I am very excited to introduce the first ever BumbleDeeDesign Christmas ornament. So far I've only designed and stitched the snowman, but when I have the whole ornament put together I'll post those pictures as well. I'm not really sure were the inspiration came from, since I've been to busy to think these last few weeks, but perhaps its the cold and snowy weather!! While working on the design my hubby asked why I didn't just find a pattern in one of my pattern books, so I explained that I'd like a pattern that was my own. I'm not really sure he understood, but he did like the finished picture. To a non stitcher it must be hard to visualize the finished product when all you see is a big, somewhat messy sheet of graph paper. Now all I have to do is rewrite the pattern in proper format.

Here's wishing you all a wonderful, white and cozy Christmas, Winter and New Year.

It's almost Christmas

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.

-Norman Vincent Peale

And here as promised are the pictures of my new afghan. After a gentle washing it is super soft and warm. Just in time for this cold weather we are having now. I'm not complaining though, the sun is shining and that's enough. I'm also including a picture of a snowman I cross-stitched this week. It's a pattern from the World of CrossStitch magazine, which comes from the UK. It was supposed to have heart shaped buttons on the hat, but I didn't have any so I added a few french knots instead.

Okay, so my blanket is nearly finished. I only have to work the last few rows along the outside and it ready to be washed. I'll be posting pictures later this week or early next. I think I'm keeping way to busy, as I have 4 scrapbooks to finish and a whole wack of wedding pictures to edit. Oh well, all is due time. After all, January and February are really quiet around here. Oh ya, and my boys are also wondering when I'm going to get their x-stitched pillows done. Soon guy, soon! (Just don't ask me how soon ;-)

Happy Thanksgiving

So, dinner is eaten and dishes are cleared away. Hubby is having a nap and the kiddies are playing school, and since it is too wet to go outdoors, I've got a few quiet minutes to update this blog.

I'm working on a new blanket again. This one is actually for myself. I didn't think I would need another for our house for a long time, but Benj has cast aside his old favorite, (and very raggedy) Bob Timberlake afghan, in favor of the new ripple blanket I made last winter, so now I have room for another one. I saw this nice Maple Leaf Afghan in a recent Crochet Today magazine, and although I like the maple leaf motif, (after all, it is very patriotic), I realized this would decrease the strength and durability of the blanket somewhat. I learned the hard way with a previous filet crochet blanket I made, that five kids playing with all available blankets, requires some solid stitching on my part. So I'm only making a leaf motif in the red squares and a diagonal design in the remaining ones. It will look a little more crazy quiltish, since each square is a slightly different width, even though they all have the same number of stitches. Should look interesting when it's all finished.

Also, the crochet hook you see on the middle picture, is an 'addi' hook, which is a German brand. A thicker handle sure makes for more comfortable crocheting. They are a bit more expensive then the regular hooks, but they are well worth the money.

Well, Happy Thanksgiving everyone, and thank you for stopping by my blog!

Here a few pictures of the comfort shawl that I've just completed last week. For some reason I can't seem to get a picture that does the design or the colour justice, but oh well, at least you get the idea. As you see on the two pictures of the edge, I crocheted a row of beads into each end of the shawl. At first I was planning on adding on tassels, but it didn't quite fit with this design. Although it is a bit difficult to see on the photo's, the yarn is made up of ever changing shades of pink. I was fortunate to find matching bead at Michael's a few weeks ago. It turn out so well, that I think I might use this beading idea on scarves and such in the future.

Sept. 26, 2008

The comfort shawl I was working on is now complete. After finishing the main crocheting, I crocheted beads into each end of the shawl. I thought it would take me a few more hours of work, but one evening of steady work and it was nearly finished, except for weaving in the lose yarns ends and one side of the beading. Now it's been hand washed and hung up to try. Thankfully it's another dry day, and the sun keeps trying to break through the clouds. Now it's back to the baby blanket which is coming along nicely. I just had to buy more yarn though, as it is taking more then I thought. I'm making this one in a soft Antique White, so that it can be passed along to a mom of either a baby boy or girl.

Blanket Pictures

Okay, finally we had a sunny day and I could wash the blanket and hang it out to dry. Here are the pictures I promised. Now I'm working on finishing the comfort shawl I began several months ago (it should be ready for giving away in a few weeks), and I'm also whipping up another baby blanket, as I don't like dropping off only one blanket at the Pro-life Preg-Crisis Centre and I already have one washed, wrapped and ready to go. Yesterday I borrowed a very interesting audio book from the library, and I'm amazed how much I actually get done in an evening of listening and crocheting.

I just want to leave you with a quote about autumn that you might enjoy.

"The Sussex lanes were very lovely in the autumn...spendthrift gold and glory at the year-end...earth scents and sky winds and all the magic of the country side which is ordained for the healing of the soul."

