Friday, November 30, 2012

Beyond the Square: Motif # 133

Motif # 133

Category: Unusual Shapes

Progress: 128 of 144

Notes:
This is one of the diamond-shaped motifs in the "Unusual Shapes" chapter of the book. It was quick and easy to make, and I think it could look awesome when lots of these motifs are joined to a blanket, shouldn't be more difficult than joining squares. I've never seen a blanket like this, can anybody please make one? ;)
So, this was the last motif for November, that means I've got only one more month left to complete the ultimative Challenge - 16 motifs to go, yee-haw! :)






Links: 
Shared Gallery: link up your motifs!

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Beyond the Square: Motif # 45

Motif # 45

Category: Hexagons

Progress: 127 of 144

Notes:
Is it a hexagon or is it actually a circle? Nevermind, this is another motif from the hexagons-chapter. Not my favorite, but another one down on my way to the 144.






Links: 
Shared Gallery: link up your motifs!

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Beyond the Square: Motif # 25

Motif # 25

Category: Circles

Progress: 126 of 144

Notes:
Apart from the center, this circle is made with chains and sc's only. It needs a little blocking to look really good.






Links: 
Shared Gallery: link up your motifs!

Monday, November 26, 2012

Beyond the Square: Motif # 74

Motif # 74

Category: Triangles

Progress: 125 of 144

Notes:
A triangle with long chain-loops along the sides and picots in the corners, made with variegated yarn.






Links: 
Shared Gallery: link up your motifs!

Sunday, November 25, 2012

My Mom's Christmas Blanket - finally finished!

Tadaaahh! At last it's done, I've finished my Mom's Christmas Blanket! Are you ready for a whole lotta pictures?

The finished size of the blanket is approximately 1,40 x 1,75 m (55" x 69"). I had started this blanket in August - early enough you could say - to be prepared for all kinds of circumstances: running out of yarn, running out of mood, procrastinating when it comes to weaving in the loose ends, that kind of stuff we all go through ;)

Although I had tried to keep the blanket top-secret, I suspect that my Mom knows about it. Recently she came upstairs to visit us (we live in the same house), and I wasn't quick enough to hide my stuff completely. I guess she's seen it, and she didn't even ask what I was working on (what she ususally does), so I assume she knows it's something for her.

Nevertheless, I'm looking forward to giving her this present on Christmas Eve. It's been quite a tough year for her and the whole family: In July (when John and I were on vacation in the USA), my Mom was diagnosed with colon cancer and had to have surgery to remove the tumor. Everything went well, and right know she's undergoing a light chemotherapy to increase the chances that the cancer won't return. She's doing fine, and we all hope that when she's finished with her last treatment in January, that this is the end to it. John already announced, that he expects her to jump around like a young doe again in spring, so he can dance with her at our wedding :)

But now back to the blanket: above you can see a closeup of the border. I've used the Bobble-Shell Edging as seen on Lucy's Attic 24. I think a simple border still looks best on this kind of blanket.

Here you can see the blanket being spread out on my parents' couch, the place where it's supposed to belong, soon. I used the chance last week, when my Mom was at the hospital again. Oh, and on the picture below you can also see the backside of the blanket, which is mainly beige.

In case you've missed my previous post about this blanket: the double-ended crochet pattern I've used can be found on Woman's Day now, but remember: you need a double-ended hook for it!

And now that one blanket is down, I'm already dreaming of the next one... :) The only problem I've got: I have no clue which yarn or which colors I want to use. But it won't be another double-ended one, that's for sure.

So, what else can I tell you on this late November Sunday? Maybe you've visited The Crochet Boulevard recently and noticed that there was no Free Topic Friday, and no new poll either. Don't worry, I'm not lazy (at least not more than usual), I've got plans: it's December soon, and not long until Christmas now. So I thought we could have another Christmas/Winter Crochet Linkparty again, starting on Saturday and going on through the whole month of December! I'll be back next week-end with the party-invitation, and of course there'll be some more new Challenge motifs during the week.

See you then, and thanks for your visit in k-town today,

have a great week!


