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Some Purse Organizers!

This post is just mostly photos today as I must run. Our oldest has his birthday dinner tomorrow and I have to get a bunch of things done. Life seems to be on fast forward these days. I sure wish it would slow down for a day or two.

These are all made out of up-cycled denim. They are fully lined and three of the bags have pleats in the bottom so they can stand up if they are full. I had great fun matching the different fabrics and of course the denim is soft. It feels really good in your hands.

 

Must run,

talk to you later,

Karen

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Today: Feb. 3, 2014

Today has certainly been very odd. Hubs was home for part of the day and then left for work halfway through the day. So it has felt off balance all day. We were out of bread, so lunch was a rather yummy potato soup made from hash browns, left over ham bone broth, ham pieces and home made biscuits.

Anyway all of this to say that I got a huge long three hour nap in the middle of the day. I got my next crochet blanket figured out down to the number of squares per color! We now have homemade bread and I have no idea what we are eating for dinner! Woohoo, it seems I am on a roll! Well, not really, but the blanket though is a beauty and seems to just roll of the crochet hooks. The colors are incredible. I am not going to give any sneak peaks this time until it is finished all 248 little 4″ squares! I think it would give it all away.

I have been working on a new pattern for fingerless gloves and after three pairs I am about ready to kick that into production. The pattern is simple and there is no sewing involved.

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It is a version somewhere between the red ones above and the grey ones below!

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So that is what I have been working on. OH, the sewing machine part came in and I have been working away on #10 The quilt. I hope to be finished with it soon as well. I feel a bit like Einstein to be able to diagnose and order the correct part for my machine!

Talk to you later,

Karen

 

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100 Items in 100 days…#15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

Here are some new Supply busters!

The red and blue scalloped scarves from a few days ago was joined with scalloped fingerless gloves. I finished several new headbands for our youngest daughter. So this would make numbers 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and finally 20!

I can’t decide which pattern to use with some new bright yarns. I have a new type granny square that  I am considering.

Which pattern would you suggest?

Talk to you later,

Karen

 

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#8 and #9 of the 100 items in 100 days!

Here are #8 and #9 in the 100 items in 100 days!

I’m including the photos of the beginning of the project and then the finished product! Some I list in my shop and some I am using at home!

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This is a great cowl. Large enough to pull over your head if you need to but small enough not to be in the way! The buttons are handmade ceramic buttons. The yarn is dark charcoal grey and goes with anything.

#9

2014-01-24 10.35.45Here was the humble beginning of #9 a Head band with interchangeable flowers.

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Whew, this Challenge is a challenge but I am wading through it and I hope to get through #20 by this time next week. My sewing machine is acting up so I haven’t really been sewing much, but I am going to try.

Talk to you later,

Karen

 

 

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Grey and Red Granny Circles Blanket Finished!

I feel like I have been working on this blanket forever, but I haven’t.

You first saw it at this point.

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Then there was this point.

2014-01-23 12.53.01It was about the straw that broke the camel’s back. It felt SO small, and it was the trouble was that it was already 10 x 10 squares. It need to get bigger…so it did.

 

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Here are the “WOW, I can’t believe it is finished photos IMG_3626 IMG_3630 IMG_3632 IMG_3633It is  12  x  16  squares and measures 41   x  53 inches.

It is now listed for sale in the Etsy shop. https://www.etsy.com/listing/177178442/crochet-blanket-granny-square-afghan

 

I hope to list the pattern soon as well.

Thank you for stopping by!

This is #7 for me in the Use Your Stash for 100 projects!

Talk to you later,

Karen

 

 

 

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My Un-Word

My Un-word this year is Procrastinating.

I am working hard at not procrastinating. That is the reason for the 100 items in 100 days. The reason I am working hard at being in the moment. The reason I am teaching myself to not procrastinate. Everyday I ask myself. Is _____________something you are procrastinating? You CAN do this and I break the steps down into little baby steps. I am documenting each and every baby step I take so I can see progress and to keep myself motivated.

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If you want to know more about the Un-Word you can read this blog by The Nester here: http://www.thenester.com/2014/01/un-word-of-the-year.html

Talk to you later,

Karen

p.s. I am not procrastinating on the blanket that you see above. It is now 11 x 14 squares and well on its way!

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The Modern Ripple

This Modern Ripple has been a challenge. It started as  remake of a popular style blanket and then took on a life of its own. The ripple stripes were so much fun to create and the striping pattern so unexpected. I love it’s unexpected stripes. The colors were also a bit off the beaten track of what I normally create with. Originally, I crocheted a good third of it and then (frogged) took it apart it back to the first 10 rows and started over with different color combinations. Here it is!

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The lovely fold over binding that kept me from having to weave in all those yarn ends and keeps it nice and neat.

IMG_3466 IMG_3471-001It is 50″ x 60″ long measured from a peak on one end to a valley on the other. The stripes go side to side.  It ends and begins with a deep dark navy that looks almost black. This blanket is for sale in the shop, ready to take ship. I am also creating the pattern and it will be available via Craftsy, Zibbet and Etsy. This is an easy pattern to crochet, there are just so many color changes that you need to be comfortable changing colors and weaving in ends.

Talk to you later,

Karen

 

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Basket Liner Tutorial

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This isn’t a step by step How-To with pattern pieces. I will show you how to measure your basket to get some approximate measurements so you can make a basket liner for your baskets at home.

