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  :)

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!

SmoothFox and Online Angels...



Charity Square No 1

 

 If you don't know SmoothFox and her patterns, she is very ingenious in designing and generous in giving free crochet patterns.  She focuses primarily on squares, but does venture into baby blankets and scarfs.  In the past few months, she has branched out to knitting, and designs and patterns for knitting.  All her patterns are listed on Ravelry as well as her blog.



Charity Square No. 2

In February 2011, she announced she would dedicate 4 charity patterns to her favorite charity -- Online Angels.  These patterns are for crocheted squares (6" or 12").  Cindy (at SmoothFox) will email the patterns to you IF you make one square per requested pattern.  The idea, of course, then is to ship the completed squares to Online Angels who will assemble them into afghans.  Online angels is a charity that distributes hand-made items and other supplies to those in need.  They run great programs!

Charity Square No. 3

I requested all 4 patterns because... well, because I like me some free patterns!  Ah, but that meant I committed to making at least 4 squares.  So, I ended up making 3 from each pattern = 12.  I made 8 quick and easy granny squares.  That equals 20 squares of  the 6" variety.  Yay me!  I'm good, I'm on a roll.  Let's make some 12-inchers! 





Hah!  I did 2 granny variations and decided the
big squares are NOT for me.  They take way too
long.  Give me the quick and easy of 6" squares
anytime!

Charity Square 4



SmoothFox opened this challenge on February 25.  The goal was 500 squares by ending date April 30, 2011.  On April 9, she revised the goal upwards to 800 due to the fact over 600 squares had been received.  As of today, as listed in her sidebar, over 700 have been received -- that's with 11 days to go!  

6" Charity Granny Squares

She also gives special mention to those crocheters who make and send in 20 or more squares.  Guess what?  I have 22 ready to go to the post office.  Yay me!  Am I shallow enough to want to be on the "Special Kudos" list?  You betcha!



Everyone have a great and safe weekend!

Renee   :)



12" Charity Granny Squares

UPDATE:  Link your stuff at AnneMarie's Breiblog. 















Share A Square...

Hello again.  I've finished 12 squares for Shelly Tucker's This Eclectic Life project called Share A Square.  She has taken on a massive mission to make 150 afghans for kids with cancer.  Each afghan is 80 6" squares.  I think these can rightly be called blankets, not afghans!

Out of the 12 squares, 5 are standard grannies.  Another granny has my very first flower on it.  And 2 of the patterns are my own; the 3 squares in the 2nd photo and the 2 pink ones in the 3rd photo.  The back one in the 3rd photo is a log cabin pattern from Dutch Girl Diary.  All the yarn is from my stash.  I don't think these squares even made a dent in my yarn, I have so much!

I went to mail the squares this afternoon.  Our post office has a machine in the lobby to do your own mailing.  It's a handy little thing.  But just because it's a 3-day holiday, the machine was not taking either of my debit cards - Visa or the other one that starts with an M.  I will have to go back on Tuesday and try again.