Frozen Tides Blanket

A good friend of mine has a daughter that's getting married. So she asked me if I would crochet a quilt for a wedding gift for her. Since I love her dearly, I said no problem.

I took this as an opportunity to work up a simple yet beautiful quilt pattern. Something wedding worthy. Using her wedding colours (the Frozen colours of blue tones and silvers), so I used Red Heart's Icelandic. This was actually a little bit of kismet that I had picked up a few skeins of this yarn the day before. After needing to do this quilt, I had to go buy out my local Joann's.

I am Groot?

Yeah. I love this movie. Guardians of the Galaxy is probably one of Marvel's best. I'm also in love with the soundtrack, but then it's nostalgia for me :)

It's bread day!

Usually once (sometimes twice) a week I like to spend a day baking bread. Not trying to knock store bought, I just enjoy the process of bread making. It's somehow soothing. Plus the added bonus of trying a new recipe and having the house smell of fresh bread :)

Baby Teething Ring and other goodies

So a great friend of mine recently became a grandma for the first time to an adorable little boy.

So I decided to make some fun little things for him.

Finishing up your work

There are quite literally countless ways to finish your crochet piece. I've recently become very fond of finishing with no knots. No it is quite possible. Need a good long tail and you just weave it in back and forth for a few rows and soon you can't see where you ended. I'll add that one in for some visuals. I'm a very visual person so I love photos :) Here's a few ways you can finish off a variety of pieces and have it look like it was done by a pro! Which you soon will be!

Here's what I mean by weaving in the ends. Moogly does a great job of showing how to do this. You'd be amazed how much nicer your pieces will look once you get in the habit of weaving in the ends. 

Spring...er, Fall cleaning :)

I know it's supposed to be "Spring Cleaning", but I tend to want to clean like a maniac in the fall. I think it's just being inside more during the fall and winter that I just need there to be no feeling of stuffiness or gloominess.

But then there's the cost of all of those disposable cleaning pads and wipes. I don't know about you, but the grocery bill is tight enough without all of that! So why not go the cheaper (and greener!) route and make your own washable pads and wipes?

Here are some of my favourite patterns in the never ending battle to save some money while keeping the house springy clean all through the winter :)

Swiffers are the big culprit for me for going through piles of them. When you have 2 dogs and 2 kids (Yeah I always count my husband too. Who doesn't?) the floors seem to get a little extra dirty. These are the perfect way to keep them nice and clean. Then when you're done, just throw them in with the wash!

Stay with me here

One project I will be tackling soon will be crochet drapes.

No no, stay with me here.

I'm not talking the dusty doilies from Great Grandma's house. I'm talking colourful, light, and pretty. So instead of using white thread to make the motifs, use any colour you want! Greens and blues and reds and purples! They will add colour and interest to any room!

Here are some of the choices I'm trying to decide between.

From Once Upon a Pink Moon, the flower power valence is a strong contender for me. I can just imagine the sunlight streaming through those bright little flowers.

These would look cute in a kids room with the fun shapes dangling down. This Colourful Noren Curtain is a must!

This valence from Lily Sugar 'n' Cream would look fantastic in a kitchen. I especially love the watermelon look with the colours!

The fun part about most of these is that they can be done in pieces. So you can have as many colours as you want. I love projects like these that the only limit to them, is your imagination.

I love quiet books!

I absolutely love quiet books!

These are just fantastic for little hands to play with. This are definietly in my crafty future!

Here's some of my more favourite ideas:

 The Quiet Book Blog, this page is simply amazing! Just tons and tons of great ideas!

Espresso Brownies

Brownies are great.

Coffee is great.

So let's combine the two!

Coffee or Tea?

Yes! Both are right when the question is scones. Especially when there are so many wonderfully different kinds! The best part about scones? They give you that filly bready feel without all the labour intensiveness of bread and rolls.

Now don't let them scare you. They really are that easy. And to prove it, here's some of my favourite kinds to have with my coffee.

Banana bread is always a slightly sweet, rich bread. These banana bread scones are no different. There are great the way they are, but when I made them I had run out of chocolate chips. But I did have butterscotch chips. This was amazing providence and I didn't even know it yet. That simple change made these amazing. Not to sweet, still very banana-y and very hard to say no to!

