A Colorful Pillow

Way back in February I began crocheting some colorful granny squares. At the time I was in need of a simple and portable project to work on here and there, something that could be easily picked up and then put down, and little granny squares fit the bill perfectly, as they always do.

Granny squares have to be the best crochet pattern of all time, don't you think? They are what I learned to do when I first took up crocheting, and I have come back to them so many times over the years. They are calming to create, super simple, and great for trying out different color combinations. Long live the granny square!!!

When I began crocheting my granny squares this time around (and stacking them in neat little piles - so fun) I was planning on joining them into a small blanket, something of a lap blanket you could say. It was not long before I realized that I did not have near enough yarn on hand to make a blanket of any useful size, and being deep in stash-busting mode like I am, I did not want to buy any more yarn for this project. So I switched gears and made a pillow. Not that I need another pillow, but whatever...

Colorful granny squares on the front:

Colorful stripes on the back:

All in all, a colorful pillow:

Oh I just love having crochet in my house. It is just so cozy and homespun and I can truly not imagine my home without it.

P.S. My cotton stash is significantly smaller after completing this project.

18/52

"A portrait of my girls, once a week, every week, in 2016."

sunshine + sunglasses + 'hanging' at the playground = a great day

Joining in with Jodi for the 52 Week Project

Layout: The First Day of School

I had quite a time thinking of a title for today's post. In the past I have always named my scrapbook layout posts the same as the title of my page, but lately I have not been including a large, prominent title on my designs, which has left me at a bit of a loss when it comes to blog post titles. Not really a problem, it just brings to light the way my style has evolved...

And speaking of style, this layout is definitely a little different from my usual. Sure it is clean and simple, with the focus being on the photo, but the placement of the photo and journaling is completely different from what I normally do.

"Everything centered in the middle of the page" is my usual approach, but here things are split apart and in the corners. I created this layout based on a sketch from The Memory Nest, and to be honest, the finished design sat on my table for a week while I got okay with how it looked; being out of my comfort zone, there were moments when I really hated this layout and was so tempted to center everything as usual.

But I didn't and in the end I am glad...it is nice to have a completely different layout to add to my 2015 album.

And how is the 2015 album coming, you ask? Well....the plan now is to go through my pictures (which are well organized on the computer, thank goodness), print out the ones I want to scrap, and then slowly chip away at it. Plus I also need to do the journaling in my Project Life: Eastern Canada album so there is no shortage of things to do in the scrapbooking department...stay tuned.

A V-Sitch Infinity Scarf

Stash-busting continues, this time as a v-stitch infinity scarf for my little fashionista.

I gave her the option of a typical scarf or an infinity scarf; she chose the ever fashionable infinity scarf.

We have had some warm days this month, which made me question why I was making a scarf in April, but the weather has turned colder again so my girl will be able to wear her scarf this season.

Not two weeks ago, a leftover ball and a half of yarn lay squashed in the back of my yarn drawer, and now it has been transformed into a simple scarf that has made Bridget so happy. This is why I love making things for people...

17/52

"A portrait of my girls, once a week, every week, in 2016."

Bridget: Writing down the exact lyrics to "You're Not Sorry" by Taylor Swift so that you can memorize every word

Claire: "Sparkling Up" from Sparks to Brownies; so happy, so proud

Joining in with Jodi for the 52 Week Project

Now is Now

Happy Friday!!

I hope you all had a lovely week. Here are some of the things that have made my heart happy this week:

• Sun, sun, and more sun
• Early spring blooms in the garden
• Making vegan muffins....that are absolutely delicious
• Not having to scrape ice off the car windows in the morning
• Flinging open the windows and letting the fresh air blow through the house
• Making spring plans
• A much-needed haircut
• Wearing t-shirts
• Roasted vegetables and gnocchi for dinner
• Watching Claire "Sparkle Up" to Brownies
• Scrapbooking
• A day at home with my girls
• Crochet 
• Seeing Willow all snuggled up in her new blanket

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

A Spring Walk

On Saturday afternoon we headed out for a family walk. The weather was absolutely gorgeous; it was the weather we have all been waiting for and I think it is safe to say that spring has arrived, at long last.

There is a nature park not far from our house and we have gone there many times over the years to walk with the girls, even pushing them in the stroller back in the early days. I quite like that a place like this exists so close to our home. A natural playground was recently been added to the park and the girls had so much fun climbing and jumping in the glorious sunshine.

After we convinced the girls to leave the playground we stared walking, even venturing off the main path and following the unmarked footpaths through the woods. We heard the frogs croaking, watched the birds, saw snakes slithering around under a log and through the long grass, counted turtles sunning themselves on a fallen tree at the pond, felt the sun's heat in the meadow and the cool air under the tall trees...

It was so wonderful to be outside, savoring this gift of a day...