WOW

I have no idea where this month has gone! I haven't had much time to crochet, but I have made some new pieces to post to my artfire studio. Of course, my laptop is struggling because its low on RAM. I will get more RAM tomorrow (June 1), and will hopefully be able to update my studio!!

I have had some time to play with the polymer clay in the last week. I have made a few beads that resemble a flat, wooden bead, and I hope to incorporate it in a piece some time this week. I have also made a few cute beads that resemble the coat of a dalmation! I definitely have to work on my cane-ing and am well aware that this will also take practice.

I have so many things that I want to do since I am not going to school at the moment, that it's almost over-whelming! I really need to get a notebook together to help me stay organized with all of my 'want to do' projects! This way I can get my ideas down on paper and maybe this will help with the feeling of anxiety that there just isn't enough time in the day to do everything I want to do!

My husband has also been home this past week, for a short stay. He's already on the road again, but his being home left me without the want to create for some reason. Maybe it's because I felt like I was ignoring him, or maybe it's because he's rarely home and I felt I needed to spend time with him. Don't get me wrong, during this week I did get the clay out!

Well, I hope to do better in the month of June with my blog.... stay tuned for interesting updates that may not have anything to do with creativity...I'll be on vacation for several days during June and hope to totally relax (and look for inspiring items!)

Till next time...
Daniela

Look me up on Facebook....

It's been a while...

Wow. It's really been a while since I have sat down and written anything. I didn't realize how long it's been!

I still haven't given up on the crocheted sun hat. I found another pattern from S. Charles Collezione Spring/Summer 2008 Collection. The hat is crocheted, and is the only crocheted patterns in the book, the rest of the pieces are knitted. I wish I could knit to make some of the beautiful patterns!
The hat that I completed is purple and yellow. I didn't use the special yarn that the pattern called for because the cheapest I could find the yarn is $9.95 a skein at Tahki Stacy Charles, Inc. and while it is beautiful yarn, I just can't trust myself to spend almost $130 to make the hat!! So I used Aunt Lydia's Fashion Crochet Thread and an E hook. It's really not bad for a trial run!! I want to make it again, in a beige color, with the same Aunt Lydia's thread for my vacation next month.

(I will have to get a picture of it from behind....)

To go with the hat, I am also making another pattern from Tahki Stacy Charles, Inc. that I love. Again, I can't afford the yarn at $24.95 at Jimmy Beans Wools So I am considering using the Aunt Lydia's Bamboo Cotton thread in beige, which looks very delicate and will give the piece about the same look. I have started on the sleeves of the pattern, which is much simpler than it looks. You actually work it in a vertical fashion instead of across. The entire piece is full of chains! I'm wondering though if the yarn I’m using may be too fine. I’m using this pattern first and foremost as a beach cover up, then I will use with my regular wardrobe as an accessory/coverup, which is why I wanted to use a neutral color. The pattern book that I found this pattern in is full of crocheted patterns and all of them are fairly easy to make.

I wish it were easier to find crochet patterns that are as lovely and delicate as these patterns. Crochet shouldn’t be regulated to afghans and throws and doilies! While I am not at the design stage, maybe one day I can design some patterns that are as lovely as a knitted piece!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope to get back on track with my updates! Please let me know what you think!!

Daniela

Hat

I haven't had much time to blog lately, because I've been so obsessed with trying to make a hat to wear to church on Easter! I worked on 2 hats: my favorite (at least on paper) was the Audrey Hepburn style hat and my back up, which is a derby style hat.

As you can see by the picture, I wore the Derby style hat on Easter. I did finish both hats, but by 2:00 am on Easter Sunday, I still couldn't get my Hepburn hat brim to stiffen. I put the hat on, and it hung from my head like a wet towel (no, I do not have a picture of it, but it's pretty sad looking).

I tried starching it and then used a watered down glue (which i apparently used too much of because it took 2 days to dry). The glue finally did stiffen it, but somehow i managed to stretch the hat portion and the brim portion could have been used as a deadly weapon to decapitate anyone that came near me.

I am disappointed that my Hepburn hat hasn't been a success, but I have learned a few things in the process: 1. never give up 2. always have a back up plan 3. learn to compromise by having and using the back up plan.

I also made a pink/creme colored purse (same style that is below in green/creme) and have donated it to my Curves location for a fund raiser for St. Jude's children's hospital. Members are able to purchase it for a small donation.

This week I hope to update both of my shops a bit. In May, when I am on summer break from school, I plan on making many pieces and updating on a regular basis, so please check out both of my shops and see what's new!

Creationsbydaniela at Artfire and Etsy

Till next time~ Daniela

Frustrations

I don't know why I do this, but it seems to happen all the time. I get an idea in my head, and plow forward as if I know what I'm doing. This is the case, again...
I was determined to make an Audrey Hepburn style sunhat (crocheted), from a pattern that I found in the Spring Interweave Crochet Magazine. The sunhat is beautiful and I wanted to make it a creme color with a pink hatband and trim. I wanted to wear it on Easter Sunday to church. Last night I started the hat for the fourth time and I still can not get the hat to the right size. I have used a smaller hook and am still off on gauge; if I get any smaller with my hook on the hat, I will have great difficulty in two areas: splitting the yarn as I pull through is the most obvious one and the other difficulty is I won't be able to get a hook small enough for my yard for the brim (that hook is already supposed to be smaller by several sizes).
While I am sad that I have not been successful, I am wondering how many others of you have come across this same kind of problem? I am apparently a very loose crocheter and often have trouble getting the gauge right.
At lunch today, I plan on rushing to Hobby Lobby to see if I can find a thinner yarn (and yes, the yarn I'm using is the right size) so that HOPEFULLY I can still get this done by Easter.
Along with the hat, I also want to make a matching purse, which has been featured in previous blogs (just scroll down....). If I can find some yarn today, I will get enough for both the hat and the purse and give it one more try.
Wish me luck and pray I can get it done!

