...ring in the new year with something old.

For some reason, I talk about trash a lot.  From gold fish to crazy gloves, there has been a lot of interesting trash to blog about.  So, I've created a label for "trash."  That's where all the trash talk is.

This blog also qualifies for a "trash" label.  However, I am up-cycling here (creating something new with something that might have been thrown away/recycled).  I tried a new crochet medium: plarn!  It is what it sounds like.  It is plastic yarn...made from plastic grocery bags.  Yep.  I cut plastic grocery bags into strips and crocheted it.  I might be a little crazy, but it was fun.  The Target bags I used made a nice red and white pattern as I crocheted.  I think my festive bells came out well...and just in time to ring in the new year!

While crocheting this bell's top, I ran into a "reuse" that made me chuckle. The bag was not cut with attention to what was printed on it. I had to take a picture!

Happy New Year!

...hope.

Seasons greetings from Lucy!

...rest.

My little boy is napping.  I have gotten a few things done.  However, now it is time to rest!  Lucy has joined me on my cuddly pile of blankets, while I crochet in bed.  I hope to finish my latest project soon.  It's a bit different.  I have had fun trying something new.  It is low picture quality, but this is your sneak peak!

...take a break!

My husband is out running errands with our son.  I'm all alone at home.  It's a mommy-cation!  I'm sipping hot cocoa and playing on the computer before I slip off and vacuum the stairs. 

What?!  That doesn't sound like taking a break...

...well, there are just some things I can't do when the little guy is around...and the dirty stairs are really bugging me.  Sometimes taking a break is also about getting rid of the things that drive you crazy when you aren't on a break!

...deck the door!

Here's the wreath that I made up this year for our front door.  It was a lot of fun making it.  The bells and flowers are crochet.  I used strait pins to fasten the flowers down (no sewing!).  I think they came out looking like poinsettias--and will last a lot longer than the real thing!

Happy Holidays, everyone!

...make a monster!

I made this friendly monster wreath for my front door to say "Happy Halloween" to everyone. 

 'Have fun tonight!

...do some crafty problem solving.

Before I had my son, I had grand ideas of how I would create the cutest nursery for him. I would craft all these neat things. Then, he was born. The craft projects were set aside. After a few months, I meant to dive back in. However, we moved across the country. Our summer was spent in temporary situations. Our household goods (and craft projects) were stored away. Now that we are settling in, I have found the projects and the time to complete a few. However, I've needed to be flexible and allow the project to evolve. So, I first wanted to make a sweet little hot air balloon mobile. I found the paper lanterns and crocheted little baskets. This was all before my son arrived.

You can see how I strung the mini pony beads for colorful sandbags.

I even finished one. It took a while to figure out how to get it to work the way I wanted. One down, and...life happened!

So, when we moved into our new house, I brought these out again. I thought they would help me solve a problem I had. I had curtains that were too long for the window. We are just renting, so I wasn't sure if I wanted to cut and sew them to size. I scrounged around to find my clothes pins to solve the problem. I pinned the balloons up instead of stringing them into a mobile.

They made a fake valance for my curtains by pinning it just right.

It was a little tricky, but the clothes work...once I did some trimming on the paper lantern plastic.

I am happy with the way it turned out. My son's window is cheerful. The balloons have found a creative use.

'Problem solved!