Crocheting is my OCD

I cannot watch TV without crocheting.  I guess I think it's just a waste of good time that can be spent by using my hands.  I love it when someone sends me a picture of their child in one of my crocheted creations.  That's little David Schlesser modeling his giraffe hat.  I can't believe Kristen actually had a giraffe outfit for him to wear.  How cute!

I love to make the cocoons.  It's the newest thing now.  I have one pattern, but I was able to figure out how to make other types.

The first one I tried was Three Peas in a Pod.  From there I just kept thinking up new designs.

And Beth Hoff dressed her son, Sullivan, in the Three Peas in a Pod cocoon I crocheted for him.  She was gracious enough to take a picture.  How cute!

 
It's wonderful to see photos such as this one of Ella Jackson wrapped in the pink afghan I made for her before she was born.  I'd love to have a shot of her in the pumpkin hat I just sent her.  I keep forgetting to ask the mothers if they would take a picture.


The cocoon thing is just too cute.  I have only given them away to Abington Hospital NICU, but I need to find another outlet for my crochet addiction.  I'm thinking Primary Children's Hospital.

Maybe they would like a lamb...or two?

...or three?

This cute guy ended up in a craft contest

for Jo-Ann Fabrics.  Wouldn't it be great if I would win?

The prize is a $1,500 gift card to Jo-Ann Fabrics.  That would last me about....six weeks?  haha!  If I win, a $50,000 prize will be given to my charity of choice, which, out of the list I was given, a Preemie charity (can't remember the name) out of NY best fit with my craft.  Wouldn't that be wonderful for them?

Well...on to more yarn...and more yarn...and more yarn...

Crochet Preemie Afghans

I'm on a roll.

I think I'll post more of my 'artwork.'

This is a Trip Around the World quilting pattern made with yarn scraps from other projects.

This is a Log Cabin pattern.  I figured out how to do it.  I love using yarn scraps to make these.  Or, like this one, I bought the yarn and used the scraps from this project to make others.

I don't always take pictures of all the preemie afghans I make, but sometimes, if the colors are unusual, like these new colors I really haven't used before, I will take photos to remind me of the color combinations.  There are lot of new yarns out there in all different collors.

Love these color combos...

How to Make a Card Pop: One Stroke Tip of the Day

When I'm done painting, I inevitably have leftover paint. Who wants to throw paint away, right?

So I get a piece of card stock and start painting butterflies (or random flowers). I fill up the card and use all the paint on my palette and blend blend blend.

When I'm done filling the card, I cut them all out and put them in a small zip-lock bag.

(cut out butterflies)

Then I can add the three-dimensional effect to the card I'm painting by attaching a butterfly with a pop-dot.

This one has cut-out pansies that have been attached with pop-dots as well. The butterfly is waiting in the wings....

It gives the card just the color it needs and adds to the overall arrangement.

OSCI II course

So in September 07 I took the OSCI II course with Donna Dewberry.(wo...a little makeup would go a long way...)

This is Donna's yellow circle canvas. This is the reason why I took this course.
I thought it was so beautiful.
She created this look from tapestries she had seen and Oriental rugs, wallpaper.
I just loved it and wanted to learn it.

These black canvases were more artwork I HAD to learn.

There is a grouping of 4. Maybe one day I will do all four.

Right now I only did the one she went over in the class -- the "Audrey" from "Little Shop of Horrors" (there, I remembered the name of the musical). The plant on the left looks like Audrey--the man-eating plant.

Closeup of Donna's "Audrey."

Bunny Blanket Bunnies

I just gave Lynn Schoendorfer a huge bag of crocheted items for my preemies down at Abington Hospital. She is a NICU nurse part-time, so I crochet up a storm, then send everything down with her. I found this cute pattern for a Bunny Blanket Buddy on-line and decided I would do them for the preemies. I also crocheted bunny ears on the hats to go with them.
Lynn sent me an e-mail the next day:
"Hi Susan, I just wish you could have been in the unit this morning when I took in the bag of items you made, first off the nurses loved the card you wrote and I told them that you did the painting on it, they were amazed, then we started to open up the bunny blanket bunnies, and we all (including myself) were so impressed, they are so beautiful, and clever. How do you ever do all that you do? Everything you make is so beautiful and well done, you are so talented and giving of yourself. One of the babies I was caring for today is a darling little trisomy 21 baby that has had some cardiac issues, etc. and his mom was so excited to receive one of the bunnies, it really made her day. Thanks again for all you do. Love, Lynn"

I think I am addicted to making these bunnies now. It's a good thing Easter is in March this year and I could send them in and not feel weird.
However, I think I will keep making them because they are so darn cute!

I think this was a bag for a baby gift, but now I'm not sure. Maybe a wedding?

Oh well...it's my own design. I see I have a lot to learn about design.

Here are some closeups of the work.

Some Collage -- Katie Ramsdens Wedding

I was so honored when Katie Ramsden asked me to do a piece of artwork as their announcement placard at their wedding reception. She basically gave me carte blanche to be as creative as I wanted. When I mentioned collage and tearing paper, she was all for it! Thank you, Katie! It's not often I could do something exactly as I wanted to.
I used torn paper, then inked it up to antique it. I used pressed flowers that I collected especially for her wedding.
She wanted calligraphy in it, so I did that for their names and date.
It was fun to go to the craft stores and pick out all the doodads to use.
I think the whole thing cost me about $75! It was my wedding gift to them.

Zannah's Over the Hump Autograph Book

Make a photobook - it's easy!

This was the second book I made for Zannah. I took pictures of it before I sent it. Now it has photos and scraps in it.

Kay and Don's Gift

Make a slideshow - it's easy!

Since this is my private blog -- for me -- I decided I would add my artwork and creations. This is a painted canvas photo album. Inside are two hanging photo books. On the left are Don's kids and grandkids and on the right are mom's kids and grandkids. I don't know if mom liked it. All she said was, "Well...it's interesting." I think I should make one for myself now so I can have it in my house. I enjoyed painting it and I enjoy looking at it now.