This is the real deal....

This is the real deal....
Posted by: tpryst on Buzznet

I still don't know what is up with Blogger??? Well here is the 'Real Deal'; the Donnas Bangle Purse at Crochetville. I am just waiting on some black acrylic bangles I ordered through Ejoyce. I have some brown wooden bangles (in the last post you can see them, and some bamboo ones, too.) But somehow they didn't 'go' with a grey purse with black ribbon and lining. Maybe by the time the bangles get here I will have the lining done. Thankfully my husband brought my cutting mat and sewing box when he came back from Michigan. So it will be easy, just a matter of doing it. I think I want to send this one to my mom. If she doesn't want it, or wants a different color, it will go to my sister-in-law in Texas.
Well I think I am finally getting used to the fact that we live in Colorado. I don't want to go back to Michigan any more at least. Once I start knowing my way around I think I will feel better, too.

Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch....

Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch....
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I don't know why I used that for a title.. Maybe just cuz I'm weird... ;p Anyway. This is a purse I had started a looong time ago. Before moving in fact. I wanted to make a bangle purse like Donna/Nina Kate at Crochetville but she hadn't posted the pattern yet and I had no idea how to crochet a cable. It's quite easy now that I've done it. Anyway I pulled out my Crochet Encyclopedia book thingy and looked for a pattern that might work for this purse. (Harmony Guide to Crocheting, actually...) This is called 'Bar stitch' I believe. Under 'Patterns for Texture and Color'. Anyway. I think I might give this one to my sister. She has a sweater that is almost the same identical yarn/color. It's hard to know what color a person might like.

A Little Lamby sweater I am working on

A Little Lamby sweater I am working on
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I finally finished the back of this sweater. I bought the yarn at least two years ago. I want to finish it while it will still fit him. I feel like I should make it a little longer, it looks like it will be too little for him by next year. grrr... Well I started on the front yesterday but then realized I was using the wrong size needles. It said 'using larger needles' and I must have overthought it, or not read through the whole thing. So I only had to rip out a few rows. See what happens when you put something away and don't work on it for a while...
I also am almost done with the vest I started, too. I don't know if I like it. Maybe I'll try it in some different colors and sizes?
Well I have to cut someone's hair today I promised him I would.... (Insert rolling eyes into back of head smiley here....)

Our view from the back deck of our new house

Our view from the back deck of our new house
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Well we have been here about a week and a half. But busy, unpacking, shopping, getting used to the new surroundings... I like it here. The town we live in is pretty old. I think it needs to be fixed up. I noticed a few new stores/storefronts since we were here two years ago, though. And a sign 'New things are coming we're not kiddin' around'. So maybe they are fixing this town up. The house we are staying in is pretty old, too. They have done a lot of remodeling to it. The outside looks pretty nice. But the plumbing backed up the day we got here. The hot water heater is tiny! Only one person can take a shower in the morning, then there isn't enough hot water for the next person. Last night my husband opened the door to the attic and there is NO insulation. We kind of figured that, since it's so cold in here. Thank goodness there is a fireplace and a wood burning stove, we will need them! But, it is a pretty nice house compared to one we looked at the other night. People seem friendly out here. After living in Ann Arbor and getting used to being snubbed by everyone, I was getting really freaked out when someone would just come up to me in the aisle at WalMart and start up a conversation. I thought something must be wrong with them. But after the third person; I started thinking, 'maybe people are just more friendly out here.' (Scratching head here..) Which is a nice change!!
I have been crocheting a little, too. I'm still working on the Bangle purse by Donna/NinaKate at Crochetville. I found a HobbyLobby here! It is HUGE!! I didn't think to look for black bangles the last time I was there. (I was looking for thread, for curtains I want to shorten.) Anyway, I will have to go back there someday with no kids and a little money to spend! That is about all I have worked on other than my rectangle grannyghan. I try to work on that every now and then, though. More pictures coming soon! Have a great weekend!

