Crocheted Bead Earrings

  
I've been wanting to make these earrings for quite a while.  I finally got around to buying the jewelry-making supplies and got to it.  They're super easy and the pattern is FREE! I've posted the free pattern on my Ravelry store

 

Now my Ravelry Store can be accessed by non-Ravelry members.  Take a look.

Crochet Thread Cup Cozies

I designed these cozies to add a little class to my occasional coffee-to-go instead of the paper sleeves they give you at the coffee shop.  I had previously made some cozies using worsted weight yarn, but the result was too bulky-feeling for my taste.

The cozies use either #10 or #3 Crochet Thread.  The multi-colored one uses #3 size thread.  When my wife saw it, she asked if I could make one in Red and White to match Starbucks new "Holiday" cup.  I didn't have #3 thread in those colors, so I made her one using #10 thread from my stash.

I've added the pattern, which contains versions for both thread sizes, to my Ravelry and Etsy Stores.  

Etsy
Ravelry

Hot Air Balloons from our backyard

2010-10-20

We live in an area where hot air balloons are frequently seen, but usually too high to get a good shot. This was an especially foggy day and the balloons stayed low so they could still see the ground. I was fortunate enough to get this great shot from our backyard.

Cotton Crusher

Cotton Crusher
Originally uploaded by CrochetDad

My latest hat - a cotton crusher. Even though the brim LOOKS firm, it's only the edge being held firm by nylon trimmer line (like in your lawn edge trimmer) It's VERY comfortable - yes, I'm working on the pattern - which will be a very easy project.

Granny Square Blanket

Granny Square Blanket
Originally uploaded by CrochetDad

The yarn for this blanket came from my mother-in-law, who passed away 2 years ago. My father-in-law ran across her stash of cotton yarn earlier this year and asked if I'd like to have it. Coincidentally, my daughter was expecting a baby this year and asked if I could make a blanket with the yarn from "Grandma". I chose to make the blanket with granny squares because of the varied choices of colors. Join using the "join as you go" method. The border is two rows of single crochet followed by a row of *sc, 2dc in same stitch, skip two stitches, repeat from *

Grandma, Grandpa, and Sakinah

Grandma, Grandpa, and Sakinah
Originally uploaded by CrochetDad

Our new grandaughter, Sakinah at two days old 2010-08-25

Tip enjoying her new bed

Tip enjoying her new bed
Originally uploaded by CrochetDad

This is Tip - our last remaining cat from a litter of strays. Our daughter Ciera started feeding her mother (a stray she named Snowball) many years ago, and she took to sleeping in our garage when she became pregnant - Ciera insisted we leave the garage door open a crack to let her in when she wanted. Of course, she gave birth in our garage to six kittens. We found nice homes for three of them, and kept the others.

I named this one "Tip" because of the white tip at the end of her tail. She turned eight years old this year, and now she's the only one we have left.

We recently redecorated our home, which, of course included the bedroom - with new paint, and furniture including a new comforter for the bed cover. Since the cats had the habit of sleeping on our bed (whether we were in it or not) my wife insisted on a cat bed on top of the comforter to reduce the amount of hair left behind.

Anyway, here she is, totally relaxed in her new bed.