Tis The Season

Hello Everyone! How are you all?

I'm ever so sorry for not coming to visit over the past few months. Not only has time been zooming by making it difficult to find a moment to spend on my blog, but the truth of the matter is.... I've been working on a lot of new stuff.

Having pretty much the past few months free of blogging, I've had some time to focus and to create. I've come up with some really cool ideas for future projects and am feeling rather ambitious in terms of the direction of my blog and business for 2015. 

I've been meaning to write a post for the past few days, but strangely felt like I didn't know where to begin. Of course with it being December, I will be showing off lots of Christmas stuff! I can't help it! I love December, the countdown 'til Christmas and all of the glories it brings! 


Feeling energized and inspired, I'm looking forward to getting back into my blog and spending more time with you all.

Now normally I'm one of those people who just can't wait until Thanksgiving to put up my Christmas tree, but this year plans changed a little bit because my husband and I spent Thanksgiving in the Bahama's this year, and well, we have cats, 2 brand new little ones who are just a few months ago, who every since I've put up my tree think that it's their own little playhouse.

You see? This would be Tenzin, our newest child!

But with that being said! Normally I go all out on my Christmas tree, putting all of my amazing glass ornaments that I love ever so much. But this year, I just couldn't do it with these little tree climbers. So this year I went out and bought all new ornaments, PLASTIC ornaments. So they can bat at them and knock them off the tree all they want this year.

This is probably one of my favorite ornaments on my tree that I found this year. Suits me well doesn't it?

Followed by my camera ornament that I received for Christmas a few years ago..

This is defiantly my favorite ornament that I found this year. Not only is it a Key which is a symbol for having a rare disability/disease. But it also reads "First Christmas In Our New Home". My husband and I moved into this new place back in the spring after many years of personal struggles.

And finally, here is my gorgeous tree.

My tree looked a lot better last week when I finally was able to put it up, but like I said, the kittens are enjoying it to much.

At least these two only sleep under the tree :)

Now, part of my absence from blogging is thanks to my creativeness going crazy! I have been working on amazingly cute items! Almost all of these new items are photography props for the wee little ones, but they have been a big seller in my Etsy shop!

I plan to share some with you all, however lets do so on a later post that I plan to share with you all shortly. But if you're like me and just simply can't wait, head over to my Facebook page! I post there regularly! 

With that being said, have a great weekend everyone! And stay tuned for more!

Happy Tuesday

Good Evening everyone! I hope all of you are having a great week so far! Tomorrow is Wednesday! Woohoo!

 

 Yep, another frigid day here in Ohio. Had about another inch of snow last night. 

 But, what's this in the sky? The Sun? I almost forgot what it looked like! I have a case of cabin fever for sure!

The good thing about cold winter days, gives you the best excuse ever to just stay inside all day and work on some new projects. So far this year I have been pretty busy! And I'm slowly going out of my comfort zone to try new things.

I'm becoming a ruffle scarf making addict! I have a bunch of skeins of this yarn, and they can't wait to be made into scarfs!

I was thinking this year that I will be participating in some local craft fairs. Just to get my feet wet in the craft selling world. I mean what's the worse that can happen? Not get that many sales? Oh well, just get right back up on the horse and keep trying. The harder you try, the better you do :) 

Do you remember when I said the other day that I want to start making cuter items?

Does this newborn frog hat qualify as cute enough? (I will write up the pattern and share).

Or...

How about these baby Converse booties :) A special order for my newborn niece! 

I promised myself great things this year, and so far I am sticking to my own promise :) 

Now, since it's a frigid winters day, I thought it would be a good day to start on a rainbow baby afghan. So far the colors are working very well with each other, and I cannot wait to see the completed project. 

Nice, cozy, and soft :) Have a good night everyone!

xxTaylor

Snowy Weekend

It's been a few months since I've blogged! Oh no! But it's a new year, and I promised myself that I would work my tail off to be an awesome knitter/crocheter/blogger this year! So here we are, and here we go!


First and foremost, I hope everyone had a terrific New Year! Can't believe it's 2014 and already half way through January!And winter, well is defiantly in full swing here in the States. Minus zero temps and snow! Lots of snow! I know I'm ready for Spring to hit so I can get back into my photography! However, it is winter so a hike down to my favorite waterfalls is in order soon!

Yep, snowy. But not to overly cold... For now.. After all this is Ohio..

 

Atleast it makes everything look very pretty :) 

Now, nothing like a hot cup of coffee to warm you up on just a cold Winter day. Mmm Vanilla and Hazelnut!

 A few weeks ago I had a nice little chat with myself. A new year means a whole new agenda in life. I decided that I really need to take a different approach to managing myself and my life. I don't have a lot to juggle these days, and in order for my to contine to feel happy and upbeat, it's essential that I keep on top of things. What this basically means is that I need to alter my natural free-floating tendencies and create a little more structure to my days. Yes, a little more organisation and structure would be very good for me, I decided. Just a little, nothing too harsh or stifling. This structure would allow me to carry on doing the things I love (and the things I am committed to) but in a less chaotic, stressful way.