A vest I am working on

A vest I am working on
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Here is a vest I am working on. I just need to do the neck, sleeve edges, and bottom edge and it will be done. I forgot about this one. Guess that last post wasn't my last post.... :p

A family 'heirloom', I guess...

A family 'heirloom', I guess...
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Here is a sweater I knitted for our middle son when he was little. Now it fits our youngest (although he doesn't want to wear it for more than two minutes...) :( I want to get his portrait done in this sweater. (With a matching color shirt underneath, and clean pants, etc....) :p This pattern is in the FC Easy Knitting magazine, a few years ago. Everything is packed away and-- No, wait! It's in a laundry basket right here next to me! (I'm making another sweater from the same issue.) It's the Fall 2000 issue , project #20. The other sweater I'm knitting (for him, as well..) is a blue and green striped sleeve, with a blue body and a furry little lamb on the front. I LOVE that sweater. I just need to work on it before he is too big for it. (This is why I don't knit them sweaters...)

Snow day!

Snow day!
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Today is a snow day for the kids, school was cancelled. Which would be fine any other day, but... Today was going to be their last day at these schools, so now we have to figure out how we are going to return all the books and get all the stuff out of desks.... ugh... Well this is our back yard before the dog ruined the snow this morning. I think this will be my last post before we move. (Why do I feel like I've already said this?..) Then I will be taking pictures of our new backyard--with mountains!! :)) Well have a wonderful weekend everybody!

Here's 'Brenda's Luxury Hat'

Here's 'Brenda's Luxury Hat'
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That's the name of it. It is over at 'Original Patterns-Links' at Crochetville. I can't link it for you, since blogger is still really sucking. I wrote them a letter, but... Who am I? So I'm still posting through here. Anyway, I wore my new hat out today. It is really warm. Especially in three below weather we had this morning! That is just WAY too cold for me! I still have enough yarn left over probably to make a matching scarf, too. I almost bought another crochet magazine. Better Homes And Gardens Simply Creative Crochet. Does that sound right? My brain isn't working lately. Well, I didn't buy it. There was maybe a headband in there I could have made for my neice. (Who probably wouldn't even like it anyway, and I wouldn't even be thanked, or acknowledged, so why bother?) There was a scarf pattern in there that I kind of liked, but... how many more scarfs do I need? I don't know maybe I am just getting bored with everything. Well I did need a hat, I was always freezing, and the wind going in my ears was not good. So this hat will be well used. And a matching scarf will, too. Because it will match the hat. Well I hope everyone is having a nice day/week/month.... ;p

Fun Fur

Fun Fur
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I got some black fun fur today. I want to make a hat I saw over at Crochetville. I can't for the life of me remember which one it is. But, I am using two strands of Bernat boucle (instead of Homespun, which I don't have any of, and I'm trying to use what I have... Seeing as how we don't have any money to buy anything right now anyway...) It is a black/brown variegated boucle. Then I will trim it with the black fun fur. Then she had a scarf I want to make to match, too with fun fur in it. To match my hat. I really need a hat. I am freezing every time I go outside. The kids all have hats but not me... So of course I have to make my own... Then I am going to use the two skeins of black Wool-Ease to make my brother a scarf. I just have to find a pattern I like. And the free pattern I picked up because maybe some day I might make one of those for my brother's dog... (Someday...) ;p

Since I haven't crocheted anything in a while,

Since I haven't crocheted anything in a while,
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and since Blogger still sucks... I will post a picture our eight year old painted in school. Through a different way than blogger. I should email them and tell them how irritating they are. GRRR.. Well we still haven't moved, yet, either. We were supposed to leave Friday morning. Guess what we are still here... I am so irritated about that, too. I signed the kids out of school, everything is packed, I don't know where any of it is. Now I have to unpack some of it and live here for another week. Then RE-pack it all, RE-clean it all. I could just scream. Some guys who work with my husband thought it would be really funny to put his truck up on some blocks, and pull the distributor cap off. Well apparently they did more than that. My husband keeps defending them; I don't know why. It was running fine before they touched it. And, they had to break into it to do all this. So, technically, we could press charges. Which, I am tempted to do. If I even knew who it was. It's so frustrating. Then, my husbands' back went out. (It just keeps getting better.) He has put over $300 worth of parts in his truck (which I had to go pick up and order, because he can't even walk...); trying to fix it, (with his back out), and now it won't even start.
I guess I should count my blessings, and not be so negative.

