Category: Crochet and crafting

any items related to crocheting or crafting

Cleaned up

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting

My living room has been filled with craft projects and all the accessories which go with the craft projects.  Over the weekend I finished seven projects and got started on an eighth one.  I am hoping to finish this one tonight.  Last night I could barely keep my eyes open to work on it.

I took time to put away four bags of yarn and still have one more to put away though I’m waiting for Vicki to be home so she can check out the goodies I have in there.

Two of the ponchos are for my mom.  She bought the material and I just crocheted around it for her.  Hopefully she likes them.  She’ll let me know.

The baskets are for the kids of one of my faculty.  Her oldest son asked me for an orange one and I made it.  Then her other kids asked me for some so here they are.  I’m sure they will enjoy them.

The green poncho and the headband is for Vicki.  I’ll see if she likes them.  If not, maybe I’ll keep them.  I can already hear her saying “They are MINE, mom!!!”  I have to tease her because I can.  She wouldn’t know what to do if I didn’t.

I thought I was making progress on the projects and then Ken washed all the material Vicki and I bought after Thanksgiving.  This means I have another large basket of projects.  When Vicki is home, I’ll prioritize them and see what she wants done first.  Then it will be a matter of spending time with her while I craft and she reads.

Finishing these projects did clear off a number of things on my to do list but I still have forty or so on my to do for crocheting only but I haven’t added the fabric items which need to be done.  I’ll be adding those to her list and some to my non-Vicki list for other people.

I like seeing the items get done.  I like accomplishing things and seeing the pretty things done and ready.  It’s also wonderful to see people’s faces when I give them their stuff and they are delighted.  I just have to balance all the crafting with all the other aspects of my life.

Prepping for Vacation

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting, Life

Four days of work left before my vacation.  I can’t wait.  It will be good to have a break and just be at home.  I don’t have to shower or dress if I don’t want to – though the other people at home might object if I go too long without showering.

My plan – tackle the boxes of yarn for Vicki and get as much done as possible.  I’m currently stalled on the blanket I’m working on.  I’m doing a more intricate border and it is taking longer.  However, I’m hoping to finish it tonight and move on to one of the other three I have prepped.  Two of them are smaller so if I do complex, it still won’t take as long and one is a blanket but needs a simple edging.

Once I’m done with these four, I have four more to do – two for my mom and two for Vicki.  Then I also have the basket full of material which needs washing – though I think most of that will be decided on after Vicki comes home.

The semester is winding down.  The work load is easing off.  I’m saying goodbye to one student worker as she student teaches next semester.  Otherwise I’m just wishing them all happy holidays as they finish off their finals and head for home.

My desk at work is getting clearer as I finish up a number of tasks.  I’ll be cleaning up some tasks so they can be marked as complete – at least as far as I can take them for now.

It is nice to clean up and clear off before I go on vacation.  It means when I come back to work, I’ll have emails to deal with but few URGENT projects.

This year I find myself wishing my daughters could all be home.  I feel a need to have them near for family time.  I know the two in Georgia can’t make it home but I am missing them.  We will video chat on Christmas.  I’m looking forward to spending the time with them that way instead.  I think we are all going to try to go to the movies on that day.  It’s convoluted but we will all at least be doing the same thing – if not together at least at the same time.

I know part of this is my normal holiday grumpiness.  It’s just hit me a bit harder this year.  I’m coping.  My crocheting and meditating help me deal with my feelings.  Crocheting – creating really – helps to lift my spirits.  I know I’m creating things which will brighten people’s spirits.

My inner dialog has been rough the past week or so but as I work on a project, produce more, it helps me be kinder to myself.  I can’t really explain how or why but it does.  Also, I’m clearing out some of the clutter in my living room with each project.  As the room gets neater, I start to feel better.  I’ll get through the stack of projects and then I’ll put away most of the yarn except my container of projects.  We do have to prep for the grand fur babies coming home, one of which is a mischievous bugger who gets into everything.  Clear up, clean up, and prep for the visit.  That will be the weekend.

Morning Blahs

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting, Life, Writing

This morning I’m on my own in the house.  It’s an odd thing to happen on a Saturday but Ken is off doing other stuff.  Whatever will I do on my own?

