Fall Colored Throw Blanket - Done

I started this blanket September 17th 2012. I've been working on it between other projects and am so pleased to tell you, that as of this morning... it's done! :) I'm so pleased with how it turned out that I've taken a copious amount of photos (...and I plan to take more!!) and sharing them in an extra large format.

 I'm glad I went with the blue edging... as I was finishing the last edging row I was excited to see it done (as you can imagine ;)). Though, I think if I make another one I'd finish it with a gray edging... maybe a simple acrylic gray edging, just to change it up and create a clean edge. The blue really pulls out the hues in the blanket, they all dance to my eye. I appreciate that I had enough different colors and textures to randomly select from as I worked on it as I think it adds an eclectic log cabin cozy feel. I am reminded of the photos you see on pinterest, of the stacks of linens, blankets or quilts that make you want to curl up with a good book and grab ALL the blankets from the stack! :)

If you'd like to make a version of this for yourself or a loved one, I've seen this pattern called harlequin and greenway. The free ravelry download can be found here.

Are you wondering how long this took to make?Are you *sure* you want to know?  Each square row of color took an hour to crochet. The edging itself took at least 20 hours in total. Final measurements are: 49" x 65"

I stayed consistent on the edges, all had a diamond ripple effect. This of course meant going back through to  each of the edge colors and adding stitches... well. worth it.I would do it again, just add the diagonal as I did the rows so I wouldn't have to go back, adding half a square to each of the rows was a tedious and daunting task, but once a handmade blanket is done, it's done! ;)

 I hope you enjoy the photos! Please feel free to share and pin them, just please make sure they link back to this post so people can see the other photos as well! ;) Thank you!

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Feeling like Fall...

If you aren't ready for fall yet, maybe these photos will help get you in the mood... 

If the fall hues aren't inviting enough... 

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Maybe the chill will have you feeling the nostalgia of previous falls... 

out comes the sweater...

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Might a warming cup of apple cider or spiced tea persuade you?

Perhaps by the fire? 

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Still struggling to embrace Autumn? It's okay... she's patient. ;)

Status of Harlequin Pattern Blanket with Fall Colors

It's true this lovely has been in and out of hibernation mode between projects :) Today I feel I've made enough headway on 'er to show a few pictures of the progress. Initially I thought I'd use a repeating color scheme, instead I'm pulling from my yarn stash whatever color I like next. :) This has given me a very  "free" feeling while working on it which I love... plus you know, fall itself, all the leaves and color changes are not standard ;) so why should this be? :)

Currently measuring 44 inches wide by 35 inches long here she is :) ...so far ;)

Looking to make one of these for yourself? The pattern can be found on ravelry for free!

Beginning of Harlequin Pattern Blanket with Fall Colors

This weekend was another busy one for us. Saturday morning through early afternoon we helped some friends move their house into a storage unit and come Sunday helped a lil more with the last few items they needed to grab to clear the place out. I was so glad we could help this couple - we've known them for years and they've been a huge blessing to us so I'm glad for the opportunity to bless them back :). The mister worked on the car Saturday night and since early this morning... he's still at it as I type this, and I'm hopeful he'll be finished by tonight because I know the week may be very demanding as far as his job goes. Gods grace is sufficient :) - so we shall see! I managed to get the laundry done last night and finalize the patterns for the U900 set (which I'm very glad to have done. :)) and while I have a stack of collar necklaces to add buttons too I need to love myself right now by way of crochet therapy,okay? O.o This is crochet therapy at its best people :) - some rich fall hues with a fun pattern to show them off in - what more could you ask for?

I will be working on this for a bit, may not finalize it before picking up the collar necklaces, who knows. :) I'll play it by ear and post up picks of whatever I'm getting into... but of course! :)

Want to start on your own blanket? Find the Free Pattern HERE.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend! :)

Fall Blanket Palette

SUPER excited about this color palette! I have many many skeins that I need to put to good use and figured it was time to make a blanket :). I asked a friend for a few details about the color scheme of her room and the colors she might like - went home and pulled out ALL of my yarn. It was scary! :) ;) Okay not really. If anything was scary it was the colors I had that I didn't like or want to use :/ (Bright red, variegated yarns, peach... hmmm) - I'm sure I'll figure something out - if I have to dye yarn by golly I will! :)

For now - here is the palette of the blanket all prepped in a basket for me to pull from once I get a few pressing projects done :). Love me some fall colors and of course, my friend does too :) Enjoy the day!

Blues, blues, blues! And lovely brown and jeweled hues... with splashes of green and gray - this is going to be so much fun :) 

***Update*** I realize I didn't share the PATTERN I'll be using for these lovely colors - they call it harlequin and is free :).

Pathfinder Pen and Paper Game + Art = :)

Every other Tuesday night my husband and I have been meeting up with a few friends of ours to play a Dungeons and Dragon type game called Pathfinder. Tonight as we where slaying goblins and investigating local murders in the game we also had a side conversation about art. I have long since put away my charcoal and acrylic paints - high school was the last time I think I've touched acrylic paint though it is one of my favorite mediums. Charcoal, ink wash and acrylic are my favorite :). I remember being flattered in high school when a very talented artist who was in year ahead of me asked how to mix up a certain color, what can I say people knew I'd know ;). I miss drawing but the crocheting I do now takes 1/16th of the time it'd take to pour over a painting or drawing since I'm bit of a perfectionist. Hopefully one day when life slows down a bit I'll get back to it and create a bunch of eye candy for a realism lovers wall :). For now here are a few pieces I'd like to share with you.

The first three are currently donning my walls :) Thank you for looking!

