Two weeks down.

A couple of weeks have passed and a few things have changed in terms of my working towards becoming a healthier person.

First, I caved and finally bought one of those "diet" systems that you have to sit through the long and immeasurably boring audio segments to get the better deal.  Another change is that we brought home a puppy.  I knew the puppy would be a good thing, I did not know if the diet system would be.  Apparently, it is!

Honestly, I should not call it a diet system, though.  It is a lifestyle change.  One that is perfectly suited to someone like me that is pre-diabetic.  I think it would be good for diabetics as well.  Is it tough? Very.  This change essentially eliminates all starchy carbs and processed sugars as well as restricts natural sugars.  Does it work?  Yes.

In one week with this eating change as well as my normal routine, I have dropped 11 lbs and 1% body fat.

That being said, I did not follow the first two weeks strictly yesterday since it was a day of celebration.  There was ice cream, pizza and hamburgers to be had.  I am sure that my waistline will hate me for this tomorrow, but I am already back to my new, regularly scheduled eating habits.

I think I also sprained my ankle somehow, no idea what I did to hurt it, though.  Outside of the exercise and puppy walks, I have been on a spring cleaning kick.  Nothing outside of the new norm besides the purging of things from the house.  Oh well, it has not stopped my exercise routine, it's just a smidge less pleasant and more strenuous.

Healthier me. Inspired by a friend.

I am horrible at this blogging thing.  Why?  Inconsistency and the fact that there are other beings and things that take up so much of my time.  That being said, one of my friends is doing a blog on her journey to a healthier self.   I support this si much that I feel like I should do the same, only where do I start now that I have been at it for a while longer than her?

A bit over four years ago I was a pregosaurus that got up to 250 lbs.  That's right.  2-5-0.  As soon as I forced the Mini Moose into the world, I lost 30lbs.  Instantly lost 30 lbs, only 10 of which was actual child (I have always retained a lot of water, but sometimes it is ridiculous ;3 ).  A couple of years after that I had a massive breast reduction going from an O cup to a G, they took 12 kilo's (almost 26.5 lbs) off of my chest and I dipped down to 200.   I was ecstatic for that... only with little to not support team to help me in recovery with a rambunctious toddler, there were a few complications and my recovery time was far longer than it should have been.  Boop, back up to 230 lbs I went.

Yea, that's right 230 lbs.   I already suffer depression and had self-image issues, and now I could see how large I actually was.  Never was I a dainty woman.  No, I come from hardy, child-baring Viking stock.  Because of this, I tend to carry my weight well if you see me from the front.  From the side is an entirely different matter.  Add to all of that being constantly in pain, high blood pressure, becoming diabetic, oh and not having slept for more than 2 hours a night over the span of 8-12 hours a night, and I was in a really bad place health wise.

Part of this health lapse is because I was referred to a dietician to help with my eating (in an effort to drop some weight without exercise).  She was very nice, supportive, but... failed to grasp the concept that I have the metabolism of a 70-year-old.  What does that mean? I cannot eat anything.  My caloric intake needs to be a lot lower than other people my age.  Significantly.  Actually, I was only 215lbs when I began going to see her and left her services at 233 lbs.  Seriously, I was going to her for a year and all she did was tell me to eat more and more, and I went with it because of insurance even though I knew better.  Nope, no more of that.

Thanks to the people I love, and a sleep study, I finally got myself off of my butt and into a gym.  Slow going?  Definitely, but it is a start.  I am back to eating an amount that works for me too, and have cut out almost all processed sugars.  Lean protein and vege are my staples with a smidge of carbs here and there.

So far, I am down 10 lbs now.  It is slow going and yes, I wish that I was losing weight faster.  Solution to that?  I need to work out for more than an hour three days a week.  Boop!  Time to increase that go time!  Also, I was working out at night, but now I am back to making myself get up at 5am and go to the gym.  RAWR!

