Halloween Fairy

 I'm going to start Posting on my blog again.  Ever since I had the vaccine, my health has deteriorated.  I am mainly crocheting these days, because I can do it while I sit, and it takes my mind off of the pain and sickness.  I recently completed a fairy pattern from hobbi, and of course I had to make it mine by choosing my own colors.  I hope you like her and her ghost!  If you are interested in purchasing a set, please dm me.  

New to Me Designer

 I just found this really good crochet designer.  Here is the link to her website https://shopwildxdandi.com/collections/all?page=13.  Her designs range from normal to a little out there, but I really love what she's doing!  She's using applique in her designs, it's taking crochet to a whole new level and a completely different look.  Her brand is WildxDandi, and she goes by the name of Dandelion.  I'm very impressed, and I can't wait to implement some of her techniques into my work.  I may have to purchase a design or two or three, because why reinvent the wheel?  Right?  Let me know what you think.  Tell me what you are working on, and what you would like to see here.  I'm currently working on a sweater.  I've had to frog it no less than 10 times, because my fibro brain didn't want to work even though it is a simple pattern.  We get those moments.  The trick is to keep moving forward, and be grateful that we can.  I believe God gave me a talent my crochet and other crafts, but mostly crochet.  I want to share my gift with others as much as possible.  I take my time crafting each piece I make, and I try to customize it to the person that I am making it for.  I find peace and spirituality in my crafting.  I hope you do as well.  Peace and God Bless.

Superimposing Idiosyncrasies

 I'm constantly fascinated and frustrated by people who keep superimposing their ideosyncrancies onto others.  For example, they will insist you have some mental health disorder that you never have been diagnosed with even though you have been seen by several mental health professionals voluntarily.  It's basically a beef of putting people in boxes that they really don't belong in, but keeping them in this box anyway, and treating them as such.  It really speaks to the person's mental health condition who put you in the box or boxes.  It's usually because they belong in that particular box or label, and project it onto the other person.  Sadly, they are the ones who truly need to get professional help, but they never do.  Even when seeing a professional, they either spoon feed the professional what they want them to know, or they choose professionals that can be easily manipulated.  These people tend to hop from one professional to the other.  I'm not against getting professional help.  I have a Master's in Psychology.  I have worked as a Neuroscientist doing Alzheimer's research, and I have switched careers to Mental Health Counselor.  I advocate for getting counseling even if you are just going through a rough patch, and need some help.  But, please do not put your problems onto others!  People have enough problems without having to carry yours too.  Lol!

Free gift card for Dunham's

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Latest Crochet Projects!

I have taken a long time to post again partly because I have had a rough go physically and partly because I wanted to determine what this blog is to be about.  It originally started as a scrapbooking blog, and eventually turned into crochet.  I crochet much more than I scrap.  So, I will stick to crochet.

My latest project is a scarf made with Bernat's Zoey yarn pictured below.

This yarn is very soft and bulky weight.  It is made with 3 skeins of yarn.  I did 6 sc across, and continued to sc to the end. This is my own pattern, and it's very simple!  I love how warm and soft this scarf is.  It goes down almost to my waist.  It's a long scarf.  If you want one made for you, contact me.  I will be selling them for $18.

The next project is fingerless mitts made with an acrylic yarn.  This is my own pattern, and it's a waffle pattern.  They are metallic and very pretty.  I added a feminine detail with the lace, and I am thinking of adding a flower embellishment on the top of the mitts.  Perhaps a black or white rose.  Tell me what you think!

I am currently working on several projects.  I am crocheting a cotton valance for my dining room windows.  I am also working on a pattern for a top.  I have a cotton tank top halfway done, but I need more yarn.  Unfortunately, I bought mill ends for the cotton tank as it's a project for myself to save money, however, I can't find it anywhere!  I will probably frog it, and make something smaller.

I recently joined a facebook group called Yarn Lotto!  I love it!  You send a skein of yarn in once a month, and they randomly draw a winner to receive all of the yarn that everyone sent in!  If you don't participate, you don't win.  I think this is an awesome way to try to win free yarn. 

Happy Hookin,

Cropperhopper

Me and My BFF!

I've known my BFF all my life, because she's my mother.  We weren't always BFF's, but after adventures together, chronic illnesses, etc we have become each other's BFF.  My mother and I would always get into trouble together from when I was a teen on.  We would decide to go somewhere, and we would get so lost that we had no idea where we were hours later on back roads in the country in the dark.  We laughed for weeks if not months later, and it is our private joke that we never know where we will end up when we decide to go somewhere.  If I tell my dh that I'm going to mom's, he knows not to expect me anytime soon or on a deadline.  My mother and I will never end up doing what we said we are going to do.  We always find something to get into, and we have a ball doing it.  