 

Friday, November 23, 2012

Beyond the Square: Motif # 91

Motif # 91

Category: Squares

Progress: 124 of 144

Notes:
This one is similar to Motif # 90 that I've posted a while ago, only that the sc's are worked in BLO (back loops only). And again I had the same problem: it's supposed to look like like a spiral (because you don't join rounds), but it instead it looks kind of untidy.






Links: 
Shared Gallery: link up your motifs!

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Beyond the Square: Motif # 24

Motif # 24

Category: Circles

Progress: 123 of 144

Notes:
Yes, that's a nice one! The "bobbles" are dc5-togs (no popcorns) and in the following round you work spike-dc's, which create an interesting effect. Unfortunately, my motif ruffled a bit in the last rounds, but blocking helped a little.






Links: 
Shared Gallery: link up your motifs!

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Beyond the Square: Motif # 43

Motif # 43

Category: Hexagons

Progress: 122 of 144

Notes:
After I had finished this hexagon, I thought - damn, I've seen this one before! Then I noticed, that I had used exactly the same color-combo as for Motif # 1. Although they are different in shape, the motifs look somehow similar because of the colors. My goal for the last set of motifs to come: find at least one unique color-combo that I haven't used before!





Links: 
Shared Gallery: link up your motifs!

Monday, November 19, 2012

Smartphone Cover

Well that's it, I've finally arrived in the future (or rather: the present), and got myself a smartphone now. I haven't figured out all the features yet, but I've already accomplished the most important things: finding out how to make phone calls, playing Angry Birds, and...: making a cover for the phone, of course:

I've made it with sc's, using the back loops only. In the beginning I've changed the colors after each round, using black and two shades of turquoise. Then I continued with black only. When I came close to the end, I've made a row of dc's and added some surface stitches in turquoise on this round.


You can't see it in the picture, but I've even left a little hole at the bottom to slip in the recharger cable. Actually that wouldn't have been necessary, because the phone doesn't really need a cover when it's hanging at the socket, but never mind.

I've got a day off today, so now I'll continue weaving in the ends of my Mom's Christmas Blanket - yes, it's finally done! :)

Have a great week everyone, I'll be back soon!


Saturday, November 17, 2012

Beyond the Square - Motif # 69

Motif # 69

Category: Triangles

Progress: 121 of 144

Notes:
Guilty! I admit it: this triangle wasn't in my Top 100 - but since I'm going for the 144, there was no way I could skip this one, the tiniest motif in the book. Somehow I have to think of this silly joke right now: "what is small, purple and triangular?" - "a small, purple triangle!"



Links: 
Shared Gallery: link up your motifs!

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Beyond the Square: Motif # 119

Motif # 119

Category: Squares

Progress: 120 of 144

Notes:
This one was interesting to make. You have to work trebles and ch-4's to create this diagonal checkerboard pattern. Nice to know, could come in handy one day!





Links: 
Shared Gallery: link up your motifs!

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Monday, November 12, 2012

Beyond the Square: Motif # 68

Motif # 68

Category: Triangles

Progress: 118 of 144

Notes:
Very easy triangle with sc's and dc's only. Oh, and some chains.





Links: 
Shared Gallery: link up your motifs!

Friday, November 9, 2012

Monthly Theme-Party

Oh, I almost forgot to let you know: I already started a new link-party over at The Crochet Boulevard: This month's topic is Vintage Crochet, so please hop over and share your links!

The Crochet Boulevard


Have a great week-end!


 

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Beyond the Square: Motif # 107

Motif # 107

Category: Squares

Progress: 117 of 144

Notes:
A simple and beautiful square with lots of dc-3-togs and a border of sc's. I kinda like the rounded corners. Oh, and the colors. :)





Links: 
Shared Gallery: link up your motifs!

