Surprise Rocks

These surprise rocks were a hit with my kids, they just loved it! It was easy to make and they turned out looking like real rocks. You can find the recipe to make them here.
I just scattered them in the backyard and the kids not only had fun looking for them, but breaking them up to see what was inside of each rock, so fun!

Bedroom

It has been a little over than 3 months since we moved and I finally decided to tackle my bedroom and that was after a friend came over for a visit and mentioned that she was surprised that my bedroom wasn't colorful, she knows that I love everything bright and colorful. 

Her comment made me think, I decided to go with a grey, yellow and white color scheme since I love the grey bedspread we already had. I got a can of spray paint and my husband painted the mirror and convinced me that I should paint some canvasses and I am so glad I did!

Here are pictures:

The rug is from Target and the seat was a goodwill find.  I made the throw to tie everything together, I used a pattern by "a creative being" called "vintage fan ripple pattern" and I used Impeccable yarn by Loops & Threads in the colors White, True Grey and Butterscotch.

I have always wanted to have a colorful chair and I just couldn't believe I found this one and it was 80% off at Hobby Lobby. Isn't it lovely?? I love the pop of color in my rom!

These two pictures were taken before the throw was finished, but you can see the canvasses better and the stitch work.

So what do you think???

Summer Wish List Update #2

Here is our Summer Wish List update number 2:

We made American flag t-shirts and the kids wore them on 4th of July:

Water blob was a nice addition to the backyard, even though it only lasted a day…

I planted basil and cilantro and they are sprouting!

Homemade ice cream - OH MY WORD, I am so glad I made it, it is simply FABULOUS!

I took the kids to an outdoor concert, they danced, threw beach balls to the crowd, played with other kids - so much fun!

I made the tissue paper flowers for my sweet pea's room:

We went to the bug museum in Bremerton, WA and after that we visited USS Turner Joy, a Vietnam War ship.

Crochet Fox Purse {Free Pattern}

My little girl loves purses, I have been thinking about crocheting her one for a long time, but never got around to doing it, until last night when I felt the urge to take a break from the projects I am working on. I hope you enjoy it! {You can download the pattern from ravelry, click here}

 Skill Level:

Gauge: Not crucial for this project.

 Supplies:

Crochet Hook  I/5.5mm

Red Heart Soft in Tangerine and White
Three black buttons
Scissors, yarn needle, needle & thread

Pattern Key:
Ch = Chain
Sc = Single Crochet
Sl St = Slip Stitch
St(sts) = Stitch(es)
Rnd(s) = Round(s)
sc2tog = 2 single crochet together to make a decrease

Sizing:
The finished purse measures approximately 6.5 x 4.5 inches, that is just the orange part measurement, not counting the ears length. 

Main Part:
Using Tangerine yarn, Ch 26.

Rnd1:sc into 2nd ch from hook and across (25 sc), sc on the other side of the starting chain (25 sc). You have a total of 50 sc. Join with a sl st into the 1st sc made.
Rnd2: Ch 1 (it does not count as a sc), sc around, join (50 sc)
Rnd3- 20: Repeat round 2. (50 sc each rnd)

Fasten off.

Now you will start working on the flap part (“face”), working in rows, not rounds.

Lay your purse flat, join white yarn at the 2nd st from the corner.
Row 1: sc in the next 23 sts, ch 1, turn. (23 sc)
Row 2: sc2tog, sc 19, sc2tog, ch 1, turn. (21 sc)
Row 3: sc2tog, sc 17, sc2tog, ch 1, turn. (19 sc)
Row 4: sc2tog, sc 15, sc2tog, ch 1, turn. (17 sc)
Row 5: sc2tog, sc 13, sc2tog, ch 1, turn. (15 sc)
Row 6: sc2tog, sc 11, sc2tog, ch 1, turn. (13 sc)
Row 7: sc2tog, sc 9, sc2tog, ch 1, turn. (11 sc)
Row 8: sc2tog, sc 7, sc2tog, ch 1, turn. (9 sc)
Row 9: sc2tog, sc 5, sc2tog, ch 1, turn. (7 sc)
Row 10: sc2tog, sc 3, sc2tog, ch 1, turn. (5 sc)
Row 11: sc2tog, sc 1, sc2tog, ch 1, turn. (3 sc)
Row 12: sc2tog, sc 1, ch 1, turn. (2 sc)
Row 13: sc2tog. Fasten off. (1 sc)
Join the white yarn at the same spot you joined to start the flap, sc to the nose tip, ch 5, sl st at the tip to make a button hole, sc until you reach the base of the purse.
Fasten off. Weave in ends.

Ears (Make 2):

Using tangerine, ch 6.
Row 1: sc into 2nd st from hook, sc across. Ch 1, turn. (5 sc)
Row 2: sc2tog, sc across. Ch 1, turn. (4 sc)
Row 3: sc2tog, sc across. Ch 1, turn. (3 sc)
Row 4: sc2tog, sc across. Ch 1, turn. (2 sc)
Row 4: sc2tog. (1 sc)
Sc around the ear, fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing it to the purse.

Using the picture as guide, sew the ears to the purse with the yarn needle.

Strap:
Join tangerine yarn to the corner of purse, ch 120, sl st into 2nd ch from hook, sl st across. Fasten off, weave in ends.
Repeat on the other side.

Finishing:
With needle and thread, sew the black buttons to the purse.

© 2014 Alessandra Hayden.

Giveaway!

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Like my Facebook page and comment on this blog post. Sharing is not required, but really appreciated.

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Giveaway winner will be announce on June 29.

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Summer Wish List Update #1

Summer hasn't officially started, but my little boy is out of school, he graduated from preschool and I tell you, he is so ready for kindergarten, but before that happens we are going to have a lot of fun together enjoying this Summer!

At the end of last month I posted my "Summer Wish List" and we have started working on some items. Here is some of the things we did:

A "Summer" wreath - well, it's actually a Spring wreath, but since I just made it, I am calling it Summer wreath. lol

We visited Kopachuck State Park, which is 13 minutes from our house.

Had a water gun "fight"...

My husband installed our hammock in the backyard and I really have been enjoying crocheting there while the kids are playing.

We visited the Fremont Troll in Seattle.

We made a "bubble" and it was a total hit, the kids simply loved it!

The kids and I went for a walk, picked lots of wild flowers and I was able to make a flower crown for my princess. She absolutely loved it, even my little boy tried it on.

That's it for now, see you at the next update!

Little Mouse and Bear

These are the new sets I have been making for my shop, I think they are so very sweet and the alpaca yarn I have been using to knit/crochet them is very soft and fuzzy. I knit the bonnets and crochet the ears and the little mouse lovey and bear amigurumi. I wrote the pattern for the mouse lovey (find it here), but that is as far as I got, perhaps one day I will get around to writing the pattern for the little bear, too.

I've been asked to make a deer and a monkey… we shall see if those requests become a reality, they just might.

Have a wonderful day!