YOP 2/3.....Warning....................It's lenghty!

I had to really dig around to find my last years YOP list.  I found it and here it is.

Year Of Projects 2012-2013

Use up all cotton yarn for dishcloths  (I will give a count of how much cotton yarn is there when I return to my home base)
Complete 3 project bags (I have several bags labeled with the project they are to become)
Complete LaLa Shawl
Complete Comfort Cancer ribbon shawl
Complete Color Affection Shawl 
Frilly scarf
2 blooming pillows
Use up 1/2 of sock yarn (Again will give count when I return home)


So lets see how I did.

I used up 90% of the cotton yarn and gifted all but 4 dishcloths at Christmas.

I completed one project bag but have managed to add more project bags to the groupings

The La La Shawl is still waiting patiently for me to complete it.

I completed the Comfort Cancer ribbon shawl and it is with our cancer ministry at our church.

Color affection shawl is completed and also with the cancer ministry at our church

I made TONS of frilly scarves and sold a lot of them.  They were a big hit this year with the ladies that live in my mom's senior living apartments.  I have more yarn for next year and hopefully I will be able to sell them again.  I already have an order for 2 by Christmas so will get those done in the future.

Did not complete the blooming pillows

The sock yarn is still there and waiting for me to pay attention to it.

So what happened?  How did I get so far off the mark?

Let me show you.

 Here are some doll clothes I made for the Grand Daughters American Girl Dolls.

 They are so quick and easy to crochet.  

 She loved all of them

 Trust me.............I made the entire pair of socks out of this yarn and gifted my Daughter with them.  She was so pleased and loves them.  She was amazed at how nice the bamboo socks are.  They are warm and yet cool and when you live in a climate where it seldom gets below 50 that is what you want.

 Here is the completed Color Affection Shawl.  Not my favorite pattern to do.  Probably will never do another one.  I have read where others LOVE this pattern but it is not for me.

 Had to knit this Christening Gown and bonnet for our God Daughter.  Her mom made me crazy.  She started into false labor around Thanksgiving even though this little bundle of joy was not due until Christmas time.  I knit on this non stop for about two months.  It was a surprise for the family.  They had no idea why I kept telling them NOT to have that baby.  Once it was done, I relaxed and the next time she went into false labor I told her to go for it.  LOL  Well, little Grace Marie was born on her DUE DATE!

 This was a sweater class I took last July!  I put it into a knitting bag and finally finished it in March of this year.  It is the Garden Tee pattern that is on Ravelry.  I like it but.................I have lost 40 pounds and now it is a bit too big.  Ok it is A LOT too big.  It was made with Cascade Ultra Pima and I loved working with that yarn.

 Ok, this is only 2/3 of the yarn stash I have.  As you can see, I am a bit of a hoarder of yarn.  The stuff in the white case are all in project bags.  The brown case is just stuff I have bought because I like it.  I really need to curb myself.

This is the Comfort Cancer Ribbon shawl.  I really enjoy making these and this is my second one that I have done.

So what do I have planned for this year?

I really don't know.  I do know I have a sweater started for my Grand Daughter and want to make a matching sweater for her AG Dolls.  I am finishing up a dishcloth today which has the US Navy eagle on it.  I have another Radian Yoke Sweater started as well as a Green Bay Packer afghan.  The afghan is for Christmas and that is great, because at 117F it is a bit too warm for that to be on my lap

OOPS!  Forgot to show you the socks I completed and these are for ME!

Ok, So now on with the 2013 YOP

I really hate to list 'patterns' that I want to complete.  I have a bit of a problem with that, as once I start a pattern, if it doesn't work....................I dump it and find something that will work for the mood I am in.  So this year as last year, I will be more interested in 'busting the stash' and getting some great things made from it.  So here we go.

Doll Clothes for AG doll (uses up lots of 'scrap' yarn)

Lots of socks.  Hopefully at least 6 pairs made

Fingerless Mitts for me (one is done but needs a partner)

Scarf for me to match the hat and mitts I am making

2-3 sweaters for adults

1-2 sweaters for children

Complete GB afghan

dishcloths for gifts again this year

I think I will leave it at that.  If I put too much on the list, I feel overwhelmed and that is when I do not complete what I set out to do.  I know I can always do more than is on the list but I feel this list is manageable for me this year. Since I work full time and am very involved with my church, I only have about 2-3 days a week to really enjoy my knitting/crocheting time.  Also, I seemed to have lost my blogging mojo halfway through this past year.  I know  a lot of that had to do with the birth of Grace and the deadline to get stuff done for her.  Also, Sundays, are normally our family day at our house so Sundays are hard for me to post until late in the evening and by then I am too tired to care about blogging.  So maybe this year I will try and blog on Saturdays and then just put the link on the group on Sunday morning when I get up.

So, anyway.........................I will hope that I do better this year than last and am looking forward to year 3 or YOP>

Happy crafting.

Promises

I know..................I keep promising you guys photos of all my recent crafting activity.  But, alas, I have not kept that promise and I feel really bad about it.  So I am hoping that this week I can go from room to room and take photos of all the things I have completed in the last few months, as well as the things I am working on.  Then I PROMISE to do nothing but a photo blog with captions for all of you.

It has been plenty hectic here in leftycrafter-ville.  Seems like this year is flying by and I am running to keep up with it.

Hubby and I did have our little mini-vacation in April and it revived me so much.  It was much needed after all the hustle and bustle of Easter.  We teach classes for adults interested in joining the Catholic church.  It starts in August and the big day for everyone is Easter Saturday.  So hubby and I needed a little time away to regroup and get ready for other things in our lives.

I spend most of my free time knitting or crocheting.  It really relaxes me and takes me away from my everyday cares.  Hubby watches sports on TV and my needles are clicking away.  Yup, we are an old married couple for sure.

May came and went.................I took another knitting class that month.  We learned how to make Radian Yoke Sweater  It was a great knit and I managed to get the entire sweater done in less than 6 weeks.  I am in the process of making sweater number 2 from that pattern and making a few adjustments so it fits my tastes a bit more.


My brother and his wife came for a visit in May.  It was nice to see them again.  We normally get to see each other once a year and so it is nice when they come to town.

June 1st saw me hit a milestone birthday.................60!!!!!!!!!!!!  Now, let me tell you that I DO NOT feel 60.  I don't even know what 60 is suppose to feel like.  But mentally I still think of myself in my 40's so what is up with that?  My family thought is would be wonderful to have a nice birthday party for me too.  My friend, Bev, allowed us to have it at their home since she has a great open floor plan.  It turned out nice even though I agreed to it screaming and kicking all the way.

Hubby and I also joined a gym this year and we have decided that we are not getting any younger and need to make sure our bodies stay in good enough shape to keep up with our grand kids.  I have really enjoyed going and find that my energy is so much better now that I am working out 3-4 times a week.

That is about all from my 'personal' side of my life.

Today is hubby's birthday and I took him to dinner tonight at a great BBQ house.  (birthday folks get $10 off their meal and that usually pays for the meal).  Tomorrow is Father's day and the in town family will be coming over for food, swim and laughter.

Happy crafting