Pats on Wednesday

Is it really Wednesday already? Happy wordless one! Some pictures from the Patriots vs Panthers game this past Sunday... all taken before the nasty rain came!

Entrance...

National Anthem...

Coin Toss...

Kick Off...

Ironic? No sooner did I decide to take our picture, the rain started... and never stopped!

REVIEW: Creating Crochet Fabric

Creating Crochet Fabric: Experimenting with Hook, Yarn & Stitch
by Dora Ohrenstein
Paperback: 144 pages
Publisher: Lark Books (January 5, 2010)

Take your crochet skills to the next level by exploring the fabricology of crochet. Creating Crochet Fabric: Experimenting with Hook, Yarn & Stitch isn't just another crochet project book, it’s an exploration of the craft’s creative possibilities!

Designer Dora Ohrenstein closely examines crochet’s three basic variables — hook, yarn, and stitch — and how their infinite combinations create distinctive fabrics. Dozens of swatches show which techniques will result in a structured, hardwearing fabric or a lacy one that drapes; how a yarn can either hide or show off stitch patterns; and which crochet patterns can mimic plaid or colorful African designs. Fifteen projects move readers from theory into practice.

Crochet Fabric is broken up into five main chapters: The Materials & Tools We Use, Designing Crochet Fabric, How Stitch Patterns Work, Swatching Makes Perfect and Putting It All Together. A comprehensive stitch dictionary is also included. The photographs of the swatches throughout are bright and detail oriented, allowing the reader to really see the stitches and understand the fabric created.

The patterns include shrugs, hats, jackets, shawls and scarves. My personal favorite is the Juliette Shawl. As a knitter who does not crochet, I also find the Elvira and Anna jackets absolutely stunning and fascinating! I would never have thought to crochet a jacket!

Abouth the Author: Dora Ohrenstein's designs have appeared in Interweave Crochet, knit.1, Crochet Today, The New Crochet, and Fabulous Crocheted Ponchos. Her first solo book, Crochet Insider’s Passion for Fashion, was published in 2008 by Leisure Arts. Dora is founder and editor of the webzine Crochet Insider, which features interviews with industry leaders and textile artists, book and yarn reviews, and galleries of creative crochet from designers across the globe.

CONTEST! As you know, I do not crochet.... so my loss is your gain! I'm giving away this copy of Creating Crochet Fabric to one of you! To enter, simply leave a comment here telling me when you will make the Anna jacket for me... ha ha ha, just kidding... instead let me know how long you have been crocheting and what your favorite item to crochet is (make sure to leave a means of contact if your email does not automatically attach to your comment). Deadline to enter is Monday, December 21 at midnight. Winner will be selected by random number generator.

Girl Loves Her Cake

Happy Doggy Day! If you only pop in on Thursdays, be sure to scroll back to Sophie's birthday post and romping pictures from our first snowfall.

Little Sophie turned 3 on Sunday and boy was she excited... she got S-N-O-W for her birthday and, of course, C-A-K-E! Enjoy the pictures...

I'm so glad she's no longer afraid (scroll back to her 1st bday!) of the big scary world her cakes...

Big Brother Zeus helped in the taste testing... you know, just in case it wasn't good for her or something...

Usually they just lick the cakes before we cut them up for eating... but not Princess... she took a big 'ole bite...

Happy 3rd birthday Sophie!!!

Everyday I am reminded of how happy we are that

you choose to stay with us!

It's Here!!!

Drumroll Please.... The new Lapdog Creations logo is here!!!! I absolutely love it and can't thank Deb from Top Floor Design Group enough! She was really able to vision what I didn't even know I was looking for and make my crazy world of dogs and knitting come to life...

Please feel free to use my button for your blog sidebars (big thank you to anyone who does link to my blog from theirs)...

The Lapdog Creations Cafe Press store has been updated and if you find yourself interested in getting a shirt, hat, coffee/tea mug, button, sticker, tote bag, water bottle, dog dish or just about anything else, please stop by! I actually received my first new items yesterday and absolutely love the new beach bag they offer... of course, it will really be a knitting tote for me!

Happy Wordless Wednesday

I guess I should've saved the weekend snow pictures for today's Wordless Wednesday, since we're in the middle of another big storm today... but you'll have to scroll back to yesterday for those.

This was my driveway when I left for work early this morning... its still snowing.

Its definitely starting to look a lot like Christmas... Emma's ready, are you?

First Snow of the Season

Nothing like the first snowfall of the season to keep you inside and get things done ... which translates into the Christmas cards went out in Monday morning's mail and the mini-tree went up on Sunday... shortly before the computer crashed, but we won't get into that now...

Look how pretty it was (especially since I didn't have anywhere to go and stayed inside all day writing out those cards)...

Snow is always extra pretty when it comes on a Saturday...

I love my artsy shots, especially the flag...

The kids had a blast romping in the S-N-O-W... and Sophie was so happy that it came on her birthday!

Lola...

Teutul...

Zeus...

Here's another shot of the birthday girl... with her head buried in the snow while she pees. Such a multi-tasker...

Look Who's 3!

Happy 3rd Birthday Sophie!

That's right, the little Princess is 3 already. Remember when she turned 2 last year? I can't believe another year has flown by already!

Showing off her runway skills... watch out Tyra!

Being a great cheerleader...

Loving her buddies...

Enjoying the New England seasons...

And just being Sophie...

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!