Isn't that a good painting? I think we may have an artist in the family... :) (We do have some artists in the family, my brother and my cousin... Oh, and I guess some people would say I'm an artist, too. A fiber artist...)

I'm a Machine lately...

I'm a Machine lately...
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This is scarf #2, for our oldest son. I now have one to do for the youngest. His coat is red and grey. I will see how it works out. His hat is grey and so are his mittens. (I knitted them, last year.) He also has some Sesame Street mittens that are blue, red, yellow, and green. Anyway... I think the hubby might want one, too, he keeps saying 'Is that for me?' I also have to make a scarf for my brother but I have no idea what to make. I bought that 'Knit 1' magazine for ideas for him. He lives in California so it has to be COOL! ;)
The free pattern for this scarf can be found at my pattern blog

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Posted by: tpryst on Buzznet

Here is a scarf I just finished for our middle guy. I wanted to put the colors of his hat and his coat in it, to tie them together. Ha ha get it... tie... scarf... (ugh I know, that was bad...) Anyway. His hat is orange and his coat is khaki. So those were the colors I used. The green in this photo is more khaki, and the brown is more of a rust color. Not a very good photo as usual with my camera...

Some of what I've done...

Here are two of the comfortghan squares I've finished. I'm on #3, I think I might have enough plum to do four squares.
I also bought a new magazine last night (gasp!) Had I realized how much it was, I probably wouldn't have bought it, but... There is an article about Men Who Knit. And in it is Crochetville member Drew Emborsky, 'The Crochet Dude'. On Page 12 they have a little piece about him, and on page 27, in an article 'Real Men Knit', he has his profile too. Pretty cool! I bought the magazine to knit a scarf for my brother, and they have some cool hats, too. (And, seeing how we have three boys, I'm sure I'll get good use out of this magazine. :)

Mine and Mimi's Pumpkins

Mine and Mimi's Pumpkins
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I just thought I'd put them next to each other, to see how much bigger mine turned out. I must be a looser crocheter. Or using a heavier weight yarn. (I just used Bernat Super Value, which is just like RH in my opinion...) I think these pumpkins are so cute! Mine may also be stretched out a little because I tried to stuff a whole bag of candy corn in it. (It didn't fit.) I am thinking about making three more of these, and putting candy corn in them, for the kids. I like to leave little surprises in the boys' rooms when they get home from school. ;)

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Here is my pumpkin I made. I don't know what Blogger's deal is, I still can't post a picture with them. Grrr...

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Look what I got the other day!! Yay! I found these at Michaels here. Aren't they cute?

Field trip tomorrow. Our middlest son is going to a planetarium. I remember going to the planetarium when I was in school. He might like it more than I did. Especially if he's anything like his dad.

Two weeks tomorrow is the date we have set for moving! I can't believe it's almost here already. Two weeks will fly by. Especially with all the packing I still have to do!! YIKES!

Comfortghan Squares... Like I need another thing to do...

With moving and packing... ;) I think I want a diversion from it all, though... And I love making comfortghan squares. It's not a whole afghan, and you can do it when you want you aren't on a time schedule.. (Especially when the person doesn't even know you're making one for her.. like with an RAOK....) :p I still don't have batteries for my camera, but this is the square I am making, and in almost the exact same colors. The purple is a deeper plum color, though. I finished one square about five minutes ago, and will make them until I run out of the plum. I think I have enough to make two more probably...
I finished a pumpkin like the one Mimi sent me, a couple posts ago.. Mine turned out a little bigger, but the perfect size to put some candy in.This is going to the same person I am making the comfortghan squares to. With some candy corn in it. :)) I love doing RAOK's.

