Project Boredom

I must have been bored with that wedding doily before I finished it. I had to rip out another round. Those last few rounds take 2 to 4 hours to crochet, so it's a hard decision to make, ripping out that much work.
Oh well, it's finished now.

 I've started another one. I need 3 more for family, but hopefully, I'll have several years' lead time. Knowing that if I only work on this project, I'll soon be bored and make mistakes causing me to rip out work, I think I'll also be working on other projects.

 I have a grocery bag started using white bags with yellow and red writing. It's pretty, but I do have to stop and wait for more bags too often.

I also have a shoulder bag started using white bags with green writing. I've been working on it for over a year, because these bags come from a building supply store and I don't often get bags from there. Finally, I'm working on the flap of the bag, nearing the end. I only need 1 or 2 more bags to finish it!
It's baby blankets I should be making. There are now 5 married couples in my family who have not yet started their families.

I have 3 finished, which gives me some breathing space. However, I can't enjoy working on a project for myself knowing that I might have to put it aside to frantically make a baby blanket. If I just make a couple more, I'll feel ahead of them for a change. That'll be a nice feeling, instead of always playing catch up.

This Week Seemed Short...

...or maybe it just feels that I didn't get much crocheted.
I've spent evenings working on a wedding doily. I need something like 60 hours just to crochet one, more to block it. Obviously, I didn't finish it, and this is into the 2nd week of work on it. I'd be farther on it, if I hadn't had to rip out 2 rounds because of a mistake. I'm working on round 36 of 37. This near the end, each round takes about 4 hours.
This doily will be the 10th one of the 13 I need for family.
My days have been full of gardening. Frost was predicted, so I had to pick all the tomatoes in hopes they'll finish ripening on my counter. Basically, I just harvested everything before the cold killed the plants.
So, I didn't have daytime hours to crochet. I didn't work on any other of my many wip's.
Now, I'll have more time to crochet, because yard work is winding down for another year.

Wedding Doilies and Baby Blankets

I knew I needed to make 6 more wedding doilies for nieces, nephews, and a daughter.

 I felt that I was ahead with 2 finished and no engagements announced. Now, another niece is engaged, so I'm not as far ahead as I thought. Time to block one for her and start another one. I think I should just make them all and really be ready. I prefer making one of a kind items, so I feel like I've been making these forever, even though I made the first one about 15 years ago for the daughter of a dear friend. I made 4 for friends before making the gold one for my parents' 50th wedding anniversary in 2003.

Mom still displays it on her dining room table. Since then, I've made a silver one for my brother's and his wife's 25th anniversary and 8 more white ones. 5 to go. Then I can retire this pattern for a while, I hope.
I can't concentrate solely on wedding doilies. I have 2 nephews, a son, a daughter, and soon a niece who'll be married and haven't started a family. I only have 3 round ripple baby blankets made.

Happily, I do get a few month's warning on these. They're always the hit of a baby shower.

 However, my daughter informed me that she expects each of my grandchildren to receive more than 1 blanket, hand crocheted, of course. I have to find more patterns! She also only wants pink or blue blankets, no multi colored blankets for her, please.

I just adore the lacy edge on this pattern.
I predict lots more blankets in my near future!

Gifts

I've tried selling at craft fairs and don't feel that I make enough to make it worth my time. Now, I mostly make items I want or to give as gifts.

I made this "Rubik's cube" afghan as a graduation present for a nephew who has over 50 cubes. I'm not sure I'll see him at graduation, so I gave it to him early. He said it's probably the nicest present he'll get. That made me feel wonderful. I always wonder if the recipient will like the item I've made.
I probably should be over worrying about that since for years everyone has always seemed to really like whatever I've made.

 The baby blankets have gotten more attention than the babies they are keeping warm.

 The wedding doilies are decorating tables and pianos.

 My sister in law says her sisters are green with envy over her table runner.

My sister asked for a pair to cheer up a nephew who needed surgery.
I have to start thinking more of how much family and friends seem to like what I've made and not think of lack of craft fair sales.