Kitchen Contest Remider

I just wanted to remind everyone that my Kitchen Contest deadline was extended to the end of the year. In order for this to be effective I need actual entries where a few moments are taken to answer the questions I posed. Simply sending in an entry where you say things like "I like anything, I can use anything, I'd like to see any new patterns" does not help me in designing new and clever patterns! I'm giving away 2 gift baskets and want to do that to thank those who actually enter and give me some good feedback. Just sending me in a good entry means you're in the running for one out of the 2 baskets. To see the rules and such, please click here and scroll down to the bottom of the page. Any questions, as always, please feel free to let me know! Thanks everyone!!!!

My latest swap package and other news

I got my package today from Vicki for the Spring Scarf Swap! She made me such a pretty scarf and included some wonderful extras as well. THANK YOU so much Vicki! I will post pics tomorrow... Gotta put new batteries in the camera...

I also finished up a new design of mine. I'm calling it the "Citrus Kitchen Set". It is the basic Potholder, dishcloth and dishtowel. I basically started by just letting the hook take me where it wanted and I'm quite pleased with the results. Since I'm still working on the Pinwheels for my dad, throw for step-sister and sweater for step-mom in Michigan and won't have that package finished for at least a couple of months I thought it would be nice to send her a nice kitchen set for Mothers Day. I hope she likes it! I will post pics soon and will be looking for pattern testers. (Takes approx 4 skeins of Sugar N Cream). If interested, please e-mail me or leave a comment here with a way to contact you.

Just not to confuse those of you who read my blog regularly, my mother died of cancer when I was 15 years old. My dad married one of my mom's friends (who's husband died only a few months before my mom did) so even though she's technically my "step-mom" I try not to refer to her that way. We did not get a long at all when she first married my dad, but over the years I have grown to love and respect her. She's a wonderful lady and I know my mom would be happy with the job she did with me. So most of the time I refer to her as simply "mom" sometimes as "step-mom" but wanted to clear that up if there was any confusion.

In other news, the Carpal Tunnel Surgery could happen as early as the 16th of this month. I have a bunch to do between now and then as I want to get a handle on all the swaps I'm involved in before that. There's no telling how long it'll be before I'll be able to crochet again. I keep throwing hints to my hubby that I'll need some spending money to purchase lots of crochet magazines to keep me occupied til I can crochet again. So far he's not too worried for my sanity! Oh well... I have faith that a few fairy godmothers will make sure I have plenty to read!!!

Surgery afterall

Well, ever since I saw the Dr. last Monday I have had incredible pain in my left hand and arm. The splint has really helped with the tingling but the pain is pretty bad. I had to make another cake Weds night for DH's work and it about killed me to do it. I talked to the Dr's office this morning and they want to do it sooner rather than later. I will need a total of 3 days off UGH! and my boss is not understanding of such things. I finally got the courage up to call him and he was not a happy camper. He thinks I really can have all this done after work and that I'm just trying to jip him out of money by not working... Oh well, not a lot I can do at the moment. I am going to try and get my swaps all taken care of in the next week as even though I crochet right handed, the left hand does do several moments which I won't be able to do for awhile after the surgery. What am I going to do without being able to crochet? I think I'll go mad!

Say a little prayer that the boss lightens up on me a bit!

My Secret Pal Package Came!

Attention:

Before reading this post, if you feel the need to correct me please save it. These are MY gifts that my secret pal made for me and I will use them however I wish! Forgive me for not realizing that the "Wall Hanging" is actually a tea towel. I apologize if the "Dishcloth" is actually supposed to be a doily. The point is that I love all the items my pal took the time to make for me and put in my package. If you've come to correct me and point out all my mistakes, then go somewhere else. I'm tired of drama and have no need for it. If you don't have anything nice to say than don't say anything at all. The internet is a really big place. If the only thing you have to do is come to my blog to make fun of me and point out my mistakes then you have absolutely no life. I like me and that's all that matters. If you don't then it's your problem. I won't lose any sleep over it, really...

Now back to your regular scheduled blogging:



My secret pal was so sweet!!! She lives in Austrailia and sent me all kinds of things you can only get there. I told her my DH wants to move there so badly so I knew he'd like anything Austrailia. Well she even sent him a little package which he loved! In my package was a nice Koala Bear Wall Hanging, a beautiful dishcloth, a Star Wars set which I will put to good use, a bag full of yummy yarn I have never seen before, Disney Princess Book Labels, Austrailia Key Chains, Can Cozy, Coasters, magnet and this beautiful tray. She also sent me a nice neck band with the Austrailian flag on it. My DH snagged it before I could take a second glance.

Thank you so so much! We loved everything!!!

Mrs. Weasley's Sweater ~ COMPLETED!!!

Well, I finished this today! It is a wonderful sweater and I am extremely pleased with how well it turned out. I used a larger hook than called for in the pattern as I wanted it to be larger than written (I used a size K). I used several shades of Caron Simply Soft for it and the Soft Pink color for the actual body of the sweater. Mine is also longer than written due to the larger hook. As you can see it practically comes down to my knees! I like it like this though. I think it'll be a great addition to my wardrobe! Please forgive how I look. My DH always seems to take my pics at the most unflattering angles... Ah well...

This pattern was quite easy to follow and worked up much more quickly than I expected it to. It looks extremely complex but it's quite fast once you get going. If interested in purchasing this pattern, contact Shelle and she will be more than happy to assist you.

I am seriously considering teaching how to make this sweater in an upcoming crochet class. I have sent out an e-mail to all of my students and am working on a sign to put up at Hobby Lobby. I'm thinking it'll take at least 4 classes to teach this. I'm only wondering about the price. Not sure what to charge for a long class like this.

If you have any suggestions for my crochet classes, please contact me and let me know.

Back to work

Well, it had to happen sooner or later, right? My weeklong vacation is over and I had to trudge back to the office this morning. UGH is the only word I can think of to describe it... Of course, being gone for a week I had a ton of loose ends to tie up as well as some fires to put out. What is so hard about telling someone "Look, the manager is on vacation this week, she will call you back on Monday." Nope, this one customer of mine who is a royal pain in the butt called poor Nichole (my fill in person) several times hounding her about her taxes. This woman is a nightmare! Her name is spelled Diana but it's pronounced Deana. She gets really nasty with you if you call her Diana... Well someone who doesn't know her isn't going to know to pronounce it differently. Ah well, you can't please everyone...

I didn't really get to do any crocheting today as I was pretty busy but I ran out of the Pink yarn I was using for the body of the Molly Weasley sweater I'm making. After trying several different places I finally found that color. I tried Wal-Mart, Hobby Lobby and Michaels. It wasn't til I got to Rag Shop that I found it and it was the last skein. Speaking of that, there was hardly any yarn at Rag Shop. All the bins were practically bare. I asked a clerk what was going on and she said they were switching vendors and haven't been able to get any new yarn in for months... You know, it isn't just there. Jo-Ann's is pretty bad nowadays as well.

Well, I'm off to clean the kitchen and try and get a little hooking in before bed...