Poetry Thursday

Today's poem is Daffodils by William Wordsworth read by Sir Jeremy Irons. Daffodils are one of my most favorite flowers and I am waiting to see if they will come up in the garden this year. I hope so.

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed--and gazed--but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.     

 

I hope that your day is filled with inspiration, love, and laughter. Be well my Friends. 

A tale of two dresses

A few months ago, or longer I am not great at keeping time, I decided to make a dress. This is the tale of two dresses. One I used a pattern for and the other well I found on Pinterest.

This is the pinspiration, you can find the tutorial Here

This is what the Pin said:
Tutorial: How to make an easy dress for under 6 bucks!
This dress takes less than an hour and is so comfortable!

Before  I show you my version of this dress I just want to point out a few things. The girl in the photo made this tutorial. She is a very pretty girl.  She is stick thin. I am not at all, I have child baring hips and more than a few extra pounds hanging around...Her dresses are super cute on her. That is why I tried it for myself.

I had a stain on this tank top right at the bottom so I was more than willing to turn it into something cute and wearable. I took the the tank top to Hobby Lobby and found some cute fabric that kind of matched it. I spent $12 at most for everything. Then I spent four hours wrestling with the fabric and the tank top. I would sew it rip out the stitches and resew. It is hard to pin stuff onto yourself, it is hard to cut a straight line after you pin it to yourself and take it off. This is how my dress came out.

I actually really like this picture. The dress doesn't look bad here with the sash.

This is the horrible truth behind the sash.

I have to admit I was really put off and frustrated. I bought a few patterns and a craftsy class and decided to try again.

This is the pattern I used. View D is my dress.

I made a muslin of the dress first.

 

Here is Pinny modeling the muslin copy. 

Then I spread out the muslin pieces and began cutting the fabric.

I had to rearrange the pieces at least three times to make sure everything was being cut out right.

Then I sewed

and checked and ripped out the seems and sewed again.

I finally finished the dress. There are a few minor things that I am not sure how to fix but Oh My Gosh I made a dress!

The lesson I learned from these two dresses is this: It is worth it to put the time and the effort in to any project. When I started that first dress I thought thirty minutes was reasonable and I just got cranky and beat myself up. When I started the second dress I went knowing that it was going to be a long process. It was easier to deal with my mistakes and to fix them too. Also sometimes failing is just a lesson in reality. Never be afraid to make mistakes it is how we learn and grow as people. Plus if you never have that epic fail staring at you then you don't have it as a reference. I can do better than that first dress. So can you. Go try something you have always wanted to try. You can do it and you can be great with time and effort. Now I am off to start another dress...

I hope your day is filled with inspiration, love, and laughter. Be well my friends.

Photo of the day for the month of March 2013

I recently replaced my old phone with a newer one. So I thought I would once again attempt to do the photo of the day presented by http://fatmumslim.com.au/march-2013-photo-a-day-challenge-get-the-list-details-and-more/.  I am hopeful that I will be able to upload pictures from my phone. If it turns out that I can't I will still try to make it through March. Even through I have only completed two of these lists over the years I still love to try. March is a wonderful time to try with spring in the air. The trees will be leafing out, flowers will bloom, and more.

March 2013 Photo A Day Challenge:

