I am working on a crochet project for a dear friend of mine. I am in love with the yarn, it’s such a gorgeous colour, and I love the project itself. It is the first complicated pattern I have tried, and I seem to have not thought of the fact that most patterns are written by right-handed people, and I am a lefty. You wouldn’t think this makes much of a difference, but everything I am crocheting is backwards.

I am trying to combine reading instructions, with looking at charts, all while constantly flipping things round in my head and my hands. I’m going very slowly and triple checking everything as I do not want to get to the end and realize that something went dreadfully wrong.

I am very excited about the end result and though it may be slow going, and definitely brain taxing, I am really enjoying it. Unfortunately I can’t show you any pictures as it is to be a total surprise for my friend, even the colour. So I thought I’d show you what I ate while working on it the other night.

Chocolate raspberry truffle bars, yum. It was a recipe I ripped out of a magazine years ago, and finally got round to trying. You seriously do not want to know how much butter, and sugar or how many eggs were in this small cake. It was scrumptious though, and it made all the work my brain was doing just a little easier.

I am so very excited about a project I have been working on, but shhhh, it’s a secret. I do hope to unveil it all after we get back from our trip, around the first week in June.

Hope all the mamas out there had a wonderful day yesterday!

a bowl full of apples

a bit of crochet in the sunshine, while keeping a hair elastic on my wrist to remind me which row I had just done (I blame mommy brain)

straight from the bath baby curls

It is these ordinary moments that make up our days, and make those days truly wonderful.

Recently I won a yarn giveaway over at Poppies and Milk. I just received the box, and look at all of the beautiful yarn. Those tweedy purples made my heart skip a beat.

My girls were in love with all these gorgeous pinks. The babe had a particular fondness for that extra soft and fluffy ball of white. You can see her moving in again.

Here are some more bright, fun colours. I have a few ideas for a few of the different colours, but I am going to have some real fun deciding what to do with it all. Good thing I’ll be stuck in the car for quite a while here in a couple of weeks, it’ll be perfect for having some time to crochet.

First I made a fabric covered button, from one of the sets I found at the thrift store.

Then I made some backs.

Added some crocheted flowers from this pattern (which is brilliant, and my favourite flower to crochet)….

and turned them into fun flower brooches.

I am loving these and with changing up your yarn and buttons, they can be made to be springy, wintry, for your clothing…

or to gussy up a string bag.

These flowers are gorgeous, the pattern is flawless, they are fairly quick to whip up and brilliant every time. They would make perfect gifts, and are fantastic for embellishing lots of things. Have a go, you won’t regret it.

I made this string bag a while ago, but promptly forgot about it in shuffle of everybody being so ill. I used this pattern, which was a breeze to crochet. I did add some extra rows in the middle as I wanted the bag to be a bit bigger, but otherwise it is the same pattern.

I had lots and lots of natural cotton, but I am thinking of dyeing it a brighter colour now that it is done and my stash is almost gone. This is the biggest bag (though it’s not huge) I’ve done and I really like it. I have intentions of getting one more bag done before the month is out, and I hope I’ll be able to get to it.

I love making my own bags, and this has been such a fun challenge as it is not something I’ve done before. Even though I have not had luck in finding a pattern to match what I need for big shops, these smaller bags will definitely have their place. For one, they’ll be easier for the kiddos to manage. They will be perfect for produce bags and also little gift bags. Several different little handmade string bags would also be perfect tied up with pretty ribbons for a gift.

Well, it’s supposed to snow again today and tomorrow, I am thankful that we are having days of springyness in between the cold, grey weather, but I will definitely be glad when it is more consistently warm. No real sign of spring here in the form of buds or anything green, but I am keeping a keen eye out.

What are your favourite signs of spring?

I have been looking for some sewing bits and bobs and trims to work on some clothes for the girls this spring/summer and I hit the jackpot at the thrift store. Here are several yards of very girly knit trim.

A stash of red buttons, 27 yards of red crochet trim, and some really pretty red floral fabric.

Several more yards of an ivory crochet trim,

and several sets of buttons to cover with fabric.

I paid 50 cents for the fabric (almost two yards) and 50 cents for the 27 yards of red crochet trim. Each button set was 12 cents and everything else was 25 cents a piece, so all in all I came out with some fantastic deals. I do believe I am ready to make some cute things for the girls as the weather gets warmer, and don’t you love it when all of your purchases happen to be in the same colour palette unintentionally? I know, kind of weird, but I do.

Here is my second string bag, and in a much more cheerful colour as well. I used this pattern, and though I followed the directions precisely, I don’t really see the resemblance to the picture. I do like it, and though it is a pretty small bag, I think it will be very useful.

So this is my dilemma, see this bag? My mom brought it home for me from Marks & Sparks last summer after her trip to England. I absolutely love this bag, it is the perfect size, it holds tons of stuff, and the opening is really big. I love the dual handles as it is perfect to throw over my shoulder, or carry in my hands, and using the short handles, the kids can handle it really well as well.

I am having a very difficult time finding a pattern to match this type of bag. Each bag I have made has a fairly narrow opening and I think it wouldn’t be such a problem if I hadn’t been spoiled with my green bag. The big issue is that for the same style and size, I can buy one cheaper than I could make one, assuming that I could even figure out a pattern that was similar.

I’m all for making my own, but it is slightly frustrating to know that I am paying more to make one that doesn’t match the ease of use as the one I really love. I think what I might do is make more smallish bags like this red one as they would come in handy for produce, or the kids carrying them etc. and then just buy some of the bigger ones which I really do love for bigger shops, or plants etc. that need more space and a much bigger opening.

On a side note, Hubby and I had a good giggle while watching Did You Hear About the Morgans? It is about a New York City couple who are sent to Wyoming while in the witness protection program. There were some really funny parts, and though we don’t have bears in our back yard, they absolutely nailed it when they said the sky out here is like nowhere else.

I’m feeling much better after the receptionist episode yesterday, but we’ll see how it goes today. After 2 1/2 years of having these braces on, and the fact that they were supposed to come off last September, I’ll believe it when I see it. Wish me luck!

Oh, and the kiddos are doing much better now, there are a few slightly runny noses, but the awful coughing is over and the ear infections are gone. It has been so nice here these last two days, with the temp in the 60′s, that we have spent most of our days outside, which has really helped with the cabin fever.

Well, I’ve rambled on long enough. Once I get a little more energy back I’ve got lots of projects on my to do list, can’t wait to show you.

making granola

doing a bit of crochet

eating wholemeal cheddar scones

chopping veg for supper

I am so excited to be involved in Emily and Dawn’s String-a-Long Challenge.

I finally got my first bag finished last night and here it is. I used the Econo-Shopper Mesh Bag pattern over on Ravelry. I must admit, that I used the pattern for the main mesh part and then tweaked the handles as I preferred them flipped on the other sides. It wasn’t too hard, I just kind of figured it out as I went.

I just recently found this pattern for the brooch, and can I just say I absolutely adore it (but more on that later). Once I got the hang of it, it was really easy to whip out.

I’m not sure which pattern I’ll use next, but I’m going to have fun figuring it out. If anybody knows of any crochet string bag patterns, I would love to check them out. Sorry these recent posts are kind of short and to the point, still nursing my family back to health. Knock on wood, but I think the end is in sight.