Pink Pom-Pom Po

Pink Pom-Pom Po
Originally uploaded by csabers.

Remember that gawd-awful pink yarn from this week's WIP? I finally found something to do with it! Eric and Will spent the night last night with their myriad of stuffed animals. Sophie helped out by adding Teletubbie "Po" to Eric's collection. Eric asked me if I'd make him a hat because her/(his??) head was cold. I gladly consented and whipped up this lovely little custom number with special ear flaps and everything. I just have 2 8/9 skeins left! LOL.

There's something a little disturbing about these little projects. It's like crossing some kind of crazy crochet line or something - not unlike when I made Vanessa. Stop be before I go here, ok?

Next is a sweater for "Bun" (as in bunny) but don't tell!

I am so inspired!

Kim posted super cool links on her blog from two Chicago crochet designers. I feel so inspired by their desgins. Certainly they are not all my taste, but I definitely admire their work. check it out!
DI•O Original Wearable Art
Quicktime Fashion Show from Double Stitch

Preppy flower

This is a flower I made from scraps using a pattern from Stitch Diva Studios. I made this one over a month ago and while it has a purpose it involves, yep, you guessed it, sewing. Therefore it remains alone and unattached. Sigh.

This is the front side with and without flash. I also took a copy of the wrong side because I think it looks pretty cool, too.

I'm calling this the preppy flower of course because of the pink and green. Very big when I was in high school, you know!

Who knows? I may enter this (or other, unphotographed flowers) into the Stitch Diva contest. Hmm...

WIP Wednesday

Today is WIP Wednesday at Crochetville. This marks the first time I've participated.

I have to admit to a fair amount of embarassment over the number of unfinished projects I have. Who knew? Some I've abandoned because of icky yarn, others I didn't like, and a couple I just forgot about!

1) Cardigan for Rebecca H.: This was actually supposed to be for Sophie but I quickly realized it was going to be waaaay to big. Rather than frog it (rip-it, rip-it, rip-it out for you non-crocheters out there) I decided to finish it in the hopes it would fit Rebecca. It does and I just have to get the buttons (which I purchased with the yarn!) sewn on. Any project requiring sewing to finish will stay on my WIP a little longer than one would think...

2) Sunny Destination Bag #2: Well, technically this is Sunny Destination Bag #1 since I started it before the one I made for Claudia. I don't really like this yarn or the color and haven't worked on it since I started in late January. I'll probabaly frog it.

3) Thread Panda: I started this panda right after I made Vanessa. I was so dejected when ebay pulled my Vanessa auction that I haven't really picked it back up again (there have also been a few gifts that needed to be done!). I'll finish this little guy, though.



4) Groovy Girl Poncho: This is per request of Sophie for her Groovy Girl Kylee. I really dislike this yarn and therefore haven't made it a priority. I'll get it finished sooner or later (likely later!)




5) Popcorn Pillow: This is from Hip to Crochet. I had really been wanting to make this and saw some Lion Brand Wool-Ease on clearance and decided to give it a try. I don't think I've ever made a pillow before. This one was fun to do and fast - I made it in a day. You may notice, however, that this one isn't finished because it needs buttons sewed on (see #1 above). It's only made worse by the fact that I've even got them marked (see back) and purchased. Sheesh!

I thought this color was interesting, but it definitely is not for my home color scheme. The first photo is a good rendition of the color, although the second shows the cluster stitches better.


6) Stocking hat: Don't even ask me what I was thinking when I bought this yarn. The only thing I can say in my defense is that it was an online purchase (I'm sure it wasn't neon in the photo!) and I have a daughter that loves pink. That said, even she wouldn't touch this stuff! This hat and a twin which has yet to be started are for my friend Lisa's little girls. Now that Spring has sprung I won't have to touch this again until fall (thank god!).

7) Bikini Bottom: Ok, hold the Spongebob jokes, please! This is a bikini bottom I made for Sophie. It's my first ORIGINAL design (yeah me!) and it sure shows it (see side seams, left leg). I was really going for more of a "boy short" look - this one fits like a brief. It has been water tested (thank you, Sophie!) and stays on nicely. I'm still thinking about what I want the top to look like.

8) Crossed Bucket Hat: I was so inspired by Tiff's hat last Thursday that I went home and almost finished an entire hat for Sophie. Unfortunately she was sleeping and her head was unavailable to me. Yep, too big, so I frogged it (see big blob on left side of photo). I'll probably finish this this weekend.

9) Rayon Handbag: This is for Diane's birthday which was last January (boo me!). Part of the reason is that I had to wait forrrrrrever for my rayon order to come in. The other reason is that I just don't like working with the rayon. I love how it looks, but I hate having to fight with it to get it worked up. This was going to be a shoulder bag but I'm now opting for a smaller handbag. Besides, I found these really cool handles that I think will look nice with it.

