New custom order...pretty pansies

A special customer down in Texas, who I have worked with over the years (has it really been years?), requested a special blanket using the pattern from Leisure Arts #100318, Afghans for All Seasons, Book 1. It's called "Pretty Pansies", and they really are.

She wanted colors similar to the photo, but on a white background, so this is what I came up with:

(I used Caron One pound in white, jonquil, light blue, lavender, lilac; Vanna's Choice in sweet pea; and Red Heart's pretty in pink.)

She was happy with the samples, so off I go...

Happy weekend!

Loads of color surround the daisy

I'm back after a long break. The spring and summer have been busy months with travel, work and family. I've also been working on a steady flow of custom blankets, so unfortunately this blog has been a casualty.

One of the newest orders is for a baby afghan to match a shower invite. My customer liked the daisy pattern, but was looking for colors similar to the image below:

So I came up with this square:

I still need to ask if she would like it bordered in white or just purple. Maybe even a darker purple? What do you think? 

I'm really looking forward to seeing all of the squares together. I'll be sure to post a photo when I'm finished. I hope you've been having a wonderful summer!

(Un)Perfect pink patchwork

Happy belated Valentine's Day. I sound like a broken record, but I've been busy working on a couple of custom requests. One of which I finished up yesterday...

It's a throw sized afghan. I used Hobby Lobby pink and hot rose as well as Red Heart's perfect pink. Usually, I work each square, lay them all out, and use the join as you go method with a border color, but with this one, I made up and attached each square as I went. It's a bit more difficult, because I like to be able to move things around, but I'm quite happy with how it turned out. I hope my customer is too. I'm in love with random patchwork -- afghans, quilts. I think it's a little like life: it's never perfect, and you make it up as you go along!

Have a wonderful rest of your weekend.

A great book

Many people have asked about the pattern for the blanket below, and I just finished up a new one, so I thought I would dedicate a post to it. The pattern can be found in the book  "Beyond the Square: Crochet Motifs". 

It's a great book full of fun and unique squares and motifs. They also use amazing colors in the photos. The background of my square is slightly different as I used a simple granny square (3dc ch2 3 dc (corner) then 3dc in each space around). That's the only difference. I highly recommend the book. 

I took a few photos of the my latest, finished blanket. I also took a photo of the back in case anyone was interested in seeing what that looks like.

Have a relaxing Labor Day!

Pink (shasta) daisy blanket is finished!

I completed Lynette's afghan this morning. She let me decide how to edge it, so I chose a hdc of white and a sc of the pink. Subtle. I like subtle, even though the blanket screams pink sunshine!

It's a true pleasure to create these blankets for such nice people. I can't say enough about all of the very nice customers I've been fortunate enough to meet.

On a side note, I've obviously been a little tied up with work, family and tillie tulip, but I will get part II of my join-as-you-go tutorial up as soon as I can! 

New pink daisy blanket almost complete...

I'm almost finished with Lynette's pink daisy afghan. I really like how it's turning out. Hopefully, she will too!

I did get some images taken of the join-as-you-go method I use. I'll post those up later today or tomorrow for anyone interested (SnuggleBunny!). Hope everyone has a sunny day.

Multi-tasking

I've been working away on my rainbow afghan, and when I need to take a break from it, I do a few squares for the daisy on blue blanket. This one will be slightly different than the pink daisy blanket.

I'm going to have a ton of weaving in to do, but we will be road tripping to the mountains of WV in the near future, so I will have some time in the car to lock in those little, pesky tails.

New pink flower blanket

I seem to have a love affair with pink, and since the daisy blanket was so well received, I'm doing a new version in pink for a little baby girl.

I'll try to work up a tutorial for this flower in the next day or two, so stop back.

Donna's daisy blanket surprise

I finished my mother-in-law's blanket and sent it over with a vase full of flowers (daisies included of course) and a card with the grandkids on it. My husband was the delivery man, and he took the kids and left everything at her house when we knew she wouldn't be home. By the tone of her voice, I think she was very surprised!

I'm going to work on a variation of this blanket for a baby and list it on Etsy at tillie tulip. Hope you have a peaceful Sunday!

The daisy pattern can be found here.

Donna's Daisy Blanket

My mother-in-law celebrated her 75th birthday in April. One of her favorite flowers is a daisy, so this is my (late) gift I'm working on for her. (I look at it as an extra surprise since she won't be getting it on her exact birthday - I hope she feels the same way!) Maybe I'll pair it with a fresh  bouquet?!

Hearts in bloom

I created a sampler square baby afghan a couple of years ago that sold quite well at my Etsy shop. I named it "hearts in bloom" because it was made up of several flower and heart patterns among others. It was a little nod to my Dad too who was dealing with congestive heart failure. He passed away this past September, and it's been a tough year without him. Whenever I think of this blanket, I think of my Dad, and I'm thankful for the time we had together.

The reason I bring up this afghan is because I was asked to do a custom order using purples. I've only done it in pink and white, and I'm looking forward to the change! I also have some new flower squares that I'm looking forward to incorporating. This will be a larger size than usual. I'll let you know how it goes...

Have a wonderful week!

Finishing up some projects and starting some new

I finally finished my huge purple flower afghan. Wow, was it big and boy, did it take awhile, but it was so pretty when it was finished. I sent it off to my customer yesterday. I hope she likes it.

I also completed another custom order. In this one, I used colors similar to a supplied photo:

You can see the original bedding image in my previous post.

Two more custom orders to go plus a new one that came in today...

I received a message from a very nice customer in Maine. I've worked with her on several blankets. She asked if I could create something for a friend's child who has just been diagnosed with cancer. He is one year old. It breaks my heart to think of a little child with such an awful disease. I tried to think of something special and came up with this schematic:

This is a rough draft, so I'll be tweaking as I go, but I hope I can bring it to life! I tried to think of something that might brighten a one year old's day. If you have any other suggestions, I'm open to them! Hope everyone is having a bright and cheery day as well :)

Rose granny rectangle afghan completed

I finished up my afghan this morning when I sewed the little rose to one corner. It's a nice feeling to put the last piece in place. I guess that's why I also like to do jigsaw puzzles so much! I wasn't sure how I wanted to edge it, so I opted for a single crochet in a dark rose and scalloped edge in the dusty rose.

Happy Leap Year Day!

Finished...daisy blanket

Here is a photo of the finished daisy blanket. I didn't get a chance to take photos of the join-as-you-go process, but maybe next time... I was at school this morning signing up my son for kindergarten... so just getting this blanket finished was a monumental task. I really like how these last two blankets have turned out. They are so vibrant; and these little daisies make me smile. Hope they send a smile your way too!

Field of daisies in progress

Almost finished with the squares. I'll use the join-as-you-go method to put these together. I might try to take some photos of the process, so you can see how it's done.

Hope everyone is enjoying their President's Day!

Pinked out - now what?

Actually, I never get sick of pink. Not that I'm a girlie-girl, I just think pink, and all the different shades and hues, is a very pretty color. If you'd like to see more photos of the finished blanket, here's a link to my listing:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/91196011/pink-flower-patchwork-baby-afghan-baby

Have a wonderful night!

Note: This pattern is the same as the yellow and white daisy blanket. It is from a book I mention here.

Feeling pink, take 2...

Last night it grew...

This is going to be one pink afghan.

Purple Palooza 90x100 Flower Afghan - In Progress

Busy at work with my largest custom afghan ever...

I started with a schematic:

Then got to work...

These two squares are the only two completely finished and joined. I have a long way to go!