'Tis the Season...

Busy hooking... you know what I mean!

Renee

Happy Thanksgiving!

Long Time, No Post...

Hey everybody,

So where have I been, and what have I been doing?  Ah, some of you probably know... Pinterest, of course! 

(Gratuitous cute dog picture, from Pinterest, of course!  Click for original source.)

I LOVE Pinterest.  Of course it's a huge timesuck and my husband doesn't "get it".  Maybe I don't either, but I do know it's much easier (and more fun) to surf Pinterest for granny squares than it is the interwebz.  I pin crochet, jewelry, antique dishes, George Takei, Game of Thrones, you name it...  I have 80 boards, as of this moment in time.  I do have to unfollow other people's Food and Dessert boards.  It's too much temptation; I'm diabetic, you see.  But still...

I am Renee Lake on Pinterest.  If you need an invitation, email me through my profile.    I will have one sent to you.



There's just enough time to check out some new pins before my husband gets home for lunch.  Oh, and I have new listings on eBay today.  If you want to see, just click on my Shop page -- located on the right sidebar.

Thanks, and have a great weekend!

Renee  :)

A Better Place to Shop...

Hi, hi to all of you.  I've been reading some horror stories about how Blogger is losing posts.  So I'm going to try this and we'll see what happens.  :)

Remember oh-so-long-ago when I put up a Shop page?  Then I took it down for re-vamping?  I've decided to just go back to selling on eBay.  My husband and I have sold off and on for years on eBay.  Combined, we are known as Spear401.

If you click on my link above, you will be shown my current auctions.  Right now, I have tons of crochet and cross-stitch patterns listed, including a lot of Magic Crochet magazines.  I do ship world-wide.  Remember, to ask any and all questions before the auction ends.  :)

Thanks, and have a good week!

Renee  :)

Crochet Squares...

Ah, today I am getting my sunshine!  I have windows and doors open -- just until it starts getting chilly later this afternoon, mind you.

I have been involved in a granny square swap with Debi over at Dly's Hooks and Yarns over the last few months.  Last week I received from her a beautiful blue granny square, a notepad, and a couple other little gifts that seemed to disappear as fast as I opened the envelope.  Thank you, Debi.

By now, Debi has posted about the squares I sent her.  Her blanket is going to be huge by the time she gets it all together!

I sent Debi two regular grannies, one granny I kinda made up as I went along (upper left).  I have seen them around before but I wasn't following any pattern.  What really happened -- my son was hogging (LOL) the computer and I couldn't get to the printer.  So I just started crocheting and that's what I ended up with; it turned out okay.  The square on the bottom right is called Bea's Flower.  It's from a Norwegian blog called Knitting and Some More.  Some of the instructions are tough to follow, but using the picture helps a lot.  I don't know if my square looks like Bea's square, but I like it.

So that's just a couple of things I've finished lately.  I have one of the two baby afghans done; and, I suddenly realized last night my niece is graduating high school in a couple of months!  More projects; that's okay.  Keeps me out of the stores as I am trying to use stash yarn as much as possible.

Everyone has a good rest of the week!

Renee  :)

Hi, Hi, Hi... Spring!

Boy, I am so ready for winter to be over.  I can't complain too much as we've had a really mild winter (snow-wise) here on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada mountains.  All that great moisture gets trapped on the California side of the mountains -- over the hill, as we locals say.  But around here spring can be worse than winter.  We could have more snow this spring than all of winter combined.

Ok, so really... I am ready for... SUMMER!!!  Heat.  Warmth.  Sun, sunny sun, hot sun.  Sun that stays.  I want to be warm for awhile.

Hope you all are having a good week!

Renee  :)

Hey-ho, I'm back...

So, a couple of weeks ago I told you all the sad story of my computer.  Oh Wait!  There's more to tell... it seems the mother board was "fried" according to the tech, due to the fluctuating power supply.

Okay, long story short -- we 're now okay fine and getting the kinks worked out.  It really hasn't taken this long to get back up and running. 

I've just been the lazy lurker -- reading blogs, commenting occasionally.  I have been crocheting -- more on this in a later post.  More importantly, I want to tell you about my 2, count'em 2, giveaway wins!

My first win, I can't believe how lucky I have been this last month!  My first win is the pincushion from My Rose Valley as reported in this post.  I received it in the mail from Switzerland.  I let my dogs smell the envelope and the pin cushion, LOL.  I figured all those smells from Somewhere Else.  They smelled and sniffed and smelled.  Both items got the lick of approval.  And, in fact, my girl dog who doesn't like toys, wanted this pincushion for herself!  Sorry, Cassie, it's mine.  I felt kind of bad, she NEVER wants any toys and she wanted this one.  Of course, it now sits with my yarn and other crafty-type things.  What did Annette put in that pincushion?

