Crocheting sort of?

what a mess. my hands were cramping from this foreign way I had to hold the yarn. the stitches are uneven. the yarn is tangled. the book does not explain what a turning stitch really is and it keeps saying to turn my work! what does it all mean? all I want in life is to make a granny square and/or pretty flower like all my fellow crafty friends. why does this elude me? how will I ever make RVA Summer Camp's cute little rug if I can't accomplish crochet?

it's easy! they say...do you knit? well it's easier than knitting...they say...they being those crocheters...I want to be one so bad!

super cute hangers!

http://angiemayhandmade.blogspot.com/2010/06/cute-custom-coat-hangers.html?showComment=1277378839070_AIe9_BEG6ibFZqptHDv95jh1qZXuftt8G4iVS0e-1auXxNPkX0uINPp3Fv7iH9cW-PhYULTjdxNbwcMNa8AB9XRHC0tgs_HCzGz8og9WkukQfSqUoeNIC6Mhhcb39eZuFVCaYD-zYLc2IsjN3mMSNuDtb_8o6n4vUS6UgWoieBeZMW--cJBIFh8AKKOSSxXBsOEwKdb67ojaGSbpG9EFxYdv_aduSfPxmoR-b-H4VlVB_IpDzzW0INw#c462650330271272413
Angie made the cutest hangers.

I was just thinking of this hanger project my grandma and I used to do in the '70's (yup, that is not a typo...yikes) we used three strands of this polyester type wool, I have not seen this stuff forever, and kind of braided it on to the hanger. I spent a lot of time doing this to every hanger I could find in the house!


http://www.allfreecrafts.com/recycling-crafts/braided-hanger.shtml

This project is exactly what we used to do, but uses old plastic bags instead...AWESOME!!

Mosquitoes are ruining my life (or less dramatic ruined my evening)

We tried to finish building the deck last night, me and G, but the mosquitoes were so bad we couldn't continue!

Here is Murph-Murph looking longingly from the existing deck to where the new extension will some day be!

The whole reason to build the extension was to have a place for the gazebo we were given for free (<~not including the $ to build the new deck, so pretty much NOT free AT ALL). It is too big to fit on our existing deck.

I personally believe that in order to have any enjoyment of Manitoba summers you must have some sort of screened in room. That way you still feel like you are sort of outside but the mosquitoes can't get you...unless someone leaves the door open too long.

Strong childhood memory: I'm at the lake, sitting in the porch and hearing over and over, "SHUT THE DOOR, YOU ARE LETTING THE MOSQUITOES IN!!!!" LOL

I guess G and I will try again...hoping it doesn't rain...which has been making it super impossible to build the deck AND the rain keeps growing mosquitoes.

I just want to sit and have a glass of wine in our gazebo, maybe even do some art or RVA Summer Camp projects in there. That's all I ask...

Holy!!! This book is crazy awesome.
I am vegetarian mostly, but do still eat some fish and seafood, eggs, milk, cheese. But after reading this book, I'm pretty sure my only option is to become vegan. The chapter where they have quotes and stories from slaughterhouse workers is enough to give me nightmares for eternity. I won't even repeat them because I feel everyone should choose on their own to read about such horrors.

I am sitting here with my organic herbal tea this morning (instead of coffee...yikes) thinking I really want to make these changes. I am worried to read more on the subject of factory produced meat and poultry mostly because I'm not sure how you couldn't become all preachy! I really know there is a reason I have kept myself uneducated on this topic, especially when I was eating meat still.

Anyway, the book was good in the sense that it just pretty much told me I'm a fat pig that needs to use my head, think about what I put in my body and get off my fat ass and exercise. Sounds pretty logical to me!

So today I am telling myself I can do this, I do NOT need refined sugar to sweeten myself, I DON'T! lol This tea is way better than coffee...YES IT IS! I can already feel the weight melting from my thighs.

Prompt 2

Here is Prompt #2 of the 30 day Journal challenge. I'm a bit behind. If only the sheepdogs walked behind me so obediently, but this is a dreamy journal and I can draw what I want! LOL

DIY Thursday: Recycled T-shirt Necklace

DIY Thursday: Recycled T-shirt Necklace

I have been eying these on etsy and in certain stores...yay I'm going to make my own with some of the t-shirts I have grown out of since not smoking. I'm not giving up on the fact that I'll never fit into them again I'm just saying I will want to buy new ones when I reach that goal, so until then I can hide some rolls with this gorgeous scarf! LMAO

Day 1 - 30 day Journal Challange

Day 1 prompt for the 30 Day Journal Challange.

Need more Bling!

Here is my first project for RVA Summer Camp!!

