ATC Swap & other Summer pictures

The other day I received my ATC (artist trading card) swap.  These 12 cards came from 4 different people.  Each row of 3 is from a different person.  They are all so different and unique, and I love them.

I accidentally sent out extras and these are the ones that I had made that were returned to me.  I'll save them for another swap.

I've been working on a secret amigurumi project for a friend's birthday.  I'll let you wonder what I'm making ;)

Here are some pictures that I took at the beach the other day.

I took this picture tonight.  My family was waiting for pizza (I can't have any due to my diet), and I took a picture of the umbrella that we were sitting under.

Then I took a picture of one of my son's bike.  We took the kids out for a bike ride tonight and discovered a new pizza place.

Sorry that I haven't been posting much.  My husband recently installed a new hard drive in my computer.  I really needed the space.  Plus the amigurumi project is taking a little while to make.  I hope all of you are having a great summer.

Friendship Bracelet Class & Yoga Mat Bag

Yesterday I taught a friendship bracelet class at the Wayland Library in MA.  I love how this library looks from the outside.

Here is my class set up before the kids showed up.

There was a 15 kid limit for the class, but I made 18 bracelet kits.  I like to give the kids options.   Because less than 15 kids showed up, they were able to take home an extra kit for a friend or family member.  The girls were amazed at how easy it was to make these complicated looking bracelets.  

Here are my tools / materials.  The screw driver and the knitting needle help to make a hole in the center of the cardboard circle.  The scissors are for cutting out the cardboard circle, add the 17 notches in it, and for cutting the embroidery floss.  The crochet hook is for pulling the threads through the center hole.  For directions on how to make the bracelets, please see my previous post.

This is the bracelet that I made on Monday for the class.

Here is the bracelet that I started making during my class.  The photo was taken at the beach that same afternoon.  It was a busy but fun day for me.  I taught the class in the morning (and had fun), then my family and I went to the beach that afternoon, and that evening I took my oldest son to see the Harry Potter movie at the theater (discount Tuesdays at our theater).

Here are some of the pictures that I took at the beach. 

If you want to see more photos by me, click here.

I started crocheting a yoga mat bag this week.  The photo on the left was taken yesterday at the beach, and the one on the right was taken today at the park.  I love portable crafts.  I'm going to have to hunt down another skein or two of that yarn tomorrow, because it is almost all used up.

A Day At The Beach

Today I took my kids to the beach.  I also took my crocheting.  On Monday I started making this market bag by Bernat (cotton yarn company).  It looks a little crazy right now and it feels a little slow going, but I am putting my trust in the strange pattern (not written like most patterns).  I got the pattern from one of those free paper patterns that you can find in the yarn isles of the craft store.  I hope that it turns out right. 

My oldest son made the sand face on the left.  We left the beach a minute before it started to pour.

I hope that all of you are having a good Summer.

4th of July Weekend

Sunday I finished knitting a 2nd iPhone hoodie, this time with worsted weight yarn.  I like this one better, even though it isn't as pretty.

I also finished sanding the 24 cardboard tubes that I had cut for my bangle class.  This is the parts that I had to peel off before sanding.  A friend came over today while I was sawing a 2nd tube.  She asked to try it, and the next thing I knew the whole tube was sawed.  Wow!  She was enjoying herself.

My in-laws were visiting this weekend, and my mother-in-law asked for help learning how to crochet.  After showing her some basics, she said that her mother, an avid crocheter, wanted to learn how to make a fanciful flower potholder.  She enjoys figuring out patterns on her own.  So I started making the potholder for her last night, and this is how far I got when my in-laws left this morning.  My mother-in-law took it with her unfinished, because it would be easier for her mother to figure out how it was made. I did show my mother-in-law what I did and what needed to come next so that she could relay it on to her mother, plus she can send a picture of the one that I made for her along with this one (to Puerto Rico).  It is strange not finishing a present for someone.

Well it was 4th of July yesterday, and hanging on my door is my plastic bag patriotic wreath.

It uses about 150 plastic bags, including blue newspaper bags.

We went to the beach on Sunday and here are some of the pictures that I took there.

Then Sunday night and Monday morning was my town's County Fair.  

Here are just some of the pictures that I took there (while volunteering to help with the recycling).

My church makes fresh "Holy Donuts" that they sold on Monday.  They are yummy.

My local quilt shop had patriotic quilts on display.

The image on the right is of someone reporting on the 2 mile race and on the parade.

I hope that all of you who celebrate the 4th of July / Independence Day had a great 3 day weekend.