November

November was a magical and busy for the Just Be Happy family!
Our sweet pea turned 7 and chose a mermaid theme for her birthday this year, so my husband got busy making fondant and I got busy making the cake and decorating it. The party happened at a local high school's pool, which fit the mermaid theme just perfectly.
A few days after the party, my husband and I got to put a check mark on one of his childhood's dream, a trip to Fiji!
Fiji was absolutely amazing, the weather was warm, the water was gorgeous, delicious food and unbelievably friendly people. We stayed at an adult only resort called Likuliku and got to visit even the island where Tom Hanks recorded the movie Castaway, it was so neat!
Once we were back, we got right into cooking and having family over for Thanksgiving, it was pure madness, but lots of fun at the same time.
It's the end of December already, the rush of Christmas has passed and I am so glad I am able to sit down with my crochet to unwind and be creative. It feels so good to just be able to be home and enjoy the quiet, too.
Cheers!

Colorful Scarf or Cowl

I was looking through my wardrobe the other day and I realized how much black, gray and cream, which is pretty funny since I love colors! 

So, I decided to crochet something colorful to add a pop. What do you think?

The pattern is now available in all my shops. Ravelry | Website | Etsy

Happy Crocheting!

Gradient Scarf

A couple of years ago I went to the CGOA (Crochet Guild of America) conference in Charleston, SC and I bought this beautiful yarn. I had no idea what I was going to make with it, I just knew it was calling my name.

It took me quite awhile for me to figure out what to do with it, as I don't usually use this weight for my designs.  Well, I am pleased with the way it turned out, this is a great accessory to add a pop of color to a neutral outfit!

The linked stitches make a solid fabric, it doesn't have holes like a regular double crochet or half double crochet fabric does and the simply edging gives it a nice polished look.

The pattern is available in all my shops. | Ravelry | Website | Etsy

Happy Crocheting!

Home Sweet Home

Our veggie garden that we planted late in July is now blooming! 

Beautiful arugula, lettuce, cucumbers, peas, radishes and beans.

Look at the amazing sunflower my son planted from a seed at school!

Our little corner of the world.

Upon my request, my lovely husband built a couple of "bee hotels" to help provide missing nesting habitat to solitary bees. Isn't it awesome? 

As the end of Summer approaches, I feel more and more appreciation for the sunny days, warm weather, plentiful variety of fresh veggies and the colorful flowers that are lovely cared for by my husband.
Summer is my favorite season, but Fall is my second, so I am looking forward to the crisp air in the mornings, the soup dinners and the beautiful color changing trees. Life is good.

Cheers!

Fireside Blanket

I have been wanting to make a white-ish blanket for awhile to put it on the foot of my bed and then the other day when we went Whidbey Island for my husband to run a marathon, we stayed at a vacation rental home and they had a cream colored chevron crocheted blanket and I thought "that is it, I've got to make mine!". 

Once we returned home, I started working and the Fireside Blanket came to life.

The texture of this blanket is my favorite thing about it, nothing is more satisfying than transforming plain solid yarn into something beautiful with your own hands, it is truly a special thing.

These amazing photos were captured by Amanda Tipton Photography - I just adore her work!

What do you think? Are you ready to make one?

The pattern will soon be available in my ravelry store, etsy shop and website. 

Happy Crocheting!

Easy Peasy Hat Pattern

Hello there!

I am back with a new design, the Easy Peasy Hat. I am so in love, this hat is so fun to make, the texture is scrumptious and it works up quickly, which is always a bonus in my opinion.

What do you think?

You can find the pattern on ravelry, etsy and my website, too.

Summer

Oh Summer, my favorite season!

The season the kids are off from school and we can take it easy and not have a set time to get up or go to bed, enjoy life, watch the kids play, eat salads and ice cream, soak up every minute. 

We love to travel, we love exploring new places, even if it's a new playground in our own town.
Summer to me means fresh luscious fruit, chalk coloring, new books, picnics and colorful flowers, it's exciting and calming at the same time.
What does your Summer looks like? What's your favorite season?