Beautiful Day Today!

My DH and I took the boat out for the first time today. We were able to get it up to 28 mph, not bad for an old boat. We had so much fun. We were out on the water for 4 hours! We decided that 4 hours was too long for us. We both have fibro, and our pain was way up by that time. We decided to take it out more often for less time. We want to get a tow-behind to make it more fun. I saw a hot dog tow-behind in the water today! I have been wanting one for years! I think it would be too hard for me to use now though. I would have to try it. My DH treated me to subs and drinks afterwards so I didn't have to cook. I don't think I could've cooked if I tried. LOL! I could barely walk. But we had so much fun it was worth it. We haven't done anything together like that in a long time. We plan on going to see a movie tomorrow. I'm excited about that too. I have to drag my DH to go to the movie theater. Since it's a holiday, he'd rather relax than go anywhere, especially after today.

I was going to show you some pics of the paper bag album for the graduation party that we're invited to, but I forgot to charge my camera batteries. I apologize, and I am charging them overnight right now. I will have pics tomorrow. I thought that the album was enough of a gift, but my DH believes we should still put a small amount of cash inside. I think I'm going to have to go to a crop within the next week or two. It's been too long since I've been to a crop. I need to get some basic supplies like paper stickers, embellies, etc. I'm on a budget of $20 a month! I'm really going to have to be creative to get what I need.

I hope everyone got outside and enjoyed the day today if it was nice out where you live.

Happy Scrappin and Hookin,

Michelle

Tuesday Morning

I picked up a cute mini album for $1.99 at Tuesday Morning. See below:

I think it was well worth the money. I haven't figured out what to use it for yet. I started my first paper bag album today. It's going to be a graduation present. I decided to make it more girly than the traditional black and white. I will be posting pics on the next blog. I will also be posting pics of the crochet rose pin I crocheted yesterday. I ran out of red thread, so I used green. It looks kind of neat. You'll have to let me know what you think. It also looks really pretty as a bracelet.

My DH and I will be going out on the boat tomorrow, so I don't know if I'll be up to posting tomorrow. We decided to go to a movie on Memorial Day and relax. I wanted to go to the beach, but the water is too high and the ph is messed up from all of the rain! Yuck! The indoor pool we always go to is being remodeled, and won't be done until July 4th. Between the rain and the remodel, most of the summer will be gone before we can go swimming.

Enough complaining, I'm just happy to be alive and well. I have to start walking on the treadmill. Apparently, both my DH and I are pre-diabetic from being overweight and not eating right. We have started to eat better, but it's hard to exercise when your body is screaming in pain or you get a migraine from exercise. Without the exercise, I can only eat one meal a day with a small healthy snack to lose weight, which I know isn't healthy. I need to go back on Weight Watchers again to help motivate me. I just don't have $40 a month. I might give TOPS a try for $20 a year and $2.00 dues a month. I can still follow WW plan while in TOPS. However, I do better on Tops diet. I got almost to goal with tops, I lost over 50 pounds eons ago. I like going to the national recognition awards. They're a lot of fun!

I'm working on crocheting a beaded necklace that's turning out to be really pretty. I made it about 18 inches long. I hate short necklaces. I want to make some more necklaces, earrings, and a couple of rings before the 15th when I try out for the Pittsburgh crochet show. I will be showing my work as I completed it.

Happy Memorial Day Weekend,

Michelle

Horseshoe Railroad LO using BoBunny Paper

These pics are from last years trip to the Horseshoe Railroad. We went to a hunting and fishing expo held down in Cresson, PA, and we toured the railroads down there when we stayed a couple of days. The expo was held at a local sportsman club that had a good sized lake. I had decided to take a walk around the paths that detoured in the woods around the lake. I didn't take my walker with me, and I didn't think about it. I hadn't gone for a walk like that since I had fibromyalgia. I got halfway through, and I didn't think I was going to make it the rest of the way out. I had to keep taking lots of breaks. They could've gotten me out on a 4-wheeler, but I didn't want them to think it was because I was overweight, so I suffered through it. Never again! If I ever get myself in a position like that again, I will ask for help. I used the bus tickets from the travel packet that I won as train tickets for this lo. I also used the don't stop sign from that packet. The paper lo's for the pics are K&Company and are pre-cut.