-Monica Balwin, I leap over the wall.

Finally finished

Wow, I'm finally finished the blanket I was working on. I think this one broke the record for me, in that it was completed in 5.5 weeks. Nothing like a little pressure and a deadline, to give some good motivation. I still have 3 weeks before I pass it along, which will give me enough time to gently (it contains 25% wool, so to vigorous a washing will leave it a bit fluffy) wash it, hang it on the line to catch a fresh autumn breeze and then wrap it up. I hope to post a picture of it in the next few day's.
Now I'm itching to get going on some other projects. I just bought a new crochet magazine today that had some cute idea's so perhaps there will be some different stuff showing up in this blog someday soon! Perhaps I'll finish the comfort shawl I'm working on first, as it's also nearly completed. It must be the longer, darker evenings that put me in the mood for needleworking again, after all, there is not much one can do outdoors after about 7 -7:30 pm anymore.
Well, I'll go brew myself a pot of 'Cream Earl Grey' and see which project suits my fancy tonight.

As promised, here is the first picture of the blanket I'm working on. It's currently 2/3 of the way finished, and worked in a Paton 'Decor' in the color 'Winter White' with a size 5 mm hook. It has amazed me how fast a single color afghan is crocheted. Although I generally enjoy working with multiple colors and textures, the warm color and soft yarn have made this blanket a pleasure to create.

Last week of vacation

Okay, so I'm making a ripple pattern blanket in a solid colour. I have to do 120 rows and as of today I have completed 75. Yes, I'm rather pleased as that gives me a whole month yet to finish the other 45. Actually, I'm not entirely sure where I'm finding the time to do all of this as it has been absolutely nutty busy around here, but it's just those few row's here and there when someone drops in for coffee, or for a bit in the evenings when the kiddies go to bed. The solid colour is something different for me as I usually work in multi-colours. This solid colour is rather nice as it make for much less weaving in of the yarn. I hope to post a picture in the next week or two.

Okay, I'm rather pleased. Only two weeks into my project, and I'm nearly half way done. If I can keep up this pace, I should be finished with plenty of time left for a gentle washing and a nice wrapping, without having to panic. I have a feeling that I'm being a little to optomistic though. This week is going to be crazy busy with back to school shopping, a birthday party, school store day and perhaps a last trip to Minter Gardens before school starts. On top of that, the project is getting to big now to take along visiting and such. Oh well, a good audio book, a nice chai latte, a handful of JellyBelly's, add in a bit of rain and wind, and you have a perfect evening for crocheting!

Back from Vacation

Alright, I'm back from an absolutely fabulous vacation at Cozy Cabins Nature Resort, which is located on a private lake between Lumby and Cherryville, in the BC Okanogan region. On the long drive I started on a new project which I will tell you about when it is done. But I'm on a tight time line, as this is to be a gift, so hopefully I'll be able to post a picture in a few weeks. Until then I'll have to put my other projects on hold, as I also have a great deal of garden work that needs tending now that the rain has stopped and the sun has reappeared.

My recent projects.

Here are a few of the recent projects I've made. The three afghans I've made for my children are actually the size of a lapghan. They are quick and easy to make, and I use a yarn with at least a small amount of wool in it as this makes the blanket much softer. Of course it helps that none of the kids are sensative to wool. These blanket are very well used, especially on cool mornings, and chilly winter evenings.

I just finished this tea and mug cozy 2 weeks ago. I'm not really keen on those gathered tea cozies, so I thought I'd try something a little different. I got the idea for the mug cozy from a picture I saw of one not long ago. I thought it would be just the thing to keep my favorite Starbuck mug nice and warm.

Afghan

This blanket is one I made for my Dad's birthday this past winter. It made a nice gift for someone who has everything he needs and is hard to buy for. I buy most of my quality yarns at my aunt's wool shop. Chilliwack Wool and Craft Shop is a wonder store to go to for all your needlecrafting needs.

Welcome to my blog. I hope to write regular updates on my latest handcrafting endeavors. The picture of the bumble bee hat fits most 15" baby dolls, but these were made exclusively for my 2 daughters 'Bitty Baby' dolls. I have also made several variations of this hats such as watermelon, ladybug, and patriotic pride. They each come with a matching purse. I have also made dresses and poncho's for these dolls.
I am currently also working on a comfort shawl, which I will give away when it is done. I'm nearly finished a pillow for my eldest daughter's bed, to match the blanket I made for her this past winter.
I also work on baby blanket's in between my other projects. These I give away to a local charity.
In X-Stitching I'm working on a pillow for both of my boys, (featuring a car of course), and a red, white and black rose pillow for myself.
What I really like about crocheting is that I can take it along to appointment, (dentist, doctor, etc.) and it makes the time go much faster. And it also helps to calm the nerves when the appointment is for myself.