Crocheted Purse

This is why I need to learn how to make my own patterns.  I found this purse online:

I think it would be adorable to make for a friend of mine, especially with the ribboned flapper hat I want to make her, too...

...but I can't find a good pattern for anything like this purse anywhere online!  So after hours of searching online I found this one:

It's awfully cute, too, and the pattern is there, free, and I'd like to learn that bobble stitch...but I like the shape of the first one better (and the vertical instead of horizontal stripes).  Maybe I'll play around a while and end up making my own pattern?  Or maybe I'll just make that second one, minus the straps...we'll see!  I still have a dolphin to make before I start worrying about it...

Sally the Seahorse

This adorable seahorse was EASY and only took me about 3-4 hours to complete all together. 

Close-up of the head...

You can get the pattern for free from Mausica's Magical Menagerie, HERE.  I loved the spiky fins and how it looked more like a stuffed toy for kids than anything too realistic.  :)  I seriously looked all over and half of them were UGLY!  I could make a million of these, especially since it used so little yarn.  Also, FYI, using the yarn I usually use for these kinds of crafts (Red Heart acrylic 4-ply yarns, the cheap kind from Walmart) and a size H hook, it actually ended up being almost 7 inches tall, which is almost twice as tall as the pattern said.  But that was perfect for me, because look how it blends with the other cute toys!

I could do this all day...oh, wait!  I have!  :)

Freddie the Fish

Here's Freddie, the Rainbow Fish. 

I made his body yesterday, and added the fins and tail this morning.  I got the pattern for free from Apocalypse Knits, HERE.  It wasn't as easy as the octopus, mostly because there weren't any thread counts after each row and I'm too lazy to do the math myself...but it wasn't bad.  It was also about twice the size I thought it was...it's probably almost a foot long from nose to tail!  I should probably invest in a different sized hook one of these days (I only have an H!).  Oh well.  He's still pretty dang cute, and he'll blend in nicely with the other toys I'm making for my friend. 

One thing I did to make it easier (because I hate switching out colors unless I absolutely have to): I used the Red Heart variegated yarn Primary instead of doing different colors, and I'm overall happy with the result.  He's so rainbowy.  :)

One neat thing about making all these toys, I'm learning a few new stitches, like the magic ring (used for almost all amigurumi toys) and the popcorn stitch (which I used to make THIS).  And I'm really learning how to make the yarn take shape however I want it to--like, if you want to increase a circle in a flat way, you do one thing, but if you want it to start taking a "tube" shape, you do something else...hopefully, once I learn a little more I'll be able to start making my own toys, sans pattern.  That way I can look at something and more or less make it, whatever size I want.  :)

Ollie the Octopus

This is Ollie.  I made her today as part of a pay-it-forward gift for a friend.

I LOVE her and want a million of her, and I don't even care anything about octopi.  You can get the pattern for FREE from The Kansas Hooker, HERE.

I'm probably going to spend much of next week making her a few ocean creatures for my friend...she loves dolphins, but making that didn't seem like it would take much time and after that checkers set I want each gift to be something really special.  :)  I know for sure I'm making her a cutesy blue dolphin, pink seahorse, and a rainbow fish, all of which are chunky and cartoony and adorable...we'll see if anything else comes up.  :)

Easy Crocheted Cookie

Want the pattern?  I kinda made it up, although I'm sure I'm not the first person ever to do so.  But here's the basic idea:

COOKIE OUTSIDES (make 2, with black for chocolate cookies or yellow/gold for vanilla)
1. Chain 4, join.
2. Chain 1, pull up.
3. Round 1: 6 single crochets in center of circle, join.
4. Chain 2, pull up.
5. Round 2: 2 double crochets in each single crochets (12 stitches), join.  Fasten off.

FROSTING (make 1)
1. Chain 8, join.
2. Chain 1, pull up.
3. Make 12 double crochets in center of circle, join.  Fasten off.

Sew the outsides to the inside, working around the entire cookie (that's what makes the "ridge" outside).

See?  EASY.  And quick.  I know, because I had to make 24 of them.  ;)

Linking up HERE.

Pay It Forward Gift #1!

You remember these?

Well, I finished my project a little earlier than I had planned (probably because I did almost nothing today but crochet...), so I get to show you what I did with them!

Drumroll, please...

Tada!

It's a crocheted cookie checkers set, for my friend Mary and her family.  (She's got two girls and a third kid on the way.)  I love how it turned out, and I'm proud of myself for sticking with it even though it took longer than an evening to complete.  :)  I want to play it myself!  But, alas, I must ship it off to be enjoyed by the proper owner.  :)

Why I Believe Wednesday: The Little Things

I know the last few weeks as I've shared some testimony-boosting experiences, I've mostly shared some of the bigger moments in my life.  But I want to be clear that, for the most part, those experiences are rare.  Much more often, and, honestly, much more powerfully, it is the little things that help increase my testimony of the Savior and His gospel.  This post is dedicated to all of those small and simple things that, drop by drop, add oil to the lamp, even if they are moments that I don't really remember afterwards.

There are moments when I really hear the message behind the hymns we sing, and either a part of my heart is warmed or a part of my brain gets clearer.  I know it's the Spirit testifying to me of the truthfulness of those words.

