MY FIRST CROCHET UNICORN MY GRANDCHILDREN and A TREASURE HUNT

Hello Everyone,

My Dear Sweet Grand Daughter Vivi turned One Year old in August.

 I think she is just adorable in every way..Vivi has a lovely easy going personality... We just love her so much..

Vivi's mom took the above and below photos of Vivi at her Birthday Party in August.

Because we were away at this time we brought Vivi her Birthday pressie a wee bit early.. I spent many weeks crocheting Vivi a
 "Pink Unicorn"...

  I had never attempted crocheting a stuff animal before so it was slow going at times...But I was determine to make this special gift for Vivi.....

 Below is Vivi and her Mom and the
 "Pink Unicorn".. I really like this photo a lot..

  When she first open up the box and saw the "Pink Unicorn" it put a big smile on her face which in turn put a big smile on my face too...

Isn't Vivi just a sweetie???

Presenting Vivi's Pink Unicorn.......

The pattern I found on Ravelry and is called "Hermione The Unicorn" and was created by Dawn Toussaint.

The next two photos are some up close photo of the "Pink Unicorn"...

What do you all think??

I audition several yarns for the hair, mane and tail and finally decided on this variegated shades of pinks 100% wool yarn... I think it really brightens up the Unicorn.. 

What do you all think??

Recent photos of Vivi..

These are some photos of Ethan Vivi's Big Brother with his big happy smile.

A photo of My oldest son Mike and his family enjoying a fun time at a local Apple Orchard..

Chloe started 2nd grade this year.. This is a lovely photo of Chloe all ready for her first day of school.  She is always smiling and she really loves school...

My youngest son and his family.. Jenny and My Granddaughter Chloe..

I have been over at My Mom's home many times this past Summer.. This small town has a really neat thrift store....

 I am always "Treasure Hunting" and look what I found... 

Antique Cookie Cutters. I just love them both..

The one on the left is called, "Double Acorns"... and the other one is called
 "Symbols of the British Isles"...

Pretty neat find, Me think??

What do you all think??

 And they only cost me $5.00.. What a great deal, hey??? 

I also found this wee plate I could not resist. In fact I can never ever resist anything 'British"!!

The lovely plate had the most neatest saying on it..

"As I was wandering oer the Green,

Not knowing where I went

By Chance I saw a pleasant scene

The Cottage of Content"....

Anywhere in England or Scotland would be a scene of Content for me....  vbg

and it only cost me

$3.00... Another great deal.

A few weeks ago I discovered a new blog that I really fell in love with...

Trace's blog is called

"Granny Trace Scrapes and Squares". 

 I really liked Trace's Woolie Apples and Ginger Bread Man... I order 3 apples and Trace was very kind and thoughtful and she sent me 4...What a lovely surprise...

Thank you Trace.

  All my Woolie Apples and Ginger Man made a lovely arrangement in My Antique Wooden Bowl... along with my colorful crochet pumpkin, Woolie pomegranate, leaves and acorns.

 What do you all think??

Kindness is the Sunshine in which Virtue Grows..

Thank you all for visiting and leaving your very kind and lovely comments..

Please have a wonderful week My Dear Blogging Friends..

I am Linking to:

 Happy Pink Saturday

Hugs,

Judy

Click Here to read about the "Stash-Buster Challenge" and the November Link Party..

Thanks to Linda and Ana for this wonderful Idea..

CELEBRATING 7 YEARS of BLOGGING, GIVEAWAY WINNERS

HELLO EVERYONE,

Last week I had the most fun on the

 "Crazy About Wool" Blog Hop hosted by Denise at "Pieced Brain"... 

I was introduced to so many new lovely blog and I had fun chatting with everyone.

I would like to "Thanks Everyone" from the bottom of "My Heart" who took the time to leave me a kind and wonderful messages to read..

 I have never had so many lovely messages to read ever... Huge Smile...

CELEBRATING 7 YEARS OF BLOGGING.

I also decided to have a 7th Year Blogging Celebration and below are the pressies I Handmade with Love for this important event..

 I have 3  gifts to give away to "Celebrate My 7 Years of Blogging"...

 My Sweetie drew 3 names . 

Drum Roll
Congratulation to the following Winners...
  (1st Prize)  Large Crochet Pincushion...

winner is JOY at "Joy Jink's Creations"..

(2nd Prize)  Small Crochet Pincushion and Felted Scented Soap...

Winner is Sandra at "Reflections and Nature"..

(3rd Prize) The Crochet Star Fish and Crochet Heart...

Winner is Gracie at "Gray Sea Sailor-One Saylor's Log"

Please email with your mailing addresses and I will send off your pressies soon.