My second win is one of the magnets from Crochet Concupiscence!  I have received it in the mail and it now resides on my refrigerator.  Of course, I couldn't get a picture without a lot of shine from the fridge.  So here is my magnet momentarily displayed on the back of the kitchen counter.  This is so cool.  I would put it on my car except someone might take it.  Probably not, but you can never tell.

I never win anything, and to win twice in one month!!  Wow, thanks to both ladies!  I am so happy; I know my husband does not understand.  This is the best kind of mail to get!

Have a good week everybody!  I am so glad to be back.

Renee  :)

Five Days Away...

Hello All!  My  goodness, I have been offline since last Wednesday.

Our computer was getting sooo slow even with one of the faster hook-ups we could get (Charter).  My husband was convinced we had a virus.  I just thought we needed more RAM.  He took it in last Wednesday and we got it back late yesterday (Monday).

Yes, we had spyware and some sort of malware.  Yes, we got another gigabyte of memory.  Now, it's just as slow as ever!  Checking the system settings says we only have one-third of the RAM we paid for.  My husband will have to open up the tower and see if the technician actually put the new memory card in!  The machine might have to go back to the shop today!

AAAAARRRRGGGGHHHH.  Bad timing, it's coming to the first of the month and bill-paying time.  I pay all my bills online.

Just-so-you-know:  Before the computer went to the shop, I had taken my Store page down to work on it.  So there is presently NO link showing because the page is back in Draft mode.

So I shall be back in touch when my computer situation is straightened out.  I can be contacted through my profile, if need be.

Have a good week!
Renee  :)

Give-Away at Crochet Concupiscence...

Hello One and All!

It's a chilly and overcast kind of day here in western Nevada.  But to brighten your week, Kathryn over at Crochet Concupiscence is having a give-away.  She's designed a car bumper magnet and is giving away 5 of them this Friday, 2/24.  The randomly selected winners will be announced on her blog on Sunday, 2/26.  You can get up to 6 entries, depending if you comment over on her post, tweet, Pin, Facebook, add to G+, or post on your own blog.

Here's what you or I could win:

Of course, give-aways are all about driving traffic to a particular site.  But the prizes sure are fun!  LOL.

If you've never been to Crochet Concupiscence, she has a lot of everything crochet!  Crochet fashion, news, yarn and book reviews, her own crochet projects, give-aways, you-name-it -- there's so much to read you could stay for hours.  Now you have a reason to go check it out.  So... GO.

Have a great rest of Monday or Tuesday.
Renee  :)

My Shop... Hope You Like It

Something different from me today...

You've all probably seen the sentence in my profile about hoarding patterns.  Oh my, do I have patterns, so many I will never be able to make all of them.  And it's funny how my tastes have changed over the years, too.

It came to me the other day perhaps other yarny people would like to have a chance at making these patterns.  So, I am listing pattern books, pamphlets, old, new, you-name-it for sale.  I will probably list other things such as crafting kits or old doilies or thrift shop finds or..  you get the idea.

Please click on the link in my sidebar called "Shop to Your Hook's Content..." to see what's on offer.  If you see something you like, email me.  I will send you shipping costs (to anywhere in the world); and a Paypal invoice when you've found something you like.  Okay?  Ready, set, shop!  LOL Giggle.

Hoping you are having a great Thursday or Friday wherever you are!

Renee  :)

Valentine's Day and... a Pincushion!

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone!  I hope you have someone caring and loving to be with.

I have my husband, who is my rock.  And my son, who is trying so hard to find his way (he's 16).  And, of course, my silly dogs and my crazy tabby cat.  This is an old photo, taken about 6 years ago.  NOT a good one as both guys have striking blue eyes.

Now onto Important Business.  Annette, over at My Rose Valley, has had a give-away.  And, GUESS WHAT?  I won the cutest, prettiest patchwork pincushion ever!  Annette is a wiz at quilting and crocheting, and makes gorgeous things.  A big thank you to Annette.  I can't wait.  :)

I hope everyone is having a safe Valentine's Day.  I am, if you don't count the whole cup of coffee spilled down the front of my clean robe this morning.  Oh well.  I washed it yesterday, I can wash it again today.  LOL.

Love,  Renee  :)

Yes, I'm Complaining...

I am in the middle of doing our income taxes.  I am bogged down, so I'm posting!  Taking a break as it were.

Plus, I am having to use Google Chrome to access the site where I do the taxes.  Don't get me wrong, Chrome is soooo much faster than Internet Explorer.  We are even thinking about using Chrome after I'm finished with the taxes.  It's just, just, just... I hate doing taxes.  And I especially hate it when nothing "flows".  You know, one thing after another has to be fixed or solved.  Yeah, I'm whining.

