FRANNIE HAS A YOUTUBE CHANNEL?!?!?!

Yes, Frannie did get a YouTube channel called CuteKatyDolls. Please check it out. There are some videos on her channel so please watch them! If you have a YouTube account/channel, please comment on her videos, and subscribe to her channel. It features her AG dolls, Rachel Anne (MAG # 22) and Katy Elizabeth (MAG # 35).

~ S.W.A.K.

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS

Lately, I have been seeing more and more crocheted wreaths all over the internet, mostly Pinterest.  It peaked my interest, and thought I would give it a go.

This year I have been into red and white, so that's what I planned for the base.  I followed instructions from Repeat Crafter Me, just substituting stripes instead of a plain pattern.  The yarn for the base is Red Heart Super Saver (white and cherry red).  A couple years ago I purchased two full skeins of bright green mohair at a thrift store for $1.00.  I had no idea what I would ever use it for.  It was perfect for the Holly Jolly pattern from Attic 24.  Finally, the rolled roses pattern came from Pink Milk (Red Heart Super Saver - Cherry  Red).  After the crocheting was complete, I went through my stash of old Christmas bits and bobs (99% of the goodies are vintage with a couple newer items to fill in the gaps) to create a Christmas vignette.  Santa even twirls from the top of the wreath.

Here it is hanging on the outside of my mother's door.

S.W.A.K.

PUT A LITTLE LOVE IN YOUR HEART

100 crocheted hearts for a very special birthday.

I've written about Aunt Grace before and how Frannie and I decorate outside her front window.  Aunt Grace celebrated her 100th birthday this past Sunday, so the two of us surprised her with all of these hearts.  When she looks out her living room window (far left in photo), this is the happy and colorful sight she sees.  Aunt Grace was a top-notch crocheter and seamstress herself.  She has given me so many vintage sewing supplies/ribbon/buttons/etc. over the years that this is my way of saying thank you.

S.W.A.K.

P.S. - The crochet heart pattern is from Pink Fluffy Warrior.  You can find the tutorial here.  All the hearts are crocheted with Red Heart Super Saver and a size "H" hook.  This yarn can withstand any weather and it does not fade!  I strung the hearts together with a clear nylon thread.

SHE'S AN AMERICAN GIRL with Crocheted Afghans

We have a new addition to our home.

American Girl #35.

Light skin, layered red hair, brown eyes.

Frannie doesn't actually "play" with dolls any longer.  She enjoys styling their hair.  We both like to craft, knit, crochet and sew for them.  That's how I first learned to sew - by making doll clothes.

Do you see that cute, raspberry beret American Girl #35 is wearing?  I didn't make that.  But I could have.  If I wanted to.  Tongue-in-cheek.

I did crochet these two, doll-sized afghans with coordinating pillows especially for her.  My pattern cue for the white, pink and aqua afghan came from Mille Makes and Dottie Angel.  You can find the tutorial here.  The pink/aqua afghan was inspired by Helen Philipps.  It looks just like the one she made. There is no pattern (I just winged it), but you can view it here.  The pillows are crocheted rounds (front and back are the same) that were stuffed with fiberfill and tufted with buttons (vintage buttons on the white pillow).

S.W.A.K.

ALONG CAME A SPIDER

Time for another bunting.  Basic triangle (chain 2 - 3 dc in 2nd chain from hook - chain 2 - turn - dc across increasing 1 dc at end of each row.)  My candy corn have 19 rows (5 rows white - 10 rows orange - 4 rows yellow) and measure approximately 10-1/2 tall.  Two rows single crochet for ties.

Spiders are small pom-poms with pipe cleaners for legs.  We made these for Girl Scouts one year.  No googly eyes this time.  Didn't think they could withstand the weather.

Out with the old.  Don't believe I ever posted this banner.  Made it for summer.  Man, that Red Heart Super Saver takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin'.  Look at what great shape the banner is in even after being out in the elements for the past two months, and the colors did not even fade.  That is super!  I am going to store this away and put it outside again next year.

S.W.A.K.

Reduce RE-USE Recycle

It has recently come to my attention that Frannie has a lot of hair accessories that she no longer wears.

I've never seen anything this cute in the notions department.

Oh yes, only 9 more rows.

S.W.A.K.

PONCHO

Frannie selected the colors.  The yarn is Vanna's Choice.  Affordable, washable, nice color selection, easy to work with (no knots or splitting).  Frannie says it is super cozy and she can't wait for the weather to change so she can wear it to school.