A barren winter forest -Ink wash with blue and green water color added.

Acrylic painting...
A quiet repose

Mixed media (pastel, acrylic, charcoal, graphite)
The Stranger

Charcoal -you know her as...
Mona Lisa :)

Ink wash of a long haired woman sitting on a stool with a leather stripped skirt in the fetal position.

Ink wash and acrylic - an angel embracing "new hope" :)

Close up of acrylic baby

Charcoal of angel statue holding newborn baby with wings

Close up of baby and bouquet 

 Thanks again for reading/looking! :)

Fast and Furious Lacy Scarf - with FREE Pattern

I like to knit through the back loop when knitting. This is something I discovered I did when I'd try a pattern and end up making the finished item much too tight. I knit continental (vs. english style) too for what its worth :). At any rate I recently tried out a pattern and while working up the pattern wondered to myself if this scarf would turn out quite different from the photos of other scarves I've seen using this stitch or not. I'm 3/4 of the way done with the scarf and realize knitting through the back loop only makes all the difference and am now able to share the pattern with you because of my knitting laziness lol :). 

The scarf works up quickly, so keep this pattern in your back pocket if you need to make a last minute gift for someone!

The stitch is worked in multiples of two. For this specific scarf I casted on 26 stitches and worked it until I almost ran out of yarn (leaving enough to FO and weave in the ends).

What you will need:

-         Any size needles you want to use

-         As much yarn as you want to use up! :)

Gauge does not matter – this pattern is meant to be fun – go wild! :)

Worked in Multiples of 2 – cast on an even number of stitches and remember to WORK THROUGH BACK LOOP ONLY (tblo) for all stitches. Also, abbreviation YO equates to Yarn Over.

          Row 1: K1(tblo), *YO, K2tog (tblo)* repeat to end, K1(tblo).

Repeat this row over and over again until you’ve reached the desired length and bind off.

Once you get going, if you have any issues I recorded this video to help you out. Please feel free to leave a comment if you have any issues though. I'm here to help!

Voila! There you have it! I hope you and your friends enjoy! :) Would love to see your finished designs! I’m on ravelry too as Cranberrry if you would like to share!

Please NOTE: 

This pattern is Copyright to Lostsentiments. 

You have permission to sell the finished item rom this pattern but rewriting, reselling, distributing or copying the pattern itself is prohibited. 

Please include a link back to my etsy shop or blog in all sales/listings of items. 

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

I've been busy!

Last weekend I supported my husband by spending a day in a rather large garage with him and a bunch of their guys who wanted to get their mitts on an antique shelby cobra. While I knew we would be there a while since we were reconnecting with the car owner after not seeing him for about 5 years I didn't realize we'd spend about 8 hours sitting around as moral support (!). But I had thought ahead and packed projects to keep my hands busy while there :)

I made a lot of progress on this scarf and later in the week finished it :)

This is my youngest sister modelling the scarf for me :) She is so gracious to let me do this! That and I think she is so adorable in this picture I'm more than happy to share it with you! :)

The above pictures are ones I took the same night I finished the scarf - on the desk of my white room by the lamp light, thank God for photo editing websites :). 

Since finishing this scarf I've made two others... both primarily during yesterday's roadtrip to see the hubby's dad... one on one time with the mister for 4 hours each way and some crochet time, what more can a girl ask for? :)

I'll share the cowls shortly!!

Let Natures Beauty Inspire You...

as the winds change and time passes.. fall speaks to us of of the slow decay life brings and spring gives us hope of new beginnings...



...because I had many new favorites beckoning me to put them together in a treasury... and I get caught up in the dreaminess of them sometimes so much so I have to come share them here on the blog. :)

I've been so busy with my star wars orders I haven't had much time to make treasuries or interact. So enjoy! :D

Viking beard is done! :)

Woo woo! :) This is such a fun set - I put it as soon as I finished it and my sister and I had a good laugh for about 10 minutes. ANYONE can look like a dude just putting this set on :) I didn't manage to get an in focus picture of me but I tried!

I was able to get a picture of the set on a large tan pillow. My husbands going to be tickled pink when he sees them! :)

LOL - this set is a riot! When I tried it on and the yarn covered all of my torso! Good times, good times! It's sure it'll be perfect for the mister though, since he's 6'4" :)

*UPDATE*...and on him!!! :) He has also since grown a real epic beard :) I love him - he's so funny :)

Day of raking leaves

My sister and I were out raking up leaves and while the city picks up the leaves we rake, we have to put them in bags and hull them to the curb OR rake them there in one big pile... well we 1st tried a wheel barrel to get the leaves there since it was taking far too long to just rake the leaves to the front yard. The wheel barrel route lasted one trip to the front and then the wheel went flat and it veered to the left... all the way to the front :(. No bueno!

Continuing to rake and racking our brains as to an easier solution I remembered we had some plastic drop clothes that were huge - we could rake the leaves onto that and then take it to the front curb to be sucked up by the city! Viola!

Here's what it looked like from the deck...



...needless to say it cut the time in half! That plastic drop was big and could handle a lot of leaves! :)

Hopefully if you're looking for a way to cut down your time raking leaves you have a drop cloth handy to use. If not, the plastic tarps are pretty cheap at any home depot, lowes, etc.

Happy fall everybody :) Stay warm! :)

winds of change...

..they're coming soon...

a great collection of items for that special someone :)

treasury in response to the nonteamchallenge :) #56!
http://treasurychallengenonteam.blogspot.com/

Autumn... You leaf me breathless...

a Sunday treasury for the fall season :)

enjoy!