And, the car seat baby blanket is done!! The baby shower is today, so whew! The mom-to-be is having a girl, and she has chosen pink and black as the color scheme. So, what do you think?!
Showing posts with label baby blankets. Show all posts
Showing posts with label baby blankets. Show all posts
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Tulsi Tea and Car Seat Blanket
So, as part of my New Year's resolution to get back in shape and healthier, I've been trying to avoid drinking soda. Fine, but what to drink instead?! Yes, I know, water should be the answer, but even though I've stepped it up, water just doesn't always cut it. I love tea, both hot and iced, but don't want to overdo it either, and while I was shopping for different teas, I came across Tulsi Tea. "Tulsi" is an herb, translated as "holy basil" (I bought the tea at http://www.ishopindian.com/, which is a great way to get Indian items delivered right to your door if you don't have an international grocery store near you). I found a box of tea bags, in which the tulsi and some black tea are mixed together. When a co-worker saw the package, he said that he used to have a tulsi plant and put it in his tea all the time. It's really quite tasty (not as strong as regular basil), and it's supposed to contain lots of antioxidants.
And, the car seat baby blanket is done!! The baby shower is today, so whew! The mom-to-be is having a girl, and she has chosen pink and black as the color scheme. So, what do you think?!
And, the car seat baby blanket is done!! The baby shower is today, so whew! The mom-to-be is having a girl, and she has chosen pink and black as the color scheme. So, what do you think?!
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
The I Hook
So, I get a call from a friend last night -- sounds like she's distressed and calling from a crowded venue. "Phyllis, I'm at the craft store, and there are no I hooks! I'm crocheting another baby blanket, and if I use a G hook, it's going to be half the size it's supposed to be! Help!" Oh, I love me a good crochet emergency :-)
Which got me to thinking about how "emergencies" in our lives can be both good and bad. They sure get the blood flowing, but adding stress to your life is never a good idea. It might be a good time to start planning some crochet projects as Christmas presents and starting NOW to work on them -- much less stress when November and December roll around :-)
I've been having so many crochet ideas flowing through my head (good), but no time or inclination to do anything about it (bad). I'm not going to stress about it though -- creativity can't be forced. I just read somewhere that the best way to get into a creative groove is to NOT think about it and to go and do something totally different. Makes sense -- sometimes, my best ideas come to me when I'm in the shower! Oh, and it's so important to write that "great" idea down when it comes to you. Otherwise, you will forget it, and you can then have the luxury of contemplating and refining the idea later on to figure out if it's really that great or not.
So, have a great creative and productive day!
Which got me to thinking about how "emergencies" in our lives can be both good and bad. They sure get the blood flowing, but adding stress to your life is never a good idea. It might be a good time to start planning some crochet projects as Christmas presents and starting NOW to work on them -- much less stress when November and December roll around :-)
I've been having so many crochet ideas flowing through my head (good), but no time or inclination to do anything about it (bad). I'm not going to stress about it though -- creativity can't be forced. I just read somewhere that the best way to get into a creative groove is to NOT think about it and to go and do something totally different. Makes sense -- sometimes, my best ideas come to me when I'm in the shower! Oh, and it's so important to write that "great" idea down when it comes to you. Otherwise, you will forget it, and you can then have the luxury of contemplating and refining the idea later on to figure out if it's really that great or not.
So, have a great creative and productive day!
Friday, June 11, 2010
Where did the week go?!
Where did the week go?! I'm glad it's Friday, but I had planned on posting, tweeting, etsying, and so much more this week ;-) Oh, well, that's what Sunday will be all about...
I've got a new pattern up on Ravelry, for a cute little summer baby hat. The prototype has gone off to a friend's niece as a baby shower gift. We were originally aiming for a bamboo yarn baby blanket, but it took me a while to find a reasonably priced bamboo yarn for such a big project, and it still hasn't arrived in the mail yet. We're thinking it might be a good Christmas present (and it turns out that a knitter gave the mother-to-be a blanket at the shower, so just as well!)