I have a large wicker basket that I dearly love. It holds my yarn quite nicely. It holds a bunch of yarn and then fits under my coffee table, but it snags my yarn. I received my Michael’s sales flier by e-mail today and noticed the lovely things for organizing your home. It is January and I do have the organizing bug. So, making use of what I have and improving something I already own is a huge money saver.2014-01-06 14.40.46I have some beautiful fabric that my Mom gave me. In fact I recovered my ironing board with it. I love it. It is bright and cheerful without being in your face.

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I cut this pattern from a left over piece of wrapping paper. I put the basket down and drew around it. This is the bottom.

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Then I placed the base of the basket liner in the bottom of the basket and did some trimming to make it fit a little better. 2014-01-06 14.46.28

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Here you can see that it fits better but seems to not be the same shape. So I folded the bottom in half and trimmed the extra off.

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Here you can see that I am getting ready to cut out the base piece out of fabric. I left 1/4 inch seam allowance all the way around the base.

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I laid the basket on its side and rolled it from one side to the other as I drew the pattern of the side. 2014-01-06 14.50.31

Then I placed it up against the inside of the basket. I left extra at either end but trimmed the side a little bit.

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I cut the fold over cuff. I didn’t measure and I didn’t have a pattern piece for this part. I did lay one piece on top of the other and cut the three of them all the same size. I know that I probably won’t need that much extra but you never know.

 

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I sewed one side seam of the basket sides and then matched up the sides to the bottom part of the liner. I sewed them right sides together.

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I placed the liner in the basket to see if it fit. It does

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There is a pleat at one of the ends of the basket liner and I left one side seam unsewn. I then folded the cuff in two and sewed two of the pieces together. I then matched up the edges and sewed the sides of the basket and the cuff together. It wasn’t too difficult and yes, I did not use pins!

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When I was finished one side seam of the basket liner wasn’t completed. I placed the liner in the basket to see if it would fit. It didn’t quite fit. It needs another two to three inches. So, I added a Gusset!

Here is the definition of a gusset from the free online dictionary.

gus·set  (gst)

n.

1. A triangular insert, as in the seam of a garment, for added strength or expansion.
2. A triangular metal bracket used to strengthen a joist.
3. A piece of mail or plate armor protecting the joints in a suit of armor.

[Middle English, from Old French gousset, perhaps diminutive of gousse, pod, husk.]

 

I could see that I would need to add a triangular piece of fabric into the side or gusset and that it needed to have the cuff on the top as well.

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I added the gusset in and the basket liner fits pretty good.

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The photo directly above shows you the gusset. I like it and it works great!  I saved money and used what I had on hand to improve my organization in my house. Actually, to make it easier to crochet or knit. The basket holds about 20 balls of yarn and fits under my coffee table which makes it easier for people to walk around when I am not using the yarn (which is hardly ever)!

Thanks,

Karen

 

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JackZen Hemp

I found the coolest hemp bracelets on Etsy today. There are so many different colors and styles to choose from.

This shop is owned and run by Ashley Jackson. She lives in Milwaukee WI. She makes beautiful bracelets and there are so many different colors and styles to choose from.

Ashley is a single mom making ends meet. Drop by and say hi! You can find Ashley on Etsy here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/JackZenHemp

Thanks for stopping by today,

See you later,

Karen

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Computer Challenge!

As I look at my computer/internet. I find myself being challenged to change, to remember and to continue marching forward. I don’t know about you but as a stay home mom, I have struggled with isolation. I have struggled with loneliness and feeling like the only one home in this huge neighborhood. This was never so true as when the kids were babies. I am old enough to have experienced life before the internet and cell phones. Life is is better with both.

Allow me to explain…

Pinterest allows me to indulge my need for new information in bite sized pieces. I can be challenged to remember to exercise, to restart that old habit, to find a new way of doing things. Just this week I remembered how easy it was to freezer cook. I simply cooked twice as much and then froze the extra.

http://joyful-mommas-kitchen.blogspot.ca/2012/04/top-5-freezer-meals.html

 

Strange that I had forgotten how easy it was. I have tried new ways of doing things. Flylady.com keeps nudging me and reminding me how easy it is to clean/home repair in little easy baby steps.

http://www.flylady.net/d/br/2013/02/27/you-have-made-me-a-better-mommy/

I also have to confess that I am a visual person so, I tend to keep projects out where I can see them, along with lists, books to read, papers to deal with. That tends to keep things very disorganized. So, once again baby steps on the cleaning. I can fold one load of laundry. Run one load of dishes, wash three pots, sweep the floor and wipe down the bathroom.  Even if I am still not into routines, I do have things cleaner than they were. JUST remember, that if you drop by the house was clean until it sensed you coming and then it self destructs.

Facebook keeps me plugged in with friends and family. I see faces of friends and get encouraged to keep plugging ahead in this life. Heartwarming stories scroll down the screen and  remind me that the world is not always a cold place. It isn’t an answer to everything but it does help keep the odd lonelies away. The ones that come on is a rush when things are quiet. Which seems to be happening more and more these days as the kids are growing up and away.

I get blog updates from different folks that remind me to stretch, to achieve, to reach out and grow. I get tidbits of information on all kinds of different topics from new craft ideas, to organizing, to parenting and marriage  and tips on managing our family finances. I love having lots of resources to pull from. These little gadgets will make my life so much easier. Everyone has cords and what to do to keep them separated….now I can color code the kids’ charging cords. Incredible idea!

http://www.cabletiesandmore.com/american/catalog/dotz-identifiers-computer-office-p-2586.php

Yes, the internet has changed our lives for the better or worse, it depends on how you use it. How does the computer challenge you?

Talk to you later,

Karen