7 Quick Takes Friday: The Quick, Quick (Procrastination) Edition

--- 1 ---

Guess what!  I'm a published crochet designer!  Doesn't that sound all fancy?
It's a very simple design for a very simple function that took all of 20 minutes to design and create, and it's published on my very own blog - with a listing on Ravelry.  So, that counts, right?

--- 2 ---

I'm once again blogging when I should be balancing the checkbook, but I tend to get more done on days I blog, so that's my justification.  Somehow I'm more productive when I've contribution something to the wider world.  Sharing is good for you!

--- 3 ---

My parents left this morning after coming about a week ago at VERY short notice.  Fortunately my health issue relapse wasn't as serious or long-lived as last time.  Or maybe we just caught it faster (no more ER visits for me - they don't help!) It's nice to know you have "people" - loved ones who will drop everything to come help you with a house and two crazy kids (i.e. both under 3 and in diapers) when you need them.  Special thanks to both my parents and my in-laws who were all there for us this round and in June when the issue first came up.

--- 4 ---

It's overwhelming trying to get caught up after having "company" for a while - there are so many things that get put off while you're busy enjoying them.  Like the checkbook.

--- 5 ---

This "putting things off" was especially extended this time around - we'd only just been getting back into the swing of things from our celebratory Anniversary weekend when I got sick this time.  Happy 4 years together, Honey!

Ok, so this is us on our 3rd Anniversrary...  details.

--- 6 ---

Look how much we've done in those short 4 years: We started a small business, bought a house, had a baby boy, had a baby girl, and paid off all our debts (well, except the mortgage - good-bye student loans!)

Our best accomplishments

 --- 7 ---

 Speaking of things financial - time to battle balance that checkbook.

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

Crochet Your Own: Dish Towel Ring - Knob Edition

I recently bought a dish towel hanger at the local farmer's market, thinking, finally, I could hang any towel I wanted off the utensil drawer knob right next to the sink, rather than being limited to the two special towels that had loops sewn to the top.  It was great - it had an adorable leaf button to close the top and even came with a cute new towel.  When I got it home, I saw my mistake.  My kitchen has cabinets and drawers exclusively decked out with knobs - no handles.  My new hanger would only work with the towel bar on the fridge, and really, that's just kind of redundant.  So I headed over to my absolute favorite knitting/crochet website, Ravelry  (watch out - it's addicting!!!) to see if I could find some instructions for making my own, knob-friendly hanger.

Farmer's Market Find - cute but not quite working

 Guess what.

They ALL required handles.

So I'm no dunce. 
I figure, hey, I'll finagle my own.

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Dish Towel Ring - Knob Edition

Materials:
Worsted weight dish-towel cotton yarn.  (I used Peaches & Creme in Avocado)
Size U.S. H/8 crochet hook

1.  Make a ring about 2 to 2 1/2 inches across by looping the yarn around your fingers a few times.  (This one was 2 1/2" - next time I may go with a smaller 2" loop to minimize sagging.)  Then, without cutting the yarn, pull a loop from back to front and make a slip stitch around your ring.

2.  Ch 3 (will be your first dc) and dc around your ring - it will take approximately 45-50 to cover it all the way around.  You want the original yarn loops to be covered, but not be so packed that the ring bunches out of it's perfect circular shape.  Then slip st it closed through the original ch 3.

3.  From here, we'll make the loop that goes over your cabinet or drawer knob.  Ch 10, then sl st to the same ch 3 you started from.  (Here I recommend that you "try it on for size" - just to make sure your finished hanger will fit over your knob.  If it's too small, you just add a few more ch - too big, pull a few out.)

4.  Ch 2 (your first sc) and proceed to cover this second ring with sc - approximately 15-17.  Again, you want your chain covered, but the ring to lie flat.  When you get back to the base of your upper ring, sl st it to the nearest dc of the big ring. 

5.  Then sc in each dc around the big ring and sl st in the first sc of the knob ring.  Cut your yarn, tie in your end, et voila!

Jelly Bean "helping"

Embrace the Camera!

Just saw this on Clan Donaldson, and, being that it's a thought that's been on my mind lately too, I decided to jump right in and give it a try.  The "Mom-free" family pictures have become the norm around here, partly because I enjoy taking photos, partly because I give more attention to camera angle and framing, and partly because I'd just as soon not have another record of this, that or whatever else I don't like about myself on any given day.  Emily at The Anderson Crew explains it beautifully, and hosts Embrace the Camera every Thursday.

I'll probably attempt a "real" picture in the future, but when it comes to the ever-wiggly Jelly Bean, the webcam will do for now.  Plus we have company, so it's time to get off the computer and back to real life!