Purple Chair Crochet: Flowers

Saturday, September 29, 2012

The Flower Pot Series (New!)

Floating amongst my crochet tools is a notebook. It's tan, small, and the cover art shows a hand giving a thumbs up and the words "Cool Thoughts" written below. My friend Holly gave it to me (Hi, Holly!).

If you flip through its pages you'll find a whole bunch of cool thoughts. Earrings, sweaters, coffee cozies, blankets, hoods, hats, shawls, toys- all sketched in my crude manner (I'm a miserable artist) with notes jotted and crossed out in between.

Some of these cool thoughts have gone on to be finished items and patterns. Some have been abandoned halfway through, forever a work in progress. Some still remain stuck on the page and will likely be forgotten.

Recently I sat outside my backdoor and watched my boys play while I happily slurped my coffee. Nothing unusual there. To my left, a pot of "purple waffle". To my right, a pot of mums. In front of me, my book of cool thoughts. I wanted to make an amigurumi chicken, in honor of my chickens and my cousins chickens (yes, I really just wrote that).

I drew a chicken. I drew a fox. I drew a sheep. I drew a few things in between. And then suddenly, from somewhere, I found myself creating a series. A whole entire series. In about 15 minutes. "The Flower Pot Series". I hastily texted my cousin (the one with the chickens) and said, "TELL ME WHAT YOUR FAVORITE POTTED FLOWERS ARE!" And like the best friend that she is, she asked no questions and promptly texted back with her favorites. Three more for the series. I snagged my pot of mums and sketched the flowers, the shape, the buds and the leaves.

I could not get this project out of my head and into reality fast enough.

And so, less than a week from inception to creation, I'm thrilled (in a big way!) to present to the world wide web:

The Flower Pot Series No. 01: Mums

I hope you're as intensely excited about crocheting your own pot of mums (and all the other flowers I have planned, as well!)

Here's the pattern link::: The Flower Pot Series No. 01: Mums

!!!

I'm completely geeking out. I can't wait to fill up my windowsill with crochet! Gah!

Have a Lovely Day!

~Jess
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Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Poison Ivy (Flowers)

I have poison ivy on my arm. This is relevant to crochet- you'll just have to keep reading.

Last weekend my husband, brother in law and I dug up a plethora of weeds that worked their way into the patch of dirt that is to become my flower garden. Though we've flipped our calendars to September, the mugginess of August still remains, and I foolishly wore flip flops and and a t-shirt to do my work. Gloves, I did wear, but the poison ivy managed to work it's magic (evil magic) on my forearms. My husband's, too. And likely my brother in law's.

As I flipped through my copy of 100 Flowers to Knit & Crochet, ignoring the tingling in my arm (I refuse to scratch, I refuse, I refuse, I refuse), I thought of how much safer it would be to crochet myself a garden, rather than this nonsense of rooting around in the dirt amongst aggressive toads, crawling centipedes, creatures with very large stingers, and plants that want to poison your skin.

I haven't made anything from 100 Flowers to Knit & Crochet, but I'm itching to (and just itching).

Maybe I'll start a series. I'll do 1 flower a day/week/month... something manageable. Upon reflection, once a day is a bit too much, I know myself too well to commit to that.

The best bit? No poison ivy. :)

Have a Lovely Day!
~Jess

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Wednesday, August 29, 2012

What's New? (Charity)

Here's some pictures of what I'm working on for my charity project. This hat is One of Four (green one is in progress!)

My little helper, keeping me company. Look at his pudgy little fingers. Look at them. He's so smushable!!

Tagged and ready for sale!!

Care instructions for the purchaser. It's the little things. :)

$50. More than I'd ever pay for a hat (of course, I can just make my own). I justified the price because 1) this item is hand made 2) it took forever 3) lace weight yarn is a wee-tad tedious to work with and 4) it's for charity!

Some more stuff ready for the mini-sale in December. Scarves, a flower garland (and that hat again!).

Oh yes, and I replenished the pins. A bunch of them (and the earrings) sold during the last fundraiser, so I figured I'd keep up with demand.

This is Ringo. He's thrilled to be a part of the charity work as well. And by thrilled, I mean contemptuous. Contempt is really the only emotion cats are capable of. But he's sooooo smushy!! The boys adore him, as do I.

Yeaaah, I don't think this one is for sale....

....but it's "sister" pin is!

Also in the works (besides the 3 other slouch hats) are a few more scarves, a couple pairs of fingerless gloves, and *earrings*! I love earrings. You can't have too many. Just sayin'.

That's the news from me!

Have a Lovely Day!
~Jess

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Tuesday, June 19, 2012

The Little Things (Inspiration)

My charming husband interrupted our conversation on the drive home from church without saying a single word.
He breezed through the EZ-Pass as I chattered away about something irrelevant and apparently unmemorable. Perhaps I can't remember the topic of conversation because of what happened next.
Rather than accelerating towards the exit ramp, he slowed down and pulled the car to the side of the road, raising his index finger. Just one moment.
"What's wrong?" I immediately began to fret. He raised his finger again. Just one moment. He unfastened his seatbelt, opened the door and slid out while I conjured car-trouble scenarios before he'd even made it to the ditch. Wait- the ditch?
I suddenly knew. The man had interrupted me, stopped the car, and now crouched down in the ditch tugging at wildflowers. For me. Just because.

"What is Daddy doing?" my three year old son stretched his neck for a better view. His younger brother, not quite two, is partaking in a sweaty Sunday afternoon nap.

"Daddy's picking me flowers," I reply. I'm grinning like a fool now.
"Oh, dat's so kind," my little boy replies.
My charming husband returns to the car, obviously pleased with his surprise and passes me my fresh-from-the-field bouquet. I'm bursting with joy and I hope, so much, the two boys in the back seat grow to be men just like their daddy.

(But you're here for the crochet.)

As soon as I got home I snipped the ends off my flowers and placed them in a vase of cool water. Destined for the tabletop, I look around and spy one of my favorite crocheted items I've made, The Simply Elegant Motif. How do people display flowers without crocheted doilies? The effect is charming, and every time I walk through the dining room I'm reminded that the little things are life's big things and I am thankful, for much more than I can tell.

PS- What kind of flowers are these? I see them in peoples' gardens all the time. ***Thank you to Annette from Petunia Pill - they are Black Eyed Susans!

Have a Lovely Day!
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