Another Barnyard Post

I am pleased to announce that you can now purchase the pattern for the Sweet Little Cow:

It’s been tested, it’s quick, simple and adorable. If cows are your thing, have at it!

Horsin’ Around

So, this weekend I made a horse.

He’s my own design, of course - I wanted him to complement the little cow I made for Charlie - and he’s cute! He took longer to make than the cow did. Manes and tails, people. They’re harder than they look. (Well, I wouldn’t say harder is the right word. Labor intensive, perhaps.) Not to mention the fact that it’s difficult to finish a toy quickly when two little boys are watching your every move, sneaking up to peer at the sketches in your notebook, trying to guess what you’ve made, and attempting to make off with the whatever-it-is as soon as it has some stuffing in it.

We have had an adorable three-day’s wonder here, though. Max has decided he’s really interested in horses. We’ve talked about what they eat, where they live, what they do; we’ve watched videos of wild horses (thank you, YouTube) and we’ve hauled a fringed scarf out of the closet to become a tail for my little horsie. Max even moved all of his Hot Wheels out of the little cupboard that serves as his ‘garage’ to make room for all the stuffed farm animals he could find to take a nap in their ‘barn.’ What a sweetie.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the animals are evicted from the barn in a week, but for now I’m happy he’s loved so much.

My treasure chest

As it happens, I have more jewelry I’ve made that I haven’t shown yet:

It’s more of an artistic shot (I’m feeling a bit philosophical today), and as you can see, I’m edging into bracelets! Very exciting. I actually decided to share these today because I was reminiscing a bit. I remember when I was a teenager it was a daydream of mine to have a little treasure chest, filled with loose semiprecious stones. I like diamonds well enough, but they’re a little cold. Give me jade, obsidian, amber, turquoise - something warm and colorful - any day.

Now I have my little treasure chest, with carnelian and amethyst, pearls and jade, tiger’s eye and agate tucked inside. (All surprisingly affordable.) The natural stones are beautiful and earthy, and I love them as much as I imagined I would. Mom - remember the lunchbox full of rocks that a certain sister of mine and I gathered from neighbor’s flowerbeds and hotel landscaping? Yeah, I’ve come a long way from that. (Hey - did you throw those out?!?)

The Winds of Change

Greg has gone again, and it seems that the last warmth of summer left with him. Clouds have moved in, temperatures have started to drop, and the wind has begun to blow. Yesterday was the windiest yet, blowing hard enough to raise whirling clouds of dust from the gravel road, hard enough to send trash cans rolling out into the street, hard enough to make it impossible to see - or breathe - in the full blast. Fallen leaves that had begun to accumulate almost unnoticed on the grass are suddenly center stage, skittering and skirling across sidewalks and through parking lots: the season that we could see coming a month ago is here.

This last month was like one long weekend. Greg was home almost every day, we went out on trips, and generally ignored the fact that he was going to be leaving again as long as possible.

Gratuitous waterfall from one of our trips. Now that he’s gone, though, I find myself looking around at all of the things I let drop and - let’s say that it gives me plenty to do. Which can only be to the good. I actually have quite a few announcements, so hold on to your hats! First - the new mystery hobby:

Jewelry making! (Oof.) I started right before Greg came back, and I have to say that it is much less expensive than you might think (but it can get as expensive as you like), it is fast and the results are beautiful. All this means is that it’s easy to end up with way, way more than I could ever use, but it’s so much fun to make! Not that I’m doing anything terribly tricky, but I like it. I ended up taking some over to the base craft consignment shop to see if anyone wants any. (We’ll see.)

Next! The Crochet Liberation Front, a group that began on Ravelry and is now thousands strong, has put together a book. (Yes, a BOOK!) And I’ve got a pattern in it!

This hat is very special to me - I literally began it on the plane ride to Japan - and I think it’s one of the most simply elegant pieces I have ever designed. It’s called Saucy! (because it is, at that) and it’s one of thirty-six (that’s right, thirty-six) patterns in a book that was put together by members of the CLF and self-published by Laurie Wheeler, our fearless leader. How awesome is that? (And not just because it’s my first book credit. Which it is.) The Crochet Liberation Front First Ever Book. Buy it on Amazon.

But wait, there’s more! You can now buy the pattern for Noonas:

over at Inner Child Crochet. (Here! You can buy it here!)

I am also working on a secret uber-project which will, if I can manage it, make quite a splash in the online crocheting world. Well, back to work!

(Hi, guys.)

Greg is back for a little while, and we’re trying to make the most of the family time we have before he leaves again. Blogging will be scarce for a few weeks. Besides, I don’t have much crocheting or knitting to show you - I’ve been dabbling in a new hobby… O_o

(Pictures to come another day…)