1. L is for…: Pick something that begins with the letter L and snap it. Love, light… whatever you please.
2. I made this!: Are you a clever clog? Take a photo of something you made. It could be a mess, dinner, something crafty or anything that you made yourself.
3. Key: Take a photo of a key. Be as creative as you can/like.
4. Lucky: Take a photo of something that you use for luck, or something that makes you feel lucky. Or how ever you want to interpret luck!
5. Under: Get down and take a photo of ‘under’. It could be something hiding underneath something, or your perspective from under something.
6. Chair: We see handfuls of them everyday, so why not take a photo?
7. Fear: What are you afraid of? What does fear look like to you?
8. Favourite: Take a photo of something that is your favourite: food, person, place, thing, book…
9. Faceless self-portrait: Can you take a self-portrait without your face in it? Perhaps it’s your hands, your feet or some other part of you?
10. I want…: What do you want in your life? Shoot it.
11. Important: Take a photo of something important in your day today.
12. In the distance: What is that thing that you see far away? A bird? A plane? A small child running away? Capture it as best you can.
13. Sound: Sound is a hard one to shoot, can you do it? What’s something you heard today?
14. Tasty: This is the perfect excuse to eat something particularly delicious today, right?
15. Explore: Take a walk and explore where you are today.
16. 9 o’clock: What are you doing at 9am or 9pm today. Share it with us.
17. Green: It’s St Patrick’s Day – find something green.
18. Shoes: {charity prompt} Take a photo of yours or somebody’s else.
19. A sign: We pass by them everyday: street signs, shop signs, signs in our homes – what’s the most interesting one you come across today?
20. Clean: What does clean mean to you? The way a person looks? The state of your home? An empty bowl?
21. Working: This could be you working {or at school} or could be something working {functioning as it should}.
22. About you: Share something we don’t know about you. Share a photo and a few sentences.
23. What you do for fun: Do you dance? Read? Play? Tell us in a photo.
24. Up: Take a photo of what you see when you look up, or another interpretation!
25. In your drawer: Give us a sneak peak into what’s in your drawer {kitchen, bedroom, work, bathroom… anywhere}.
26. Something you did: Did you run? Drink something? Wrote something? Talked to someone? Get creative and show it in a photo.
27. Pair: These two things below together, but what are they? Find a pair and take a snap.
28. In the mirror: Take a photo of something reflecting in the mirror. It doesn’t have to be you… get creative.
29. Goodnight: Whatever you do tonight, take a photo of part of it.
30. Relax: What do you do to relax? Share it in a photo.
31. Stuff: Our lives are all filled with some sort of ‘stuff’. What’s your stuff?

Poetry Thursday

Today I bring you (from Youtube) The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe read by James Earl Jones. I love his deep voice.

 

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
`'Tis some visitor,' I muttered, `tapping at my chamber door -
Only this, and nothing more.'

Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December,
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Eagerly I wished the morrow; - vainly I had sought to borrow
From my books surcease of sorrow - sorrow for the lost Lenore -
For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels named Lenore -
Nameless here for evermore.

And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me - filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating
`'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door -
Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door; -
This it is, and nothing more,'

Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
`Sir,' said I, `or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;
But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,
And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,
That I scarce was sure I heard you' - here I opened wide the door; -
Darkness there, and nothing more.

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before;
But the silence was unbroken, and the darkness gave no token,
And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, `Lenore!'
This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, `Lenore!'
Merely this and nothing more.

Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,
Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.
`Surely,' said I, `surely that is something at my window lattice;
Let me see then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore -
Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore; -
'Tis the wind and nothing more!'

Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore.
Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;
But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door -
Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door -
Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore,
`Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,' I said, `art sure no craven.
Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from the nightly shore -
Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'

Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,
Though its answer little meaning - little relevancy bore;
For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being
Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his chamber door -
Bird or beast above the sculptured bust above his chamber door,
With such name as `Nevermore.'

But the raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only,
That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.
Nothing further then he uttered - not a feather then he fluttered -
Till I scarcely more than muttered `Other friends have flown before -
On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before.'
Then the bird said, `Nevermore.'

Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,
`Doubtless,' said I, `what it utters is its only stock and store,
Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful disaster
Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore -
Till the dirges of his hope that melancholy burden bore
Of "Never-nevermore."'

But the raven still beguiling all my sad soul into smiling,
Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird and bust and door;
Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking
Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore -
What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yore
Meant in croaking `Nevermore.'

This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing
To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom's core;
This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining
On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamp-light gloated o'er,
But whose velvet violet lining with the lamp-light gloating o'er,
She shall press, ah, nevermore!

Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer
Swung by Seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor.
`Wretch,' I cried, `thy God hath lent thee - by these angels he has sent thee
Respite - respite and nepenthe from thy memories of Lenore!
Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe, and forget this lost Lenore!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'

`Prophet!' said I, `thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil! -
Whether tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,
Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted -
On this home by horror haunted - tell me truly, I implore -
Is there - is there balm in Gilead? - tell me - tell me, I implore!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'

`Prophet!' said I, `thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil!
By that Heaven that bends above us - by that God we both adore -
Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn,
It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels named Lenore -
Clasp a rare and radiant maiden, whom the angels named Lenore?'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'

`Be that word our sign of parting, bird or fiend!' I shrieked upstarting -
`Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore!
Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!
Leave my loneliness unbroken! - quit the bust above my door!
Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'

And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,
And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted - nevermore!

 

I hope your day is filled with inspiration, love, and laughter. Be well my friends.

I made a shirt!

I finally got around to making a scoop neck T-shirt from my Craftsy class sewing with knits. You can find some great classes here: http://www.craftsy.com/classes;jsessionid=2EBE08CD9FAC24447A73E344BA5D0B39.eagles.

The longest part of the shirt making process was putting the pattern together

From a stack of 28 pages to a pattern took me about 2 hours.

Then I laid out some Swedish tracing paper and traced out my size. This took about 30 minutes because I was being super careful. Normally I am a little sloppy.

I cut out the pattern

 

Then I laid it out on the fabric.

Then I started sewing

It is a sleeve! I was the most scared about the sleeves and the collar.

 

I made a huge mistake on the collar! I sewed inside out... Grrr. Epic Mistake! So I took my handy seem ripper and went to town. It took me ten minutes to sew the collar on and two hours to undo it. On the bright side I have learned to always check twice before I sew. I do not think I will ever forget.

 

I had to pin the collar so that I could even iron it!

I made a t-shirt!

I am going to lengthen it and make the next size up and then it will be perfect. I will let you know how the next version turns out. At least the pattern is already taped together!  

 

I hope that your day is filled with inspiration, love, and laughter. Be well my friends.

Roasted Cauliflower and Sesame Spread

Recently we came into possession of a 30 gallon tub of cauliflower in our search to use as much as possible, we found a recipe for Roasted Cauliflower and Sesame Spread here http://www.delish.com/recipefinder/roasted-cauliflower-sesame-spread-recipe. It is a lot like hummus. The boys gobbled up the first batch on sandwiches for lunch. I think it is safe to say it was good.

Roasted Cauliflower and Sesame Spread

Ingredients
1 heads of cauliflower, halved crosswise and thinly sliced (or just cut the little florets off instead. Whatever is easier for you.)     

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 1/2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger

1 1/2 teaspoons ground coriander

Kosher salt

3 tablespoons tahini (or a little sesame oil, soy sauce, and chili sauce that is what we did)

3 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

3 tablespoon chopped cilantro (we left this out because we didn't have any)

Sesame seeds

Pita bread or chips, for serving (or use as a sandwich filling)

 

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. In a large bowl, toss the cauliflower with the oil, ginger, and coriander and season with salt. Spread the cauliflower on a rimmed baking sheet and roast for about 40 minutes, stirring once or twice, until tender and lightly browned in spots. Let cool slightly.
2. Transfer the cauliflower to a food processor. Add the tahini and lemon juice and pulse to a chunky puree; season with salt. Add the cilantro and pulse just until incorporated. Transfer the spread to a bowl and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Serve warm with pita bread or chips.

Toasted French bread topped with Roasted-Cauliflower-and-Sesame Spread.

Or a simple sandwich. It is really lovely.

If you roast the cauliflower and decide against making the spread for a sandwich they are really yummy just roasted out of the oven. You can add a little goat cheese or feta if you like that sort of thing. This is a great recipe for vegans! I think you could make a batch and keep in the refrigerator for a few days. I hope you enjoy the recipe as much as we did.

