Zebra

Marika (student at CEC) is a fan of zebra print, so when I saw this picture of a zebra print scarf 

I knew what I had to do for her birthday.

I used Red Heart yarn (color: zebra).

 I made long fringe and braided them half way down for more detail.

Super easy and fun to make.  :)

Another Birthday, Another Scarf

Happy Birthday Hannah!

Here's the scarf I made for our second year student, Hannah. This was my first project where I crocheted with two strands of yarn at the same time. I thought I would get confused, but it was super easy. I found the pattern here: people webs. It turned out beautiful and so soft.

I have two more students to make scarves for this year (the next one is due next week).

When I first started this project I was just thinking it would be a cool way to learn new patterns and have a cool present for the students, but I've come to realize that its not just a scarf they are receiving. Its a memory. I still have my pink cupcake girl blanket that my neighbor made me (trying so hard to make me girly) when I was young and its one of my favorites. They will have these scarves for a long time and remember their years here at Canyonview and the staff that cared about them. I think I will make it my goal to always make scarves for the first years, but what will I make for the second years? Hats? Earrings? What about the boys, what would they like? Suggestions are welcome.

Head-Over-Heals

So I've taken a little break from crocheting for the past month. I've still done a little project here and there of course, but after Christmas and all those scarves, I needed a little break.

I've always wanted to do a heart garland for Valentine's Day and this year I'm proud to report I actually did it and finished it before the big day.

I've also started a bigger project for this year: a couch blanket for Patrick and I to share.
I'll report more on this as it develops.

One of the blogs I love to look at from time to time is Aesthetic Nest.

She recently posted about her love for crochet. You can read it here.

Something she said in her post that I didn't know before was that crochet is always homemade; it can't be reproduced by a machine (like knitting). I thought that was cool. Another thing she said, that I completely agree with is that its therapeutic, helping to relieve stress. In fact that's how I ended up making a hat for myself. I was so stressed out after my work's auction was over that I just sat in my mom's over-sized chair like a zombie when we were visiting for dinner one night. She handed me some hooks and yarn she won at the auction and said, "just make something." I did, a beanie, from memory (my pattern was at home), and it fits perfectly. When I finished I no longer felt like a zombie and pretty proud of myself. I'll post a picture soon.

So, I'm getting ready to pick up my hook again. I have two scarves I need to have done by the first weekend of March and a Baby Teddy Bear Hat to make for my neighbor. And of course something for St. Patrick's Day! Haven't decided what though...any suggestions?

Katie's Scarf

Katie (one of our equestrian students) celebrated her birthday last week, Jan 17. I made her scarf just like I've been doing for all the students so far. For Katie I made a wide infinity scarf made up of double crochet stitches. The pattern is very simple and provided by On the Wings of a Dove. Her favorite color is eggplant so I went out to Joanne Fabrics & Craft Store and found Lionbrand's Wool-Ease Thick & Quick yarn in eggplant. Its very soft and thick which gives this big cowl a warm luxury feel to it.

A Blanket for Baby Girl Carpenter

I made a granny square baby blanket to give to my friend Claire at her baby shower on Sunday. She loved it. I used a Lion Brand pattern and Vanna's Choice yarn (white, pink, chocolate, rose) and Vanna's Choice Baby yarn (sweet pea).

Scarf for Cressa

I've been making scarves for the students' birthdays this year at Canyonview.

This week was Cressa's birthday and I made this scarf for her:

The pattern can be found here. I used Bernat Silk acrylic yarn in Navy.

I hope to post more pictures of other scarves I've done soon. Till then have a wonderful week!

Check out my post Christmas Presents. I've added links to the patterns I used for each scarf.

Enjoy.

Sarah is very happy with her scarf that she got for Christmas.

Alternative to "Resolutions"

I remember my brother-in-law, David, sharing that he didn't do "New Year Resolutions"; instead, he did "Month of...". For example one time he realized he didn't know his way around town as well as his wife did because she did all the driving, so he decided to make it the"The Month of Driving" and then drove as often as he could during that month to learn his way around.

I liked this idea; so a few years back I did "The Month of Reading" because I could count how many books I've read on one hand and wanted to change that. Of course once you start reading it becomes a habit thankfully, so I've been reading new books ever since. I never did anything else after that though. So this year I'm trying it again but with a twist.

Habit of the Month

I've realized that I've gotten out of the habit of some basic things and I would like to introduce new, healthy habits as well, so I'm going about it baby step style and will be doing a "Habit of the Month" for 2012. The point is to carry on the habits from previous month while introducing a new one in the following month. Example: January - devotional time, February - devotional time & exercise 30 minutes a day, March - devo time, exercise, and keep daily calories below ____, etc. Wish me luck.

What about you? Do you make resolutions or something like it? What are you hoping for in the new year to come?