If you get the chance to go to the Horseshoe Railroad, go. It's beautiful. They have a picnic area once you get to the top. Once upon a time, you had a choice of riding in the car to the top, or walking up the hundreds of stairs for free. Now, you have to pay to ride in the air conditioned car. It only costs a couple of bucks. It has a great panoramic view!

Happy Scrappin & Hookin,

Michelle

Travel Layout

I made this travel layout with BoBunny paper and cutouts. The fork and knife are part of the travel package that I won on NSD. The picture layouts are pre-cut designs that you just tear out! Isn't that just wonderful? I love them! They are made by K&Companies Happy Trails line. At least I believe it's K&C, I can't locate the paper pad at this moment. I never unpacked from the last crop.

For my fellow hookers, I have an interview in about 2 weeks for the Pittsburgh knit and Crochet show 2012. Wish me luck! I have never done any shows or taught large groups before, so this would be a good experience for me and hopefully for the groups too. LOL! I will be taking samples of crocheted wire jewelry and yarn jewelry to demonstrate for the show. I will also have my blog hosted on allfreecrochet.com tomorrow at this link http://www.favecraftsblog.com/new-cross-stitch-spring-wrap-pattern. You can get the pattern for the cross-stitch crochet shawl that I made for my mother-in-law on Mother's day on the blog. This is my first guest blog that I have ever done, and Christine is very nice! I really enjoyed working with her. I would gladly do it again. My goal is to someday design my own crochet designs and get published. You know that we Aries are very competetive and can't just be the average Joe. We have to be the best at what we do. LOL! It's so hard to believe that I once used to teach and do research and get published in Scientific journals. I went from that to counseling and doing D&A educational groups. Now I just have my hobbies, but they keep me just as busy.

We recently acquired a new boat. My parents traded our speed boat for their boat, because they started having too many difficulties with the size of the boat for them. I love our new Chris Craft! Here are some pics!

I can't wait until next week, I need to buy some new yarn. I would love to start a new project, but this time buy all the yarn at one time someplace cheap. If you know of a cheap store online, please let me know. I am also looking for the Scrapbook mystery series by Laura Childs for as cheap as possible. I hope everyone is enjoying their summer even though it has been raining a lot. I know we can't wait for it to stop raining so we can take the boat out. This is the first boat that we have enough room to take friends out on. Thanks for taking the time to stop by and read.

Happy Scrappin & Hookin,

Michelle

Flowers in Bloom 2 Page LO

I completed a 2 page lo using felt to make the flowers. I stitched the stems onto the paper, and I sewed the flowers on too. To make the flowers, just cut some triangles of felt and stitch them together using a running stitch. once they are all strung together, pull tightly, and they will form the flower. Tie the knot. You can put another piece of felt in the center or sew a button in the center to add more bling.

To make the lace paper on the 2nd page, I used an edging punch. I also used a stampin up punch for the owl where I made a boo boo with the edging punch to hide the boo boo. LOL! I just used scrapbooking paper for the picture lo. I do not know the manufacturer of the papers, because my friend provided all of the papers and ideas for the LO, but of course I had to modify it and do my own thing. I never follow instructions to a T. I have to be creative and make a project mine. Are there any of those of you out there like that? Please let me know. I think I like the last project better. Let me know if you like the green project or the this flower project better.

Keep Scrappin & Hooking,

Michelle

Pics froms National Scrapbooking Day! Plus I won a Class from My Creative Classroom!

Hi everyone! So sorry that it's been so long since I last wrote. It's beginning to become my mantra! Time to change that! I won a free online class from My Creative Classroom on National Scrapbooking Day! I just found out about 2 days ago. I am so excited! I have 1 year to use it. They have classes online for scrapbookers, stampers, and artists in general. They even have Cricut and Silhoutte courses. I haven't decided when I am going to take a course or what to take yet.

I went to Scrapbook Studio in Ohio on National Scrapbook Day, and my mother and my friend, and I scrapbooked all day. I will be showing you the things we did throughout the week. I have pics of us scrapbooking and having fun. They had free make-n-takes, free chocolate, cake, etc, drinks, and it was very nice.