Who has this?  This lady.  DOUBLE RAWR!!  RAWR RAWR!

When I get down to a healthier weight, I will stop looking at the numbers as much and begin paying attention to other things.  Until then, I desperately want to hit 200 so I hurt less and it is easier to move in all the fun things that I can do.  Sure, I can do some flipping amazing things as is, but imagine how much easier and nicer it would be to swing around less mass while doing it.  Not to mention being stronger while doing it!

My current workout regime is the following:

• 35 minutes of cardio (elliptical or 5k training, depending on machine availability and my knees), while listening to Zombies, Run!
• 15- 20 minutes on various weight machines (this needs to go up) doing lighter weight reps... except for my legs.  Damn, my legs are still buff "AF" and require a higher weight level than I expected.  Not a ridiculously high level, just a lot more than I thought it would be.
• 10+ minutes of ab workouts using the Six Pack Abs app
• A few minutes of push-ups with Runtastic Push-Up Pro, but I will likely switch over to the Push Ups (Chest) trainer as soon as I become more skilled in the upper body department.  Seriously, push-ups.  Work-In-Progress
• And then a handy workout with the Runtastic Butt Trainer.
• Finish that off with a smidge of yoga and stretching for flexibility and that is where i am right now in the workout routine.
  

That is where I am as of right now, and I know that I can keep this momentum going. 

Week Five: Weight Watchers and Self-Employment

Admittedly, this was not my best week in regards to my continued efforts to lose weight.  Since I was mostly better, I was eating more.  Enough to gain a piddly pound back.  Still, that isn't so horrible.  I figure it is my body coming out of starvation mode.  The real challenge will be to see how I did this current week.  We had our itty bits away for the weekend, so we did a lot of yard work, a lot of loafing about and a lot of pigging out.  Oof.  I only went over by a couple of points on a couple of days but I still feel a little guilty knowing that I was eating things that were bad for me.

On the business end of life, I did get my Etsy shop up and running and things are already looking much better this time around.  More traffic to my site, people actually enjoying the things that I create.  Sales to individuals around town are up as well, but no luck with the local spas and boutiques so far.  One battle at a time though!

My plan for now is to speed through the "non-denominational holiday presents" for my husbands office and pick out what I will create and put up next on Etsy.

Week Four: Weight Watchers, Small Businesses and Illness

This week has been invigorating and exhausting at the same time.

My husband returned home from a college football game with whatever flavor of illness this is going around, and promptly gave it to the baby and me. Booooooo!  However, this has made sticking to my points count with Weight Watchers very easy because all I have wanted is hot tea, juice and soup.  This is doubly good seeing as how I went into junk food over drive while he was away at the game and almost blew through an entire weeks worth of treat points in a day and a half.  I was much more determined to eat better afterwards though.  Really, if I was not ill I likely would have maintained the flubby weight from the week before rather than losing two pounds.  Go me?  I am not sure on that one yet.

Not so new NEWS FLASH!  Babies do not like bulb syringes. Poor Mini Moose has Daddy's plague worse than he or I do and has to be suctioned out ever few hours.  At first he wasn't so cranky, now he is unless there are big, group snuggles.  This is a problem since we do not co-sleep with itty bits, and both my husband and I need naps too.  If we are not all in the same place, screaming ensues.  My head with the sinus headache does not appreciate this.   Such is life.

The excitement of the week though is that I am going to be selling things again, and opening up my Etsy shoppe once more.  This time it will be with things that I make specifically to sell rather than just whatever knit and crocheted projects that I wanted to make and had no use for and no one to give it to.  Also, I will be adding handmade soaps, dead sea salt scrubs and the like to my repertoire of retail goods.

Week Three

I found in the third week that not only was it easier, but I also started eating less without having to think about it.  Also, the smarter food choices are becoming easier.  The later is being said though since my body greatly disagrees with the consumption of dairy and red meats and has for some time.  Because of this I have been going through the process of cutting back and out on these foods.

