February Recap!

It's hard to believe that February will soon become a memory! Onward and upward towards Spring! Here's a little recap of my February past.

I have to admit I haven't been keeping up with my crocheting at all. I've been so wrapped up in my XHTML class that I've been spending most of my time studying and working on exercises to build a case study. It's driving me crazy because just when I think I know what I'm doing I feel like I know nothing. I understand the material but when you start to actually build something it's quite tricky. I'll get it, I just have to keep plowing through code!

I have been collecting a lot of patterns and ideas in the meantime. I've got so many projects to work on and I can't wait to start all of them. I'm currently working on the wave pattern afghan (#3 in the above recap). As soon as I finish that I want to do a flip flop afghan and then I just printed a pattern from Talking Crochet. It's a free pattern and it's quite lovely! I also have so many projects that I've downloaded from RedHeart that I don't know when I'll even get to them. But I'm sure you all have the same problem. Too many projects, not enough time!

Spring is in the Air!

No matter how you try to stay snuggling in your afghans and slippers and scarves and mittens, Spring is right around the corner. Here is a new printable I'd like to share with you. If you email me your email address I'll send you a PDF to print. Brighten up your studio or send it to a friend!

This printable is 5"x7". Send me an email at vrehrman@cfl.rr.com and I'll send you a PDF with crop marks. Enjoy!

Dreaming of Sanibel Island!

For my sister's birthday we're spending a long weekend at Disney's Vero Beach Resort and then spending a few days on Sanibel Island after that. It's going to be a great time and I am already daydreaming of floating in the pool at Vero Beach. It got me to thinking about Sanibel and summer. So here's some inspiration!

Let's start with this pattern:

This luminaries pattern makes you want to have a summer evening party out by the pool or barbeque! Here's the pattern: http://www.redheart.com/free-patterns/crochet-hanging-luminaries

Here are some images to get you in the mood for Sanibel Island!

It's not Sanibel without the Sanibel Stoop! Shelling is one of the most popular pastimes on the island!

I want to sit in the pink chair!

There's nothing like a sunset on Sanibel!

I need to purchase this poster! Just makes you feel good!

These colors of corals and oranges and the natural colors of the shells should inspire a project to use the wonderful colors of yarns available! Get started!

A little slice of carrot!

I am so inspired by all of the creative blogs I come across when I scrolling through pages. There are lots of themes, hobbies, passions. My last post revolved around birds as a theme. It was fun to find images that revolved around this theme. So I'm doing it again.

I was looking through my hats and came across the first pattern that I wrote, The Carrot Top. This color made me think of course, of carrots but other things in that bright, yet burnt color orange. So let's get started.

This color is my beginning point, my Carrot Top hat. Reminds me of a beautiful fall day.

A canopy of orange leaves on a beautiful crisp fall day. Oh yea!

Nothing says carrot better than, well, a carrot!! What's up Doc?

Carrots lead to carrot cake. Need I say more? 

This color speaks to the sporty side of orange. Livens up the court during the game. 
The next time you watch basketball just follow the ball!!

C'mon, when were a kid on the hot summer day, you went right for the orange Popsicle right? 
I still do!!

Let me leave you with my favorite orange, a Florida Sunset! Enough said!

For the birds!

Have you ever heard of yarn crafters leaving scraps of yarn out in the yard in the Spring for birds to build nests with? Apparently, if you leave yarn scraps out in the yard birds will pick them up and weave them into their nests. Even the colors matter. Sometimes they tend to go for the brighter colors because they feel they are more durable.

This is a fascinating discovery to me. I have been searching for an image of a nest that actually has yarn woven into it. I think that would be so amazing to see.

In the meantime, visit Juniper Moon Farm's blog. They posted about The First Day of Spring and putting out a bird suet feeder filled with colorful yarn scraps. So fascinating. I'm definitely going to try this in the Spring.

Colorful yarn placed in a bird suet feeder not only aids in building a bird's nest 
but a bird can differentiate the colors. Do an experiment this spring, place neutral colors 
in one pile and colorful, bright colors in another and see what kind of nest gets built 
That is if you can find it!                                  
http://www.fiberfarm.com/2011/03/the-first-day-of-spring 
(Photo from Juniper Moon Farm blog)

So now that we're on the topic of birds, how about some bird patterns. I stumbled across this pattern this afternoon from the Welcome to the Nest blog. So cute!

