Finished Object!!!!

I decided to follow the Crochet-Along at Lion Brand. The pattern was Dora Ohrenstein's Half-Medallion Bag. From the start, I wasn't sure about it. The pattern was ok. Not really my style, but it would make a good gift. I found yarn I kind of liked. I used Lion Brand Wool-Ease in Oxford Grey. Finding handles with the 10" opening was a major pain in the rear!!!! JoAnn's had nothing. Hob

by Lobby had nothing. I ordered some from Etsy finally (they came from China) but I can't remember the store. I found fabric that I liked for lining at Hobby Lobby.

I started the pattern and almost immediately had problems. After I figured out how to fix it, changes were apparently made in the pattern. I hated the pattern. I don't think it worked nicely. The bobbles didn't stand out. The frames around the bobbles didn't match up without significant manipulation. But I forged ahead!

I knew I wanted the lining fabric to be the same inside and out and I really wanted to try to add a pocket. (I have limited sewing skills so this was a challenge!) I got out my sewing machine and figured out how to do what I wanted and surprise of all surprises, my machine worked! The lining came out exactly how I wanted, minus the minor imperfections of my sewing skills.

Then I was stuck. I had to wait (and wait and wait) for my handles to get here. I got them last week finally and sat down to finish up tonight. I sewed the handles to the bag, sewed the sides of the bag together, and sewed the lining in! Although the lining didn't match up with the bag as well as I had hoped, I am pleased with the job I did.

For the record, overall I really disliked the pattern. I would definitely not make this again. I am pleased that I finished.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

I love the winter! I think the snow is so pretty. We are getting our first accumulating snow of the year tonight. Between the varying weather reports we have a Winter Storm Watch/Advisory and are supposed to get anywhere between 1 and 6 inches! There is already at least an inch on the ground and it's not supposed to stop anytime soon.

On a hooky note, I have lots of things started and lots of things finished. And yes, I have been sorely lacking in posting! Life has been crazy with full-time school and subbing as many hours as I can get. Adding to that, I have to start observation hours once again.

Notta Lotta

These last few weeks have been crazy busy with school. I love my statistics class, but it is a ton of work! (About 100-120 pages of reading, 6 hours worth of homework, and another 3 hours for a quiz each week.) Considering I can't really work when the kids are bothering me  awake, there doesn't seem to be much time left for anything.

I think I finally got to clear a couple of shows off my DVR on Sunday and that's the first TV I have watched in awhile. I haven't been doing much crochet. I did make this Time Out Cowl from Lion Brand Yarn as part of a crochet along. However, I really don't like it so I haven't taken any pictures. I made mine out of a light tan yarn. Hopefully I will find somebody that likes it that I can give it to as a Christmas present.

I have been doing a very little bit of beading lately. I fixed a couple of bracelets that have been sitting for months and started another. I haven't gotten very far though because of school.

I haven't even been doing much reading lately and if you know me, you know that is very rare! I have read some at night before I go to bed, but that's been about it.

Since school started last week, I have been subbing! I did two days last week as a parapro for an adorable little troublemaker boy. Then this week I was a floating sub on Monday. Today I did a half day in kindergarten and a half day in first grade. Tomorrow is a half day in 5th grade. So far, nothing on the schedule for next week, but that should change. I am finding that I am really liking being in the classroom, especially with the older kids. I love being able to work in the field that my career will be in as well as being free to set my own hours and schedule.

So anyways, now you're caught up! Hopefully I will have something funner to report next time!

Reveal!!!!

I finished my ripple blanket and I adore it! ♥ I ended up just doing an edge of one row of sc all around, keeping in pattern on the top and bottom.

My next project is to finish a blanket I started a while ago for Kennedy. I am also going to work on some smaller stuff too, but I don't want to start another blanket before I finish hers. I really want to make a cardigan or a shawl for me. I have some really nice plum bamboo cotton and a light blue cotton. Just not sure what pattern I want to use yet... So here is what I have done so far on Kennedy's blanket.

The color is really more of a jewel-toned turquoise.

This is the pattern I am using.



