News!

I know, it has been forever since my last post. This college semester has completely taken over my life, and many things have happened. Since my last post, I have used my spinning wheel more. I actually had an adventure one Saturday with a local spinning group. We spent all day spinning, talking, and eating. I also got a little crochet done, but not too much. As for my crochet, I finally finished my owl, Rosie, and made another mini version. Right now I am working on a baby blanket, although I have not worked on it this past week. My idea for the blanket ended up changing until I completely started over. Now, I am making a granny square blanket with a fabric back quilted to the crocheted part. Hopefully I will finish it and be able to do the quilted part the way I want to.

As for school, I decided to transfer after the semester and moved back home. If everything goes as planned, I will be able to apply for a co-op job at our local marine base. After I get done with the Business Logistics degree, I plan to start on a Web Design degree. I'm really looking forward to the web design, and hopefully I will actually be good at it.

My Etsy shop never opened like I planned. I'm telling you... school took over. Now that I only have three weeks left of spring semester, I'm trying to figure out exactly what I want my Etsy shop to be... its focus. Crochet in general has a very wide target audience, but if I narrow it down to something like crocheted jewelry or baby crocheted items and make my crochet more individual I think I will be able to stand out, maybe even be successful. So that is my goal right now... who am I as a crocheter?, the first part of my new Who am I? series. Join in! Everyone needs to just step back sometimes and say "Who am I exactly?" Follow along as I learn more about myself and you can learn about yourself too!

In other news, after getting some much  needed inspiration from Ashley of After Nine to Five, I started the Couch to 5K plan for the treadmill. Yesterday was my first day of the plan, and today, I must say, I am very sore. So, in honor of this new fitness kick, I'm going to start a blog series following my Couch to 5K journey. I would love for you to join me! Whether treadmill or outdoors, anyone can follow this plan, so by all means join me in my Couch to 5K journey.

So, new things to be looking forward to...

• Who am I as a crocheter? 
• Couch to 5K journey 
• Finished baby blanket
• SUMMER!

Hilliary :)

Cables Galore!

Yay! I finally finished another crochet project this semester. Let me tell you, it is hard to work some crochet into my college life, especially now since I switched to an art major. Crochet and drawing projects? I do not think so. College has to come first. I mean I do have to pass my classes no matter how much I wish to crochet. I told Mama recently that I was just going to drop out of college and crochet my way to fame. Psh, if only life worked that way. Only the lucky few get to actually live off of a job they are in love with. Maybe one day.

Anyways, I found this great pattern on Etsy by KnotSewCute for a matching cable tam and scarf. Took a bit longer than the hats I have made in the past, but you have to make time for perfection! Crocheted cables look pretty fantastic, I must add. It is very easy to trick someone into thinking it was knitted. Only the crocheter knows the truth.

My hat turned out well, took me about ten days to make (so says Ravelry). Of course, I rarely worked on it during the school week, mostly just on weekends. So in all, hmm... maybe eight hours of work? More or less. I need to start keeping up with that better and set time aside for crocheting in general. So, eight hours of work for one hat made with one skein of ten dollar yarn.

Speaking of yarn, I just love this yarn. I bought it when I took my crochet class in Cocoa Village. Ten dollars for some oh so colorful yarn, not to mention soft. Yes. I bought two skeins of it that day, never regretted it either. This yarn is by Marks & Kattens, their Big Trend family. The yarn I bought is color 405, which is a mixture of blues, greens, purples, pinks, and reds. Also, it is made of a wool and acrylic mixture, so it is really soft and warm. Fell in love, yes. So much so that I ordered three more skeins online. :D

I decided I did not have enough to make the matching scarf, so, of course, I ordered more of this wonderful yarn. Now I am making matching fingerless owl mitts, you know, with the cables that make an owl on the top of your hand. Love owls. So far I have made one, but have not had the chance to put the button eyes on yet. Pictures soon!

Cannot wait for the rest of my yarn to arrive so I can get to crocheting on my scarf!

Step Away From the Books!

Well, after almost a month of being away from the blogging world, many things have taken place. For one, I moved back into the dorms and started college for the fall semester. This is my second year at GSW, and so far this is the busiest semester I have had. I ended up changing my major to Art and minor to Professional Writing, basically the exact opposite of what I was doing the previous year. Now I am taking beginning drawing, art history, intro to professional writing, yoga, British literature, and computer applications (online). Busy? Yes, indeed. I feel like all I do is go to class and come back to my room to do homework. No time for crochet! :( Hopefully once I get further into the semester and work some amazing time management skills, I will be able to start crocheting again. I guess my plans for doing craft fairs are just going to have to wait for another time, because there is definitely no way I would be ready in time with this class load. 

Other than college, I have did finally make my owl pillows and took pictures for all to see! They look great on my futon in my dorm room, and they match my blanket, making them even better. If someone that had never met me saw my room, there is no doubt they would know I love owls. They seem to be taking over, just the way I like it.

Also, I did start and finish one crochet project the first week of school. I crocheted myself a yoga mat bag since I was planning on taking the group classes in the morning. Then I ended up actually taking the educational class. Two birds, one stone. Now I will have my PE out of the way. The yoga mat bag is made out of 100% U.S. grown cotton, which is surprising since nothing is made in the U.S. anymore. Anyways, the yarn, I love. I plan to use it again for sure.

 

Well, hopefully once things start dying down around here, if they ever will, I will be able to start some more crochet projects and teach myself to knit! I bought myself a “teach yourself to knit” kit from Walmart. Super excited to break it out, whenever I get the time.

For now, back to the books.

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. :)