I miss cheese less, but I still miss it, and I only crave red meat when it is that dreaded shark week.

The disappointment this week though, was to find out that it is healthier for me to eat fast food than it is to eat Amy's Organic Chili - Medium (vegan).  Oh cripes that stuff is bad for you if you eat the entire can.  I don't know about anyone else, but that is what I tend to do because half the can (aka one serving) just does not cut it for me.

One of the biggest challenges that I am having is trying to find time to eat when I am home with my son.  He does not make it easy to make something healthy and heat-&-eat items tend to be... not healthy.  Combine that with trying to get my own business up and running, running a guild in WoW (yes, yes, I know, the WoW-crack is not a life necessity but I like that it is entertainment that costs me a grand $15/month and helps keep us on budget since I want to go out less) and I consider it a good day if I actually get lunch rather than grazing until my husband comes home from work.  Mentioning the WoW-crack though, I should say this is something that 95% of the time I do not touch until my husband is home and I can login to make sure everything is stocked up for people.

When it comes to eating out, yes, it is a transition.  Fortunately, I am one of those people that already loves salads and vege in general.  The only times I see running into problems are going out to eat at a couple of my favorite places.  The Mexican restaurant that I enjoy doesn't really "do" salads.  There is a small side salad.  It consists of lettuce, a smidge of tomato and a ton of onion.... with creamy jalapeno dressing.  Almost everything else has a ton of cheese or fat.  The Indian restaurant, well... let's just say that the healthiest thing on the menu is dessert. Hah!  It's delicious but I know it isn't healthy with as much cream is used in most of those dishes, not to mention coconut.  Aside from those two places I am usually golden, and if I do want a treat, my husband will generally share it with me.

Sure, I wish I was loosing weight faster.  Who wouldn't -- aside from the people working to maintain their healthy weight or looking to gain healthy weight?  This way seems to work better for me though since I am consistently loosing and my weight fluctuations are not coming into play on my weigh-in days.

If this is disjointed, my apologies.  Attempting to blog with an active toddler is not the easiest thing in the world to say the least.

Week Two on the Journey to Being Healthier

Week two of weight watchers and perhaps I shouldn't be surprised, but it seems to be working.  I have counted calories and already eat "right" most of the time.  Cardio exercise is a weak point for me though.  Yet, despite the myriad of health issues that I have which have aided in my previous failure to keep myself healthy, it's working.

As expected, I am loosing one pound per week.  That may not seem like much, but it's huge to someone like me with severe weight fluctuations.

Oh yeah, I have a blog. Hah!

More business I suppose.  Hah!  Definitely more than "I suppose."

I am still becoming used to being a mother, and I try to suck it up but being an only child and then an adult with significant amounts of quiet, alone time to 24/7 noise and a tiny human can be trying at times to say the last.  It's worth it though.  That little grin and giggle melts my heart every time.

Fiber arts has resumed again now that I am more in the swing of parenthood.  So much so that I am making a collection of things to sell at the office.  If I am lucky, I will get around to making more soap and salt scrub to sell too.  I've even considered opening the etsy shop again but I find that I really do not like Etsy.  It's preferable to me to sell things face to face.  An even better occurrence would be if the spa I go to would like to sell some of the things that I make as well.

Aside from the daily business, after the success that my SiL and some of my best friends have had with Weight Watchers, I am signing up and giving it a go.  I can do this!  There are corsets to be bought and and all sorts of fun things whenever I lose some flub and become healthier/feel better.

Rawr!  I am pumped right now.

The Return to The Circle and Why I Probably Left.

I finally go to my local Sit & Stitch for the first time in months (or a year? or more?)... and I alternately feel awesome and irritated.  Instead of just sitting and socializing with all of the very nice old ladies, I ended up teaching a relatively new stitch fad to someone with a moderate+ case of tourrettes.

