Well, it looks like I am going to miss another Tackle It Tuesday! So much for my lofty goals to get my house in order each week! Today work was horrible. We were severely understaffed, and I had to work extra hard just to make it through the day and get home. As it is, I got home late and barely have the motivation to make dinner. And to top it all off, I've joined a bunch of ladies at Crochetville in keeping each other accountable to exercise regularly. So...I really have to work out tonight and get myself in the habit of doing so more often. No rest for the weary!

On the crafting front, I am kinda burned out on crochet these days. I have a couple projects in progress, and one I will probably finish tonight...just a bag-holder for all those Wal-mart bags I have lying around. After that, I think I'm going to put the hooks away for a while and let them regain their creative spirit. I am currently more attracted to and inspired by some of the bright and ecclectic fabrics I've been seeing around lately. Since spring has arrived, with summer soon to follow, I'm planning to make some new dresses and skirts to celebrate. Here are a few of the patterns I'm thinking about doing:

I have to wait until at least next week to go shopping because of the budget, but I am definitely planning on doing alot of sewing in the near future! I may just have to change the name of my blog, perhaps even my etsy shop because I'm starting to think of branching out alot more. The Softie Awards have definitely piqued my interest in creating whimsical little things with a variety of textiles. Oh, there is just so much stuff to make out there! Where does one begin?!

Sittin' and Dreamin',

Cocoa

Blub, blub, blub...

It has been far too long since my last post. I don't know what I've been doing, but I sure have been busy! Since finishing the round ripple, I've been doing a few random crochet projects, but they haven't really gotten anywhere. I started designing a shawl, but I didn't like the way it was shaping up so I put it away for a rainy day. Then I made a bunch of granny squares out of the leftover yarn from the round ripple, but I also came to a creative halt on that project. So, instead I decided to take a break from yarn for a while and give my hooks a rest.

And the little fish above is the result! Isn't he a cutie!? I just finished assembling the little guy before posting. I don't know if you can tell, but he's a pincushion! I have been drooling over the felt pincushions on Bella Dia's blog, and I decided that I could make a cute and crafty little pincushion of my own. My previous pincushion was an ugly thing I made out of scrap material and filled with rice, and I needed to replace it anyway. I started out thinking I'd just do something abstract with blue and white dots on the red background, but as I was trying to arrange them, I suddenly realized that they looked an awful lot like fish scales. My preschool-teacher-brain started thinking Rainbowfish, and before I knew what I was doing I was busy cutting out fins, stitching on tiny glass beads and embroidering "fishy-lips!" Voila! My fishy friend was born! He is approximately 2 inches tall (with stuffing) and 3 inches wide (3 if you count his tail/fins). I stuffed him with poly-fill and rice.

So, that's what I've been up to in the crafty part of life! If you have any suggestions for naming this little guy, I'm all ears!

Stitchin' and Swimmin',

Cocoa

First Round Ripple Finished

Well, here it is! My first round ripple is complete. I really love this pattern, and the colors came together beautifully. Originally, I had planned to do six rows of the dark blue on the outside, but the blankie was getting pretty big already. Plus, the dark blue was almost overpowering the other brighter colors. So, instead I decided to make it more of a border using only three rows and fastening off. I still have plenty of yarn for another, though I don't need to make any more baby blankets for boys at this point. But maybe there's enough there for a blanket for me...hmmmm....

Stitchin' and Grinnin',

Cocoa

Bummer

Well, it seems that another Tackle It Tuesday will come and go with my only "tackle" being something other than housework. I was really looking forward to sorting some drawers or cleaning out a closet this evening, but then I remembered the evil "Developmental Profiles" that are due at the end of the week. AAARRRRGGGGHHH! Why is that even preschool teachers have to have homework? You'd think we could just have fun and play all day, wouldn't you? But, alas, that is not true. We actually do get paid to do work--and it's not always fun! So, to my paperwork I go. Tackle It Tuesday, I will see you next week (I hope)!

Moanin' and Groanin',
Cocoa

I'm Lovin' It

Here's a sneak peek at my first round ripple. I still have two colors to go...you can see the first few stitches of one in the last photo. I am in love with these colors right now!

In Case You Were Wondering

Yes, I am still alive. It has been far too long since my last post, though! Life around here has continued to rush past at whirlwind pace. But I think soon things will slow down a bit, at least for a week (Spring Break is coming! Yoohoo!) or two. To add to our busy schedules, DH has been sick all week with who-knows-what that has been making him nauseous and dizzy. It was so bad that he missed some classes and we stayed home from church Wednesday. He went to the doctor Friday, but they weren't positive about what's wrong with him. It could be an inner ear infection, but it's hard to say. They gave him this medication that is usually for motion sickness and is supposed to relieve the nausea and dizziness...but it's actually making him more dizzy! I hope he gets better soon because it's no fun to have a sick husband!

On the crochet front, I haven't done much since finishing the circle jacket. I did try out a few squares from the 200 Crochet Blocks book I got. They are really pretty, but each of them turned out a slightly different size even though I used the exact same hook and yarn for each! I thought that each square in the book was supposed to come out the same size so they could be mixed and matched...oh well, I guess I'll have to watch that once I actually sit down to make an afghan with these patterns!

Yesterday I started a new project...a round ripple for a gal at work who is having a baby boy this summer. It's my first round ripple, and I'm lovin' it! I can see why so many people use this pattern over and over. It's super easy and goes so quickly! I'm using really bright summery colors--bright yellow, green, aqua and blue along with a variegated that includes all those shades. Once I'm finished with this one, I'll be starting something for a gal at church who is having a girl around the same time. I don't know what I'm going to make for her yet...I have lots of time to decide. I just hate to be without some kind of project, so I'm always working ahead!

Well, I guess that's about all for today. I'm hoping to get back into blogging again this week. I might actually have time to do Tackle It Tuesday this week, too! That would be nice!

Stitchin' and Grinnin',
Cocoa