Sarah from Recycled Fibers featured one of my custom granny square blankets in her treasury:

I LOVE all of the color! Makes it feel more like spring and less like winter. Thanks Sarah!

It was a busy week last week. It didn't help that my son had an annoying cold with a fun, little cough. He's doing better now, and things have settled down (for a moment), so I'll try to get back to posting about what's going on around here. We had a clipper roll through yesterday, the winds were unbelievable, but it didn't last long. This winter has been a mild one for us. I'm not complaining!

Pam from Bates Mercantile Shop featured my blanket in her treasury! What a sweet and diverse grouping of items on Etsy. Thanks Pam!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTIwNjgzOTB8MTkxMDc4NjI4OA/cotton-candy-for-my-valentine

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.

Another mom from the "Busy Moms" Etsy team featured my hat in one of her treasuries. Take a look at the other sweet Valentine's Day inspired items in her grouping:

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTMxNTQyMzJ8MTg4NTQ1MDk4NQ/love-love-love-these-lovely-items

Feeling pink...almost done...

I think I'll add another row or two and then edge it. Not sure if I will add a scalloped edge or simple one since the flowers are so pretty and already decorative. My 3 year old daughter wants one too.

Valentine's Day read

As I noted in my post from yesterday, "Pride and Prejudice" is one of my favorite stories as well as probably my all-time favorite movie (or at least one of them). I'm not a huge Keira Knightley fan - although I don't dislike her - but there's something about that Matthew MacFadyen that does it for me. His depiction of Darcy makes me swoon.

Which brings me to this post, I came across a book review in our local paper that talks about a new book, Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James. I've never read a James novel, but I believe this will be my first. It's a mystery, which is right up my alley, and also a take-off from where Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice ended. Darcy and Lizzy are married and have two sons. They live at Pemberley where  a murder occurs. Nothing like writing a new chapter to the world's best romance story. I'll be adding it to my reading list!

More photos of the pink, patchwork flower blanket...

I wasn't kidding when I said I was feeling pink - here are a couple more glam shots of how things are coming along. It's more of a patchwork of pink.

How to create a tassel - add fringe

Whenever I need to add a tassel to a crochet project, I always go for the DVDs.

No more measuring or cutting cardboard. Just pull out a DVD (this is my all-time favorite!) and wrap your yarn, however many times you would like your thickness to be, from side to side. Start and end where the DVD opens. This way when you are finished wrapping, there is a perfect little slot for you to insert your scissors and snip.

Fold the strings in half and hold at the halfway point. Insert hook where you would like to add the fringe and pull the strings at the midpoint partially through.

Wrap the bottom of the fringe around the hook and pull through the loop.

Tighten the tassel to secure.

Little Boy Blue - Finished.

This one is going off to my cousin for little Adam, but I'm listing a custom order at my shop as well. I love this yarn. I wish they would add even more colors though.

Feeling pink, take 2...

Last night it grew...

This is going to be one pink afghan.

Feeling pink...

After finishing up my latest boy blanket:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/90591715/baby-boy-afghan-granny-square-blanket

I'm in the mood for something pink and girly. I think we'll go with this square in all kinds of crazy pinks. Stay tuned.

Valentine's Day Card Idea - Scrap Fabric

I bought a heart and Valentine's Day-themed die cut last year when it was on clearance. I finally get a chance to use it: With some scrap fabric, a little Heat n Bond and a generic card, you can create TWO simple, shabby chic valentines for those dear to your heart.

Free Shipping until Valentine's Day

Head over to my Etsy shop to see more images of my sweet, little, heart hat. Free shipping on this item until Valentine's Day. Send a little love with something handmade.

Discount giveaway on Etsy

Be one of the first 3 to follow me on my blog and receive 25% off of your purchase from my shop on Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/tillietulip

This includes custom orders! When you sign up, I will send you a code to use at check out.

Time to think about Valentine's Day

I really need to get my rear in gear for Valentine's Day. I found these little squares that I cross stitched last year. I wonder what I was going to use them in?! Maybe a card? I will have to come up with some ideas...

How to add another color to a granny square

This is part 2 from my earlier post.

Little boy blue - A work in progress

I'm also finishing up a blanket for a new little baby named Adam. I'm using Lion Brand's Baby's First for this one. I love this yarn. It's super soft, chunky - but not too chunky - and a cotton/acrylic blend. The colors are very sweet too. Here I'm using splish splash and bean stalk (even the names are cute).

I'm going to edge it in the two colors when I finally finish this up, so check back later...

Organizing my knitting needles

About a year ago, I bought a plastic storage roll-y thing for some of my craft supplies and tried to jam all of my knitting needles into one of the drawers. It was a mess, and the drawer never closed.

I found a tall vase that rarely gets used that I thought might work...

I think it's a perfect solution and my drawer finally shuts!

How to crochet a heart

I used worsted weight yarn and a size I crochet hook to create this 1.5" sweet, little heart. Use it as an applique or embellishment.

chain (ch) 4
3 treble crochet (tr), 3 double crochet (dc), ch1, 3dc, 3tr, ch2, slip stitch -- all into first chain

next round:
ch3, 1sc and 1hdc (in first tr stitch from previous round);  3 hdc in next st;  2hdc in next st;  1sc in next 3 st;  ch1, 1sc, 1dc, 1sc (in midpoint st), ch 1;  1sc in next 3 st;  2hdc in next st;  3 hdc in next st;  1hdc and 1sc in next st;  ch3 and slip stitch into circle;  fasten off

I usually work mine a bit into a nice shape. Et Voila!

How to crochet a granny square

Disclaimer: I started this blog yesterday and am new to "blog-land"...

Here is a photo tutorial for creating a 2 round granny square. I will be adding more (rounds and tutorials) as I find the time. Hope it is helpful or at least somewhat inspiring to give it a try!

Look at this beautiful cotton thread I got on ebay. I have a love/hate relationship with ebay. I love them when I'm a buyer finding a great deal, and I hate them when I'm a seller racking up fees everywhere. It would be nice if there was some other competition, so they didn't seem like such a monopoly.

Etsy, on the other hand, feels like more of a community to me. I have met so many really lovely people there.

I believe I will have to get some cross stitch ideas together with this fabulous thread...

I'm trying to come up with a new thank you card for customers. I love simple and clean, but I think this is too simple... I also love Martha Stewart's lace punches. I have three I bought on sale (50% off!) but have yet to use them all. I will have to keep thinking on this one.

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!