Happy Lazy Saturday

Today has been quite a lazy day for me.  I woke up super early (6:15am), which is the time I now wake up during the week.  Then Alex woke up too and we began to chitchat until Frank told us to go back to sleep.  I think I finally went back to sleep at about 8 then woke up again at 10:30.  We pretty much just lounged around the house.  Frank and Alex eventually headed out to the race track.  I really need to go to Sally's to buy hair color and I actually should get out of bed and start cleaning the house but I feel really lazy not sad lazy but I just want to lay in bed.

I really don't like to carry a purse to work so I have been using a cute bag my niece gave me from ULTA. It fits everything I need including my lunch and snack. I feel like I need something with a zipper for extra protection.  I kind of wanted a back pack from Vera Bradley.  I had my eye on the Ultimate Backpack in Raisin, but it seems too small for all the stuff that I carry.  So I decided on the Get Carried Away Tote in Canterberry Magenta.  This will be my first Vera Bradley purchase.  I hope its big enough to carry all my yarn and hooks.  I will post pictures when I get it.

This is the kind of day we are having. Cloudy and raining off and on

Too lazy to go outside to take the actual picture:/

This is the bag my niece gave me, which also came with a sample of Lorac Porefection.

This is what I carry to work
Personal Original Patent Filofax
Old Samsung Tablet
Yarn
Hat in progress
Water
Crochet hooks
I don't carry my wallet just my drivers license. 

I hope you all have a great weekend or a great 3 Day Weekend.   I posted earlier that I wanted to have a giveaway soon.  I am going to start buying a few things and start on a slouchy beanie for the giveaway.  I might post a video on Youtube but the giveaway will be on my blog.  If you haven't already, make sure to follow me here on my blog, youtube, and instagram (christinachains77). 

Be blessed!

Christina M.

Anchor for My Soul

Recently I was asked to crochet an anchor for a baby shower. I found 2 patterns but found this pattern to be easier to follow. I loved how Petals To Picots displayed it as a card for her mom. Very creative and beautiful.

As I was making these anchors I couldnt stop singing the song by Micheal W. Smith "You Wont Let Go". I love the lyrics and its a great reminder of His promises.

Here are some photos of my recreation inspired by Petals To Picots. Thanks for sharing this pattern!

I used 2 strands to make each anchor. They are going to be used as Baby Shower favors so I wanted them a little thicker.

I chained 28  with white yarn and stitched the chain to the back of the anchor.

This is one of the first ones I made. I used a single strand on this one. This one was a little off centered too. I still use stitch markeres to keep count of my stitches but did not use it on this one.

This is what my anchors looked after they were all completed. I wanted them to lay completely flat. So I blocked them the only way I knew how. 

My flat anchors!

I held my iron over the achors in steam mode and got close enough to them without the iron touching the yarn, I did not have any pins on hand to shape them so I just shaped them with my hand as I went.

I am very thankful for this pattern and for being able to make these!

Yarn Haul!!!

If you don't know already, crocheting has become my latest and greatest obsession! I love crocheting. It is so relaxing and amazing what your hands and a ball of yarn can create. If you have instagram please follow me; I post all my projects there. 

I was at Wal-Mart yesterday to get an eye exam and had 30 minutes to kill. I picked up these pretty colors. I purposely did not grab a buggy because if I had, I would have gotten more than my hands could have carried.

Red Heart Super Saver
Bright Yellow 7oz
$2.47

Swatch

Red Heart Super Saver
Pretty N' Pink 7oz
$2.47

Swatch

Red Heart Super Saver
Dark Orchid 7oz
$2.47
This is such a pretty deep purple. Its just so beautiful.

Swatch

Red Heart With Love
Boysenberry 7oz
$3.47(or $3.74 i cant remember which was the right price)
I have never tried With Love but it is so soft.

Swatch

Red Heart With Love
Berry Red 7oz
$3.47(or $3.74 i cant remember which was the right price)

Swatch

Red Heart With Love
Navy 7oz
$3.47(or $3.74 i cant remember which was the right price)
If you are familiar with the Red Heart Super Saver Navy, it is  a little stiff. This  RHWL is so much softer. I would pay that extra dollar for the softness

Swatch

Lighted G-Hook
Hobby Lobby
I forgot the price but I would not have bought it without their 40% off coupon.  If you have a smart phone you can  go to their website and just show the clerk the coupon on your phone instead of printing it out.
http://www.hobbylobby.com/

I don't usually crochet in the dark but in those rare moments it helps a little. I still have to have a small lamp on to see  clearly. It also helps when I am crocheting with black or brown yarn,

This is what it looks like in complete darkness.
Pretty cool huh!!

I tried to get a better picture of the swatches so you could see how pretty the colors actually are.

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to follow me on instagram:
CHRISTINACHAINS77

Crochet Swap-Stuff I Sent

Lately I have been on a crochet craze. I new how to make just a regular single crochet but did not know how to fasten off. I started watching videos on YouTube and learned so much from these lovely ladies.
http://www.youtube.com/user/cakesbysabrina
http://www.youtube.com/user/tjw1963
http://www.youtube.com/user/Hectanooga1?feature=watch
They really know there stuff and their videos are very good quality and they show you stitch by stitch.

I have a really good friend of mine who I miss so much. She recently started crocheting and knitting. I asked her to do a swap with me and she agree. I really don't think she will read this so I am going to show you what I sent her.

This is a cup cozy. Its suppose to be an owl. I took different patterns from Ravelry.com to make this.



http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/crocheting/accessory/coffee-cup-cozy/14527
http://www.redheart.com/free-patterns/owl-mug-wrap







I just took left over yarn from another scarf and chained the leftovers and wrapped it around my neck for a cute necklace.





Infinity Scarf
http://youtu.be/kviC5g1AHgs
This is my most favorite type of scarf to make. I just love it.

So yeah I just wanted to share what my new hobby is. I love it so much. If you want to learn check out those channels that I posted up top and you will be crocheting in no time!

 



 

A Lil Bit of This and That

My aunt Zeke and me with a confused face!!
 I think I need more Crochet classes

 Today was one of the best days I have had this year.  It was a "Girls Day Out" for my sisters birthday. We started the day by eating at La Madeline for brunch. It was so good. I had a Chicken Perisian sandwich.YUMMY. Then we went to Hobby Lobby for a class to learn how to crochet. It was so fun and my aunt (here pictured with me) had us all laughing. After 2 hours of the instructor teaching us how to crochet, I was only able to complete 2 rows,but it was so  much fun. Spending time with my sister, mom, aunt and my two beautiful nieces was such a blessing. I thank God for allowing us to be together to celebrate with my sister.

 This is one of the gifts I made for my sister. It is a rose hair pin. I bought a long stem rose, pulled it apart and glued it to a hair pin. To give it a little bit more shine, I glued a rhinestone to the center.

 

 This is another gift I made. I pulled the flower apart and put a button in the center of the flower. I glued it to a pony tail holder. I was so glad she liked her gifts. I also made her a ring but forgot to take a picture of it. Her last gift was a China Glaze nail polish in a pink shade and a base and top coat from Seche Vette.

As always, thanks so much for stopping by.

xoxoxox

Christina