May the Fourth be with you!

So May the Fourth is coming soon. My husband knows probably all there is to know about Star Wars and the entire world of it. So when we got married, I too learned it. Which really isn't a bad thing honestly. I do enjoy the world of it. The species is the best part I think. So to celebrate the fun of the Star Wars universe, here are some crochet projects to help you enjoy the day!

1 - Yub Nub Scoodie  - I adore this in a way words can't explain :) I'm just waiting for my son to get old enough and I will be making him one or five ;)

Fun with crochet food

I love to make crochet food. They work up quick and kids love them! I think they're especially great for kids to play with while you're trying to get dinner made. That way they can help you make dinner (without getting under foot)!

1 - Carrots are one thing that are great any way you want to eat them. My favourite is fresh from the garden! Nothing better than that crisp snap as you bite into one.

Squid, snails, and other "non-traditional" amigurumi that need some love too

I have always had a soft spot for "non-traditional" amigurumi. Squid, snails, and other so called non-cute critters. Poor things just seem so unloved because they aren't a cute little puppy. So anytime I see these I get a little excited. Here are some of my favourites.

1 - Squid are cute! This Young Kraken is proof.

Where to hide your stash..

Ok I am talking about your yarn stash here. I keep trying to hide it from my husband but he finds it anyways. So I gave up.

Instead of hiding it, I wanted to find a better way to organize it and store it. Cause let's face it, there's nothing worse than stocking up on a pretty new yarn only to find out you already did and have twice as much now! Of course not that it's a bad thing to have lots of yarn to play with, but when you're on a budget, that stings a bit sometimes.

A new cap from Jake and The Neverland Pirates

It's amazing sometimes how your going about your day and someone asks you about your crochet.

This happened to me the other day.

I went to the doctor for a check up and the nurse checking me in saw my son's pacifier clip and asked if I made anything else. I replied that yes I make all kinds of things. She wanted a cap for her daughter. Specifically a cap from a character from her favourite TV show: Izzy of Jake and the Neverland Pirates.

Best thing for a cold day

I love finding new soups and stews and chowders. They make you feel warm and fuzzy and happy no matter what. So when I can combine it with fish, I'm on board all the way. Three words: cod corn chowder.

Cod is one of my favourite kinds of fish. It's just so beautifully versatile. You can fry it, bake it, dump it in a stew and it holds up every time. I like that in my fish. It gives me options to my culinary creativity. So here's my take on a cod corn chowder.

The joys of sizing hats

I struggle with this a lot, I will be the first to admit that. Sizing hats for people can be difficult. But it can be broken down to a way to make it a bit easier.

Now these are generalizations for hat heights. There is some wiggle room for sizing just to account for head size. No babies come out the same size as another baby (my son was a big baby). So if you are making a hat for a baby, just keep in mind. If the hat is a bit too big, they will grow into it, but you can't come back from too small. I personally like to go for a bit on the big side. That way they can wear the hat for a bit longer while they grow and can enjoy it that much longer!

Itty Bitty Crochet - oh the possibilities!

I have been crocheting for years, and upon finding this book at the bookstore, it seemed like the crochet world I thought I knew had suddenly found a new street that had never been seen before.

I'm not talking about a new technique (although those are always *a lot* of fun despite my husband's amusement at how easy it can be to entertain me), I'm talking about a new material. Instead of using yarn, this crochet uses sewing floss. Yes you read correctly. Floss. The kind that cross stitchers use. The best part is that sewing floss keeps up with the colours available in regular yarn. So you don't have to feel like your loosing out on the colour spectrum by changing mediums.

Baby Bubbles set

Remember the sneak peek post?

Well here's the final result of that neat new stitch!

Time to get your nerd on!

To me, being called a nerd isn't a bad thing. It's much more freeing than trying to keep up with the latest trends. Plus I adore the creativity of it all. The sky isn't even the limit. If you can imagine it, it can exist and I love that. Here's a little taste of the nerdiness that I enjoy and I hope you will too.

1 - Jayne's hat - from Kim Werker at CrochetMe. While Fox may have cancelled Firefly, Jayne's hat will live on!

