Wouldn't you like to know how to turn this:

 Into this:

 This is my new FAVORITE thing!

 I love these so much I had to increase my font size to express it!

But really, these are so cute. I decided the other day that I want to start a tradition of making homemade Christmas ornaments every year, and gifting them to my family! So I Googled it, like I always do when I'm wondering about something, which happens to me about a billion times a day. I decided to make these adorable fabric covered styrofoam balls!

...
That last sample of fabric is actually the same fabric my mom and I used to cover the jars of jam that I made for our wedding favors, so I decided to make some ornaments just for us to remember our first Christmas married : )

What an amazing year it's been!

 This is my new favorite scarf to crochet. It's so simple and pretty and I love anything with scalloped edges.

I got the pattern from Etsy.

It's really easy to make and it's gorgeous. I have been using Caron Simply Soft yarn, with a size J (6mm) crochet hook. There were a few changes I made to the pattern after I made my first scarf. If you'd like my amended pattern, please message me and I would be happy to email the changes to you.

My first 1/4 sheet cake

I've been practicing with different tips for a while now on cookies, but since today is my mother in law's birthday, we're surprising her with a cake, and my husband asked me to make it. I'm pretty happy with the outcome! I've included pictures of the tips I used. At the bakery I worked for (NOT as a cake decorator), we called that a reverse shell border. It's pretty and swirly. I won't pretend to know what I'm talking about here, since I don't.  I just say what I think I know, so correct me if I'm wrong. Also, I used the ribbon tip for the swirls of "ribbon" (tip # 103)

The latter picture is of the tip I used for the rosettes, and for the border. This tip is my mom's. She's been decorating cakes since before I was born, and this tip shows its years.

I LOVE the adorable rosettes, and I got the idea from an amazing blog called iambaker.

Not bad for a first timer  :)

New year, new news, new crochet projects!

 These little flowers are made with a baby weight yarn and would also be great for potholders or dish cloths

 My favorite little rose. The flowers above and this rose are from the LittleBirdieShoppe at Etsy.

An assortment of the flowers I've made

It turns out that I don't crochet until it's cold outside, and once it turns warm, my attention is immediately diverted to gardening  and all things outside. This single little crocus was one of those such things.

And these daffodils

 AND we planted 30-some tomatoes in our raised bed

 And I canned 87 jars of strawberry-rhubarb jam

 

Also, we got engaged on Easter, and then married in September! So it's been a busy year, to say the least. I'm starting a few exciting projects this week which I will be posting about soon!

Baby Booties!

My baby blanket *mostly* finished!

So it's been done for a couple of weeks now. I plan on adding a few or maybe several clustered crocheted flowers in the same colors in one corner of the blanket. Is this not completely adorable? I love it. I figured I ought to show you how it's coming along since I finished it.

I've got agate hunting on the brain!

It's that time of year again. We're just starting to go stir crazy, but the snow IS slowly melting. I believe this is the last of it. Until the next snowfall, which I will then believe is the last one. Really. I can hardly wait to see what new gems are to be uncovered in the spring. All new rocks on the shore of Lake Superior, and hopefully some new ones uncovered at my favorite secret rock quarry. I wanted to share a photo of one of my beauties. I have many, and many favorites. In fact, my profile photo is me staring at and examining some of my finds :) I'm going stir crazy and can hardly wait for my bulbs to come up. Not long now, right?

Looks like Buddha approves of my baby blanket!

I took a break to have another cup of coffee this morning, only to come back and find Buddha all cuddled up with my project. I didn't want to disturb him, so I figured I'd post it here!
Also, we started reading "Cesar's Way," by Cesar Milan (The Dog Whisperer), this week. It's taught me a few things about how a dog reflects your own behavior, mood, energy, etc.. Very interesting. I also took note about something as (seemingly) simple as how to walk your dog, which is covered in one of the chapters. Basically we had an excellent walk yesterday, and after I corrected Buddha once or twice, he ceased pulling and actually seemed to trot like a show dog. He is so funny!

Here's Bruce looking stoic about the new hat I crocheted this week. Isn't he just adorable? I think I need a new model.

My Very First "V" Stitch!

Since I just found out that my sister is having a GIRL, I'm using this Lion Brand Pattern to create a baby blanket for her. I didn't want to use a pastel pink or purple yarn. I thought this seafoam-ish color would be perfect! It's Bernat's 'Roving' yarn, and the color is Rice Paper. It's chunky weight and I'm using a size k hook, which for some reason is my favorite hook to use.
Also, you have to join on the Lion Brand website to look at some of the patterns, but it only takes a second and you don't have to enter tons of information, and there are A LOT of really cute patterns to use.

Crocheted flowers

This was actually an accident, when I started out making a rose, but then I aborted the pattern and finished it freehand. I liked the way it turned out.

I just learned how to make these adorable crochet flowers! They were so easy. This video will help you learn too, How to crochet flowers. This is from Little Birdie Secrets, which is one of my favorite craft blogs. I've made a bunch of different styles of flowers in the past few days. I found a few more free patterns here, which I thought were really easy and cute.