I feel like I want to add more to it...ribbon, buttons, sparkle...lol. I wonder why I have such a hard time with simplicity? I want my little journal to be done...but I cannot stop thinking of things to add to it. Good grief.
I ran out of tape runner glue half way thru my project so I switched to ModgePodge...my fabric is a little lumpy. Maybe some ribbon will squish the bubbles out! lol

Anyway...Ta-Da...a journal!
Today some embroidery! YAY!!!

super cute pots!

http://livingwithlindsay.com/2010/06/teach-me-tuesday-perfectly-proportioned-polka-dots.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+LivingWithLindsay+%28Living+with+Lindsay%29

Oh, oh I just love these pots!!! How great and gorgeous and my mind is flying...I wonder if anyone else in this house hold will agree that we have to turn all our existing pots into these gorgeous polka dot cuties! I'll just do it and see if anyone notices...;) Pink and green???? YES

want want!

http://www.purlbee.com/the-purl-bee/2010/6/13/whits-knits-woven-flower-necklace.html

Oh, this might be the answer to my non-crochet ways!! AWESOME PRETTY!!

http://www.thirtyhandmadedays.com/2010/06/zippy-pouch-from-polkadot-chair.html

This is so cute! Using a shower curtain...such an awesome idea.

Niverville Fair 2010

Niverville Fair is over for another year...whew! I find it so tiring with all the kids...hats off to all with children. They all had fun but it wasn't for as long as I would have liked due to some kids needed a nap, etc. (this is me and our friend Jack)

We met up with our only other childless couple friends and went to the concert at the fair. Road Hammers is the band and I'm not really a big Country fan, but they were pretty good. My friend Stef LOVES them, so that was super entertaining. We were right up front and she kept reaching on stage trying to touch the singers boots and telling him to take his shirt off...like I said...entertaining! LOL Did I mention we drank some wine before the concert? I think we should consider ourselves lucky she didn't take of HER shirt! hee hee

G and I managed to give one of the town counsellors a hard time at the concert about how our town needs to be more business friendly, blah, blah, on and on. I think at the end of the chat he might of suggested we run for office...a polite way to tell us to shut up I think! LOL

I have a wee headache from the festivities but all and all had a great time this year.

Crochet lessons anyone?

http://dottieangel.blogspot.com/2010/06/ordinarily-extraordinary-blanket-how-to.html

I seriously need to learn how to crochet! I see blankets like this and I just HAVE to make...except for the fact that I don't crochet. How is it that I learned how to knit, embroider, sew, crosstitch, etc but didn't ever learn to crochet? My grandma brown taught me all the above but was unable to teach me to use that pesky hook because she is ambidextrous...and she crochets as a lefty and we could never translate it to right handedness for me...perhaps we should have used a mirror??? I think I will suggest that next time I see grandma, it could work right??

Or else I will be doomed to a life of crochet envy...don't even get me started on the cute crochet flowers I see everywhere!!! AHHHHHHH

I'm going to research a crochet class and stop my complaining!

iphone Love

I finally got my iPhone. I'm super excited. The camera app is awesome and I am worried this will be a new addiction. I apologise in advance for all the 1970's esque pictures of the sheepies and kitties that are about to come! hee hee

I'm looking to get the sheepies another toy...they had one of these tongues but it now looks like swiss cheese! And the turtles are so awesome! It looks like they know they are coming to a sheepies house though. The little ones do look a little worried but the big guy will take care of it. LOL

Sock Monkies

http://good.net.nz/magazine/4/features/monkey-business

OHHHHHH I love sock monkies! I have wanted to make some for a long time and this is an awesome how-to! YIPPPPPEEEE

It's working!

Every Friday I have to weigh in and take my measurements...I was pretty nervous this morning to do so. I have been following the diet to the calorie and doing my workouts and starting to feel pretty good BUT I was worried to actually step on the scale. It has happened before that I am feeling good, gained some confidence and the BLAM gone, all because I stepped on the scale and found out I haven't lost any weight or gained a pound.

So...I did it anyway! And I lost 6lbs!!!! YIPPPPPEEEEE!!! and 2 inches off my waist and a quarter inch off my hips! CRAZY AWESOME!!!

I feel this is exactly the news I needed to carry on...I might even enjoy my workout this morning...OK that is getting a little crazy!!!! Does anyone actually like working out???

Supply list!

So super excited! Got my supply list for RVA Summer Camp !!!http://abeautifulmess.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/05/summer-camp-registration-rva-update.html

I cannot stop thinking of all the cute projects and how some of them would be so super cute for Summer Solstice party!! Especially the pup tent! I think the kids (and sheepies) would get a kick out of it! Ok, I would like the tent too! It reminds me of backyard summer sleepovers when I was little with my girlfriends! AHHHHH memories!

Jillian Michaels is going to kick my ass!! Well, she kind of has already as I did her first circuit training workout yesterday and I have no idea how I'm going to get down stairs today! Which is a wee problem considering my office is up 3 flights of stairs with no elevator option.

Holy crap, I think I just heard her in my head laughing, saying "good, you should never take the elevator, fatty!!"

OK the low cal diet may be making me a wee bit nuts...it's only day 3!

Will I survive? Will I end up with Jillian Michaels body? Doubtful. But I'm going to try my best to at least lose the 35Lbs I gained when I quit smoking.

Well at least she couldn't yell at me for being a smoker! LMAO

http://www.jillianmichaels.com/ is where I'm at...wish me luck.