I started an autumn afghan, here's a photo. I've not written it down, so I'll just wing it and show you a close up and hope you understand what the heck I'm talking about in a pattern. :D
Autumn Motif
Motif
Ch 4 and join.
Row 1. Make 12 dcs in the chain.
Row 2. In between each of the 12 dcs make a leaf by joining 2 hdcs and a ch 1 between each leaf. So you'll have 12 leafs.
Row 3. In each of the ch 1 spaces crochet 4 dcs around. So you'll have 48 dcs all tog around.
Row 4. In between each of the set of 4 dcs, make a ch 4 loop around. So you'll have 12 chain loops around.
Row 5. In 1st ch 4 loop of Row 4 do 2 hdcs, 1 dc, 1 trc, 1 dc, 2 hdc and this will be a corner. In next ch 4 loop of Row 4, 2 sc, ch 1, 2 sc. In next ch 4 loop of Row 4, 2 sc, ch 1, 2 sc. In next ch 4 loop of Row 4, for another corner, 2 hdc, 1 dc, 1 trc, 1 dc, 2 hdc. Cont this around for 4 corners with 2 loops of 2 sc, 1 ch, 2 sc, between the corners.
Here's how I join the motifs after doing the 1st one...
I work the 1st corner of Row 5, then the two loops with the 2sc,ch 1, 2sc. For the next corner I'll do the 2 hdc, 1 dc and 1 trc, then slip stitch into the trc of previous motif corner, then cont on with the corner, in the next loop, I do my 2 sc, instead of the 1 ch, I slip stitch into the ch 1 of the previous motif worked, then the 2sc, etc. around. I like joining my motifs together, some people just sew them together afterwards.
So if I've totally confused you, here's the motif and you can look at it and do it your way. LOL The 1st row of the 12 dcs is too bright, but the joining of the motifs were more important, so that's what it shows better. I'd work on a better photo, but now I have to make a bajillion chocolate chip cookies for a birthday party tomorrow. :)
I can't believe it's Fall already and I'm loving it, bring it. :D My favorite time of year. So I finished my homey blanket and it's heavy, still working on my granny Christmas afghan, but ran out of the green yarn, Joannes hopefully has it in now. Decorated some Fall into the house, started the Fall cooking, made brownies, caramel brownies and Fall sugar cookies, already bought some Apple Cider and Pumpkin Spice creamor. That watch piece is something my daughter's friend made with old watch pieces, pretty cool.
UPDATE: Went to Joannes today and they do have the Christmas yarn in, oh yeah, so excited. :) They had so many Fall things out, I felt like I was home.
Here's some photos of this month so far...
I painted one of my kitchen counter chairs, covered over the medium blue and made it Wedgewood Green by Apple Barrel. You can get those little bottles at Michaels. It took a couple of coats and three coats of Modpodge for the sealer. I love red and green. I need to buy some red checkered material to make another tablecloth.
I've almost finished my homespun afghan, the one I showed using my old yarn. I call it homespun, because it's just homey and warm. I've decided to keep the end strings as fringes. When I connect the rows with a different color of yarn, I leave both pieces longer. When I'm done with the rows I'll just tie some fringes at the changing of the colors that don't have any. I really love that crochet/knit look, remember it's just single crochet in the back of the stitch, instead of both loops, giving it the knit look.
I think it's just hitting me, summer will soon be over, not as the calendar says, but when it's September 1st, it's Fall to me. It's getting closer:D I love the Fall, anyway, and am really excited about it coming. I'm not excited about my grandson being back in school though, I've been watching all three a few times a week this summer. Then it will be back to the two little ones again after school starts, but he loves school. It reminds me of You've Got Mail, "Don't you love New York in the fall? It makes me want to buy school supplies." But I'm in Virginia, anyway...now I want to watch You've Got Mail and buy Ty some crayons and pencils. ::D
Yesterday was one of those laid back days, put on some tea, burned a nutmeg/clove candle, love Yankee candles. What is it about tea and candles that sets a whole mood? I don't always use my tea kettle or teapot, but when I take the time to do it, I really enjoy it. It's just so easy to use the coffee machine for hot water in a cup, or the microwave. There's just something special about that kettle, teapot and teacup while crocheting and smelling candles.