10) Pike Place Market Bag: OMG! Is this #10? Wow. This is what I'm actively working on right now when I've actually picked up a hook (not too often these past two weeks - been busy!). I love Julie's Pike Place Market bag. This will be my first felted project. I got some Peruvian wool from elann (YUMMY!) in two blue shades. This bag has a destination but I'm not tellin' just in case.

Bunting?

bunting bikini
Originally uploaded by csabers.

This is a bikini I made for my uber-fit boss for her 40th birthday. She has a swimming pool at her house and a new boyfriend, so I thought this would be fitting. I haven't seen her in it, but she said it fits well.

She's agreed to be my model for future bikinis. I am designing some brazilian-style bikinis to consign at a boutique in Fremont. I'm trying to copy some of the looks from this site.

I jokingly refer to this one as "bunting" since the scalloped ridge below the boobs look like the bunting they hang out for opening day at baseball games! :)

This particular bikini is my second. The first, which I made for my friend Julie's trip to Costa Rica was very different. The cups were simple triangles as opposed to the shaped cups you see here, and the bottom was very (VERY) low slung. I opted for a french cut bottom for this suit.

I did get to see the first one I made on Julie before her trip - she looked great! She didn't get it wet, though. I'm eager to hear how it wears.

I've got the bottoms done on a suit I'm making for Sophie. I haven't figured out a top yet.

Next a tankini!

Happy Birthday to me!

DSC01838.JPG
Originally uploaded by csabers99.

Ok, so it's not crochet related, but I thought I'd pop in a quickie that yesterday was my birthday. Adler and Sophie each gave me their very own gift. Their dad gives them an allowance and he took them shopping. Really nice, I thought.

They each decorated their own package as you can see. Sophie gave me a little frog (love frogs!) and Adler gave me a Beanie Baby that says "Mom." Sweeties!

Comfort Pack

Comfort Pack
Originally uploaded by csabers.

It's been ages since I've completed a project! Between our spring break trip, car troubles, spring cleaning, etc., I just haven't had a chance to pick up a crochet hook.

But finally, I have something to post. I made Yarntomato's Comfort Pack from Crochet Me.

I made this using Jo Sharp Soho Summer Cotton in Crete.

The pack is shown sans flax seeds and lavendar as I haven't done that yet. My friend Claudia has agreed to sew them up for me once I get around to assembling them!

This particular pack doesn't have a home - I just wanted to make it!

The beginning

Ok - here's me jumping on the blog bandwagon. I'm creating this blog to document my crochet projects and maybe some other things, too.

My name is Celeste and I'm a 36 year old (for 2 more days, anyway!) mom of two, Adler (9) and Sophie (5). I hail from South Dakota and now reside in lovely Seattle, Washington. I've been crocheting since my paternal grandmother taught me as a girl. I think I was 8. I've crocheted on and off ever since, mostly off. I went through an afghan period in my college days and made lots of baby things in my 20s as my friends started to reproduce. Crocheting for me pretty much ended when I reproduced. I simply didn't have the time.

In 2004 I made a new year's resolution to do more things for me since my life had become so kid-centric. I decided to teach myself to knit. I began to cast on and did a few rows when I decided it was just too damned slow! I put down the knitting needles and picked up my crochet hook and haven't stopped since.

There are so many fun yarns now I find my creativity running rampant! In small town South Dakota there were never many choices (Would you like your Red Heart in neon pink or green?). Fun yarns combined with a seemingly infinite number of free crochet patterns online keep my project list VERRRRRRRRY long indeed!

I have now made more things in the past 6 months than I have in the past decade for sure, maybe the past two! I started making ponchos and quickly moved to hat & scarf sets. This year I've been working on handbags and new crochet mediums like plastic bags, ribbon, floss & thread. I've made bookmarks and teeny, tiny bears. Now I'm working on lighter fare and have purchased yummy cottons and silks for pillows, tops, and (gasp!) bikinis (I've made 3 so far...).

I try to take a photo of my projects once they're finished, but I sometimes (a lot of times!) forget. I do have some photos, though. You can check them out here. I'll try to keep these updated as much as possible.

Finally in this introduction, I'd like to say how much I've enjoyed the online forums at Crochet Me and Crochetville. It has been so fun to be able to share patterns, finished projects, and questions. What amazing resources they've been. I love knowing that if I ever have a question or problem I can post it and have an answer (or more likely several) in minutes! I would never have even known these places existed without Yarngirl, whose site I happened upon while searching for a pattern online. Hers was the first blog I ever read and from there I made hops to Crochet Me and eventually Crochetville. Thank you, Julie!