I’ve sorted had breakfast, sorted laundry, and checked out my sales.  I’ve been on Facebook, Linkedin, and Goodreads.  It’s surprising how much time this takes up when I get on the computer.  I still have to look at my website and my pagan blog.  From there, I’ll work on a cover or two for a fellow author.  After that’s done, I’ll decide whether I’ll continue at the computer and work on publishing stuff or go back to the recliner to work on crochet stuff.

I’ve got four projects I’d like to get done this weekend – more if I can.  I’m giving myself through the end of the year before I go back to writing on a more regular basis.  I’ve needed some down time, some time to step away from telling stories and working on publishing.  However, now I have a number of crochet patterns to publish, a book to edit and two novels to finish writing.

I finished watching Veronica Mars last night – all the way through the movie.  I enjoyed it and want more.  Unfortunately, I don’t know if they are ever going to do more.  I know the fans paid for the movie to be made.

I’ve got several suggestions from the girls on other options for watching.  I was watching the old Dick Van Dyke show while I crochet.  However, I have several crochet classes which I want to watch on Craftsy so I may put those on to see if anything sparks an interest for me.  I’ll have to see where my mind goes while I crochet.  I could also listen to audio books.  So many choices – whatever will I do?  I’m sure I’ll figure it out.  Maybe I’ll watch the Harry Potter movies.  I can throw those on and not have to watch them while I crochet.  That’s definitely a viable option.

The more I can get done crochet wise, the better.  It will help clean up the living room as it has become craft central with fleece and yarn in piles around the room.  I’m hoping to finish off a number of them so it’s less cluttered.

The pictures are of some of the projects I’ve been working on but haven’t been able to show because they were gifts.  I hope you enjoy them.  

Updates

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting, Life

Finished a number of gifts last night.  This morning Ken helped me get them packaged up for distribution.  I have two more to finish by Friday and then two more to finish the following week.  Then I’ll be moving on to clearing up some of the other crochet projects on my list including some for when Vicki comes home to visit.

I’ve been anti-computers lately.  I think I’ve gotten an overload at my day job so when I come home the last thing I want to do is be on the computer some more.

Having said that, on the drive to visit Vicki my mind wandered to stories and where I was, what I want to do with them, and progress.  I’ve been creating a bunch of patterns so I’m going to put them on my to publish list though they probably won’t make it out this year.  I’ve got writing ideas I want to work on but a big part of my brain wants to crochet.

Since I need to keep my stress level lower, I am crocheting.  Stephanie asked me for cat toys so I’m making them during my lunch hour.  People who come in while I’m working on them are just amazed which surprises me.  These are simple little things which are easy enough to make.  Yet they all exclaim over them – go figure.

I’ve got time off coming up – starting the 23rd.  I can’t wait.  Vicki will be home.  I wish I could get Virginia and Stephanie home as well but it isn’t possible this year.  My plan is to spend time with her and crochet.  I’ll post pictures when I can on what I get done for her.  I have a number of projects which are experimental.  I’m hoping they turn out nicely but we will see.  Plus I’d like to clear out some of the bins she has of yarn in my craft room.

Once she goes home, I’m going back to working on other projects – a skirt, two afghans and a few smaller projects.  I’m also going back to writing after the holidays.  I have several patterns to publish, a novel to edit, and two novels to finish.  After I’m done with those writing projects, I have a non-fiction book I want to work on.  This will take more in depth research and writing but we will see how it turns out.

Christmas is always a difficult time of the year for me.  It stresses me out and annoys me.  Yes, my kids call me Grinch.  This year I feel even more Grinch-like than ever.  Normally I like the lights.  They are bright, shiny, and fun.  This year – I just want to tell all the people who have them out to stop it.  Turn them off and stop wasting money.  I said I was the Grinch.

To be fair, the sun in the morning as I’m driving to work has been annoying me.  I’d prefer the darkness, the cocoon of darkness always feels so much better to me.  It’s like if I can’t see the rest of the world, I’m wrapped in a comfortable blanket of safety.  I guess my morning grump and my holiday grump are showing.

Craft Organizing, Crafting Weekends

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting

With the weekend snowstorm, we’ve started the winter season.  We got slammed with just under a foot of snow.  I’ve heard grumblings and complaints but really it will probably all be gone by mid-week.  We were lucky it came on a weekend so for the most part we could curl up inside and not have to go anywhere.