This pattern is a Lovebird Book Thong. http://turtledovecoo.blogspot.com/2011/03/bird-book-thong-crochet-pattern.html (Photo from Welcome to the Nest Blog)

Here's a picture of one of the most colorful birds in the world, the Lorikeet, a tree parrot. So bright and beautiful. There is definitely inspiration within this color palette for an afghan or scarf.

This color scheme could inspire any project. Nature never lies!

One more bird item - take a look at this beautiful bird jewelry dish from Pottery Barn.

This is so lovely. Here's a direct link to make a purchase! http://www.potterybarn.com/products/bird-jewelry-dish/?catalogId=63&bnrid=3380801&cm_ven=Google%20Base&cm_cat=Shopping&cm_pla=Feed&cm_ite=Google%20Base-1844034

Last but not least, coming to you from the Sunshine State I'm posting a beautiful Audubon print that sums it all up. This print of the American Flamingo is vibrant and just plain captivating. This color is so inspiring and makes me want to go buy all of the pink, coral and red I can get my hands on and create something spectacular.

This American Flamingo print from the Audubon Collection is spectacular. 
Downright breathtaking and inspiring. (Image from Princeton Audubon)

If you're a bird watcher here's a picture of a Rough-Legged Hawk which is one of the top 5 birds to look for in the months of January and February according to Birdwatching Daily Magazine.

Flying high the Rough-Legged Hawk. More inspiration in these neutral colors.

Speaking of birds, don't forget to follow me on Twitter @crochetingconv

Let the birds inspire you on your next project!

Surfing!

In between going to school, doing homework and studying I haven't crocheted in 4 days. I didn't even realize it until this morning. I'm working on a new project, an afghan, and I haven't touched it in 4 days. It got me to thinking, can I live without crochet? The answer is definitely NO!!! But, I realized that I can be less consumed by it, as a result. There are times when it is all I think about and obviously by being involved in other things, i.e. school, I guess I can still survive without it. But believe me as I write this blog it is sitting on top of my yarn basket not more than 3 ft away. So it's still close by and comforting to look at! HA!

This is only about 12" of afghan done so far. I'm alternating the colors. It reminds me of the ocean.

I've been doing a lot of surfing on the web lately as a direct result of being on the computer for the past 4 days doing practice studies etc. Whenever I take a break I check all of my points of reference, Facebook, Etsy, Twitter, Email. In my "SURFING" travels I have come across a few cool tips and projects that I'd like to share.

This crocheted lantern caught my eye. Pretty cool. Here is the link to make it yourself. http://crochetvolution.com/spring-2012/lacey-japanese-lantern

This is a Button Stitch Whirlwind Wrap by Vickie Howell for Caron. She is a great designer for Caron. Here is a link to this pattern http://www.allfreecrochet.com/Cardigans-and-Wrap-Sweaters/Bullion-Stitch-Whirlwind-Wrap/ml/1 Check out her stuff whenever you can, you'll always find great work!

This little heart pattern comes from UK publication Mollie Makes. Have a little heart! http://molliemakes.themakingspot.com/blog/tutorial-tuesday-crochet-heart-pattern

This project comes from Lion Brand. A nifty little skill to have in your bag of tricks! http://blog.lionbrand.com/2012/02/07/how-to-crochet-a-button/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+LionBrandNotebook+%28Lion+Brand+Notebook%29

This isn't crochet but I had to bookmark it. It comes from 1-800-FLOWERS. Isn't it beautiful? Can you imagine receiving this for your birthday. How lovely. http://ww31.1800flowers.com/product.do?baseCode=1991&dataset=11579&cm_cid=d11579

This is still one of my favorite images of yarn bombing. It just think it's so peaceful.

Okay, enough surfing, time to get back to the business of the day. I have to clean off my desk. I have to read another chapter of XHTML and I have to take the puggy out for a walk. Oh, by the way, I had a job interview yesterday!!! It's with a company called the Florida Roofers Association. They need a Director of Publications. I'd be doing their magazine and peripheral publications. Cross your fingers. I think the interview went well. They liked my portfolio. Here's hoping!!!!