Swappin'

I've been hanging out on another craftin' board called Crafster. I just finished my first swap over there. The Teeny Tiny swap.

I sent this wee thread bear to my partner across the ocean. It's a crocheted Monique thread bear you can get the pattern here. I used #20 thread to crochet the bear shawl.





My partner sent me the little beaded coin purse which is now on my key chain and is perfect to hold some change when I need to pay for parking downtown.




I'm signed up and working on some things for a crochet swap. I'm making things to help make crocheting more fun to support the crochet habit so to speak:) So I've been doing less crocheting and more sewing. Since I've been having so much fun sewing lately I joined an apron swap so I'm going to make an apron for someone else and they are going to make one for me.

That's all for now. Thanks for looking.

What's this?

It's a sewing machine.



I've dusted it off and have been sewing some things recently. It may seem odd but it's to support my addiction crocheting.

I made a tote bag and a few other things that I will share later 'cause they are a surprise for someone. Here's a few things I can share:



I made the tote from an old vinyl(or plastic) table cloth I found at the thrift store. It's great to keep things dry when it's raining and good for the beach swimming pool. Behind it is a work in progress apron made from some thrifted star and moon fabric and some fabric I low-water immersion dyed yellow. It looks almost to pretty to wear in the kitchen. I need more blue thread to finish it and some fabric to line the back. So it's off to the fabric store this weekend. They are having a sale this weekend on vogue patterns, this could be a problem.

Pattern Aquisition Syndrome (PAS)

Hi my name is Samantha and I have Pattern Acquisition Syndrome also known as PAS. My husband thinks it's better than having GAS, Guitar Acquisition Syndrome which he could only have if we were wealthy beyond measure which we are not.



Here are some recent crochet book purchases. Hopefully, I will live long enough to accomplish some things from all of these books. Right now I'm kind of overwhelmed.

A tisket, a tasket, a little ribbon basket

The ribbon bowl in the beginning...





I've had a bagful of ribbon I picked up at the thrift store a while ago. We have the best and the most dangerous thrift store in my town. It's on the junky side but you can find such treasures which makes it the best and the most dangerous part. Dangerous because I bring home things and sometimes I use what I bring home and other times it clutters the house. I was about to gift this ribbon back to the thrift store when I decided to make a little basket

I used an N(10mm) hook - the largest metal hook I have. I crocheted a circle in a spiral (I did not join rounds) for a few rounds keeping it flat then started to crochet even, then increased a bit then worked even, and repeated that a few times. I still need to tack down a few of the ends some how. I crocheted over most of the ends as I went.



I'm using it to hold my thread bookmarks I like to make.



A close up of the finished basket.

So I had to....

check on my daughter today to see if she was actually alive and well. I had said good morning to her and we chatted for a bit. Then later in the day I realized I had hardly seen her and her room was strangely quiet.

She was to my relief just fine and about 3/4 of the way through the first volume of Buddha, a manga by the author of Astoboy. She read the whole thing herself. She told me she decided to not read the exclamations so as to not slow herself down and after a while she decided to read to herself as opposed to reading the story aloud with appropriate voices.

Is that cool or what! I think so. One down and one more to go reading. Someday, I will breath more fully. Really, I will.

Doily Mainia

These all come from 99 Little Doilies by Patricia Kristoffersen, pretty much my favorite thread designer.







These are making my bathroom xtra pretty.

I finished Hazelneut from Coffee & Cream also by Patricia Kristoffersen. This one is out of print but I have seen copies on ebay and elsewhere. So snag your copy soon.







I'm testing a doily pattern for a design right now. It's turning out lovely. The pattern is fine so far but I worry about my tension and if it will block well or not. It's my first doily changing colors. I'm not looking forward to weaving in all the ends. I'll share a photo or two when I am done.

Funks and Fiber Fun

I'm in a funk not much of a fiber funk as I have been busy along that front.

I've been working on this lapghan from Jan Eaton's 200 Crochet Blocks. I used el cheap Read Heart Super Saver 'cause in my house easy washing is necessary and an I/5.5mm hook. The book recommends dk weight yarn and i want to make one in dk some day. It would be more delicate.



I've been working on it for a month or so. I've had the darndest time figuring out how to join it. I have sewn and crochet and unsewn and ripped out may ways and finally settle on what you see here. I still not entirely pleased with the result but it is growing on me.



Joining squares challenges my desire for perfection and they don't sew up neatly like quilt blocks. So I'm learning to appreciate that.

I've made up a few more thread grannies as well.


There is something so therapeutic in this basic square. I need therapeutic lately. I am in a funk. I 'm trying find my way out of it. The sunshine is sure helping but still I am not inspired in parts of my life I want to be inspired. I'm inspired to the point of overwhelm fiberwise. I want to learn how to spin and knit! I have a crochet pattern library that is insane. Where will ever find the time???

I love it all. At the same time I am in a rut, my kids are calling for me and I'm not answering like I think I should. They aren't being ignored but I'm not all there either. I need to find some some kind of balance but that's not the right word. Well, now I have said it I hope that makes it real and reminds myself to get working all parts of my life not just the fiber part.

Crochet Along Fun

I'm really inspired by the amazing hookin' on a few virtual crochet alongs : a ripple one and a granny one. So I'm going to play too.

Here what I've got so far for my ripple just a swatch:


I'm using a pattern from Donna Kooler's Encyclopedia of Crochet, ww yarn and an I/5.5mm hook. I plan to use my stash and get out of my color comfort zone too.

My first motif for the Granny Along:



I'm making my traditional grannies out of #10 thread from my stash. I'm working on a stained glass motif. I still don't know what I will make with them yet it could be a shawl, a bag or even a table cloth.

a quote or two

Dear blog reader(s) I really am alive and well just busy an distracted and not very wordy these days.

I came across a quote that has got me thinking:

Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional.
- Greta Randolph, character from the Traveling Pants series - Yes, I am reading them, so there.

Well...that's just deep!

Another quote from the book:

Fill what is empty, empty what is full, and scratch where it itches
-Tallulah Bankhead

that could be just as deep or possibly frivolous if you are thinking what I'm thinking that my glass needs more beer. It is empty.

I'll be back, really, after I finish this beer.

Sculpting Fun

sculpting
Originally uploaded by Fiber Star.

The kids found some clay I picked up for them and had some fun creating. Corbin made the flying pig and Jade's working on the elephant. I'm pretty impressed, their creations does a crafting mom proud.