Hello Monday ~ 5/20/2024

 

Holly & Sarah

Why, oh why, does the week drag on but the weekend flies by?  This was a busy weekend without hardly a moment to spare.  I did get to take a 45 minute nap Sunday afternoon.  I shouldn't complain but it didn't seem long enough!

Let's get on with the weekend happenings, shall we?

Friday evening, we went to a local used car lot and got the hubby a newer work car (at least newer than what he had).  For now, it will also be what Laken learns to drive on which is something that needs to be our focus this summer.  Douglas is on vacation this week so he'll be going to get the transfer completed Monday.

Laken talked me into crocheting her a crop top.  She picked some granny squares out of a bin that were already completed and we spent some time looking online for a pattern for the bust of the top.  Finally, I purchased a pattern from Etsy and spent the late evening Friday working on it.  She couldn't decide about the trim color, so I decided to head to bed and work on it more at a later time.

Saturday was Andrew's (my nephew) high school graduation.  Before the graduation ceremony which was at 3pm, Dan and Kelly had a pizza party for him at the local restaurant in town.  Andrew and his classmates were only given 6 tickets each for graduation, so we weren't all able to attend but we were all able to celebrate with him beforehand.  

Nate works at Subway and had to go to work after Andrew's party.  Laken, of course, wanted Subway for supper :)  I needed a few things at the store so we went there first and then stopped by Subway to get supper and see Nate.  After eating, we took the round-a-bout way home through Shawnee State Park.  The sun was shining and it turned out to be a beautiful day after all the rain we've had. 

I was also able to get some pictures of the ducks at the pond right up the road from our house.  There are three adults and five baby ducks.  They are growing so fast.

Saturday evening the hubby and I watched the ACM Awards on Prime.  I haven't watched an entire awards show in years but this one had great music.  Lainey Wilson performed "Hang Tight Honey" and there was also a tribute to Toby Keith who passed away this past year.

Another reason I was able to watch the entire show, was being busy finished Laken's crop top.  It kept me occupied and from getting bored with the show.  Below is a picture of the finished crop top although I don't know if I'm going to allow Laken to wear it out of the house.  It is a bit too hoochie-mama for my tastes but she loves it.  I'll save that battle for another day!

Sunday morning was Church and then a nap.  After waking up from my nap that was too short, we decided to go to Sundae's for ice-cream.  I thought about getting the no sugar added ice-cream but the Peanut Butter Sundae won out...  It is SOOOO good and is my absolute favorite!

And that brings me to now, Sunday evening as I'm typing up this post.  I think we may watch a few episodes of Tracker to try to get caught up before going to bed.  I'm also psyching myself up to face the week ahead.

As I mentioned above, Douglas is on vacation this week but I still have to work.  Bummer...   He's just going to be working on projects around the house, but still.  Laken will be finishing up her last class/week of school so she'll be busy, too.

Here's to another weekend gone and another work week ahead!

Have a great one :)

Colletta

Attention Readers! Calling All Book Lovers!

The Love Letter Book Sleeve is now listed in my ETSY SHOP!  

The book sleeve/cover can be made in any color as a custom order.

Right now it has a cute little bow tie to shut the "envelope" but I think I'm going to be on the look out for some cute buttons as well.

The sleeve measures 9.5" X 7" when tied close but there is a good bit of give and can fit most paperbacks and even a kindle if you prefer reading digitally.

I had a lot of fun creating this piece!

The bow can be made in any color as well.  I can even make a few different color ties that can be swapped out.

I'd love for you to stop by Colletta's Kitchen Sink Etsy Shop!

I'm still practicing some amigurumi pieces and will be sharing them here on the blog soon :)

Colletta

P.S.  I also just added a light purple and yellow Love Letter Book Cover, as well.

Fred the Sea Turtle by CJ Design ~ My First Amigurumi Project!

 I mentioned in my last post that I've reopened my Etsy Shop and that I want to learn how to crochet plushies and amigurumi.  My very first attempt was Fred the Sea Turtle by CJ Designs.

The pattern is free on CJ Designs website but can also be purchased in PDF form in their etsy shop.

Look at that wee little tail!!!