I hope that your day is filled with inspiration, love, and laughter. Be Well my friends.

Poetry Thursday

Happy Valentine's Day! Today's poem is Sonnet 43 by Elizabeth Barrett Browning.

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of being and ideal grace.
I love thee to the level of every day's
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for right.
I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

 

 

And Sonnet 14

 

 

If thou must love me, let it be for nought
Except for love's sake only. Do not say
'I love her for her smile—her look—her way
Of speaking gently,—for a trick of thought
That falls in well with mine, and certes brought
A sense of pleasant ease on such a day'—
For these things in themselves, Beloved, may
Be changed, or change for thee,—and love, so wrought,
May be unwrought so. Neither love me for
Thine own dear pity's wiping my cheeks dry,—
A creature might forget to weep, who bore
Thy comfort long, and lose thy love thereby!
But love me for love's sake, that evermore
Thou mayst love on, through love's eternity.

 

I hope that your day is filled with love and laughter. Be well my friends

Happy Valentine's Day

I discovered an easy recipe for Chocolate truffles on Allrecipes you can find the recipe and a video here http://allrecipes.com/recipe/easy-decadent-truffles/detail.aspx?src=VD_Summary. I did not follow the direction very well. The recipe said it made five dozen I made 36. My truffles are insanely big and very rich.

Easy Decadent Truffles

1 (8 ounce) packagecream cheese, softened

3 cupsconfectioners' sugar

3 cupssemisweet chocolate chips, melted (Dark chocolate chips, or milk chocolate chips)

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla (or any other flavoring you like)

 

 

Directions

1. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar until well blended. Stir in melted chocolate and vanilla until no streaks remain. Refrigerate for about 1 hour. Shape into 1 inch balls

Optional ideas
Roll truffles in ground walnuts (or any ground nuts), cocoa, coconut, confectioners' sugar, candy sprinkles, etc.

To flavor truffles with liqueurs or other flavorings, omit vanilla. Divide truffle mixture into thirds. Add 1 tablespoon liqueur (almond, coffee, orange) to each mixture; mix well.

For mine I did milk chocolate and vanilla extract, And Dark Chocolate and raspberry extract. Like I said mine are too big. Yes it is a little unbelievable that a chocolate ball can ever be to big but trust me half of one sends me into a sugar comma. It is very important not to be lazy and just use whatever little scoop is handy. They are wonderful and not filled with odd chemicals that I can not pronounce. I love Valentine's day candy and this is a great way to get my fix. I think next time I will make them smaller but add some nuts to some of them and use more flavoring so that there is a surprise waiting for me in every bite.

On Second thought maybe I won't eat as many because they are so big!

I think they look a bit rustic but you could make them look really professional and pretty if you like that sort of thing. You could roll them out and then dip them in more chocolate.  I waited until the last minute to make these.

Heart shaped boxes for the my boys!

Only three truffles fit in these hearts. I will do better next year!

I hope your day is filled with inspiration, love, and laughter. Be well my friends.

Hot Chocolate

or liquid heaven. It was chilly this morning and our go to drink is home made Hot Chocolate. I want to share it with you, if you have a favorite recipe go ahead make a cup.

Here is my recipe for Heaven.

4 cups Whole Milk
3/4 cups sugar
1/2 cup coco powder (your favorite kind or Hersey brand is great.)
Extract (Vanilla, Peppermint, coconut, hazelnut, raspberry, orange, Pick a flavor that you like)
Milk chocolate chips (maybe half a cup. But I just pour them into the pan until it looks about right)

Put all of the ingredients except for the extract flavoring, in a sauce pot over medium heat and whisk until the mixture is smooth. Take it off of the heat and add you extract flavoring. Yum!

 Hello Love!

The boys agree

It is the best Hot Chocolate ever.

Hot Chocolate Mustache

(Maybe not the best decision before Lenten Mass. Worth it.)

 

I hope your day is filled with inspiration, Love, and Laughter. Be well my friend.

