Hopes To Design...

I sure do enjoy crocheting but, I've totally just started with this craft.I'm still learning a lot from the very basics. When I picked up a crochet hook about 2 months ago, I had very very little knowledge. I watched you tube videos, looked at a lot of blogs and tutorials and started to slowly pick up the craft.

Although there are a myriad of free patterns out there, I'd love to really design my own someday. A couple of days ago, I was at a bookstore and found a wonderful book of crochet border designs. It's called The Complete Book of CROCHET BORDER DESIGNS by Linda P. Schapper. I was excited to buy it because I knew that it would somehow help with my hopes in designing my own patterns.

Each page has several designs that I am very excited to try out! I notice the more stitches I try, the more I understand how crochet actually works. This understanding really helps in learning to design. I'm hoping that I'll at least be able to design my own simple scarf or shawl...which I'm quite addicted to at the moment. I actually joined the 11 shawls in 2011 in Ravelry.

Back to my WIPS....

I've Caught Project Startitis

I first heard the term when I was surfing the internet at Sharing The Moment's Blog (here). I chuckled to myself because I definitely could relate....but I was looking at my ravelry account and noticed...wow, I really do have "Project Startitis" becuase I definitely have several crochet projects ongoing and in different levels of completeness....

I have a grey shawl that is pretty much complete...except for the fringe. I have a pink scarf that's about 75-80% complete...I have crocheted blanket that I haven't touched in weeks and is only on the 2nd row (I'm thinking about frogging this one)...Not to mention other projects (like my latch hook rug) that are not in the  crochet category but are still in the middle stages of completion....

It's a habit I have I guess...especially when I get excited about a craft. I want to learn everything, try everything and end up with several things going on....

Here's what I have on my project table today...update on my EVA SHAWL.....

and my newest shawl...which I LOVE so far ..... my LOGWOOD SHAWLETTE....

I'm  hoping to finish this one quickly because I'm thinking of giving it to my niece, Fiona who absolutely love all things girly and pretty...and I'd love for her to have this one. I have to finish it by the 18th of February which is when my nephew will be leaving for the US....(and he can bring this one with him). So, this one's getting the front seat these next few days!!!!

WIP Eva Shawl

I sure love starting projects...today I started on an Eva Shawl.... I got the free pattern from Ravelry (click here for PDF). It's a little more complicated compared to the one's I've worked on but so far so good....

I've been seriously getting healthy and eating salads...Although, it's not anything crafty, I thought I'd share what I made today....

Salad is made of mixed greens...iceberg, romaine and leaf lettuce, tomatos, pineapple and dalandan (which are like small oranges)...and i made my own vinagrette dressing.

My sandwich is a tuna salad with mustard, lettuce and tomatoes on wheat bread.

Yummy!!! I was happy with my lunch! Now, back to crocheting....

Pay It Forward

Another scarf started ...and in my favorite color too...

Now that I am totally addicted to crocheting, I've been surfing the net and bookmarking patterns that I'd love to start.This leads me to the Pay It Forward...

I decided to join and posted the Pay It Forward on my FB wall which goes like this....

"Pay It Forward 2011: I promise to send something handmade to the first 5 people who leave a comment here, The must in turn post this and send something they make to the first 5 people who comment on their status. * The rules are that it must be handmade by you and it must be sent to our 5 people sometime in 2011!!"

I got one reply which leaves me with 4 more slots...I guess maybe not a lot of my FB friends are the crafty type so, I decided to put a post here on my blog to call out to 4 more people that would like to be a part of this!!!

I can't tell you exactly what you'll be getting because that really depends on y crafting mood...it could be something crocheted or beaded, jewelry or something with felt...but I can assure you it will be handmade by me...so, please...reply here now! I'll be waiting!

While I wait, I need to get back to making acessories so I fill up the etsy shop and on the side I'll be working more on this.... 

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to all crafters out there! I started the new year great by completing my shawl project over vacation. 

I spent every moment I could find crocheting and completing this project. I still had a bit of the blue yarn left so I've been using it to practice and learn a few crochet stitches. Here's a granny square I did yesterday

I'm really excited to start a new project (maybe a shawl?) but still haven't gotten a chance to go out and get some since I've been feeling under the weather the past two days.  I heard about a really inexpensive place to buy yarn here and as soon as I feel better, I'm sure to explore.

I do have a stash of yarn that I have been working on...or reclaiming. I am recycling an old sweater that I got at the local thrift stalls. I don't have a before picture of the sweater since I was so excited to jump in and pull the yarn apart. But here is one of the hanks that I reclaimed from the sweater

After soaking and stretching the yarn, it still has a bit of curly kinky-ness to it. I'll give it another stretching today before I roll it into a ball of usable yarn. I have 3 more of these ready to be stretched. What a bargain for only P10...or .23 cents (in US dollar) Now, I just have to plan what to do with them.

By the way, recycling yarn is really great and economical. Since I live in a tropical country, sweaters are totally ignored at thrift stores. But, you can get some wonderful yarn from them. Hm...this calls for another visit to my favorite "ukay" (that's what thrift stores are called in the Philippines).

Happy Crafting!

A Break from Angel Making

I took a short break from making my beaded angels for my bazaar. I had some yarn laying around so I decided to try crocheting again. Its been ages since I crocheted but with the help of this great video tutorial from Ms. Connie of easyvideocrochet.blogspot.com I was able to whip up a couple of these cute floral coasters.

Here's my version of the Springtime Coasters...

Thanks so much Ms. Connie!

Ok back to making angels....tomorrow I'll show you all the ones I made today!

P.S.
Sorry I've been soo busy that I haven't been able to do any feature Fridays for December. I will resume the feature and the giveaways in January!!!