Happy Valentine's Day!

I've actually been quite a Valentine's Day Grinch for just about forever. There's just something off putting about being forced to show love to someone with cards, flowers, and candy. I always get nervous around this holiday since I never know what is an appropriate Valentine's day gift. I realize this is ludicrous since I've been married for almost 10 years, so there's not much more impressing I can do for the guy- he already knows the good, the bad, and the ugly. I always feel guilty, too, since my husband usually always has a card and a thoughtful gift...I remember one year he got me the latest Kinsey Milhone mystery (I'm a huge book worm and LOVE Kinsey!)- HARD COVER....and I got him....a tie. Yipes.

Well, last year, we finally came to an agreement on how to make Valentine's Day enjoyable and memorable for us both. We decided that, instead of eating out at a restaurant and spending beaucoup bucks on a meal we'll most likely forget once we get home, we would instead come up with an elaborate meal and cook it together. You have no idea how wonderful this is! I love to cook and have tried, unsuccessfully, many times to get my hubby to join me in the kitchen. I think it's awful romantic....he thinks it's just awful. Well, it was his idea to cook with me and I LOVE IT! He even went through one of my cookbooks and came up with a menu for this evening. Seriously! I am so in love with this man. :)

We just spent the morning making dessert- a chocolate, cheesecake, pecan pie. I'm serious. It has a chocolate ganache on the bottom, a cheesecake middle, and a pecan pie topping. If it tastes half as good as it sounds (and looks!), then I'm sure we'll be making this for years to come. He found the recipe on a freebie mailing from some magazine...I want to say Southern Living or Fatten You Up....one or the other.



We are just about to go to Wegmans and shop for the ingredients for the rest of the meal. He found a grilled tuna (though we'll sear it) white bean salad for the first course and a Greek wet rub for lamb chops with a side of orzo for the main course. I'm super excited! The best thing about eating at home is that we can polish off the bottle of wine (a Pinot Noir from the Russian River Valley in CA....high hopes for this one) and not worry about driving home. YAY!

Since we'll be shopping and cooking, it'll give my poor neck and hands a break from all the crocheting I've been doing. As I mentioned earlier, I've been working on my husband's Nintendo blanket. I have an elaborate map all worked out and it will consist of many different panels. Each panel takes about 8-12 hours to complete. I showed you the first panel earlier....I'll show just one more now. This is the latest one I completed and I'm over the moon pleased with how it came out. It is probably the most Nintendo geekiest of all the panels- it's Mario hopping the turtle in world 3-1! HAHAHAHAHAHA! I LOVE IT!



Here's a pic of the back so you can see what I have in store for me when I finally get around to weaving in the ends.



I think I may just give the blanket to him with all the ends out and tell him it's fringe.....hmmm....now there's a thought......

Happy Valentine's Day!

Back to the land of the living!

So, I've been pretty sick these last 2 weeks and have finally pulled through. Thankfully, it ended up NOT being strep so it's a good thing I didn't go to the Urgent Care right away- I'd have been angry with their incompetence yet again only to realize that they weren't the ones being incompetent and that's not fun.

I have been working on a few projects while I was at death's door (what? exagerate?? Moi??) but don't have anything complete as of this post. I have a couple of things allllmost done, but I like sharing pictures of the finished object....the big reveal! I tend to be a little bit of a perfectionist sometimes.... When there is something wrong with one of my WIPs, I put it away until I can figure out what the heck it is. It could be because of a color combination that just isn't right or, for a purse, it could be that I haven't quite figured out how to finish it- wrong handles or lining or....something. These are the things that I've been working on lately. My "oopsies."

When I cut my hair in December, I was working on a Princess Toadstool scarf to match the Mario one I made for my husband. I loved it while I was working on it and had maybe 2 or 3 more hours of work, including weaving in ends. However, there was just something "off" about it, so I stopped working on it. I finally figured out what it was! Actually, there was a bunch of stuff wrong with it....the main scarf was doubly wrong....the yarn itself was irking me and the pink was the wrong pink....the flesh color was not the color I had envisioned....the red was the wrong red....even the construction of the scarf was wrong- I really didn't like seeing the "wrong" side of the scarf with all the hidden ends from the tunisian crochet. It did not please me one bit Sam I Am.

