Crocheting In A Group...More Fun Than I Thought

I was invited to visit a Knit/Crochet Group by someone (Nina, bunnyjean08 on ravelry) who saw my projects on Ravelry.

On the one hand, I was thrilled that someone had looked at my pieces and wanted me to be part of their group... on the other hand, I was terrified of going into the midst of a group of people I didn't know... people who might critique the way that I hold my hook (unconventional at best), the yarns that I choose, or the projects I love to do.

Although members of my extended family will dispute this... I am kind of a loner... I am not lonely... I am not a recluse from the world... and I have friends and family with whom I am extremely comfortable with... but for the most part, I choose to spend my free time at home, doing crafts, cooking, reading... whatever.

So when I got Nina's invite... I was a little nervous... I had never crafted with a group (unless you count elementary school, which I don't). I emailed her back, thanking her for her compliments of my work... exclaiming over hers (definitely check her out next time you are on Ravelry... she does fair isle knitting... beautiful!)... and then told her that I wasn't much of a "joiner".

She replied promptly ... telling me that it was ok if I wasn't a joiner... it was an informal group... they meet at a coffee house (which is about 5 miles from my house)...and that I should reconsider... she then proceeded to tell me about the group.

I made up my mind to go last night... and I am glad that I did!

Everyone was very friendly... there were lots of knitters... and I wasn't the only one there with a hook! I saw all kinds of yarn being used... not just the high-end yarn "crack". I also really enjoyed the diversity of the group... there were all ages...and lots of different "walks of life" there. There were all levels... and all kinds of projects. There was talk of charity projects (not mandatory... but I will definitely participate!)

I got some ooohh's and ahhhh's over my skullerific tote... and some, thanks to Nina, were already familiar with my projects. And they even gave me a cute little gift (see above)! (They were prepared... with crochet hooks!)

It really was nice being in a group... lots of laughter... lots of conversation...lots of projects... it was really a creative environment!

So I recommend that if you havent met with a group... maybe you should...You might just have more fun that you thought you would! I certainly did...

who knows? I might even become a regular!

RAVELRY LOOT!!!

Check out the cool buttons that I ordered from the Ravelry mini mall... love, love, love them!

I am gonna stick 'em on my WIP bag.

STASH-BUSTING SCARF... Fit For A Luchador!

And now for your consideration: a scarf made of red heart that was hiding in my stash.

The scarf was knit on a knifty knitter as a flat panel; and then edged with hdc crochet. I folded the scarf in half and stitched about 6 or 7 inches together to make a "hat".

Geesh... look at the model I have to deal with!

NO EXPLANATION NECESSARY...

Whatchoo talking about Willis?

Bonnie & Clyde?

No! It's our sweet little goats, Bunny (black and white) and Jasmine!

ANOTHER EXPERIMENT...

Here is a picture of another experiment... Honey Oat Wheat Beer Bread. This is a quick bread requiring no yeast and no rising times. You can do this from start to finish in about an hour.

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup rolled oats
1 cup self-rising flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 tablespoon honey
1/4 cup water
1 12 ounce beer
preheat oven to 375 degreess
mix dry ingredients
add wet ingredients... mix well
pour into loaf pan
bake for about 45 minutes
cool in pan on a cooling rack for 10 minutes
remove bread from pan
completely cool on rack

enjoy

optional: sprinkle top of bread with oats before baking

AND FOR DESSRT...

Tonight, it's peach cobbler with a whole wheat crust... Yummy!

I Love Food From The Garden!

When we were in Temple last weekend... Dad (my FIL) and his girlfriend gave us some goodies from their garden. When we got back to Greenville, here is what I did with them:



Here is a salad with cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, vidalia onions, olive oil, rice vinegar and parsley & oregano... cool, crisp and refreshing!



I had some yukon gold potatoes and eggs at the house...so naurally, that leads me to make potato salad... almost like PaPaw's.



Roasted green beans, cherry tomatoes, bell pepper and vidalia onions.


Sugar Daddy grilled some pork steaks.



And here is the finishing touch... a cobbler made with fresh blueberries.

This was an experiment to make it a little healthier... i put the blueberries in a bowl and put 3/4 cups water and 1/4 cup agave nectar... and let it sit while i made the rest of dinner... while dinner was cooking... i put the cobbler pan in oven to heat. (400 degrees)

when i was ready to put dessert in the oven.. i used a cup of self-rising flour (next time i will substitute 1/2 cup of whole wheat flour for 1/2 cup of the self rising) and mixed it with 1 teaspoon of cinnamon and 1/2 cup of splenda for baking... then i added 1 cup of skim milk... mixed well to make a batter.

i took cobbler pan from oven and sprayed with butter flavored cooking spray (instead of using a stick of butter) (next time, i might use a bit of olive oil to grease pan). then i poured the batter into the pan... then i poured the blueberry mixture over that and put in the oven for approx. 45 mins.



It must have been ok... there is none left!

WIP: Wallhanging

Here are some pics of a wallhanging that i am working on now. I would say that it is about 85% completed... there are some embellishments that I would like to add.

This is another "stashbuster" project. This piece is comprised of mostly acrylic yarns. It measures approximately 3' x 4'; and will hang from a piece of bamboo.

ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ

Jubal says, "Have a restful weekend...zzz zzz zzz"

BETTER PICS

Here are some better shots of my newest wallhanging. It is a "stashbuster": made from scraps of acrylic yarn. It is freeform crochet over two metal craft rings; and measures approximately 12" across.

I like to do projects that show that acrylic yarns can be beautiful.