I'm hoping to post a couple of new projects up on Ravelry soon, but I've been working on the book projects with a fabulous graphic artist. Really, if you need a graphic artist, I would highly recommend "SunnyD" on elance.com. It's a great service, actually -- you can go to elance and post a project and have lots of different service providers bid on it, or you can identify particular providers to give you an estimate for your job.
But, more on these projects later. What thought will I leave you with tonight? Mmmm, just get out there and take a break! Sometimes we get so wrapped up in our projects that we forget to play :-)
I've got a new pattern up on Ravelry, for a cute little summer baby hat. The prototype has gone off to a friend's niece as a baby shower gift. We were originally aiming for a bamboo yarn baby blanket, but it took me a while to find a reasonably priced bamboo yarn for such a big project, and it still hasn't arrived in the mail yet. We're thinking it might be a good Christmas present (and it turns out that a knitter gave the mother-to-be a blanket at the shower, so just as well!)
I'm hoping to post a couple of new projects up on Ravelry soon, but I've been working on the book projects with a fabulous graphic artist. Really, if you need a graphic artist, I would highly recommend "SunnyD" on elance.com. It's a great service, actually -- you can go to elance and post a project and have lots of different service providers bid on it, or you can identify particular providers to give you an estimate for your job.
But, more on these projects later. What thought will I leave you with tonight? Mmmm, just get out there and take a break! Sometimes we get so wrapped up in our projects that we forget to play :-)
Monday, June 30, 2008
Another Project Almost Done!
Whoo, hoooo! I'm being very productive these days. I've had a few custom orders that I'm working on, plus I think I'm near to having found a great website designer for a reasonable amount.
Here's the bear square, but the duck is not yet ready to be unveiled. It's been a fun project, and it's making me realize that baby blankets do not have to be that hard (remember the twin's blankets -- so many squares! In fact, I confess, the girl's blanket still sits ...) Anyway, you really need only 20 squares to make a good sized blanket (the square is about 10 inches). And I used Lion Brand Cotton-Ease, which has really nice colors and is so soft. I haven't tried washing it yet, but I have the feeling it'll be fine. Ok, now, back to the duck!
Today's Thought: Check out my tea recipes on Associated Content to quench your thirst during your 4th of July festivities! http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/811207/3_healthy_and_refreshing_iced_tea_recipes.html?cat=22
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Chenille
Well, the baby shower yesterday was so nice (as nice as it can be in an office!), and I think the mom-to-be really liked the stuffed owl. I found the pattern in Crochet Today magazine (Sept/Oct '07, p 75) and just changed the color scheme to match her color choices. Of course, I forgot my camera, but hope to get some shots from others.
Ok, so back to the girl baby blanket, especially now that the babies are home with their mom, who really went through a lot (eclampsia and the whole ICU bit). We're hoping to get over there soon to visit, when she's ready, and I've got to have that blanket done to take with me!
Oh, and here's an interesting tidbit: Chenille is made by lining up the fibers horizontally on a machine, stitching down the center, then trimming, apparently like a pipe cleaner. That's part of the reason chenille has no elasticity and also why it can shed.
Today's Thought: Artomatic is coming to an end this Sunday here in DC, so if you're in the area, try to stop by and support the local art community!
Ok, so back to the girl baby blanket, especially now that the babies are home with their mom, who really went through a lot (eclampsia and the whole ICU bit). We're hoping to get over there soon to visit, when she's ready, and I've got to have that blanket done to take with me!
Oh, and here's an interesting tidbit: Chenille is made by lining up the fibers horizontally on a machine, stitching down the center, then trimming, apparently like a pipe cleaner. That's part of the reason chenille has no elasticity and also why it can shed.
Today's Thought: Artomatic is coming to an end this Sunday here in DC, so if you're in the area, try to stop by and support the local art community!
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Boys Rule!
Well, I managed to get the boy baby blanket done on time for the shower! I'm still working on the girl blanket, but I think I've got about 5-6 weeks left before they get here, so it should all work out ok. Ugh, things always take longer than you think they're going to!
