My Newest Love: Embroidery

Why good afternoon, sweets!

I seem to be in a good mood today, despite the fact that we are currently living through some of the coldest temperatures ever here in Ohio. Last night, it got down into the negatives with a wind chill of -30 or something absurd like that. Matt, Bella, and I went and shacked up with my parents for the night. Poor Woodhaven just can't cut it when it gets that cold. Seriously, though....spring NEEDS to get here NOW.

On another note, I'm VERY excited about my latest venture!

I went to my favorite little fabric store, Hancock Fabrics, last week just to peruse and pick up a skein of yarn to make another soft scarf for my Mamaw. And of course, like every hobby I pick up, I became interested looking at books of cross stitch and embroidery. I held off buying until I did some research. To make a somewhat long story short, my latest obsession has been embroidery! I've been searching like crazy for some super cute patterns and such, but no worries, I'm definitely not that great at it yet. Here is one of my first two projects. I found this pattern from The Wild Olive and I just love it, along with her blog. What do you think? Not too shabby.

I plan to hang it up somewhere in my cube at work! :D I still need to iron it and frame it and all of that. And of course, I'm sorry for the absolute horrible quality of my photos. My phone camera is seriously the worst.

I have a few other patterns that I'm SUPER excited to try. EEK!

Spring Dreaming

Hey there!

It has been a couple of weeks since I last posted, and unfortunately not many exciting things have been going on. It is January, after all. -_- Which only means I've been wearing my grumpy pants for the last 22 days. Those that know me well know that I am NOT a fan of winter. I would very much rather be s-w-e-a-t-i-n-g in the summer heat than being cold. And right now, temperatures here in Ohio are in the negatives. I can't handle it, and neither can my little house. :( Matt and I live in a little old house that is heated only by two little gas heaters (very old school). A couple of space heaters and tons of blankets carry us through the winter. I can't wait to eventually move. I hope we can mayyyyybe start looking this summer when Matt finishes nursing school!

I've still been finishing up a few lingering crochet projects, including an extra-wide scarf for my mom's birthday, another scarf for Mamaw (she loved the one I made her for Christmas!), a hat for Matt, and a scarf for myself (which has been on the backburner). Once I finish all of that up, I reeeeally want to finish the baby blanket I've been working on since, err, early fall 2013.

My most recent endeavor has been learning how to knit! Okay, not really. I got together last night with a few girls I work with for a "Crafter Work" party to learn Knitting 101, and I must say, it is NOTHING like crochet! I thought I'd be able to pick it up quickly but the two-needle thing throws me way off. I may try to pick it back up in the future, but as of now I don't know if it's for me! I definitely need some practice!

Another project of mine on the backburner has been sewing. I got a mini sewing machine for Christmas that I really want to break out. There are some small mending projects I want to start and maybe a few small custom projects. If only I didn't have to work five days a week! Wishful thinking.

All I have been thinking about lately is how excited I am for spring, and how I can't wait for the day that I get to go to the nursery and pick out this year's flowers to plant in my flower boxes. Makes me so happy. :)

Only 56 days until spring!

Happy New Year!

I guess the 7th of January is the perfect day to finally write my first blog of 2014! :) I hope everyone had a great holiday season. For the first time in the history of ever, I was happy to see the end of the holidays and the beginning of a new year. What is wrong with me?

For New Year's eve, Matt and I headed over to his mom and dad's house for our annual NYE pajama party! As always, it was a fun-filled evening with drinks, finger foods, and a little dancing on the Kinect. Even my mom and dad came out for a bit. It was a good time with family! I can't believe I didn't take one single picture that night. I guess that's just part of my initiative to start living in the moment and stop worrying about documenting it so much.

Aside from the temperatures outside being in the negatives and our house being freezing, not much has been all that eventful so far in 2014. The past couple of nights I did some crafting. I worked on an old milk can that my father-in-law gave me! No paint or restoration needed! Bought a few things from Hobby Lobby to spruce it up a bit. I love the way it looks now! I also worked on a baby scarf and hat for my cousin Sophia (my cousin's daughter...so...my second cousin?)! Who knows. :) I'm pleased with the way they turned out!

The scarf kind of morphed out of a pattern I used a while ago. It's pretty simple actually. I used a baby pink yarn (purchased at Hobby Lobby) called "I Love This Yarn!" Chain 15-20 (this scarf is definitely based on your own judgment!), and then alternate single crochet, double crochet down the chain. Just be sure to end each row with a single crochet, even if that means doing two singles in a row. Chain one, then turn. Repeat alternating single crochet, then double crochet. You get a nice little puffy pattern. :) Continue on until you reach a desired length. I added a button for a little baby safety.

The hat I kind of cheated on....I used a loom! Which I love doing for baby hats. I made the pom pom by hand though. Just wrap some yarn around your hand or a fork, tie a knot around it, and then cut the loops. For more detailed instructions, check out the Pom Pom Flowers pattern on Ravelry. Just leave out the stem.

Big things coming up...stay tuned!