I decided this year that I will go out of my comfort zone with well, just about everything in my life. Knitting and crocheting harder things to better my skills, such as, create my own patterns, continue with harder skills, and try harder more complicated patterns. And with my photography, go WAY out of my comfort zone and try newer things, play around with Photoshop more to create better images. 

So, lets begin this adding more structure and organization with my life. Today, well I organized all of my yarn, and tools (lets hope it stays this way). 

I have come insanely addicted to double-pointed needles in the past few months! Like, really really addicted! So far I've only been making hats with them, but I plan on going out of my comfort zone really soon and trying something a little harder. Can't be that hard riiight?

(Btw, doesn't that hat make you feel really really happy? I think it would make fun socks!)

I'm loving the double ribbed stitch! Makes hats so stretchy to fit over the wee lads head! 

One of my many goals this year, is to knit a bunch of hats to donate to the NICU at one of the hospitals here in town. My niece Twylah was born on Christmas day, 6 weeks early and she has been in the NICU ever since just to get a little help breathing on her own. But luckily, she's doing amazing and should be released this weekend!

But my sister(my best friend) told something very very sad. There are some babies who are there by themselves, their parents don't come to see them until they are ready to go home :( So my goal this year is to knit them up some little hats and some little teddy bears to keep them company! 

And with all of this said, adding some rows on this ripple afghan I've been working on for quite sometime now. It'll be done someday haha! But come Monday, I need to start on a Mickey Mouse graphgan for my nephew who turns 3 in two months! Wow time flies!

 Have a great evening everyone, and happy yarning!

Happy October! Pumpkin Season is in full swing!

 

Happy October! Pumpkin season is officially here. I thought I would kick off one of my favorite months with a simple pumpkin on DPNs! I cannot wait until I get to go pumpkin patch picking, apple picking, pumpkin carving, and treat or treating with my 4 adorable nephews! I probably crazy for saying I'm so happy summer is over! But living in the heart of the midwest, Summers and Winters tend to drag on and on with no end in sight! Autumn is by far my favorite seasons! 

 

The beautiful colors! It amazes me how simply gorgeous Autumn is! Its time for a hiking trip down Southern Ohio within the next week or two when the colors are at their peak for the season! Can't wait!

I hope you have a great first day of October! What are you favorite things about the month and Autumn?

Ok, wow...

It has been forever since I last posted! Oh, say back in May?? Wow! I'm still alive and still trucking!

I ran into some personal life issues + I just recently started a job at the beginning of August! Loving this new job, but its taking a lot of my crafting time away from me! I suppose I just need to set a few hours in the day aside to do some knitting/crocheting and most importantly some photography!

It is now September, summer is defiantly coming to an end here in Ohio! It's getting time for warm hoodies, cuddling up with a nice warm afghan, and fuzzy warm socks.

Autumn is my favorite time of the year. And the Harvest Moon is absolutely gorgeous this year!

I'm just waiting for all of the amazing Autumn colors to peak this year, and they are already started to show up! I love the yellows, oranges, and reds of Autumn. Especially walking through some of my favorite parks around town, and of course hiking in Southern Ohio(long as the snakes aren't out).

I have been working on a bunch of different projects lately, I'm slow at getting them finished, but they have been getting done! I really need to step up my game and add more items to my Etsy shop! Why not make a little profit with what I love to do! There are a lot of things up my sleeve that I would love to make!

But for now I have an afghan that I really need to finish for my elderly neighbor who is moving to Maryland next month! I'm roughly halfway done, but it's a very boring pattern so I loose interest after a while. Pretty sure after that's done, I need to start working on Christmas present orders! Man can't believe it's almost that time again! Where did this year go??

I'll finish tonight off with some baby afghans that I have made in the last month!

 

I hope everyone has a great evening, and bare with me. I promise every other day posts again! And bunches of stuff up on my Etsy Shop!

-Taylor

Happy May!

Wait, did I type that right? Happy May? It's already May! But shoot I'm not complaining one bit, I'm so happy to be back in my flippy flops with a fresh coat of polish over my wee toes!

 And my favorite garden park is blooming with my favorite flowers! Beautiful!

 

I hope everyone has been doing well! I've been crocheting bunch of baby items to donate and they look amazing! My hats are absolutely adorable!

Aren't these all so darn cute! I love the little girls hat with the flower! I plan to make a total of 50 to donate! My hands do not even hurt the slightest bit!


Remember my Octagon and Square afghan??

Guess what!?!

Isn't great? And it went to my mom for her 44th Birthday! She absolutely loved it!


This weekend I plan on working on some more items for charity, not sure what just yet. Or perhaps just go and enjoy the beautiful weather!

Weekend Planner 4/12 - 4/14

It always feels amazing when you crochet or knit that last stitch on an item for charity, doesn't it? This past week I made a few new items for charity and it felt amazing when I got done with these :)


The granny square baby afghan was just a basic granny square and kept going for 22 rounds. The middle one I just knitted and CO as many as I want and just did a basic garter stitch.

The last one reminds me of watermelon, doesn't it remind you of watermelon? For this I used this Simple Lines baby afghan pattern. I just love this design!

I plan to donate these once I make a bunch more! Putting my stash of yarn to very good use!

It's going to be a little bit chilly and wet out this weekend. But April showers bring May flowers right? So here is what I have planned this weekend..

- I'll be working on some WIPs that I have many of; one being my Octagon and Square afghan! My deadline for this is very soon.

- Even though it's going to be a little cool outside this weekend, I may take my camera and shoot around German Village and Short North area. A little black and white in these two parts of town are my favorite.

Don't you agree?(I do need to visit this shop.)

But back to my weekend plans...

- I bought some Brown and Beige crochet thread, and I plan to make some coaster for my living room coffee table. So maybe I'll work on some to this weekend.

- And of course spending some wonderful time with my husband. It's hard to believe we've been married 3 years on the 23rd! Time sure does fly <3

That's about it for tonight! I hope you all enjoy your weekend whether you are snowed in out west or having a warm Spring weekend, doing what you love to do!

Happy Friday!

Weekend Planner

Happy Saturday everyone! Is everyone enjoying this lovely spring weather? I know I am!

It's a nice warm perfect weekend to do some awesome things!

First off, since it's starting to get nice and warm out, most of my days will be spent outside! So I'll be doing my crocheting and knitting in the evenings or if its a rainy day..

Right now I'm taking a break from my octagon and square afghan and knitting a little bit of preemie items. I plan to start some kind of charity group here shortly, so check back and I'll be adding a new link to my page.

I love the colors of this particular preemie afghan. Makes me think of Watermelon :)


I've been wanting to teach myself to do embroidery, and I saw this little kits at JoAnn's the other day for only $1 and had to pick up a couple of them to try out. Now I need to learn some stitches :) Can't be to hard right?



And of course since it's so lovely outside this weekend and this whole week to come, I plan to be hanging out with...

 my adorable little nephew taking some photos. He's usually shy about the camera so I giggled when I shot this photo. I love his expression!


Today we went to a local park that has a living historical farm that had 3 day old baby lambs :) They were so cute!

Here's some of the photos from that farm.. Enjoy and have an amazing weekend!

  

Doesn't this look like it was taken waaaaaay back then?

 

What's in my yarn Basket?

Happy Tuesday everyone! How is everyone doing on this fine Spring day? Although I look outside and still see all of the snow from this Spring snowstorm many of us got hit with over the weekend.

Tired of the snow and cold yet?

I know I sure am...

Maybe these little lovely flower bunches will help bring a little spring weather, just maybe.. I am ready to plant my own bunch of flowers outside :)

But in the mean time, to warm us up a little, I have a yummy pot roast with carrots and potatoes in the slow cooker, and it smells amazing!



How about we get to what is in my basket :)

These past few weeks I've been stuffing my yarn basket with more projects than I should, and it's over flowing! So no more stuffing until I get at least two of the afghans I have in it done.

Told you guys its overflowing...

First thing in it is a octagon and square afghan :) And the greens I chose for it, look amazing together.

I think my favorite kind of yarn is the Red Heart super saver. It's really cheap and it's so soft! The greens I chose to use for this were:

#661 Frosty Green, #0624 Tea Leaf, and #0389 Hunter Green

This pattern is very simple, it's a basic octagon and granny square pattern! 

For this afghan I did use Red Hearts Octagon & Square throw pattern.

However I did change it up a little bit, when it tells you to *hdc in the top of ch-3* for rnds 3-8. I changed it so that it was *ch1, slst in top of ch-3* instead of the hdc. It looks a whole lot better, trust me :) 

 

I didn't have to use this pattern, I could have made up my own, but I'm still learning how to make my own and make sure I write it down as I go. I tend to get "lost" in the moment ;) I'm sure all of us crafters do that from time to time.

 I've been working on this for almost 2 weeks now...

I have all of my squares and octagons done now...

And Mr.Kittyboy approves of them and says that they make a nice pillow for him... :)

Now comes the fun part, stitching them all together, which is the part I dread oh so much! I took a break after I finished making the motifs. I started stitching them together this morning, and so far it looks amazing!

  

 Can not wait to see what it looks like when it is completed! However this one will be given away to my mom for her birthday next month. But it's so easy, so I can just make my own :)

  

Remember my ripple blanket I've been working on? The brown tones one that I made a tutorial for?

 It's coming together slowly... :P Soon as I finish this octagon throw, this ripple afghan will get finished! Even though I have a ton of new ruffle yarn to make some pretty scarves, I will be good and finish what is in my basket first :)