Ringing in 2012 with Crafty Goals!

As I sit here enjoying the last 3 hours of 2011, I'm looking forward to 2012 in so many ways! I can't do much of a recap with what projects I did this year as I just started blogging it all in September so I likely don't have pictures of everything! I do know that since I had two months between my last day at work and when the little one was born, a LOT of crocheting and knitting was done then!

Being that I really don't have pictures for this blog, I'll keep it short and to the point. Here's my 2012 crochet/knit goals!

1. Finish my Year of Projects List (even moreso, finish it BY June 30th...the deadline)
• There's 14 things left on it...whew, we'll see how it goes!
2. 6 Afghans in 2012 (All except one of these are started at least)
• Block A Month Afghan for our house ( 6 x 6...it's a big one!)
• Block A Month Afghan for a Christmas present ( 4 x 4 lapghan)
• Ripple Blanket for our bed (Queen sized, another big one!)
• Ripple Blanket for a Christmas present ( 48 x 62 )
• Carseat sized Snowflake blanket #1 ( 5 snowflakes x 4 snowflakes...can't remember exact dimensions)
• Carseat sized Snowflake blanket #2 ( 5 snowflakes x 4 snowflakes...can't remember exact dimensions)
3. Make one item each week to add to craft show stock
4. Make a list of things to make for the little one (list is still growing and not complete yet)
• A bigger winter hat
• More baby leggings
• Bigger mittens
• Skull Jumper
5. Learn at least 3 new techniques whether it be within knitting or crocheting or even with the Knook.

I'd say only five goals seems simple but it appears to be a loaded list but I'm sticking to it! Even to the point where I'm using those handy little calendars to make monthly/weekly goals as a guide to stay on track!

YoP #8

Going to keep the update short and sweet this week with it being the holidays!

Finished up my Snowflake throw if you didn't see it the other day. Here's a quick shot of it!

And the picture below is the one I mentioned Friday where I posted it and now all of a sudden I have three more of these to make!! Yikes!

 

I did some small revisions to my list based on some things (and patterns) that have come up. Here's the rundown as it stands:


Small Projects: (4 of 7 completed)
1. Granny Square Cowl - Make with stash odds and ends for lots of color (COMPLETED 11.9.11)
2. Divine Hat - Moda Dea Eclipse in stash (COMPLETED November 2011)
3. City Girl Cap - Vanna's Choice in stash
4. Sensational Lacy Scarf - Crochet Thread in stash in several different colors
5. Lace Fingerless Mitts - Patons Stretch Socks in stash
6. Crochet Button Slippers - Green/Yellow boucle in stash (COMPLETE December 2011 but haven't shared the final yet)
7. Crochet Mile a Minute Scarf - Simply Soft Ombres in stash (COMPLETED Dec 2011 but haven't shared the final yet)

CALs (done by end of 2011): (3 of 3 completed)
1. Chevron Lace Cardi (COMPLETED 10.23.2011)
2. Snowflakes Throw (COMPLETED Dec 2011)
3. Vortex Throw (COMPLETED Dec 2011)

Crochet: (0/6 completed)
1. Pinecone Top
2. Lacy Cropped Cardi
3. Custom Tank Version #1
4. Cap Sleeve Top (in progress)
5. Custom Tank Version #2
6. South Bay Shawlette

Knit: (1/7 completed)
1. Clapotis (next to be cast on as soon as I'm caught up on a few things)
2. Ballet Camisole (in progress and flying along swimmingly!)
3. Peacock Shawlette
4. Sagrantino Shawl
5. Haruni
6. Saroyan (COMPLETED Nov 2011)
7. Walnut Grove

The top of my list looks great, the bottom not so much. The ballet camisole is nearly finished and I'm hoping to get it off the needles soon so that I can join in on a Walnut Grove KAL that starts Jan. 1 and runs through Feb. 14 so that'll get me another completed and another started. The crochet part of the list doesn't bother me as I crochet fast so really I was making sure I get the knitting out of the way and/or started first.

Hope everyone's having a fantastic holiday!

Squee Sunday!!

First off, I hope everyone's had a fantastic holiday! Among other non-crafty things, I have to share my squee about the crafty goodness I received for Christmas!!

My parents got me a...

Talk about scrapbooking goodness!!! I'm so excited to play with this die-cut machine! It also gives me motivation to do what I've been meaning to do to my desk...clean it! Hubby and I are moving my desktop computer up to our spare room which we use as an "office" so I can use my desk for all my crafty things. As of now, most of my crafty things are up in the spare room which doesn't work well considering I spend most of my time down in the Rec Room where the desk is! Thus...the upcoming switch. The possibilities are endless with this machine and I can' even decide where to start! It comes with four cartridges already too and my younger brother gave me a storage case for the cartridges (on top of an A.C. Moore giftcard :) yay).

I'll also have to make a trip to Michaels as I have a giftcard there too and may use it (on top of a 40% coupon) to get a set of interchangeable needles.

Hubby made sure I won't be bored with:

 

I love amigurumi and I don't make enough of it, it's too cute!!

Plus, I had asked for this and totally forgot I had asked!

He also noticed (more than myself even) that I constantly talk about a certain attachment I wanted for my KitchenAid and....tada!

Know what it is? The book below he also got me might help!

That's right, we'll be making some homemade ice creams and sorbets! I cannot wait to try this thing!!

Ok, done squeeing about my random crafty/cooking goodness. I feel like such a little kid!

FO Friday #8

I have been horrible with blogging this week but the upside on my end is that all the presents are wrapped and done!

Also managed to finish the Snowflake Throw which was supposed to be my last blanket for 2011 giving me a clean slate to start my two planned blankets for 2012 but more on that later. First, onto the good stuff, the finished goodness of snowflakes!

I posted a picture of the hubby holding up the finished product on Facebook and that apparently made more work for myself :-P. I now am making three more of these things for friends. Ok, more like two because I'm making smaller carseat sized versions for a friend's two youngest so those two will total about the size of one blanket. I'm also making a full sized one for another friend to give to his wife. I'm excited to try this pattern with different colors! For the two small carseat sized blankets, one will be camo and the other will be pink camo which I'm looking forward to seeing! The other full sized one is going to be a green which will be pretty. All staying with white on the snowflakes.

So in the meantime while that yarn is on its way to my door in a package, I've been busily working on my ballet camisole more. There's a KAL that starts Jan. 1 and of course it requires the size needles that my camisole is sitting on. Now surely I could just go buy another set of that size but I'm being good and finishing this one first instead!

Also looks like my Caron Simply Soft will be going towards a Haruni shawl so we'll see when I can start on that too!

YoP #7

In case you missed it, I did manage to finish one blanket this week, my Vortex! Little one has been enjoying its swirly goodness as she rolls around on the floor :)

I didn't share a progress picture of my ballet camisole last week so here's an update!

I have two more inches to go on the body before I start the upper back and front so not much longer! I ended up making a lot of progress on it this week because I decided after I finished my Vortex Wednesday I'd take a good few days and just focus on this.

This week's goal is finishing up that snowflake throw that has one more row to be attached! It should take me no time at all so those two blankets will be finished and I'll be able to start my next two blankets.

Once I finish the snowflakes, I can start something else off my YoP list (or catch up on my cap sleeve top which I should do).

One is a ripple blanket for our queen size bed and the other will be my blanket I'm doing along with the Crochet Block A Month group so it'll be this time next year before I share those :-P.