They Won 1st Prize~~~

The group of five, shown on the right, collectively won 1st prize at our County Fair. "The Wedding Gift", shown larger above, is my gift to sweet Tim & Whitney Miller. The ornament's crochet pattern is my original design. It is as unique, and it is as special as they are as a couple.

Along with "The Wedding Gift" ornament, they will recieve documentation about the blue ribbon.

I love you both very, very much.

Christmas Crocheted Ornaments
Left to Right:

    • Fariy Podd - 4" diamenter
    • Our Nevada Union - 3" diamenter
    • Christmas in Monte Carlo - 3" diameter
    • Arora Rose - 4" diameter
    • The Wedding Gift - 4" diameter

5 February & 3 April 2011
(click on image to see larger photo)

Christmas Crocheted Ornaments
Left to Right:

    • Port Zinfandel - 3" diameter
    • Christmas in Monte Carlo - 3" diameter
    • Fairy Podd - 4" diameter
    • Sparkentaupe - 3" diameter

Christmas Crocheted Ornaments
Left to Right:

    • Christmas in Monte Carlo - 3" diameter
    • Port Zinfandel - 3" diameter
    • Fairy Podd - 4" diameter

Christmas Crocheted Ornaments

I make these for myself, but they always seem to find a better home. Now, these two will be given away tomorrow to Margaret Metroka, (pink) and Bailey, her granddaughter. Bailey's birthday is in February, hence the green and amethyst purple.

Interestingly, Bailey was so delighted when she saw the ornament I made for Sean (her grandfather), that she had to take it home for awhile to enjoy! That made me smile with pride and joy! She'll have her own now.

Christmas Crocheted Ornaments

Sometimes I'm asked how I make these ornaments. It begins with a size #30 thread, a size 11 steel crochet hook, and a tiny doily pattern. Notice the small white doily laying on top of a red satin ball (top right). Then, using pearl headed straight pins, I roughly position the doily onto the ball. After that, there's no plan; it just happens.

Using a large basket of items that only a pack-rat or a gypsy would enjoy (they sparkle) the magic occurs. My hands find spools of ribbon, tubes of beads, strings of pearls, rinestone jewels, silk flowers, gold thread, all ready to be placed onto the the ornament. Sometimes my hands have to remove a decoration, but not often. These two were hauntingly unfinished until I my hands found a top-knot flower for their crown.

Christmas Crocheted Ornaments

As see in our glass curior cabinet. Only one of these will be given away this year: the port-wine satin covered ball with a pink crocheted covering and aurora borealis bead work.

I believe that our friend Chip Carmen will be delighted with the newest one for his Mother.

Christmas Crocheted Ornaments

All of these, except the Victorian Delight, became gifts! I'll make more for myself.

Back left: French Fancy. was given to Lynda Canning, in England.
Back right: Victorian Delight.
Front left: Frost on the Pumpkin was given to Mr. Robert Shoemaker as a thank-you for the mine tour.
Front center: Irish, to be sure, to be sure! Was given to Kathleen Butz as a gift of appreciation.
Front right: Simply Special. Was given to Mr. Paul Yoder as a gift of appreciation.)

Christmas Crocheted Ornaments

A personal friend of mine, G. Sean Metroka, is the living definition of a mentor. When three of our family members, young men, had a need for expert guidance, it was Sean that provided the steady course of actions. This ornament, handmade over three weeks, is a small gift for the enormous stability and confidence he provided to the ones we love.

Christmas Crocheted Ornaments

Tedious and intricate. The thread is size 30, which is very tiny, like three strands of sewing thread. I must use a magnification glass that hangs from my neck, a back-light that shines over my shoulder, in order to make these ever-so-tiny doily-type covers.

Decorating is not as demanding, however it takes ages because I find it difficult to pick one or two embellishments. *hahaha* Some might say that my supply closet has too many items from which to choose!

Christmas Crocheted Ornaments

All of these crocheted ornaments were made from patterns in the Annie's Attic booklets:

Springtime Satin Balls - 678502 - published in 1995, original price of $5.95, with 12 patterns. ASIN: B001TI8TK0

Crochet Satin ball Splendor - 87S81, published in 1994, original price of $5.95 with 10 patterns. ASIN: B002NR7JV6

Sometimes these booklets (8.5" x 11") can be found at Amazon.com and on E-Bay. A web search by the book's name is usually successful.

