In Memory of my Bullseye Blanket

This was my beautiful first and only finished crocheted blanket. The Bullseye pattern was super fun to do and I loved the finished product. In my earlier post about it I talked about the need to block it.

" It has not been blocked and desperately needs to be, but I'm showing it (and using it!) anyway."

I also talked about the need to be able to wash it...

 "I used Cascade 220 Superwash Wool because it will be used and I really wanted to be able to wash and dry it easily. It is an affordable version of wool so that also helped. I haven't actually washed it yet so we will see..."


NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is what I said when I pulled it from the washer.

Well I now know this:
1. The gentle cycle is not actually  GENTLE
2. Cascade 220 Superwash yarn is not actually WASHABLE
3. I STINK at tying in the ends!

There were about 5 squares that survived, but they have their tails coming out.

I'm heartbroken that my Bullseye blanket has fallen apart. At this point I don't think I can revive it. I may try to convert the surviving squares into pillow cushions so they don't go to waste. The only thing I think I could or should have done differently is to leave much longer tails for weaving in and/or tie tighter knots. Well, that and to NEVER PUT ANYTHING I CROCHET INTO A WASHING MACHINE!

I'll survive this little setback, but I admit it's quite a blow to my ego. Life is like that, right? This isn't world hunger, poverty, disease, etc. It is art, and art is a learning process! I will pick myself up, dust myself off and NOT start all over again. ;-)

Have you had any crafting disasters?
Did you start again?
Did you learn something from the experience?

I'm leaving you with a smile and  the reality that life in blogland is not always pretty! Here IS a pretty picture until next time.

Have a great day!

Bullseye!

While I was taking pictures on Easter Sunday of our family lunch I realized I haven't done a "TaDaaah" for my Bullseye Blanket by Brittany Tyler. It has not been blocked and desperately needs to be, but I'm showing it (and using it!) anyway. I have  to say I am IN LOVE with this blanket for several reasons... One being, it is the FIRST blanket I have FINISHED and that is such an accomplishment for me! I really never thought I would make something this large and I'm really pleased as punch. Secondly, I love the colors. It's a tricky thing picking colors for a project like this. It involves so much work that you really want to get it right. I stayed fairly true to the pallette that Brittany used since that is what drew me to it in the first place. Lastly, the yarn is very soft and not too heavy. I love a warm blanket and sit under one year round (hubs loves to crank up the air conditioner in the summer, ugh), but I can't stand a heavy wool blanket. I used Cascade 220 Superwash Wool because it will be used and I really wanted to be able to wash and dry it easily. It is an affordable verion of wool so that also helped. I haven't actually washed it yet so we will see...

Here are a few more pictures and a few snaps from Easter.

Yes, we had a fire at Easter. No warm spring here!

My contribution to lunch was green beans, mashed potatoes, and sweet tea.

Sis in law brought broccolli casserole and cheesy pineapple casserole,YUM

Pork tenderloin with cranberry glaze, Honeybaked Ham, and deviled eggs.

 

T's parents on the left and mine on the right

A mix of candy, crochet and handpainted eggs

Watching basketball after lunch

I am so thankful that both of our families live here in town (and they really LIKE each other) and so we are able to spend the Holidays together without traveling. We were missing a few LOVED ones this year, but we will have many future Easters to share.


I hope you had a blessed Easter!

Painting on the Pad

Have you ever tried "painting" on your IPad? I have a new app on my IPad that I absolutely LOVE!!! It's called ArtRage and it allows you to draw or paint pictures with your finger and I'm completely obsessed with it at the moment. Here are a few pictures I made which were inspired by Autumn.
Hope you enjoy these BRIGHTS!

Here are a few pics from this summer

And finally, a summer sand dollar.

How do you like to express your creative side? This is such a fun, quick, app for drawing and as a BONUS, NO MESS!

p.s. Today is my 46th birthday and I'm going with my hubby to a great new restaurant called Tupelo Honey Cafe. It just opened in Knoxville and we have eaten there one time.It is FANTASTIC! I'll share some pictures of my supper soon.  

"What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If  God is for us, who can ever be against us?"
Romans 8:31

Hey Y'all. It's Fall!

Hey everyone!
Well, it has been a long time since my last post and, even though it's FALL, I can give an update on the GREAT SUMMER PROJECT! The screened porch! We have already had many enjoyable hours out there and I cannot believe we didn't do this sooner. It is my backyard paradise!

TV is in the cabinet.

Finished cushions that I made from this material.

Fireplace to cozy up to on those cool days.

Sand dollars from my summer vacation at Kiawah Island, South Carolina

As I was taking these pictures I was shivering, since the temperature was in the low 40's and falling... Hurricane Sandy has hit the East Coast and we are feeling it's affects here, a little over 700 miles away. We are about 1 hour away from Mount LeConte in the Great Smoky Mountains which has had more than 3 FEET of snow and it's still coming down! They have 15 guests who are stranded up there at the Lodge, but thankfully they are being well taken care of with cozy cabins and GREAT food. The link is to the caretakers' blog and has some AMAZING photographs of this winter wonderland.

I have had Fox News on all day watching the photographs and stories of the flooding, fires, and blizzard that Sandy has brought to the entire eastern part of the US. I, along with many others, am sending up prayers for all of the people who have been in the path of this historic storm. 

Here are some words from His Word for strength and inspiration during these difficult times.xxxx

"No power in the sky above or in the earth below- indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:39.

New Hooky Bunting

I am having a fling with COLOR. I am in love with anything bright and happy! My husband said I was trying to make our house too "girly". I think that's ok since I live with two men (my 20 year old son and my hubby). I will say that I am finding  a new love with all things that are colorful. I think it started when I discovered Lucy and her beautiful blog.  She even has a group of followers on Ravelry which is a sharing sight for knitting and crochet. She is quite a color celebrity!She also happens to live in England and I am obsessed with all things British so just reading her VERY English wording is a joy to me. They say "whilst" instead of "while".  Isn't that adorable? Another thing I have discovered on many of the English blogs is BUNTING. We call them banners, pennants,  or flags but I think bunting is a much cuter word. I found one pattern for bunting at Pink Milk and am looking for a simple flower pattern to go on each flag. I'm still playing around with it but I thought I would show what I have so far.

I am using my new yarn purchase and will be adding some warm tones to the flowers. You will see some yummy colors!

colors are a little washed out here

A truer representation of the colors

I am also in the process of cleaning off my back porch. I'll give you a peek of the material I am going to use to recover the cushions. This is a BIG project and deserves a post of its own but I will give a little peekaboo. COLOR!

I usually like solid backgrounds in furniture. I love this but it is definitely an OUTDOOR fabric. Come back and see the finished cushions and the CLEAN back porch.

I love that you take the time to stop by and see what's going on here, and I love recording things so I can look back and see the past.   

Galatians 5:22,23,25  "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law...Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit."