Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Scrap Cat & Easter Bookworms







The End of NCM 2009


That's right. Today is the last day of March. National Craft Month has run its course. I'm not sure what I'll work on next. Maybe I'll actually get started on some Christmas projects.


Anyway, here's a picture of the finished baby afghan for my niece. I think it turned out and there's no pink in sight!

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Yet Another Update

National Craft Month is almost at an end. I think I've accomplished quite a bit. The baby afghan for my niece is almost done. I just need to finish the edging. I'll post a picture soon. I've made a bevy of bookworms. I've reclaimed yarn and finished some unfinished projects. I have yet to finish the scrap cat or the Halloween stuff. Or glue eyes on bookworms and magnets on butterflies. This morning during my class, I'm back to making squares for my sister's Christmas afghan.

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Another NCM Update

I have finished the 81 squares for my niece's baby afghan. The ends are ran in and I am sewing them together as we speak. I am still of the opinion that it will be one of the prettiest baby afghans I've made.

I've decided to just make 10 yellow and 10 orange bookworms. I'm not sure how many people I'll be seeing at Easter, but I can always bring some of the variegated ones, too.

Today, I think I might finish the scrap cat as well as those bothersome Halloween projects. It will be so nice not to have any unfinished projects hanging over me. I also need to get the eyes glued on the bookworms and the magnets on the butterflies. There are several people I can tick off my Christmas list once those butterflies are done.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

NCM Update

For the past 2 days, I've been working on granny squares for my new niece's baby afghan. I'm a little broke right now, so I'm using the yarn I have. The colors I chose are Red Heart's Monet, Medium Purple, Medium Thyme, Frosty Green, and Lavender. I don't have a set layout in mind. I see how many squares each color will make, then I work it into the layout.

I haven't abandoned the scrap cat, the bright Easter bookworms, or the squares for my sister's Christmas afghan. They're merely on a back burner.

On Tuesday, during my public libraries class, I ran in the ends on all the butterflies I had laying around. Now they just need pipe cleaner antennas and magnets.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

A Niece, Unfinished Projects, Reclaiming Yarn, & Coupons

I'll be an aunt in July. I found out yesterday that the baby is a girl. I thought it would be, but for the sake of my current yarn stash, I wish it were a boy. I have more boy colors than girl colors. I need to start a baby afghan. I'll probably do shades of purple and green. I'm very anti-pink when it comes to babies.

I decided a good use of my time during NCM would be to finish my unfinished projects. I don't have that many, just butterflies and some Halloween stuff.

I have also reclaimed yarn from projects I had never finished or never used. These include 2 scarves I made almost 3 years ago, snowflakes from my purple tree decorations, the garland from the same tree, and numerous granny squares where I overshot my quota for various baby afghans. I now have a whole bag full of yarn to put to better use.

Yesterday, I went to JoAnn's because I had 5 40% off coupons. I got 572 wiggle eyes, 100 sheets of card stock, and 25 pipe cleaners (for the butterflies) all for $9.71. Gotta love those coupons.

I've been working on a scarp cat. I have the 2 sides made. 1 is pinks and maroons. The other is purples and blues. I just need to run the ends in and crochet the sided together. I think I'll leave this cat without eyes, a nose, and a mouth. Haven't decided if I'm keeping the cat or giving it away. It would make a good gift for a little girl on my Christmas list. I was going to make her a puppy, but the cat's already made.

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Bookworm Bonaza Update

I have finished my bookworm bonanza (at least the variegated portion). I made 101 bookworms. They are all ready to have their eyes put on. That's 202 wiggle eyes. Whew! I'm still making bookworms (bright yellow and orange) for Easter.

Now for a NCM update: I haven't made any squares in a few days. I need to pick a Christmas project to start. I discussed the options in my previous update. I also have a desire to use up the scraps I have. These are bits of yarn too small to even make a bookworm. I think I'll make a cat (like the one I made for Christmas 2008) out of the scraps. I may have enough yarn to make 2. We'll see.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

NCM Update

Yesterday, I made some bookworms and squares. I make the bookworms while I watch movies. I make the squares during my online classes. I only have 4 more skeins of variegated yarn to work through. I've decided not to make bookworms with all my solid colored yarn. I do have a yen to make yellow and orange bookworms. They'll be so nice and bright during this dreary winter weather. I suppose they'll be my Easter bookworms.

I'm still looking at the Christmas 2009 list. I could make a chicken, come hippos, some dishcloths, a cat, a baby bootie ornament, or a puppy. I also have a flutter of butterfly magnets to finish up (run in ends, add pipe cleaners and magnets). I suppose thinking about projects counts for something. There are quite a few gaps in my Christmas list. These people need something made for them. I just don't know what yet. Think, think, think!

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Celebrate National Craft Month!

Happy National Craft Month! I don't have any specific plans for this year's celebration. In the past, I've tried new patterns. I'm still making bookworms and squares. I have taken out my Christmas 2009 list. I may make some projects from it this month.

Please join me in the celebration! Do you sew, quilt, knit, tat, cross-stitch, draw, or paint? Put your skills to good use in celebrating National Craft Month.