It's been a while.............

Way too long in fact.  Honestly, I just can't wait for summer when there will be more time for crafting and creating!  BUT - I have been sewing today, and can't wait to show you what I came up with!!!  (hint - one project involves, you guessed it, a vintage sheet!!!!!)  In the mean time, I thought I'd show you what I've been pinning lately!  I hadn't gotten on Pinterest in a few months until I hopped on the other day and realized that I have 600+ followers!!! Needless to say, I was shocked:)  {Are you following me?}  So, without further ado, here you go!

When I was younger, my dad's entire side of the family would go camping every few summers.  One of my favorite memories was opening a little metal mailbox with my name on it and finding carrot cake that my aunt made especially for me.  Ever since then, I've kind of had a thing for carrot cake.  I'm absolutely loving this idea of carrot cake cookies!  And butterscotch chips??? YUM!!!!

Have you been following Crochet 101 going on over at One Artsy Mama?  Well, if you want to learn to crochet, I highly recommend it!  I've seen a few tutorials on how to crochet coffee cozies, but this one was definitely the most clearly written and easiest to follow.  In fact, I made one on Sunday!  I just have to get a cup to make sure my sizing is right before I sew the button on...

Another fun memory (please bear with me as I reminisce): my grandparents used to make pickles that look just like these.  I don't remember if they were canned or just refrigerator, but let me tell you:::they. were. delish.  (Wow.  My mouth just started watering).  In case you don't know, I kind of have a thing for pickles.  Like, some might say I'm addicted.  I was sad when my grandma stopped making them and then we couldn't find the recipe, but I think I'm going to need to give these ones a trysie.


I'm always on the look-out for simple crochet projects that don't say "look! I'm a beginner!!!!  Wanna see the useless 2x2 square I just finished?"  This *paper chain* would be super simple, but is also totally adorable!  And it would last much longer than a real paper chain.

Anyhoo, I'm always looking for more inspiration, so feel free to leave your Pinterest name in the comments and I will come over and stalk you!;)

Until next time (complete with a vintage sheet)
~Kelsey

Note: all credit for photos, recipes, and patterns goes to these bloggers.  I take no credit for their work.  Just trying to spread their awesomeness!!!

Instagram Photo Display

 Hello there!  Kelsey here.  Do you remember me?;)  I'm back today with a new DIY project!  It's been too long..........
Lara came up with this idea a little while back to put all her lovely Instagram pictures up on her wall.  She already had this frame and the twine.  So all she needed to purchase were the mini clothespins ($1.99 at Joann's I think?) and the prints.  And now this super cute display is hanging up in her room!

 

Do you follow us on Instagram? Lara is @ladylarza and I (Kelsey) am @fancythatnotion.  I'd love to follow you back as well!

Hope you're having a lovely Wednesday!!!

~Kelsey

Linking up to:

Mom on Timeout
We Like To Learn As We Go
The Dedicated House
733 Blog
Beyond the Picket Fence
The Taylor House
Chocolate, Chocolate, and More
I Gotta Create
Fireflies and Jellybeans
The Shabby Creek Cottage





Guest Post: Spring Chick

Today we've got another guest post for you!  Even though Easter is over, there is still so much spring to be had!  And this little chick will brighten up any room:)  As always, feel free to send pictures if you crochet this!

 

Cute Little Chick

an amigurumi design by Nerdybirdycrochet

 

 

Supplies:

~G hook

~Worsted weight yarn in any two colors (I used Red heart super saver. Rough on the hands but they

have a nice selection of plain colors...)

~Small scrap of black yarn or embroidery floss

~oh, and some stuffing, but you probably had that figured out already:)

Abbreviations:

~sc..........single crochet

~inc........two single crochets in the same stitch

~st..........stitch/stitches

~ch.........chain

~dec.......either a sc2tog, or an invisible decrease, whichever you prefer.

~dc.........double crochet

Notes:

~This is worked in the round as a spiral.

~It uses the magic circle technique.

~ Stitch count only matters up to the eighth round. From round 9 and on it doesn't really matter:)

Pattern:

Head/body (make one):

R1: In magic circle, do six sc.

R2: Now, close that magic circle! Now, without turning, inc around. Yay, you've got 12 st around.

R3: Now, you've got to remember this sequence: *Inc in next st, sc the next st after that.* Go around

the whole round with that sequence and you should end up with 18 st.

R4:*Inc in next st, sc in each of next two st after that* around. You should end with 24 st! :)

R5-7: Just straight sc'ing. No fancy sequences to remember! Just keep crocheting.

Uh-oh...I see your circle slowly flipping itself inside out...quick! Change it to the right side out! Oh,

confused, are you? ...Never fear, here's a really, really handy linky:

http://www.planetjune.com/blog/which-is-the-right-side/

R8: Some decreasing coming right up...*1 dec, sc in each of next two st after that* All the way around.

You should now have 18 st!

R9: sc in the next eleven stitches, then inc in each of the rest of the st. You should have 25 st around.

R10: sc in the next 12 st, and and inc in the rest. You *should* have 38 st here. If not it doesn't matter:)

Woah- before we move on, take some stuffing and stuff your little piece to death.

R11-13:sc around!

R14: 6 dec, then sc the rest of the way around.

R15: sc around

R16: sc first st, 4 dec, then sc the rest of the way around.

R17: sc about 12 or 13 st to where the little tail will be. Pinch off approx. 6 st and sc them together, like this:

See what I did there? I stuck my hook into TWO stitches! Now what I did was sc each of the next few st, except stick your hook into two layers, as shown, until you get to the end.

Then turn and slip stitch back across what you just did. (approx. 3 slip stitches. No ch 1 needed.)

Now continue going around like you just took a detour and

R18: Just dec until you have a small hole about 5 to 7 st around, cut your yarn, and close the hole with the tail you left.

Good job!!!!! You've just completed the head/body!

Now we move onto the wings....

Wings (make two):

Using main color.

In Magic Loop, do one sc, 2 dc, and one more sc. Close Magic Loop.

R2: ch 2, and turn. Dc into first st, then two dc in all the rest. Cut yarn leaving a tail long enough for sewing.

Yay, that was easy! One more thing- the feet.

Feet(make two):

With contrasting color, ch 6

R1: sk first two ch from hook, sc next ch and all the rest of the ch in this row.

R2: ch1, turn. Sc next 3 st, ch3, and turn.

R3: sk first two ch from hook, sc the third ch and the rest of the row.

R4-5: repeat rows 2+3.

break off, leaving tail long enough for sewing.

Assembly

Sewing the parts:

Refer to photos for wing and feet placement. Weave in unnecessary ends when finished.

 

Ok.. hopefully you figured out that the little pointy tip you made by sc two layers of crochet together, is the tail. The smaller rounded end is the head.

So do you see how it's supposed to be, now?  Good! :D soon comes the facial embroidery.

Embroidering the facial features:

With a scrap of black yarn embroider a simple V-shape for the eyes.

Cut a small diamond with felt and sew it on the bird.

Done!

 

I really hope you enjoyed making this! I know I did!

Please comment on ravelry if my instructions were unclear.

All photos and pattern copyright (c) Nerdybirdycrochet. You may sell items made from this pattern if you wish, but not the pattern itself. Thank you.

So I've been MIA for a while

And I feel kind of horrible.  I've been sick on the couch for about a week and a half, and it's been no fun at all!  But now I'm back in the land of the living, as my family says;)  So hopefully there will be some new posts up this week!  A guest post with a crochet pattern, and some happy mail that I received this week!