*sigh*

I know I haven't posted in a long time, and I know the toy site is really out of date. I'm not sure what I'm going to do about that, actually. I'm graduated and have a real job now, and don't really have time for it - and it feels like a chore now. Someone could take it over if they want. They'd have to move it to their own web domain, as it couldn't stay on mine, but let me know if you're interested and we can work something out. I'm just so tired... And my time is so full of so many other things now. I barely even have time to knit and crochet, much less make a website about it!

I'm on Ravelry now!! My username is Aglaranna; add me to your friends list if you're on there, too! I hate that I finally got my invite DURING the first week of my new job, tho, lol, so now I don't have much time for it! I'm slowly getting stuff in there. I've got my past projects all put in now. Slowly working on my needle/hook list, and planning on doing my stash at some point.

I am working on some things. I've started my Christmas projects this week.

I HAVE been knitting/crocheting once a week, tho. I started a new knitting & crochet group! I'd been trying to find a good one down here so I could meet new people (I can't remember if I mentioned it in past posts - we moved to Indy in June), and I got so frustrated with finding stuff on my side of town that I just made my own.

Hope you're all having a good weekend!!

Creative Limits (or Horizons)

Stole this from Ladylinolem's blog. I won't tag anybody, but you can steal it, too, if you like!

1. I have no interest in the following activities:
basketry (I had a bit of interest as a kid, but not anymore), participating in choirs (horrible stage fright), pottery (have done it, but it's just not my thing; I like to look at it, tho; this and this guys' works are awesome!), ice sculpture, spinning, hand-felting, lace making, wood carving/woodworking (again, not my thing, but neat to see other peoples' work!), leather working, marquetry, doll-making, play writing, acting, public speaking, welding/steel sculpture (hated doing this stuff in school...), large sculpture making of any kind, upholstery, flower arranging, mask making (tho this artist's masks are amazing!), digital collage, video game design, beading (did some as a kid, tho)

2. Would love to try these things:
tapestry weaving (have done some basic weaving), artistic/applique quilting, glassblowing (maybe, but it looks pretty scary to me), stained-glass, Precious Metal Clay, dying, batiking, carved candles, making my own cabachons (too scared to try faceted stones, tho!), Flash animation (if only I could figure out the stupid program, argh!), photography

3. I do or have dabbled in these things:
embroidery (I stink at it), weaving (floor loom), tatting (failed miserably), stamping & scrapbooking, sewing, painting (oil, acrylic, watercolor), serigraphy (artistic screenprinting), lithography, other printmaking techniques (intaglio, woodcut, monoprinting, etc.), chainmaille, felting (the kind where you make something out of wool yarn and throw it in the washing machine), latch hooking, origami, bookmaking, baking, cake decorating (would love to do more), graphic design, writing, Scherenschnitte, Celtic knotwork (at one point this would have been under #4; still up there, but I had to cut it off somewhere, and I don't do it much anymore), digital painting, one-stroke decorative painting (yes, I know... in highschool I had a connection with a basketmaker, where I painted on the baskets they made and sold)

4. Love it! These are my things:
jewelry making and metalsmithing (fabrication, lost wax casting, enameling, wire-working, chain making, etc.; not beaded jewelry - that isn't my thing), drawing, crochet, knitting, cross-stitch

I'm sure I forgot something. I'm always on the lookout for something new to try! :-) Sometimes I discover I hate it, sometimes I find something new that I love! But hopefully this tells you a little bit more about me!

Updated Site, Etc.

Hey guys, I updated Jen's Stuffed Toy Archive over the weekend and added TONS of new links to patterns, plus went through and took out all of the broken links and fixed some things. PLEASE do not e-mail me asking what happened to a pattern and if I can give it to you; I only archive links, I don't keep copies of everything that I link to, so I can't help if it's gone.

Found this adorable pattern while I was updating the site and am going to have to make some cuz they're just so darn cute:



Miniature Bear Rugs!!!

I'm almost finished with the Exchange Bag I posted about in my last post, and I'm onto my second piece for the cabled blanket!!!

Still in pain...

Sorry not much updating... The neck/shoulder thing is still in the process of (hopefully) being resolved, so still no crochet for me... I also haven't been sewing much, just because of lack of time & been busy doing other things instead. I did start a pair of pants, but I have since discovered that I sewed them together wrong and have to rip a large part of it apart... FUN!!! lol...

I'm going to try to update Jen's Stuffed Toy Archive again soon. It's becoming harder for me to find new patterns to add, so it would really be appreciated if any of you know of any links I don't have that you would let me know! Plus I don't always have time to just browse thru the knitting & crochet forums, especially since it makes me sad that I can't make things right now!!

