Happy New Year's Eve :)

I've been away for a bit. Trying to get used to updating this, & I also want to learn how to design this site to make it look more my own.
I got a shot of my fave snowflake...

We had a great Christmas, I hope everyone else did too!! I was able to get the kids a Wii and that's all they've been doing! I have to say, it's pretty cool. Epic Mickey is a pretty cool game, & a little addictive. I can't wait to get the Wii fit for myself. I was told for my fibromyalgia that light exercise could help & I think that would be a fun way to get it :) So for my birthday/anniversary coming up in January I want to get that & hopefully a new lens for my Canon. All I have it the kit lens & I'd like to get the 70-200mm. I love me some new photography goodies <3
And here is my family

So as for craftiness, I've made a few more hats. My kids keep requesting them! I'm moving on now though, to bigger things ;)
For the first hat my teen wanted a cat hat. Her name is Erica & my dad calls her Ericat, + we just got a kitten not too long ago. Anyway I chose the Crazy Cat Hat, got the yarn (Bernat Natural Blends Alpaca in Ebony) & started. Turns out she didn't want the ear flaps, & I didn't add the face...so here is my version

She loves it, & has gotten some compliments on it at the store. I just think it's awesome I made my 14 yr old something she will wear in public hahaha!
So for the next hat I picked the Hat-tastic Waves & Ridges (4th down). I used Bernat Satin & I think the color is Wine or something like that. I started the crown & all was well. Clear directions like "ch 2, tc in same st, 1 tc, 1 tc" and it worked up nice. Then I got to the body part of the pattern & right away I was noticing a major increase in stitches making it look nothing like the photo.

I kept going thinking it may change, but was wrong & ended up frogging the hat up until the crown. I was following the pattern "*dc, htc, 2 tc, htc, dc, rpt from *". I had assumed since in the crown pattern it had "tc, tc" that "2 tc" meant "in the same st". I was wrong & it meant 1 tc in ea of the next 2 sts. After I figured that out, and started again the pattern worked up just fine. Mine isn't as wavy for whatever reason but it fits snug on my head & I like it :)

 I have a few ideas in my head & as soon as I head to JoAnn's this weekend I'm going to get started on them. I'll hopefully have some patterns up here soon!! They are some crochet patterns, & I also have some jewelry in mind to make.

I'm going to leave you with 2 really cool sites to check out.

1.) Art o mat
     These are A-mazing & you should check to see if there are any near you. I'm working on my submission idea...I'd like to be an Art o mat artist!! Nope, no previews...they are top secret ;)
2.) Project ReStyle 
     A project starting in the New Year & going all year long! I know I have some clothes I can dig out to go along with this. I think it's going to be a really cool idea to follow & see what they come up with.




I hope you all have a wonderful start to the New Year :)
I'm looking ahead to tons of Crafty Goodness, &  possibly starting wedding photography!!

Holly Jolly Friday

Phew what a week. I caNOT believe Christmas is a week away. Who still has shopping to do? Me, that's who. I am dreading it. You know how people have road rage? Well, I get shopper's rage.
Seriously.
I went to Walmart 2  nights ago. I got to the lines, and not only did they not have enough lanes open, but the ones they had were so long they were winding. Even the express lanes. Now, I had toughed it out in the packed store with 4 insane (but loving) kids, those people who think they are the only ones in the store & park their cart in the middle of the aisle's, and picked over shelves. Now I'm expected to wait in what is probably an hour long line with those same insane children? Yeaaaa, I don't think so. I left my cart (and yes, I took the kids...), left the store and went to Kroger where I had a much better experience. Then I put the kiddies to bed & relaxed in front of my pretty Christmas tree with a cup of hot cocoa & a splash of Bailey's  :)

I love the holidays so much, but I really cannot stand how it has become so much about who is getting the best gifts, or who is buying the best gifts.  The stores are packed with people looking for the perfect gift for their family & friends. Well, I'll tell you what it perfect for me. A phone call. An email/letter/whatever. A visit with a good talk & maybe some of my cheesecake. No need to spend money on me. It is the thought that counts & so many people cannot afford to do what they used to do, and get those gifts for friends, neighbors, etc. And you know what? That's okay, because it shouldn't be about that. I cherish those handmade cards or ornaments I get. Those are great. I don't need a $4 Hallmark card that sings. Call me up & sing a carol, off key or not!
This year, I'm making ornaments for my friends & neighbors. I am seriously behind, and need to spend this weekend playing catch up, but I'm going to do it. And they will get those ornaments in cards made by my kids. Maybe I'll bake a cheesecake or make some good ole sugar cookies decorated by my kids. Friends & family  will get a treat, & my kids & I will get a memory of a fun afternoon of baking, together, in our cozy kitchen.
Okay, okay...on to the finished projects from the week!
I didn't do the Newsboy Cap I originally planned because the yarn I had in mind has grown legs & ran off. So, I did the Lace Cap from the free pattern downloads over at CrochetMe. It is a great pattern. It works up fast, I finished it in a day and a half, and that's just because I had to keep putting it down. Ya know, the whole 4 kids beating each other up or burning down my house thing...Anyway, it could be done in an afternoon. The hat works up nicely. I do suggest using the same weight of yarn they used for the pattern. Mine bunched up a little, I used a worsted weight. (Don't ask me what brand, I have no idea since the label is missing!) But I really love the looks of the hat, it's very cute, and the pattern is well written.
Here's the hat after finishing Round 6

And here's the finished hat (modeled by my oldest daughter, Erica)!

While I was making that hat, Gabrielle, my 9 year old, kept asking if it was for her. So, I made her a hat. I found this cute pattern (look at all those adorable hats on her blog!). I took the lazy way out and made it with one color, and making the needed adjustments for a bigger head haha. It's another pattern that works up super fast. So here is that finished hat. 

I know I said in that first post that I wanted to do more than just the random hat & scarves, but I'm just getting my feet wet with some easy, instant gratification patterns. It's been a while since I've done something involved, ya know. But...I'm in trouble. Why?
I've discovered Ravelry.
Man, I've been away from the internet crochet scene for way too long. I have so many projects in mind! My butt was sore from sitting at the computer just going through the patterns there. I couldn't stop. Oh how I've missed my crochet. Now if you'll excuse me, I think I'll go roll around in my yarn, since I've neglected the poor stash for so long!!

Have a holly, jolly Friday...it's one of the best days of the week :)

Hello :)

Hello out there! I'm Jessica. A mom from Michigan that loves creative, crafty goodness.
I had a blog a long time ago, and decided it would be fun to have one again. I used to crochet all the time, even had a pattern in the wonderful Crochet Me e-zine in 2006. Then I had some more kids, and never seemed to take time for it. Only random at hats & scarves, and snowflakes in the winter.
Well, I've decided that isn't good enough anymore and I'm going to jump right back into it. I think I might start with this adorable fresh take on the newsboy cap, the Newsboy Carnival Cap. Now, to find the right yarn...
(I always *LOVE* that part!)!!
I'm excited to make this my little journal, not just for creative goodies, but for everything. Hope you don't mind!