Crochet Catch-Up

Here's a trip down crochet memory lane where I'm sharing all the projects to date that I have pictures of.  I've given most of these things away, so pictures are all I have.

Christmas 2008: Rob's Afghan

I made this shortly (within a few months) of learning to crochet and it was a doozy!  I actually developed carpel tunnel from crocheting too long and frequently, and even now I still have to take my crocheting (and typing, and piano playing, and cell phone operating) in small doses.  I made this in record time: about 6 weeks.  Again, I don't recommend it--got a little too excited about my new hobby.  But isn't this a beauty?!  This was Rob's gift for our homemade Christmas and I absolutely loved it.  When I get a chance visiting his place, I still sneak in and snuggle it.

Jake took a picture during the process.  Aren't those rows pretty?

Here's Waldo, I mean, Rob, on Christmas Day with his new gift.

So, I haven't made many blankets since then, but I have made lots of hats.  This is my niece McKenna in hers from Christmas 2009

She and her sister, Chantelle, both got one.

This is a matching mommy and baby hat set I made for my best friend, Aileena and her little Audrey.

Baby boy booties.  These are quick and easy and adorable.  Can't remember who I gave these to.  HO

These two hats I made for friends in LA:  Hilary Peterson's daughter, Evelyn, and Rachel Sweirenga's daughter, Summer, both born within a month of each other.  

These I made for Lewis Shoemaker, my cousin, Faith's, boy.

These booties are one of my favorites (I had A TON of this yarn, if you can't tell.)  These were for Anna Crowe's little girl, Naomi.

Christmas hats for nieces Jacie and Cameron. This is the last of this yarn, I promise.

This is one of my favorite hats ever.  I made this for baby Bridget Snow in our ward.  This was my first time doing double-layer flowers and holy moly do I love them!

And finally, a few little crochet projects for MY baby!  Yay!  Here was his first hat.  I made this for him after he was born so I could size it right.  He's about 5 days old in these pictures.  

(His very first Sunday ever)  Awwwww...

Jake's idea to do the brim.  Made it much more manly.  Good call, Jake.

This is Jasper at Christmas (in Santa Barbara) 2011.  Again, the gray brim was Jake's idea.  He has great taste.

And isn't that the sweetest face ever??!

Odds and Ends

So nice to just get little projects done--the ones that bubble up in your mind at night when you're trying to go to sleep and hang out on your to-do list til you just can't stand to see them there anymore and it's finally enough motivation to actually get them done--yeah, those ones.

Like, FINISHING THE NURSERY...for your toddler.  Whatever, it's done!  Over the summer I spray-painted these letters and topped them off with round sticker labels for the polka dot effect.  After several repeat letter purchases and at least a dozen trips to Michael's, it was finally done.  I haven't ventured into the world of spray paint since, but I am really happy with how the letters, and the remainder of the nursery completion, turned out.  Maybe I'll get brave enough to hop back on the horse soon.  Paint really can work wonders.

It took me a full year, but I finally found an orange clock in my price point.  I love this little spot.

 

Ikea spice racks turned bookshelves.  Really inexpensive and they're so versatile.  I could probably find use for A LOT of these.  I love that I don't even have to get out of the chair for them.  Probably first and last thing I will ever assemble myself from Ikea.

Happy Meter: 

Letters: 4 smileys 

5 for the end result, 3 for the hassle: scored averaged

Bookshelves: 5 smileys  

Pleasant experience start to finish

Overall Nursery: 5 smileys   

Completed just in time for us to either move or have another baby, such is my life

CLOSET ORGANIZATION

A place for the hats and a place for the belts, that isn't the floor.  Hurrah!

A place for my necklaces.  These corkboards were already here in this spot when we moved in, so I just repurposed them.  I love having my necklaces in plain sight by my clothes so I can test pair them with my outfits.  Not one of my strong suits: necklace pairing.

I will use every ounce of space you give me.  I will make good on a tiny closet, I will.

Happy Meter:

5 Smileys: 

Minimal effort, maximum efficiency, $0 spent

 JASPER'S AFGHAN:

Another project that took nearly a year, I worked on it like crazy during my pregnancy, and then didn't use it much when the baby was little.  I was nervous about blocking it and I had to fix some of the edging, yadda yadda.  Well anyway, it's done.  I finished it all the loose bits in an evening and now it's complete!

 And I'm still too nervous to really use it!  Of course, Jasper's not much into blankets these days anyway.  Nice to catch him with it while he's asleep . . .

Happy Meter: 

4.5 Smileys

I just hope it'll hold up to my spirited little guy...

*Seeing my baby in a blanket I crocheted for him: 1,000 smileys*

DIANA'S DIAPER CAKE:

So these may not be everybody's thing, but I happen to love them to help decorate baby showers, and they're really fun to make.  (Actually I don't much like the diaper rolling part, but I do really love the decorating.)  Since this friend was having a girl, and I stumbled upon these really adorable, affordable baby headbands, I thought I'd attach a crochet flower and use it as part of the cake decor.

And then I found this darling, super soft teddy bear while I was shopping for the flowers, so...
TA DA!  I've made three cakes and this was my favorite.  I love the usable decorations.  Makes me wish the flowers were made out of chocolate or something.

Happy Meter: 

5 Smileys

For the crochet headband and the whole cake.  I would've kept it a little while longer even, I liked looking at it that much.  Baby girl should be arriving any day now...