More lace

Are those blue things wings or leaves?? 

After the use of Google translate, a few Russian Youtube videos and scratching my head while tilting my head, befuddled at some templates these are what I have produced so far.

This is suppose to be Irish Lace but so far I am left feeling like Indiana Jones deciphering text that will reveal the instructions of how to get to a forgotten temple... Still encountering what is in English, is trying to sell me something, and everything in another language and still trying to sell me something.

Apparently Google want's to suggest that crochet and giraffe are interchangable nouns.





I guess I will have to give myself some credit that I have gotten this far with only a few days of trying this style.

Attempting Irish Lace

It's an absolutely lovely form of crochet. I see tonnes of examples and items for sale, but it's hard to find a good resource... that is in english.

After some searching, I tried to find the least complicated motif to start. That does not say much because what I could find was in Russian.

First time trying this style, it's not dramatically different than what I am use to doing, but its a start.

I have no idea is I did it right. I will have to find more resources for it, that are not trying to sell me items of step by step videos. Maybe if I had more money, for now I am willing and, have the time to sift through page after page of searches to find good diagrams and instructions.

The things I have for sale

It is unfortunate that with me being a full-time mommy, that I do not have the time or resources to pump out enough crochet to make it a full time business. Ok, I could theorectically but, my first priority is my son and setting him on the right path, even if he can be a handful, climbing the furniture right in front of me.

I miss working, I will admit that, I miss me time, and I think because of my son, I now spend every moment I can multi-tasking because I appreciate the time I once had a few years ago to do whatever I wanted.

The hubby gets this look on his face, wondering how I can watch a movie and crochet. Well, I get bored watching TV without keeping my hands busy. I groan, because I feel like I am wasting my time on TV, without using the time to cook, clean or crochet. The littleman for the most part, is pretty content just doing his own thing with the occasional cuddle time with one of us, getting me to chase after him or pick up the trail of toddler desstruction and asking for food (constantly) or his juice. Generally I don't watch TV, I put on documentaries, some sci-fi or CPAC. Listening to CPAC while the House of Commons live debates is honestly some of the best television out there, it's political Springer and Big Brother.

I crochet because I can. Rant over.

I didn't spend as much time during my crochet shaping the blue shawl, I am doing that slowly right now.
The black shawl if from a Winter Rose pattern, I have no problem giving credit where it's due on that one.

Please feel free to email me at raynecrochet@gmail.com for more infor and asking prices.

Seas without a border... For now.

I just need to finish the border, then I will be done. I have already got one out of three rows and am working on the second row right now.

I thought I would show just how tiny the stitches are, to give some perspective for those who are not familliar with filet and thread crochet.

The hook is a U.S. 3 or 2.1mm, I do have smaller hooks but, I like this one.

I have gotten somemore threads in different colours and will be making my own instructions for something lace, not just filet to make with them. Having just 2 stitches is getting repetitive and I would like to try something more than filet patterns.

New shawl

At least, I started it as a shawl...

One hundred and fifty-five rows down, fourty-five rows and a border to go. This was this second filet pattern I had made from scratch. This first one I finished before the program I was using decided to 'save' my work as a blank canvas. Two hours of work gone.

My floor, less than a day after steam cleaning

 

 

I prefer to have paper copies of patterns and resources, it makes things easier and, if in the case of no internet, computer or power *shudder,* I have something to do other than complaining that I do not have one or all of those three.  I knew I wouldn't really miss having a cell but, I honestly would not know what to do if I did not have access to the internet for a prolonged period of time.

 

I really need to find more people close by that craft. I have also thought about if I want to teach basic crochet. The biggest thing is trying to keep my son happy, while not spoiling him or giving into when he is upset over not getting his way, and crochet.

 

Now that little man is finished his food, back to toddler damage control. 

Christmas Ornaments

Yes, I do undestand this is a little late. I actually wanted ot post these much earlier then now. A I didn't really want to post them until after I gave them out and bloggers upload haven't been allowing me to get any pictures onto this blog.

Hippo Hat

I am a Facebook member of a local buy/sell/swap page and A woman from the East Coast was advertising that she makes hats and posted pictures of some (trademarked) designs of baby and kid hats. Another lady inquired if there was a hippo hat available and how much. The woman who makes the hats said no and that she does not have a pattern for that.

Neither do I, but is that honestly going to stop me? I posted that if she was willing to wait until after the holidays I could have something for her.

I spent all day Monday, referencing previous patterns I have used, along with a free nothing special hat pattern and making the rest up as I went along. The making it up part was about %40 of the hat. Just over 9 hours later, between making the hat, making dinner and keeping a 14 month old who's teething occupied...

Well after several anxious days of trying to upload ONE picture, here it is. Gah!
A wrote out a pattern to this and, I used up all my purple yarn.

Been busy

Alright so it is a new year. Happy New Year folks!

Blogger is not letting me upload any pictures for the last several days. I guess I get what I pay for... a free service, thank you Google. Instead I shall try to use the written language alone for this post until the issues are fixed.

So aside from family gatherings I have been busy. Now that I have a crock pot after 7 months without one. Make that two crock pots now. No I am not hoarding them *innocent whistle.*
I didn't actually grow up with a oven or stove in the house for the fist half of my life, so I learned to cook with one of three things. A microwave, an electric frypan and a crock pot. Since getting them,  New England Baked Beans, French Onion Soup and, Three Bean Pork Chili. Cinnamon Coffee Cake, steaks on fresh home-made garlic bread, they all sound yummy. In my modesty, they are delicious. I am happy to know that the first time cooking chili from scratch, I cooked the kidney beans just right to umm..... de-flatulate them for consumption. Go me. The hubby says that it is a rare that anything I make isn't anything but mouth-watering, then mumbles about the 'Rosemary incident' and moves along. I put a wee bit too much dried Rosemary in pasta once, but then I remind him that Milestones thought it was a good idea to cook Lavender flavoured potatoes as a side for a while. Something that should not be done to a perfectly good potato.

While continuing on the topic of food, I made mini pumpkin cheesecakes, molasses cookies, chocolate chip oatmeal bacon (yes this is not a typo) and lemon squares. In all honestly if you are going to make the last one, barring any food allergies, keep them simple and they remain to be awesome.

Enough about food thought. I finished making ornaments, I made myself some slippers, and made a hippo hat for a lady. I am still waiting to hear back from her, she has seen the picture and my message a few days ago. Here is to hoping she likes it. I am currently working on finishing the pieces to the chessboard that has been in the works for... oh, forever.

I hope you had a happy Christmas or, one of the other festive celebrations I sadly, do not know enough about to comment on and hopefully the new year is a lot better for you than how it started for bloggers picture upload.