In my blog I plan to chat about nature, crafts, baking, gardening, beekeeping, family, and whatever else seems appropriate at the time. Sit back, relax, and enjoy!

Showing posts with label Valentine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Valentine. Show all posts

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Granny Square Love and other stuff




The Granny Bee (see side bar) called me the other day and told me I needed to get this book. I told her I'd seen it but it seemed like I could do most of the stuff in it already, without the book, and I am getting a little tired of making grannies. BUT I took another look at it, and I decided I better have it. Cushion covers, footstool covers, embellishments, Christmas stockings, etc. It's by Sarah London . I'm excited about it now and I think I'll make everything in it! But first, I gotta finish the projects I already started. Remember...FINISH...is my word of the year.






Remember these granny squares?



Here is a pillow I finished with them.


I had purchased these pillows, cheap, at a garage sale. I always buy pillows at garage sales, wash them up, and recover them.


And this material was actually in our garage sale pile, to get rid of! I can't remember where I got it, but knowing me, I probably got it at a garage sale in a bag with other materials. Anyway, it's slick and even though I liked the pattern, I did not like the fabric.


But slick is just what I needed to slide into the granny squares I stitched together.


Not too bad huh?





Here is the other side.


And I did get the other square done for my big granny blanket I started last year.


Thank you for your advice. I went up to a size six hook. I must be more tense than I realized! Although last winter was much worse for me. It looks like it fits the bed laid out this way, but it doesn't. I didn't photograph the bottom part of the bed.


Anyway, I'm a little disappointed because I wanted this blanket to fit on our bed. I know it doesn't match the pillow I made. I already have an afghan to match it. This blanket matches a rug I already have, and I started it last winter. So anyway, it looks like I need to make four more, and hope and pray I have enough pink and blue leftover to go around the whole blanket.

On another note...



I made some chocolate cupcakes last week and took them to the granny bee meeting.





I also gave some to my cousin, who stopped by, along with a valentine heart. I don't usually get into valentine's day so much, but here's what I decided. You don't have the pressure of Christmas, with a gift. No big meals like Thanksgiving or Easter. No cookie exchanges, or entertain, so you don't have to clean the house up! So it's low stress and fun!


mmmmmmmmm ....I put conversations hearts on them.



I got this lovely thank you card in the mail, for giving her a crocheted heart! It was her birthday!

(I'm getting a lot of mileage out of those crocheted hearts.)

Cindy Bee

Friday, February 3, 2012

Valentine's Exchange

OK - since I'm about as honest as they come...

I put all of your names on a heart (aawwww)

and drew them out, one by one.


First name drawn, exchanges with the second name drawn...and so on.


And all of you, except Theresa, are listed on my side bar.

Theresa is the only one blog-less....come on Theresa...start blogging!

So we will count on Theresa to contact Julie.
All of the following blogs are listed on my side bar.

Remember, in an envelope, fun, pink/red/heart, valentine-y stuff, hand-made or not, in the mail.


Ladybug Dreams - The Country Cellar


Grandma Pedens Porch - Bee Lady

(we still gotta mail it - that's the rules!)


Theresa - east 4 plus 1 more (something like that!)


Reality Jayne - just breathe janis (no cheating)


hookin it with mr. lick lick - Granny Bee


I hope you all enjoy this. Post on your blogs what you got.

It'll be a great beginner post for you Theresa.


Happy Valentines Day!

Cindy Bee
















Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Friendship Bread, Grannie Squares, and Valentines

So...at the Granny Bees the other day someone was giving out friendship starter.

Why doesn't anyone ever want friendship bread starter?

When you say, "does anyone want Friendship bread starter", people run like it's zucchini in July! Have you ever had the bread/cake it makes? YUM


So I took a start...


Squeezed the bag for the first few days...added the ingredients...squeezed the bag...


and made the bread.


Bummer.
I was all excited to take pictures of this yummy looking bread, but for some reason, it wouldn't come out of the pans without falling apart! Oh well, no matter what it looks like, it is still very moist and yummy. (might have been that I didn't have any instant pudding so I used the cook and serve kind)



Now I have four bags to give away. Anyone? anyone?




And you know I've been knee deep in granny squares, preparing for the Winter Woolen Workshop. (see side bar for information)


My cousin had last Friday off of work. She came over. She's a lefty. And I wanted to see if I could teach a lefty how to crochet. Well, she was fumbling around with the hook and yarn, and I got a little panicky inside, and I admit, I was hoping no lefties sign up for my granny square class. But then something amazing happened. She held the hook in her right hand, and voila' she started making grannies!!!

Perfect little grannies! Easy peasy, huh cuz?

I was showing her how the grannies I made look sewn together. (above)I didn't much like them.




So I decided to stitch some white, cream, or black around them, to see if that would help.



I

chose


white.




First set of grannies in above picture no border.

Second set, white border.


So I went to the library and got some of my favorite, easy-to-watch, movies.

Movies I've seen before, so if I miss a bit, no big deal.


Cranford

Miss Marple

Enchanted April

My House in Umbria

Enchanted April

and

Cross Creek



and on Sunday, I got up veeerrrrryyy early. Six episodes of Cranford later...


I have stitched white borders.


Ta Dah!



More on this later.

Because...before this post gets too long, I want to make sure the following people are the ones who want to be in the Valentine exchange.

If anyone else wants to join, let me know before Friday.

See previous two posts if you don't know what I'm talking about.


Theresa (no blog)

Hookin it with Mr. Lick Lick

LadyBug Dreams

Grandma Pedens Porch

Reality jayne

just breathe janis

east plus 4 & 1 more

ME


And just to recap - it does not have to be handmade. Not all of my blogger friends make things. I went to the fabric store and bought a few fun small pink heart things that fit in an envelope. It's just fun getting Valentine-y stuff in the mail. Think simple, small, and fun. Or if I must say it...cheap and easy!


Cindy Bee