I hate this week...

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The week is finally over... thank goodness!  What a busy week... a Spanish exam on Monday, advanced Inorganic chemistry exam on Wednesday, biochemistry exam on Friday, taught 4 chemistry labs, went to classes, and had a research presentation on Thursday.  

hello weekend... I have missed you...

the market is open...

I am very happy to announce that the crochet café market is now open... the crochet café market

I have listed 3 sets of corked tile coasters (in custard, white, and rust). The coasters are made of porcelain tile and are fully backed with thick cork. I stain the cork in the shade of your choosing (honey, hazelnut, amaretto, or coffee bean). I love cork, so it only seemed right for it to have as much focus as the tile. I made some for around the apartment... my hubby loves them and I do as well. Nice, durable coasters...

I plan to list crochet works as well... some bracelets and scarves... but they are not quite ready yet.

Have a look around the market... you may see something you love!

under construction...

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Over the next couple of days I will be working on some blog layout... so if the site looks a little odd, bear with me while I work on the coding...   o_O

hello spring break...

aahhhh... spring break!  I only have a few school-related tasks to do this week (grading...), but otherwise I am free!  I have big plans for the break... especially for my crafting and blog... but I will be sure to be a bum for at least a little while.  First thing tomorrow (oh.. it is after midnight, so I guess today) I will roast and brew some fresh coffee and get started...

I ordered some yarn from Knit Picks.  I am a bit weary of buying yarn online without ever seeing and feeling it, but I decided to give it a shot because of the price and selection of colors.  I ordered these fingering weight, 100% Peruvian Highland Wool yarns...

for use with... my loom!

My mom and dad gave me this loom for Christmas.  I haven't had a chance to really try it out yet, but I am so excited to try something new.  A few years ago, during the Earth Week events at my university, I bought a woven scarf made in Bolivia from alpaca fiber.  I absolutely love the woven look... and I wear the scarf all the time.  So when my mom and dad asked me what I wanted for Christmas, I asked for the loom.  My mom searched everywhere for one, but every time she asked a salesperson if they carried it or something similar, they looked at her like she had three eyes or something (I certainly know that look... when I was looking for squeakies to put in dog toys a while back). They finally had to go to the internet to buy it... so wonderful to go through all that trouble just to get me a Christmas present.  I do love my family.   :)   Maybe the yarn will get here before spring break is over so I can attempt to weave a scarf!

So I have made a goal for my spring break... to launch my Etsy shop.  Fingers crossed... hope I can make it.  Here is a close-up of what I am currently working on...

night! ...

sunshine blog award...

Back in February the wonderful Sarah... the mind behind EssHaych... listed me for the Sunshine Blog Award.  Aaahhh... that was so sweet and it certainly made my day to see her comment.  Thank you Sarah... smiles!

This blog award is perpetuated by those who receive it... and I am happy to pass it along by doing the following:

• Put the logo on your blog or within your post
• Pass the award onto 12 bloggers
• Link to the nominees within your post
• Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog
• Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award

Here is my list... 

• Home and Holiday Keepsakes
• ozetta
• collect the moments, one by one
• LucyRavenscar
• Ellie's Sew and Tell
• Skunkboy Creatures
• this old dress
• papermode
• Owlishly
• Bent Objects
• art = love = life
• Stitches and Glue

I love reading these blogs... I hope you like them too!  Thanks again Sarah...  :)

hello blog...

After a bit of a hiatus, it is nice to sit down and write for my blog again. It certainly does provide a needed respite from my responsibilities as a graduate student.  Now for some exciting news (I think so at least)... I have a website! This blog is now located at www.thecrochetcafe.com. I have much to share... finished projects, new stuff, and a blog award!

For now, though, here is a photo I love... 

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from the local yarn shop...

Took a visit to the local yarn shop, Mustard Seeds & Dreams, the other day and picked up some goodies. I was amazed at the selection of colors and fibers... all so beautiful. It was hard to stop myself at three skeins... but my hubby was there with me... the voice of reason, I guess...

This is one is an 80% Mohair • 20% Acrylic blend by Kraemer Yarns. I am currently making a lace-type scarf for my mother-in-law for Christmas. It is more of a green... the photo doesn't quite do it justice...

This one is a painted 50% Llama • 50% Wool blend by Cascade Yarns. This hank is destined to become a scarf for my sister-in-law for Christmas... which is really right around the corner (I better get started, huh)...

This one is for me... it is a 79% Wool • 21% Linen blend by Cascade Yarns. I haven't quite decided what I will make with this one... probably a scarf... it is cold and I am loving scarves...

still here...

I am sad to see that October is already nearing its end. School has proved to require much more time than anticipated this semester, and I cannot seem to find any time for hobbies. Between 12 credit hours (all undergrad and graduate chemistry courses), teaching 2 general chemistry labs, grading for a professor once a week, research, and planning our Chemistry Club's National Chemistry Week events I am surprised my head is still above water... though just barely... and kind of sleep deprived as a result.

I call this one the Bible of Organic Chemistry... 

It is not crochet related, but I am going to post some cool chemistry demo photos tomorrow to kick off National Chemistry Week 2009...

I come in peace...

Here is Alpha... a sweet little martian looking for new friends...

The pattern will soon be available here on my blog as a free pdf download. Happy face... I love him :)

in pieces...

put me together, pretty please...

pattern almost done...

Geez, time sure flies... I thought I would have finished designing my first pattern by now. Oh well, it is almost done. He is a sweet little amigurumi martian... still trying to think of the perfect name for him. So the first mock up is done. I decided last night to make it a second time, you know, to work out any kinks and maybe try a different color combination. Super cute, though, and I am really happy with how he looks so far. I can't wait to share...

crochet Journey...

Wow, what a great weekend... I know it is Wednesday but technically my week started yesterday. Anyways, I traveled to Boise, Idaho to spend some time with my brother and we went to the Journey and Heart concert... it was absolutely fabulous! Journey is one of my favorite bands and it was a remarkable experience to see them live. Tell you what, I could not stop smiling and, oh, I got a sweet t-shirt (see the photo above).

Having taken a brief weekend hiatus from all my crochet projects, it is time to return to my crochet journey. Here's a preview of what is coming... purses and amigurumi...

comments enabled...

I just realized today that even though I enabled comments when setting up my blog... for reasons unknown to me... people were still unable to leave me their own two cents. Well that problem is now solved and the comment form is embedded with every post. Just click on the comments link below the post and let me know what is on your mind...

amigu... what?

I recently stumbled across amigurumi... so adorable, by the way. Check out this link and you'll see what I mean -

Amigurumi Kingdom's photostream

I usually just crochet afghans, baby blankets, and the occasional purse, so I'm quite excited to try out something new. But rather than using a pattern, I am attempting to come up with my own so I can share it here on my blog and make a how-to video. My sister is going to have a baby in January, so I think I will start there and make some baby toys... a teddy bear maybe...

in the works...

So I have set up a YouTube account... yes, that's right, how-to videos! There isn't anything there yet, but hopefully soon. I am studying for the GRE at present... meh... so it may be slow coming, but watch for it because it is coming.

Here's the link -

TheCrochetCafe Channel