We found that when we both had illnesses that our friends sort of dropped off, but we still had each other. We found hobbys that we had in common, and this has brought us closer together too.  I'm glad that my mother is my BFF, because I have come to know her better than most daughters and mothers get to know each other.

Purina One 28 Day Challenge

I received free Purina One dry dog food from the Smiley.com program to take the 28 day challenge hosted by Purina One.  They want you to try their dog food for 28 days to see improvement in bright eyes, healthy and shiny coat, less inflammation in joints, good dental health, more energy, and good digestion.

I have started my dogs on Purina One, and I am partaking in the 28 day challenge.  So far, I am on day 1, and I have a picture of my dog.

I know he's kinda hard to see, but you get the point.  You can see his coat, and his eyes aren't too bright.  He's 9 years old, and his joints hurt real bad.  He will be the focus of this challenge since I have 3 dogs.  Although I will mention I have a picky eater.  He's a pit bull, and he has to have canned food mixed with Pedigree dry food only.  He won't eat anything else.  He loved the lamb pieces in the Purina One, and took interest in the other pieces, but wouldn't eat the other pieces without canned food.  Pretty good for him.  He was a runt, and he wouldn't eat just about everything on the market including expensive foods, so I'm impressed!  I won't bore you with Day 7, Day 14, etc., but I will give you an update at the end.  If you are interested, please click here:  http://h5.sml360.com/-/1syi

Snuggles Bear Den Community

I just joined Snuggles Bear Den Community.  They send you surveys, coupons, and free products to try.  You may receive a free stuffed Snuggle bear for registering.  Why not sign up?  I love Snuggle fabric softener.  I love the smell and how soft my clothes are.  Here is the link:

<a href="http://snugglecommunity.socialmedialink.com/" target="_blank"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/sml-images/misc_images/Snugglebear+new.png" alt="Bear Den" width="125" height="125" /></a>

I hope you enjoy it!

Michelle

p.s.

I will be posting pics of the new yarn and books that I have ordered.  I am waiting for them to come in.  I may change the name of my blog since I seem to be doing more crocheting and knitting than scrapbooking or cardmaking at the moment.  However, I still do that too.  Any suggestions on names that could include both?

Thanks,

Michelle

Review of Hill's Ideal Balance Cat Food!

I received a package from Crowdtap of Hill's Ideal Balance Cat Food Products.  They sent me a bag of cat food, 2 cans of food, and a bag of treats for my Jinxie to try.  I've shown Jinxie before in my blog.  Their cat food is grain free, and they sent me the Natural Chicken and potatoe Recipe Dry food.  Jinxie loves it.  I couldn't get a pic of her eating it though.  She thought something was up, because I normally leave her alone when she eats, unless I want to give her medicine.  She's too smart!

She loved the Gourmet Tuna Recipe Wet food!  It was a large can, and she ate the whole thing all at once both times!  There was also a laser pointer, but she looks to find the source, and she knows it's you.  She won't chase it.  Like I said she's too smart!  I gave it to my mother who has a kitten, and she loves it.  I love the seal on the bag of cat food!  It's like a velcro seal!  You just pull it apart and press it together to seal it again!  Love it!  They should all have it.  My cat won't eat stale food.

My cat loves the food, which is the most important part.  If she doesn't like it, we don't buy it.

I received this as a promotiotional product, and the review is my opinion.  I did not receive any pay for this review.

Received and Tried Tai Pei's Chatterbox!

I received my Tai Pei's Chatterbox, and this is what was included: It had coupons for 2 free meals of your choice, and coupons for friends! You choose the meat in step 1. Step 2, choose your veggies. Step 3, choose white or brown rice. Step 4, Choose your sauce. We chose the Tempura Battered Chicken, veggies, white rice, and General Tao's sauce. It only took 15 minutes to make, and it tasted like take out! You could easily make it in a wok if you have one. I'll be using my wok next time. It has a lot of chicken and veggies compared to rice. It easily fed the two of us, and we were full. We didn't have leftovers! If you have a bigger family, I recommend adding rice to stretch it, or buying 2 full meals. I am not being paid for this review. It is soley my opinion. Here is a picture of my finished product. For those of you into food porn, I'll have to make it look fancy next time! LOL!

Hope you try it. I especially loved it because I am a chronic pain sufferer, and it was so easy to make. Michelle

National Scapbook Day

National Scrapbooking Day!

