Frogging...

I finally decided to frog some of my UFO's which were not turning out how they should. I don't know what gets into me and why I do these things to myself. I made two different things a cardigan sweater and a cropped jacket.

The cardigan sweater I had worked on off and on since last summer. I completed the back, two front panels and sleeves. The pattern called for 48 ounces of worsted weight yarn. I had used 60 ounces and I had to buy two more 16 ounce skeins to complete the sleeves which I had to buy a contrasting color because I couldn't match the dye lot. The sweater was going to be huge! I mean seriously huge and I knew that after I finished the back. So someone tell me why I did not stop myself? PLEASE! So now after completing most of it I finally decided to stop and start over from the beginning. That's right! The beginning! I knew I wasn't going to wear it and I didn't want to give it away with the money and time I invested into it. I decided my best bet would be to frog it and start over fresh. But this time I will finish it and it will fit. I already made a sample to test my gauge and I have started fresh.
The crop jacket was very easy but again I made it too large! It was so pathetic I had to take a picture or two so you could get my drift! I made the sleeves about six inches too long! What is wrong with me. The back was large and the front was not properly constructed. Can we all say "HOT MESS"? I should be ashamed. I knew something was wrong in the beginning and I kept going. I need some serious help. None the less I frogged it too! That will be my next crocheted clothing project.

I tried to work on my next sewing project but I needed to fill a bobbin with the proper color thread. This was not working at all! The bobbin winder on my machine would not cooperate. Finally I called my local JoAnn's ( I purchased my machine there about 20 years ago) and asked if they could assist me. The lady in the sewing machine department was nice and told me to bring it in. I did so Saturday afternoon and she had no clue. She had never seen this type of bobbin winder ( I have one with the drop in bobbin winder). She tried though. No luck at all with it. So now I needed to take it in for repairs. I took my sewing machine to Hancock fabrics to have the repairman look at it and he found the issue. Now my machine is working fine. I am ready to start a new project when I return home! Yah!

I am now in San Antonio and I do not expect to be home until Friday or maybe Saturday (it's a longer stay than usual). I can't wait to get home . But the weekend I spent some quality time at the Six Flags waterpark. I had a great time of course and its a wonderful way to spend a very hot Saturday. I also took some time to ride the new rollercoaster called "Goliath". Boy I am getting old! I was so dizzy afterwards! I loved it though but I couldn't even think about doing it again! Funny! I spent Sunday relaxing and catching up on some sleep. A good weekend.



I have big plans when I return home. I will be calling around to have central air installed in my home ( something I should have done a long time ago). If I can get over that one small hurdle I will be good.



I hope everyone is having a great week!

Smooches!

Some scrappy goodies

Last night I decided to finish some layouts I had started at my last scrapbook group meeting. I didn't have a lot to do but add titles and journaling. I tend to have issues with my titles and I need some help in this area. But with a little patience I ended up with these completed layouts.

I think the first one is my favorite! It's a photo of my brother Keith from Christmas 2006. The title is Brother's Bling. We call Keith "brother" for a nickname. He received this blingy necklace (he is handicap and tends to like shiny objects) and we put it on him only to have him try to yank it off. We took it off of him and he just sat there admiring it. It's pretty usual for him to do these things. He looked so content I had to snap a picture. The materials used are Tres Jolie papers and "brothers" title in which I added an apostrophe and journaling box. I also used Sizzlets funky brush for the "Bling!" title. The "Bling!" title was made using Bazzill bling brown paper. Overall this was a fun layout to make. I used a layout sketch from a Leaving Prints layout kit I purchased some time ago. Overall this one is definitely my favorite.

Now please excuse the blurry photo. I should have taken another photo but this one will do for now. LMAO! This is another picture of my brother during his meal time. My mom always pins a towel around his neck (he is incredibly messy) and he insists on sitting at the table to eat. I love these papers. I received them as a kit from "The Scrap Addict" scrapbook store in Plainfield, IL. When you attend their crops they will give you free kits sometimes and I received these papers and ribbon. The fonts I used for "dinner" was a accucut die from Memories and Beyond scrapbook store in Downers Grove, IL. The white scrolls are from those Studio G stamps you buy at Michaels and JoAnn's for $1. The white chipboard letters are All My Memories LLC purchased at Archivers and the distressing ink was ColorBox Fluid chalk inkpad. The brads I am not sure of! LOL! I am not crazy about the dinner title but everything else works for me!

Last but not least my Thanksgiving dinner layout. I was not happy with the way this one ended up looking but I refuse to do it over. It's kind of cartoony. But it gets the message across. I used bazzill solid papers, and Flair Designs patterned paper. The font for the title was made using an accucut die from Memories and Beyond Scrapbook Store in Downers Grove. I am not good with embellishments and I wished I had used more flair with this one. I really hated the way the title turned out too. Well my next layouts should be better.

Well this is what I worked on last night. I actually finished the Thanksgiving layout long ago I just hadn't posted it. The other two layouts I needed to finish the titles. I had trouble with the dinner layout because I couldn't figure out how I want to put the "Time" title in there. I finally looked at my Clip It up and found the chipboard letters and I found a font I thought would be perfect and "VOILA". A finished title! I was going to make the "time" title brown but I think the white had more pop. What do you think?

You know the economy is not good right now and it is showing everywhere from gas to food to scrapbook stores. The Scrap Addict (one of my local scrapbook stores) had free crops on Fridays and Saturdays. All you had to do was reserve a spot and you were in. The even had free pasta crops for all day on some Saturdays. Well that has now changed and they require a $15 deposit to reserve a spot and it is returned to you in a store credit to be used that evening. It does not carry over. I wanted to go last night but my budget isn't allowing for it this month. I understand why they are doing it though. I don't think people realize that the stores offer free crops so you will come in and spend your money on merchandise. That's how they are able to have free crops. If you don't buy things they cannot continue to have the free crops. Also when you reserve for a crop you should also do one little thing which is to SHOW UP! I have been to many of their crops where they reserved seating and the croppers never showed or called. What are people thinking? They ruin it for everyone unfortunately? I had to vent a little here because it bugs me a lot when people ruin the fun for everyone else. Oh well. I will go to their crops but not anytime soon. I have some other priorities to work on as well as saving money. The cost of living has shot up and its hitting hard and fast. But luckily I have more than enough supplies (besides the mandatory adhesives which are purchased on a regular basis) to use. I hope to work on more projects at home soon so look for more stuff soon!

Later!