This & That

                                              Pumpkin Bread for breakfast. 

                                                     Zombie's for entertainment.

                                                A new rag rug in the making.

Mandala's

I finished another mandala, the biggest I've made yet. I rather like the ruffly look it has before blocking. I decided to put this on the table, I think it looks good there. Now I'm trying to decide what to crochet as I'm still working on getting sheets ready for a rug. I'm always torn between making things just because and thinking I need to get things done for etsy. Soooooooooo many things I want to make and so little time! I've also become obsessed with thrift shopping, I've found some cute things of late, which is good when you don't have a lot of money to work with. Things have changed financially here so I can't just go buy new yarn when I feel like it or new books and such. I'm having fun with the used store shopping though and going to the library. Heck, my son drug us to the pawn store (this after watching pawn stars) and I found a movie I had lost before and it was only two dollars. I'll take that deal. So all in all I'm pretty happy, I still have loads of random yarn skeins and the sheets to crochet with. I believe I'll be busy for awhile yet. Now I just have to figure out how to at least get my husband to buy me The walking Dead when it comes out on dvd! I do love zombie stuff. Okay, well it's getting late, I spent the day working on sheet rock with my husband and I'm quite beat. See ya next time.

Play Day

I got to have another day of play at my brothers on Saturday. We went thrifting, had lunch and then watched a few movies while we crocheted. I made a couple of grandala squares from Alice's pattern at crochet with raymond. I also made two fabric bowls, one for my brother and of course for myself. I think I am going to have to make several more, they are easy and fast and super sturdy. I finally made an african flower pot holder, also a pattern from Alice. The dark blue looks almost black in the picture but it is a very pretty blue I just found. Quite a cool project and I believe I will have to make more! I have several other ideas in my mind but right now I'm kind of obsessed with fabric crochet and granny squares. I'm also spending time fixing my craft room as we finally moved the rabbit cage back into the garage. I got my room back and I'm excited to be able to retreat in there as soon as I'm done organizing. Which is a lot of fun in itself. Well I have to get the young one to school so I will leave you here till next time.

Granny Square Bed Cover

Ah, the joys of being sick! Not! Nothing gets done! I'm staring at a house that looks like a hurricane went through it. I've been sick since Friday and am just now feeling like I could get a little cleaning done. I did sit last night and work on some granny squares, I want to make a bed cover. I got the idea from my brother, that's what he's doing. We both have queen beds so I imagine it will take many many squares. This is what I have so far. I like this basic granny, it works up so fast. I can't wait to see my brother's, he's doing it a little differently, with more changes of color. Very pretty so far. I'm also slowly getting through cutting up those sheets I bought  then I will start a new rag rug. Well I better get off for now, get something done so I don't feel guilty when I sit down to crochet. Back soon.

The Blah's

I'll be back soon, I've been sick since Friday and it does not seem to want to go away. Hopefully I'll feel better soon, I started a new project so I'll show a few pics  in a couple days.

Table Runner

 Finally I have finished my table runner and I can list it on etsy! Wow, that was a LOT of ends to weave in. I probably could have streamlined it a little more but this is the first time I joined it the way I did. I like it, you can see how that looks in the last photo, it shows the backside. I made it with cotton, I actually liked working with it, it's fairly new to me. Anyhow, just a quick post, I'm off to help my daughter make valentines for school. Thanks for taking a look.

Reading and Baking

 Baking today, Toffee Almond Sandie's to be exact. I don't recall where I got this recipe as I've had it for so long. I can tell you they are incredibly delicious, light, delicate cookies. They also are not too bad for you. I do sub some of the white flour with whole wheat white flour since I discovered that recently. Fair warning though, this makes a huge batch. I pulled up a chair, put on Big Love in my laptop and worked on my newest mandala while I waited for each pan to be done. I'll be posting pics of that project in the next couple of days. I'm also trying to finish sewing together a table runner I've been working on. Once I'm done sewing I just need to edge it, then it's off to etsy. 
       Does anyone like the Sookie Stackhouse books? They made the show True Blood from them and I'm waiting (impatiently) for the next season to come out. Right now I can content myself with reading the latest book in the series. Give them a try if you're a reader, they are quite different.
      Anyway, on to the recipe!


    Toffee Almond Sandies
1C. butter (no subs) ,softened
1C. sugar
1C. powdered sugar
1C. vegetable oil
2 eggs
1tsp. almond extract
31/2 C. flour
1C. whole wheat flour
1tsp. baking soda
1tsp. cream of tartar
1tsp. salt
2C. chopped almonds 
1 (6oz.) bag english toffee bits


Cream the butter and the sugars. Add the oil, eggs and almond extract; mix well. Mix together the flours, baking soda, cream of tartar and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture. Stir in the almonds and toffee bits. Shape into one inch balls, roll in sugar and place on  ungreased baking pans ( I line mine with parchment paper), then flatten slightly with a fork. Bake at 350 for 12 to 14 minutes. Cool one minute on pan then remove to rack. Store in airtight container and enjoy!
I'll be back soon with some crochet pics!

Thrifting

Hello, I've been gone a few days from blogging, I've been working on projects and doing some thrift shopping. I'm quite obsessed with rag rugs at the moment, so out I went to buy some sheets. I have quite a pile stacked up in the closet now, waiting to be cut. After one round of cutting a twin sized sheet , my back and fingers were killing me. I tried tearing them but I don't like how frayed it looks. I discovered if I put some band-aids on my thumb and finger it cushions it nicely. So I'll have another go at it. It is definitely cheaper buying at thrift stores than getting new fabric. I bought new fabric and started the rug you see and it was quite spendy. After much time on

the computer I found most people use old sheets and clothes and whatnot. I'm all for saving and it doesn't hurt that those things are being reused. We need a lot more of that, don't we? In fact. I'm looking into more ways to recycle, if anyone has any crafty ideas. I'm always on the lookout for new projects (yes, I have too many on the burner already) but I do love seeing new things, being inspired by other people's creations. What can it hurt?  My craft room is overflowing at the moment but it's a good overflow, as I do love to see all my pretties and such. That's the bright side of having a room all to yourself, you can fill it full then shut the door on the mess! Well I believe I've been on here long enough, duty calls, meaning I need to get off my butt and clean the kitchen, then some crochet time, my favorite. See you next time, enjoy you're day!