Finishing Projects, One At A Time

I haven't exactly been good about finishing any of my major projects this year.  My quilt has a lot of work to go, I keep starting new projects and the pile grows and grows.  But, I'm happy to report that I can at least cross ONE item off the to-do list!

I managed to get one project done for Baby Z on the crafting side.  Months and months and months ago, I took a baby blanket crochet class.  I started the blanket and then set it aside about 80% of the way done in order to start on one for my youngest niece.  One thing led to another, and I never got back to it, and I haven't exactly been full of energy and crafty these last few months.  Last month though, I FINALLY got the blanket done, and it felt so good to cross a project off the list. Now I'm working on a few Christmas presents, and then it's back to the several other blankets I have that are works in progress :)

Duck's Blanket

I've been seriously slacking on the posting here lately, although I am managing to keep the book list updated.  While I haven't been posting, I have been keeping myself busy though with a few projects, once of which was my first completed crocheted baby blanket!  This took me so much longer to do then I thought it would, but it turned out pretty darn good if I can say so myself!  My new niece "Duck" arrive March 24, and it was April 24 before I got it to her...I'm pretty sure she didn't notice the delay ;)  Duck's mom even used the blanket in her announcement and baby photos, which made this girl pretty darn proud.  I've got a few more started on this pattern, I'm hoping maybe practice makes faster and things will move along a little quicker with later versions!

The other project I've started is making dishcloths...I thought it *might* be the wrong time of year for making scarves (although the weather doesn't necessarily support that thought) and I wanted a quick and easy project...so dishcloths it is!

Quarterly Update

We are already a quarter of the way through 2011...wow the year is flying by (of course I'm pretty sure I say that every year).

I'm doing very well on the reading challenge front.  As of today (so going slightly into this next quarter) I've read 55 books as part of the 2011 reading challenge.  My original goal was to read 100 books in 2011...since I seem to be on pace to surpass that in about 2 months, I upped the goal to 200 books...that may be more of a challenge :)

Of those 55 books, only 4 are from my stash (I need to work on that!), 18 are audio books and 33 are library books (support your local library!).  I've managed to post 27 reviews, of varying length, with a few more to be posted once we're closer to release date or I get caught up.

I haven't been as successful on my craft projects...although I have gotten a few done!  I've been slacking since early February though, and I need to work on getting caught up on the ones I've got started/in pieces.  I'm just about done with my first two crocheted baby blankets though, which have been fun (but take way longer than scarves!), and I've got several quilt blocks cut, just not finished.  Those are toward the top of my uber-long unfinished project list.  I'll probably never get caught up, since I keep adding to the list (the new niece needs a few more blankets according to her big sister), but just getting a few finished and having that sense of accomplishmentt might spur some more activity on this front.  I just haven't had a ton of motivation here, but since that seems to come and go, I'm sure it will be back before too long.

It's going to be a crazy busy month or so here, so I won't set any real goals for myself, but I do hope that when I do another look back next quarter I've managed to read a few more books from my stash and finish a few projects!

Work in Progress - Baby Afghan

Last night I took the first of two classes on how to make a baby afghan at my local knitting/crochet/awesome yarn store, Knitting Next Door.  It's amazing how much longer this is going to take than the scarves I'm used to whipping together quick!  Lighter yarn, longer foundation chain, but I'm loving it.  This one will likely remain at our house for visiting babies to use as I need to work on consistency (not quite up to gift level yet), but I love the yarn and how it's coming together!

Crochet Book Giveaway

AllFreeCrochet.com is giving away a copy of Crochet Now! on its website/blog.  As someone new to this craft, I'm excited about the DVD, and the illustrations in the book.  I need some good illustrations to try to figure out what it is the words are trying to get me to do! Click here to check out their review of the book and get the details on how to enter to win! 

And doesn't the cover just suck you in?!  I think the socks on there look so warm and cozy!  Of course, that could be in part because I'm freezing cold at the moment...

A New Hobby

I really need a new hobby like I need a hole in my head.  In fact, it's my dear husband who needs a hobby to occupy his time through the winter, but that's a story for another day.  While I don't NEED a new hobby, I've been wanting to learn this one for a long while...how to crochet.

Each of the past two Thursdays, I've taken a couple hours out of the afternoon and attended a "Learn to Crochet" class at a new store in town - Knitting Next Door.  The first class did NOT go well.  I went home afterward and tried to practice, and ended up with some pretty sad looking balls of yarn.  However, something sort of just clicked the second class, and now I'm crocheting up a storm!  I finished my first project yesterday and I'm so excited.  It's modeled here by the adorable Miss Harley.  It's not perfect, by far, but it's so much improved from the initial attempts that it's amazing.  I'm now officially "hooked" (teehee) on crocheting, and have hit up Michaels and Jo-Ann already for supplies (hooks in all sizes, yarn sales, oh boy).

I'm still only working with two basic stitches, the single and the double, but I figure that will keep me busy for a while as I work to perfect those!  I'm hoping there will be a few more basic classes through the winter that will expand my skill set too.  And in the meanwhile, friends and family should be aware that a scarf may be in their future...color requests are accepted ;)