Monday, November 24, 2014

Angels, Angels

 I think these angels make wonderful present decorations! I have enough for presents now, so of course, I had to get a great idea for another project! An angel door wreath! It's still in the planning stage. I have to get busy making angels for it and I still don't know how many my girls will want...... I'll post pictures when there's something to show.
I've been busy with this runner, also. I can't stand to waste time waiting for an appointment, so I always take some crocheting. White thread projects stay home where it's clean. Colored thread projects travel. The other evening, while I was visiting my daughter, my son called her. She told him, "Mom's here, crocheting." His answer? "Of course she is." Apparently, their childhood memories of me are that if I sat down, I was crocheting. I suppose that's better than some other things I could have been doing......
So, this is where I am on the runner now. 2 strips to go! I doubt my projects will be ready when I start Christmas decorating the Sunday after Thanksgiving, but I will have them out before I pack my decorations after Christmas.

Monday, November 17, 2014

Future Heirlooms

The white strip is nearly ready to fasten on. I have the second green strip started and I need another red strip and another white strip. Why does it seem to take me so long to finish a project? Partly because crocheting is time consuming, those stitches ARE small! Also partly because I'm a perfectionist. When I see a mistake, I will unravel back to it. When I spend so much time on a project, I want it to be perfect!!
I do hope my projects will be used and enjoyed for many years. I think of them as future heirlooms for my children and grandchildren.
 Let's look at how well some of my projects have aged. This afghan is 4 years old. I guess it doesn't get much wear on the back of the couch, although, I do pull it down if I get cold while reading or crocheting.
 This is one of my "month" doilies. The oldest of the set is 7 years old. This one is 2 years old. I finally started the 12th (and last) one this year.
 This afghan is 10 years old. Again, it doesn't get much wear on the back of the couch.
 Doily, 10 years. It usually sits under a lamp.
 Mom doesn't always have this out, but she's had it for 6 years.
 My daughter wore this frequently for several years. I'm saving it for a granddaughter-if I ever get one!
 Afghan, 1 year. It's warm.
 9 years. It went to my older daughter's apartment, where it perfectly matched the green paint in the living. Her landlady asked if the doily would stay. Well, no! I like it under a vase of flowers.
 Rug 20 years. When it's dirty, it goes in the washer. I expect lots more wear from it.
 15 years.
 15 years.
 11 years. Gold doily.
 8 years.
 5 years.
 3 years.
25 years.
 18 years.
My Grandma made this, Mom thinks in the late 1940's or early 1950's, so it's at least 60 years old.
Crocheted items will last a good many years, so I think the hours are well spent. (Plus, I enjoy it!)

Monday, November 10, 2014

Christmas Project Progress

I have a few angels made. Not nearly enough, though. I'll probably still be making these angels on Christmas Eve!
 The angel on the left has been stiffened, ready to use. It looks finished, polished, even. Proof, if you needed it, that these last finishing touches add so much to crocheted projects.
I'll blame my daughter for my slow progress. She asked me to make another grocery bag for her. I told her it's easy, just single crochet. "But I'm so busy!" Oh, well, there go any spare moments I had!

Monday, November 3, 2014

Working on Christmas Projects

It's not time to decorate for Christmas, yet. But, I need quite a few of these flat pineapple angels to tie onto presents, so I need to get started on them.
I found this pattern at priscillascrochet.net
She has lots of free patterns. This is the only one of hers that I've tried. It's easy. In fact, the hardest part was finding the rings for the head. On her web site, scroll down to the free patterns. It's called "flat pineapple angel ".
 I felt that I had looked all over town before I found the rings at Hobby Lobby. I bought all 4 bags they had out. I'm not going to run out for a while!
Then, I still have to finish my pineapple runner.
Unless I find something else I want to make for Christmas, THEN I can go back to working on all my unfinished projects!