For me, I did a lot of crocheting.  I cleaned and organized some of my craft stuff but mostly I worked on projects.  I can’t show many of them because they’re presents.  I do have one, which turned out better than I expected.  I’ve had the supplies to make this for a while but thought it would be tough with attaching it to the hardware and working it to fit but I was wrong.  It was actually a breeze.  It’s made with Lion Brand Bon Bon yarn and was simply a matter of sewing it to the closure.  I might have to make more of these.  I might even try to make my own pattern.

I’ve got a four day weekend coming up and I’m looking forward to spending it crocheting.  I have a large list of small projects I want to work on.  I’ll post pictures when I’m done.  However, after this weekend, I have to focus on finishing up the gifts I need to make.  Those pictures won’t go on here until after I’ve handed them out.

Once the presents are done, I’ve got two larger projects I’m working on that I’d like to complete and get out of my craft basket.  This is of course a prelude to me picking new projects to put in my crochet basket.  I reach a point where I look at a project and say – all right I just want this one done.

I sorted through several baskets of yarn and as I did, I wanted to set aside a number of things and just pull out certain yarn and work with is.  This is my current work in progress.  I came across the yarn and couldn’t resist starting a blanket for my daughter.  I made up a pattern which took a bit of trial and error but now I’ve started, I’m loving it.  I want to go buy up a bunch of this yarn to make a bunch of projects with it.  It works up quickly and is warm and soft.  I’ll have to see how things go and hopefully will be able to work with more of this yarn.  I can see in my head all sorts of options and projects.  I love it when a product inspires me.

Crocheting and Charmed

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting, Life

Last night after Ken went to bed, I watched Charmed and crocheted.  I spent the night watching the season with the Avatars.  I’ve been rewatching this program because it was a good program and I enjoy it.  While I watched, I worked on a wrap for Virginia and a blanket for Stephanie.

The wrap turned out beautifully as you can see.  I spent less than $5 on the materials.  I spent a few hours creating and it is gorgeous.  I hope Virginia likes it.

I’m still working on Stephanie’s.  She wants an eight row border which I got through half of last night.  When I’m done on the computer, I’ll be working on it this afternoon and evening.  I’m hoping she’ll be able to take both with her when she goes home.

This morning I made garbage soup for lunch and I’m hoping I’ll have enough left to take for lunches this week.  Ken went grocery shopping so we’ve been doing this Ibotta app where you can get rebates based on your purchases.  For us it isn’t a lot of money but I’ll take what I can get.  Ken also saved over $8 in coupons.

Ken’s watching football.  I’ll be crocheting and watching Charmed.  It isn’t an exciting life but I’m not complaining.  It will be peaceful and calm and quiet.

A Calm Weekend – Hopefully

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting, Life

Stephanie came home on Thursday.  Ken, Stephanie and I went to Paint Nite and had a good time.  It was a long day for all of us but particularly Ken.  Stephanie spent the morning with Ken while I worked.  They came to pick me up and we all went to lunch with Beth.  She and I went to Joann’s and did a bit of shopping.
She went to visit friends in Ripon.  Which left Ken and I to our own devices.  We caught up on tv shows and I worked on prepping a bunch of fleece I’d bought.  I have about half of them prepped now.  Last night I started a throw for my oldest daughter which I hope to finish today.  I have a blanket for Stephanie which I want to finish before she goes back to Georgia.

It’s the first week of registration where I work.  This means I’ve been working longer hours and my legs are swollen and sore.  I’ll be spending most of today in the recliner and crocheting.  I’m hoping to get a number of projects done.  Work has been incredibly busy and a bit too stressful so this weekend is about being mellow.

With the terror attacks in Paris, I’m hoping Stephanie has no problems flying back on Monday.  Like most of the world, these baffle me.  If you don’t want to be alive and feel the need to take your own life, do it but don’t hurt or kill others.  It doesn’t make sense but then again, I’m not a disenfranchised person involved with a terrorist group.

Since my gout is flaring again, I’m going to spend my weekend being as quiet and calm as possible.  I’m going to enjoy my daughter being home and spending time with her as much as possible.  This means I’m doing things I like to do and trying to shut out the chaos of the world and the frantic pace of my job.

I can only hope some semblance of sanity returns to the world.  My job will be crazy for another couple of weeks before it calms down a bit.  While it is so stressful, I’ll be crocheting and relaxing as much as possible.

