Need instructions!

I got some size 10 crochet thread in white and violet, and one of the tatting books I put on hold at the library came in.  However, this book has zero "how to tat" instructions.  I'm wondering about the very basics and can't even find the answers on the web.  Do you wind the shuttle clockwise or counterclockwise?  What is the top of the shuttle and which is the bottom?  Is the pointy hook thing supposed to face up?  Once I know these things, my next question would be, how do I wrap the thread around my fingers?  I hope some of the other books I put on hold at the library have instructions! :-) 

On the way to the gym...

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Will this become my next obsession or will it just look pretty in its package?



Assembly on the Blanket O' Cabley Goodness begins!

 I had to stop by the craft store. (It was my primary motivation to get myself out of the house and eventually to the gym!)  I bought some more sock yarn and a set of two tatting shuttles.  I haven't the first clue how to tat, so for now, my crochet time is safe!  I have some tatting books  on request at the library and still need to find some tatting thread.  I have also started working again on my "Blanket O' Cabley Goodness", a crochet sampler afghan from 63 Crochet Cable Stitches by Darla Sims.  I've started working on them in the order that they will be arranged so I can begin crocheting them together as I go.  Crochet cables are so fun and look so cool!  Also, check out the haunted cactus garden!

Halloween pumpkin and pocket-amis!

These were fun to make!  Now I'm getting ready for Halloween!


Halloween pocket-ami patterns by June Gilbank.  Crocheted by me!



Small pumpkin pattern by June Gilbank.



How not to brush amigurumi and Pumpkin crochet-along.

So, I haven't been successful at brushing amigurumi because I've been using the wrong kind of brush! I was trying to brush with a plastic tipped cat brush. I got a wire dog brush and wow! It works! Instant fuzzballs! I rebrushed the cactus and now look at it!

Now the cacti that are supposed to be fuzzy are fuzzy!

Brush on left good for amis. Brush on right, good for kitties! 



And I finished the pumpkin for Itsy Bitsy Spider's crochet-along!

Cactus Gardens finished!

Patterns by June Gilbank at planetjune.com

Skunk's canoe trip

Skunk is a cute amigurumi critter I crocheted using  "Cute Little Dudes - Forest Dwellers vol.3" pattern by Lisa Vanvikaas (hattalahutta). Skunk loves the outdoors!   Every year, my dad and his friends go canoeing in the boundary waters of Minnesota and Canada.  They have been doing this since before I was born.  I have never been on this trip.  For the last two years, my brother Steve has gone with him.  I believe I haven't gone because the portages sound very strenuous!  This year, Skunk decided to go.  Maybe next year I might go... If someone carries the canoe for me on portages!



They saw Native American pictographs on the rocks.  Here is a moose.





Skunk goes canoeing!



Skunk enjoys fresh air off the lake!



Skunk at the campsite.

Skunk went on a canoe trip with my dad and brother!

Skunk arrives at the airport in Minnesota

More pictures of skunk's canoe trip to come!

An evening of random crocheting

I crocheted an apple wedge for my chinchilla (apple pattern from Tasty Crochet)

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I got a new book, Around the Corner Crochet Borders by Edie Eckman. Then I realized I hadn't done anything from her previous book I purchased, so I did a couple of patterns from Beond the Square Crochet Motifs.

Around the Corner Crochet Borders by Edie Eckman, and some new crochet hooks :-)

Motif #88 (top square) and #114 (bottom square) 

I finished sewing the pirate garb on to my Monstie Pirate...

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Fun to do!

Monsties!

My sis-in-law, nieces and I have been making Monsties (pattern by Sarah Hearn).  Here are a couple of mine.

Some cool bee pictures from my backyard!

Big Bumblebee on a Butterfly Bush!