Now, I feel pretty damn awesome for having a well of patience that I often forget that I CAN have and successfully taking the time to figure out and teach this stitch her.  At the end of three hours, she had something new she understood and could do.  This gives me the warm fuzzies.

To add to this, somehow, I am the crochet "expert" of the group.  I didn't realize how much I was missed by not going.  Again with the warm fuzzies, especially since I am the only person there under the age of 55-60.  When I was more regularly attending before, I spent most of my evenings (or afternoons, depending on the scheduling of the time) there helping other people with their projects.  Not so much with the fuzzies now.

This is not what I was wanting for my afternoon.  I really just wanted to go and loaf about in the LYS and play with yarn (they have a bunch of brand new yarn that I really want to play with and didn't have a chance to, but I might work up swatches or kits for them next week with it).  I have projects to finish, that I really need to and should finish... Also projects to give my brain a break from the higher priority projects that I am working on.  I didn't get to work on any of them which is what I really hoped to be able to do without being distracted by other things or people when I go to the Sit & Stitch.

Really, I should say something so I can get something done while there... but they are all so nice... and cute... and still use the word "ejaculated" with it's original definition.  When they want to learn something or need help fixing something, I just do not have the heart to tell them no. =^v.v^=

My apologies.

Who entirely forgot that they had a blog?  A blog that should be updated with "ALL THE THINGZ!"?

I did, and I apologize to anyone that may stumble over to this tiny corner of the internet to read something.

Granted, I have been more than a little busy with life, but there are things that I have still been making.  Hopefully I will be better about posting in the near future.

Basic Towel Ring

Just a quick pop in to the land-o-blogs.

I -- literally -- just finished the "Basic Towel Ring" pattern and I love it.  It's simple, clean design would look good in any kitchen (given that it is done in the right colour(s), and now that I have tested the pattern out I plan on making more for winter holiday presents/stocking stuffers, etc.  Later I will post a picture of my tester.

ODAA Dinner

So this was the first year that I have gone with my husband to the ODAA seminar, and accordingly the dinner.  He keeps telling me that normally there is not as much talking/speeches/ect as there were this year and I don't quite know if I believe him.  Despite the extreme boredom and my back spasming while desperately trying to sit up straight and be on my best, well mannered behavior, the video at the end that I will likely never be able to show anyone -- EVER -- was worth it.

Sadly, I think that is all that I am allowed to mention about the video.  That's right, all I can say is that there was a video, and that it was worth watching.

If they had something like that video every year, I would say that sitting through the first 95% of dinner would be worthwhile.

I don't want it to sound like the dinner was horrible.  It was pretty standard with speeches, awards, thanks, and the best attempt that chefs can put in to feeding that many people all at once  (if I get to go next time, I will avoid the salmon and opt for the veggie plate if I can do so).  We sat at the same table as the husbeasts' boss and a couple of co-workers of his, but I wasn't sitting next to any of them, only people I didn't know and couldn't giggle with.  Sure, meeting new people is nice, so long as they actually want to talk to you and that was not the case for the people sitting around me tonight.  The new aquaintance that sat to my right was only interested in discussing the proper use of Hawaiian red salt with one of Beau's co-workers.  A great big fail on that man's part of the conversation IMO, that particular salt is only so interesting for so long.  The internet junkie in me wanted to blurt out something like L2USEMOARSALT!

I also found myself wanting to say childish and pointless things through out the night like "poopy" but that could have just been the rum and cokes trying to poke through the proper behavior filter in my brain.

Approximately 30 minutes into the event I was seriously considering breaking out my knitting, and how much of a faux pau that would be in a room full of prosecutors and judges.  I like to think that I choose correctly and did not break out the needles and yarn while the president of the ODAA droned on about people I didn't know doing things I don't remember and that they were giving said people a piece of paper for doing them.  Good for those people, apparently they did something good!  I applaud them, recognition is good, but it just kept going and going and going, like people would expect at a graduation almost.