I'm going to go now.   Y'all have a safe and happy weekend.

Renee  :)

P.S.:  SIBOL's afghan sold for a nice price on eBay.  Check it out.

Your Chance to Have a SIBOL Blanket...

I'm sure most of you know about SIBOL and Mrs. Twins' mission to blanket the elderly in her part of England.  She often runs challenges to produce some amazing afghans.  A couple of those 'ghans have gone to raising funds for different charities.

The newest afghan making SIBOL headlines is now listed on eBay for your bidding pleasure.  The THINK PINK BLANKET is so pretty in pink.  (Original, I know; and yes, I do like Molly Ringwald.)  I have made a few bids and was outbid every time.  The auction runs for the next seven days.

So I wish a safe and relaxing weekend to all!

Renee  :)

P.S.:  Remember yesterday was the mailing day for Share A Square?  Well, it was also my 26th wedding anniversary.  You know what we did for that auspicious occasion?  That's right, we went to the Post Office!  LOL.



Share A Square 2011 - 2012... Last Deadline

Today is the last mailing day for the current Share A Square campaign.  Shelly Tucker, of This Eclectic Life, has done 3 different years of making 150 afghans for kids with cancer attending summer camps.  Let's do the math:  150 afghans x 80 squares each.  Each square is 6 inches.  That's a lot of volunteers making squares.  Shelly has a Facebook group and Ravelry group where most of the communication happens.

Shelly likes each afghan to contain only one square from each person, so only 150 squares to a person.  There is a way around that, of course.  Simply donate in the name of someone else.  I missed the first two deadlines, I am sending 50 this time.

Here are pictures of some of my squares.  I guess I accidentally deleted some photos of some squares, I guess.  Or maybe I forgot to photograph them to begin with.  I don't know.  I don't have Alzheimer's, I have Sometimer's.

Anyway...  good old granny squares in the first photo, Vintage Wheel squares in the next photo, and all 50 squares in the last one. 

In the last photo:  the stack on the front left is all Never-Ending Blanket squares,  The right front stack contains all the various squares that are not granny or Never-Ending Blanket squares.  I did make a couple using the Sunburst pattern that I also used for Debi's recent granny swap.  And a couple of my own patterns where I tried to "square the circle".  The two stacks in back are those traditional granny squares.  So, fifty in all.  I'm kinda over 6 inch squares at the moment.  LOL.

I hope everyone is having a great week. 

Renee  :)

Granny: The Prequel...

Yesterday I boasted posted about the squares I sent out to Debi for her second Granny Swap.  Really I should have told you about receiving her square several days ago. 

This month's square is a granny (of course!) in different shades of blue.  I just have to come up with a plan for using these goodies.  An afghan, a scarf.  A scarf, maybe, with some coordinating or neutral color.  Okay, this could work.  Let me think about this.  LOL.

Here's hoping everyone has a great weekend.  Stay busy!

Renee  :)

Granny, At Last...

Ha, not what you think! 

I have finally finished the new square for the second round of Debi's Granny Square Swap.  It's based on Priscilla Hewitt's Amber Waves square.  First time I've done dtr (double triple crochet), ack!  Oh well, it's good for us to do different things once in awhile, she said very wisely.

I thought I would make all the squares in this swap with the same 3 colors.  I also decided to send a coordinating granny square in plain colors.  One of them is to go with the first square sent out last month, and the other is for this month.  (Don't look at the dust on the back of the couch, please.  Oh, sure, now everybody's looking at the dusty couch.  LOL.)

Here's a photo of the Amber Waves square from Flickr, via Ravelry, for your comparison.  The pattern called for an E hook, but I used my favorite hook, size H, and Red Heart Super Saver.  I had to eliminate Round 6 and do the last round in sc to make a 6 inch square.  But I think it turned out very well.  This crocheter, Larcy, also modified her square, out to 12 inches.  Looks great, doesn't it?  I think this could make a nice afghan using just this pattern, or as part of a mix of different squares.

Now, I have to tell Debi I didn't send out her squares last weekend as I promised.  Heck, they weren't even finished until last night,oops! I'm still within the deadline of January 31, but that's my excuse, not a reason.  How about the fact I'm the biggest procrastinator I know?  That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Happy rest of Thursday (or whatever day it is for you) to you,

Renee  :)

P.S.  I found my books for my Game of Thrones reading challenge, and I wasn't even looking for them!  Wow, am I good or what?



Playing Catch-up...

Hello all!  I hope everyone has had a good week.

I am playing catch-up in today's post.  These are Christmas presents I made and gave last month.  Short, quick, totally-enjoyable-to-make presents.  You can also see them on my Ravelry Projects page.  I am ReneeSpear401 on Ravelry.