There are moments when the beauty of something natural--a sunset, or stars, or a field of flowers--is so breathtaking that I instantly offer up a quick little "thank you" to Heavenly Father, and I feel like even though He created the whole entire universe, He hears me and knows my name and cares.

There are moments when we are teaching our primary kiddos and one of them will say something amazing and profound and I am struck by how absolutely simple the gospel is, and I will be impressed with this young, vibrant, curious generation and catch a glimpse of the future of the Church.

There are moments when I'm studying my scriptures and the answer that I've been searching for just jumps right off the page, and even though they were written for everyone I feel like the prophet wrote that verse with me and my circumstances in mind.

There are moments when I'm with my family, especially Paul, and I feel so much love and happiness inside of me that I think I may actually burst, and through that love I feel the love of God.

There are moments when I'm pondering the mysteries of life and the Plan of Salvation suddenly becomes so clear and logical in my mind that I don't know how I could ever doubt it.

There are moments when I lose sight of myself and my problems and go to work serving someone else, and suddenly my load is a little lighter, and I catch a glimpse of the kind of person I want to be. 

It's said that "by their fruits ye shall know them," meaning the true followers of Christ.  We all have a million little moments every day that shape us as people, and I know that when I have my priorities straight, those moment bring me closer to my Savior.  When I do the little things, I can see the fruits and know that they are good.  Conversely, when I don't do those things, I suffer.  I love the logic of the gospel, and I love the moments when it defies logic.  I love how broad a scope it can have, and yet how concerned with the individual He is.  I love that by small and simple things, great things come to pass.  Those "primary answers" really do apply to everything and they really do matter--just look at the things I'm doing when I feel the Spirit...going to church, singing hymns, studying my scriptures, saying prayers, serving people...

The Lord loves us in all the big things, but I think He loves us even more in all the little things.  It takes a true Friend to be there for you all day, every day, in good and bad times, and to speak to you as much as you'll listen.  He is my Best Friend ever, even when I don't deserve it or am not as good a friend back.  And that is why I believe.

Not-Quite-Cupcakes

This was our dinner last night.  :)

It was actually based on a recipe from, you guessed it, FamilyFun.go.com.  They're not REALLY cupcakes...they're meatloaf and mashed potatoes! 

They are SO easy and fun...not as easy as actual meatloaf and potatoes, but still pretty easy.  And worth it just for the look on Paul's face!

Not-Quite-Cupcakes (makes 12)

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees, and line a 12-cup muffin tin with FOIL muffin liners (you can get a pack of 30 at Hobby Lobby for less than $2)...don't use plain paper liners, they won't work!!!

2. Make your meatloaf mix however you like (for about a pound of beef)--some days I just add ketchup, bread crumbs, and onions to a pound of ground beef, while other days I get a little more adventurous and add things like onion soup mix to the meat.  Yesterday, I was feeling a little like chocolate, so I loosely followed the directions for the meat here--it includes barbeque sauce, cocoa powder, and molasses, among other things!  I also added wheat germ and oats along with bread crumbs.  This part is totally up to you.  :)

3. Spoon some of the meat mixture into each foil liner--fill them about 3/4 full.

4. Bake at 375 for 15 minutes or until cooked through.

5. Meanwhile, make about 3 cups of mashed potatoes.  (It's easier here if you use a boxed mix...this part was difficult for me to gauge, as I always use real and whole potatoes and I had to peel them this time around...plus, I always make too much.  But better too much than too little!)  Separate into three or four bowls, add food coloring, and stir to make pastel colors.

6. When the meatloaf cupcakes are done, let them sit a while and cool off (not 'til cold, but until the meat hardens up a bit).  If you try to move them while they're still really warm, you'll (A) poke holes in the foil liners, and (B) probably mash the whole thing up.  Trust me, I learned that the hard way.  You CAN drain them first...that might help.

7. Spread a generous spoonful of mashed potatoes on each "cupcake," et voila, you're done!

Even with our huge appetites, these dozen were plenty, and we brought some over to my mom to surprise her.  :)  I had anticipated we'd want more than we did, so I have LOTS of meat and potatoes leftover...tonight, I'll probably put them all into a "pie." 

Happy eating!  Linking up HERE.

A Sneak Peak...

This is what I'm working on at the moment. 

Even crocheting for significant portions of the day, every day, I think I won't be finished with the WHOLE project until the weekend... 

And in the meantime, I'm finding it VERY, VERY HARD not to go out and buy a dozen boxes of Oreos!  In fact, I may go there in a very short while and buy...one or two.  :)

But it'll all be worth it in the end!

Charissa's Graduation!

Here are just some photos from Charissa's graduation from Purdue yesterday!

We watched her graduation on the TV...and we caught her!  (Which wasn't easy, since it only showed her on the bottom left of the screen...)

Charissa and Caida

Charissa, Caida, and Mom

Adding Brittany and Tanner

Adding Grandma Karen

Adding Cerene (far left) and me in the back...on my tiptoes so you can see me!

Grandpa Hall, Mom, Charissa, and Caida

Sisters!  (And men.)  Cerene and James, Charissa, me and Paul.

Congrats again, Charissa!  :)