!
Click on one of his photos to see his flickr pages full of great photos of his other crochet adventures.
Viewing his blog is a blast. So many awesome projects. Go check it out!
My sister-in-law wanted to know if I had a penguin crochet pattern. Unfortunately I did not, so I started my search for the perfect Penguin. There were a lot of penguin's out there that were very cute. But none of them were what I had in mind.
I wanted him to look like Chilly Willy. Then I found the perfect pattern on flickr by Anuko! Only one small problem.... She did not sell or write out the pattern. So I had to figure it out all on my own. Because I am not selling the pattern or making it for sale, I figured it was ok to copy her idea. I even got the ok from Anuko to post my photo on flickr.
You must check out all of her great crochet creations. She is very creative.
So without further ado:
Introducing "Chilly Willy"
My Sister-in-law loved Chilly Willy. It was hard for me not to want to keep him for myself. :)
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It is so interesting how some of the cleverest ideas come from last minute scrambling. It was the day of my brothers wedding reception. Only one last thing to do before getting ready. The Dessert Table needed something to hold utensils.
I tore through my cabinets looking for the perfect container with NO luck. So I proceeded to check in my messy craft room. After a minute or two, my eyes serveyed a Paint Can I bought a while ago meant for a crafty project.
Then it hit me, "This is perfect!".
So with a little strip of paper and some glue it turned from a boring Paint Can into a Dessert Utensil Holder. Cool, huh!?
Does anyone else have any crafty uses for a Paint Can?
I would love to hear about it.
Have you ever had one of those days when you ask, Why? That is what I have been asking myself for the past 2 days. Why? I'm Happy because my brother and his new wife are in town. I'm happy the Reception will be friday to celebrate. I am also Happy I get to do at least 50% of the planning, shopping, and setup. You may say those are good things....and they are! See how cute they are below! :)
The bad thing? I am Sick!!! Sick! So much work to do and I am Sick! Ugh. I have been laid up in bed for the past 2 days not knowing how I will get things done. And yet, some how everything always works out. Not sure if I will be alive when Friday comes along. But at least I will know everything will be done. Thank goodness I am a some what of an early planner.
My mom even went out and got everything I needed to finish up. PLUS a Starbucks! Bless her heart! :) I dont know how I will make it when I am as sick as a dog. But somehow it will work out. It always does.
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Harrison and I were able to make and decorate Christmas cookies last Sunday afternoon. Never having done this before by myself, I ran strait to my mother for a recipe and cookie cutters. She gave me a great Wilton recipe for the cookies and icing that I would like to share. This dough is great because it requires NO chilling! The icing is also wonderful because it is so easy and it is egg free.
Click below for a printable copy
Preheat oven to 400 deg. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar with an electric mixer. Beat in egg and vanilla. Add baking powder and flour one cup at a time, mixing after each addition. The dough will be very stiff: blend the last flour in by hand. Do not chill dough. Divide dough into 2 balls. On a floured surface, roll out each ball in a circle approximately 12" in diameter and 1/8" thick. Dip cutters in flour before each use. Bake cookies on ungreased cookie sheet on top rack of oven for 6 to 7 min. or until cookies are lightly browned.
note: if the dough is too crumbly and doesn't stick together, you either have too much flour or the butter was not room temperature.
Makes about 2 cups
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat meringue powder and scant 1/2 cup water on low. Add confectioners sugar, scrape sides, and beat until soft peaks form, about 10 minutes. To add color I just separate icing into small bowls and mix in food coloring in a different color for each bowl.
Note: To thin icing for filling in shapes, or "flooding" add a little more water.
Its been a long month of sickness and health frustrations. Although these problems are still not over, this Christmas season is distracting me. Christmas time is my favorite time of year. Even more special this year because I have a house to decorate. No more apartment for me. My husband helped haul out all the Christmas decorations...bless his heart! There is nothing like decorating the Christmas Tree as a family. Peppermint Hot Cocoa, Christmas music, peanut butter m&ms and memories: What could be better?
Even our 3 birds joined in on the fun.
I even had a chance to get my husband to photograph one of my favorite Cabled Scarfs, I made at the beginning of the year. The pattern is called an Irish Hiking Scarf. You can find the pattern on Ravelry. The pattern was actually very easy to understand and make, but looks like it was complicated. Definitely an impresser of a scarf. I ended up making it a short scarf to keep it from being bulky in my jacket, kind of like a scarflet. I even found this great scarf pin by Brittany Needles. There's nothing like wearing something you have made.
I had my heart set on this beautiful fabric from Joanns for my master bedroom. Isn't it beautiful? sigh. I found it and knew this fabric was for me.
25$ a yard was a bit much, but decided I would save up for this must have fabric anyways.
Then Home Fabrics outlets came into my life. I decided to stop by last Friday to see what this store was all about. I walked in and my mouth dropped open. Bolts and bolts of home decor fabric and the average price was 5$ a yard. I started scanning the isles of bolt after bolt of lovely fabric. Then I saw it, my FABRIC! Normally 5$ a yard, I got it for 2$ a yard! The only catch was I had to buy what was left on the bolt because it was on clearance. No problem, 4 1/2 years was do-able.
I even came across the fabric that is on my couch. Then I found the perfect fabric for my living room draperies! Heaven!
Want to know how much I saved on all this lovely fabric? I bought 20 yards total at an average of 3$ a yard. At Joanns this would have cost me 500$, but I only spent 60$ That is a savings of 440 dollars!!!! I was in fabric heaven leaving that store. Hugging my fabric in excitement, I headed off to show my husband my amazing bargain. Now I can start on my curtains! This will be my next challange. I have never made curtains before. Want to join me for the ride?
Here is only a taste of what we saw at the exhibits. There were so many unbelievable and creative quilts.
For the rest of my photos you can check out my flickr set: HERE
I am looking forward to next year. Better start saving my money now! :)
]]>Enter: The Bevelry Hillbillies! :) One of many Loads.
The first item to move into my new home. My Christmas Present Hutch purchased from my favorite store: Room With A Past!
Unpacking, way more fun then packing. :)
I finally could pull out and use the wreath I made 2 years ago.
Next Post: Pacific International Quilt Festival XVIII
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