Buttersmith Collage

Buttersmith Collage

Monday, August 6, 2012

More Detailed Pattern for Crochet Pencil Toppers

I found a pattern for crochet pencil toppers that was originally in another language then translated into English.  The pattern is sufficient, but I found myself making mistakes that a little bit more detail would avoid.  Julie also had the same issue (phew, I'm not the only one).  Check out her link for a pattern for 5 petals by clicking her name. :-)

So here goes (btw, as you're looking at the pictures and are thinking, "This is backwards!", it's because I'm left-handed):

1. Ch (chain) 6.



2. Join to the 1st chain with a slipstitch, but don't make a magic ring.



3. Ch 1 then sc (single crochet) into each chain (6 sc total). Join to the 1st sc w/ slipstitch.



4. Ch 1, then sc in each sc (from before) for 2nd row (6 sc total again).



5. Repeat step 4 (3rd row of 6 sc total).



6. Ch 1, then 2 sc in each sc (now there should be 12 sc total). This is typically called an increase (inc).  Join to the 1st sc w/ slipstitch.



7. Ch 3, dc (double crochet) into FIRST sc, dc into 2nd sc, ch 3, slipstitch into 3rd sc.
This makes the first petal.  Notice only 3 stitches were used (2 for the dc, 1 for the slipstitch).
(12/3 = 4 petals...when I skipped, I ran out of room & only made 3 petals.)



8. Repeat step 7 all the way around, not skipping any sc.





9. Join w/ a slipstitch and use your crochet needle or a yarn needle to tuck in the ends. (If you don't have a yarn needle, they are CHEAP and very helpful...also easy to lose, so I recommend buying quite a few at a time.)






I recommend using tacky glue to attach them to your pencil.



Sunday, July 29, 2012

Fishing

So, this is the 3rd time I've gone fishing in my life.  The first time, I broke my friend's extra pole...and was maybe 7 or 8 years old.  The second time, was over 15 years ago.  So, this is my first time fishing in this century.  Here are some pictures documenting our adventure:

Alyssa struggling to bait the hook.

View from the fishin' pole *sigh*

Scott, our fish whisperer...

Before we started catching fish, the competition
became who could catch the biggest seaweed.

Getting schooled by Kim's niece.

Ok, so seaweed escalated to sticks/debris.

Another stick I caught.

Alyssa caught a stick.

TURTLE!

Kim caught a fish! Now we're gettin' somewhere...

I temporarily broke the fishing rod catching a tree.

Alyssa caught a catfish!

Jeremy caught a blue gill! 
(I think that's what that is)

I finally caught a "yellow belly" catfish!

Hello!

Catfish prince?

Alyssa caught a CARP!  Kim had to go down to pick it up
out of the water...

Alyssa was definitely the MVP 
of the fishing "competition"!!!

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Gloria

Our friends, Criss and Megan have the coolest little baby girl ever.  Gloria is so funny!  And she's super smart!  Here are a few pictures of her from when we visited them a few weeks ago (not in any particular order):






12 Months of Photos - July

So I'm posting early because we are in the process of moving out of town, so these next few weeks are gonna be kahrazy!!!

There are a few that I had trouble deciding, so I'm posting more than 1 for a few of the themes.  Also, most of these pictures were taken around the time that Bret's cousin got married...

1. Crazy Hair: As you can see from these 2 photos, my new cousin-in-law got 
her hair done at a salon school...even mannequin heads get bed head!



2. Celebration: The bride and several of her coworkers 
gathered in the kitchen celebrating her marriage!


3. Patriotic: There was a flag in the reception hall 
AND we visiting some friends who have a very patriotic doggy!


4. Watermelon was served at the wedding reception!


5. White: One of the many projects I chose to purge/organize 
before packing was to sort our praise & worship guitar lead sheets...


6. Bug: Believe it or not, I didn't use zoom....


7. Frozen: The best man goofin' off, 
passin' the time before the ceremony...


8. Lines: couldn't decide...



9. Beginning the rest of their lives together...


10. Smooth: no description necessary...


Bonus: Boxen (the plural for box, of course)











Monday, July 2, 2012

Made4Math - Crochet Project

Check out my other blog themathsmith.blogspot.com...I crocheted a pi guy today.

http://themathsmith.blogspot.com/2012/07/made4math-1st-project.html