The satin covered 3" Styrofoam eggs, and the bead headed pins, where purchased online at The Crafty Elephant.
The satin ribbon and center-pull bows were purchased online at PaperMart.com

Each ornament begins with a 3" styrofoam filled, satin covered, ball. Each one has a hand crocheted top, a tiny little doily really, which I crocheted with a size 30 thread and that is just a little bigger than two strands of sewing thread. By using a large magnifying glass suspended around my neck I can see the tiny stitches. Once the doily is finished then it is stretched and pinned into place over the satin ball. Magic is the last thing to occur. Bits of ribbon, beads, lace, crochet embellishments and fancy pins twirl their way onto the ornament. To me, these are almost as pretty as a Faberge Egg.

Christmas 2007
Click image to see larger version

One more "shrug" to go. This one will fit RiLeigh (4) and the next one will be for her sister Aaliyah (7). Their two crocheted purses are on top of the shelf. Christmas 2009.

Here's all the gifts, handmade and ready to be shipped in early December 2009. Each granddaughter, RiLeigh and Aaliyah, will have 1 shrug, 1 purse, 1 washclothe, 1 eyeglass case with sunglasses inside, many head bands and ponytail holders, and fuzzy flip-flops. The teddy bears are store-bought.

Since Paul has reestablished a proper dining area, and we have proper Sunday dinners, complete with a well-laid table, it seemed only right that we should have some nice Placemats. Maybe I've gone overboard, but our largest gathering requires accommodations for eight.

I have a head-start on Christmas 2009. This 'baby blanket' for 16-year old Danny, is a major accomplishment as the original pattern had to be structurally modified to accomodate a near 6-foot "baby". Well, I was told the Nanna's can work magic. Seems it's true.

Simple Christmas bead garland, with thread crochet shells to give it a finished look. These beads come in many colors, even Mardi Gras colors of green, purple and this gold color. Complimentary thread colors are abundant for the #10 (bedspread weight) crochet thread.

This type of crochet thread garland has been made for years, possibly a centruy by now. I used an old crocheted garland to figure out the pattern. I may not have it right, but it looks pretty good. Help yourself to my meager pattern, in PDF format, for this thread Crochet Bead Garland.

Click the image to see a larger version.

Stocking's name and created for:

2007 Stocking for Thomas Appleby
new 2010 - Tetris - Jack Lennard
new 2010 - Popcorn Delight - Christopher Appleby
2007 Stocking for Paul Appleby
2007 Stocking for Chris Dabis
new 2010 - Eternal Angel - Lynda Canning
new 2010 - The Law Man - David Bird

Daniel Jacob Milligan's 8th Grade Graduation Gift

In this photograph you can see the "D" and "N" monogrammed in the bear's feet. Of course, this bear was crocheted and hooked with love.

On the left side of the photograph is a shadow box in which there is a gold filled Wahl-Eversharp mechanical pencil. It was given to Willy S. Correll, my maternal grandfather, in 1913 by his 8th grade school teacher after he passed his 8th grade exams. Now, Danny has this family heirloom to keep safely and to share with the next generations.

A special pair of 17" crocheted teddy bears.
2nd Place Prize - Nevada County Fair - August 2007

RiLeigh's bear on left -- Aaliyah's bear on the right.
Christmas Gifts 2007

Pattern available from e-PatternsCentral.com.

A few years ago I made these folded clothe pinecones. They have held together quite well as they are now 15 years old.

And then, I decorated Thom's a bit more, and made one for Paul and myself. *whew* The colors, from left to right, are forest green, wine red, and dark brown. Now it's on to the crocheted Christmas balls. You'll see!

Christmas Project: 2006
Mom gave me this pineapple cushion many, many years ago. I'm using this one as a visual pattern, as I use the trial-and-error crochet method. With each success, the instructions are written down. Hopefully, I will have recreated three 2-ribbon cushions, one for each grandchild, Danny, Aalyiah and RiLeigh. Two will have pink color ribbons, and one will have blue ribbons.

The new crocheted pineapple cushion has been created and it looks nice. However, it is proportionately longer than the original pineapple cushion. Original measures 10"W x 12"H. New version measures 12"W x 16"H. I have adjusted the pattern (3-Ribbon Pineapple Cushion) to keep the new pattern's width/height ratio the same as the original.

iPad Envelope for Paul Appleby's iPad.

My original crochet pattern form this iPad Envelope

iPad Envelope for Paul Appleby's iPad.

Finished size, when closed, is 10" x 8".

Christmas 2008 will let me give some of these handmade shopping bags to loved ones. It takes about 6 hours to make one bag. This is a photo of the first one and I am pleased with the modifications that I made to an online pattern found at this blog.

Click here to download a PDF copy of my modified pattern.