Tilly Suncatchers and Facebook Timeline

So, if you follow me on Facebook, you know that the Crochet Pages page on Facebook is getting the Timeline treatment at some point today. And I have to say, I have mixed feelings. It's a got a really sharp look to it, it really does. I know a lot of people who love it. I know it's meant to make older posts more accessible, but I feel like it does so at the expense of a clear timeline. (No joke intended.) It just seems like after the first few posts, it get hard to tell what order they're in, especially if they include photos/video or are especially long.

I guess it comes down to this. I don't like not being given a choice. They're taking away something that works and replacing it with something that no one has been able to prove to me is actually better.

But on the plus side, with a little luck, my Tillies will be here today! I ordered last Friday via priority mail and was hoping to have them Wednesday, but they didn't ship from Florida until Tuesday. So, today should be the day. Once I've got them and I know they're healthy and will remain so, I can start to design some suncatchers and hanging gardens for them. I'm excited.

I've always loved the little tillandsia Ionantha, even though I didn't know what the species actually was, just that it's an "Airplant." These are the little guys that are glued on top of ceramic or plastic jack o'lanterns at Halloween. But I fell in love all over again at this year's Philadelphia Flower Show when I came across a vender selling the giant-sized tillandsia Xerographic. Xerographica is sometimes referred to as "King of Tillies" and can reach up to 12" across.

It's actually grown somewhat since I snapped this pic, but this is a pretty average Xerographic by all accounts. It's about 8 or 9 inches across and I have it hanging, in a hammock style hanger I made for it, near our bedroom windows. Did I mention I LOVE these plants?!?! Super easy to care for, a little bit of light, a little bit of love and tiny little bit of water! Plus, since they weight next to nothing and don't need soil, you can put them anywhere. I've seen them in seashells glued to bathroom mirrors and in magnets stuck on refrigerators. I'm dying to get started on the suncatchers!

Photo Journal: Basic Teddy Bear

So a friend posted on Facebook about a week and a half ago about a young woman who had died in childbirth, leaving behind a newborn son and a 3 year old daughter. Even though, I didn't know her, I decided that I wanted to make something for the kids. So I've been working on a couple of small projects for them for about a week now. I finished the last item last night.

Perhaps it was a bit opportunistic of me, but I also took pictures of the teddy bear along the way, so I could share a little bit of the design process.

Day 1: two of the legs are done and a start on a third. Mostly when I make bears, I stick with making the legs are arms the same. I'm working the bear in Loops and Threads - Country Loom, Shale. It works up pretty similar to Lion Brand's Homespun, but a bit chunkier.



Day 2: All the legs/arms are finished. Legs are joined together and body is started. Tail is complete (it's worked right in over the course of 2 rounds).

Tail: add ch 7, just before the join of desired row (start a row lower than you'd like the tail to end up. on next row, sc in ea ch, and join on next row, skip tail sts and join to first sc of row.

It does leave a very small hole in the bear's bottom, but if it bothers you, you can always sew it closed.

Day 3: Most of a bear. Body is stuffed, head is started. I'm trying to get this one done as soon as possible for someone, so I've been working like a madwoman. (Also, I was up way to late watching old episodes of a favorite TV show.)

Day 4: Bear is finished. Ears are the only part that required sewing on. Face is embroidered in plain old Red Heart Super Saver in whatever the Dark Brown I had laying around is. Ready to be mailed out!

Hardware Store Bracelet

I bought everything I needed (materials wise) for this bracelet at Home Depot for less than $10.

Shopping List:

• Neon Cord - 5/32" Diamond Braid Poly, All-Purpose Cord. I bought blue, but it comes in other colors.
• 1/4" - 20 Hex Nuts or machine nuts.
• 1" S hooks

Tools from home:

• size N crochet hook
• large eye needle
• sturdy pliers

Thread about 20 nuts onto your cord. Start off with a slip knot around your hook, leaving about a 4" tail

Slide 1 nut against the knot and work your chain stitch, the nut should fall onto the "back" of the chain.

Slide 1 nut against work and chain 1. Repeat to desired length. You probably won't need all of the nuts, I only needed about a dozen, but extra is always good.

To add your closure, unravel the outer layer of the cord until about 1" from your work. Cut off the inner core. With your needle, weave the unraveled ends back through your work.

Repeat for other end. Slip S hook into one loop, and squeeze closed with the pliers. Leave the other end open so you have an S clasp.

Studio Update (or Slacker!!!!!!!!!)

So, it's become pretty obvious that I work much better when I am actually working in my studio. The dining room table has become synonymous with screwing around on Facebook, while the studio remains a workspace.

That's not to say Facebook isn't great, I've hooked back up with a lot of old friends and I definitely have something to kill time when my insomnia is bad. Unfortunately, it's also been a great way for me to end up with no time left for anything important. Therefore, the official mission will be: more back into the studio, Slacker. Get something done for once.

Also, the cat was much happier when I was working in the studio. Anybody with a cat will understand why a happy cat is a good thing. If you don't own a cat, let me just say this: unhappy cats can be destructive, in all kinds of ways.

Since I brought the laptop back downstairs Crochet Pages has been badly neglected. My other Website, the parent site, Tilghman Street Studios has been completely neglected. Not good if I want to make these the source of my livelihood. Something's gotta give and it's not going to be my lifelong dream on becoming my own boss.

A very full few days

So, it's only Wednesday, and I feel like I've already put in a weeks worth. I finished a pattern for the site, it just needs a photo and to be typed up. I have an afghan pattern a good portion of the way finished.

Sunday, I worked a half day to cover for someone who was sick, then finished the one pattern and big part of the other.

Monday morning, I went to the gym and then I worked a closing shift. At work, I finished up the last 13 pieces in a set of 71 that I had been working on.

Tuesday, I went to the gym with Liam, then worked another closing shift, this time with Liam.

Today, I worked another half day, because I had to leave early because apparently overtime is evil. I bought the stuff I need for a couple of Mother's Day gifts that I'm responsible for and the stuff to make the favors and start the centerpieces for my Mad Hatter's Tea Party. Then I came home and played on the internet for a while. Then I went for a sushi lunch, hit Walmart for some odds and ends and then went to Wegman's for the tea bags for my favors.

Then I called Dave and we went tromping around in the woods at the Mary Immaculate Center, and climbed a tree. Then we went out for dinner.

Now, I'm home, putting my favors together and playing on Facebook.
Whew.

Tomorrow plans are gym with Liam and then babysit and make a Mother's Day gift with Lyam. (No, that is right, there are 2 Lyam's and they spell their names differently. One is Scottish origin - Lyam, the other is short for William - Liam. Also, one of them is 2 1/2 and I babysit him, the other is a coworker and dear friend of mine.)

Friday - work, then Date night.

Saturday - another closing shift.

I hope you followed all of that, because I'm not sure that I didn't miss something.

Oh, also, I sold a coffee cup sleeve and pair of baby slippers this week.

So, I'm getting all modernized and stuff.

Guess what!?!?! Me and Crochet Pages are both on Facebook now! Become a fan, send a friend request. In case you never noticed my full name posted at the bottom of the pages, it's Adrienne Congdon. Look me up!