Vicki loves her new curtains. The valances – which I thought were going to be too long – were just right and could have possibly been a bit longer even. Here are some shots of her dining room windows:
This shows the valance a bit closer:
Here is her bedroom curtain tied back:
The final products turned out better than I thought they would and Vicki was very pleased with all of them. The bedroom curtain definitely blocked the light and helped her to sleep better.
Original Post I’ve been working on a valance for Vicki’s dining room windows. In my motif book, there is a flower line which is quite fun. This fits Vicki and she marked it with one of her little tabs (this is what she does to all my crochet books in the hopes I’ll make her all the things she marks).
I finally finished the valances for her two windows in her dining room. I made 62 flowers of 4 different designs. These were quick little flowers which took very little time to make but they are quite fun. The one on the left (peach petal with white smaller petals and orange center) is an adaptation from the patterns because I wasn’t thrilled with how the third style (yellow/green petals peach center) worked up and looked. I ended up doing two of this style and they are the center flower for each of the valances.
In the book the flowers are put together with fishing line so they look like they are floating. I joined mine together with green chain so it looks like a vine. I could have just done a simple chain but that seemed a bit boring. Instead I played with a leaf pattern. I was going to try to make a triangle type leaf but the few things I tried I didn’t like. As I was playing with the design I realized it would be easy to use the Crocodile Stitch for leaves. In the picture below you can see where I did just chaining and then a different spot where I put four crocodile stitches in a row. These four were worked directly above each other.
I also played with the spacing of the chains – from number of chains to number of leaves as the pictures show.
When I did the crocodile stitch I discovered an interesting occurrence when I worked the stitches from the last stitch in the crocodile stitch instead of slip stitching into the center to make them straight above each other (see above). When I worked the next crocodile stitch from the last stitch it created a coiling affect which I liked – see the picture below.
So Vicki would have two unique valances – I started the vine with a crocodile stitch for one and two crocodile stitches for the other one.
In general I would chain a certain number of times (generally 5 or 10) before I added another feature sometimes a flower, sometimes a leaf or four. As you can see from the picture below, I would sometimes put the flowers very close together.
I got the flowers to hang differently from the vine by varying how I attached the flowers. In the picture below the left hand flower (white petals) is attached with a slip stitch at the bottom and top of a petal. The right hand flower (pink petals) is joined by slip stitching on either side of the center flower. The white flower hangs differently which adds variety just like you would see in nature.
This last picture shows a variety of flowers and leaf sequences.Vicki will be tacking them to her wall around the upper part of her window (unless she decides to use a curtain rod to twine them around).These will hang down in whatever arrangement she puts them.My only concern is that Sasha may think this is a toy for her to bat at and play with but that isn’t going to be my problem.
This is just the valance and the curtains are going to be a café type curtain with dots all over it in the same colors. It should look good when we are done. I’ll try to take a couple of pictures and post them later.
For the last three weeks I’ve been getting shots of goo in my knees and yesterday was my last shot. Now I just have to go back for a final check up. I’ve noticed a decrease of pain in my knees though I still have pain and problems but it is a decided improvement.
Last weekend we went to Vicki’s place in Indiana and Gin and Stephanie came there from Georgia. My nephew and our friend also joined us so we had seven in Vicki’s apartment. Considering there were so many we did really well. The time flew by but I think we all had a good time. Except maybe Sasha who was not happy that Moo shoo from Georgia (Gin and Steph’s cat) came to visit too. He was all about love me and she was all about get the hell away from me. By Monday when they were getting ready to leave she was not having hissy fits every time she saw him.
Circle Magazine has one of my articles in it. I was pleased to see they printed one after they had contacted me for a few to use. This is the next thing on my list – get back to writing. I’m supposed to take it easy this weekend (because of the shots) so I’ll work on the grad gift I still have to make. However, once this weekend is done I’m going to switch to writing mode. I, of course, have a to-do list. There is a grant to write, articles for Circle, a contest, and a few other things I want to work on.
I have vacation to use up so I’ll likely be taking a few days – after my department moves – to have writing time at home ALONE. I’m very much looking forward to having this time and being very productive. One thing I have to tackle is cleaning my office. It is a wreck and I need to handle it – sooner rather than later.
No kids and no pets – it has been nice in the house with just Ken and I. I have my moments where I miss my kids but mostly, I’m quite content to be without extra people in my house. Ken and I are figuring out how to deal with each other which is always interesting. At least there hasn’t been any bloodshed – yet…
The last couple of weeks have been busy with school. It is now spring break. Friday at work was very quiet and I was able to clear my desk and organize my tasks. I made a list – of course – and got several things crossed off that list because it was so quiet.
Next week I’m working two days and taking the other three off but that doesn’t mean I’m doing anything fun. I have a long list of homework I need to get done including three chapters of science and a paper to write.
I’m at that stage – I think most students and teachers are too – where I’m ready to be done with classes. I have another six weeks but I’m just ready to be done with the classes and move on to the next set. Part of my antsyness is that I only have two more classes to take.
There is no week-long party for me over spring break. I’m taking this weekend to relax and get some crocheting done. I’m working and doing homework during the work week. Then next weekend I’m working on more crocheting projects. I have three graduation gifts to get finished. After those are done – I have a few other projects I want to get done as well.