The pattern was well written and easy to follow.  The pattern calls for a chunky yarn but I'm trying to use only yarn that I already have, so I used a Medium (4) yarn and hooks in sizes 3.75mm and 4.25mm.

I don't have any safety eyes, so I embroidered the eyes on with black yarn.  (In a way, I like it better this way as I was always fearful of those safety eyes falling off when my girls were littles.)

My very first foray into the amigurumi world is complete and I think he is super cute!

What do think?  After some more practice, should I add him to my Etsy shop?  (be gentle...lol)

Colletta

15 Minutes to Stitch ~ Friendship Quilt Block Swap ~ 1/15/2023

 

One of my "plans" for 2023 is to spend 15 minutes a day stitching.  That might entail sewing, quilting, crocheting anything else I might come up with.  I'll be joining in with Kate @ Life in Pieces.

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I didn't have much time this week to stitch as I was away from home every evening and fell into bed when I got home.

I did however get my Friendship Swap fabric sent out and have started to receive some pattern and fabrics in the mail from my swap partners.  I have Monday off of work so I plan on spending most of the day making quilt blocks.  I'm so excited to get my sewing machine dusted off.

Here are the contents of the packages I've received so far:

I did manage to get some pictures of Sunny Blue Hawaii progress.  I have 23/63 granny squares completed.  I actually plan on crocheting some more after I post this while we have a Family Movie Night.  So hopefully I'll have more to show next week.

Look at all these ends I have to sew in!  I don't mind sewing in ends but I have to be in the "mood" for it.  Which I'm not.   :)

So next week, I'm hoping to have some Friendship Swap quilt blocks to show you and some more Sunny Blue Hawaii 2.

What are you stitching this week?

Colletta

Sewing Saturday ~ Advice Needed!!! ~ 6/4/2022

I'm going to be featuring my sewing, crocheting and crafting projects on Saturdays.  Some weeks this will include a finished project, a FNSI or FNWF or just a WIP.

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I've been working on "Sunny Blue Hawaii 2" (SBH2) lately.

To see my first post about this afghan CLICK HERE!

Before I go any farther with sewing squares together, I need to decide whether to make the final afghan 6 squares X 8 squares  (6X8) or 7 squares X 9 squares (7X9) or even 7 squares by 10 squares (7X10).

The length isn't as important right now as the width is.

Above is what the main body would look like with 6 squares.  It just doesn't look quite right to me.  It doesn't seem wide enough even though I know I'll be adding borders.

Here you can see what it would look like with 7 squares across.  (Sorry it is tilted so far but that is the only way I could get the whole width in the picture.)

So what do you think?

6 OR 7 squares across????

Your opinion means a great deal to me and I would love your advice :)

Colletta

Sewing Saturday ~ Sunny Blue Hawaii 2 ~ 5/21/2022

I'm going to be featuring my sewing, crocheting and crafting projects on Saturdays.  Some weeks this will include a finished project, a FNSI or FNWF or just a WIP.

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Since finishing Adalynn Audrey's Baby Blanket, I needed a new project to work on while sitting on the deck or watching TV on the couch/bed.

I remembered an afghan I had made and absolutely adored the colors.  I called it Sunny Blue Hawaii and you can see the finished post from 2015 HERE.  It was gifted to a friend in the Summer of 2015.

I decided to make an afghan with Sunny Blue Hawaii as inspiration.  I'm calling it "Sunny Blue Hawaii 2"!  Original, right?

The colors are basically the same but I'll be switching up the granny squares just a tad.

The squares are a bit smaller and alternate colors.

The plan, for now, is to make the afghan 6 squares by 8 squares.  I'll then add borders depending on how much yarn I have left

Here's a small sample of what it will look like.  I have 8 squares completed so far.  I have 40 more to go!

I have a friend in mind to gift this to but I'm not sure if she likes these colors.  I'll find out and let you know :)

Colletta

Sewing Saturday ~ Adalynn's Finished Blanket ~ 5/14/2022

I'm going to be featuring my sewing, crocheting and crafting projects on Saturdays.  Some weeks this will include a finished project, a FNSI or FNWF or just a WIP.

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I finally finished Adalynn Audrey's Beautiful Shells Baby Blanket!  And only two weeks after she was born!

Here are some pictures for your viewing pleasure:

Now to send it off to Adalynn :)

Colletta