126 Subscribers!

The mailing list for Jen's Stuffed Toy Archive is at 126! And I get notification e-mails almost constantly! Crazy! I'm glad everybody likes the site so much! :)

I haven't been doing much crochet for a few reasons: too busy, motivation to crochet has kind of piddled down, plus my shoulder is still bothering me. I go to see the doctor again this Wednesday. The guy wants to do a CAT Scan; I've already had an MRI, and it showed nothing. I think the CAT Scan is a waste of my time and mine & my insurance company's money. I'm gonna try to get a referral to a rheumatologist.

What I HAVE been working on (slowly) is some things for my friend Mandi who is expecting her second baby (a boy!) in May. Not gonna say what, cuz she might read this. ;)

Sick...

So I haven't done any crochet since I finished all of my Christmas presents. Largely because I'm a bit burnt out, but lately because I am sick... I am fighting off bronchitis...

Someone asked me about the fish that I made for my dad and whether I made it up. I got the pattern from a booklet called "Hooked On Fish."

Sorry I don't have more to update...

Going to the mailbox soon!

I'm going to the post office tomorrow to mail my swap purse and my aunt's Christmas stocking! I was going to do it today, but then I realized Donovan had all of our cash, and the post office on campus won't accept anything but cash cuz they stink... I learned that the hard way once. I had to have them hold onto my box while I ran down to the ATM down the street to get money... I don't understand why they do it that way, but whatever.

I really need to sit down and make a list of all of the stuff I have to make by when so that I can prioritize... Cuz I know I probably shouldn't be working on stuff for the sale with all of the presents to make, haha.

Got my purses!

I got my swap purses yesterday :) She made me TWO!



And they're BLUE :-D

Too many secrets...

Okay, so I haven't been posting because almost all of my projects are going to be presents, lol... I'm working on the strap for my swap purse today; I should be able to get it done this weekend and mail it Monday or Tuesday; I will also mail my aunt the Christmas stocking at the same time, cuz I don't want to make two trips to the post office.

I made the scarf to go with the green hat for that one guy; having trouble getting a meeting time with him to get it to him, tho, as he doesn't check his e-mail very often... I also made a hat for a friend of mine on commission that is a burgandy version of the navy hat in my October 15th post; I'll take a photo of it before I give it to her so I can show you. I've also been sporatically working on my afghan; it's turning out quite beautifully :)

Other than that, I have Christmas presents to finish, which is what I will be working on pretty much exclusively after I finish the swap bag (except for perhaps the afghan, cuz I want to have it this winter...).

I haven't done too much crocheting lately, really, because I have SO much stuff to work on for my classes... I have a critique in metals this Wednesday, and I have a bunch of stuff that needs to get done...

Pattern Site Update, Etc.

I updated Jen's Stuffed Toy Archive today! Check out the cute new patterns I found!

I ran out of one of my colors for the purse today, so I have to buy more before I can continue. I really should be spending more time making things for the sale tho. I need to figure out some other stuff to make, tho, and at the moment I can't figure anything new out. We shall see. I don't think we're going to have a lot of stuff to sell; most of our club members are new and can't crochet fast enough to make things to sell. I suggested wash cloths as something easy and quick. We shall see how it goes! I want to organize another sale at the beginning of December, too.

Oh, I've also been dubbed the club secretary as of this Wednesday. The girl who was supposed to be secretary hasn't shown up to any of the meetings this semester, and Emily (the president) doesn't know her last name, so she can't contact her. She decided that since I put so much work into the club (more than the vice president, actually) that I should be an officer. So now I'm in charge of the mailing list, and I'm pretty much in charge of the sales cuz Emily doesn't really have time. Dunno what else I'll be doing, lol. I guess we'll see!

Magazines and K&C Club Sale

So I sent in a little while ago for a free issue of Crochet! magazine to see what it was like. It is awesome! It is totally packed with patterns! So I've signed up for a years subscription *grin* Hopefully it will be as wonderful as I think it will be! There's a dress called "Nightfall" in this issue that I'd like to think I'll make some day, and I'd like to try making the curling ribbon flowers.

So the K&C Club has set up a date for our next sale. It has been decided that we are going to give a percentage of the money to breast cancer research. Guess what they've decided to call it? "Knits for Tits"... No, this was not voted in, it was one of those spur of the moment jokes that someone decided to keep. I personally think it's a bit offensive. Donovan felt it was very offensive, and said that if he had a friend or family member with breast cancer he would be very offended and upset. What do you guys think? I think I'm gonna try to broach this topic with the club president, since she's one of my good friends... I don't think they'll change it, tho. Despite the derogatory name, and even tho I'll feel ashamed to sit behind the table running it, it is for a good cause so I am making some things. I've gone thru my patterns to find some simple things I can make up quick, because I don't have time to make any more major things. Today I whipped out a couple of headscarves (in solid colors, tho, not multi-colored like in the photo for the pattern). They each only took me a little over an hour. I'm gonna make more of them. I'm also thinking of trying a hacky sack, and if it's not too hard I'll make a few more, cuz I'm almost positive those would sell. We have some avid hacky-sackers in the art department here! If I have time I might also make some simple stuffed animals, like the Amigurumi Bunny & the Hello Kitty doll. If I can figure out where to buy flax seed I might make some Comfort Packs. I dunno how much of this I'll actually get done, but we shall see.

