Mom's Shawl

So... this project was done AGES ago (over 1 year ago), but I just got the pictures. My dad had taken pictures of my mom posing in the shawl that I designed and crocheted for her birthday. I think it was my first project without a pattern. Anyway, if you crochet, you know that this isn't all that special because a shawl is a pretty easy shape. The rest of you, please be impressed ;)
Anyway... I'm visiting in North Carolina and I stumbled across these pictures on my parents' computer and thought I might as well share them.
I used TLC Amore in Dusty Rose. This was given to my mom a year after she had become a grandmother for the first time. Now, she has two new grandbabies.
I did the majority of the shawl in one stitch. But then, I got bored and added some triple crochet as a way to break up the space. For the end, I did ruffles all the way around.
It worked up fairly quickly. It's a little more girly and feminine than my mother normally wears, but I think she likes it. The texture is soft and it's an easy way to keep her shoulders warm.
This has been such a great trip. North Carolina is beautiful and relaxing. It's great to see my parents and I got to meet Myla Rose, my first niece!
Quinlan is talking up a storm and interested in everything. It's just such a blast to be able to hang out with them.
It's going to be hard to go home and start prepping up for my big move to Austin. But, at least I'll go into it relaxed and refreshed... well, as relaxed as I can get...

Cthulu 2.0

After sending pics of the mighty lil' cthulu around, I was informed that although my homage to the slimy, tentacled, elder god was impressive... it still wasn't "right". Apparently, without wings, my chtulu was just an odd looking crochet dude.
So, I went home and crocheted up some rudimentary wings (as described in wikipedia). It was all very last minute and done when I should have been packing for my trip to Seattle and NC... but, it was my last day at work and I figured that if I didn't attach them myself, Cthulu would never have wings.
I spent my lunch on my last day up at Greg's desk performing minor surgery on The Tentacled One. To help make the wings stand up, I straightened out two jumbo paper clips and inserted them in the wings. I had brought a blue pipecleaner for the job, but it showed a little too much. I was checking him out and realized how cool it would be if he had bendable arms. So, I cut the pipecleaner in half and inserted one half into each tubey arm. Voila! The Elder God, complete.
I must admit, my friends were right. With wings, Cthulu is much more impressive, creepy, and wonderful.
And, admittedly less cuddly.
Check him out. muwahahah. Oh, and there he is posing with Greg's vicodin for his yechy back pain.

Hats!

Last night, I was in Seattle with my sisters, Betsy and Bridgid. The three of us were watching endless episodes of Sex and the City... hours and hours of season 5-6... while stitching away. I had made a cabled messenger bag and a skirt for Betsy and spent the first few hours weaving in the ends (fun times...). Finally, once I had finished those projects, I started some hats and ended up making them each one in "grass" green by wool-ease. We had a blast and it was probably my most productive stitch 'n' bitch in a lonnnng time. Betsy made a scarf for our Uncle Tom which I'll be giving him tomorrow. I got her addicted to cables and super-chunky wool-ease yarn. Bridgid was working on a fabulous pillow in Alpaca Wool. I can't wait to see how it turns out.

Bridgid, Betsy, and I went to a yarn store, of course, and drooled over beautiful yarns and patterns. I forget the name of the store... but it was great. The store used to be a house and you could meander from room to room and touch all sorts of lovely different textures. Lots of yummy, tempting yarn. But, we all behaved ourselves. (awww... no fun!)

Cthulu!

Hello! As pretty much everyone knows, I am not a sci-fi reader... but, everyone I know and adore totally is. I am pretty sure that everyone in my family and most of my friends have read and loved at least some sci-fi stuff. Anyway... a co-worker friend of mine is obsessed with the sci-fi classics - especially HP Lovecraft and this character/god named Cthulu. He's been working like crazy on a project for me and helping me immensely. In the meantime, he hurt his back and has a pinched nerve- and is attempting to work even though he's in a lot of pain Anyway, I wanted to make him smile, so I looked up cthulu on wikipedia and decided to crochet a version for his desk... I guess if you know what the bad guy in Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Man's Chest looks like, you'll know the jist. Basically, he is supposed to be like a combination of a squid, octopus, bird, and reptile. Of course, he is tormenting the Lily-cat for added drama.
Enjoy!

Watermelon Baby Hat- and TIGGER :o)

Hello!

I previously posted this watermelon hat, made for my brand new neice Myla Rose. She now fits said hat and is modeling it for the camera! Also, her big brother Quinlan is cuddling with a spectacular Tigger made by my sister Betsy. Q adores his Tigger and you can see why :o)

Aunt Sheila's Shawl

It's about time for an update, huh?... with the imminent move to Austin, I have been running around like crazy. Trying to see everyone in my los angeles "family", revisit old haunting grounds, and get my apartment, cat, car, and self ready for the big ole move to tejas!

My parents visited my Aunt Sheila in Cleveland where she is staying at a place specifically for those with alzheimers. It sounds like she is incredibly happy and comfortable. Enjoying things like yoga, music, and all of the activities they have.

If you remember, I made her a shawl. To the left is the picture that came with the pattern from "Wrap Style" by Interweave Press.
It was a fairly easy pattern that worked up quickly, but looks lovely and complicated :)
Above, is my lovely aunt wearing her new shawl! She is sitting with my Mom who is wearing a top she bought when we were at Olvera Street (the original pueblo) for Cinco de Mayo.

Here are also some close ups of the shawl (previously posted)...