Friday, November 2, 2012

Wedding News: Setting Priorities

Thank you all so much for your lovely comments about my announcement that we're going to marry! It was so nice reading your kind words, thanks a lot! So, for everyone who's interested in wedding planning, here are some thoughts about budget and priorities:

Everyone knows that weddings are expensive and if you are ordinary mortals like us, you just have to set priorities and decide where you want to spend a little more of your budget and where you can make some cuts. And since we've spent half a fortune on our last vacation, we're gonna have to make some more cuts anyway. Here's our personal list of what is important to us and where we can save some Euros:

High Priority - Things that shouldn't be cheap:

The Location: 
Our dream was a rustic-cosy location, with delicious food, where both our guests and we would feel comfortable, like a wedding-barn or something like that. However, we didn't have much luck with the barns: one location didn't want to have us (they only arrange wedding for more than 70 guests, and we'll only be like 50 max.), the other one was way to expensive (just because we made this item on the list a priority, it doesn't mean we want to get up to our ears in debt), the next one just didn't answer my e-mails anymore and was never available on the phone (is it too much asked to meet in person and ask some questions before you sign a contract??)
In the end, we decided to have the party in a newly renovated mill from the 18th century. It's not too big, not too expensive and the owners are lovely and commited people - we're sure that we've made the right choice here!

The Photographer:
Okay, I admit it: this is actually my priority :) but come to think of it: every time I've showed John some pictures of the cheaper photographs on the internet, he said something like "well, that's nothing special, is it?"
I've spent desperate hours searching for the perfect photographer, finding fabulous pictures (at a fabulous high price) and crappy pictures (at an affordable price, which was actually still too high for what you get for it) until I finally hit the jackpot: a fabulous photographer with a reasonable price. Meanwhile we've met him in person, and he's a cool guy with original ideas and a great know-how. He even asked me to send him the link to my wedding shots Pinterest board, to get an idea of what we like :) (Imagine that! A man who knows Pinterest!!)

Mid Priority - Things where we want to save some money (but can we??)

Dress and Suit:
I really don't have to have the latest Vera Wang creation, or any other's designer's garment. Honestly, I'm okay with a second-hand dress as long as it is pretty. I can rule out about 80% of the dresses available anyway, namely the strapless ones. I just don't like the look, so I'd rather have one with straps or tiny sleeves. Here's my favorite so far:

Source: Pinterest
Just in case you like this dress, too: this is No. 8555 by Justin Alexander, from an older collection. I've found it in several online shops for a very low price, but unfortunately the back part doesn't look like you could wear a bra, and I definitely need one!
Since this style isn't really the latest fashion, it might be harder to find, but on the other hand, I might make a good deal with a dress that nobody else wants, right?  Anyway, I'm willing to save some money here :)
There's no need to worry about John: I know he'll pick exactly the right suit: not a designer's one, and not a cheap one, just a good suit in a good quality. He'll look awesome! :) (I only hope he'll pick a black one...)

Wedding Rings:
stupid gold price :) we're not after something fancy here, but unfortunately even the simple ones will probably still eat up a good portion of our budget. We were even thinking about ordering them from the internet, but a friend of mine has made some negative experiences here. We'll see. John's got a diamond that his Mom gave him, and we would probably have it incorporated in my ring (if we have the rings made by one of our local jewellers)

High Priority - but here we can save some bucks:

The Music:
Oh, John and I just love music! Actually the endless talk about Country Music brought us together, I think :) Anyway - we've got all our favorite songs in our huge CD-collection or on the Computer, so it would be stupid to hire a professional DJ to play our own CDs, and a band probably wouldn't know most of our favorite songs anyway (plus, this is out of budget). Luckily, my cousin's a week-end DJ, and he'll operate the stereo-equipment.

Decoration, flowers and stationery:
Very important! But thank good I'm blessed with highly talented crafty girls in my family: my sister and my sister-in-law are true artists when it comes to working with paper, but other materials as well. I'm mainly into crochet, but I used to craft with all kinds of stuff when I was a kid, so I might be some help here, too :) Plus: my sister-in-law's mother (i.e. my brother's mother-in-law) has worked in catering for many years and arranged lots of wedding parties, and she's already offered to help us where she can - I'm mainly counting on her for the flower arrangement and the table decoration, she'd do an amazing job!! My sister-in-law, Micha, and I already had a few brainstorming-sessions and together we've come up with some great ideas and already did a little trial-crafting this week. This wedding's gonna be DIY-loaded, promise! :)

Since my wedding-related Pinterest boards and the ideas in my notebook keep growing every day, I'm sure I'll be back with some more Wedding News here soon. Or maybe I tell you a little bit about the second dancing course that John and I have joined a few weeks ago :)

Have a fabulous week-end everybody!




Wedding-Countdown: 7 months and 27 days to go!
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