Lots of ups and downs with the current afghan.  II worked the center star in two different color ways.  Just wasn't getting the right look for this afghan.  I have been in the yarn isle of every store around here that sells yarn!!!  I have more than 60 diamonds worked up but have changed my mind again as to the pattern I am using.  I will come back to it at some point if for no other reason than all the pieces already stitched.  But for now the yarn is taking me in another direction.  I am now stitching the spectrum afghan that is available at TheCrochetCrowd.com   Still working with the same theme, but lots more yarn colors.  It is double stranded through out.  I have finished the yellow section,  now moving along on the orange section,  not sure how many colorways I am using yet, just have to see how they work up as I go along   Not many pics yet but here is a sample.......

Once again life was demanding attention so it's been a little while since I have been here.    Lots of things going on the hook today, my needles are waiting patiently in the background. :)   I am working on a project that is very special to me so it has to be just right.  I want to make a gift for someone very dear to me that is facing a big challenge now and while I know an afghan won't take care of the problem,  it will let the person know they are in my thoughts.  At least that's what I hope anyway.  I have been planning this one in my mind for the better part of the last week.  After spending some time in the yarn isle letting the yarn talk to me I think I have the right colors for this project.  The next step and maybe just a difficult as the yarn choice was the pattern choice.  I started on the Catherine Wheel stitch, loved the pattern but quickly realized it is not the best use for the yarn as I want the yarn to flow.   I have been wanting to do that one for a while so I was a bit disappointed that it didn't work out for this project.

I want the colors and flow of this afghan to represent sunset.  So subtle shading and gentle flowing from one color to the next is what I feel will work best.  I have toyed with the idea of designing my own pattern and I think I will consider this more seriously after this project is done.  I want this one finished as soon as my fingers will allow and I don't think that will happen if I have to think about the design as well as stitching it.  So with the thought of something that I could blend the colors I went in search of patterns.  I have settle on the Prairie Star afghan available as a free pattern at red heart.com  I have been looking at this one for quite some time as well but I was more than a little bit intimidated by the number of small pieces.  I am not certain, but looking at the diagram it looks as if there are 208 individual parts to this afghan.  the good news is they go fairly quickly as far as I can tell.  The time consuming part seems to be joining the pieces together and of course weaving in those pesky ends!!  Not a fan of that part I am weaving as I go so not a lot to do later.

I started this on January 1, first big project of the new year.  I have completed and joined the 6 diamonds that make up the center star.  Just started working on the second and third colors  12 diamonds for color 2 and 18 for color three.  I am not sure about the yarn for color 3 yet,  it maybe a little to bright for the others. I will have to work up a few more diamonds to see if I like that one.  Anyway I suppose I should post one o two pics so here goes.....

center star...I want to work from dark to light ...at least that is the vision in my head , we will see if the yarn cooperates.....

black/green shawl is blocking finally!!!!  Happy to have this one finished.  Also fresh off the hook today, the star burst ripple my mom asked me to make.  Literally just finished this one........

Busy hooks and needles now....Finally cast off the green/black xandra.  Only thing left is to weave a small amount of ends and get it blocked.  The ends are curling a bit so it could benefit from at least a little blocking.  The green did make it to the end but just barely.  I am wondering how much it will grow during blocking...

 

I am one happy stitcher right now  I have a new beautifully hand crafted sold oak Amish style yarn swift made by my father in law.  I see lots of yarn cakes in my future.

Finally getting going on the starburst rr for my mom.  Loving the colors so far......

New cake today. I saw a yarn basket cake on pinterest and thought Nifty Needlers would enjoy it  It was fun to make a little time consuming, and I certainly have a long way to go (still learning) but I thought it turned
out okay.

I really must get better about keeping this page updated.   For reasons unknown to me, I keep forgetting about this blog of mine.   Maybe I should do a monthly review to keep up, lol.    Since the last time I was here I have been a little busy,.  I finished Wilton cake decorating course one around Halloween.  Then started course 3 the first week of November (the instructor suggested taking course 2 last).  Just finished the final cake for course 3.  I have a better appreciation for those who do this as a profession.   I did have lots of fun learning something new, and now have a bit of a different view when I see those beautifully decorated wedding cakes.   Here is my final project......Fondant (green) covered cake with gum paste calla lilies with a ring of butter cream cupcakes.   I look forward to course 4 (advanced gum paste and flowers)...I'm going to take a break through December and maybe try course 4 in January.  Making the flowers was great, but perhaps the most fun part of the class is that my 14 year old daughter took the class with me.  She has a creative side as well, so it was a blast.

This is Breona's finished cake.......her first cake decorating class....She also made calla lilies  as well as blue fondant.  The green shine is petal dust.  I am super proud of her for not only sticking with the class, but also for expressing her creative side completely.

Now that we have finished cake decorating,  it's time to get back to stitching.  I took yet another break from the green/black shawl until about 2 days ago.  This am I have just started the black section of segment 12.  It should have been finished long ago, but between other projects and life it keeps getting put aside.  I am also aware that it has more than a few mistakes, but at this point I refuse to frog it.  I have too much work invested in it.  It is also huge.  I am still worrying about the green being enough.  I think it will be really close not very much of it left now.  I am sure it is enough to start the last segment, just not sure if there is enough to complete the project.  And I can't seem to find anymore so not sure how it will work out, guess I will have to make that decision when I get to it.   I finished a left hand (did the pattern wrong but liked the finished mitt, so I have decided to make it a pair.  I also completed a right hand in a different yarn and needle size, I paid more attention to the pattern instructions this time around.  So now I need to make the opposite hand for each color to finish the mitts.  I did finish a basic pair of garter stitch mitts for Breona.  She loved them enough to wear around the house most of the afternoon and evening last night. :)    That kind of appreciation is part of what keeps me stitching!!  

On the hook today,  a baby afghan my Mom asked me to make for her Dr.  This one is being done in red heart soft baby steps(aqua), red heart soft (teal , white) and Vanna's choice baby (ducky).  I am using  5-10 point starburst round ripple  available here http://www.etsy.com/shop/roseredsdesigns.  

Coffee break is over time to get back to stitching,  Also need to photograph a few items to post here.   I guess this Saturday is going to be interesting.........

working on lots of things today.  testing a pair of fingerless mitts.  I can't seem to read a pattern this week.  I finished the first one and posted it, only to find out from the designer that I did the pattern wrong.  So now working on a second  mitt reading the pattern correctly (I hope) this time.  In addition to the mitt I am still working on the green/black shawl I have had going for what seems like forever now.  Up to segment number 11 (13 total once again I hope to finish soon).  Also hope the green holds out to the end, I fear it's gonna be really close.