Thanks again for everyone who left your kind and wonderful comments. I wish I had a gift for everyone.

This past weekend My 2 Dear Friends and I went to an Autumn craft show in Pentwater.. I another lovely Tourist Town along our beautiful Lake Michigan. 

What fun we had.. I bought this very unique Bird Feeder made from Copper.  It has the most lovely wee glass blue colored bird bead.... You can put all kinds of fruit in it like apples and oranges or put a custard bowl in it with bird feed..

What do you all think.. Pretty cute, hey???

I always find Peace when I lose Myself in Nature...

Hugs Judy 

The Homestead Barn Farm Sheep Sculptures .....

WOOL LOVER BLOG HOP and CELEBRATING 7 YEARS OF BLOGGING WITH A GIVEAWAY Plus Stash-Buster Challenge Projects

The WOOL LOVERS  BLOG HOP

starts today...Monday..

Monday Sept.23rd is the first day of the Wool Lovers Blog Hop hosted by Denise at her lovely blog "Pieces Brain"...

 Please visit Denise's Blog to find all the wonderful blogs participating this whole week..

Thanks Denise for Hosting this Lovely Blog Hop...

Here is the schedule for today Monday September 23rd  Wool Lovers Blog Hop.

Monday, September 23

CJ Stitching and Blooms

Negligent Style

Sweet P

Reluctant Quilter

Racie Baby

Patchouli Moon Studio

The Raspberry Rabbits

Tuesday, September 24

Marla's Crafts

Quiltscapesqs

Secretly Stitching

Marjorie's Busy Corner

Sew Many Yarns

Val Spiers Sews

Quilted Crow Girls Design

Wednesday, September 25

Elizabeth Coughlin Designs

Wooly Red Rug

Chic n Fish

Maria do Carmo (Pieced Brain will be hosting!)

Selina Quilts

Sunshine Quilting

Thursday, September 26

A Quilt and a Prayer

Kat and Cat Quilts

Rosebuds Cottage

By The Bay Neddleart

Sugarlane Designs

Sheila's Quilt World

Pieced Brain

Friday, September 27

Hallbrook Designs

Karen's Quilts, Crows and Cardinals

Mummzy Stamps

Meadowbrook

Friendship Crossing

Fryeber

Color Point Quilter

Please do not forget to visit the Other Wonderful Bloggers in the Wool Lovers Blog Hop list above.

Stitching is My Passion...Sitting in My Comfy chair and stitching Brightens My Day and Soothes My Spirit..

I have loved working with wool for many many years.  For this event I only had time to put together 2 small projects..  Along the right side of My sidebar you will find some other wool projects I have created in the past...

I have been wanting to created a Autumn Door Hanger for years..I pieced this pumpkin together many years ago and then I store it away. I cannot even find the pattern anymore.  I recently found it and knew it was time to finish it.

Several days later and hours of stitching I have the Happy Autumn "Crazy Patchwork Pumpkin" door hanger.. I used 100% hand-dyed wools along with hand-dyed spun fibers..I added lots of bead to give it sparkle.

What do you all think??

Some of the stitches I used in the Crazy Patchwork Pumpkin are:

(1) Drizzle Stitch

(2) Blanket Stitch

    (3) Palestrina Stitch

(4) Running Stitch

(5) French Knot Beaded Stitch

(6) Chain Stitch 

(7) Feather Stitch 

I also made a "Heart Pincushion" with a Folk Art Autumn look.. I placed Autumn motifs on it to include a Pumpkin, Acorn, Leaves, Star, and A Handmade with Love symbol. I created this pattern myself. 

HAPPY AUTUMN

I also created a small Autumn Bay Window display of some neat looking gourds and a pumpkin. A few days ago I crocheted 2 wee Pumpkin some Autumn Leaves and a Acorn. I also added a Wet Felted Pumpkin I made a few years back.

What do you think?? 

CELEBRATING 7 YEARS OF BLOGGING.

This Month I am "Celebrate 7 Years of Blogging by having a wee "Give Away" .....

This past Summer while I was caring for My Mom I spent the evening crocheting.  I fell in love with the "Granny Square Pincushion Pattern" by Emma. Emma's blog is called "LuLuLoves"  I made them in lots of sizes and colors. I simple could not stop making them.  LOL

I used the Granny Rose Pattern from Astri's blog called
 "Apple Blossom Dreams" ..
It is such a wonderful crochet Rose, I love it.

I made this pretty"Granny Square Heart" for the give away too. The pattern I found at Ulta's blog called, 
"Paper  Wool and Yarn"..   I made 2 hearts and stitched them together and then added a pretty flower..

I made up this wee star fish for a gift in this give away too. 