Afterwards -- and this would be the real disappointment -- we went for drinks... and no one joined us.  For some reason I still don't understand, I thought that the people that my husband works with were more social.  Maybe it's because most of them go out to lunch on Fridays and seem like they are friends.  My bad, that will be a good reminder to not assume that people who work and go out to eat together actually want to spend time together (especially after spending all day together in a seminar).  The supper wasn't like some awkward company picnic where the boss breaks out the "Q" and grills while people hunker down in tenuous cliques with their families and the closest things they can call friends until it is socially acceptable to leave.  It always seems that people genuinely like each other, so really, I was surprised that people were so anti-social after the dinner tonight.

We did get to meet some people from another DA's office in another county, and they were nice guys.  Perhaps at the next conference there will be more people to hang out with.

It's been a busy year! Haha~

Holy zombie jeebus, I have not posted in a really long time for either real life stuff or my crochet and knit!  Shame on me I suppose~
When will I ever learn to be a steady blogger?  The world may never know.

The speedy update since my past post is that I am now married to my long time guy  (woohoo!), we have adopted a new kitten (feisty, teething snuggler of awesome), one of my best friends recently had an adoreable baby girl and another one of friends is soon to have a boy.  The husbeast and I finally upgraded to "smart phones" and now we are addicts like the rest of the people in the world with smart phones.

For part of this week we are in Sunriver, OR, (my husband is attending an ODAA seminar and conference while I get to roam around and play).  It is gorgeous up here if you like high desert, mountains, clear skies, museums, golfing, horse back riding, bicycling, inner tubing and shopping (during the summer).  Come winter, I would say it's a safe bet that there are a lot of skiers out here.  I am hoping that we can come out here again sometime soon, or spend our next vacation.  It has been really nice to go somewhere with sun  (this "summer" has been very cloudy, wet and late in arriving where we live), and I am pretty sure that I would be happy just laying around on the balcony or floating in the water for a few more days.  Sadly, we leave on Friday though  (which is the start of the local music festival here).

When it comes to crafting, geeze I have been busy!  Here is the list of things that I have finished:

• 16 amigurui turtles (wedding reception table decor)
• 7 purses for the wedding
• Matron of Honor Purse
• Brides Maid Purse (friend)
• Brides Maid Purse (sister-in-law)
• Mother of the Bride Purse
• Mother of the Groom Purse
• Bridal Purse (used - and apparently I never took a picture of it specifically. lol Apologies!)
• Bridal Purse (unused)
• 2 coffee sleeves
• Feather Scarf
• Iris the Gourmet Monster
• Learn to Knit Cuff
• Head Band with Vintage Crocheted Flower (no picture)
• Bear Ears for Newborn Hat (made for my friends' new baby)
• Harvest Hands (made for my mother)
• Crochet Lace Fingerless Mitts (made for sister in-law)
• Yoga Mat Bag (no picture)
• Pineapple Scarf (made for sister in-law)
• Honeycomb Lattice Cowl (made for my mother)
• 20 Coffee Sleeves (made for my husbands office as a generic winter holiday present)
• One-Skein Scarf (from Stitch 'n' Bitch Happy Hooker - made for one of my aunts)
• Victorian/Steampunk Ruffled Spats
• Easy Adjustable Slippers (I do not think that the pattern was well written at all).
• Crochet Spring Scarf
• Cabled Mitts (crocheted - the is the project where I really learned that using dark yarns for things that involve important design elements such as texture or cables, is not a good idea. lol)
• Fit to be Tied (no picture)
• Perfect Purse (no picture - made for my mother)
• Airport Scarves - Romantic Hippie

Amikomo-9 Yawaraka Lace Café Curtain

Day One:  This is the first time I have ever really used a chart to follow a pattern.  If the pattern were written out in Japanese I would have a much easier time of it since I speak and read Japanese (luls).  Eventually my brain kicked in though and I am done with the first motif square.