My Guilty Pleasure

I don't have much of a sweet tooth much to the horror of my husband who has enough sweet tooth for the both of us. One thing I can never resist though is rice pudding. Now most people like it cold. I prefer it hot with raisins in it. The creamy goodness and sweet/savory spices do me in every time.

Spring projects to bring out the sun!

Springtime is is nearing and the snow will be melting. At least that's what us here in frozen Northern New York are hoping for. Any time now would be great. So maybe we can tempt spring to show itself with some fun springtime crochet.

1- Springtime Bunny - I adore this pattern by Stephanie Lau. Her adorable creation is the perfect springtime toy to make.

Hawaiian Bread

Aside from coffee, Hawaiian bread is a weakness of mine. The wonderful thing about it is that you don't have to put any jam or butter on it to add a touch of sweetness. It's already sweetened!

This recipe from Nikki at Seeded at the Table is the best recipe I've found for home made Hawaiian bread. I love making it every time and I usually have to fight my husband for it! 

Now go make a batch! You won't regret it... I promise.

Bits and bobs for making toys

There are a few "essentials" when making baby/kids toys. Although I do enjoy using the things on this list, you don't *have* to have them to make a toy that a little one will love. Cause let's face it, sometimes a cardboard box amuses them to no end.

As for where to find these items, Etsy and Amazon are the best bet I've found for finding these at a good deal. Your local craft store will also of course be a good place to look if you need them faster than the post can deliver it.

1 - Rattle Inserts - My son loves his rattles. Thankfully you can find these in packs or 3 or 4 so I can make him little noisemakers to his hearts content. Another option that's cost effective is to find a small Easter egg shell and put rice or beans in it. They can be sealed up but I'm always a smidge leary of this method simply because my son is good at dropping things in just the right spot that they get stepped on. So it's a waiting game on how soon it pops open and no longer rattles. So I do prefer the inserts.

A sneak peek and its fun stitch

A friend of mine is having her first baby today. So my fingers have been busy busy making things for her new little one, much the same way I made lots of stuff for mine.

The piece I'm finishing up is a burp cloth. I don't know about anyone else, but my son can spit up and go for distance. That burp cloth is never far from him to clean up his little messes as quickly as possible. There are lots of different stitches you can use to make a cloth but I find the tighter the stitch, the better it'll keep the mess from your shirt before you head out to work! 

Some inspiring St. Patrick's Day crochet projects

St. Patrick's day is a fun day for lots of reasons. Now you can add some cute crochet projects to the list!

1 - Shamrock Garland from Sarahndipities. Make some garland to hang up for your festivities.

Pacifiers with Legs

I'm pretty sure we've all had those sneaky pacifiers grow legs and walk off.

Ok I know it's just out kiddos spitting them out at inopportune times and they go rolling off into oblivion.

Here's my take on those blessed little clips that snap to their little onsies to keep them firmly attached even if they should spit them out. I worked this up using the bobble stitch.

You can use any worsted weight yarn you want but I like to use the variegated stuff to keep it nice and colourful for little ones. You will also need the little suspender clips, most craft stores carry these in the notions section. I found mine in little 2 packs at Joann's.

Starting out

So as I'm sure many of you are aware, being a mom and a wife is a busy job! Despite this I still make sure to find time for my two favourite past times. 

Cooking and crochet.

I would like to share these two things with you. I don't know about you but I am always on the lookout for a new recipe to spice things up in the weekly dinner menu. Sometimes I keep with the recipe. Sometimes I tweak it (my husband doesn't like spicy foods unlike myself). 

As for the crochet, well I love making little clothes and toys for my son, friends, and family. Because let's be honest with ourselves, we all love having a cute little something to have around to remind us of the fun of life. Mine is a little pink crab I keep in the car. 

So I hope you will keep checking back for new things to be posted to help make a busy life a little easier!

To get the ball rolling, I want to share a recipe I stumbled upon that is one of my favourites. Szechuan String Beans is a new one to my household, but quickly became a favourite! Now if your like my husband and not a fan of spicy things, it comes out nice and tasty without the peppers added in. Although I much prefer the bite of the peppers.