More Quiet, More Crocheting

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting, Life

Ken and I went to JoAnn’s yesterday.  He hates it but was very helpful and even helped pick out fabric.  He’s such a good sport, sometimes.  I got all the things I needed for the projects I have in mind.  The fabric is in the laundry being washed and dried so I can work on the projects as soon as they are done.

I came home and crocheted.  I got a number of small gifts done.  I bought fleece for a blanket for me.  Yes, I’m actually going to make something for me.  It’s shocking but true.  I picked out the yarn and went totally opposite of what I thought I would do.  I also know the pattern I want to do.  Hopefully today I’ll finish it but we will see what ends up happening.

I can’t show the rest of what I worked on because they will be gifts.  However, I got a lot done and I’ve only got two more sections to do.  I’m hoping to finish them today.

Sitting with my legs up and crocheting most of yesterday was a good thing.  My legs feel better today and the swelling has gone down.  This means the pain level is lower which of course makes me happy.

My plan for the day?  Editing for my sister, reading email this morning, and then going back to my recliner and working on crocheting.  I’m hoping the fabric I bought yesterday is done so I can work on those projects sooner rather than later.  I have a few smaller projects which I would like to get off my plate.  One of which may involve making my own patterns.  If I do, I’ll be publishing them.  It promises to be a good day of crocheting.  Hopefully I get a lot done.

Crafting and Quiet

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting, Life

It’s a lazy weekend for me.  I swear I’m not going to do much this weekend.  I’m worn out from work this week and next week is going to be busy and stressful.  So this weekend I’m going to do only fun things – I hope.

I’ve already worked on budget and writing business stuff so that is out of the way.  Now it’s time to see what kind of fun I can have.  I have several crochet projects I want to get done.  I’ve had several requests from different people for ideas and so on.  Now it’s a matter of sitting down and working on them so I can see what they like and what fits.

After lunch today, I think I’ll wander to JoAnns to see about picking up a couple pieces of material for trying out ideas I’ve seen on my crochet group and online.  I’m excited to try these projects which combine fabric and yarn.

I slept late this morning but I still feel like I want a nap so I may indulge in a nap today.  Unfortunately, I have to be careful about naps because if I nap too much I won’t sleep tomorrow night which makes it difficult to get up for work.

Crafting this weekend with little else on the agenda.  Maybe a trip to JoAnn’s for supplies (specific ones for the projects).  Otherwise, I’m keeping it quiet, calm, and low key.

Ups and Downs

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting, Life

My scooter broke this week.  This meant I had to walk much more than I’m supposed to which has resulted in me being in a lot of pain.  The scooter new costs $1500 and I was panicking a bit but after a bit of research, I don’t believe we will have to pay that unless we come to a worst case scenario.  Fortunately, I called a welder and he was able to weld the frame together.  Now I just have to hope it stays together until I can go through the process of getting the doctor to prescribe one for me so the insurance will pay for it.

It’s been a busy weekend.  Saturday Ken and I ran errands.  We went to a variety of different places including a craft store (Ken’s least favorite place to go).  I got the three things I needed for the three projects I wanted to do and saved $31.  I love coupons.

It was a practical day.  I spent time paying bills, working on budget, running errands and so on.  Nothing momentous happened but stuff got done.  I worked on crocheting last night but was tired.  I spent a bit of time on the phone with my daughters.  This was the best part of the day.

Today has been just as productive.  I made a new breakfast thing to take this week.  I also made lunch for today and for the rest of the week.  Ken did the shopping and saved $22 in coupons.  I’ve been working on the computer a good portion of the day.  It’s writing related things but not writing.  I also worked on two crochet projects.  I got two done so I will be able to write up the one pattern.  The other is just making dish towel with terry cloth and crocheting around the edges.  I made one.  Ken is supposed to try it to see if he likes it.  I’m hoping they work well so we don’t have to buy the one from the store.  I like them better but I never know whether Ken will or not.  The dishtowel is just under 2′ square so you can dry those bigger dishes.

I published a short story today.  Journeys is a about lifelong friends who come together for a weekend away from family.  The two women share their frustrations and joys of being mothers. The short story is only 99 cents and is available on Amazon and Smashwords.  http://eileentroemel.weebly.com/short-stories.html