Cleaning Schedule

In an effort to stop stressing myself so much about how clean, or not as the case may be, my house is, I made a household cleaning schedule. I wrote down all the chores that need doing on a weekly basis and how often they need doing. Then I divided them out by day, then by person. I assigned the kids a bunch more things than I usually give them, but I just got to the point where I couldn't do it all.

This system has worked really well for us this summer. The kids know what they have to do and what day they have to do it. (So does the hubby.)

Now that summer is winding down and school starts in 2 weeks, it was time to change up the schedule to reflect our school schedule, gymnastics, and karate. 

Easy Peazy Lemon Squeezy! Wednesday is going to be our super busy day so I didn't do anything for the kids other than pick up their normal stuff. And yes, my hubby has a bunch. Probably more than most husbands, but he genuinly likes to vacuum. Plus he doesn't work so I put him to work at home! hehe!

I've also set up a rewards system I'll tell you about in another post. And....I am almost finished with my ripple blanket! About 5 more stripes then the border, which I think I am just going to do a double row of double crochets.

Picture Overload!!!!

I told you I would get around to this one of these days! I'll start with the crochet stuff....

This is a sun hat I made for my friend's newborn girl. I started with Lion Brand's Sun Hat pattern and then heavily modified it, making it smaller and with a slightly ruffled brim.

I ♥ the way this turned out!

This was a bag I made up yesterday and today. I think it took me about 3-4 hours total. I gave it to Kennedy and she said she will use it for her DSi.

The pattern is from Tangled Happy. I added extra granny stripe rows, extra sc rows on top and bottom. Here's a close up of the flower:



So that's all the crochet stuff I have for you....

Family stuff...

Last week TJ tested for his green belt in karate

Last week was also our annual Lenawee County Fair. We took the kids on Wednesday, which was Veteran's Day. They had a blast!

Cliff Hanger Ride

TJ's first time on the Cliff Hanger

I love this pic of Kristian...he still looks so young!

I've kind of been wanting some new ink...I'm thinking about getting the kids' names in script on my side and I really like these stars, but I would do them on my back.

I want a star for each family member

I got my hair cut and colored for my birthday, but I don't have any good pictures of me with it so I'll just show you the inspiration.

My streaks have more blonde in them

And one last crochet one, just for fun!

So there you have it! A bunch of pictures like I've been promising!

Yikes!

Ok...I'm bad...I know...I haven't blogged in awhile...I'm sorry! I will get to it. I've been super busy with school and life. I haven't done much crocheting. I've made a few sets of baby booties and worked on my ripple blanket, but nothing supstantial. I've been cross-stitching for my neice's birthday, although it didn't get done in time so now it will be for Christmas. Let's see...what else?

Kennedy was asked to join team for gymnastics. Now she will compete in real meets. And I will be a lot poorer. Tuition goes up to $200 a month. Plus a $700 yearly maintenance fee and $80 in other various organization membership fees. We also have to buy a new competition leotard. Its gorgeous, but its $235. So yeah, I'm not going to have money for much this year.

TJ tested for his green belt in karate. This is very exciting! He did great. When I signed him up for the next session,  I signed Kristian up for the little kids session and myself up for the adults session. We'll see how much of a disaster this will be.

Last week I got tired of Kristian riding around with one training wheel on his bike. He completely wore it out. So we took it off and he did fine. The next day he was doing wheelies. Oh my...I don't know if I will survive that child!

This week was fair week. He spent Wednesday there. The kids rode a ton of rides. TJ and Kennedy loved the Cliff Hanger (like hang gliding) and the swings. They also rode the spider-octopus thing and TJ got off it sobbing. Kristian was too little to ride much but he can't wait until he is big enough to ride.

I got my hair cut and colored as a birthday present for myself. It is off my neck which I love because of the heat. And there are really bold multicolor highlights in my bangs. I mostly love it. The only thing I don't like is that it didn't make me look like the model who I copied (although I would have to grow about 6 inches and lose at least 75 pounds to look like her).

I'm thinking about getting another tattoo. I've been wanting a line/curve of stars in various colors and sizes, one to represent each family member, but I don't know where I would put it. I think I am going to do the kids' names in script down my side. But I worry that I am too fat for that...

Pictures will be coming...I just have to unlazyify myself to load them nad post them!