Something important for people to note on the chart that at the very center of the motif, the character for "wa" indicates to ch2.

Initially I attempted to Magic Ring this pattern but the look changes and the yarn I am using made the ring more difficult in the pattern than just doing a straight ch2 start.

Currently, I am wondering how it is I am going to be joining all of these motifs together.  I have never done a piece made up entirely of motifs so my brain is wrapping itself around that issue at the moment.

First Etsy Shop Listing!

I am so excited, my first listing is finally up!  When I first took the Census job I thought that I was going to be working a lot less than I am (I'm not complaining), but it has taken me such a long time to get my shop going!

Hurrah for having it up and a listing to show!  I will upload more in a day or two to keep my listings fresh and at the top of the pages. :3

Blue Face Scrubbies (or Coaster) Gift Set

Honestly, these little scrubbie sets are a breeze to make and if I have the dedicated time I could make a lot of them in a hurry, but after the ones that I have made I will be so glad to go back to making purses, hats, scarves and little, random projects!

I worked the majority of Memorial Day Weekend in our states attempt to catch up the people in Cannon Beach to the rest of the nation.  It was a lot of fun even if frustrating to go through a ton of EQ's with so many brain fart errors.  I really do not see how so many people just do not understand how to fill out a questionnaire correctly.  EVERYONE had at least 5 days worth of training.  There is no reason to have any of these mistakes. Rabbble rabble!

Anyway, as I said, it was fun!  I had lunch with my CL and FOSA both Sat & Sun at Mo's and both times we had a fantastic table right at the windows.  It poured on Sunday and I was soaked for almost the entire day, BUT I got to meet 8 corgi puppies when I went to someone's house in an attempt to find a proxy that could tell me if the other houses in the area were seasonal/second homes or not.  I still have a joygasm whenever I think of all those little puppies.

Granny Square Market Bag - Completed

I am still not in love with this pattern, so much so that it's a "I barely tolerate it's existence and it's glad that I cannot see where I sewed in the ends otherwise I would have three balls of yarn back to use for something better."

The bag functions just fine.  Aesthetically it's a mess unless it's in use because of how the pattern is structured in making the bottom and side panels.  I was going to put a flower on the bag, but that just didn't look good on the bag for some reason. =^O.o^=  Over all, I love the front and back panels, but I hate the bottom and sides.  The pattern would be much better served if the sides and bottom were done in three separate pieces and attached rather than one large piece of floppy doom.

Materials used:  Lily Sugar'n'Cream cotton - Key Lime Pie (3 skeins), US H hook

Generic picture

Close Up of Front/Back Panel

What the bag looks like when not in use.... 

Etsy Shoppe Now Open!

That's correct, I finally have my Etsty store!  Now I just need things to sell. =^>.>^=;;

I've been so busy with the Census that I have had hardly any time to work on my current projects, but I am almost done with a second granny square market bag for my future mother in law. :3  I hope that she likes it when it's finally finished.  And I am hoping that I DO finish it before they take off into Portland because I had originally wanted it done for mothers day but I messed up on my counting for the sides and bottom. =^>.<^=;;;

Max's Shadow Cap

My friend on Ravelry (Melbav) sent me this pattern. :3  I am really happy with how the hat turned out, but I will do some tweaks to the brim and make it smoother and rounder than how it came out this time, the next time I make it. xD

Beau thinks I should make one that is green and yellow to show my UO pride. =^>.>^=;;  That might look a little odd, but that's OK!

Currently, I do not know what to make next.  Since I started taking belly dancing classes off of FitTV, I really want to make one of the following, but I don't have a color of yarn (or enough of it) right now to make a set.
Josephine Halter
Josephine Scarf
Josephine Gauntlets
Although, I could always just make the belt!  (Huge image, apologies!) Josephine Belt

Rabble Rabble Update

Rabble rabble!  So, alternately I have been lazy and then as soon as I wasn't lazy and wanted to take pictures I was unable to find the USB cord for my camera. /fail  But now said cord has been located and pictures of the things I have made are up!