And, I also learned that when people say that a yarn is “plied,” they mean that strands of the yarn are twisted together to make the yarn stronger and softer. Individual plies can be very thin, so saying something is four-ply just means that it's composed of four strands of yarn and doesn't really say anything about its thickness.
Today's Tip: Happy Spring! Take the time to stop and really smell the flowers :-)
And, I also learned that when people say that a yarn is “plied,” they mean that strands of the yarn are twisted together to make the yarn stronger and softer. Individual plies can be very thin, so saying something is four-ply just means that it's composed of four strands of yarn and doesn't really say anything about its thickness.
Today's Tip: Happy Spring! Take the time to stop and really smell the flowers :-)
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Just a few more blocks!
So, the baby blanket crunch time is serious now, hence no blogging! The baby shower is next Saturday, and the baby blankets are proceeding, but ... Though it is amazing what you can accomplish when the pressure is on. I hope to figure out how to do pictures on this blog soon so you can see the final products! Ah, so much to doooooooooo.
Anyway, I sort of knew that "mercerized" cotton involved doing something special to the cotton, but I just learned that it was a John Mercer who invented a process in the early 20th century that uses a solution to break down the cotton fibers to make them softer and more receptive to dye. Really interesting the info that you can pick up these days.
Ok, I gotta go back to the blankets! I promise, a better post coming soon...
Today's Thought: Soaking eggplant in cold, salted water for about a half hour makes it much easier to cook and less bitter.
Anyway, I sort of knew that "mercerized" cotton involved doing something special to the cotton, but I just learned that it was a John Mercer who invented a process in the early 20th century that uses a solution to break down the cotton fibers to make them softer and more receptive to dye. Really interesting the info that you can pick up these days.
Ok, I gotta go back to the blankets! I promise, a better post coming soon...
Today's Thought: Soaking eggplant in cold, salted water for about a half hour makes it much easier to cook and less bitter.
Monday, March 17, 2008
On the Mend
Ah, can't believe I got felled by the cold/flu that's been making the rounds at work! Really knocked me for a loop.
Well, Nancy's sweater was finished in time for our annual lunch together, and she seemed really happy. Hopefully, it will be warm enough for her to wear it soon.
Now, it's on to the baby blankets that need to be finished by April 12th. I think I've got enough time, I've tried to plan out my strategy, but the best laid plans...
Anyway, I learned the most interesting thing today: There is sometimes a reference in history or literature to someone being from the “distaff side of the family” (meaning the maternal side). A distaff is a device constructed to hold unspun fiber as it’s fed onto the spindle or into the spinning wheel. The term originated during the Middle Ages. It comes from a reference in the Bible, which said that a virtuous woman is one who seeks wool and works willingly with her hands on the spindle and distaff.
Today's Thought: Just one or two cups of coffee causes your cortisol (the stress hormone) level to be elevated for 12 to 14 hours, which can have adverse consequences to your blood sugar level and immune system. Switching from coffee to tea has helped people lose weight and feel much better in just six weeks.
Well, Nancy's sweater was finished in time for our annual lunch together, and she seemed really happy. Hopefully, it will be warm enough for her to wear it soon.
Now, it's on to the baby blankets that need to be finished by April 12th. I think I've got enough time, I've tried to plan out my strategy, but the best laid plans...
Anyway, I learned the most interesting thing today: There is sometimes a reference in history or literature to someone being from the “distaff side of the family” (meaning the maternal side). A distaff is a device constructed to hold unspun fiber as it’s fed onto the spindle or into the spinning wheel. The term originated during the Middle Ages. It comes from a reference in the Bible, which said that a virtuous woman is one who seeks wool and works willingly with her hands on the spindle and distaff.
Today's Thought: Just one or two cups of coffee causes your cortisol (the stress hormone) level to be elevated for 12 to 14 hours, which can have adverse consequences to your blood sugar level and immune system. Switching from coffee to tea has helped people lose weight and feel much better in just six weeks.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Happy Leap Year!