Daniela

Beads, lunch, creativity

Last Saturday was one of the best days and most fun days beading that I have had in a long time.
I was able to meet a friend, Debroah of Beadeddesignsbydeborah in Salado, Texas at a favorite bead store of mine.
We each picked out some beads and then drove to Chili's to eat lunch, and yes, make necklaces! We sat in Chili's for about 2 1/2 hours, and the restaurant was great about leaving us alone so we could create and chit chat. (It helped that it was after the lunch rush and well before the dinner rush).
I made a lovely necklace that I am calling Young Love (it will be in my shop in the next few days) and Deborah made a beautiful piece that she tentatively called Safari Nights (her shop is not open yet, but the link is working! Please be sure to stop by soon to both of our shops!)

Also this week I am working on an Audrey Hepburn style sun hat using a pattern that I got in the Spring 2009 Issue of Interweave Crochet. Things were moving along just swimmingly when I realized that the shape of the hat was too big. Although I was about to begin the hatband of my lovely creation, I had to undo it last night.... (sigh). This morning I asked my youngest what he thought about my hat. He looked around for it and asked where it was. The ball of yarn was sitting right next to him and I picked it up and showed it to him. His eyes got as big as saucers!! Oh well... when I finish the hat, I am making a matching purse. Both will be in creme and pink and I hope to have both finished for Easter Sunday!

Thats all for now...

daniela

I'm going down, down, down

Well, actually, I'm not going down, but my weight is!
I have been meaning to update on my diet progress, but wouldn't you know it, things have been so busy, that everytime I think about blogging about it, I'm too tired!
I will say that in the last 21 days I have lost approximately 10 1/2 inches, body wide. I have lost 2 1/2 inches in my waist alone! One thing that I didn't do in the early days of my diet was calculate my measurements for both of my arms and legs (yes, sometimes I am dingy), so I have actually lost an inch to 2 more than I thought! I will remeasure this Saturday and give you the updated numbers.
And my weight has also gone down, although last week was so frustrating! I bounced between 167 and 168.8 pounds all week. While you may think that its not that big a deal, when you are trying to reach a goal within a certain time frame, it is a frustrating time. I finally figured out what I was doing wrong, since I was still eating the right foods. I was not drinking enough water! I wasn't as thirsty as I had been in the past because I am consuming so much less sodium, that I wasn't paying attention to my water intake. I have corrected that in the last couple of days. And I'm happy to report that I am down to 165.8! That means I have lost 8 pounds on this Flat Belly Diet by Prevention magazine!
My energy levels are still extremely high and I am able to get more things done and not be totally exhausted.
My BMI has also dropped from over 26 to 25.2, once I hit 24.9 I am back in the healthy range instead of the overweight range!!
If you want to calculate your BMI this site is excellent.
I can also say that my husband has lost 15 pounds with the Flat Belly Diet in the last 17 days!! It is awesome!!
I got my new Flat Belly Diet Cookbook from Prevention and will be trying many of their recipes in the days and weeks to come, and will be picking new favorites!
Here is the Prevention Magazine website and also a link to the Flat Belly Diet website, also easily accessible through the prevention website.

Till next time,
daniela

Mid-week Flat Belly Diet update

I've been doing this diet now for 14 days. When I first started I really didn't expect to get passed the first 4 days, and I really wasn't expecting to lose much weight.
Yesterday I had a pencil skirt on and a fitted jacket. I caught my reflection in a window as I was walking by, and let me tell you, my ego got a tremendous boost!! I couldn't believe it! My reflection not puffy or bloated, my clothes weren't stretched and distorted! I had an hour-glass figure! It made my day! I already realized that my skirt was loose (I couldnt' really wear it for fear of ripping it because it was so straight, umm, and tight). My jacket didn't bind and I was able to wear it all day without constantly shrugging or adjusting it. I know I had an extra spring in my step!
But that's not all! I've started back at Curves these last few days and usually when I'm done at Curves, my energy level is very low. Now, I can finish my workout and actually hit my targets, get home, do some cleaning and cook dinner, and still have energy to get other things done!! My energy level is really amazing... totally through the roof!
I have some friends that are probably tired of hearing me go on and on about this diet. I do want to say that I am not getting paid by Prevention magazine to promote this diet! I am also not affiliated with them in any way, other than I completed a marathon in December with Team Prevention, in Dallas. But I just want to tell everyone about the great feeling you get when you get the water retention, excess sodium, preservatives and sweetners out of your system! I really don't do diets well, but I am here to tell you, this one works!! I have been without Dr. Pepper now for 14 days, and in that time frame have only craved it once. I had a mild headache on day 3 of the diet, but since then I have been fine.
If you want to lose weight by learning to eat right, try this diet! If I can do it, anyone can!! By the way, the book is available at Wal-Mart.


Till next time...
Daniela