Laura's Cozy Crochet

Hey y'all, spoken in my best southern accent. For awhile now, I've entertained the idea of creating a personal FB page for my crochet items. It allows me to give attention solely to my work, and also gives you the opportunity to buy something if you see something you like.

I'll be honest, I've always been uncomfortable with the selling aspect of my crochet. I enjoy crocheting things for family and friends for no other reason than the personal satisfaction. That said, I don't have many friends or family members, and I'm pretty sure the ones I do have are sick of gifted crochet items.

This doesn't stop me from wanting to use my creative outlet and the stuff is piling up on me!  My FB page will allow you to see my work and even buy if you wish. Please, don't feel obligated. Not everyone likes or has a need for crochet items, and I understand that.

A last note. I don't do special orders or large, time consuming projects. Pretty much what you see on my page, is what is up for sale. I can, and will, under special circumstances make something you see in a different color or style.

If you want to take a gander at my crochet page, go here...

https://m.facebook.com/Lauras-Cozy-Crochet-301310513570770/

Crocheting For Charity

Crocheting has been a part of my mental therapy the past couple of years, and in those years I have managed to accumulate quite a few projects.

I have given away a few things, but some items I have not found homes for. I still have a large basket full of miscellaneous crochet creations that sit staring at me taking up space.

I didn't want to add to my collection of useless crochet items any more so I quit crocheting for a few weeks.

I felt lost without being able to get lost in my needle so I decided to go in search of crochet charities that would be in need of my crocheted pieces. I had attempted this once before, and you would think this would be a fairly easy task, but I was having a hard time finding a local charity without too many restrictions and nit pick rules

Although not local, I finally came across a couple that will suffice.

These are my latest projects.

Cancer caps....

This an idea I came across just today. Prayer cloths. Although I'm not religious or prone to prayer --- I believe things work out the way they are meant to happen and no amount of begging or pleading to the invisible being in the sky can change the outcome. Those rare times I have ever felt the need to pray was more to summon up the strength within myself to handle the situation that was dealt to me. That said, I know that praying is an important part of healing and comfort for most humans, especially in difficult times....

With each stitch I made into these cloths, I put as much positive energy and love as I could. They are not to be made when I'm not feeling "good".

Since I just came upon these today, I have not found a charity home for them yet. I am hoping our local Dell Children's Hospital may appreciate them.

Romantic Rain

May has brought us some much needed rain. Most Central Texans don't complain though. We need as much rain as Mother Nature will offer.

Unlike most folks, I enjoy a rainy day. For me, it has a romantic, powerful feel to it.

"Why does the rain make us feel so romantic and strange? Maybe it's the fact that we're unnatural spectators of it, from inside our homes, and it's the reminder that we have the power to live our whole lives like this, if we choose. It's not the smell of the fertile ground kicked up by raindrops, or the slick leaves, or the way we must amplify our voices to be heard over this larger presence. It's the power of the rooftop that makes us want to fuck under it." - Author, Amelia Gray

Aside from that, a rainy day gives me an excuse to do some indoor activities I enjoy like reading, trying out new recipes, watching a movie or crocheting. The older I get, the less I enjoy running the roads and prefer the coziness of my abode.

Here are some projects I have worked on lately....

I worked up these granny's in retro colors. My intention is turning them into throw pillows.

Just a little novelty item I worked up......

This isn't crochet, but I thought this little cluster of lady infant lady bugs was cool....

I crocheted around the straps of these cheap flip flops to give them a little character...

A little set for my friend Angela who will be delivering in a couple of months....

My pink puppy.....

We've also played a few games of Monopoly. Bo insisted on napping close by....

Rain is expected every day for the next couple of weeks. Looks like I will spending a lot of time indoors.

Spare Time

I'd like to say that I crochet in my spare time, but honestly sometimes I forgo things like laundry and cleaning toilets to manipulate those beautiful colors of string into works of art.

This is a soap holder/washcloth duo that I whipped up for a friend who makes homemade soaps. In turn I received some heavenly smelling soaps for my baths.

Before Christmas my cousin contacted me about making her a matching tree skirt for her white Christmas tree. I scrounged around my healthy yarn stash for the colors she was looking for and I yarned my days away until I finished it and presented it to her as an early Christmas gift.

This afghan I started from an inspiration I saw on Pinterest. Skye eyed it the whole time I worked on it so I gave it to her.