This is a free pattern from Drops Design and you can find it here.  The pattern is written for sizes 5/7 years, 8/10 years, and 12/14 years, but it would be really easy to adjust for larger sizes as well, just in case you'd like to make one for yourself.

It is a very simple pattern and works up lickety-split!  I added a scalloped border to the bottom put in an extra row of single crochet with a small scallop trim to the neckline.

Another use for one of my favorite vintage buttons.

Frannie has been sporting an I Dream Of Jeannie hairdo all summer (the braid wrapped into a bun with a pony tail coming out the middle).  The hardest part is finding clips strong enough to hold it in place.

S.W.A.K.

JUST...

...a few more flowers

...some blocking and seaming

...three more rows

...a quick trip to the library

...some creative inspiration

...moving up to a full size violin

...another puppy dog tea party

Now you know some of what we did this summer.

S.W.A.K.

MY NAME IS MICHAELS

I've got a nickel

I've got a nickel shiny and new

I'm gonna buy me all kinds of candy

That's what I'm gonna do.

We finally have a craft store in our area.  Only a short drive away.  That's dangerous!

S.W.A.K.

GRANNY BUNTING

Every holiday Frannie and I sneak over to Granny's house and decorate her tree.  You see, Granny, my husband's aunt, lives next door.  She is 99 years old and pretty much house-bound due to very painful arthritis.  Still, everyday, she makes her way to her front window and enjoys the sunshine and the what's going on down our little street.  Sometimes she is very surprised when she looks out.  Early yesterday morning Frannie and I strung up a "Granny Bunting", which I crocheted in patriotic colors.  Granny loves anything hand-made, and was once quite the seamstress and crocheter, herself.  She was overjoyed and so were we.

Pattern for granny bunting and flowers from Attic 24.  Pattern for star from A Foothill Home Companion.

S.W.A.K.

P.S. - I used Red Heart Super Saver yarn and a size H crochet hook.  (I figured this stuff could take any kind of weather.)  The buntings measure 10" on each side after blocking.  I attached all the grannies together by chaining 80, single crochet across the top of a triangle, chain 6 between and then attach another triangle, again chain 6, and so on, ending with another 80 chains after the last one.  Next, chain 2, turn, sc across all.  Keep this up until your edge is the depth you like.

ONE FINE DAY

One fine day last week I squeezed in a trip to a thrift shop and an estate sale.  I scored big!

Six skeins Tahki Cotton Classic (I love this yarn) in one of my favorite colors - $4 (that's for all of them).

Five skeins of Manos del Uruguay - handcrafted kettle dyed pure wool - again $4.

Six cordial glasses - my favorite color - perfect condition - $5.

Vintage knitting bag/purse - $4.  I plan to disassemble this and use the original as a pattern to make a new purse with that lovely wooden frame.

Vintage pillowcases - I plan to repurpose these as well - not sure what exactly, but something - $2.

S.W.A.K.

P.S. - Frannie had another orchestra concert last night.  She wore the cherries.  I told you they would look cute.

OLLIE OOP

Here's the snazzy little sweater I told you about.  Oliver will need one for each day of the week during the cool weather.  I'm going to make them up in different, happy, circus-like designs with polka-dots and such, and call it his Ollie Oop collection.  I found the basic pattern here (Pinterest), although I did modify it somewhat.  I have other modifications I'd like to make the next time as well - and maybe even turn it into a crochet pattern.

S.W.A.K.

LET'S DO THE TWIST

Oliver Twist

Introducing Oliver.  Oliver Twist to be more precise.  Although, sometimes we call him Ollie, and sometimes we call him Pick Pocket (he likes to steal anything he can get his little mouth on and make us chase him around the house).  Once in a while, you may even hear him being referred to as The Little Dickens!

Oliver is a Coton de Tulear.  His hair is super soft and feels like cotton, hence the name.  This breed is from Madagascar.  Oliver is 7 months old, although we've only known him for two weeks.  When full grown, he should only weigh about 8.8 to 13 lbs.  Oliver is very playful, affectionate, and extremely intelligent.  He loves to have fun.  He is very circus-like.  Cotons are known to have a habit of jumping up and walking on their hind legs to please people.  We have even seen Oliver do somersaults!  Cotons love meeting new people and are very curious in new situations. They are easy to train and very eager to please.  They are also great with kids and other animals. This breed, much like the Bichon Frise, has hair, therefore, it is a great pet for allergy sufferers.  They do not shed!

Oliver, or whatever we may call him, has once again brought happiness and laughter back into our home!

S.W.A.K.

P.S. - I just finished knitting a snazzy sweater for this little guy in colors to match his circus-like demeanor.