Ok, so I'm two days late! I can't believe how fast February has come and gone, and now we're already into the second day of March. The day job has been keeping me very busy as have a number of crochet projects. Remember? My vow to finish or abandon old projects before starting anything new? So far, so good. I finished the dog sweater but haven't yet gotten any pictures to post (my luck, it starts warming up around here in D.C. just about when the sweater is finished, but sometimes we have our craziest weather in March, so there's hope :-)
My other project has been to finish my friend Nancy's bolero jacket. The pattern is in Stitch 'n Bitch's The Happy Hooker, page 168. She started this project herself last spring, and we'd meet periodically for me to help her. Well, while reading the pattern to her and chatting between rows, I led her astray! Hence, I offered to correct and finish up the project for her. Her birthday's coming up, so I'm hoping to have it done by then (I ended up having to start over because I find it so hard to pick up something that I didn't start myself.)
After the bolero, it's on to the baby blankets! Turns out my friend who is having twins is having a boy and a girl! Very exciting (plus, for me, I know what colors to use!). The shower's in April, so you know you'll be hearing more about this project in coming posts.
Today's Thought: A nifty site I heard about on a commercial -- it's called CouponBug.com. You type in your zip code, and they show you all of the coupons available for your area. You can choose whick ones you want and then print them out!
My other project has been to finish my friend Nancy's bolero jacket. The pattern is in Stitch 'n Bitch's The Happy Hooker, page 168. She started this project herself last spring, and we'd meet periodically for me to help her. Well, while reading the pattern to her and chatting between rows, I led her astray! Hence, I offered to correct and finish up the project for her. Her birthday's coming up, so I'm hoping to have it done by then (I ended up having to start over because I find it so hard to pick up something that I didn't start myself.)
After the bolero, it's on to the baby blankets! Turns out my friend who is having twins is having a boy and a girl! Very exciting (plus, for me, I know what colors to use!). The shower's in April, so you know you'll be hearing more about this project in coming posts.
Today's Thought: A nifty site I heard about on a commercial -- it's called CouponBug.com. You type in your zip code, and they show you all of the coupons available for your area. You can choose whick ones you want and then print them out!
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Dog Gone Days
Well, the doggie sweater is done! Hopefully, I will be able to post pictures of it soon, as modeled by the pooch who'll be receiving it.
Now, onto the next project -- getting the baby blankets done for the twins coming in June (I'm actually going to be aiming for the baby shower in April -- whew, that's not really that far away!). I'm debating about whether I wait til the sex(es) are determined by mid-month or just barrel on ahead with my colorful, unisex plan. Since the blankets will be made up of crocheted squares, I think I'll just go ahead and come up with a bunch of squares in each possible color, then put them together at the end of March. I can always make yet another blanket with the "leftovers."
Today's Thought: If you live in Washington DC and haven't been down to Barracks Row, you really need to go check out this up-and-coming neighborhood! In addition to Cafe 8, Ipso-Crafto opened last August next door to Stitch DC (great yarn shop!). They've got supplies for all sorts of crafts, along with classes and special kids events (their site needs a little updating, but it's got all their info on it www.ipso-crafto.com).
Now, onto the next project -- getting the baby blankets done for the twins coming in June (I'm actually going to be aiming for the baby shower in April -- whew, that's not really that far away!). I'm debating about whether I wait til the sex(es) are determined by mid-month or just barrel on ahead with my colorful, unisex plan. Since the blankets will be made up of crocheted squares, I think I'll just go ahead and come up with a bunch of squares in each possible color, then put them together at the end of March. I can always make yet another blanket with the "leftovers."
Today's Thought: If you live in Washington DC and haven't been down to Barracks Row, you really need to go check out this up-and-coming neighborhood! In addition to Cafe 8, Ipso-Crafto opened last August next door to Stitch DC (great yarn shop!). They've got supplies for all sorts of crafts, along with classes and special kids events (their site needs a little updating, but it's got all their info on it www.ipso-crafto.com).
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