I'm a big fan of small crochet projects. I love the idea of starting something and finishing it up the same day. This little gingerbread boy was a nice addition to my tree this past Christmas.

This is another one of my Pinterest inspired projects. I LOVED working on this granny square cat because it was a little different than my usual creations.

While Lucas and Emily were here for Christmas Emily loved the striped afghan I had made for Skye and expressed an interest in having one for their sofa. I just finished it up the other day and plan to mail it out to them soon.

I plan on spending more time on smaller projects in the future just because I tend to get bored working on the same project for weeks at a time.

Many Mandalas

Lately I've been a little obsessed with crocheting. It consumes my thoughts. I wake up thinking about what project I'll work on for the day. I hurriedly and haphazardly finish up my daily obligations so I can sit with my crochet needle and yarn in hand whipping up creation after creation.

I haven't quite pin-pointed why I enjoy it so. Maybe because it keeps my mind busy. Maybe it makes me feel productive. Maybe because it's relaxing and creative. Whatever reason it may be, I'm glad my Aunt Sara took the patience and time out to teach me how to crochet in her little house in Eight Mile those many, many years ago.

My latest projects have been Mandalas. I guess you could say they really don't serve a practical purpose but creating these circular patterns with their many colors is mesmerizing for me.

I've thought about affixing them to canvases. Then I thought maybe they could be hung on the wall solo. Not sure yet how I will display them....

With the colder months quickly approaching, I also whipped up a couple of beanies with some scrap yarn I found at the Blue Hanger a few months ago....

I really love the color of the yarn in the one above. Unfortunately I ran out of yarn. I will have to improvise by trying to find some that will blend well enough to finish out the last couple of rows.

In two days we are off to Dallas for a couple of days. We will be visiting the Texas State Fair while we are there. I'm looking forward to it.

Ta Da!

Lucas will be arriving Friday so I spent all day yesterday finishing up the puff quilt I have been working on for the past couple of weeks.. I knew if I didn't finish it I would feel compelled to work on it while Lucas was here and I want to keep all my focus on family time next week.

I have to say I was pretty impressed with the finished product. This is the first quilt that I have finished that I would deem as a sell-able piece. It was a time consuming piece but worth the result.

That being said, I'm not so sure I will be doing another puff quilt anytime soon. Maybe one day...but no time soon.

I really wish I could learn how to take proper pictures of my stuff. I hope this one does it justice because I really worked hard on it!!

I'm really going to have to resist starting on another project. Maybe I'll just pick a pattern and the fabric and that will satisfy me until I can tackle another one.

Quilts and...Quilts

Yeh, I'm like that...wishy washy. I went from my tote bag obsession back to building quilts again.

I love the idea of taking something (discarded fabric) and transforming into something that can give comfort and love and be loved by the receiver. I know, I'm weird. I've been told numerous times and I can read your minds anyway.

My creations are very amateur so I don't feel comfortable selling them - right now- but I love the idea of giving them to friends, family, those in need, those who would appreciate them, and I even came across this site,  Quilts for Kids one day while surfing the net. No, I don't like kids in general but I do know that kids appreciate the comfort of a quilt or blanket..or at least mine always have.

It all boils down to the fact that I love the relaxation and creative outlet that sewing on a machine gives me no matter how bad or good I am at it. So for now, that's what I do.

Here are my latest....

I was so pleased with this one! This one is almost perfect with very little flaw to it. I constructed it from 2 thrift store pillowcases and some scrap I had...



I even machine quilted this one...first time ever I machine quilted

Although this quilt is totally finished now, these pics are of the unfinished quilt.

Next....

I got the idea for the colors on this one when I saw a quilt online with contrasting colors of yellow and black and thought how pretty it was. This one is made from a discarded dress and gingham curtains. I'm actually still in the process of working on this one...

Because my quilts are made from upcycled fabric, I sometimes have to wait until I find the right fabric to go with a piece I am working on...therefore I usually have more than one quilt top that I work on at a time.

Here is another quilt top waiting on a finish job. This one is BRIGHT is it not?!!!  I love bold colors so I really like this one made from vintage fabric found at a garage sale in Corpus Christi last summer and discarded fabric at the Blue Hanger Goodwill...

Well, that's all for now. Gotta get to quilting!!