I found the "Simple Star" pattern at Rachel's blog called " Cornflower Blue Studio".

 I took 2 of the crocheted Stars and crocheted them together and before I completed  this I stuff the middle to give it a 3D look and then added some beads....I really like this sweet little star turned into a "Star Fish"!!

I also love to do wet wool felting.  I used scented bar soap and wrapped in lovely wool roving and wet felted it. So very easy to make. This felted soap is also in the give away.

So I have 3 gifts to give away to "Celebrate My 7 Years of Blogging.  
 My Sweetie will draw 3 names and the gifts will be given in the order below. 

(1st Prize)  Large Crochet Pincushion...

(2nd Prize)  Small Crochet Pincushion and Felted Scented Soap...

(3rd Prize) The Crochet Star Fish and Crochet Heart...


Here are the Details for My Give Away.

(1) Leave a comment on this posting.
(2) Bonus: Leave me another comment and tell me you are a Follower for an extra entry.
(3) The Give Away will close on September 29th @ 5PM
(4) Randomly chosen Winners will be announced on September 30th. 
(5)  I will ship Internationally.. 

I value all My Blogging Friends and with these Wee Gifts "Handmade With Love"I hope they will show My Appreciation to you all.

So I am using up my Yarn Stash bit by bit.  Here is just some of the Encore Yarn I used this Summer.

Here are some of the other Granny Square Pincushion I also made for Christmas Pressies this year.

Click Here to read about the "Stash-Buster Challenge" and the September  Link Party..

Thanks to Linda and Ana for this wonderful Idea..


 I Greatly Appreciate you all stopping by to visit My Blog and I always enjoy reading your kind comments. 
Now that I am home once again I have started visiting my blogging friend which I have really enjoyed doing... I wish Everyone A Wonderful Happy Autumn...

Hugs Judy 

 Gorgeous Moon Flowers Blooming In My Garden along with Sweet Autumn Clematis.

KNITTING AT THE BEACH NEW YARN SHOP MANDALA and LOVELY BEACH GLASS and STASH BUSTER CHALLENGE

Good Day Everyone,

My Sweetie and I went for a day drive to Ludington to just take in a lovely Summer day in Michigan. We love the peaceful feeling of this area and seeing the beauty of our unique and glorious Sandy Lake Shore.

We also discovered that Other Michiganders Love this area as much as we do.

My first glance out the window I discovered "Yarn" floating in the breeze.  Sheila and her DH had drove many hours to visited Ludington too.

  With her New Stash from "Nautical Yarns" Sheila headed for the "Park"  to start her knitting project and enjoy the beauty of the "Beach".  Thanks Sheila for the lovely chat and letting me take your photo.

Many Mandala...

I just learned how to create Mandalas......I have truly enjoyed crocheting theses wee beauties. These are My Pretty In Pink Mandalas.

 Pattern from "Made In K-Town" by Barbara.

What do you think??

This Blue and Yellow Mandala was given as a gift to My SIS..  Blue and Yellow are My SIS favorite Colors. 

Pretty, Hey????

As a"Birthday Pressie" I also knitted "My SIS" a "Ruffled Scarf" and "Heart Sachet" filled with Lavender from My Garden..

I have discovered a Another New Yarn Shop.. 

"Ivelise's Yarn Shop" in St. Joseph Michigan and OH, what a pretty yarn shop it is.  The owner is behind the counter..She was very helpful and kind. 

I think I have developed a "Great Weakness" for lovely yarns.

 Look what I bought....

AND YES,

 I did buy some "Pretty In Pink" Rowan Cotton Yarns.

My Garden is looking so very "Awesome" this year. 

This photo is of Our "Kousa Dogwood"..... Look at those beautiful blooms.  It gave us a Very Grand Show this year...

Click Here to read about the "Stash-Buster Challenge" and  the
  Summer  LINK PARTY
Thanks to Linda and Ana for this wonderful idea. Greatly appreciated.

I am also
 Linking to Pink Saturday.

I am rather new at crocheting and even though I have bought several books and have learned the basic from them it has been the "Lovely Ladies" and their crocheting blogs I have found most inspiring and I have learned a lot from everyone.. 

 I am a visual person and I have especially learned heaps from the "Fantastic Tutorials" and Videos Tutorials..

I give a huge "THANK YOU" to "Everyone" who takes the "Time" to do a Videos or Photo Tutorials because this is really how I have learned to progress in my crocheting skills. 

I  am sooooo enjoying the Joy of Crocheting.

Look what My Sweetie and I found during our walk along our Beautiful Lake Shore. 

Yes, More Beach Glass. 

These wee beauties just shimmers in the Sun...

I will use them in a very special

 Art Piece soon.