My Reveal Package Came Today, And More!...

Today was an awesome mail day! I got both my reveal package and my sock/slipper swap package, too! I don't have any batteries in my camera, or I could post pictures. As soon as I get batteries, I will. Everything is wonderful! My Secret Pal is Cheryl, aka 'Diamond'. And, she sent me a 'diamond' paperweight, in an elegant red velvet drawstring pouch. It's just lovely! She also sent two rose earmuffs, with a sample tube of Chanel No 5! in the middle of each rose!!! I love
that perfume! My husband doesn't even get me roses and perfume, I felt so pampered. ;) A hydrangea magnetic notepad, a pelican knick knack, very cute. A magnet that says 'You Don't Frighten Me, I Have Teenagers' LOL! (I am beginning to understand what that means, believe me!) A package of dolphin buttons! More crochet leaflets, and a fun fur leaflet, too. With scarves and mittens and hats. I haven't made any hats or mittens with fun fur yet. And a lovely notecard from Cheryl, too. She has been the greatest swap partner. And even with a hurricane damaging her house; she still sent me a package with everything going on in her life. I was so fortunate to have such a good Secret Pal, and hopefully we will be able to stay in touch in the future.
And, my sock/slipper swap partner is great, too! Joanne sent me a pair of socks and a pair of slippers!! The slippers are so thick and comfy, I didn't want to take them off today! They were made with a burgundy/brown mix yarn. I love those colors together! And the socks are awesome!! They are navy blue, and have a one inch ribbed cuff. I remember her saying in the beginning of the swap that she wasn't a great crocheter, but they are awesome! I must be a really bad crocheter, if she isn't all that great of a crocheter!! Because the socks are just perfect. I want to find out what pattern she used, I want to make some myself.
If all swaps went this well I would join every swap! I know some people were very disappointed with their swap partners. Not sending anything, not responding to things sent. I feel so bad for them. Especially when they were good to their swap partner! I don't think I am going to join any more swaps for a while, just because we are moving and the next few months will be hectic. And then we will have to move yet again. I will do the RAOK thing, though. In fact, I just sent one out two days ago, and I have a box ready to go for someone else, too. In between packing, cleaning, cooking.... and all the regular stuff...

This is the pumpkin Mimi sent...

This is the pumpkin Mimi sent...
Posted by: tpryst on Buzznet

I am going back to using the way I used to post pictures to my blog. Blogger is having issues with theirs. I guess.
Well now you can see the pumpkin Mimi sent me. And, how tiny it is, too! Next to the card she sent. I love it it's so cute. I haven't decided what I'm going to put in it yet. Thank you again Mimi!

In less than three weeks we will be moving, I can't believe it. I've been having panic attacks lately, and this is the only reason why I can think of. Usually once I figure out why I'm having them, I can sometimes talk myself out of having them. Usually I just try not thinking at all about anything (that is bugging me), and sometimes that works... Ha ha... I must not think much... I know some of you were thinking it.. ;) I am waiting to hear back from a landlord we might be renting from, he's checking all our info out, then he said he will let me know. I guess that doesn't matter, we can find another place to live if that one doesn't go through. Which, I kind of hope it doesn't, because I would rather have a month to month or six month lease somewhere (in case I absolutely can't stand it there...) This one will be a year lease.

I still miss Koda. He must be doing good with his new owners, they haven't called me with any problems yet. I emailed one of the other people who bought one of the puppies, to see how she is doing, and he is supposed to email me some pictures of her. He said they just got her spayed last week (which also relieves my mind, now there won't be any grandpuppies, and people coming to me... 'Can you take any of these puppies?'...) I just want to see what she looks like, and how she is doing... I suppose I could drive by the other peoples' house and see if I can see the other male, too. I was thinking about sending them a card with a gift certificate to PetCo or something. And hopefully they will send me a picture of him...

We have company coming over today, and we are supposed to go over someones' house for dinner tonight, too. I should probably get the whip cracking.. ;))