So, I found a nearby Walmart that has not downsized it's craft department and they had the right pink for the main scarf and the right flesh color. W00t! I used Vanna's Choice yarn for the first time and must say that I really enjoyed working with it. Didn't enjoy the price, though. I think it's quite a rip off, actually. But, something so petty as money shan't dictate the genius of the artiste! (Said in my snootiest faux French accent). Thankfully, I found some coordinating colors at Joann's where they were on sale...whew! Anyway, I finally figured out how to construct the scarf in a way that will showcase the Princess while hiding the ugly backside and yet still be functional and, well, pretty. :) I'm finishing it up today, so I'll hopefully have some nice pics to showcase very soon.

I've also been working on my husband's Nintendo blanket...I'm so excited about this one! I have quite a few panels complete, but, again, I want to showcase the big reveal when I'm done. Although, I think I'll end up jumping the gun and showing it when all the panels are complete even though the ends aren't weaved in. I think I'll be weaving in ends for quite a while....

Anywho, that's an update for now. I will be finishing up my Princess scarf and will be shooting a tutorial on my scarves this week. Yay! I really do like shooting the videos. Oh, by the way, I haven't forgotten the video tutorial for lining a bag I promised eons ago. It's just that there was so much footage and we kinda got bogged down in the editing. As much as I'd like putting up a 3 hour video, me thinks it wouldn't be all that enjoyable to watch.....

Until next time....

Under and Over the Weather

Ugh. That basically sums up how I feel right now. I am prone to having strep throat- always have been since I was a kid, though not often enough to warrant my tonsils to be removed. Well, I have a sore throat that is progressively getting worse and I'm running a low fever, but there's no tell-tale signs of disgusting white gunk (gross, I know) overtaking my tonsils. Unless that happens, I'm not going to go the Urgent Care clinic since I went there the last time I had strep and their quick test came back negative. They said it might be mono. Idiots, one and all! It was really awkward telling my husband that, too. "Umm...honey...the Dr. said it wasn't strep, even though I could have sworn it was....but...ummm...he said that itcouldbemono. Cough."

Even though he knew I wasn't out puckering up with other guys, there was that momentary questioning look that flickered across his eyes. By day 4, with a temperature of 104, I somehow drove myself to a different clinic 30 minutes away and they were able to accurately diagnose me with what I already knew I had. It was actually the worst bout of strep that I could remember. The antibiotics didn't seem to work and I had a fever of over 100 for 4 more days. I felt, and looked, like the living dead. That was about 2 years ago.

Right now, I'm really hoping it's not strep. But, since I rarely get a sore throat without it being strep, and since whatever is wrong with me is not affecting my nose or eyes (not dripping from either orifice), I'm pretty sure the white gunk is a-comin'. It wouldn't be so bad if the weather was just a little warmer than the inside of my freezer. When is spring going to get here??? Seriously- it's 25 degrees out and I really don't feel like crawling out of bed at all much less dragging my poor bedraggled self out in the arctic cold to an urgent care clinic full of imbeciles. Not that I get whiney when I'm sick or anything, but I don't wanna do it, ma! I don't wanna do it!!!

*Sigh* Well, today is a day that I'm just going to take it easy- drink lots of fluids, and stay curled up while reading. I just started reading Rebecca today. I love reading classics and feel like a dope for never hearing about this book before. It's not often that my sister has read a book that I haven't, but I am thankful that she introduced me to it. So, as I lay on my couch, snuggled up under my blanket (crocheted, natch), wearing my dunce cap, I bid you adieu. Until next time!

Scarf-a-palooza

Ok, I've been telling y'all that I've gone scarf crazy but have yet to prove it with a post, and most importantly pictures, of said scarves. Well, today is your lucky day! I finally have been able to get pictures of all my scarves and can now put them in this one, very picture heavy, post. YAY!

To start off, this is the scarf that started it all. This is mine all mine! But, oh no my friends...this is not simply a scarf. It is a 3-in-1 accessory extraordinaire! It is, of course, a scarf.



But wait! It's also a headband! Very boho chic, no?



And, last but not least, it is also a belt.



I made this with left over size 3 thread from a Seraphina shawl I made for my sister...of which I need to get a picture.... I've worn it a few times and always get many complements and then the inevitable, "What?!? You made that?" Hee! My sister loves pink and black and wants one of her own, which I'll probably do in the near future.

From there, I made a brown and pink scarf, which I gave to my friend the same day I finished it. This picture doesn't do the colors justice- it's a bright pink, not a salmon color.



