I was very bad today!

At lunch I was heading out to get a gift for our daycare provider for her birthday today.  My car kinda steered itself to the left instead of the right and pulled up to the fixture store where they sell all kinds of cool stuff.  I picked up some pink t-shirt bags to make the Mad Willy Hat by Red Heart.

Volkswagen Star Wars Dog Ad

Joanne saw this last night and went bonkers.  She was barking along with the dogs.  Mike pulled it up on the computer and played it back twice for her.  She cried when he would not play it again.  So this is a must add to my blog so I can find it easily for her.  Love the Whippet At-At at the end.  Bark on!!

JC Raulston Arboretum Photographs

Here are some of my favorites from our family trip to the JC Raulston Arboretum a few weeks ago.  Joanne had a blast running around and thought all the paths with her Daddy while I followed behind with the camera.  I can't wait to go back again later in the springs when things really start blooming.  They have a butterfly garden that would be lots of fun to photograph.

Used the Sepia filter on this one.  Very dramatic I think.

Some of the trees and flowers are starting to bloom already in January.  

Confusing weather we are having in NC.

Pretty Irises rising early from their slumber.

Playing around with the setting and focus on this one.

This post caught my eye for some reason.

This rain chain was hanging on the back side of one of the buildings by the desert garden.  

Used the black and white filter to give the photograph more depth.

Part of the waterfall by the entrance.  

Used the sepia filter on this one too.

Jo Jo playing on a gazebo in the Winter Garden I think.  

This place is huge and Mike was using the map so I could take pictures.

Chain Scarf Pattern

Chain Scarf

by Angi Swartzendruber

Design Idea Date: 01/09/12

Materials Needed:

2.5 ounces of yarn

I Hook

8.5 x 11 piece of paper

Directions:

Cut a 36 inch length of the yarn and set it aside for later.  This will be used to bind off the scarf.

Leave a three inch tail when starting the chain on your hook with a slip knot.

Crochet a chain using up the 2.5 ounces of yarn.  Stop when you have about three inches left at the end.

 

Lay the 8.5 x 11 piece of paper on a flat surface.  Starting in the middle of the piece of paper leaving about two inches out, wrap the chain around the shape of the paper to create the scarf.

 

 

Tie one end of the 36 inch string you cut before making the chain.  Secure with a knot making sure to catch both ends of the chain.  Wrap tightly moving forward slightly then back to where you tied on so you can make a knot to secure the wrap.  Tie a double knot to secure and then trim the ends even leaving a small tail.

You could make the scarf into a cowl by wrapping a smaller circle with the chain.  This would be a great way to use up your small leftover scraps.  You could even tie several different colors together to give it a more funky feel.

Enjoy!

Monday's inspiration / Carolina Fiber Fest

While going through my various newsletters I get on crochet, crafting and the like, I fell in love!  Alisa Burke has the cutest headbands on her website.  She used fabric, lace and ribbon to make them.  So have to try this for me since Joanne will not allow anything on her head right now.  Hopefully when she gets a bit older she will not mind.

This year Off The Hook Crochet Guild that I am a member of is going to be having a crochet booth at Carolina Fiber Fest.  The event will be on May 18-20 2012 at the Jim Graham Building at the NC State Fair Grounds.  I have always wanted to do something like this and it is always to share what I love to do with other people.