Ginger Girl

 

 

 

Miss Ginger, soaking up the warm afternoon sunshine. 

 

She is quite a little lady. 

 

She is very accommodating, allowing me to photograph her.  She stretches and purrs and gives me cute kitty glances.  She then dismisses me promptly and returns to her slumber. 

 

Kitties just get it right, don't they?

 

xoxo

 

p.s.  She handles this whole 'spring forward' thing much better than I, too...

 

 

 

 

 



Bobble-Scallop Crochet Border

 

This is the Bobble-Scallop Border I came up with to border my Ripple.

 

Some projects have so much going on  that I don't like to add a really complicated border to them.

 

Sometimes, less is more...  if I can actually say 'less' with this crazy colorful blanket!

 

So here you go!  It's extremely simple really - as long as you know how to make a bobble.  The bobble I used here is a 3 treble crochet bobble, meaning you basically make 3 treble crochets in the same stitch, but you leave the last loop on the hook after each treble is made...

 

(US terms)

 

3 Treble Bobble:  Yarn over twice, enter next stitch and pull up a loop.  Yarn over and pull through 2 loops on hook, TWICE, leaving 2 loops on hook.  Yarn over twice again, enter same stitch, pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through 2 loops, TWICE, which leaves 3 loops on hook.  Yarn over twice, enter same stitch, pull up loop, yarn over and pull through 2 loops on hook, TWICE, now leaving 4 loops on your hook.  Yarn over and pull through all 4 loops at once.  Bobble made! 

 

Bobble-Scallop Border: 

 

I went around the blanket with one round of sc and  joined with slip stitch.

Ch 1, do not turn.

 

*Sc in first st, 2 dc in next st, bobble in next st, 2 dc in next st, sc in next st, skip next st.*

 

Repeat from * to * around.  Join with slip stitch and finish off. 

 

Now go border up something and have fun!  It's super easy and somewhat addictive.  In fact, the above swatch I made to show you here is become a finger tip towel and I think I'll need to do a few more to make a set.

 

It's fun to have a crocheted home!

 

xoxo

 

 

 

 



White as Snow

 

 

 

You know I love it.  I'd like to be able to measure it in feet, but we don't get that much here. 

 

So we enjoy every little flake we get.  It's simply beautiful and it changes everything.  The sounds are quieter and the textures are more noticeable.

 

I especially love the little birdy feet, and yes, the Young Man feet...  He's always wanted to step barefoot in the snow. 

 

A long, snowy morning spent sledding with friends, followed by hot chocolate, leads to tired little people.

 

It's all good.

 

I do feel a bit sad for the daffodils blooming outside.  I snipped a few for the Hearth Room, but hopefully the rest will grow along and make for a big spring showing soon.

 

Happy Day to you!

 



How Sweet It Is

 

 

 

Don't these colorful sweets look delectable?!

 

I recently had the joy of receiving this award from homeschooljewelrymom and I have to say it thrilled me to no end!  Thank you for thinking of the Hearth Room! 

 

Now I get to answer a few sweet questions:

 

1.  Cookies or cake?

Cake, definitely.   Although, I just pulled some snickerdoodles out of  the oven and have gobbled up too many warm ones, but who can resist?

 

2.  Vanilla or chocolate?

Chocolate.  Hands down, no competition, chocolate. 

 

3.  What is your favorite sweet treat?

Good golly, I don't have all day and I'm sure you don't either, so, ummm, I have to narrow it down to....  Hershey Kisses, Almond Joy, Toblerone...  Or my Tootsie Roll addiction during trick-or-treat time.  Of course, there is always chocolate pudding.  I love pudding.  Oh, and honey in my tea.

 

4.  When do you crave sweet things the mosst?

I'm a woman.  It should be obvious...  It starts when I get up in the morning and meet my first cup of coffee and continues right up until bedtime. 

 

5.  If you had a sweet nickname what would it be?

Ha!  I don't see myself as a sweet kind of girl really...  but let's see...  Young man calls me Honey Bunches when he's acting silly, so I'll have to say, Honey. 

 

Now I get to nominate a dozen lovely, sweet bloggers for this award. 

 

I read so many good blogs that are a real 'treat' so I will be very challenged to list only a dozen!

 

Amanda Makes

Bunny Mummy

Stampin' Good Deeds

Jafa House

little woolie

Green Rabbit Designs

Homespun Living

Gin plus Tonic

Ivy Nest

My 4 Lil Girls

Little Things Made with Love

On the Fringe

 

These are some seriously sweet, talented, lovely folks who always inspire me with color, food, good reading or good health. 

 

Of course, there a number of others - I could go on...

 

Thanks again, Homeschool Jewelry Mom!

 

xoxo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Thankful Giveaway Results

 

 

 

Congratulations, Grammy Braxton!  Your name was pulled from my bowl in our highly technological way of doing things here in the Hearth Room!

 

I left you a comment, so please get in touch with me soon so you can play with some new yarn.

 

Again, thanks to my followers and all who read.  I look forward to doing some more giveaways in the near future!

 

And, Homeschool Jewelry Mom, yes I will be happy to share how I did my bobble-scallop border really soon!  Thanks for asking.  I need to make a quick trip to see those very special grandfolk, but when I get back, I will take care of that!

