tagged

Christina tagged me over the weekend. Like her, this is my first time being tagged and this tag works like this - google your first name, followed by "needs." So, I googled "Jessi needs" and apparently here is what I need:

1. a hug and a kiss - don't we all?
2. tattoo help - I do?
3. to understand that today's world has very few people who independently do anything! - this probably could help me out, but it seems downright pessimistic.
4. the help of the powerful and secretive unicorns to save both worlds - good to know, I guess...
5. some maternity clothes - I sure hope not, I've still got two little ones who keep me up all night.
6. to take a shower - already took care of that one tonight.
7. to learn things the hard way - I already knew this. It is apparent in my everyday life.
   
8. a cheap Dell laptop - DH wouldn't be too happy if I brought a PC into the house.
   
9. a break - don't we all?
10. to check installer - OK, will do.

Thanks Christina - it was fun. And I'll tag my friend Phoebe.

Crochet Flower

I figured it out. It took me three tries to get the beginning ring the right size, but after that I didn't have too much trouble with the cluster. The hard part was writing out the pattern - yikes - and this was a really simple pattern. So, without further ado, here is the original next to try #1, try #2, and the successful try #3 with the pattern below. If you try it out, please let me know if anything is confusing or you have trouble with something as this is my first try at writing out a pattern.

THRIFT STORE CROCHET FLOWER

No 10 Cotton Crochet Thread Size 6 hook

CLUSTER: YO twice, insert hook into ring, YO and pull up a loop, YO and draw through 2 loops twice; repeat from * two times; YO and draw through all 4 loops

ch 8; join with slip st to form a ring

ch 4; *YO twice, insert hook into ring, YO and pull up a loop, YO and draw through 2 loops twice; repeat from *; YO and draw through all 3 loops.

*ch 6; CLUSTER; repeat from * 10 times; ch 6; join with slip st to top of beginning cluster. Finish off: 12 clusters and 12 6 chain spaces.

BTW - we are going out of town for my cousin's wedding, so I won't be around for a few days. Looks like the weather will be enjoyable - hope you all have a good weekend!

The Sun came out...

so I was able to take some pictures of my weekend projects!

These are some dish towels that I fancied up and along with some dish cloths I crocheted a while ago will make a great wedding gift for my cousin.

Here are some crochet hook cases (or as my sister-in-law pointed out, make-up brush cases) that I finished this weekend. My favorite part of them are the buttons - two of them are from the stash that I picked up on Saturday at that great thrift store. As soon as I figure out what to do about tags, I will be able to put them in my shop.

Saturday's Thrifting

I found some more treasures on Saturday....A couple of pillowcases and a few small pieces of fabric that I will probably use for pockets on aprons.

Two balls of crochet thread (I plans to use the yellow to try out the flower I found earlier) and underneath it the bargain of the day - a yard and a little bit of blue wool felt for 50 cents!

Some fun buttons! All for a quarter!

And this great crochet magazine from 1952!

Most of this I found at a new place for me - a fun little store in the basement of a church that smelled like an old house and yielded some great finds! Hopefully the sun will come out at some point today so I can show you the projects I worked on this weekend. Thanks for reading! It's been so fun getting comments from all who have left them!

the Banner is finished, now where's Spring?

Welcome Spring! Too bad the weather isn't cooperating - still cold and rainy today. This was so much fun to put together and I love how it turned out. It adds a little bit of spring to my boring kitchen wall. We moved here about 5 months ago and haven't done anything with this enormous white space yet, but this looks good for now. So, I ended up making two of these and I think it will be one of the first handmade items that I put in my Etsy shop. This week I started listing vintage patterns. I have always loved looking through the patterns in thrift stores and this has given me an excuse to buy all of the ones that I like. So much fun! And I sold my first one the day after I listed my first set, so the next morning I put together a hang tag for my items. It was so exciting to take it to the post office and send it off.
I have wanted to sell my sewn and handcrafted items for some time. A few months ago when I discovered Etsy and sewing and crafting blogs, I knew I had found my perfect outlet. I think I will be ready to put my handcrafted items in the shop in a week or two. I need to come up with a fabric/cloth tag to put on my items. I have been looking for some place that won't make me buy a bazillion but still makes a good quality tag - does anyone know of any good tag sources?

hope you all have a good weekend!

I'm ready for you Spring!

Hopefully, I will get some time tonight to put together this pennant banner I cut out this afternoon. I got the idea from a friend of mine who made one last summer and hung it on her patio. The pennants are from a vintage tablecloth, sheet, and pillowcase. I loved trying out my pinking blade on the rotary cutter. And on the left are the ever useful bias cut strips. It is snowing today (after being a balmy 70 degrees yesterday), so this is my way to let spring now that I am ready for it to come and stay!

Hidden Treasure

Yesterday I was sorting through some crochet thread I bought at the thrift store a couple of weeks ago and found this beauty hidden inside one of the spools. It will make a great adornment for something. But, first I think I will try to figure out the pattern so I can make more! Looks like each petal is some sort of cluster with chains in between. I'll let you know how it goes.

Today's Finds

Last night I was browsing the yard sale classifieds when I saw an ad that said, "FABRIC STASH MUST GO." And I said, "HELLO, ARE YOU TALKING TO ME?" So, I went and got some great finds all for $5.

This fab ALPHABET print will go to good use for some things for P. I also fell for the Huckleberry Pie (from Strawberry Shortcake) print and got some great binding which I am finding so useful lately.

Some fun CHRISTMAS prints to add to the stash that
I'm collecting to make some patchwork stockings this year.

And this great PATTERN. I love the tent and know my boys would too. Am I ambitious enough to make it? Only time will tell.

And this wasn't all - there were a few trims and a pair of unfinished curtains that I plan to make into aprons.