I was going through my pantry. Looking in my pantry you can tell I'm a Costco nut, a Costkite. LOL Target is ticking me off clearancing my four can packages of Tomato and Chicken Noodle soups. Why do stores do that anyway? It seems everything I like gets clearanced and then I have to search other stores for the same thing. Don't they know that ticks people off? No? Okay then, I know they don't care, it's all about bringing in the new, but I'm a creature of habit and don't like changes.
I love saving containers, esp jars I've bought for honey and jams, love labels. Those cake and veggie trays you pick up or people have at parties, grab them, because people just throw them away. They're great for give away cakes, people won't have to return the container to you and I'm constantly giving away food after holidays and parties. Saved containers are great for sending food back with people. Those little syrup jars from Cracker Barrel are so cute filled up with syrup and give to each of us for our pancakes on the weekend.
I've made that big square flower vase a candle holder now, the light reflecting off it is so pretty at night.
I decided I was going to use my older yarn, you know the Red Heart yarn that's not soft, but makes sturdy afghans. I really wasn't doing it for looks, but for warmth, because it was yarn I really didn't want for any new projects. I wanted to do the crochet/knit look, it's just single crochet and going into the back of the sc instead of both loops, pick up the back one on each row. It's getting heavier, so it will make a good warm afghan.
My son got married yesterday, She's a sweet girl. It was a great weekend. Above are her shoes, (the color of the bridesmaids dresses), it's the photographer's photo with her bouquet and the bridesmaids bouquets. I got a picture of her dress before taken out of the dress cover and the close up is the photographer's photo. I want a camera like his when I grow up. :D Her dress was just beautiful.
The night before, after the rehearsal, we all went to a Dinner Theatre. It was the first time I've been to one, that was fun. The next morning my oldest daughter came over to do our hair and make up.
We got to the church, the weather was a little misty, but it wasn't hot, thank goodness. The church was so pretty and the ceremony was beautiful. Then we went to the reception. They had a section set up for all the drinks and some were walking around with trays of little round meat balls and these oh so tasty little fried cheese balls.
After the parents, groomsmen, bridesmaids and then bride and groom were introduced and walked in, the father and main groomsman gave a little speech. Everyone danced and had so much fun. After our food, they had a table set up for candy bags and candy, with little color marshmallows. People of every generation there was getting bags of candy, smiles and glee. LOL
What is it about candy that all of a sudden everyone becomes kids again? :D Clear cellophane bags with flowers and swirls were in a basket, then bowls of different candies you could put in your little bags. That was so different and fun. Dancing thru the whole thing and then the wedding cake, yum. The wedding and reception was awesome, dancing, laughter, family and friends, life is beautiful, live it.
I was in a kitchen mood yesterday, made potato salad, lemonade and a pink lemonade cake. So I used the first tomato and onions for turkey, cheese, lettuce, tomato and onion sandwiches, had potato salad and cake, with the lemonade for dinner. Sometimes lunch or breakfast foods are the best for dinner and a fun break.
On Pinterest, I saw mason jars with lemonade sitting in a bucket of ice, it looked so good. I didn't put them in ice, but was a fun idea putting them in the jars with the top. My husband loves to drink out of mason jars anyway, my Grandparents always did, so it's fun to see people doing it to this day. It's more expensive making lemonade homemade, but tastes so much better and healthier than storebought. Well, the lemons are, but it takes alot of sugar.
First I roll the lemons, to get more juice, till softened, doesn't take long. Then I cut in slices and squeeze the juice out into a pitcher, put water , a little over half of that pitcher and over a cup of sugar, we like it sweet so I add more and used seven lemons. Then I put all the lemonslices in the pitcher, stick in the frig, in the evening it's sit long enough. Take the lemons out if you want, some people don't like all the pulp, but it's very healthy. I put mine in the jars after the pitcher was in the frig for about four hours. It made six pint jars and I put a lemon slice in each jar. So he can just pull out a jar for a drink. :D Anyway, I found this cool sight for using jars, some fun ideas...
http://putitinajar.com/crafts/
