Fourth of July Wreath

Stars, stars, everywhere! When I started this project, I didn't actually have a design in mind. I just started making the stars and figured that I would figure out the rest when the time came. I honestly didn't plan to make 7 red stars and 6 white stars. It just came out that way. If you know the American flag, you know that it has 7 red stripes and 6 white.

I spent a lot of time looking for the perfect star pattern, and finally just worked up my own. My pattern has not been tested.

Solid Crochet Star

special stitch- picot - ch 2, slst into first ch.

1. sc 5 in magic circle, pull tail to close and slst in beg sc.

2.ch 1, sc 2 in each sc around. slst to beg sc- 10 sc

3. ch 1, sc in first sp, *(dc, trc, dc) all in next sc, sc in next sp**. Repeat from * to ** 4 more times. slst to beg ch1 to join.

4. ch 1, sc in same sc as joining sp from previous round, hdc in next dc, (dc, trc, picot, trc, dc) all in the top of next trc, hdc in next dc, sc in next sc, *hdc in next dc, (dc, trc, picot, trc, dc) all in top of next trc, hdc in next, sc in next.** repeat from * to ** around. slst to join. Fasten off. Wind in loose ends.

Choo-Choo!!

My nephew is crazy about all things train. I've had this idea tickling my brain for a while, and finally just sat down and drew up a picture of what I wanted. I am so incredibly pleased with how it turned out. There are a few tweaks and changes that I wanted to make to it, so after I finished this one, I drew up a second graph with a few alterations. Unfortunately, I got half- way through the second blanket and ran out of yarn!! I am really disappointed. I had been hoping to have it ready for the sale tomorrow. Until then, this is good, too!

Filet Rose Baby Afghan

If you think this afghan looks like a doily, that's because it is. I have had several people tell me that they plan to hang or somehow display in the nursery the baby blessing blankets that I make for them. Keeping this in mind, I thought that a baby blanket that looked like a doily would be a wonderful display piece for a baby girls' nursery.

I am especially pleased with the border. This special blanket needed a special border. I stumbled across it completely by luck. As I played around with several different ideas, this pattern just appeared. I think it really adds to the simple beauty of the piece.

Bright New Baby Afghan

I just finished this afghan last night. The colors are so pretty together. It's very bright and busy, which can be good or bad, depending on what you like! It was a fun pattern. I think I would do it again, though maybe in lighter colors.

Jewelry

This morning, I woke up with this necklace design in my head. I changed it a bit from what I was thinking, but I am really pleased with the results, especially since it took less than 2 hours!

I love that even with the big links, it is still really dainty and delicate. My favorite part is the top beaded chain. It came out so pretty, I may have to make another necklace based solely on that design.

Rings and Headbands

I know that several women are going to be selling hair accessories and jewelry at the upcoming yard/craft sale. However, I am hoping that my spin on things might be a little different than what anyone else has to offer. I started out just playing around with some ideas, but I am so pleased with the results. I wish I didn't feel so silly in headbands, they look so great on other people. It's probably good though, or I'd want to keep these all to myself!!

I have this thing for the "antique" look. I have colored thread that I could have used, but was so pleased with the look of these , I decided to go with it. I love the butterfly (only partly because it's my own pattern) and all the pearls.

A while back, I stumbled across a tutorial for "Ric Rac Rose Rings". Being a lover of all things ric rac, I had to try one. I was so impressed with the results, that my mind went crazy, and I decided to try some ribbon rose rings, as well.
I have been wearing the ric rac ring everywhere lately, just to test drive it (okay, that was just an excuse to keep one for myself!), and I love it. It's very sturdy, especially for how large it is.

After doing all those headbands, I couldn't pass up doing a ring, as well. I partly hope it doesn't sell....

This one either, it's my favorite.

Two more baby blankets

A friend of mine is having a yard/ craft sale. I haven't had as much time as I would like to work on projects lately, but follows are two blankets I hope to sell. I don't know what made me do another "squares" blanket, I am really quite sick of them, they are so much work. But, sometimes, it the only way to get the look you are after, which is the case in this blanket. I had this image in my mind and just wanted to try something different.

This second blanket is highly unsual, which is what drew me to this pattern by Monica Kennedy. Her patterns are very creative. I am currently working on another blanket using one of her patterns, as well.