 

I hope you all had a nice Valentine's Day.  It's not such a huge big deal to me, really.  But, you know we like to decorate and act silly around here for any reason.  So of course it's all about cards, candy and flowers, especially for the kids.  Even Axle got into the fun. 

 

Happy Day to you!

See you soon!

xoxo

 

 

 

 

 

 



Simple Ripple Border

 

 

Oh, that lovely Ripple that I worked on for over a year... 

 

If you've been visiting the Hearth Room for any length of time, you are probably already familiar with this old friend of mine.  We've had our issues, I'll admit.  Loved the yarn, hated the long redundant rows of the pattern.  Pulled out a gazillion rows because I didn't like the way the colors looked together.  Thought about scrapping the whole idea!  But since I had decided to challenge myself with this blanket making-endeavor offered over on Attic 24, I had to persevere.  I'm sure glad I was in love with the feel of that yarn!

 

In the end, I have a very heavy, quite generous, extremely colorful, 7 feet by 5 1/2 feet long blanket. 

 

It has actually been done for a few months now, but I could be bothered to snip ends and 'finish' it with all the excitement of the holidays ahead, so it was being used by Sweet P. in it's very straggly state for quite a while.  I also had started a pretty, red, knitted border for the Ripple back in the summer, but once I started finishing the blanket and put this edging with it, the edging looked way too nice along the crazy striped sides of this project.  I worked up a few borders to try and they all looked almost too 'nice' .  This Ripple was determined to make a statement all on it's own! 

 

I finally decided it just needed a small shock of red all around and I made a Bobble-Scallop border that I think gives it just enough interest and definition without making it any more busy. 

What do you think? 

 

And can you believe that this big blankie project that tested my patience and bored me (almost) into surrender has actually driven me to NEED to make more blankets!? 

 

I had to put this down and take many breaks from it while I completed lots of other hooky goodies, but in the end I soooo love this Ripple blankie, that I realize I need to make more for other rooms.  Not Ripples exclusively...  Maybe granny squares and flowers, but definitely more blankets of the hooky persuasion.  Yes...  I will check the stash and the drawers full of patterns and search for that next project to fill my basket. 

 

Of course, I do need to finish the other blanket that fills my other basket seen above...  That's the Random Stripe that I'm hooking along with Little Woolie.  It's much smaller, but really fun with all the bright colors and stitches thrown in.  It's a hooked up bunch of Happy for sure!

 

I happen to have a few other things on the hooks right now, too.  So another case of too much yarn, too little time, but it'll all work out! 

 

What are you making?

 

For my current 10 Followers, don't forget my little give-away here!  I could just draw one of your names without having you enter, but I realize that not everyone who likes to look at crochet actually wants to do it, lol.  So come on, sign up!

 

Happy Day!

xoxo

 

p.s.  That is Woody up there who was so excited to think I had given him the blanket when I was really trying to measure it.  He was also quite discouraged when asked to move so I could fold it up.  Yep, he's all dressed for Valentine's Day!  Such a good Puppers.

 

 

 

 

 



Pretty Hooky

 

 

Happy February to you!  I can't believe the last month just flew by like it did.  Wow.  I guess time flies when you're having fun, right?

 

Here is a look at some of my most recent fun and a couple of things I want to share with you. 

 

First of all, I love to admire photos on other yarn-y blogs showing beautiful arrangements of knitting needles and crochet hooks standing in jars and crocks.  I look forward to a time when I can have some sitting about just like that.  But for now, and frankly ever since I can remember, I have kept my crochet hooks stored neatly in what is actually a paintbrush case.  This one is by One Stroke and I picked it up at a Michael's store years ago, probably because I had a coupon!  Anyway, it has been such a nice way to keep my hooks tucked away safely from little hands. And the hooks are lined up neatly in order of size (usually).  This case is well traveled and has been very durable.  I have seen some newer paintbrush cases that roll up and tie and also some that are hard-sided and zip closed.  I know there are loads of gorgeous ways to store our precious needles and hooks in the yarn departments, but I just thought I'd throw the idea out there in case you happen to be on a clearance aisle and stumble upon some painting supplies....  You know!   

 

Secondly, there are so many pretty crochet hooks out there these days and I thought I'd show you these.  A most wonderful Christmas gift I received this year, these are Harmony crochet hooks from Knit Picks.  They are just so stinkin' pretty you can't help but be happy just looking at them! 

 

So these pretty little hooks and my basket of yarn have been busy.  As the last picture shows, my son caught me pondering colors and making plans.  That's a daily thing here.  I'm thinking we need another blanket.  I'm making it up as I go, but am also allowing myself time to work on some other fun things, too! 

 

And, lastly, I have been blogging for almost 2 years now and have not done a give-away!  Aghast! 

 

So this one is just for my faithful 10 followers:  If you are already a follower and would like a Harmony hook and a few skeins of my favorite yarn, just leave a comment on this post by February 18th to be entered into my give-away!  I will be drawing one of your names out of a hat on February 19th!

 

I will be planning another fun give-away open to new followers soon!

 

I hope you're all doing well and are enjoying life where you are!

 

xoxo