National Scrapbooking Day is on May 3rd!  I know that this is an early post, but if you register on Big Picture Classes, they are having a free scrapbooking day on May 3rd in honor of National Scrapbooking Day.  They have 10 well know scrapbookers teaching different techniques, and will be giving away prizes to participants that post their creations on instagram.  They also have kits that are $25 and up that you can purchase for only $10 from Studio Calico once you have registered!  I have 3 in mind for myself!

I haven't been scrapbooking, because my scrapbook room is currently in the state of being remodeled.  I need to get it done by May 3rd!  I also need to update my tablet before then to participate.  LOL!  I'm so excited.

I recently bought some gold Feza yarn with a weight of 4, and I'm attempting to knit a leave pattern on a fingerless pair of mittens.  Thank heavens for Youtube!  I have learned that my purl wasn't correct, and I learned how to do a psso correctly!  I still have to take pics of my latest works and show them to you.  I've been sick (of course), and I'm currently doing swimming pool therapy for my achilles tendon and fibromyalgia.  I love the pool.  It's warmer than bath water!  It helps me so much!  If you know anyone with fibro, please try to be understand about their illnesses as it attacks their immune system, puts them in a fog so that they don't think clearly, and they are in constant pain all the time.  Some are worse off than others, but for each person it's different.  Docs have told me that I'm the worst case that they have ever seen.  Lucky me.  I just know that God only gives us what we can handle, and he has a plan for each of us.

I have a shop on Etsy.com called Cropperhopper's Stuff.  If you would like to peruse my sight and look at some of the handmade crocheted and knitted items, it would make me very happy.  Please give me feedback on the items, prices, and shipping.  Also give me feedback on the pictures themselves.  I'm thinking of closing the shop, but if there is something I can do to make it better to appeal to shoppers, I would prefer to do that instead.  My prices seem to match that of the competition.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day,

Cropperhoppr

Yarn Stash Update!

I just bought a beautiful skein of Pearl by Feza.  It's 100g, and it's called smouldering gold.  It has flecks of gold in it!  It was only $7 at stitchdivastudios.com.  I also bought a size K tunisian hook from them.  I had to get the pink version of course!  $1 goes to Breast Cancer Research!  I also bought the Master Class crochet book, and I'm loving it!  It has all the current techniques for the newest trends in crochet.  It teaches you how to do the techniques, and their is one pattern for each technique.  I also have 2 skeins of yarn coming from Red Heart to make another motorcycle cowl for my DH.  His cowl wore out after 2 years.  He actually requested a new one!  He never wants anything crocheted.  That makes me happy!  :)

I will be showing off a sweater, purse, and shawl that I made at Sit and Stitch tonite at Never Enough Yarn in Sharon, PA.  Everyone wants to see the items that I make, but I usually give them away before they get the chance.  LOL!

Mom is coming home today from having her right knee replaced.  She is doing great!  She's still using a walker, but I think she will be using a cane in no time!

Happy Scrappin & Hookin,

Michelle

p.s.  I don't receive any money or goods for my endorsements.

Jane Green House Party Pack Received!!!

I am so excited!  I just received my House Party pack containing author Jane Green's newest novel, her last book, tea, and cookies.  Here is a pic.

My pretty girl Jinxie is checking out the pack too!  I just finished crocheting a sweater and a matching purse.  I will have to post pics of these next time.  I haven't taken any yet.  Mom just received her new right knee, and she is doing well.  I haven't been scrappin lately, but I have continued to stock up on supplies of course.  I'm hoping to have a good turn out for the party.  Everyone will receive Jane Green's last book and an excerpt from her new book.  Plus, I will be giving out the new book "Resisting Temptation" as a door prize!  We will have a discussion about the excerpt from the new book, and if they want they can discuss the prior book as well.

My pharmacy overdosed me with my pain meds, so I've been going thru withdrawls and hell since.  The only thing I have done lately is starting to crochet a new lace shawl.

Gotta go,

Happy Scrappin & Hookin,

Michelle

FO For Father's Day and Sweater Mishap

I decided to Etch a couple of large mugs for my dad for Father's Day.  I think they came out pretty good.  I have decided that I will take orders for weddings, anniversaries, graduations, Mother's and Father's Days, etc.  I am going to charge $40 for a pair of large mugs, and prices will vary depending on the custom order.  You can see a picture below of the mugs and the card that I made.  You would be surprised of the amount of time that goes into the planning and prep!

If you look real close, you may be able to make out what they say.  One says "Gone Fishing", and it has a pic of a fish at the bottom.  The other mug says "Dad", and it has a pic of skull and crossbones at the bottom.  My dad rides a Harley, so it's perfect for him, and he loves to fish.  The card is a little feminine, but I don't have anything masculine right now.