Here are the pics:

I won a travel package that the store had put together with tons of goodies inside! There were bus tickets, thickers, maps, etc. Here is a pic:

Here is a pic of a layout that my friend had put together for the three of us to complete. It should say It isn't easy being green, but I have to complete it yet. We used Stampin UP punches for the bird and the owl. I don't know what paper we used, and we drew the trees..

For all you hookers, I have finished the back of my sweater, and I am still working on knitting my shawl and baby blanket. I will have pics later on that.

Happy Scrappin and Hookin,

Michelle

View Finished Lion Brand Tote Bag with Flower, Leafs, and Vines Pattern

I finished felting the bag about 3 days ago, and I just added the finishing touches just now. This pattern for the bag can be found on lionbrand.com on the free patterns. I did mine with different yarn and different colors. I used some
Wool-Ease for some of the roses, but most of the roses, Leaves, and Vines were done with scraps of Mohair. The red yarn was Cascade 100% peruvian wool. I felted the bag after everthing was assembled by hand in a bucket for about 45 minutes to 1 hour. I used shampoo and HOT water. For some reason, I seem to be having difficulty getting things to felt, or so I thought. I didn't think it was taking, but when it was dry, it was about 50% smaller. (Thank Goodness!) It was a little bigger than I intended. I am going to use it for my books for the library.

Here is a pic:

I am also working on the Graduate Bookworm from Lion Brand for a graduation present. I have to put the face on yet. I am knitting with the pretty yarn that I bought this month with the blues, purples, and greens. I am knitting a scarf without a pattern, so we'll have to see if it turns out. I may be either assisting with a class or teaching a class at the Pittsburgh knit and Crochet Festival in February 2012. I am currently also working with someone else on having a booth with crochet and knitting kits available as well as already crocheted and knitted items. I will also have spinners and possible spinning wheels available to purchase as well. I may have a discount for the people who are signed up to receive updates to my blog. More on that later.

I have also been crocheting flowers for scrapbooking. They are selling them in the stores for 5 for $6! So, I decided to make my own for next to nothing. For those of you who are scrappers too, buy some embroidery floss and use your tiny crochet needles to crochet the flowers. You can find the pattern online when you do a search. I just got my pink ATG gun in the mail today from customcrops.com! I only paid $20! I can remember when they used to cost $80. I received on of the new fairy stamps for free that they are carrying. I love it!

I'm not feeling to well today, so I decided to stick to crocheting and knitting.

Happy Scrappin & Hookin,

Michelle

New Yarn Purchase

This is the new yarn that I purchased in Grove City, PA. The red is 100% Peruvian wool from Cascade, and the pretty blue is called Mini Mochi. The Mochi is 80% Merin Merino Wool/20% Nylon. I don't know what I'm doing with the Mochi yet. I just bought it, because it's so pretty! I had to buy the Cascade to finish up my tote bag that I just finished felting today. I think I might save it for the library to put my books in.

I just newly joined a book club at the Scrapbook Studio. It focuses on books written by Laura Childs whom writes Scrapbooking Mysteries. I just started on the second book, and I'm hooked! For those of you whom haven't read her books yet, check out her first book of the series at the library. You won't be sorry. If your library doesn't have it, try inter-library loan. I have the first trilogy in one book, but I had to do an inter-library loan for the fourth book. I also checked out a really good crochet book by Nicky Epstein on Crocheted Flowers. I've been looking for a book of flowers, and this is really nice.

I haven't been up to doing much for the past week due to the weather and fibro, so I apologize for the lack of posts. I do have posts coming up that I completed during NSD, but I have to get my camera off of my friend. I forgot it in her car. It is beautiful out today. It's 80 degrees outside, and I had to put the AC on for the pups. Have a beautiful day.

Happy Scrappin & Hookin,

Michelle

Crochet stash bought Thursday at Tuesday Morning!

Boy, isn't that a confusing title! I went to Tuesday Morning for the yarn event they were having, but I couldn't find anything I liked. So, I started shopping for other stuff, and I ended up buying knitting needles for $5 a pair! I also paid between $5-$7 a book for the crochet and knitting books! They still have more books that I would love to add to my library. I am definitely going there for my scrapbook room remodel. They have a 4 cube storage made by cropperhopper for only $20! I definitely want that. They also have wall storage units for $20-30 that I really like.

