You're Sucha Square!

Concluding our lovely beach trip, wishing it was not now over, I worked on squares. Gahlee, seems I cannot finish one project before I start another, oh well. Instead of working on my blanket, hat, or hook case I decided to start working on my future crochet project bag. Made of sixteen separate squares, it is really simple to make. The squares are about five by five inches, cute little squares with eyelets. I’m making eight with the purple and green yarn centers outlined with white, and the other eight will be the reciprocal: white center with purple and green outline. Figured it would give it a nice contrast even though I’m really only using two different yarns. Also, it will match my hook case! Kinda was the plan, have all my crochet stuff matching. 

So far, I have made six squares with the white outline and almost finished with the seventh. Once I make eight, its on to the white centered squares! 

I’m thinking about getting a light purple fabric to line the inside of the bag and hook case just to make sure everything is secure inside. Would not want any hooks or needles falling out, would we? That would also give me some practice with the sewing machine I bought earlier this summer. Still have not been able to really practice on it except that first time, the day I opened the box. Haha.

Now that I’m finished with my online classes, I have two weeks before going back to school. Two weeks of crafts? Maybe so, hopefully. Two weeks of work? Ugh, yes. Two weeks of cleaning and packing? You betcha! Hopefully I’ll be able to work some running time in there along with all those too. Gotta get back into the swing of things!


Back to reality.


Oh yeah, I picked up the book Crafty Superstar by Grace Dobush Friday night. Been reading it and planning to open up an Etsy shop within the next couple months hopefully. Wish me luck!

Photo Credit:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=164382081405&set=a.431391151405.229028.164380741405&type=1&theater

Loops on the Hook

As my second beach project of the week, I’m making a shell stitch crochet hook case. My hooks and all their friends are in desperate need of a home of their own, so what better time to make one! I must say, I came prepared for my vacation of laziness. Not only did I bring my current afghan project, but four other balls of yarn “just in case”. Luckily, one of those skeins happened to be a colorful mix of purples and greens, not to mention super soft. So far it seems to be the perfect choice of yarn for my hook case. The blending of the purple and green colors with the shell stitch really makes for an elegant, yet simple design. Cannot wait to see the finished product!

Also, I worked more on my crochet along afghan today. I guess you could consider this my third project of the week. I was able to finish up my first square’s edging, and I started, finished, and edged my second square of baby cables. It turned out really well, better than I expected. Once I block everything, the squares will look great and certainly will make for a lovely afghan. Being a large project, I may be working on this into my old age, but at least I will finish it, working square by square, stitch by stitch.

 
Speaking of my crochet along class, after my class I just had to take a look at all of the yarns in the store. Of course, I had to buy something. Ended up spending another thirty dollars, oh well. I purchased two skeins of a colorful yarn that is somewhere between medium and fine weight. Planning on finally making myself something, a slouchy hat and matching scarf. Should be eye catching for sure with all those colors. Along with my yarn, I bought my first bamboo crochet hook, size G. Could not wait to use it, so, needless to say, I used it today. Haha. 

Another square, more shells, and maybe a hat tomorrow!

Crochet Along

Today was my crochet along afghan class at the local shop Knit and Stitch in Cocoa Village. of course, I would be the only one to sign up for the class, but hey, more attention for little ole’ me. This afghan was probably the best one for me to be taking a class on. Each square of the afghan has a different cable stitch, ultimately teaching me 63 (holy cow!) cable stitches. Considering the cable stitch is one of the only things I have not attempted yet, by the time I’m done with this project I will be an expert!

The majority of the people at the store are knitters, hence “Knit and Stitch,” but they do teach some crochet classes. Luckily, I was down here for this one. I had never been in a specialty yarn shop before until now. At this store, people come in all day to knit their on latest projects with the assistance and company of the store workers and friends. Its great to know there are places like this where you can just come in, sit, relax, and crochet until your heart is content. Wish there were places like this back home! Might end up going back tomorrow night for open table night, who knows.

Back to crocheting!

Sorry for poor quality pictures. Taken with cell phone.

Sandy Stitches

As my first project for my beach trip, I made a crocheted slouchy hat for my friend’s birthday present. I had gone to Hobby Lobby on the way to the beach in search for my owl fleece, and I came across a pattern for a hat. Well, after I bought the yarn it turns out the pattern was for knitting, which I’m not well versed in at all. So, I was in search of a new pattern. After hours of searching the World Wide Web, I found one by Donna Rutledge-Okoro on Etsy. Simple, yet cute, I just had to buy it for myself. Full of excitement over my new find, as soon as she emailed me the pattern I got to work. Needless to say, I was finished before the night even had a chance to be young. I even added a cute little bow just to spice up the cuteness a little bit more. 

I know I’ll definitely be using this pattern again, for myself of course! Its about time I make a slouchy hat for myself... keep giving them all away.

I got my sister to model the hat for me, as painful as that was for her. I must say, the hat looks good on her. I’m sure she will be asking for one soon enough.
Now on to a new project!


P.S. I will be going to a crochet along afghan class tomorrow at the knitting shop in Cocoa Village. Should be fun!


Thanks to Donna for the great pattern!

Nineteen Candles

I wished for a crafty birthday, a weekend full of laziness but creativeness. Waltzing into those final moments before the clock struck twelve,  I was in the kitchen melting wax, getting ready to make my very first candle. It could be called my “birthday candle” I suppose. Purplish with a “peace sign looking” design, seemed to be a success. Of course, my sister called dibs on the candle so I didn’t get to make my own until the next day, another successful candle. 

Also, I have been working on my “Little Hooter” for a while now off and on. Work just takes over during the week, but I made sure I finished him this weekend. He turned out real cute and fluffy with a “lucky wing” (Finding Nemo)since I didn’t pay close enough attention when I sewed it on. Oh well, I’m proud of my first Little Hooter especially since that was my first crocheted amigurumi. I hope to make more in the future, and definitely add to my Hooter collection. 

Along with my little crocheted owl, I decided to make one of those fleece blankets, the easy kind where you just cut strips all the way around and tie the two fabrics together. Since I have become crazy about owls lately, of course I picked a fleece that had cute little owls all over it. I bought the last of the “Snooze Owl” fleece at Hobby Lobby, sorry everyone else! The blanket turned out really well with owls on the top side and a solid blue on the other. Now I have the idea of making two matching pillows to have on my futon in my dorm room. Matching owl blanket and pillows? Oh yes! Now if only I could find that fabric again, crosses fingers. 

Overall, with my three crafting adventures my birthday weekend was a good one. We had ice cream cake from Dairy Queen (mmm, my favorite) that had an owl on it, haha, of course. First time my cake has not had a sunflower on it in years! Guess I have moved on to new things. :)

Creative Reasoning

Creativeness. That is what this blog is all about. My artsy side has slowly become a stranger to me with the busyness of life unwillingly taking over. Freshman year of college, exams, full time job... none of this has left time open for random creative crafts.

During my first year as a college student, I got back into my crochet hobby with passion; crocheting every single day. But as the year was drawn to a close with exams heavily upon us, crocheting was slowly pushed out of my life. I want to strive to be creative again; I want to CREATE. The Motley Sunflower is all about my diverse, colorful and creative adventure as I slowly make my way back into the world of crocheting and photography while slowly joining a world new to me: sewing. Of course there will be other random crafts thrown in, maybe a little jewelry and candle making. All in all, this is my journey back to the creative and artistic person I once was and hope to always be.


 Picture credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/44442915@N00/4473683746/