My shoulder is still bothering me... I really need to go into the health center, but I'm afraid I'm gonna sit in the waiting room for 90 minutes to have them just give me a pain killer and say to wait it out, even tho it's been 5 1/2 weeks since it started hurting & it isn't any better... I should drag myself in their tomorrow before my painting class... I need to pick up a prescription anyways... *sigh* I want it not to hurt when I crochet! I could get SO much more done...

New Stuff!

I was down in Louisville over the weekend and went to their flea market at the fair grounds. I was just kind of looking around to see if I might find some crochet pattern books, and I found one table that had a small stack of crochet, cross-stitch, and embroidery books and magazines. The woman there saw me looking through them and said she'd sell all of it to me for $2! So of course I took it, hehe. There are some cute patterns I want to try :) My grandma (who I was visiting) also gave me some old books that belonged to her mother. One of them was on tatting. Today when I was at Hobby Lobby I bought a tatting instruction book and a bobbin and some crochet thread and am gonna try it. Something new :)

An attempt at a crochet break...

So I haven't done any crochet since K&C Club Sunday night, and so far my shoulder has not hurt since then, which is a record now, since I haven't gone even a whole day before it started to hurt for some reason since it started hurting 3 weeks ago. I think I'm gonna try to not crochet until next Sunday, just to see if this break might heal whatever was wrong. I am hoping so, because I don't want to go to the doctor for it!

Gobs of people!

So we had TONS of people at Knitting & Crochet Club! Not as many as signed the sheet at the Activity Fair, but still tons! Last year we didn't normally have more than 6 or 7 people there. We had never done the Actitivy Fair before, so I think this is why, cuz it lets people know we're here, instead of just by word-of-mouth. It was exhausting, tho! I taught people how to crochet. It's hard work teaching people! Sometimes you get someone who picks it up amazingly quick, like they were born for it, and then you get people who just don't get it, and you have to repeat the lesson over-and-over-and-over-and... they just don't get it, lol. Two of the girls I had really weren't getting it. They're exchange students from England, which is really cool. I had a bit of trouble understanding them. Once I actually caught myself pronouncing a couple words like them, lol! :blush: I wonder how many people will return. Who knows! My Chocolate Eclair Cake I made was a hit! They ate more then half of it. Somebody else brought a dish cake, so it wasn't the only thing. I gave out a couple of copies of the recipe. :) They drank hardly any of the pop, tho. I had to actually announce that people needed to start eating, lol. Everyone got so involved in the lessons that they forgot about the food! I'm gonna save the pop for next week, tho.

Stupid advertising comments...

Apparently Blogspot displays a list of new blogs, because my last post had 4 comments that were all advertisements... How annoying...

I figured out how to put up Progress Bars in the left bar :) Anyone else who wants to know how, go here.

Craft Tote!

I found the most AWESOME craft tote today! JoAnn's had an ad in the paper this Sunday with a coupon for 40% off any one regular-priced item, so I went over there today to see if there was anything I wanted. They had these totes, which were regularly $80, on Clearance for $40, and then with the 40% off coupon it was only $25!!! I was SO excited! It's one of those that's like a mini fabric suitcase with wheels and a retractable handle. I've been using plastic Walmart bags up to this point, so this is a big step up for me! LOL! I'll be the envy of the Knitting & Crochet Club, hehe :)

I also bought some more yarn at Walmart. Some more of the yarn I'm making my bell-sleeved top out of, and some chunky yarn to make another dog bone mat. Hopefully I'll have time to do all of my projects, since school started today!

New Blog!

So I've decided to start a blog dedicated to my crochet. I shall start by introducing myself. Hi, my name is Jen, and I live in Indiana in the US of A. I am going into my Senior year of college (I will be a Senior for 2 years, however). I am majoring in Art, with a specialization in Metals, as well as minoring in Ancient Studies and Consumer Finance. The Ancient Studies minor is for my enjoyment, because I really love ancient mythology and history, especially Roman, Greek, and Celtic. The Consumer Finance minor is for my benefit so I know what I'm doing with my money when I graduate. My dream is to one day own a shop in an artist community where I sell my jewelry and other art items (I was majoring in Drawing before I switched to Metals, so I also like to draw). Crochet is my current crafting hobby. I also cross-stitch off-and-on, and I did knit for a little while, but I found that I enjoy crochet a lot better, so have left off on knitting. I love to read, almost exclusively High Fantasy and books loosely based on mythology. My favorite authors are Mercedes Lackey, Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman, and Sara Douglass.

I got married on January 1st of this year to a wonderful man named Donovan. He is majoring in Geology at the same college as me. Here is a photo from our wedding day:



I hope you enjoy my blog!