Next, I made a scarf with my favorite color- purple.



Then, I made this scarf, heavily influenced by my Queen of Hearts bag.



Then, another brown and pink one, this time made out of cotton and as a skinny scarf.



Also, a blue and brown skinny scarf:



Then a watermelon colored scarf, though in subdued colors. Made of cotton:



And, last but not least, a scarf heavily influenced by my Hilda bag:



So, there you have it. A ton of scarves that I went crazy making. And, in case it's not painfully obvious, I really liked this stitch pattern. Really really. Really.

There is actually one more that I made- a black, red, and silver one made of thread...I have one more row left to complete it but ran out of the black thread, so as soon as I get my butt to a Joanns, I'll finish it.



PS: I really liked that stitch.

Winter Watermelons part deux- free pattern!

Alright peeps! My long awaited Winter Watermelon scarf pattern is here! I finally sat down and wrote out the pattern. My very first! If you do make this pattern, please let me know if there are any mistakes in it so I can correct it. Also, please send me pics of your finished projects! I'd love to see them!

I completed a new hat, as well, but I still need to tweak that pattern before I list it here...so, more to come... AND....drum roll please! I have a video to supplement the pattern! It's for folks who don't know how to crochet through front/back loops only or who have never crocheted with beads before. YAY!

Here's a picture of the hat and scarf together:



And, here's the pattern!

PS: The Hat Pattern can be found here. 

Watermelon Scarf Pattern

MATERIALS
Green WW yarn- not a whole lot- maybe an ounce or 2
White WW yarn- ditto
Red or pink WW yarn- a little bit more...maybe 4 ounces

Size 6 mm (U.S. J/10) crochet hook
Yarn or tapestry needle for beading yarn and finishing
60 beads (you may have some left over)

GAUGE
Not important

NOTE:
Chain 2 does not count as half double crochet.

ABBREVIATIONS & TERMS
hdc = half double crochet
bhdc = beaded half double crochet
repeat instructions between asterisks as many times as directed

INSTRUCTIONS

With green, chain 187.
Row 1: 1 hdc in 3rd chain from hook. 1 hdc in each chain to end of ch. 185 hdc. Chain 2. Turn.

Row 2: 1 hdc in 1st hdc. 1 hdc in next hdc through back loop only. *1 hdc in next hdc through front loop only. 1 hdc in next hdc through back loop only. Repeat from * to last hdc. 1 hdc in last hdc. Fasten off green. Turn.

Row 3: Attach white. Chain 2. 1 hdc in 1st hdc. 1 hdc in next hdc through back loop only. *1 hdc in next hdc through front loop only. 1 hdc in next hdc through back loop only. Repeat from * to last hdc. 1 hdc in last hdc. Fasten off white. Turn.

Thread 60 beads onto red yarn before continuing.

Row 4: Attach red. Chain 2. 1 hdc in 1st hdc. 1 hdc in next hdc through back loop only. *1 hdc in next hdc through front loop only. 1 hdc in next hdc through back loop only. Repeat from * to last hdc. 1 hdc in last hdc. Chain 2. Turn.

Row 5: First beaded row. 1 hdc in 1st hdc. *(1 hdc in next hdc through back loop only. 1 hdc in next hdc through front loop only.) 4 times. 1 bhdc in next hdc through back loop only. 1 hdc in next hdc through front loop only. Repeat from * to last hdc. 1 hdc in last hdc. Turn.

Row 6: Repeat row 4

Row 7: Second beaded row. 1 hdc in 1st hdc. 1 hdc in next hdc through back loop only. 1 hdc in next hdc through front loop only. 1 hdc in next hdc through back loop only. 1 bhdc through front loop only. 1 hdc in next hdc through back loop only. *(1 hdc in next hdc through front loop only. 1 hdc in next hdc through back loop only.) 4 times. 1 bhdc in next hdc through front loop only. 1 hdc in next hdc through back loop only. Repeat from * to last hdc. 1 hdc in last hdc. Turn.

Row 8: Repeat row 4

Row 9: Repeat row 5

Row 10: Repeat row 4

Fasten off and weave in ends.

Copyright 2009 Gege Crochet. All rights reserved. Pattern available for personal use only- please don't sell it- that's just not cool. Please don't post this pattern anywhere- you can provide a link back to here, though.