Poetry Thursday

Today I present to you  Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening by Robert Frost.

Don't we all feel like there are miles to go before we sleep from time to time?

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

By Robert Frost 1874–1963 Robert Frost

Whose woods these are I think I know.

His house is in the village though;

He will not see me stopping here

To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer

To stop without a farmhouse near

Between the woods and frozen lake

The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake

To ask if there is some mistake.

The only other sound’s the sweep

Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep,

And miles to go before I sleep.

 

I hope your day is filled with love and laughter. Be well my friends.

Sherlock Holmes

If you haven't guess I love Youtube. Today I found something wonderful. I just knew I needed to share it with you.  Benedict Cumberbatch reads Sherlock Holmes "An Inscrutable Masquerade".

 

 

It is the whole story. Benedict Cumberbatch has a enchanting voice. Of course I love the BBC show Sherlock written by Steven Moffat. So this is just a treat. There are a few other Sherlock stories on Youtube. But I am only posting the first one I listened to. I get to listen to a book while I crochet or sew, or whatnot. I do hope you enjoy it too.

I hope your day is filled with inspiration, love, and laughter. Be well my friend.

Take the long way round

Today I was thinking (surprising I know) about all of the dreams, hopes, goals, and random things that generally make me really very happy.  I love being a mother, a wife, and I love being home with my children. I also love a really good scenic route, where the roads twist and wind and suddenly you are faced with impossible beauty. I love taking life slowly, getting lost, and falling down. I love mistakes and socks. I love to learn and I adore a fantastic challenge. Really I often find myself struggling to complete something (a paper for school, a dress, a painting, a complicated recipe, a story, crochets, and so on), I ask myself out loud, "Why have I done this again!" But I am smiling because I know I can do it. I try to teach my children that anything worth having takes hard work and lots of mistakes.

I love mistakes and mishaps. That moment when you know how to fix the problem and do it better next time is the best feeling in the world. Awesome. I am not perfect and between you and me I do not want to be either. Perfection is boring. I am not saying not to be great at something. That is not the case. What I mean is never stop trying to be better because once you (my own belief only) think you cannot get any better you stagnate. I never want to stop growing as a person. So hey I invite you to critic me (nicely). I know that my grammar needs improvement. I know that I can be quirky and messy and slightly to the left. All of those things are pieces of me.

Sometimes I worry a lot more than necessary. I bite my lower lib and consider the path I have taken. From my current view point it looks long and there is a few twists and turns ahead that make my heart beat faster. What is around the bend? Who am I going to be? I am I too old to  . . .? Sometimes it feels more like panic and it can be extremely destructive. Where is my crystal ball? What are the mysteries waiting for me?

Most of these questions have no right or wrong answer. Right now I am scheduled to graduate college with a Bachelors Degree in English in 2018. It feels like forever and ever. Really I get to teach my children what to expect out of college. That it is never too late to chase a dream or to change a dream or take a chance and to believe in themselves. They see me struggle, but they see me succeed too. I hope that when they are adults facing the world they take the road less traveled. They always know that they are worth it, and deserve to be happy.

As you know all know I am a writer. That is what makes me the happiest. My heart beats lyrics, and I bleed ink. Okay not really but when I write I feel accomplished. I am proud and at peace. I have known that I have wanted to be a writer since I was eight. But through a series of very unfortunate events I had no confidence in my ability. I did not know my own worth. That is really why I chose English as a degree to help me improve, to help me build my confidence. So when the time comes I will take a leap of faith and finally learn to fly. Yes, I know that I can be a writer without education. For me it is a milestone that I want to place on my road, A sign that says, "Oh, Yes. I can."

Do you know what makes you happy? That little whisper at the center of your heart. Yes, that one. Be happy my friend. Make mistakes, take a chance and follow your dreams. Yes, you can. You can do anything you want to do. You are amazing and worth it.

I think we need a song

I love this song. It makes me happy.

Oh be doo, Okay, it is still my favorite movie.

