Busy Saturday

Last Saturday wasn’t much different than the past Saturdays except I had to fit a few more things in than the normal everyday things. At the top of the list is crochet, and the bottom of the list is my ironing again.

This was the Saturday Itinerary:
Crochet
Walk with Rosina
Make Tacos and Rice
Officers Meeting (Taco Lunch at My House)
Blog
Nap
My Son’s Play
Iron

It sounds like a piece of cake right? Wrong! When I started cooking the taco meat, I decided I would dress one end of the table with some of my Mexican linens and make it look more authentic for our luncheon officers meeting. So I was off in another direction again.

These are the things that actually happened:
Crochet (Early Morning Hours)
Walk with Rosina
Farmer’s Market for Tomatoes, Jalapenos, and Pie made with Splenda
Officers Meeting over Lunch with Rosina (Wendy couldn’t attend.)

This is what the table looked like.

More rice cooking
Nap
Son’s Play

Tomorrow will consist of blog writing and ironing. Tell me all about your busy weekends.

My Sister's Quilt Guild Presentation

My sister Jackie had the honor of doing a presentation at our local quilt guild meeting the other day. I made sure that I was able to attend and help her out a little with it. I knew there was a microphone for my sister to use on stage but wasn’t for sure if I would have one available to me down on the floor. I was surprised and excited when I found out that I would have a cordless microphone to use, too.

This is the apron that I wanted Jackie to wear, but do you think she would listen to her sister the crocheter? I just love how someone embellished dishcloths with crocheted motifs.

Jackie has many helpers, but there are two that are always there for her--Stephanie and Bev. They were right there helping her organize things, bundle gifts, set up everything, videotape, take pictures, and help to take everything down. My mom was also there, and she is always helping Jackie with packing patterns, sewing on buttons, embroidery work, or binding quilts.

I walked around and got to deliver prizes to people that had either come the farthest, had the youngest grandchild, or learned to sew at the youngest age. Then, I also got to hold up things as Jackie talked about her projects and do the "Vanna thing" while standing in front of the project. Actually, I felt like a combination between Vanna and Oprah. What a fun time I had! I think everyone else did, too. We made the people laugh.

Free Pattern Friday: Granny Square Pillows

When I saw this free crochet pattern for Granny Square Pillows, I thought of all the young people that I have taught to crochet. When I asked them what they wanted to start making, a lot of them said that all they wanted to do is make granny squares. They remembered seeing their grandmothers making them or having granny square afghan over a chair or couch.

Isn’t it funny that the simple granny square is still as much alive today as it was when someone first came up with the pattern? I still love to make granny squares and also remember my great great aunt making granny square afghans to sell at the craft shows that they held at the Masonic home where she lived. She would use all of her scrap pieces of yarn and my mom's for these afghans.

Anyway I hope you enjoy making these pillows as much as I did. Check out my version above. I even got to use my cool turquoise point turner to turn the corner of the inside of the fabric pillow insert.

Crochet Essentials

Today, I was trying to gather all of the projects and supplies that I will need to go to the KS My Stitch Crochet Guild Retreat, and I thought about all of the supplies that I have to have when I start a project. These are just a few of the things that I have to have when I crochet. Tell me about the things you need to start your crochet projects.

A Crocheter Goes on Vacation

The Buffalo, New York trip is all planned for me to go to the Knit and Crochet Show. Now, I need to figure out what this crocheter needs to wear to this kind of market. I have been going to the Quilt market for many years now and know exactly what I need to wear there. Which is kind of just like what I need to wear to the Crochet Market, too. So here’s one of the outfits that I have picked out.

When I go somewhere on a trip, I take pictures of all the outfits that I'm taking along with the jewelry, so that when I get there, I don’t have to think about any of that. I even slide a print out of the outfits in my suitcase, so that if I forget, the picture is right there.

But we all know that when you go to these types of shows--fashion stops at the knees. So you will only find me in comfortable shoes and of course a pair of socks with crocheted edging on them.

My dilemma now is: What projects and yarns will I be taking with me? Or should I just pack lightly and wait to see what I can’t live without? You know I have to take some crochet projects-in-progress with me because there’s the wait at the airports, the flight, and the early morning hours when I have to crochet.

Tell me about the things that you have to take with you on vacation.

Selling Crocheted Projects

Recently I was asked a few questions that I've been pondering…….and now I'm looking for answers from all of you. The questions are: What should I charge for my crocheted pieces? How do you put a value on your crocheted pieces? Vegasangelbrat or Mary asked me the first question, and I asked myself the second. At one time, I sold my pieces, but I haven’t sold any in such a long time that I don’t know the answers.

Now I'm asking all of you out there the same questions and maybe some of you could provide us with the answers. Please help us as Mary and a few of the other people here at Crochet Soiree would like to know if anyone out there has the answer to these questions.

Here are just a few of the things that you might sell at the craft shows: Dishcloths, bookmarks, cup cozies, doilies, baby afghans, coasters, and trivets. How do you pick a price to put on them?

My Daughter's Baby Afghan

I told you that I would show you the projects we made with our yarn addiction yarn. Too bad I’m not done with mine, but my daughter had to outshine me. She has an incentive though; the nurses she works with are paying her to make afghans for them. Before she can finish one, another nurse has already ordered the next one from her. It seems like she cranks out an afghan every week (or maybe I’m exaggerating a little). It just seems like she wouldn’t have time, between babysitting for a preemie baby, watching after her six year old throughout the week, and then working third shift on the weekends at the hospital.

I love the colors she chose, and she looks so pretty amongst my sunflowers (which, by the way, are taller than her, though that isn’t saying much since she is just barely 5 feet tall). The pattern came from the Make One for Baby book by Carole Rutter Tippett and the name of the pattern is Pastel Stripe.