Free Pattern: Crochet Wreath

Supplies:

‐ 10" Styrofoam ring
‐ Crochet hook US I (5.5 mm)
‐ Hot glue gun and extra glue sticks
‐ Scissors
‐ 1 skein red (Scarlet) Vanna's Choice yarn (or any worsted weight yarn)
‐ 1 skein pink (Poodle Pink) Vanna's Choice baby yarn (or any worsted weight yarn)
‐ 1 skein green (Fern) Vanna's Choice yarn (or any worsted weight yarn)

Stitch Guide:


Chain = ch
Slip Stitch = sl st
Double Crochet = dc
Half double Crochet = hdc
Single Crochet = sc

Pink/Red Cord:

With Pink Yarn:
Row 1: Ch 501, turn, Dc in the 3rd stitch from the hook (that will count as first dc). Dc all the way to the end of the chain.
Row 2: Attach Red yarn, ch 2 (count as first dc) and dc on top of the dc of the previous row. Fasten off and trim excess yarn.


Roses:
*Make 6 red and 5 pink.


Round 1: Ch 3 counts as first dc,11 dc in 4th ch from hook. Join with sl st to beginning ch‐3 (12 dc total)
Round 2: Ch 3 (counts as sc, ch 2).*Skip 2 sts, sc in next st, ch 2. Repeat from * 2 times. Sl st in first ch of beginning  Ch3. (Four ch- 2 loops total)
Round 3: In each loop, work (sl st,ch 2,3 dc,ch 2,sl st).= 4 petals.

Round 4: Ch 2,*sl st in the back of 2nd dc in next petal, ch 4. Repeat from * around. Join with sl st to first sl st (Four ch‐5 loops total).
Round 5: In each loop,work (sl st,ch 2,5 dc,ch 2, sl st). = 4 petals.

Round 6: Ch 2, sl st in the back of 3rd dc in next petal, ch 4,*skip next 3 dc, sl s st in the back of next dc, ch 4. Repeat from * around. Join with sl st to beginning sl st.

Round 7: In each loop, work (sl st,ch 2,7 dc,ch 2,sl st). = 4 petals.
Fasten off. Trim excess yarn.
Note: each rose has 3 layers with 4 petals in each layer.

Leaves:
*Make 10.

With green yarn, ch 9. Sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in next chain, dc in next chain, hdc in next 2 chains, sc in next 2 chains, 3 sc in last chain. Working on opposite side of starting chain, ch 1, sc in next 2 chains, hdc in next chain, dc in next chain, hdc in next chain, slip stitch in last chain. Fasten off. Trim excess yarn.

What I have been up to *crochet wise*

One thing I have learned from all of these years crocheting professionally is that I have to keep creating new things to keep my customers and the people that follow my work interested. Even if it's just the the same hat in a different color, people want to see options, so I am ALWAYS working, sending new items to the amazing photographers that I am so blessed to collaborate with.

Here are some recent pictures:

Payton Bonnet photographed by Pebbles and Polka Dots Photography:

Madison Bonnet (in seafoam color) photographed by Laura Brett Photography:

Madison Bonnet (in mustard color) photographed by Pebbles and Polka Dots Photography:

Jute Crochet Basket photographed by Living Dreams Photography:

Pearl Tieback photographed by Stephanie Krupicka Photography:

Madison Bonnet (in rose color) photographed by Pebbles and Polka Dots Photography:

Into the Woods Pants photographed by Pamela Smette Photography:

Pearl Tieback photographed by Amy Robertson Photography:

 Charlotte Bonnet (light pink color) photographed by Laura Brett Photography:

The Color Run Seattle

First of all, Happy Mother's Day!

Today I woke up at 6:30, got ready, made a cup of coffee to go and drove to Seattle to meet with a group of friends and participate in the Seattle's color run.

It was a cloudy day, but no rain, so it's a win in my book. I had a ton of fun, got really dirty and colorful.

And when I got home, my kids ran to the door to greet me, with homemade cards, a clean and picked up house and food ready for me. I really couldn't be happier, I have a really wonderful husband that makes sure to tell me how much I am appreciated and today I felt so special.

I hope you had a wonderful day, too!

Razor Clam Digging

It's razor clam digging time for the Just Be Happy Family!

My husband grew up doing that with his family and every Spring and Summer he takes us to the ocean to create our own memories as a family. {Look at my little boy in his hip boots... melts my heart!}

We have to drive 1 hour and 45 minutes to get there, but it's so worth it!

Our little boy had so much fun digging, he got the 15 clams he is allowed to get and our little sweet pea was just having a blast playing in the sand, running around, it really fills up our hearts seeing our kids having so much fun.

I am really enjoying the warmer weather and I am looking forward to creating many more fun memories with my husband and kids.

Spring = busy

Spring has arrived and we have gotten beyond busy, so busy that I rarely find the time to blog, sadly.

Busy giving incentive to my creative little man that asked to write a book. He created a story about a dinosaur, illustrated all the pages and told me what to write. It turned out so cute and I am so very proud of him.

Busy, but always finding time to make something for my kids, like this little dress I made out of a vintage sheet for my sweet pea.

Busy being silly, creating a "yarn tree" and harvesting the yarn from the tree...

Family razor clam digging in the ocean and then eating a fantastic homemade clam chowder...

Busy with soccer practice...

Always enjoying the nice weather in the backyard, as much as we can...

And crocheting like a machine... LOL

Love you guys, even though I am not here super often.

Gardening

So last month we put in a garden and it has been great fun working on it, which is really surprising to me since I feel like I don't have a green thumb, but fortunately my husband does, so it has made everything easier. 

My son (4yo) and I painted the rocks to use them as markers for our veggies/herbs and some cute lady bug ones just because.

I did some online research to find out what were the easiest veggies to grow and went from there.  We planted: radishes, squash, carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, green beans, lettuce, snap peas, cilantro, and parsley.

And this is what our garden looks like 2 weeks after we planted:

Everything is sprouting! Even the potted chives I had from last year are looking fantastic.
I can't wait to harvest some of our home grown veggies! (You will hear about it, that's for sure.)

Doily Obsession

I'm completely obsessed with doilies at the moment, like crazy for them!

The obsession started with doily props, like these:

Then the obsession started to grow and I started making doilies for the home.

Doily coasters...

Doily place mats for Easter...

Even put some doilies in embroidery hoops to decorate my little sweet pea's room!

My next idea is to make a rug... and then, who knows!