I am going to take a "Blogging Break" to enjoy our Brief Summer with family and friends. 

I will see you all again in "September" at which time I will have a "Giveaway" to celebrate My 7 years of blogging. 

Hugs Judy

LOVELY VISIT FROM GOOD FRIENDS OUR JUNE GARDENS FANCY CROCHET BOWL STASH BUSTER CHALLENGE

HELLO EVERYONE,

My gardens are at their finest.. They are all a delight to visit everyday and they really make me smile..  This year is the very Best My Gardens have ever looked.. We've had lots of rain and the temps have been on the coolish side. I am so Pleased.  vbg

Please have a look..

My Re-blooming Josee Lilac bush.  I have three of these beauties.. They bloom again in September. 

Our Good Friends from Germany came to visit..Ulla and Harry were my kind and friendly neighbors ( off base) when I was a Nurse on a American Military Base in Germany. We have keep in touch for a long time.

 We all had such a very special and great time together.
Thanks Ulla and Harry from coming all the way from Germany to visit us.

Photo taken at
 "Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park".

Ulla gifted me with some very lovely cotton yarn made in Croatia in my very favorite colors. I love cotton yarn. Thank you My Friend. The yarn is greatly appreciated.

My Sweetie received a very neat Bavaria German Mug.  The words say, "Pick Your Rose, Before it Withers"!! My DH really likes it allot.. A very special Mug indeed.  My Sweetie will treasure it always.

I made Ulla a "By The Lake Crocheted Bowl" in the colors of our sandy beaches.  The wee beads are the color of our Lovely Blue Lake Michigan. I also made a wee crochet Doily to match.

 Ulla's daughter and I chatted back and forth and she told me Ulla's living room colors and told me the Beige background had white flower in it.

 I stiffen the bowl with a mixture of Epsom Salts and water.. After the solution came to a boil I let it set until it cooled a bit and then put the whole crocheted bowl in the solution.  I squeezed out the excess water and then placed it over a hard plastic bowl and let it dry for 24 hours. The Epsom Salts give the crocheted Bowl a  Sparkle Look and I really love Sparkle.  I then added the wee pretty white flowers..

  What do you think??

My Sweetie and I went searching for Sea Glass along the Lake Michigan shoreline.. Look what we found.. Yup My Very First Pieces of Sea Glass. I was so excited.

 Aren't they really pretty pieces??

We have been away for just about 2 weeks and along the way I found this really "Old" Antique Wooden Primitive Spool.  This is the third one to add to my collection and this one is the biggest.  I plan to wrap wool roving around it..

I was thinking of spray painting it. What do you think??  Should I leave it the old battered look or paint it???

My Snowball Bush is all it Glory. It is growing outside my sewing room window and OH, how I love seeing its blooms.

My Rhodie Blooms.

My Clematis Bush and its beautiful purple blooms.

Chloe My Dear Grand Daughter just turned 7 Years old.  Chloe has the white tee shirt on. This year her Birthday Party was celebrated on a camping weekend with friends and family.

They just bought a new camper seen in the background.  They love the great out-of-doors.

Chloe's Birthday Cake.  Pretty neat hey?? Everything on the cake was eatable.  Some of the kids wanted to eat the stones, others the pieces of wood and some the trees. Such wonderful fun was had..

I recently gave Chloe a book I bought many years ago for her. She immediately open it up and started reading it. I can not tell you how much I smile while listening to her read.

 It is called the "Quiltmakers Gift".. 

 This charming fable for our times celebrates the joy of giving.

A generous quiltmaker, with magic in her fingers, sews the most beautiful quilts in the world, then gives them away. A greedy king, his storehouse stuffed with treasures, yearns for something that will make him happy. Will the quiltmaker sew a quilt for the king? Will the king ever learn to share? Can the quiltmaker teach the king to be happy? What will the king do with all his splendid things? Look for clues to the story in the quilts!

Has anyone else read this lovely book??

Click Here to read about the "Stash-Buster Challenge" and  the
  June  LINK PARTY
Thanks to Linda and Ana for this wonderful idea. Greatly appreciated.


I am also Linking Up with
Mosaic Monday..
and
Pink Saturday.
 

I would like to thank ALL My Followers for Visiting my Blog and taking the time to leave your Lovely Comments for me to read..  They all make me smile and warms My Heart. 

Hugs Judy 

I just received this "Beauty Bush" from My Dear Gardening Friend Jan. I just planted it on May 29th. and at this time it had a few buds...

 When I came home from our trip I immediately had to check my gardens to see what new was blooming. 

To My Great Surprise this newly planted Beauty Bush had heaps of buds blooming.  I Love it. Huge Very Big Smile. Thanks Jan.