Granny square beach bag

I have been working on this bag for a couple weeks. My plan was to use it as a tote bag, especially for the beach. It is made out of acrylic yarn so it should dry relatively quickly (if it even soaks up water) and be washable and durable.
I would also use it as a grocery-tote or carry small books in it.
Because of the colors I wouldn't carry it all the time as a purse. I thought I wouldn't want to use it as an everyday bag because of the homespun vibe (I think clothing and accessories can look a little too homespun), but now that it's done I don't feel that way.
Nate and I talk about me selling some of my crochet, and he thinks this could be a big seller. What do you think?

In which I get carried away...

So. I have made some more things for baby Julia, and since most of you actually know me in the real world, you know that I just got to meet her for the first time! I had a lovely trip and Mom and I spent a few days with S and T and J. We did laundry, ate, watched the baby, held the baby, and did a little shopping.
The bro and sis-in-law are very proud of their little nugget, and she is as cute as can be. After a total of four great-grandchildren on one side, and eight on the other, the charm of a new baby is still fresh for everyone. It's fun. More about why babies are awesome another time. I have lots of reasons. More about the trip another time too.
I've been busy stitching for that sweet girl, so I wanted to share.
A dress. Pattern here. I started this immediately upon finding out she was a she.

A bear hat. Pattern here. I started this a while ago and added the flowers after she was a she, or, you know what I mean.
Booties. Pattern here. I made some modifications. I made 5 of these booties on my plane ride. Easy peasy, zippity do da.

A wool soaker for use with cloth diapers. Pattern here. For info about wool soakers, go here. I started these two weeks ago, ish.Mom helped me pick out the buttons.
A cotton diaper cover. Because it's cute, not functional in the diapering way. Pattern here. I gave this to Trisha at the shower, did I already show it to you? I don't remember.

And because I'm not ashamed to admit design flaws or when things go wrong...
When her toes popped through, they kept saying, "I am a GI-ANT!!"

Baby Mobile Reveal

Post edit: see the bottom for updated pictures!

This is my major crochet project that I've been working on the last couple weeks. I gave Trish a sneak peek of the frog on fb, but I didn't want to give anything else away. Hopefully I can get my hands on some more pictures of it in the nursery so we can see the tiny guys in their natural habitat.

When Sean and Trish told me they were pregnant I asked Trisha to think about something they would like me to make them. Both of our families are very crafty and talented at sewing and crocheting. I was glad to make her a blanket or a little hat, but I didn't want to make the baby's 15th or 16th blanket or hat and booty set.
(Sidebar: I'm glad I asked because her mom and sil made her adorable blankets. They both covered both possibilities [1 pink and 1 blue each] and they were amazing! I told Trisha that this sets up the expectation of them trying for the other gender next. I took pics with my mom's camera, but I haven't seen those yet.)

So, I've told my other two pregnant friends (there are only two for now, we'll see how long that lasts) the same thing, to think about what they would like me to make. It takes away some of the surprise, but I don't mind. I still surprised Trish with a diaper cover and a baby washcloth.
Anyways, I had an idea for little animals and embroidery hoops, but it took me a while to visualize exactly what I was doing.

I found some inspiration here which I loved, but this was a little bulkier than I wanted. I wanted them to be floating in thin air more. And I wanted a smaller hanging apparatus, hence the embroidery hoops.

This one gave me even more inspiration. This lady is so creative and she responded to a question I had for her. I asked her about mounting the mobile. I don't think that I did it the same way, but it was nice to have another point of view. She said that she wanted to make the mobile no less interesting from the position of the baby, hence the circles. I was having the same issue when thinking about my mobile, so I really appreciated her ideas. I didn't want it to look as much like planets (I think the gray in her nursery gave me that impression too), not that there's anything wrong with planets, and I don't think hers is supposed to either. It was just a thought that popped into my head that I couldn't get out. (Nate and I love that nursery, though. Did you see the subliminal baby message posters? Love them!! And I loved that dark gray color as well!! [We are not having a baby.])

Anywho, I feel like it is totally my creation, with a little inspirational help from other sources. Nate helped me hang it. And by helped me, I mean he made it happen. He found me in the living room all tangled up in fishing line and nearly in tears. I went for a walk around the neighborhood and when I came back the hoops were hanging together and he was ready to show me how to put the animals and balls on! Isn't he great?!

He taught me how to tie some indestructible knots with fancy invisible fishing line that holds up to 8 lbs!!

I also strung a pompom at the joining point of all the line to hide it. I love pompoms. I want them everywhere. Pompom mobile anyone?


It was a big hit with Trisha's little nephew, the official baby-tester. If S and T's loves balls as much as him (very good chance), then the baby will love it!
(That little guy totally stole my heart. I told Nate, "That's the kind of baby that makes you want to have babies." Nate said, "Aren't they all?" And I said, "No, not really" (lots do, but many don't, you know?). I should add that all the young'uns at the shower were very, very precious and fall into that category.)

So that's it! The animals are waving at the baby, the monkey is upside down, because that's how monkeys roll. The frog is not waving at the baby, because, I don't know, it just didn't seem right.
Like I say, I hope I can add some pictures from the nursery, when they will be in their natural habitat, delighting the baby, matching the decor.

**The following animals are not kid friendly due to pipe-cleaner skeletons: frog, monkey, elephant. The lamb, hippo, and balls may eventually be cut down and used as toys at parents' discretion.**

Christmas decorations

To kick this off I am going to post the various decorations that the husband and I have made to get in the spirit of the holiday season. We are not going to be around our house for Christmas so we did not go ALL out, but we did some things that were easy and consists mostly of things that we already had lying around.
These pictures are not awesome, so you'll have to fill in with your imagination.

1. Front door wreath
First up, the husband makes things! He made a beautiful wreath for our front door out of cedar branches and pine cones. I was so impressed.2. Our china cabinet.



I just put Christmas bulbs, fabric scraps, and pine cones in bowls and glasses on the shelf.

3. Christmas boughs in a vase, with a side of kitty.

"Oh me? I'm doing nothing up here."

4. Christmas yarn projects.

I made a yarn wreath using a styrofoam wreath and balls, all covered in yarn. I also crocheted a single poinsettia blossom (pattern from The Fabled Needle) and mistletoe, from my brain.

I also made a garland with granny square inspired shapes. The star I got from here.