I’ll also be taking a day to go to the orthopedic doctor to see about goo in my knees again. They have really been bothering me so it is time to see what can be done in order to reduce the pain I’m in. We also bought a new bed in the hopes that it will help both of us sleep better. Our old bed was old and broken so we went out and got a new box spring and mattress. Tonight will be the first night we sleep on it and I’m hoping for a really good night’s sleep.
Tuesday, Ken was on his way to work and got hit by a snow plow. Don’t worry he is fine. His truck is dinged up. We all stayed home to keep an eye on him. Fortunately, he had no negative side effects.
The rest of the week was quiet for the most part – thankfully. I got a lot done yesterday though. Chapter for science – done. Taxes for Alicia – fixed, accepted, and done. Errands run with Vicki – done. New cell phones ordered – done. Genealogy looked up for a cousin, editing job, and FAFSA – done, done, and done. These are all checked off my to do list this week.
Today, I’m going to sit and watch some dvr programs with Ken and crochet. Also on my list is to help Vicki make some of her homemade products that we are selling. We have a list of mostly organic items that we are selling because we have found they work wonderfully for us (yup we were the guinea pigs) and now we are going to sell them. There are scrubs, lotions, face wash and a variety of other products. I’ll post a link when we get that far. We are also making a big batch of carbonara and marinara, so I’ll be assistant chef to Vicki and Ken will be canning the results for the marinara and we will freeze the carbonara.
I’ve tried a new stitch called crocodile crochet. I love how it looks and it is fun to make. I bought a slipper pattern that looks fun. I’m also working on an ascot for Vicki (yes Kelly she gets another one). I’m hoping to finish that today while we watch dvr stuff.
I’m hoping for a quiet day today – mostly. I’m also hoping for a less eventful week next week
Actually it is probably two or three to-do lists at this point.I need one for the basement as we have a crack in our foundation and we need to clean it and get it prepped to get fixed.I’m pretty sure that is a long list of cleaning and reorganizing things.Then there is my school to-do list.One of my professors is very organized and helpful, and the other, isn’t.Of course I have a crochet / crafting list.Last but certainly not least – I need to finish writing my grant so I can ask someone else to read it before I submit it.
I was working on my science homework and a friend told me I didn’t have to get it all done then.I told her everything is SCHEDULED.Yup I’m back to the schedule my life mode.I didn’t actually finish the chapter I was working on but I came close.I’ll try to finish it tonight when I get home.I’ll also work on crocheting tonight.
The weekend will be filled with editing my grant to get a “final” version.I can edit until time ends so I will have to cut things off if I want to get it submitted in time.I have a rough draft for the four sections I need but none of them are final.I’d like to get that finished this weekend.
Aside from that task, I have homework.Vicki also told me we have three sets of DVDs to get through so I’ll probably get a lot of crocheting done while we watch DVDs.I also still have to finish that last lab.In addition to the lab, I’d like to review the ones I already did to see if I can improve on them at all.I’ve taken five quizzes (labs) and three of them have answers wrong.We can take them twice so if I can figure out which ones I’ve done wrong, I can do them again and add points.The professor takes the highest score so if I do worse it won’t hurt my grade.
I have my first science test next week and am a bit nervous about it.The labs / quizzes are fairly straight forward.I don’t know how the professor will be and it isn’t one of my better topics, which means I’m a bit nervous about it.I’ll have to schedule (there is that word again) some study time for the exam.
Sunday we will have a couple over to watch the Super Bowl.I’ll likely crochet through all of the game as I’m not a fan.The couple is fun though so I can have fun with them even if I don’t like what is on the TV.
Hopefully I will cross off many things on my to-do list this weekend.The more I get off the list the fewer items that will have to carry over to next week’s to-do list.Some might say I’m obsessive about to-do lists but I say it is just good organization.
Finally I have a moment (or half a one) where I can put some thoughts together.It has been a very busy period for me.Here it is nearly two weeks later from the last time I was on here – I can’t believe that much time has slipped by.
Work has been frantic and by the time I do work and school I’m so tired I can barely get through the night.Registration this semester has been more stressful and difficult than in previous semesters.I thought maybe it was just me but I talked to a couple other people and they agreed.
This last weekend I got talked into going to Herrschner’s for the day.For those who don’t know, they are a huge mail order catalog company with a store in Stevens Point Wisconsin.I crochet.I crochet a lot when I’m stressed.I like to have one big project going – like an afghan (currently Stephanie’s star shaped with an 8 mile circumference) and small projects to fill in when I want something quick to finish and feel like I’ve accomplished something.
I have lots of faculty and student workers to make gifts for.This gives me a target for making all my little goodies.I’m not going to say what I’m making them for the winter holidays but they will be crocheted things most likely.Herrschner’s was having a HUGE sale on yarn.Instead of doing homework on Saturday like I should have I snuck off to this sale.Stevens Point is a two hour drive so it generally turns into a most of the day event.
Friday I printed off their internet page with all the sale yarn listed.I circled the ones I was interested in.Saturday we asked and they honored the prices.I got skeins of yarn that normally cost between $7 – $10 each for anywhere from $1 – $3.50 each.I was thrilled for the savings but also I will get to work with yarn I don’t normally buy.Some of the yarn includes silk, chenille, fleece, and alpaca.I’ve been wanting to work with all of these for quite some time.
While I didn’t get homework done, I did enjoy wandering through the yarn and touching everything.Yes I touched all sorts of yarn.There is something about the textures, softness, and colors that just gives me a thrill.Other women have a thing for shopping for clothes – my thing – YARN…
Best part of the day – my husband didn’t complain at all because I spent money on yarn!!!
