Summer Breeze Sweater Mid-Point

Well, I have made it half-way through the Delft sweater!  I have gone beyond the RECTANGLE and have started the front.  I especially like the sloped edge. 

Persevering with steadiness through a repetitive pattern has ever been a challenge for me.  

I like the variety of doily rows.  The constantly changing pattern keeps me engaged mentally.  

But I have DONE IT!  

Now I am that I am seeing shape emerge, I am getting excited!

Mukluks Improvised

For these booties,

I got a wild hair and

went off on a 

creative tangent.

I used the basic bootie pattern for the sole

and worked my way up from there.

When I got to the finishing top edge,

I wanted it to pull the black and white 

from the bootie together.

So I figured out how to

alternate the colors

and I LOVE it!

Probably not a very exciting move for those who have

been experimenting with color for a long time,

but I'm new to branching out

in this area, and

it's exciting to me!

Plus, I didn't just stick to a standard

pattern I had, but implemented some

of my own ideas and changes.

That's just FUN!!!

CROCHET STYLE!!!

Bella Crochet

Dear Readers:

Elizabeth Ann White

designer of 

the book 

I've been 

RAVING about:

Vintage Floral Doilies

is starting her

own website

to sell PDF

downloads of 

her lovely 

patterns.

If you would like to

take a look-see

go to:

http://bellacrochet.com

The Vintage Floral Doilies

patterns will not appear

until 2011 but 

you can look

at what else

she has to offer,

including some 

FREE items.

Little Boy Blue

These handsome Delft booties are

made from the pattern:

Little Loafers

I love the buttoned flap accent!

These, as are all the booties I make, are for

a baby 0-3 months old.

They are made with a size 7 (1.65mm) hook

using size 10 crochet thread,

Aunt Lydia's - Delft and White.

The pattern is from the Leisure Arts book #3243

Booties by the Dozen

with designs by Kay Meadors

Spring has Sprung!!!

All spring, since flowers have been popping up

I've been sharing pictures of them over at

Grace Colored Glasses

And I loved this spring floral doily pattern

when I started it back in December.

I tucked it away when other

projects had priority and

forgot about it.  :(

BUT...

now I have REMEMBERED!!!

And I still LOVE it!

As I work on blue sweateriness, I will probably

need a break now and again.

The little sweet flower motifs for this

Springtime Floral Doily

out of my Vintage Floral Doilies 

by Elizabeth Ann White

will be just the thing to

rejuvenate me!

If you haven't seen the other two patterns

I've made from this book, you should

take time to pop over to these blog entries:

Beautiful Butterflies

and

Dainty Lady in Sage

I've linked to the Annie's Attic site on both of those

pages if you want to take a look at the book cover

which just happens to show this Springtime doily

in its exquisite completeness!!!

Maybe you will fall in love with it too!

What a beautiful way to do some stash busting!!!

Redeemed from Ugly

I saw a fun 'redeemed from plain' denim purse

on a blog I read,  Hooks and Yarns by Debra Yorston.

with cute crochet posies.

It reminded me of something similar I did.

I found a plain, ugly denim bag at a garage sale.

It still had the price tag on it.

Original price: around $15.00

I paid $2.00.

And then I went to work beautifying it.

I started with the plain little pocket...

and an appliqued rose which I purchased for around $2.00.

So now, I had spent $4.00, as all math-wizards can quickly deduce.

The rest are scraps from earlier craftiness.

Here's the pocket:

And here's the redeemed bag:

It's not crochet, but I still love it and use it often.

Some probably think it ugly still, but it's redeemed in my eyes.

A redeemed creation,
in the eyes of its creator,
is always most beautiful...

even if it is still flawed in the eyes of others.

Summer Breeze Sweater Progress

This is what I have done so far.

I think it looks good.

Hopefully it will fit the

family member I'm making it for!

Here it is in two different lighting spots:

I love the little chunky squares lining up so neatly!

They bring joy to my orderly little heart!  :)