I made skinny scarves for two teen girls -- my niece and my son's girlfriend.  The first is One Skein Scarf from the book, "The Happy Hooker".  You can get the pattern here.  Mine is the Paton's version.

The other scarf is My Dream Scarf with Fringe.  Also found on Ravelry, here.  I have discovered I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE making skinny scarves.  They are fast, fun, and done in one evening.  Perfect!

Several other family members received the easiest of all -- garlands, buntings, hangie thingies, whatever you want to call those things!

Crocheted Hearts Garland, on Ravelry.  Easy peasy!

Christmas Garlands #1, #2, #3.  I think I was looking for the quickest-ever garland to make.  It seemed to be a toss-up.

Ellen Bloom's Stars.

Five Point Motif.

Grandma Tree by the Royal Sisters.

And last, but not least:  homemade chocolate-covered peanut clusters -- for everyone on the list.  (Yeah, I could have used a few more peanuts.  These were the end of the batch of about 150+ clusters.)

There, that's done!  I've been meaning to post these FO's since just after Christmas.

Here's wishing you a fun and safe weekend!

Renee  :)

Going Black...

This is all about Freedom: yours, mine, ours, national, international, interwebz.

Learn all about PIPA and SOPA and why they're bad.  Here in plain language;  another good explanation.

Let Congress know you don't support censorship, banning, shutting down, whatever you want to call it.  Sign here.

Please.

Renee  :)

More, More, More...

Ah, yes.  Am I over committing myself?  I wonder...  

A Song of Ice and Fire Reading Challenge (aka Game of Thrones) -- see also my sidebar for the link.  The first step here is to find my books.  We moved six months ago, how time flies!

A friendly granny square swap now on its second square, over at Debi's blog, Dly's Hooks and Yarns.

A Round Ripple Crochet-A-Long with Pammy Sue.  She has a Flickr group to post pictures, progress, tips, and hints (I also have a link in my sidebar).  There is an option of a pattern from Crochet World, December 2011 issue; or a free similar pattern (link listed in the discussion thread on Flickr).  If you don't know Pammy Sue, you must read her stuff; she will crack you up.  Her blog is Scotty's Place.

Then there is Share-a-Square.  The last deadline is coming up.  I want to send 50 squares come February 1st.  I have 15 made; anyway groups of 10 if I don't make it to 50.

When do WIPs (works in progress) become UOs (unfinished objects)?  I have a blanket for my husband (not blogged about previously).  There's my sister's Christmas present from 2 Christmases and my first post ago.  And that Christmas garland which should be properly called Winter Garland (which we don't seem to be having anyway).  If I sit here long enough I am sure to come up with more things. 

Oh, I know... I have a great nephew who will be born in probably April and I want to make an afghan for him.  Perhaps that Round Ripple if I can find the right colors and right yarn out of my stash.

Anyway, I need a plan if I'm going to accomplish all this.  First and second are Share-a-Square and Debi's swap while going through my stash for the Round Ripple.  Maybe then the Winter Garland which just needs the hanging string or whatever you call it; I think I will style mine after Lucy's Jolly Festive Bunting.  And, and, and...

Gotta find those books!

Have a good rest of the day...
Renee  :)

P.S.  Oh, and I need to show you the Christmas presents I made and give last month.
P.P.S.  I don't remember where I got the photo from, but it sure seems to fit me today!

A Reading Challenge...

Bloghopping this morning brought me to The Lit Bitch (what a great name for a blog!) and her reading challenges for 2012 -- one  in particular.  Running from January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012 is the A Song of Ice and Fire Reading Challenge for 2012.  There is also a link in my sidebar.

I am a big fan of the "A Song of Ice and Fire" series by George R. R. Martin.  It's five books (so far) about several families vying for power in a mythical place called Westeros.  It's medieval in flavor with a bit of magic thrown in.  Ah yes, dragons, too.   For mature audiences only due to violence, sex, and probably language.  There is also a television adaptation on HBO, "Game of Thrones", starting its second season in April.  GRRM and his latest book, "A Dance with Dragons" both have garnered enormous praise in 2011 and 2012.  All totally earned, as far as I'm concerned.

I've read the first four books -- in paperback.  The 5th is in hardback; I can wait til the paperback is released (probably this fall).  This is a no-pressure, got-all-year reading challenge.  If you want to post comments, reviews, progress -- all are welcome.  Sounds like my kind of thing.  Time to re-read some awesome, addictive books.

Books in Series Order:

1. A Game Of Thrones.
2. A Clash of Kings.
3. A Storm of Swords.
4. A Feast For Crows.
5. A Dance With Dragons.

Hope everyone is having a fruitful and productive weekend,

Renee  :)