No photos today. Just a quick update. We didn't travel this weekend, but kept oldest GS and got to keep newest GS ( 2 months old) overnight on Sunday. He still wakes up alot in the night, so the challenge was to get some sleep! :) I have decided that Dh is a "baby whisperer"along with already being an "animal whisperer". He was great with the baby, who actually slept a lot of the night due to his Grandaddy's intuitive attention. The little guy has colic and doesn't sleep well at night. I got to Crochet a little bit, started 2 "magic" potholders for me, but didn't finish either. Almost finished a "Hot/Cold" Potholder, but need to finish the edges up. Probably won't make that one again, as it is kind of plain looking, but somewhat "fussy" to make. I'll add a photo when I finish them.

Another Gehaekelte Topflappen. Sorry for the poor quality photo, but this was the best I could get at night on a dark background before I sent it out to the recipient. I made this one to send to a swapper for September. I thought I would really like the colors on this one, but now that it is finished, I'm just sort of "meh" about it. I now feel I should have added more color, and have decided I'm not all that fond of the ombre's anymore. Oh well, live and learn, I guess. At least someone can use it. LOL! I am feeling the same way about my Sugar n Cream yarn. I don't like it anymore! However, I will still use it to make myself dishcloths because it is perfect for that!!!

Ripple Potholder

Ripple Potholder by Claudia Lowman. This has been my latest potholder project. I really enjoyed the pattern, and as with the other ones I have made lately, there are endless color variations you can use. Claudia likes to make additional embellishments for the middle of hers, but I am not going to add anything to this one. Claudia hosted a "crochet-along" for her pattern on Ravelry recently and had a good response.

My current audio book is "The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie" by Alan Bradley. Very entertaining so far!

More stained glass

I am making this one with J. P. Coats thread #3. I like the colors, but compared with the other two I have made, it appears not to be as bright. Maybe if I frogged it and added yellow instead of purple? The thread is a little bit too thin for my liking also. I can add another row since it is smaller thread, thus getting more color on it and it still works up to my favorite size, 7".

Yesterday was DH's birthday, and we celebrated quietly with our son and his family. For his gift, I bought him a set of boat seats to replace the old torn up ones in his boat. My grandson X, came back from Lubbock where he had been visiting his mother for the summer. My boss at work quit!!, and so I have had a busy week at home and at work. ;)

I am between audio books right now. I would like to continue the series I have been listening to, but our Library doesn't have the last two books on CD yet. My son has an Ipod that he might let me borrow, and I can possibly find them and download them from the Library on Overdrive or NetLibrary. I have been proud of myself, as I am trying to get a little more technically savvy this year. :)

Dh’s mother got to see her newest great-grandson the other night. She is recovering from a recent fall, but still hosted the family at her house, so that everyone could come at once to meet the newest family member.

DD's birthday was yesterday! (Happy birthday, Grim!!)

Gothic Stained-glass Potholder

Here is my most recent potholder, a variation inspired by the Gehaekelte Topflappen pattern. I have been admiring some similar "kaleidoscope" potholders made by a Ravelry friend, Claudia, and decided to make this one. I wrote out my varied version here:


Gothic Stained-Glass Potholder
(inspired by the Gaehaekelte Topflappen by Creadoo)

Yarns: Elann Sonata, Omega Sinfonia, Red Heart Crème de la Crème, Tahki Stacy Charles Classic Cotton or a similar weight yarn (various colors and Black)

Hook size: B

Finished Potholder size: 7 – 7.5”

Stitches used: magic ring, fpdc, fptrc (only used when there are two rows of same color), ch, sc, dc, picot - if you need instructions, there are many tutorials on the web

Row 1: With first color, make a magic ring, ch 3 for beginning dc, dc 11 into ring, join. (12) (Ch 3 will count as beginning dc in every round).

Row 2: Ch 3, dc in same st, 2 dc in each st around. join. (24).

Row 3: Change to black, Ch 3, dc in same st, 2 dc in each st around. join. (48)

Row 4: Change to next color, ch 5, dc in same st, sk 2, *dc, 2 sc, dc in same st, sk 2*follow * to *around. join. (should have 16 ch 2 spaces).

Row 5: with same color, ch 3, 1 dc in same sp, ch 1, 2 dc in same sp, 2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc in each ch 2 sp around. join.

Row 6. Using black, sc in each dc and ch 1 sp, making a fptrc in valley, around. join.

Row 7: With next color, ch 3, 2 dc, ch 1, 3 dc in same sp, 3 dc ch1 3 dc in each “point” around. join.

Row 8: Using black, make same as row 6, only using fpdc instead of fptrc, around. join.

Row 9: With next color, ch 3, 3 dc, ch 1, 4 dc in same sp, 4 dc ch 1, 4 dc in each “point” around. join.

Row 10: Using black, make same as row 8. join.

Make 2 sides for potholder.

Joining: Using black, sc in each st around, making picots at each "point", join. Add a bone ring, sc around it. Finish off.

July happenings

The photo above is of some of the books I have either been reading or listening to on Audio in the car lately. They are Shoot to Thrill by P. J. Tracey and The Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin. I also just got done listening to the third book of the Eragon "Inheritance" Young Adult series.

The photo above is of all the potholders I got yesterday in the latest swap for July.

And saving the very best photo for last, here is my newest Grandson, E. He was born last week, and was healthy. Now my oldest Grandson, X, finally has a baby brother! DD and DH both have birthdays coming soon. I am still crocheting some on potholders, but have slowed way down. I have already sent the one for August and just need to send out two more for September and October, respectively. I think when this swap is finished in October, I will take a break from swapping for a while.