I am starting to come up with cheap organizing ideas for my stamps and other items so that I can store them with less space, and so that I know what I have. I do not want to buy duplicates of stamps, punches, or any other item that I have. I just got my paper organized with a hanging rack system made by Creative Memories, and I love it. You can see what you have at a glance. I just wish I could take it with me when I scrap. LOL! I will be posting pics along with my ideas for storage.

Back to my crochet stash from Tuesday Morning, this whole pile, plus a goodie for scrapping cost $30. Treat yourself today to some yarn, a hook or needle, and a pattern online or a book and relax for 30 minutes. You'll be glad you did.

Happy Hookin & Scrappin,

Michelle

My Scrapbook haul from shopping at Scrapbook Expressions Yesterday!

Hi everyone, I went shopping all day yesterday with my friend Anne. We only went to 3 stores, but it took the whole day! We went to Scrapbook Expressions, and I bought mostly everything from the clearance section. Everything came to just $10! I couldn't resist the cardboard bird cages from the Tim Holtz line. I thought you could ink them or paint them, or do a whole lot with them. I bought the white gel pen, because I keep forgetting to buy one for about a year now! I wanted one to make lines that look like stitching. Tomorrow is the big scrapping day! I hope everyone is going to scrap somewhere with friends.

Happy Scrappin & Hookin,

Michelle

Cherished Memories

I made this LO when my sister, Chrissy graduated from College. For some reason, the pic turned sepia. It turned out to be one of my favorite pics from that day! I used Me and My Big Ideas paper line. The black and grey lines on the paper are felted. I found pics and sayings that I liked, so I printed them with my computer. I cut them out, and then I ran them through my Xyron sticker maker, and then put them on the paper. This is all I had to do for this. I wanted to keep the colors grey, black, and white. I also wanted to keep it very simple as if it were very old. Let me know what you think.

Happy Scrappin & Hookin,

Michelle

Finished Crochet Wrap For Mother's Day

I finished the crochet wrap for Mother's day, and I think I'm going to give it to my mother-in-law. I've decided to crochet a shawl for my mother instead. I only have a short time to do it, and the pattern that I've been working on isn't working out. I just downloaded a new pattern today, but it calls for different yarn. I think I'm going to use the same yarn, but make sure the gauge is correct.

Here is a pic of the finished wrap:

I had posted images in the beginning, and this last pic is a close-up to show what the cross-stitch crochet looks like.

If you would like to make this wrap, I will post the directions:

Use an E hook, I used Bernat Satin Sport Yarn (3-ply)

Foundation Row: SC 60
Row 1: SC in 2nd ch from the hook. SC across to end. (58 sc).
Row 2: Turn. Ch 3, SK first sc and dc in sc. Go back to sc that was skipped, and dc in that sc (cross-stitch is formed). Continue pattern across to end. Dc in last ch.
Row 3. Turn. Ch 2. Cross-stitch across to end. Dc in last dc. Repeat until desired width is achieved. Finish off. I used a shell stitch on the ends. I used 5 dc in a sc then a sc in the next sc, and I continued this until the end. Fasten off. Do this for the other end. Make sure you have the wrong side facing you so that the right side of the shell will be on the right side when it is done.

I hope that wasn't too confusing. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me.

I have some surprises coming up for you. I have quite a few pages coming up that I have completed lately. A few of us are getting together on May 7th, National Scrapbooking day, and we are each doing 4 pages with materials. We will be teaching each other how to do our pages. This will be fun! Plus I will have at least 12 pages coming home! On top of that I will be learning how to do a paper bag mini album. If I learn that pretty well, I will do another one, and post pics with directions on my site. We are going to one of our local stores for free scrapbooking that day. I might suggest that you check your local stores to see if they are providing any free scrapbooking that day. Ours is even providing a free class on transparencies! I'm all for free classes! Everything that I learn, I will pass on to you! So I am really excited!

Tomorrow, I will be posting some LOs. I do not have the best of memories, so I may not remember what the company may be for the stickers, but I do know where to get them, and I will do my best. LOL!

Happpy Scrappin & Hookin,

Michelle