Who Wants a Cupcake?

Who wants a Cuppy Cakes Blanket??? Can you see the wee little white cupcakes? Isn't that the s-w-e-e-t-e-s-t thing ever?

Or on this side the colored cupcakes??

I am seriously loving this little blanket, as it is soo colorful and has so many options! Plus, it's truly reversible!

Bust your stash, make it in "boy" colors, neutrals, or even all one color--BORING :)--but make it your own.

The pattern includes a simple multiples number and border instructions for making it any size you want! In fact, it would be super simple to make the border with all of the colors you used in the blanket, too. 

Texture, color, flexibility, options--and apparently blankets--that's what I'm all about lately.

I hope you love it! You can find it here, or here, or here.

I'll be posting about my Design Wars experience this next week and show you a little of the design process and what's been going on since! What an amazing ride!!

Isn't crocheting simply THE BEST?!!!

Hugs and love to you all. Hold your families and loved ones close and find joy in every day.

{On the Board} -- Be kind for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.

Linking up here today: My Merry Messy Life

I'm Never Far Away

Hello, dear friends! Just popping in to say "hey, howdy, hey", and let you know that I am still here! My blog posts have been few and far between lately as I've had many personal issues to focus on and settle. But you are not forgotten. And neither is my hook! It seems to be a little bit of peace for my worried mind and heart. Does it work that way for you, too? What a blessing it is to me!

Sadly, I spent the entire last week working up a project with some very lovely baby alpaca...

Working with delightful yarn is sad, you ask?! Well, let me tell you more.

It was given to me by a dear friend and I was so excited to use it. So I sketched out a lovely cowl--with little hexies--all put together in such a lovely way. Or so I thought. But, alas, it was so not what I had envisioned. I dislike it so much I can't bring myself to work in the ends. Or photograph it, either.

The initial disappointment was only magnified when I realized that frogging it was not possible, really, as the bits were very short with the frequent color changes, and pulling out alpaca is VERY challenging! So....I think this lovely yarny creation will find its way to the thrift store in the form of a very sad little cowl and maybe some dear soul will not think it is so sad and ugly. Or maybe, just maybe, the lucky finder will have a better idea of how to put the cast off cowl to better use. Maybe.

On a brighter note...

Remember this lovely variegated cotton? Since I am not a huge fan of variegated, I stewed about how to put it to good use. Here's what I came up with...

A pretty awesome cowl, if I do say so! I love how with the very short color runs of this yarn and this pattern, the stitches are each almost a separate color.

And the back of the stitches looks even cooler than the front. Yes. I like this very much. I had a little Extra Soft Wool Blend from Martha Stewart in Gray Pearl for a simple little border. 

The colors are very current. The cowl is a good size. And the stitch pattern is very simple. Simple is good, huh?

Before I head off, here is the latest FAIL RECOVERY project on my hook. This is very Felted Button-esque--color, texture and flexibility! This is a pattern I can "get my hook into"! I'm calling it "Tippy Toes" and it makes me very happy!

Design Wars 5 voting is about to end. I promise it is worth your time to take a peek at some of the amazing creations by a talented group of designers. 

You can get there from here to vote for a few more days, enter the Red Heart giveaway and join in on the CAL. It's all fun!

Be well, my sweet friends! 

{On the Board} -- Be grateful and kind and remember that everyone around you has a story that may require gentleness and patience and forgiveness and love.                                                         --me

Hugs.

Mariposa Throw Revealed!

Wahooo! The Mariposa Throw!! My Design Wars 5 creation is here!! 

I named it this because of the single stemmed 3-petaled Mariposa Lily that grows on rocky slopes of the mountains of the Western US where I live. Add a rainbow of colors--typical Sue--and it cheers any space, but you could easily work it in shades that match your decor and suit your style. I had even thought about flowers in pinks, framed in white with a soft cream or golden honey for the border. Or what about gray frames, gray-leaf green stems and a white background. Now that would be elegant! 

The framed flowers might look challenging, but they are actually quite simple to construct, and the abundance of texture makes the flowers pop up like they have bloomed. The chevron-like arrangement of the motifs is pretty nifty, too! Color, texture, options, unique. I'm pretty happy with it, I must say!

You can read more about the pattern in the listing description here. It's gots load of pictures--50 in all--so don't be intimidated by what you might think is complex! I really try to help you through!

Voting for the ten designs takes place from Nov 13-Nov 23, 2013. Hop over here to cast your vote!

I'll post on another day about my Design Wars experience and the process of designing this little baby! It was definitely a process, but what a rewarding experience! 

I hope you love it as much as I do.

{On the Board} -- Times change. But truth persists.    --Thomas S. Monson