This is my all time favorite track, song, music. It speaks to me.

 

 

I hope that your day is filled with inspiration, love, and laughter. Be well my friend.

 

Hearts for inspiration

I wanted to do an extra post on the heart video that I did not have any examples for. I felt bad for not working one up for you for the second granny square. Since Valentine's Day is coming I will post some inspiration pictures on things you can do with crochet hearts plus the hearts I worked up for you. If you have any questions feel free to ask. I am happy to help when I can.

Pinterest inspiration = Pinspiration? No, You are completly right it does't quite work.

Heart Garland


Heart headband


Heart Card


Heart Bookmarks


Heart Hair Pins

For our purposes we are using them to decorate a granny square or two or not. They are your hearts make them in your favorite color or make a key chian or if you are not a big heart fan feel free to skip it altogether. You can use a smaller crochet hook and you will get a small heart or you can use a bigger hook for a bigger heart (in case you really like the bobby pin idea and need little tiny hearts).  Do what makes you happy.

Here is the video again so that you do not have to go look for it.

To be honest this heart starts out a little wonky mostly because there is very little to hold on to but just keep going, pause the video so you can do your stitches with Bobwilson123 (I love her videos. A big Thank you to her for teaching us) take your time. I am sure that you are doing wonderful. Just perfect. Trust me.

I love two hearts in a square, like the night and the storm in the heart of the sun.

Honestly I put my hearts a little to close to the edge which is why the corners look a bit out of shape but I am confident that once I sew the squares together that it will look fine. So really if your squares look a little wonky not to worry they will be fine once we put them all together.


I hope that your day is filled with inspiration, love, and laughter. Be well my friends.

The Second Granny Square

How did your squares turn out last month? I hope that you are still following along. Today our square starts with a circle. Don't panic it is an easy pattern just something different. I am still using an I hook which is 5.5 mm. We want to continue using the same size hooks. Today we only have one video. Of course you can go back Here to see the videos on weaving in the ends, and changing color. The video below does walk us through a color change. You can pause at any point in the video to catch up, or to take a short break and then continue later. This video is almost 27 minutes long.  Just a quick reminder we are making 8x8 squares so you will need to add three more rows to the square featured in the video and we are only making six of these this month. Trust me I finished all of my squares for the month only to realize that I was short half an inch or the last row. It is slightly annoying to have to fix a silly mistake. Luckily it is an easy fix. I hope you have fun with this square.

 

 

Since it is February I thought I would also include an heart applique video if you would like to add a few to your squares. These are easy to work up and they do not take up much yarn.



 

I found this heart later, after I finished this post and I like how it is made so I wanted to give you some options so that your blanket will be unique to you and your family. I do not have any pictures ready for you of this heart. I am sorry. I will get some worked up for you in an upcoming post.

 

 

I know the Teresa(the lady in the second video) says to weave in the ends but you need to leave a long tail so that you can sew it on to your square or you can follow the instructions in this video.

 

I like to use the tail I left to sew on the applique and if you just weave in the yarn to the top stitches on the granny square the yarn should not show through on the back. Take your time and it will be perfect!

 

If two of these squares look smaller than the others, that is because they are. I finished the squares and I thought four were short a row so I added an extra row. Then I measured to double check only to discover that now they are to big! Now I have to go back and add an extra row to the first eight squares to make them even. Please measure your squares to save you some heartache and extra work. Depending on what size hook you use will be the size of your squares. Use the same hook for all of your squares. If there is a slight difference in size between the first batch and the second batch don't worry about it if it is around half an inch.

I am not overly fond of the boarder on this heart but I wanted to do both boarders for you.

I like just a basic heart shape. Which one do you like?

I just wanted to remind you that you can do any color combination that you like. You can follow the video pattern for each of your squares or you can change it up and go crazy. I am excited to see what your squares look like this month. Of course if you have any questions please ask.

 

 

I hope your day is filled with sweet inspiration, lots of love, and plenty of laughter. Be well my friends.