My crochet spot with the best helper ever

Anywhere is fair game to be a crochet spot. At a sports practice, in the car waiting for pick up, waiting room, lunch room, at a swim meet ... that's why I love crochet. It's the most portable craft! But, there's one spot in our house, "the wedge" in our family room sectional that attracts people and pets alike. The light is perfect, there is an end table at your right and outlet close by for charging laptops.



I've been bitten by the japanese flower motif bug! All the bright cotton colors for spring make me so joyous. This is going to be a crochet shawl to wear in over-conditioned restaurants, at work and to the Muny. I'm using dribs and drabs of Paton's Grace and Tahki Cotton Classics. Lovely stuff to work with!

Under Construction and the ABCs of Me

Progress on vintage crochet grape and leaf motif reproduction.

Thanks to Allyson of The Sweatshop of Love blog for the idea to fill in the ABCs of Me while my house, crochet projects and life are under construction at the moment.


Our basement two months ago. We are 85% finished and I'll post finished photos soon!

A. Age: 47.5
B. Bed size: King.
C. Chore you hate: Cleaning toilets.
D. Dogs: Had a dachshund named Heidi for 12 years from kindergarten to high school. Now we have two gray tabbies, almost two years old.
E. Essential start to your day: A shower to clear my head, i.e. the cobwebs.
F. Favorite color: Hooker green like the center of these blossoms.



G. Gold or silver: Silver.
H. Height: 5’4”
I. Instruments you play: No musical talent AT ALL.
J. Job title: Web developer
K. Kids: Mary and Matt
L. Live: St. Louis
M. Mom’s name: Marla. Our female family members' names start with “Mar” for three generations now. Margie, Marla, Marlene, Marti, Marian, Mary.
N. Nicknames: Martha Winger
O. Overnight hospital stays: Gallbladder surgery 11 years ago.
P. Pet peeve: The dishes that make it to the sink but not into the dishwasher.
Q. Quote from a movie: “Isn’t that a little excessive for the Carolina leagues?”
R. Right or left handed: Right.
S. Siblings: One sister, Marian.
T. Time you wake up: 6:00 am, weekday or weekend.
U. Underwear: Usually.
V. Vegetables you dislike: Jicama.
W. What makes you run late: Procrastination and a warm bed.
X. X-Rays you’ve had: Broke my foot when my daughter was four months old. Smooth.
Y. Yummy food you make: Chicken enchilidas
Z. Zoo – favorite animal: Giraffes.


Bella is thinking,"What's all the racket, people?"

Crochet Trimmed T-shirt

While on our recent car trip, I wanted to learn new stitches with a triangle motif from Crochet School. Three attempts later, I was happy with the results. Since I was using my stash, no chance of making a shawl or scarf. What to do with my motif? How about sewing it to a t-shirt with a neckline too low for my taste. And then I realized if I washed it, the motif would stretch out. So I sewed snaps around the motif and the neck of the shirt so I could remove it to wash it. Crazy, I know.







Now I am psyched to adorn more t-shirts with the Japanese flower motif. Never a shortage of ideas, just a shortage of time.

Join the Ultimate Blog Party

Have you heard about the Ultimate Blog Party sponsored by 5 Minutes for Mom? What a cool idea and four days into the party, there are over 700 blogs listed. Wow! I'd better start hopping.

This blog started three years ago but lacked focus until this year, when I took the ultimate blogging class from Diane Gilleland at Crafty Pod. Now I have a focus, direction and excitement about blogging my crochet and craft projects! Plus, I have started some great friendships with other crafty creatives.



My favorite projects include jewelry, accessories, and home decor. Thank Mom for re-teaching me to crochet about 5 years ago because when she taught me as a kid, it didn't stick. There are five (that we know of) generations of crochet, quilt and knitting talent in our family. I recently started a project to reproduce my great grandmother's venetian lace collar with a pattern from 1912. Still making those tiny grapes and trying to figure out the leaf directions but it's coming along.

Thanks for stopping by my blog! I'll be making the rounds soon myself!

Do You Blarter?

Blarter is the brainchild of Molly Dunham of Foothill Home Companion that brings bloggers together to barter goods and services. She gives organization to a practice she and a lot of others have been using for years. I'm going to have to go home, look at my stash and figure out what I want to barter. What a great way to clean your craft supplies and send them to a good home!

Check it out!