First off, the list of finished projects:

• National Crochet Month Mystery Crochet-A-Long project: Surakarta Board (I know I messed up on it, but it isn't an item that I see myself using any time soon and I do not think I will make another one;  However, this was a great project for me since I learned how to carry yarn and do tapestry crochet).
• Grocery Bag - Made for my mother.  There was a smidge of a depth perception moment when I attached the handles, but that's OK since there is now more effective room to tote things like tall produce and bread!
• Winged Hairkerchief - Materials used are a mystery yarn that my mother found when she went out garage sale-ing.  Over all, I enjoy the pattern but if I make another one of these I will use a lighter weight yarn or just a yarn of better quality so it drapes nicely.
• Divine Hat - I love this pattern.  The textures are firm enough without being uncomfortable and the yarn I used (not stellar yarn but I still like it) makes this hat soft and warm.  I think this would make an excellent chemo cap for anyone in need of one, and it is super cute for just wearing around on a cold day.
• City Girl Cap - By far, this is my favorite project that I have done in the past month.  Now that I know the pattern works and the minor changes I will make to camouflage the joining stitches, I will make a hat or two in colours I wear more often.
• Flowered Cloche - No picture yet since it technically is not finished yet.  I need to make a decorative bit for the side, but the hat itself I hate due to the pattern royally sucking.
• 100-Yen pouch - No picture yet since I am lazy.  But this is a simply, cute little coin purse. :3  When I finish the cloche I will take a picture of both the hat and the coin purse. xD

This weekend was a good one.  We went in to Portland ti pick up my engagement ring (it was being resized), and we got to have lunch with Syd, Pete and Joe. :3  Sydney loaned one of her knitted sock books to me and I can hardly wait to start working and learning how to make knit socks. xD  Hopefully I don't entirely FUBAR the socks the first one or two times I make them!

International Crochet Month

Since it is International Crochet Month, I thought I would share this link and encourage people to learn to crochet (or knit). Not only can it be fun, but if you are looking for ways to "go green" this is also a great option! :3

Learn to Crochet OR Learn to Knit

Mmmmm tasty fiber arts~

I really have very little to post... ever. So, Beau suggested that I turn this into my crocheting blog! I think this is a fantastic idea and now anyone who reads this shall be tortured with my love of yarn!

First, I shall catch everyone up with a quick view of the projects I have completed so far.

• November 26th, 2009 - Rainy Day Wristers - Made for Matthew
• January 27th, 2010 - Pumpkin Market Bag - Made for Mother
• February 20th, 2010 - All Season Wristers - Made for Matthew
• February 22nd, 2010 - Crochet Hook Case (Inside & Outside) - Made for Self
• February 28th, 2010 - The PDQ (hat) - Made for Robyn

And now we are all caught up to March, 2010~

March is not only National (for the US) but it is INTERNATIONAL Crochet Month! As such, I have decided to celebrate this along with many fantastic people on Raverly by participating in the Mystery Item Crochet A Long. I have no idea what it is yet, and this is the first time I have attempted to do "tapestry crochet"... as such, my project is a disaster. Still, it is nice to learn and work on a new technique! At the end of the month or project (whichever comes first) I will post pictures of what so many of us have been working on.

I should add that I have never done any sort of group project that involves the phrase "a long" before, so that in itself is fun and very informative for me. =^n.n^=

Aside from the Mystery Item, I am also working on another grocery bag for my mother, and I have finished a "Fat-Bottom" bag/purse for myself.

The purse I made for showing my Duck pride and I hope that I will be able to figure out how to make an appropriate O or a Duck applique for the bag which I can change out with the flower whenever I feel like it.

Fat-Bottom Bag Pictures Here: One, two, three

Probably the most difficult part in making the bag was hand-sewing the lining. I should do better on the next purse I plan on making now that I know better when and what to do.