Diane's Doily - March Doily of the Month

Named for a very special friend ...

Diane's Doily
1. Ch 41, sc in 2nd chain from hook and across, ch 2 turn (40 sc)
2. DC in same st as turning ch and each st across, ch 2, turn.
3. DC (in same st) *ch1, skip 1 st, dc in next,* repeat across, ch 2,turn.
Repeat rows 2 and 3 until piece measures 6 inches, ending with row 2 but do not ch 2 or turn.
Ch 1, 2 sc in same st, sc around entire piece and first side again (putting 3 sc in each corner).
Ch 3, 2dc in same st, dc around entire piece with 3 dc in each corner, join to top of beg ch 3.
Ch 3, 2 dc in same st, *ch 1, skip 1 dc, dc in next st* around entire piece, 3 dc in each corner, join to top of beg ch 3.
Ch 3, 2dc in same st, dc in each st and ch 1 space with 3 dc in each corner, join.
Ch 1, sc in same st, sc in next st, *dc, tr, dc in next st, sc in next 2 st* around, sl st to beg sc.
Fasten off.

Baby Afghan

Completed! This was a quick and enjoyable project. This is the first time I used the Pound of Love yarn. I really like it, its very soft and was a great price after couponing.





I have a 50% off coupon for this week at Michael's so I think I will add another "pound" to my collection.



Its a nice soft and light blanket but quite warm. This size will cuddle a little tyke for several years.




And look at how much is left over. This certainly was a good use of this skein!

Onward to the next project.


Addendum - 2/27/10 - I was asked about the pattern for this blanket ...the stitch I used I saw on the blog Sarah's Sweet Hearts, her post of February 17th - http://sarahsweethearts.blogspot.com/ - third picture down you will see the most darling, beautiful blanket ... the stitch is called the "Fly V" stitch, 2dc, ch 2, sc all in the same space. My blanket measures 37 X 37 inches.

I used a K hook and a starting chain of 110. (My next blanket will be smaller) What I did was

1. Fly V stitch in the 2nd ch from hook, *sk 2 ch, Fly V* across, a dc in last st, ch 2, turn.
2. DC in turning ch, *Fly V stitch in ch 2 sp of Fly V* across to turning ch, dc in turning ch, ch 2 turn.

Continue with row 2 to size you want. I added four rows of single crochet around the entire blanket.

Are you tired of snow pictures?

me too!! We've surpassed two feet now and 9 to 12 more inches expected throughout today. I'm not sure I can remember when we've gotten this much snow before.

Thank God we still have power, so many are without. My family is on the road, safe travel home. I'm waiting.

All this snow

is for the birds!

Sunshine Award

DebI Y from
Hooks, Yarns & Family passed this Sunshine Award to me. Thank you so much Debi! I get to pass it on to other great blogs. So I now am going to have to decide on those blogs out of so many of you great people, this will be hard but here is my list and some of the guidelines that you need to do when you accept this award.The Sunshine Blog Award is awarded to bloggers whose positive and creativity inspires others in the blog world. The rules for accepting the award are:

1. Put the logo on your blog or within your post.
2. Pass the award.
3. Link the nominees within your post.
4. Let them know they received this award by commenting on their blog.
5. Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award.


Passing the Sunshine Award to:

Tammy at T's Daily Treasures, http://tsdailytreasures.blogspot.com/

Linda at Two Succulentsisters, http://twosucculentsisters.blogspot.com/
Bev at One Yarn After Another, http://bevmatheson.blogspot.com/

Some of what I will be working on ...

This basket has the remnants of past Simply Soft yarn projects which will be used to make scarves and hats for a charity project this year.

With a gift card and coupons a visit to Michael's produced:

Three Pounds of Love ...

the pastel green and white will be for baby blanket(s) and the antique white for a bunting

Two skeins of Red Heart Dusty Rose. This is incredibly soft. I'm thinking this will be a hooded scarf.



Five skeins of Vanna's choice in Dusty Blue. Not sure yet what the project will be but this was so very soft and the color is so pretty and the sale was exceptional!

Final sale for everything after card and coupons = $2.24,

I was happy!

Oh, I can't forget my thread, a few weeks ago in one of my favorite dollar stores this is what I found:

Thread in Chambray Navy, and I don't have a clue as to what I will make with this but there is certainly enough for a large project. Possibly a tablecloth.

I won't mention the projects that are already in the works and that I will be working on in between to finish. And, oh yes, one more new project as I have to make a doily for a group effort, but that that should go up quickly.

Hear snow is coming ... guess what I'll be doing.
Stay safe and warm.

Bright and Bold and Happy

and Finished.



I call this my happy ghan. This was made out of 7 scarf size (54"x5") strips. I added a row of single crochets around each strip, then joined together and edged. The scarf pattern was from a Michael's project sheet and very simple.

For this afghan I had two skeins of each color and a size G hook.

The finished size on this is 42" x 58", a great cover up on a chilly evening.

1.  chain 23, sc in 2nd chain from hook, ch 1, sk 1 st, sc in next st, to last 2 stitches, sc in each, ch 1, turn.

2.  sc in turning, ch 1, sc in ch 1 sp across, ending with sc in last sc, ch 1 turn (repeat row 2 for desired length).

Crochet a row of single crochet around each length (I used shocking pink). I then sewed the scarf lengths together.

Edging:

Row 1 and 2 - sc around.

Row 3: SC in 5 st, 4 dc in next st, around, fasten off.

Happy Crocheting!

The Value of a Smile

It costs nothing, but creates much.

It enriches those who receive

without impoverishing those who give.

It happens in a flash,

and the memory of it sometimes lasts forever.

It cannot be begged, borrowed, or stolen,

but it is of no earthly good to anyone until it's given away!

So if in your hurry you run across someone too weary to smile

~ leave one of yours.

No one needs a smile

as much as he who has none to give.

~ Author Unknown

Here's to a Saturday of sunshine and smiles

graced from above.

A Perfect Dwelling Place

Paint your house with the colors of modesty and humility. Make it radiant with the light of justice. Decorate it with the finest gold leaf of good deeds. Adorn it with the walls and stones of faith and generosity. Crown it with the pinnacle of prayer. In this way you will make it a perfect dwelling place for the Lord.

taken from a homily by Saint John Chrysostom, bishop

Blessings, peace and love on this first Friday of Lent.

February's Flower - Violet

When I'm not crocheting I like to sit with a nice cup of tea and a good book and as I just happen to have a violet cup and saucer and its February, what else to use! I especially like old books, there is such a charm about them. This one here is from 1919. I start to wonder who had held this book before, what were they like, where they lived ... sort of dreamy, no?


February's flower is the Violet.
Botanical Names: Saintpaulia Other Names: African Violet



Description: A five petaled velvety blossom.

Colors: purple, pink, white








Season: All year round


Meaning: Named for Baron Walter Von Saint Paul Illaire who discovered the plant in Tanzania in 1892.


Modesty, faithfulness, virtue.









One of the most popular flowering houseplants.




These are just a few of my violets. They are "sleeping" right now, when they bloom they are so beautiful.


May your dreams blossom. Wishing you abundant blessings.

My cardinals are back!

Hadn't seen any cardinals for about a week now and then this afternoon there are several just coming and going. They are so pretty. I wish I could get closer to them. This is the first time this year that I have been able to get some pictures.