The Flying Hook: 2012

Friday, September 7, 2012

Toddler Sweater for 2012 NC State Fair

Just a few more finishing touches and blocking then this sucker is done!!! Not bad for my first attempt at making a sweater. I found the cutest buttons to add on and I figured out a fun way to make the loops to hold onto the buttons. Had to make sure to make a sample swatch to go with the entry. The judges use this to verify the workmanship.

Friday, August 24, 2012

Green Hat from Hell!

I decided to try to make something traditional that the judges at the NC State Fair would like this year instead of my usual crazy ideas for my adult hat entry. I have been trying to make this pattern: garden party crochet hat and after attempt number four, this thing is headed for my finish later pile. And it only get this classification because someone at work wants this hat after the fair. When I finally get it done, I just might give it to her since I seriously hate this thing now!

Progression of the hat from hell.

Excitement in the beginning

Moving along nicely.

Almost done.

Way too big!!!!

Frogging away!

Trying again.

Torn it out to the first seven rounds this time. :(

Looking better but I am just not sure.

I am going back to my original plan of crocheting something using colored plastic bags cut into strips. I am going to use the pattern for this Red Heart Free Pattern: Mad Willy Hat. The base of the hat will be in a pretty magenta and then the band will be in a pink. Found the colored bags at the fixture supply store right by my office.

Monday, July 30, 2012

New Blog to Me: Felted Button

I came across her site from another blog I follow and I just love her work.

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Mommy and Me Time

Since I had to be off the second half of this week because our daycare provider is on vacation this week I wanted to spend some time with Joanne doing things we normally don't get to do without crowds. Plus this got us out of the house so we would not disturb Daddy since he works from home. On Wednesday we did errands and then went to a local park to play and eat lunch.

On Thursday we got up early and headed out to Pullen Park to ride the train, carousel and play on the playground. You can't bet $1 per ride on the train and carousel. Plus the carousel building has air conditioning for when you get too hot to run in and cool off while you ride an a very beautifully restored horse, rabbit, bird or other animal.

Full train ride video.

SuperWHYLive Performance Review - Raleigh, NC

We took Joanne to her first performance on Tuesday to see Super Why Live at the Progress Energy Center in Raleigh, NC. She did much better than I thought she would. The show got started a little late since they were waiting for everyone to get in their seats. Joanne had to run around the area we were in until the show got started.

Our original seats were off on the side at a sharp angle to the stage. Even with the booster seats the theater had available it was hard for Joanne to see the complete stage. Joanne and I did a quick diaper check before the show got started. The employee that took our tickets when we were looking for our seats said that there was a Women's restroom near by our seats. I thought this was going to be a great thing. And much to my surprise when we went in there was not changing station available in the huge restroom. This never bother me before having a child but these things only cause about $300 dollars each so put them in your darn bathroom people! So I ended up changing her on the counter ledge which she was not completely thrilled about. When we got back to our seats Mike said that the staff had come up and we could move down to empty seats on the main floor if we wanted to get a better view of the show. It was too close to the start of the show so we waited for the break
to move down.

The show was very cute with great music and a fun story for the kids to follow. You can tell Raleigh was towards the beginning of the tour because they are still working out some kinks. Princess Presto kept loosing her extra hair piece with the crown after they transformed. Super Why had to help her put the hair back on after the second time it fell off. And there were a few times in the dance routine the characters bumped into each other. The screen they used for the transitions was really amazing. I think Joanne's favorite part of the show was Princess Presto's rock star princess performance. She was clapping and laughing the entire time.

After the performance we went to get ice cream at Cold Stone by the house before getting the little one off to bed. She enjoyed her chocolate kids cup very much.

All in all it was a fun family evening out. If you get a chance to take your kids to see the SuperWhyLive show if it comes into your town I would get tickets because the show is worth it.

Princess P dreaming.

Monday, July 23, 2012

Crochet Weekend

On Saturday, Mike and Joanne left for Hickory to go to a toy show for the day. I got some much needed alone time that every parent needs from time to time. I got the yard mowed, listed product on our Amazon storefront, did laundry and then got to crochet!!! I decided to work on some of my other fair projects that I have been dying to try.

Crochet Newborn Top Hat: pattern designed by Topsy Turvy

This was such a blast to make and it was done in no time. Did not see in the instructions that she used elastic lace for the band, so I have to go looking for some to finish off the headband.

Baby's Rippled Sweater Set: from Purple Kitty Yarns

I usually stay away from making any kind of clothing except for hats because my gauge is usually way off but I just had to try this one. It is going to be in pink, off white and purple. Will post more pictures as I progress through this project.

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

California Dreaming

As I see friends that still live in California posting pictures from one of my favorite places, Redlands, it makes me a little home sick. The hills full of old Victorian homes, orange groves and super tall palm trees. My grandmother is buried there at the Hillside Memorial Park. She has an amazing view up on her hill overlooking the entire place.


Edwards Mansion

Kimberly Crest Mansion

Morey Mansion

Jacobs Mansion

Monday, July 16, 2012

NC State Fair Afghan Update

Here is my progress on the remaining block over the weekend. Just have to edge the other white block and then make two more of the light brown blocks and then they are all done!!! Just have to edged them all in black and then the fun blocking process begins.

I am really liking how the purple, turquoise, light brown and white are looking together. This might be the color scheme for my baby blanket entry this year.

Monday, July 9, 2012

2012 NC State Fair Afghan - Status Update

Now that HeroesCon is over for this year, I am back to working on my state fair entries. The blocks are going so fast. I have about nine more colors to go and then I get to start doing a round in black before single crocheting them together in my mirror image design.

Here are the colors I had done as of Saturday afternoon. Managed to finish off the blocks for two more colors on Sunday.

Joanne and I got to play outside for a little bit before it go too hot outside. We drew a hopscotch on the front walkway and played for about 30 minutes before the heat chased us back inside.

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

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.

Monday, January 30, 2012

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!!

Friday, January 27, 2012

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.