I recently finished an Irish Lace Sweater featured in Crochet Magazine in the Spring 2012 Issue.  It's the one on the cover.  I decided to use a 4 ply instead of the 2ply recommended since I couldn't find the 2ply in my area. I compensated with a smaller hook.  I put it one and on both sides in the front, there are humps in the fabric.  I have decided that I am going to take out that area and crochet it flat to fix it.  The other area that I'm having difficulty with is in the waist.  The waist isn't quite wide enough.  I need a couple of more inches.  I may add a couple of inches to the bottom since the top, middle, and arms are fine.  Any suggestions???  Pics are below:

Any suggestions would be appreciated.  I am also working on my own entrelac pattern that I believe is new. I am hoping to try to submit it to the magazines and fairs.  After that, I will show it, and post the pattern.  Don't forget to check out Cropperhopper's Stuff at Etsy.com to see some of the new items available.  I will be adding baby and toddler items as I have time to make them.  I always take orders for any type of item.

Happy Hookin & Scrappin,

Cropperhopper

My Pretty Slippers

I crocheted a pair of slippers, because my feet are cold all of the time.  I'm also getting bored with the afghan, and I need short projects to keep me going.  Here is a pic of the slippers:

I'm also working on another project.  I'll give you a sneak peek here:

I took a couple of pics of 2 of my dogs.  The first one is Sweet Pea, and the silver one is Princess.

Finally, we went shopping yesterday, and I a pic of my yarn haul.  It's not very big this month.  Hopefully I can get more next month.  :)

I think I may have to buy one or two more skeins of the Paton's before I finish the sweater that I've been working on for a year.  I've been buying the yarn as I can afford it, and crocheting it here and there.  Most of the time, I get the yarn 40% off at Jo-Anne's or Michaels.  It's really saving me a lot of money!

I finally cleaned my scrapbook room.  I haven't scrapped 6 months now!  I think I found my mojo.  Now, my room seems to be inviting me to come in and scrap.  Going through my things and organizing them, I got a lot of ideas for future projects. :)

Happy Hookin & Scrappin,

Michelle

Crochet Along Hosted by Red Heart Yarn and Allfreecrochet.com

As you can see from the title, I entered the contest put on by Allfreecrochet.com and Redheart Yarn.  You have until May 31rst to crochet the Good Morning Sunshine mug cozy and provide a link to your blog along with a pic.  The prize is a huge bag filled with all types of Red Heart yarn valued at over $100!  It's the same bag being given away on the Crochet Crowd's Cruise!  I really hope I win!!!!

Here is a pic of my finished Sunshine cozy:

I'm still working on the entrelac afghan.  I want to enter it in the local fairs if possible when I'm done.  I think this is the best one that I've done yet!  I may have an order for a sweater for a little girl.  I do take any and all orders for crochet.    There is a link for my Etsy store at Cropperhopper's Projects.  I have been very busy crocheting lately.  Unfortunately, the afghan takes forever to crochet.

I finished a tank top for my mother, but I keep forgetting to have her try it on.  If it doesn't fit, I'll give it to my sister as a gift.  :)  It calls for elastic in the back, but I want to wait and see if it needs it.  It doesn't look like it will.  I have a few items on my list to crochet.  I want a nice warm pair of slippers.  My feet are always cold, since I have been on coumidan.  I want to make a few potholders and dishclothes.  Tawashis are always needed, and there is a beautiful cardigan that I have my eye on in the Vogue Crochet summer issue.  I even have an idea of the color and where to purchase the yarn cheap.  I know as soon as I make it, my mother is going to want one.  :) 

I'm thinking of starting a book club where we read a book every 2 or 3 weeks and crochet patterns to go along with the books.  Is anyone interested?  Let me know.

Happy Hooking & Scrappin,

Michelle

New Pattern Coming Soon!

New Pattern Coming Soon

I have been working on a new afghan pattern using a Tunisian crochet hook.  It started out as entrlac crochet, but it has evolved into a new pattern atogether.  I am also working on finishing a tank top pattern using Lion Brand cotton.  I did miss the knitter's fantasy due to my husband receiving surgery the day before.  I definitely plan on attending next year.  I want to enter my new Afghan pattern in some crochet magazine submissions prior to releasing pics and the pattern.  I just won a free subscription to Crochet magazine.  What projects are you currently working on?  

I haven't been scrapping at all the past few months, but I plan to go to scrap at my local Pat Cataan's this Saturday.

Happy Scrappin & Hook in,

Cropperhopper