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pink and gray granny stripe scarf

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I’ve been wanting to try a granny stripe scarf for awhile. When a friend asked for donations for the United Way Helping Hands Auction, I decided to give it a whirl.

It goes by really fast and is as addicting as a square. My color scheme was inspired by the Two-Color Crochet Cowl over at the Purl Bee. Also, hot pink and gray were the colors for my high school class. (Pink and Gray! All the Way!)

This is also the first time I’ve used a hook with a handle. I’m not sure I like it. Any hook-with-handle lovers out there?

I took this picture last week and spent some time working on it at the craft retreat. I’m almost finished and will share post-blocking pics soon.

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for japan with love

for japan with love

I discovered For Japan with Love, which was started by the bloggers of Ever Ours and Utterly Engaged, through Vintage Chica’s blog. Donations go to Shelter Box, which is a great organization that provides basic lifesaving supplies like a tent, blankets, water storage, and a stove to those who need it.

I gave. You can too.

Just a small donation can help. Spread the word!

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my creative space

rainbow granny square

In my creative space today, I’m pushing myself beyond my color comfort zone.

When asked about my favorite color, I usually respond Roy G. Biv. It’s true. I love all colors of the rainbow. It’s just that I’m more of a monochromatic girl: shades of a particular hue combined with a nice neutral. All of these colors in one square are making me a little dizzy.

I’m trying not to think about it too much. How can I go wrong with a basket full of beautiful yarn?

Details about the rainbow squares here. More creative spaces here.

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my creative space (and a call to action)

sarah london crochet a rainbow granny square

I’ve been trying to think of a way that I can do something for the flood victims in Australia. Something besides just donating money (which there is nothing wrong with, of course). Today Sarah London posted a blanket project that will eventually be “distributed to those affected throughout Queensland and Victoria, providing comfort and colour and as a reminder that there is always a rainbow after a storm.”

If you’ve been reading my blog for awhile, you know I’m a big fan of squares. Making them helps me find peace, deal with events that I don’t understand, and feel useful in some small way. Back in 2007, I organized a local effort to contribute squares to Mosaic Yarn’s Hokie Healing project. If you are the least bit doubtful of the impact a square can make, go read this. (I’ll wait.)

Pretty powerful, right? In my creative space today, and all this year, I’ll be crocheting granny squares for Crochet a Rainbow. I encourage my fellow crocheters to make a few, too. You can get all of the details on Sarah’s website.

Don’t crochet? Consider bidding on one of the many auctions being held by the crafting community. 100% of the donations listed on Toni’s site go to the Queensland Flood Appeal. (Thanks for the link, Steph!)

stash: I’ll be starting my squares with the yarn from last week’s creative space. (Thanks again, Tana!)

Kirsty’s started up the 2011 Creative Spaces. If you have any time left after browsing through the above list of links, don’t forget to check out the creative spaces listed on her site, too.

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fave crafts blog hop: land’s end squares

lands end charity blanket squares

My Land’s End Share the Warmth squares are due at the end of the week. I didn’t finish as many as I would have liked. My wrists are feeling better — thank you for all of the well wishes — but the past few weeks have been slow-going.

Before this project I had three squares finished. I completed six for this particular project. That leaves three more before the end of the year to make my goal of one a month for 2010.

Have you been working on any charity projects?

Check out other finished projects over at the Fave Crafts blog.

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my creative space

my creative space

Our knitting guild has received yarn from the Land’s End Share the Warmth project. Have you heard about this? For every Feel Good sweater that is purchased, Land’s End will donate yarn to The Knitters Guild Association to be made into squares for Warm Up America. Our guild received three cones and I’ve got three “yarn cakes” to turn into squares. The colors are really beautiful and the yarn is super soft. I’m enjoying these squares a lot.

What are you doing in your creative space today? If you knit or crochet, consider making some squares for WAU! (You can use any yarn.) Details are on their website. Don’t forget to hop on over to Kirsty’s blog, as well, for more creative spaces.

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inspiration and paper cuts

I’m still spring cleaning my creative space. Last night I went through all of my knitting and crochet magazines. I was surprised how much paper I was holding on to for just a handful of patterns. I cut out the ones I liked and bundled up the rest to pass on to my friends at knitting group on Wednesday.

Tonight I’m tackling my inspiration magazines. I rarely tear out pages, but after seeing all of the advertising that is just cluttering things up, I started ripping. How inspirational can all of these beautiful photos really be when they are mixed in with ads for all kinds of uncreative things? I’m cutting out what I love and recycling the rest.

Both of these steps are in addition to thinning out my craft books, which I did a few weeks ago. I put a lot of stuff on swaptree.com and have given some away to friends. My spring cleaning goal is to only have things around my creative space that are inspiring to me.

I know some of you are out there spring cleaning, too. What are you tossing?

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my creative space

spring cleaning and donating

I’m spring cleaning in my creative space today. Three bags of fabric and craft goodies are going to my friend Sarah, who gave me the yarn from last week. I also packed up three bags of clothing that I had planned to upcycle into something else. That’s going to The Mission. I figure there are folks who need those jeans more than I do, and I’ve still got plenty of stash to keep me busy.

I’m already feeling inspired by my uncluttered creative space. Now I’m going to pop over to Kirsty’s blog for more inspiration.

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red scarf finished!

red scarf project craft hope orphan foundation of america

I can’t believe it, but I am out of red acrylic yarn. I had to use some gray to finish this scarf. It turned out nicely: thick and warm. I think I’m going to add some tassels to the ends. I’m excited to finish this so far ahead of the Craft Hope deadline. Now, if I can only get it mailed out just as fast!

Finished dimensions: 76 x 5 inches.

thrifted stash: All of the red yarn from this scarf and these hats came from one big grab bag at the thrift store. I’ve still got some black and gray left. What a score for $4! And all of it is going to keeping students warm this winter. Makes me feel good!

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ripped and restarted

As I’ve mentioned, I have too much acrylic yarn. I decided to start knitting and crocheting my way through it instead of just giving it away. I made three hats for my friend’s students* and then I kind of got sidetracked by my flowers for Haiti.

*Here’s my first hat finished with a flower and my third hat. (Hat no.2 here.)

crochet hat

While on Craft Hope’s website, I saw that they had recently partnered with The Orphan Foundation of America’s Red Scarf Project. I’ve wanted to do this, but always seemed to miss the deadline for some reason or another. I was excited to hear Craft Hope has a special deadline: Valentine’s Day! I grabbed some red yarn (I have a lot!) and got started.

Things were going well until today. I took it to the library to work on while my daughter was in Story Time. I forgot my hook and using a different size was really noticeable. As I sat there with it in my lap, I realized I didn’t like the direction this scarf was taking. I had a dilemma: work through it anyway or rip and start over. I decided to rip.

I restarted it tonight at knitting group. I have nothing to show you except some re-wound yarn balls. I really like where the new scarf is headed, though, and I’m glad I ripped. Hopefully it will be ready for pictures next week.

donate: It feels like I’ve been making a lot of projects for others lately and I promised myself this year I’d make more things for me. It’s just so darn cold outside. I can’t get over the need to bundle everyone up!