Voting day - Proud of my country

I live in a country where my vote counts, and I am free to vote for what I think is right.

I took Tillie with me today to vote. I think it's important to take our kids with us if we can.

Thinking about St. Patrick's Day

My last name through marriage is O'Donnell, but my side is of German dissent. My husband brings the Irish to this family (and he's a fireman to boot, Lord help me). I've always liked St. Patrick's Day. The parade is a big deal or more like a big party/celebration day, and I think the kids might finally be old enough to head downtown for it. I'll have to work up a couple of hats for them this year. I created this one awhile back and sold it at the shop, it's my favorite shamrock hat that I've created - the clovers are like little ears. If I have time, I think I'll do one or two more this year...

The original shamrock pattern I used was from Theresa Richardson. She has many YouTube instructional videos if you've never crocheted, and you'd ever like to give it a try.

Have a wonderful Sunday!

Color palette for a new custom blanket

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!

A rose for the rose blanket

This is the rose I made that I'll be adding to my rose baby blanket:

Here's the pattern I used:

Begin by ch4, slip stitch in first ch to form a ring

Round 1: 

*1 sc in ring ch3* repeat 3 times; finish with sl st in first sc from beg round

Round 2: 

In every chain space: 1 sl st, 5 dc and 1 sl st to form three petals

Round 3: (working behind petals)

ch1, work *1 sc around the base of first sc from round 1, ch4, 1 sc at middle of first petal, ch4* repeat around; finish with slip stitch into first sc from beg of round

Round 4: (I used two colors; this is where I joined 2nd color with a sl st into any ch space)

In every chain space: 1 sl st, 6 dc, 1 sl st (6 petals)

Round 5: (working behind petals)

ch1, work *1 sc around the base of first sc from round 3, ch4, 1 sc at middle of first petal, ch4* repeat around; finish with slip stitch into first sc from beg of round

Round 6:

In every chain space: 1 sl st, 7 dc, 1 sl st (6 petals)

Cut and fasten or leave long tail to sew into project.

Hot treasury

Today Julee from UnrulyJulee featured my hot pink and orange blanket in a treasury appropriately named "pretty in hot pink".

I think I need those heart sunglasses just to view this treasury! Love it. Thanks Julee.

Feeling nostalgic

These  past two projects have been so fresh and vibrant, but I'm finding myself in an antique-y mood, so I started working on a new blanket with that in mind. I'm using lots of rose colored yarns, some of the lighter variety and some dark - dusty rose, antique rose, blush, rose, dark rose, etc. I think I will add some roses to it, but this is where I'm at so far...

As I worked up this blanket, I thought about my great Aunt Tillie, whom my daughter and (partially) my shop is named after. She died when she was only a little girl, but I always loved this little pin my mother had with a picture of her on it. Sadly, I believe it's the only photograph we have of her. My mother gave me the pin after my Tillie was born.